Thursday, June 21, 2012
Not Perfect
I knew that it would happen sooner or later. I knew it because I am not perfect. There, I've said it. Out loud.
I. am. not. perfect.
I spent money. A lot of money. On not so important things. Although I did buy 2 gifts. And not a thing for me personally. And everything was on sale. But I still spent out of my weekly budget. And it was not a small amount.
I went to a well known surf shop to get a "grown up present" for my nearly 16 year old nephew. I got him a lovely mans wallet that was not on sale - for $30. Yet there WERE bargains to be had and I am afraid I got sucked in. I spent $40 on a jumper for my husband (reduced from $120), $34 on a jumper for my friends gorgeous son for his birthday (reduced from $70 - I know, for a kids jumper!) and $10 on a surf t-shirt for my little man which I will wrap up for his birthday(reduced from $30). $114. In one hit. Practically my whole grocery shop for a fortnight. ON GIFTS. However, I would like to notice that I did 'save' approx. $136 for my purchases by buying them during sale time. That's got to count for something doesn't it?
However, I didn't stop spending there.
I bought myself lunch. And a soft drink. $12. (It was yum!)
So. What do I have to learn from my experience? I'm not perfect. I will have some slip ups. I didn't continue spending beyond that and I won't spend for a long while now. Now I have 3 birthday gifts under my belt (purchase for hubby was just a splurge) and I know the recipients will LOVE the gifts bought. I think that I may need to budget for a splurge every now and then. Even if it is for just lunch. I have learnt that I need to be kinder to myself when I do slip up and just get right back to where I was before. And I had a really, really enjoyable lunch. Really.
Life is like that sometimes. But it 's the lessons learnt from our trip-ups that prove invaluable.
I'm not perfect. But who is?
A great blog to read for encouragement even on the darkest days....
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Addicted to comfort
Frugal tip 15 is another of those tips which don't look like frugal tips at all and can be taken as a bit esoterical. My tip is to lose your addiction to comfort and learn about your power consumption.
See? A bit airy fairy yeah? Read on.
According to an article I recently read on news.com.au:
AUSTRALIANS pay 130 per cent more for electricity than Canadians, according to new research - a power premium to rise to 250 per cent once the carbon tax and locked-in price increases take effect.
Electricty is something not to waste yet we use it often without thinking. Because we just flick a switch, turn up a thermostat or access a item we don't think about the electricty we consume or how much it is costing us to use. And that cost is to rise.
By over 250 % once the carbon tax takes affect! Got your attention now?
How may of us compare the meter readings on our electricity accounts to our actual meters? How many of us even know how to check our electricity meters?? Look around you now. How many items in your house are currently accessing electricity? I have two lamps, the TV, fridge, laptop, heater. That doesn't include my son's night light, the washing machine, water heater outdoor light all going on in other areas that I cannot see. And how much electricity am I using? I have no idea. But I am going to find out. It's important to understand consumption and how I am paying for it.
Some great websites that explain this really easily are:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/monitor-electricity-save.htm
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/
I haven't quite got the hang of it yet - but I will. I'll come back to it in a month and tell you how I am going.
The gist of it is this. Are you addicted to comfort? Do you need constant light, heat (cooling), entertainment? How much is your comfort costing you? Now I am not saying to turn off the heat completely, chuck out the telly and live by candlelight but I am saying - be aware of how much you are using and how much you may be able to cut down. For example, if my family and I are watching TV, I make sure all other entertainment is switched off (computers, stereos etc). I often turn off the light too, unless we need them. When I cook in my oven, I always plan ahead so that have a few dishes to cook at the same time therefore not wasting heat. And when I turn on the heat, I keep the thermostat at 20 degrees or lower. Usually lower. My husband and I have found this to be enough to keep the chill off of the air and if we feel cold we put on an extra layer of clothing or rug up with blankets. And if it's still cold - we go to bed. With hot water bottles. And each other.
There are so many ways to save on electricity. Wash clothes only when your machine is full. Air dry clothes on a rack or on a line, not in a clothes dryer. Don't keep your house lit up like Luna Park. It's common sense yet so many of us don't know what we are doing.
Give it a try - understand your energy consumption and give up a bit of comfort. It will be worth it in the end.
See? A bit airy fairy yeah? Read on.
