Does cutting Starbucks, DoorDash really save money? We asked experts.

Does it work to cut back on things like a daily Starbucks run or DoorDash delivery to help you save money?

Two influencers who post frugal budgeting content on TikTok are going viral with some suggestions for people to cut costs. They got a mix of reactions from followers, both positive and negative.

USA TODAY spoke to both of the TikTok influencers as well as financial experts for their comments and advice.

Influencer says go into 'survival mode'

"You need to live incredibly below your means. I'm talking survival mode," Rachelle Biennestin, a 31-year-old elementary school teacher who likes to share frugal living tips with her social media audience, said in her TikTok video.

Biennestin, who goes by "Rach," told her followers that meant they couldn't DoorDash their favorite sushi spot, they might have to watch NFL games from home and they might need to come up with a frugal hobby.

"This year to set yourself up for success, you are not going to spend frivolously," she said in the video, which was posted on Dec. 30, 2025, and had a little more than 58,000 views as of Jan. 29.

Biennestin was direct in her call-outs at times:

"Press-on girlies, you might just have to use your regular nail polish on your bare nails. Acrylic Gel X queens, you might have to get some press-ons," she said. "I'm not saying to stop, but I'm saying to cut back."

Biennestin also suggested getting water when dining out, clipping coupons and getting rid of, or donating, items you haven't touched in six months.

Her advice was met with responses from commenters who said how much they loved her advice and shared their own tips. But there were also some critics.

 “You can’t budget your way out of poverty. The solution, sadly, is to increase your income. That’s it," said one.

In an interview with USA TODAY, Biennestin said she thinks there are ways everyone can save money or cut back, even if they are struggling financially.

"I think everyone should have a goal," she said, adding that you might be surprised when you really look at what you spend.

Biennestin said she is following her own advice, but said "I'm definitely human." Her goal is to save $10,000 by the end of the year – and not spend it. Last year, she had a goal of $5,000. She met it, she said, but then spent it all.

Biennestin, who lives in Boston, said she was using ride-share and meal delivery services so often that when she took a close look at her bank account, she was stunned. Last year she spent $400 on Uber and Lyft. In December and January, she started taking the bus more often.

Influencer is trying to save $50,000

Zofi Peacock, a 26-year-old social media influencer in Salt Lake City, shared a long list of ways she and her husband would be cutting back on their spending this year in her viral video.

That included cutting out her $8 daily coffee, stopping her impulse-buying on Amazon, spending money on quality items instead of dupes that don't last and cutting back on her gym membership.

But Peacock also said she and her husband had some nonnegotiables that they wouldn't give up, like eating out. The viral video, which was posted on Dec. 28, 2025, had nearly 212,000 views as of Jan. 29.

Peacock told USA TODAY said she and her husband want to try to save $50,000 this year with their cuts and $100,000 in two years. They want to buy a house and have a baby, she said.

Peacock's online content initially focused on her dogs but has now turned into tips about frugal living. When asked how they would meet their lofty goal, Peacock, who is a swim coach, said her husband has a good-paying job, and the couple also makes and sells dog treats via their social media channel.

Peacock said she made the video to hold herself accountable for cutting her spending. Since the beginning of January, Peacock said she has made her own coffee at home instead of doing her daily $8 coffee run.

What do the financial experts say?

The advice the two influencers are offering isn't bad but it's understandable that there have been some critics who responded negatively, Josh Brooks, a certified financial planner with Exponential Advisors LLC in Weatherford, Texas, told USA TODAY.

The backlash to the "latte factor" advice is valid because you can't use frugality as the only way out of a systemic income deficit, Brooks said in emailed comments about advice to cut a coffee or latte habit to save money.

Similarly, if your fixed costs, like rent, health care and debt exceed your income, cutting a $200 DoorDash habit won't solve poverty, Brooks said.

"Suggesting otherwise feels tone-deaf to those facing genuine economic hardship," Brooks said. "However, the influencers aren't entirely wrong – they just apply the advice too broadly."

Robert Wang, a certified financial planner with Claro Advisors Inc. in Boston, told USA TODAY that having a spending plan is like being on a diet.

"It will only work if it's sustainable and reasonable. Many people want quick results and thus will be disappointed by the 'small wins,' " he wrote in an email. The most effective diets are moderate and by people who [are] motivated to continue no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it gets, he said.

"That's how I view 'budgeting;' it's not primarily the $4 you save by not buying coffee but the ability and willingness to sacrifice something from Present You so Future You can benefit," Wang said.

Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] or follow her on X, Facebook or Instagram @blinfisher and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, which breaks down complex consumer and financial news. Subscribe here.