THERE is nothing that makes you reign in a budget faster than when you move out of home for the first time.
This I have learnt the hard way.
For a year or so I lived at home with my parents while working full time. While I wasn't being paid much, when you don't have to factor in rent or bills, it does leave a lot of spending money each week.
I was, comparatively, living the high life. I saw nothing wrong with buying $30 bottles of shampoo and conditioner, spending $60 on mascara and eating restaurant lunches every day.
These days are now well and truly gone - that is, until I am on a substantially larger paycheck. Which isn't likely for a long time.
However, this doesn't mean I go without. I've learnt to compromise on some fronts so it means I can spoil myself on others. Some of these include:
- Not washing my hair every day. Most people tend to wash their hair too often. This strips it of its necessary oils, which then forces it to overcompensate - resulting in lank locks by the end of the day.
It takes a couple of weeks for your hair to adjust, but the less you wash your hair, the less oily it becomes. I now wash every three or so days, and my hair remains fresh on it's own (with the help of a light spray of dry shampoo).
Not only does this mean shorter showers (so less water use) it also makes my shampoo and conditioner last much longer.
(Tip - a shower cap is a very useful, albeit daggy, investment.)
- Buy generic products wherever possible. This includes earbuds, cotton balls, tissues, hair ties and pins, pasta and rice, flour, sugar, light globes - all those essential items.
- As an avid reader, buying a new book is a luxury I've had to forgo. I now use the local library, as well as second hand book stores. The same goes for games and DVDs, too. Always look for trade-in deals or ex-rental/pre-owned copies. In my experience, the quality is just as good as new.
- Never shop when you're hungry. Impulse buys will get the better of you. And always take a list.
- Your best bet for skincare is not with expensive products, but a good diet and lifestyle. Drink plenty of water, avoid excess sugar and enjoy plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to give your complexion a boost. For pimples/acne, be sure to change your pillowcase regularly or lay a clean towel down each night. Fresh linen will help eliminate any bacterial strongholds which may cause outbreaks.
- Check unit pricing (the price per kg/litre.) What may seem like a bargain can actually be a massive rip-off.
- Buying in bulk is great - but only if you'll use it. There's no point buying five kilos of potatoes if it saves you $2 but there's no way you'll eat them all. Buy things in bulk that you know you'll need - such as toilet paper or UHT milk.
- If you're only using your car around town, you may find premium petrol gives you a better fuel economy. It might sound a bit weird, spending more money to save it, but I know that $50 of premium gives me about 5-6 weeks of driving. It's better for your car in the long run, too.
- Gym memberships become entirely unfeasible on a tight budget. You may have to invest a bit of money in some good quality items, like running shoes, but it works out much cheaper than the monthly fees a gym incurs. Situps, pushups, crunches and running can all be done for free. For weights, you can always use cans, or keep some old milk bottles filled with water for 2-3 kilo weights.
- Nights out on the town can be great fun, but they also tend to burn a massive hole in the bank balance. I've since learnt that I can't be trusted with my bank card on a night out, so I take a clutch purse with all the cash I can comfortably afford that night and leave my card at home. (Besides, I've also found some of the best nights are simply at a mate's place with a couple of bottles of wine, anyway.)
These are some of my budget buster tips, but if you've got an inventive way to save some money, I want to hear it. Know a good recipe for an at-home facial, or have you taught yourself how to sew in a bid to save some cash?