HOW-TO | UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE ON A BUDGET FOR SUMMER

Hello everyone! If your wardrobe needs some serious TLC and updating for this upcoming summer, but you don't really want to be spending a ton of money. There are so many great tips and tricks that i have learnt to not only save money when buying clothes, but also different ways to work with some things you already might have sitting in your wardrobe. With that in mind for today's post i thought i would share with you some of my personal favourite tips, on how to save money on a wardrobe update...

1. have a wardrobe de-clutter

First things first before you make a start on shopping to update your wardrobe, have a de-clutter/a look through what you have already got in your wardrobe. Keep pieces you think you could still wear during the summer, such as basics jeans/t-shirts etc and either store away for the next season or sell items online for a little extra cash.

2. write a note/list on what you actually need

By writing a list of what you actually need, you are more likely to stick to it and not go off course buying things you don't necessarily need and just wasting your money in the long run. 

3. when shopping online, search for discount codes

If you are choosing to pick items up from online stores such as ASOS, Missguided, Boohoo or PLT, always save your favourite items for later and shop when there is a discount available (which is on a regular basis). Other ways to get a hold of discount codes are by downloading discount apps, the store apps, signing up for email subscription and also by following the brands on social media sites. 

4. shop the sales section

Sticking to the online shopping theme, a great way of finding the bargains is to shop sites sale sections or view each section using the low-to-high pricing filter. Going in-store a lot of them also more often than not have a sale section, as well as so much money off selected items (such as 10%, 15% and as much as 30% off).

5. shop around for the most affordable "dupe"/style steal pieces

Really want a Chanel handbag? Who doesn't but we can't all always afford that or justify spending that much right now, then pick up a dupe or style steal version (Shein is a great site for designer handbag dupes). This works with pretty much any item of clothing or accessory, the high-street or affordable sites.

6. invest in items that can be worn with lots of different outfits

By picking up new key pieces to pair with some either new basics or basics you might already have in your wardrobe, rather than just buying things that only work well with one specific outfit. 

7. take a trip to Primark

Everybody loves a good trip to Primark right? I know i do, especially when you find some real gems. You can pick up some basics for as little as £2.50, they also currently have some great summer pieces costing between £4 and £12. Primark is also the perfect store to visit to pick up your holiday pieces, like swimwear for under £5 and their bargain trusty 90p beach flip flops. 

8. if you aren't 100% sure on something don't buy it or keep it

We have all been there when you buy something, then when it comes to trying it on you either don't feel like it suits you or it doesn't fit quite right but you keep it because you simply can't be bothered to send/take it back. This is such a waste of money as it is more than likely just going to sit there, un-worn with the tags still on in months or years to come. You could use that money to get something that does suit you and does fit you.

9. DIY what you already have

Looking for the perfect pair of ripped jeans or a mini/midi skirt rather than a maxi then DIY some pieces you already have in your wardrobe, that could just be sat there going un-worn. There are so many great videos/tutorials online and on Pinterest for clothing DIY.

10. make the same outfit look different

Of course we all wear the same outfits multiple times, because they tend to become favourites of ours and we feel nice in them. That being said you don't always want to look same old same old in something too quick, make an outfit look different by switching up your hairstyle, makeup (especially lipstick colour). You could also switch up the shoes and accessories you pair with a specific outfit, to either dress up or dress down the occasion. 

Catch up on my previous post HERE...

xo.

TIPS + TRICKS | HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BUYING FOOD

Hello everyone! Does anyone else always feel as if the majority of their money ends up being spent on food? Well i was starting to feel this way too, when in fact there are so many great ways to actually save yourself money yet still eat the same as you would normally (well maybe with a couple of differences). Ever since trying out different ways to save money on food, i have learnt a bunch of tips and tricks on how to do so. With that in mind for today's instalment i thought i would do something a little different and share with you some of the tricks, that i have found have worked for me in the long run...

1. download the app or visit the mySupermarket site on your phone

By looking on the mySupermarket site you can search for your favourite items, to see what is what price where (or what is on offer similar from a different store or brand). You can even scan the bar code of an item and it will automatically search it for. 