According to an article I recently read on news.com.au:
AUSTRALIANS pay 130 per cent more for electricity than Canadians, according to new research - a power premium to rise to 250 per cent once the carbon tax and locked-in price increases take effect.
Electricty is something not to waste yet we use it often without thinking. Because we just flick a switch, turn up a thermostat or access a item we don't think about the electricty we consume or how much it is costing us to use. And that cost is to rise.
By over 250 % once the carbon tax takes affect! Got your attention now?
How may of us compare the meter readings on our electricity accounts to our actual meters? How many of us even know how to check our electricity meters?? Look around you now. How many items in your house are currently accessing electricity? I have two lamps, the TV, fridge, laptop, heater. That doesn't include my son's night light, the washing machine, water heater outdoor light all going on in other areas that I cannot see. And how much electricity am I using? I have no idea. But I am going to find out. It's important to understand consumption and how I am paying for it.
Some great websites that explain this really easily are:
http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/monitor-electricity-save.htm
http://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/
I haven't quite got the hang of it yet - but I will. I'll come back to it in a month and tell you how I am going.
The gist of it is this. Are you addicted to comfort? Do you need constant light, heat (cooling), entertainment? How much is your comfort costing you? Now I am not saying to turn off the heat completely, chuck out the telly and live by candlelight but I am saying - be aware of how much you are using and how much you may be able to cut down. For example, if my family and I are watching TV, I make sure all other entertainment is switched off (computers, stereos etc). I often turn off the light too, unless we need them. When I cook in my oven, I always plan ahead so that have a few dishes to cook at the same time therefore not wasting heat. And when I turn on the heat, I keep the thermostat at 20 degrees or lower. Usually lower. My husband and I have found this to be enough to keep the chill off of the air and if we feel cold we put on an extra layer of clothing or rug up with blankets. And if it's still cold - we go to bed. With hot water bottles. And each other.
There are so many ways to save on electricity. Wash clothes only when your machine is full. Air dry clothes on a rack or on a line, not in a clothes dryer. Don't keep your house lit up like Luna Park. It's common sense yet so many of us don't know what we are doing.
Give it a try - understand your energy consumption and give up a bit of comfort. It will be worth it in the end.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Give the man meat
I'd loved to wear jeans and t-shirts, but everybody
was in the peace movement back then. And that was my ploy. I had to be
careful not to say things like 'I like meat.' Actually I just wanted to
drink beer and to screw. Ed O'Neill.
The next tip is strictly for meat eaters only....and for those who are willing to try something new. Frugal tip number 14 is buy and try the cheaper cuts of meat. Now a lot of you may switch off here and that's fine. Frugally speaking, most of us would be much better of being vegetarians (probably health wise too!) But I have a husband who is a big ole' fashion meat and 3 veg type of guy and I am only too happy to deliver. However, meat isn't cheap and it seems meat costs are on the rise. So, what to do?
Buy cheap cuts of meat. Buy meat in bulk. Try something new. Buy meat on sale.
Cheap cuts of meat. You know what I am going to say now, don't you. Offal. Kidneys, liver and hearts. All extremely cheap and nutritious. And very easy to cook. But not to every one's taste. We can cook up a meal for 3 using offal as a base for under $2. I cook it in pasta, fried, stewed, baked, crumbed and stuffed. We like it and eat it probably once a fortnight. Personally, I can't eat tripe but I pretty much can eat anything else. However, my husbands Italian God-mother apparently makes tripe in sauce which tastes delightful- might be time to source that recipe. If you haven't tried offal in awhile, maybe you could try a new recipe. It's all a matter of personal choice.
There are also cheap cuts of beef (stewing steak, chuck steak, etc) which can be cooked for a really long time and slowly in a stew or casserole. The meat will just fall apart. I buy chicken wings for $2.99 a kilo (sometimes $5 for 2 kilo's) and marinate them in honey and soy for a tasty and very easy meal. I have also done the same with pork ribs. I have downloaded off of the net 101 different ways with mince (I know-crazy yeah?) and sometimes can get mince as cheap as $4 a kilo. Meat can be cheap if you aren't buying eye fillet steak and chicken breasts. I never buy chicken breasts. I can get a whole chicken for the cost of two breasts and get so much more out of it. I usually buy two whole chickens for $8 and cook one once a week. We have roast chicken for the first night, chicken sandwiches for lunch the next day, chicken stir fry or fried rice the next night and I use the carcass and a little meat left over to make chicken soup. Could you get that much out of 2 chicken breasts? I don't think so
I often buy meat in bulk. I have mentioned chicken wings, whole chickens and mince but I also buy sausages and trays of pork chops (usually cut thin - 10 to a tray). Bulk is cheaper and I re-package everything into family serving sizes. I can get some of these bargains at Aldi - but I also visit large meat wholesalers or markets. I can usually buy two months supply of meat for one months cost. One of the patients at work has told me that if you visit the markets near to closing time (around 2pm) you can save almost 50% off of meat prices. That is something that I must try.
