Spending Ban: REFLECTION AND TIPS

Today has officially marked the end of my 30 day Spending Ban. A little surprised I lasted the whole 30 days to be quite honest; a proud moment! It went very well, I saved a lot of money and also came across new ways to save.

I thought in this post I would share a few important tips, hopefully it will be of use to some of you.

Work your wardrobe and shop your stash!

One of the biggest spends I was facing on a weekly basis was in fact clothes and makeup.

 I have accumulated boxes and drawers full of makeup in an attempt to keep up with trends. I haven’t purchased any makeup in the past 30 days; I found a lot I hadn’t even ever used. I think I will be carrying on with my makeup spend ban for a little while longer as I really need to use up what I have first. 

Because we are approaching Winter the spending ban on clothes was a little more difficult. I took out some of last years knits etc but I will definitely need to buy more. I am all for versatilely though so I will try and purchase ’trend’ items I can carry through to next year. I think basic pieces are vital if you are on a budget, not only will they be cheaper but you can also dress them up or down and chose to pair say a white top with a maxi skirt or even jeans.

Have a regular de clutter!

I think it’s really important to set aside time to sort things out, organise and de clutter. 

With unwanted makeup and clothes ask your friends or family if they want them but if you decide to sell them not only will you free up space in your wardrobe but you might also make a little money. 

Food!

Those £5+ lunches are always convenient, it saves us having to get up earlier in the morning to make something. But think of it this way, that counts up to at least £25 a week. You could almost buy 2 MAC lipsticks with that amount! Packed lunches are the way forward for work/school - it honestly doesn’t take that long to make a sandwich, coupled with a few snacks and a drink you have the perfect lunch at minimum cost.

Buffets usually work out cheaper when eating out and ‘meals’ save you a few pennies when ordering a takeaway.

Fruit and Veg!

At the start of Spring I actually planted a few vegetables in the hope that they would grow and they did! Supermarkets import fruit and veg now a days hence the inflated price tag. Not only does homegrown veg taste better it also saves a lot of money.

Samples!

There are a lot of free sample websites and the industry is booming as of right now. Free coffee sachets, makeup, shampoo samples and more. The little sample sizes are also ideal for when travelling.

Finally…

Ask yourself “Do I really need this?”

It really works! Try it.