So money doesn’t equal happiness, but it definitely helps! Whether you are a student, or the economy has got you by the throat, or you’d just like to have more freedom to splurge on certain things (like shoes), you must learn the art of budgeting. Of course this varies from person to person, so you’ll have to develop your own plan. Some tips to get you started:
Shopping for clothes
- Always, ALWAYS try it on. It may not fit you like it does the mannequin. If after trying it on you’re still not sure, drop it. If there is ever any doubt, don’t buy it!
- Try shopping by outfit. If I see an outfit online that I like, I have no shame in printing it out and taking it in my bag to recreate it. Same goes with magazines! Using something like Polyvore can help you visualize how many outfits can be created around a single piece — use it to your advantage. You can also look for pieces you already own to see how you could spice them up and breathe new life into them.
- Don’t buy incredibly trendy things. One or two are fine, but if your entire wardrobe consists of a trend, you might find yourself needing an entire new one come next season. Have a variety of classic pieces, basics, and trendy.
- Know when sales begin and show up bright and early to get the goods! It is terryfying how a €10 dress was €50 just two weeks earlier! Be savvy and quick, and you’ll get all those beautiful clothes for half the price.
- That said, just because something is €3 doesn’t mean you should buy it. For me, when it comes to shoes, coats and makeup, spending more goes a long way. It’s the same with clothes, but sometimes the price/quality ratio doesn’t match and so you’ll have a cheap looking dress with a €60 pricetag. It’s a lot of shopping around and trying things out!
Out and about
- When buying groceries make sure you are neither stuffed nor hungry. Otherwise you will either miss out things you need or buy the entire cookie aisle. Stick to a list and everything will be under control. Also don’t shun the generic brands! Try them out once or twice and you’ll find that sometimes they’re as good, if not better, than popular brands. One of my favorite things in the world is yoghurt; my supermarket has a nice selection so I always try different ones. I used to stick to Danone, but decided to try a more generic brand that costs half the price…turns out they are creamier and more true to the fruit they’re supposed to taste like.
- If you are a student, take advantage of student discounts. Always have your student card ready and don’t be afraid to ask if you can use it!
- Try to cut back on dining out, but if you MUST (like me), then explore your city and find small restaurants. Often the coziest places are hidden away in a little corner and aren’t as expensive. Though sometimes they can turn out to be even more expensive, so just make sure you take a look at the menu before you sit down!
Saving & making extra money
- Alright, here’s a very washed out and typical one: money jars. You know how there are always those annoying little coins rolling around the house? Drop them into a jar. Group them according to amount, and once you have round quantities off to the bank you go to have them exchanged! You’ll be amazed at how much money comes out of those little ones.
- Seriously consider whether there are any expensive habits you could cut down on, like eating out, smoking, dying your hair…
- Don’t use credit cards. Just don’t. Stick to cash or for bigger purchases use your debit card. That way you’ll never be worrying about anything you have to pay off later.
- Sell your things. If you don’t use it, didn’t even remember you had it, don’t like it — sell it!
- If you don’t work a 9-5 job/are a student, see how you can use your skills for some freelance work. Maybe you can tutor, babysit, sell art prints, design posters for local businesses…who knows!
I’ve already made a plan for myself, taking all of these into account. It’ll be hard to give up some things but it really helps you figure out where it’s best to put your money! I hope you guys give it a try, and let me know how it goes?
That said, what other tips do you guys have for saving up, making some extra money and just generally spending wisely?
It is terrifying for some but necessary for others: the art of dining alone is not so complex once you’ve gotten over a few barriers and actually come to enjoy it! Maybe you’re pressed for time, or you love sushi but nobody you know does (gasp!). This actually happened to me once, but as my love for sushi is above all else I happily went to my favorite restaurant and probably ate way more than I should have. But that’s besides the point.
For those of us who enjoy it, there’s really not much to it: get to the place, order what you came for and sit back, do some people watching or gather your thoughts. Unfortunately (though less so nowadays) dining alone is often associated with loneliness, being single, outcast…So getting out there can be a little intimidating.
First of all, know that you are some of the best company you’ll ever have. So take yourself out for a treat! There’s nothing like being alone with your thoughts — you can think whatever you like without worrying about hurting anyone’s feelings or causing controversy, you can daydream about where this summer might take you…If you are still unsure, try the following:
- Go somewhere you know so you’ll be familiar with what you’re ordering — no unpleasant surprises.
- Try to get a table near a window, for easy people watching and daydreaming!
- Make yourself comfortable. Good posture, no looking around anxiously. You’re having a meal, not waiting on the jury’s verdict.
- If you are at a cafe, try the book trick. I personally would just take it easy and be friendly with the staff at a restaurant.
- Make sure you’re looking good! Smile with your eyes, as you never know who might want to join you ;)
Once you’ve overcome the initial barrier, you’ll be more at ease facing the world on your own! Take yourself out for a movie, shopping and then sushi lunch! Although if you don’t like sushi (again, gasp!) you could go for something else I suppose.