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned buying any lamb. That is because I don't buy lamb. I get it given to me. My father-in-law has a sheep farm and every now and then, he gives me a whole side of lamb. This usually last us a couple of months and I save at least $200. He often gives me cuts I haven't cooked with before and tells me how to use them. He also has a 'farmer-supply' of rabbit and duck (depending on the season or what he has frozen). My father-in-law is of the old school thinking that whatever is killed is not wasted and he can make a delicious meal out of anything. He truly has taught me the most about cooking with unusual meat. I love it.
So I buy cheap cuts of meat. I buy meat on sale (even close to use by - I am going to freeze it anyway). I buy meat in bulk. And I am often trying something new. I make meat go a long way, I don't waste a morsel and we all enjoy eating it.
And sometimes, just sometimes- I even cook with vegies too. True!
Great blog on getting the most out of cheap beef (also a great blog to explore too)
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/19/making-the-most-of-cheap-cuts-of-beef/
The next tip is strictly for meat eaters only....and for those who are willing to try something new. Frugal tip number 14 is buy and try the cheaper cuts of meat. Now a lot of you may switch off here and that's fine. Frugally speaking, most of us would be much better of being vegetarians (probably health wise too!) But I have a husband who is a big ole' fashion meat and 3 veg type of guy and I am only too happy to deliver. However, meat isn't cheap and it seems meat costs are on the rise. So, what to do?
Buy cheap cuts of meat. Buy meat in bulk. Try something new. Buy meat on sale.
Cheap cuts of meat. You know what I am going to say now, don't you. Offal. Kidneys, liver and hearts. All extremely cheap and nutritious. And very easy to cook. But not to every one's taste. We can cook up a meal for 3 using offal as a base for under $2. I cook it in pasta, fried, stewed, baked, crumbed and stuffed. We like it and eat it probably once a fortnight. Personally, I can't eat tripe but I pretty much can eat anything else. However, my husbands Italian God-mother apparently makes tripe in sauce which tastes delightful- might be time to source that recipe. If you haven't tried offal in awhile, maybe you could try a new recipe. It's all a matter of personal choice.
There are also cheap cuts of beef (stewing steak, chuck steak, etc) which can be cooked for a really long time and slowly in a stew or casserole. The meat will just fall apart. I buy chicken wings for $2.99 a kilo (sometimes $5 for 2 kilo's) and marinate them in honey and soy for a tasty and very easy meal. I have also done the same with pork ribs. I have downloaded off of the net 101 different ways with mince (I know-crazy yeah?) and sometimes can get mince as cheap as $4 a kilo. Meat can be cheap if you aren't buying eye fillet steak and chicken breasts. I never buy chicken breasts. I can get a whole chicken for the cost of two breasts and get so much more out of it. I usually buy two whole chickens for $8 and cook one once a week. We have roast chicken for the first night, chicken sandwiches for lunch the next day, chicken stir fry or fried rice the next night and I use the carcass and a little meat left over to make chicken soup. Could you get that much out of 2 chicken breasts? I don't think so
I often buy meat in bulk. I have mentioned chicken wings, whole chickens and mince but I also buy sausages and trays of pork chops (usually cut thin - 10 to a tray). Bulk is cheaper and I re-package everything into family serving sizes. I can get some of these bargains at Aldi - but I also visit large meat wholesalers or markets. I can usually buy two months supply of meat for one months cost. One of the patients at work has told me that if you visit the markets near to closing time (around 2pm) you can save almost 50% off of meat prices. That is something that I must try.
You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned buying any lamb. That is because I don't buy lamb. I get it given to me. My father-in-law has a sheep farm and every now and then, he gives me a whole side of lamb. This usually last us a couple of months and I save at least $200. He often gives me cuts I haven't cooked with before and tells me how to use them. He also has a 'farmer-supply' of rabbit and duck (depending on the season or what he has frozen). My father-in-law is of the old school thinking that whatever is killed is not wasted and he can make a delicious meal out of anything. He truly has taught me the most about cooking with unusual meat. I love it.