2. write a shopping list

If you write a shopping list before you go shopping you are more likely to not forget anything you need or not pick up something you already have enough of, because you simply couldn't remember if you already had one in the cupboard or the fridge at home.

3. write your list according to a meal plan

By writing your shopping list to accommodate your meal plan is a great way on you not picking up those extra unnecessary purchases, this is also another great way to stay organised/be prepared for the week ahead.  

4. never go food shopping when hungry

Never ever go food shopping when you are hungry, if you are hungry your brain is going to make you want to pick up anything and everything. Doing this is such a waste of food because once you have eaten, you will have forgotten about everything else and you are more likely to waste food.

5. set yourself a budget

If you set yourself a food budget and stick to it, only allowing yourself to use that money for buying food with you are more likely not to over-spend. Another great tip for budgeting is to test different stores weekly, seeing which one ends up being the best value for money for what you are getting.

6. pick up certain items for less 

Rather than opting for picking up certain items whilst on your food shop, pick items up that you know are less expensive from places such as Home Bargains or Poundland. Some items can be almost £3 in the supermarket, but only retail for £1 and under at those places.

7. make your own version of a take-away/eating out meal

By buying the ingredients and making your favourite take-way or eating out meal at home, you are saving yourself so much money (even though eating out is nice once in a while but the cost can add up). The price of one course at a restaurant can be the same price if not more than it would cost you to make for between 6 and 8 people, which is crazy when you think about it!

 8. budget your breakfast

By budgeting on breakfast foods you can save yourself a fortune, opt for breakfasts that you can get a week or mores worth out of such as porridge oats or cereals. You can even pick up oats-so-simple boxes containing 8 sachets for 8 breakfasts for just £1, costing you just 12.5p per day which is a bargain.

9. stock up on your favourites when on offer

If there is a certain item that you buy every single week, such as toilet paper, washing detergents, etc (including the longer life alpro products) stock up on them when they are on a good special offer. Yes this is costing you a little more at that specific time but in the long run you are going to have saved a lot more, than if you hadn't done as the item will be full price again.

10. buy frozen fruit/vegetables

Buying frozen fruit and veggies is such a saving in more ways than one, not only are they less expensive but the product will last you a lot longer and is less likely to go off than it would if you had bought it fresh. Also by having a frozen version you can take out as much or as little as you need at a time, for example for the longest time i always used to pick up sweetcorn in a tin at around 80p a time and now i opt for a large bag which lasts for ages for just under £2, taking out as much as i need for whatever i am using it for.  

Check out the mySupermarket site for current offers HERE...

xo.

TIPS + TRICKS | HOW TO STAY STYLISH FOR LESS

Hello everyone! Staying "on-trend"/up to date on style could be seriously costly, but it honestly doesn't have to be that way at all and there are so many ways to stay stylish for less money. This doesn't just count for clothing, style is more than just clothes it is also accessories, lifestyle choices and beauty. With that in mind for today's post, i thought i would share with you some of my tips and tricks on how to stay stylish on a budget...

1. swap designer labels for high-street pieces

You might think you are getting the best by spending the extra cash on a designer bag or clothing, yet you might be surprised what you can get on the high-street or online for a lot less. If you are a lover of designer handbags, then a way to get your hands on something super similar is by shopping on shein. This is where i picked up my "chanel boy bag" dupe from and the quality of the bags are really good for the price point. 

2. wait until there is a discount code or sale

When it comes to shopping online the best thing to usually do is wait it out, especially until there is a discount code or the item comes on sale. Clothing sites which have so many affordable versions of on trend pieces such as Boohoo, MissGuided and PrettyLittleThing have discount codes available weekly if not daily. This way you can pick up some items you have your eye one and save money by doing so.

3. save money on having your nails done by diy'ing them at home

Having a manicure/acrylics/gel nails every couple of weeks or once a month can quickly become costly at around £30 a time, save yourself money by giving yourself a manicure at home. Whether that be simply painting them, or adding your own acrylics which are simple to apply and can be picked up from as little as £1 from Primark (they are my favourites). Even if you like to get creative with nail art, watch tutorials or search Pinterest for easy step by step guides on how to re-create it on your own nails.

