Donald Trump's campaign spending spiked in August, but it still looked frugal compared with recent nominees' spending ahead of the general election.

The Republican presidential nominee reported total disbursements of $29.9 million, up from $18.5 million in July, according to a Federal Election Commission report filed Tuesday. But it still fell well short of the nearly $50 million spent by his Democrat opponent Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Trump's campaign has proven remarkably lean in the free-spending world of American politics, even in the general election. It has spent little on television ads and maintains a thin payroll, even as the November election draws near.

Trump started August in a big polling hole against Clinton and clawed back to nearly a dead heat, even spending much less than Clinton. The consistent free media exposure for his often bizarre campaign likely helps.