So I buy cheap cuts of meat. I buy meat on sale (even close to use by - I am going to freeze it anyway). I buy meat in bulk. And I am often trying something new. I make meat go a long way, I don't waste a morsel and we all enjoy eating it.
And sometimes, just sometimes- I even cook with vegies too. True!
Great blog on getting the most out of cheap beef (also a great blog to explore too)
http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2007/01/19/making-the-most-of-cheap-cuts-of-beef/
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Just be.
Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
And so we come to frugal tip number 13.... and it will have to be a quick one becuase I have a wash to hang out, dinner on the stove, the dog is barking at the door and my son is having a tanty in the other room. It's only a matter of time before my husband comes in and demands my presence, my son loses it COMPLETELY and the dog scratches through the door. I can smell the dinner burning...and well, bugger the washing because I am exhausted.
But I am so happy. Very, Very happy.
What??? I can hear you say. But that sounds crazy. And it is. And frugal tip number 13 is a bit out there too. Be happy with what you have.
This is really a continuation of yesterdays tip but expanded a little. I beg of you to stay with me, even if you think this tip is a bit "airy fairy" and has nothing to do with money. Because it does. Let me continue.
I have always been chasing something. I don't exactly what it was, but it was always something. And the chasing meant lot's and lot's of spending. Travelling. Decorating. Shopping. EBay. Amazon. Etsy. Changing. Always searching, searching, searching.
And then the searching stopped. My husband was sick and money stopped coming in. Now I was pining. Wishing for things and stuff and situations that I couldn't afford, didn't have time for and couldn't possibly do. It was sad really. I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling stuck in a rut. I was living in a continual world of 'want', yet I had absolute no idea of my needs.
One day I read a book. And two words jumped out at me.
Just be.
And my whole perspective changed. I started to look at what I had. And it was everything. A beautiful son. A loving (yet ill) husband. A beautiful home. Wonderful family. Fantastic friends. Food on my plate. A job that I loved. And the list went on and on.
I thought I wanted so much. I needed so little. I had it all. Amazing.
And that's when the spending stopped. Right then. Amazing.
Sitting here listening to my son talking as he draws another picture for Daddy and Daddy laughing as his son describes his drawing, smelling a dinner ready to fill my belly, having a roof over my head to keep me dry and warm and feeling a loving heart- I can't help but feel a wonder at it all. And I wonder how I never saw all this goodness in front of me before.
Just be.
If you haven't read the amazing book I refer to - get yourself a copy from the library - or ask me. I will happily lend it to you.
The Art Of Happiness. H.H. the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
And so we come to frugal tip number 13.... and it will have to be a quick one becuase I have a wash to hang out, dinner on the stove, the dog is barking at the door and my son is having a tanty in the other room. It's only a matter of time before my husband comes in and demands my presence, my son loses it COMPLETELY and the dog scratches through the door. I can smell the dinner burning...and well, bugger the washing because I am exhausted.
But I am so happy. Very, Very happy.
What??? I can hear you say. But that sounds crazy. And it is. And frugal tip number 13 is a bit out there too. Be happy with what you have.
This is really a continuation of yesterdays tip but expanded a little. I beg of you to stay with me, even if you think this tip is a bit "airy fairy" and has nothing to do with money. Because it does. Let me continue.
I have always been chasing something. I don't exactly what it was, but it was always something. And the chasing meant lot's and lot's of spending. Travelling. Decorating. Shopping. EBay. Amazon. Etsy. Changing. Always searching, searching, searching.
And then the searching stopped. My husband was sick and money stopped coming in. Now I was pining. Wishing for things and stuff and situations that I couldn't afford, didn't have time for and couldn't possibly do. It was sad really. I was feeling sorry for myself, feeling stuck in a rut. I was living in a continual world of 'want', yet I had absolute no idea of my needs.
One day I read a book. And two words jumped out at me.
Just be.
And my whole perspective changed. I started to look at what I had. And it was everything. A beautiful son. A loving (yet ill) husband. A beautiful home. Wonderful family. Fantastic friends. Food on my plate. A job that I loved. And the list went on and on.
