Recently, I've been preparing for my future. So inevitably, I had to start taking a closer look at my finances. I was spending a great portion of my take home pay on leisure. It's already hard to ball on a teacher's salary and now I had to come up with innovative ways to make sure I still enjoy myself without breaking the bank. Here are a few ways I managed to do so:
Manis/Pedis
Who doesn't love a pedicure?! I love to sit in that overly comfy chair, put my head back and let those massagers go to work. But because I am such a frugal diva I've quickly realized that getting mani/pedis every two weeks was digging in my pockets! Instead of getting a full pedicure every two weeks, I get a pedicure one visit and then the next I will get a polish change. In the winter, I only get a pedicure once a month. Doesn't seem like much but it adds up!
If you're really brave, try a beauty school! Their prices are extremely cheap! I've lost an eyebrow and my nails were put on crooked but do you, boo boo! Lol
Eating out
Since I live alone, I have no obligation to cook...ever! Lol. Because I am on the go a lot, there are times I will come home and eat a bowl of cereal or times I will plop in the bed and won't think of dinner at all. Other times I eat out. Sigh. Now don't get me wrong because it is just me, sometimes it's actually cheaper if I eat out. Plenty of times I would go to the market, get a crap load of stuff and...waste it! On the other hand, I checked my bank statement and in one month I spent over $200 in eating out! $200!!! If you read one of my earlier posts, you know I am "Single in the City." Quite a bit of friends get together throughout the week to hang out after a long day of work for happy hour and let's not talk about the weekend! Sounds fun, right?! It is! But my purse doesn't think so! I have limited myself to be able to go out once during the week and once during the weekend. It's not fun saying no to your friends but sometimes you just have to learn how to sit yourself down!
Free/Cheap Events
No one wants to miss out on all of the fun! And you don't have to! There are so many events in Philly (and elsewhere) and a lot of them are free! Groupon has great deals! I've found wine tastings for under $10 a person or I've even been able to get my car washed for more than half off. Also the app Meetup allows you to meet people in your area who are interested in the same activities as you. For example, you can enjoy yourself at the Jazz & R&B Happy Hour or you can enjoy a FREE movie every Thursday at Penn's Landing. Great way to meet others who share the same interests as you.
Thrift!!!
This is my most favorite one of all! (Can you tell by the exclamation marks?!) I LOVE to shop! But once I realized I wasn't going to be able to take care of business and hit up the mall every weekend, I quickly had to find an alternative. A good friend of mine wanted to go thrifting and I tagged along. So glad I did! I found soooo many steals and deals it was ridiculous! Now I hardly EVER go to a mall or Target (my vice) and I will most definitely not pay full price for anything. I seriously get a rush from finding a piece that I absolutely love for $3.97! On top of that, I highly doubt if anyone else will have on what I do because my outfit is "vintage!" Sounds so cool! Lol
What are some ways you've curbed your spending?
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