Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Budget. Show all posts
It can be quite daunting thinking about all the items you want to invest money in for the long run and then totalling up how much it would cost to invest in them items... I find that investment pieces can be something that you gradually add to your collection when and wear you can, and there is nothing wrong with buying non-investment pieces in the mean time.
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
Following on from that thought, I wanted to do a round up of items, clothing and non clothing, which I like to spend money on and save money on. I don't have loads of money to spend on myself, I have a mortgage and would like to have children in the near future so spending vast amounts of money on myself just isn't a priority. I hope this helps people who are trying to figure out what they want to spend their hard money on but don't know where to start.
Where I like to spend
- Skincare
- Moisturiser - Apart from the Sukin Facial Moisturiser which I am a big fan of, I mainly only use Clinique or Origins moisturiser and the main reason for this is simply - my skin like them much better. I have tried a few drugstore moisturisers but 9/10 times my skin does not agree with them so naturally, I am going to listen to my skin.
- Eye Cream - Since I started wearing eye cream a few years back (not as soon as I should have mind you) I have always stuck to the Clinique All About The Eyes Cream and I have never found anything to rival it. I tried to find a pot of eye cream from Boots when I ran out and all I could find was tube eye creams. What is up with that?
- Outerwear
- Outerwear is generally a higher price point because of what it is made of and the amount of material used but I do like to spend a little extra on my outerwear to make sure it lasts me for many many years. You end up wearing your outerwear 10x more than any other item in your wardrobe and it completely covers your outfit so it needs to be something that works with everything and stands the time. I also like to spend a little more on a outerwear piece because i have a select collection of coats and jacket rather than having a large collection to choose from.
- Footwear
- Footwear is around the same thinking as my outerwear collection, i have a few key pieces of footwear that I rotate depending on the season so i like to invest in shoes that will last me more than one season. I still have some shoes from Primark and Newlook which have lasted me a long while but I do like to go into TKMax and see what more brands I can get my hands on.
- Jewellery - excluding earrings
- I used to love the 'costume' jewellery that I used to buy in Clair's Accessories when I was younger but now I have ground up I much prefer the more simple diligent pieces. I find to buy a piece of jewellery that will last years without the chain breaking, you do need to invest a little into the piece.
- Handbags
- Again this is very similar to my thinking process about footwear and outerwear, a good hand bag can last you so many years and work for any occasion. I am someone who bangs and bashes their handbag around all days so i need one which is going to last more than a few months before breaking.
- Kitchen Equipment
- Strange one maybe to put in but a very important one for people deciding to move out! When im talking about kitchen equipment I'm talking washing machine, slow cooker, dish washer - all of the equipment which can cost a lot to replace at the wrong time. When i need to buy something for the kitchen i do like to go by certain brands which i know last a long time and have great customer service. My favourites if you wanted to know are Russel Hobbs and Samsung.
Where I like to save
- Home Decor
- As much as i love looking in the white company... it just isn't going to happen. The price some brands charge for home decor is crazy considering Home Bargains and Primark do some amazing items which are similar and more than half the price! I feel like only a few years ago it wasn't seen as cool to buy home bits from shops like Home Bargains and then in the space of a year or two, everyone is raving about their products and I can see why.
- Makeup
- If you have been around for a long time than you will know that i have always been a drugstore makeup girl right from the beginning and nothing has really changed. Although i like to spend a bit more on my skincare, I find most makeup works on a good base and I do have my favourites. Rimmel, Revolution and Kiko are to name a few which i have stuck with for many years. I have a few higher end products in my collection but the majority of it is from Boots.
- Earings
- I couldn't count for you the number of earrings I have upstairs, the number would carry on for a long while and along the years I have picked up big packs of multiple design earrings from Newlook and Primark and I have never had a problem with them. If you have sensitive ears than maybe ignore this point but i would rather spend £10 on a pack of 50 earrings them £50 on one pair.
- Jersey Basics
- This might make people gasp in horror but I buy all my basics from Newlook and H&M because you can't go wrong with them. Most of my wardrobe is made up of basics from H&M and Newlook and i have had some for years.
- Jeans
- I know a lot of people like to invest in their jeans and have the one perfect pair but I still have some jeans that I bought from Newlook about 7 years ago and they still look perfect. I find that as long as you wash them right, you shouldn't really have a problem. Always remember to go for a smaller size so when they naturally give, they aren't too big!