I thought I wanted so much. I needed so little. I had it all. Amazing.
And that's when the spending stopped. Right then. Amazing.
Sitting here listening to my son talking as he draws another picture for Daddy and Daddy laughing as his son describes his drawing, smelling a dinner ready to fill my belly, having a roof over my head to keep me dry and warm and feeling a loving heart- I can't help but feel a wonder at it all. And I wonder how I never saw all this goodness in front of me before.
Just be.
If you haven't read the amazing book I refer to - get yourself a copy from the library - or ask me. I will happily lend it to you.
The Art Of Happiness. H.H. the Dalai Lama & Howard C. Cutler
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Reading into it
Desire of having is the sin of covetousness. William Shakespeare.
A lot of people may question me about the next frugal tip, yet I have found this to be an excellent example of tailoring tips to work for your own good. Frugal tip number twelve is stop buying and reading magazines.
Now I know you understand the stop buying magazines part. Most magazines that I purchase here in Australia are just below the $10 mark (some imports cost a lot, lot more) and just cutting this out is a saving in itself. I LOVE magazines and always have. I will read magazines on practically any topic: home, self-help, celebrity, green living, travel, craft, music, religion....the list goes on and on. I once had 10 magazine subscriptions going at once. Ten. I never really got the chance to read all of them. So, I cut my subscriptions and I slowly stopped buying new magazines. By not buying magazines I save nearly $50 a month. $600 a year.
I work in a medical clinic and we are never short of magazine donations from patients, yet I found I just wasn't reading them that much. And when I did they were making me frustrated and just a little bit sad. Why? Because I found I was being bombarded with advertisements and articles on things (I thought) I wanted and couldn't have.
Oh look at that dress.
I must get that book.
That cushion would really look great on my couch.
And that couch would really go well with that cushion.
See? Dumb, I know. And that, in turn, started a spend, spend, spend cycle. As a fairly clued-up woman I thought I was beyond this marketing pressure but I obviously wasn't. Having to cut costs was hard but being confronted with "consumerism" on a daily basis was harder. So - I reduced my magazine consumption. I read one every now and then. I get them from work or family. And I pick one's that have articles that mean something to me. Once I start to feel the 'wants' coming on, I put the magazine down and do something I love and already 'have'.
Play with my son.
Take the dog for a walk.
Cuddle my husband.
Do the gardening.
And then I realise what I have. And all I need and want is right here with me. And for free.
Amen.
Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is going to determine how you're going to live your life. Joel Osteen.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Generic Schmeric
All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
Winston Churchill.
Frugal tip number eleven is a pretty simple one - when buying groceries, buy generic or buy discount.
The easiest place I have found to make cuts in my life is with my groceries. I have written about the success I have found in writing a menu plan and a list (and sticking to it!). Now I want to let you in on how I have cut my grocery bills by 25% again. Yep - a quarter. I now do the majority of my shop in discount stores.
The major discount store in our area is Aldi. I love it and have organised my lists on what is available in my local store. I buy all our staples and find they compare well with brand name products found in the major supermarkets. Sometimes you can save over half the cost of an item. The major supermarkets I feel have tapped into Aldi's popularity and now offer a great range of generic or "home brand products" - especially milk, bread and cereals . I still find Aldi cheaper but if I cannot find something in Aldi, I always check out the generic brand at another supermarket. And while I am in there I will check out their specials too (but only if they fit my fortnightly meal planner!).
I have also discovered another fantastic frugal alternative to the major supermarkets and those are the discount stores that stock discontinued, unpopular or close-to use by date products. There are a few of these in my area - the most popular being NQR (Not Quite Right) stores. I love these stores and generally go before I write up my menu plan for the fortnight. Why before? Because I don't generally buy more than 5 to 10 items in these stores and I ensure they are written into the meal plan afterward. These stores are also fantastic for very cheap cleaning products (which I am weaning myself from- see future frugal tip) and toiletries. I love picking up deodorants for under $2 and last week I bought a 5 pack of popular brand soap for $1.20! More than half the price in the supermarket. Washing detergent is also very cheap - 8 litres for $4 - and I find it cleans just as well as the major brands.