4. choose drugstore makeup over high-end makeup

When it comes to makeup i do love a good high-end product but there are definitely a lot of drugstore products that i love even more, especially when it comes to foundations. Wearing high-end makeup every single day can become costly, especially because you are going through things quicker so swap out your high-end foundation/concealer for everyday use and limit using high-end to weekends/special occasions. 

5. choose pieces that will go with multiple things

If you are going to invest in something, make sure before buying it is something that is going to go with more than one thing. There is no point in wasting your money on something you can wear only once, or with only one outfit. One of my favourite things to do is wear a simple outfit and switch up the way it looks with a different jacket, coat, cardigan and shoes. 

6. style your hair different

Another really easy step to look put together/stylish is to put in a little more effort when it comes to your hair, you could be wearing a simple pair of jeans and top but look really put together with a really easy to do hairstyle. My favourite thing to do is a easy DIY salon looking blow-dry at home, which i mentioned in a recent beauty hacks i swear by post. I also love doing voluminous waves, which can be super quick and easy to do by placing your hair in a high pony-tail and curling as you normally would before removing the hair-tie. 

7. how to afford luxury fragrances

Smelling good is sometimes as good if not the perfect way to finish off a stylish look and perfume can be super expensive, but there are ways to dodge the cost. A great tip is to shop/search for designer fragrance dupes from places such as Next, M&S, Primark and New Look for a lot less. Other great ways are to try out a fragrance subscription service or even shop duty free/sales. 

8. make your old clothes new again

Another great way to switch up some of your current wardrobe pieces is to do a little DIY on them, whether that be adding rips to a plain pair of jeans or making them into shorts. There are so many great step by step ways on how to DIY your clothing/accessories on Pinterest, which you would be surprised at how simple they are to do. If DIY isn't really your thing, you can also add things to an existing outfit such as a belt.

Catch up on my previous tips + tricks post HERE...

xo.

TIPS & TRICKS: HOW TO SAVE MONEY & GET ORGANISED FOR CHRISTMAS

Hello everyone! Now that we are almost a week into November, it is the time when the majority of us all start to think about Christmas shopping and what we are going to get, for who we are going to get gifts for (unless you are one of those extra organised people who do their shopping mid-year). That being said if you aren't one of those super organised people, yet you want to be this year then i thought i would share with you some tips and tricks on how to get organised for Christmas, as well as how to save yourself some money along the way.

1. always make a list(s).

Before you start absolutely anything, always make a list whether that be on your phone or in a notebook. By making a list of the people you need to buy for, it allows you a clear vision rather than just keeping it in your head and you are less likely to forget anyone. Also to be extra organised, write down next to the persons name a rough idea of what you want to get them and roughly how much you want to spend on that person.  

2. shop around online first.

So once you have an idea on what you are going to get someone, always type into google the item and shop around for the best deal. This doesn't mean you have to buy it online, you can still head into the store to buy it but just don't buy the first one you see from the first place, as you could be wasting money and you could be saving getting if from somewhere for a little or a lot cheaper.

3. pick up a Christmas catalogue.

A lot of stores from around September onwards, have free catalogues available to pick up and they are filled with both Christmas gifts/gift sets and also inspiration for things such as gift buying, food ideas or even homeware/decorations. If you see one pick one up (especially a Boots one), you can even mark in/fold pages on items you see that you think might interest you or be a great gift for someone.    

4. take advantage of discounts/store offers (such as 3for2).

So we all know when it comes to Christmas a lot of stores like Boots and Superdrug have 3 for 2 deals on Christmas gift sets, which is perfect when picking up either stocking fillers or a larger gift for those beauty lovers in your life. As they are on a 3 for 2 deal you are saving money on one gift, because you only ended up paying for two and you get the cheapest one free. Also if you have a present in mind for someone and the store has a discount offer on such as 10 or 20% off, don't hesitate pick it up whilst the deal is on and you'll save yourself some money.