- Nails
- If you have never tried the fake nails from Primark what have you been doing all your life? A full set of acrylics can set you back £30 ish and to have them removed cost an extra £10 for the removal? Primark sell amazing stick on nails for just £1. When i tell people this they do look at me like OMG you must be that stingy but once i show them my hands with the fake nails on, they can't believe how good they look. Honestly if you have never tried them give them a go, it will only cost you a £1! The glue you get with them is also amazing!
- Cleaning Supplies
- Another random one but the amount some people spend on cleaning supplies is ridiculous. I buy all my cleaning supplies from Aldi or Home Bargains if certain things are on offer. I find with cleaning products... it all does the same thing!
- Food Shop
- Ever since I moved into my own home I have shopped with Aldi and I love the food they make. I have converted so many people to Aldi and it is amazing the amount of money you can save on a big shop. Yes it has some set backs like the packing is really annoying but I tend to open all my bags in the trolley and throw them into the bags - rebel I know! Again i feel like it is now cool to shop at Aldi thanks to people on YouTube recording their 'weekly Aldi food shop'.
You would have seen in my last post that I recently picked up the Clinique Take The Day Off makeup remover to try, now after I have been using it for a few weeks I thought I would compare it to my holy grail Simple Micellar Water. As you should all know I am a budget girl through and through only springing out for certain skincare pieces which I know work way better for me then the drugstore equivalent I have tried.
P A C K A G I N G
Not that you should judge a book by its cover but we all know the packaging is what attracts us to look at a product in the first place. For the most part both bottles are relatively similar with both being clear plastic bottles but the Clinique bottle is more appealing and expensive looking, I can't lie when I put all my Clinique products together on the side they do look good. But what the Simple bottle lacks in cuteness it makes up for with size. You know everyone always tells you size doesn't matter? It does when it comes to skincare products. The Simple bottle holds more than 3x more product than the Clinique bottle and is more than 1/3 of the price. You can't argue with maths although the Clinique bottle would be better for traveling.
F O R M U L A
When it comes to formulas these two products couldn't be any more different. The Clinique remover is oil based so the product separates in the bottle when it is untouched. Many times I have poured some of the product out before I have remember to shake the bottle and I get a face full of oil! I am learning and haven't done that is a week tho. The product also leaves a residue on the skin afterwards that I tend wash off straight away otherwise my skin is slimy for a while, afterwards you can't deny your skin feels amazing though like you have just had a facial. My skin is always super soft after I have used this product and unlike the Take The Day Of Cleansing Balm that I tried before, this product doesn't irritate my eyes.
As for the Simple cleanser it is exactly what it says on the tin (or bottle), you wipe your makeup away with a cotton pad and your done, no need to wash your face afterwards. My skin has always liked this micellor water and I really like you can get sensitive formulas as well as my skin can be unpredictable sometimes. I find with this cleaner you don't a lot of product to remove the majority of your makeup which makes my night routine even quicker.
P R I C E
Now for the all important price... I normally buy the Simple Micellor water for around £6 which is extremely good for your money but at the moment, the product is half price and £3 for the 400ml bottle which is a steal. As for the Clinique makeup remover I purchased the 125ml bottle from Boots for around £14 if you compare it to some other skincare brands isn't actually that much.
C O M P A R I S O N
I know no matter what I will also have a bottle of Simple Micellor Water in my skincare collection because it comes in really handy and I know it will always work for me. I do like to branch out with my skincare though and Clinique is one brand that I really like to try new products from. I swear by their moisturizers and feel like my skin benefits from using their products regularly. If you are looking fo ]r a bog standard does what it says on the bottle then the Simple Micellor water is the one for you but if you like the more luxurious feel then try the Clinique makeup remover because it does remove all your makeup and leave your skin feeling super silky.
Sticking to a budget can be hard and when your a home owner and have bills to pay for you don't really get a choice. I've been living in my own home now for just over a two years now and I have found some ways that help me to stick to my budget and not go into my overdraft every month.
- Meal Plan
This can be a life safer if you are someone who ends up buying a bunch of food that you don't need. Cal and I like to sit down and plan what we are going to eat for dinner that week for many reasons, one is so we can get what we need on our weekly shop ahead of time and because it gives us something to look forward to.
- Stick to your list
I think it should be a known rule never to go food shopping while you are hungry otherwise I come back with 2 cinnamon swirls, 3 different biscuits and a box of microwave chips so stick to the items on your list. You made a list for a reason so only get the food that you need.