I am not one of those people who takes any notice of used by dates or best before dates. I use my senses to tell me if food is okay or not - I look at it, smell it, feel it and taste it. To me, these dates help the manufacturer or store rotate their stock and are not an interpretation of food quality or safety. Obviously, there are some things I do observe used dates for - most dairy foods (although I find most products last up to 7 days after an expiry date- again, I use my smell and taste to judge) and meat (although most of my meat is bought close to date and frozen immediately after purchase with no problems). Using common sense is the best way to judge if a food is edible or not. If in doubt, throw it out. But I find this seldom happens.
By using this tip, I can cut another 25% off my grocery bill. Saving $50 a month. An extra $600 a year. It all adds up!
Interested in taking it one step further? Read this fantastic article on "freeganism".
http://www.shoestringmag.com/living-on-less/live-free-or-buy-a-guide-the-good-life-less
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Colour me mild
There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.
P.G Wodehouse
I really, really dislike my hair. I think there was a period of about 3 years in my 38 years of life where I may have thought it looked okay - but the rest of the time, I hate it. It is too curly, doesn't sit right and always seems to be either too big for my head or too flat. And on top of all that - I am going completely grey. Not just a strand here or there, but full head of grey. It is getting so bad that my boss from work, who is about 20 cm taller than me, often tells me I am need to colour my roots!
Not only do I hate my hair - I also dislike hairdressers. I have only had 3 hairdressers I have tolerated- one moved interstate, one had a baby and doesn't work anymore. And the third one is still around. But I can't afford to go to her. Just a cut costs $75. A cut and colour - $280.
You read right. I need to work 3 days to cover just a cut & colour. Now I am not saying she doesn't do a great job. She does - and hopefully, when my finances improve, she will still be there and I can go back to her. But for now I need to cut costs. I need to find an alternative.
Therefore, frugal tip number 10 - cut the costs on a cut and colour. I haven't had to colour my own hair for awhile, so I was surprised to see that the brand I used to use had gone up nearly double in price. While shopping in a discount store, I found a well known brand and it was half the recommended retail price - only $5.99. I bought 2 - thinking that if it turned out okay, I would use it again - if not, I could probably give it away. So last night I gave it a try. I forgot how hard it is to cover all your own greys. It took a good hour and was very fiddly. These are the results-
What do you think? The colour is a bit darker than I usually have (even though it is supposed to be dark blonde) but it covers my roots and is all one colour. And all for $6. Bargain.
I have booked a cut with a friend on Saturday. She hasn't cut my hair before but I am willing to give her a go. She charges $30. So hopefully my cut and colour will only cost me $36.
$280 minus $36 equals a saving of $244. I get my haircut once every 8 weeks. So in a year I will save $1464.
Cos I'm worth it!
P.G Wodehouse
I really, really dislike my hair. I think there was a period of about 3 years in my 38 years of life where I may have thought it looked okay - but the rest of the time, I hate it. It is too curly, doesn't sit right and always seems to be either too big for my head or too flat. And on top of all that - I am going completely grey. Not just a strand here or there, but full head of grey. It is getting so bad that my boss from work, who is about 20 cm taller than me, often tells me I am need to colour my roots!
Not only do I hate my hair - I also dislike hairdressers. I have only had 3 hairdressers I have tolerated- one moved interstate, one had a baby and doesn't work anymore. And the third one is still around. But I can't afford to go to her. Just a cut costs $75. A cut and colour - $280.
You read right. I need to work 3 days to cover just a cut & colour. Now I am not saying she doesn't do a great job. She does - and hopefully, when my finances improve, she will still be there and I can go back to her. But for now I need to cut costs. I need to find an alternative.
Therefore, frugal tip number 10 - cut the costs on a cut and colour. I haven't had to colour my own hair for awhile, so I was surprised to see that the brand I used to use had gone up nearly double in price. While shopping in a discount store, I found a well known brand and it was half the recommended retail price - only $5.99. I bought 2 - thinking that if it turned out okay, I would use it again - if not, I could probably give it away. So last night I gave it a try. I forgot how hard it is to cover all your own greys. It took a good hour and was very fiddly. These are the results-
What do you think? The colour is a bit darker than I usually have (even though it is supposed to be dark blonde) but it covers my roots and is all one colour. And all for $6. Bargain.
I have booked a cut with a friend on Saturday. She hasn't cut my hair before but I am willing to give her a go. She charges $30. So hopefully my cut and colour will only cost me $36.
$280 minus $36 equals a saving of $244. I get my haircut once every 8 weeks. So in a year I will save $1464.
Cos I'm worth it!
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