5. do NOT over buy.
This is when sticking to the list(s) you made comes in handy, as you are less likely to over buy especially when it comes to gifts and the food shop (just remember they are only closed for one day) and there is just no need. Also when you have finished gift buying for someone, make sure you check them off of your list as you don't want to double buy, as this is just a waste of money.

6. do your shopping in November/the first week of December.
Rule number one when it comes to being organised, never leave your shopping until the last week or minute as more often than none shops will have increased their prices, they won't have anything you wanted left and most importantly you'll end up spending more time queuing up to pay than you will do shopping. If you are wanting to get someone a fairly expensive gift (such as something electrical) wait until Black Friday (27th November) as you could bag yourself a bargain or two. 

7. ask family/friends what they would like.
Another way to not waste your money and to give you an idea on what to get someone, it to always ask them a rough idea on what they would like to receive for Christmas (especially those hard to buy for people - every family has one). By doing this like i said you are not only not wasting your money on something they are never going to use or what they don't have an interest in. Sometimes this is also when giving them money or a gift card can come in handy and there are also some places where you can get money off on gift cards.

8. browse to find the cheapest way to get your gifts.
Another thing we don't always take into account is the money we spend actually getting the gifts to us, whether that be shopping in-stores or online. If something is free delivery online, always opt for that option because even going to buy something in-store sometimes costs you more in the long run, as you have had to spend money on transport like petrol or the trains/bus. Another tip is to sign up to 30 day free trials for delivery such as Amazon Prime, as once you have completed your gift shopping there is no need to sign up/pay for another month/yearly subscription (unless you want to that is).

Catch my "the best new-in beauty gift sets" post HERE...

xo.

BUDGET BEAUTY WEEK: TIPS & TRICKS TO SAVE MONEY

Hello everyone and welcome back to another instalment of "budget beauty" week! Being the complete makeup collector/hoarder/self-diagnosed addict that i am, i am always looking for new makeup/existing makeup that i want to try but through it all there is always one rule i stick by and that is finding the best deal/way to save money before i buy. With that being said i have discovered so many different ways to save money when buying beauty or anything in general, so i thought why not share some of those tips and tricks.

1. always search on google for the cheapest seller/what is on offer where.

2. take advantage on things you want to try if on a 3for2 or buy one get one 1/2 off offer.

3. want fancy nails quick but don't want to spend £30+ pick some up and do them yourself.

4. try the affordable makeup dupes before the high-end product.

5. take advantage if something is on offer by stocking up, such as picking up two/three toothpastes at a time because when you come to re-purchase next time the item could be back to full price.

6. use less of a product that you already own, you might be using more than needed.

7. play the waiting game, wait until the next set of offers are released.

8. sign up to brand newsletters/emails, as they very often send discount codes/offers.

9. take advantage of loyalty cards such as superdrug, boots etc, as points make prizes.

10. pick up free beauty samples, i have a tips and tricks post on samples here.

11. love having tinted eyebrows but don't want to spend £7+ every month? buy the eylure dybrow kit for the same price, do it yourself at home and you will get 12+ uses out of the one box.

12. buy try me samples such as smashbox or benefit from boots, before investing in the full size.

13. buy higher end makeup from blogger/instagram sales or depop.

14. take advantage of sale/offer days, such as thursday's on superdrug.com for beautycard members, as well as black friday/boxing day and end of season sales.

15. ask for more high-end beauty/makeup items for christmas and birthdays.

16. sell your un-used and un-wanted products or do a swap with a family member/friend.

17. add something to your basket and keep it there, 9 times out of 10 the brand will send you an email stating that the product is still in your basket and they will offer a discount code.

18. running low on your favourite "tubed" product, make a small cut at the top to get the remaining product out therefore you are not wasting anything.

19. return your empty containers to stores such as mac and lush to receive free products.

20. go on a spending ban for a month, that might seem hard as first but it is a great way to stop yourself from buying something for the sake of it.

Catch up on yesterdays budget beauty week post HERE...

xo.