What do you guys think about dining alone? Do you do it often?
Hi lovelies! Remember a few days ago, the 40 Steps we agreed to embark upon together? Today I present to you the First Step. It is a simple one, a small stepstone yet a giant leap in this challenge due to its incredible health benefits. It is magical but unfortunately often overlooked or replaced by less than ideal substances. Yes, sugardrop, I’m talking about water!
The First of the 40 Steps will be to incorporate water into our daily routine. Many of you smart souls are probably on this already, but for those of us who have steered away from our ideal habits, let’s remember briefly why water is absolutely essential (though not as glamorous as wine, some say) for…everything! Drinking plenty of it will:
- Hidrate your skin for a radiant healthy glow. It helps maintain skin elasticity, so here’s to looking young and fresh no matter how old you are.
- Act as a natural detox, as it helps your body eliminate toxins.
- Help with digestion by breaking fats down, as well as with regular bowel movements…
- Reduce menstrual pain
- Help you concentrate! I always thought this was a cliche they told you in highschool. You know, like “get plenty of sleep”. But it is the truth! A well fed and hydrated body will concentrate and be more efficient.
- Help relieve headaches. A lot of the time these are due to slight dehydration, so before you reach for your tylenol just have a glass or two.
- Reduce fluid retention. If you are not getting enough water, your body will go into an emergency state, so to speak, and will hold on to the last drop. This will cause parts of your body to swell up and not only look like you’ve put on a few pounds, but also feel uncomfortable. So give your body what it’s asking for, plenty of water, and all that retained fluid will be flushed out along with other toxins!
The list of benfits could probably go on (can you name a few more?), so now that we’ve remembered why water is so important, let’s work on incorporating it to our daily routine:
- Take a little bottle everywhere so you can take sips throughout the day. Not large gulps, but small sips even if you aren’t thirsty but would like some refreshment.
- Drink water first thing in the morning, before breakfast so it can flush out any excess/toxins.
- Drink water with your food instead of soda or juice.
- Have plenty of fruit (eg watermelon) and veggies (eg broccoli).
- If you find water too bland, add a drop of lemon or lime!
- It would also be wise to reduce alcohol units so that we aren’t dehydrating our body in sudden bursts of time (or alternatively, if you MUST attend ladies’ night, drink water in between.)
So there you go! I will be starting my routine today, and I’ll let you all know how it goes. Meanwhile, what other tips do you guys have/follow for incorporating water into your routine?
Dear sugardrop,
Are you stuck in a rut? Have a lot of ideas, many goals, but lack follow through? Troubles with confidence, self esteem? We’ve all been there, and lately I’ve answered yes to at least one of these. You too? Let’s do something about it! These 40 steps will be a guide to transform bad habits and gain good ones; it will be like working from a clean slate, a fresh start in a tired and worn out routine! Here’s how it works:
Every Saturday for 16 weeks (that’s 4 months!) I will post a new resolution/challenge, which will be merged into daily life that week and added onto the next resolution. Everything will be filed under 4 main categories: Body, Self, Life & Living Space. I will post how I’m doing, what worked for me and what didn’t. It’ll be fun — the comments section will be like our own backyard where we discuss and share ideas & inspiration over Margaritas. Who’s in?
Here’s to a new us! Love,
Luana.
Up until now, Doritos and Crunchie Bars have been my best friends in-between hours. I can’t resist the crispy cheesiness of those little orange triangles, and I don’t think I need to get into details about Crunchie Bars! But I am leaving that in the past; junk food is now officially removed from my friends list.
Whenever I eat these, I feel bloated afterwards and lose any apetite for dinner. In Spanish we have a saying that goes: not eating due to having eaten…should be ok! But not when what you have eaten has zero nutrition value and 100% more junk than what you should be eating. I always have a hard time with junk food because I am a ‘bored eater’: I get the munchies whenever I’m bored. Which is a lot of the time during class, especially in the summer as the beautiful sunshine out the window keeps rubbing in my face the fact that I have to stay indoors working on statistics.
I don’t believe in eating 3 huge meals a day only; I think small portions throughout the day are best. So in-between what would be the three meals, I might eat once or twice. I have devised the following rules to stop binge eating:
- Avoid all vending machines.
- Have a nice protein filled breakfast (hello eggs and bacon!) so that I don’t get hungry so soon.
- For in-between snacks, go for plums, dried peach, almonds, baby carrots & dip, and cherry tomatoes (yum!)
- Do not speak to any friends while they snack on the enemy.
- Refrain from checking ~bakebakebake on Livejournal all the time…
- Keep busy! Allow myself ONE enemy item once a week for a month; then do without them completely.
Some links to check out:
This is not an incentive to diet, but more a healthier way to keep hungry times in control. And this does not mean that I will be giving up cake, tarts, pizza or candy any time soon, they just won’t be around as often!
How do you guys keep from binge eating? Share your tips!