- Choose food with multiple uses
It's easy to buy food because you like it but it worked for one meal and then its done. I like to make meals which I can freeze for another night or pop in the fridge for my lunch tomorrow. It helps me save money and stops me using everything in my freezer in one go.
- Shop Around
Before I moved out I was a self confessed Tesco addict and if I needed anything whether it was food or random bits I would go to Tesco. When we moved out we didn't know how we would find balancing our mortgage, food shopping, petrol and such so we ended up trying the Aldi store which is 10 minutes down the street from our house. We've found we can get a full weekly shop with meat and chicken and the everyday bits for between £20-£30 which is really good considering how much we bring home so we are official Aldi converts now. I love the chicken and meat from Aldi so if you don't already shop there then you should try it once. I know down the line when we start to have a family it will really help with saving our money. Its easy to stick to a shop that you are familiar with but when you can save all this money you have to give it a go.
- Check your online banking daily
It sounds very silly but I am terrible for not checking my online banking for days and it has become Cals job to remind me to pay the bills. By checking it daily you know exactly what bills has already come out and what you still need to pay for, that way if you see something you want for the house you know what money you have left for the month.
- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle
Anyone else remember this saying up on every wall in your school?
It does still apply now in every day life so I have implemented it back into my life. When we first moved in we were still learning a rhythm and we ended up not using fresh food which meant it went off and we had to throw it away, which is such a waste. So when we plan our meals for the week now we also check what we still have in the fridge and freezer and what dates they go off. Then we make sure we use the food before the due date so that we don't waste the food anymore.
This doesn't just apply to food as well, we had lots of random house decorative bits which didn't have a home for a while and rather then getting rid of them we have rotated them round the house until we found a room where we liked them. Its so easy to chuck something away because it doesn't suit your theme only to need one a few months later and end up buying it again.
- Never impulse buy for the house
I love buying items for my house like most people and going into Home Sense or Dunelm can be really hurtful for my bank balance, I like to go home shopping with Cal because he does stop me going crazy for stuff that we don't need and don't have room for. Home stuff can be really expensive so I try and really think about what I want for the house and stop myself impulse buying. If I find something that I really like but it is super expensive, I like to sleep on the idea of spending that much money on one item. You can get into the hype of 'I need to buy this now, it won't be here tomorrow if I change my mind' but I have come to believe that if I return to the shop and the item is still there then I was meant to purchase it.
- Treat Yourself
This one may sound strange in this list but when you have been really good for a long period of time you deserve a treat. Me and Cal have the occasional take away when we have cooked dinner for the whole week because it gives me a night off from cooking and its something a bit different. If we don't have a take away we sometimes go out for date night instead and again its just a little treat for our hard work. Just watch they become too much of regular thing!
I enjoyed writing my Bronzing On A Budget post so much last month that I have turned it into a series and followed it on with this Highlighting on a budget post! You are welcome...
I have four budget highlighters to show you today and I'll start with my favourite two. They are by Makeup Revolution and are so so amazing! I have the Vivid Baked Highlighter in Peach lights and the same in Pink lights. Pink lights is definitely more pigmented and vibrate whereas the Peach lights is more subtle and natural. Although powder highlighter isn't my favourite I do love using these two as they work really well at lasting all day and add a lovely glow to your cheeks during nights out. These powders do have the power to make you look like a shinny glitter ball is you go over board with the highlighter so having a light hand is a must.
My second highlighter is by Newlook and I have mentioned it before on my blog. It is the shade 93 gold and is great at using on the cheek bones. I prefer the effect this stick gives my skin during the day as it is much more natural and effortless then the powder highlighters which can look too much during the day. I like to pop this on my cheek bones and on my phones over my foundation but I plan on trying it under my foundation as well as I think it might give my foundation an added feature. The formula of the highlighter is really creamy so it is really easy to blend and move around the face once you have swiped a line.
The last highlighter I am mentioning is the Kiko Makeup highlighter pencil from their contouring pencil set. This is very similar to the Newlook highlighter stick apart from it isn't as creamy as the Newlook one and it has a more pointed end so it is easier to apply your highlighter more precisely. Again this stick is perfect for during the day when you want to add a little shine to your face and dont want your face to look like a glitter ball.
Let me know what your favourite budget highlighters are!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
