Perks for pennies

youngandreckless

Hi All,

In my ever increasing bid to live as frugally as possible, I've been getting creative on how I can keep some of my treats without paying the amounts I used to. Like everyone here, we all have the things we enjoy or used to enjoy when we weren't concerned about our finances, and I've been challenging myself to see what I can save on my own little indulgences.
So this is what I've managed so far:

Invested in a DIY manicure kit from Boots for £4.99. Rather than get fake ones put on or go to a salon, I now do them myself and practice has meant most people still assume I get them done professionally!

Getting my hair done by my fellow students at college for nothing or a v small charge for colour. I'd recommend colleges for hair cuts to anyone, not only do we need the people but as long as you can spare the time (it always takes longer for students) you can get a hell of a lot for v little. The teachers are all professional hairdressers keeping a close eye so you're in v safe hands.

Just started saving 20p's which I intend to use to buy my CDs with (from Play.com for a cheap price)

Becoming taxi driver for the night - friends chip in a couple of quid for petrol and I save dosh on drink.

Buying cheap accessories to create a new outfit. Eg black top and trousers plus some funky beads and bangles from primark make a new looking outfit out of old clothes!

I know that alot of people might not even be able to spare the cash even for these type of treats, but I like to think that we can all still enjoy a few simple pleasures even on a budget.

amosworks

They're all good ideas

You could also look at getting a few accessories from charity shops to go with old clothes to make new outfits also

ms_london

I dye my own eyelashes - using a kit from Boots. Its around £6.50 - but lasts around 6 months!! Dont get it in your eyes though, hurts like hell :0)

Ruby_Pudding

Excellent ideas - and it all helps

charitygirl

Accessories in charity shops are a great idea! I have managed to pick up loads in the past.

themaccas

Thats a really good idea, youngandreckless I have been feeling a bit guilty about having my hair done this week. I go to a smart salon and love the whole experience right down to the massaging chairs I sit in whilst they are washing my hair. I am due to go this week on Thursday and it will cost around £85. To pay for this I worked some overtime on Saturday which I earnt £100 for but I could go to the local college where it will cost only £50.... However I'm going to my usual salon, I know it is a lot of money especially with our debts but it's worth it and I haven't bought any new clothes for months, well I bought a £19 top in the xmas sales and before that the last time I bought clothes was in the USA whilst on holiday last summer.
I love to have nice nails though and I will definately try the boots kit.

amosworks

themaccas wrote:

I am due to go this week on Thursday and it will cost around £85.

themaccas, I hope this doesn't sound rude, but your signature says that your debt is £30,630. So at £85 per mop chop, you're effectively 360 visits to the salon in debt at the moment. Surely if you can get it done cheaper at the college it's worth investigating?

*Runs and hides*

climbgirl

amosworks wrote:

themaccas, I hope this doesn't sound rude, but your signature says that your debt is £30,630. So at £85 per mop chop, you're effectively 360 visits to the salon in debt at the moment. Surely if you can get it done cheaper at the college it's worth investigating?

*Runs and hides*

Yeah, I kind of agree! I get mine cut at a salon in Covent Garden (they deal well with very curly hair!) and a cut and colour cost me £48 last time. I consider that to be pretty expensive price too!

SkippyB

I took the plunge last week and went to my local college for a haircut and highlights....wow....I have never had such a good haircut and colour...it was better than my £95 salon....I am so impressed...it took a while but was worth it....It cost me £13........I was gobsmacked...

Fantastic value...I can afford to get my haorcut really regularly now instead of waiting a year between cuts!!!!

:T

themaccas

Hi amosworks, don't worry that's a fair comment and this site regularly makes me justify my spending and examine what I am doing with our money. I am finding some things very difficult to change ie my haircut and others very easy, ie entertainment spending - cinemas, eating out. The way I have been justifying it is if there is something I want for the family or myself that is an extravegance (my haircut and colour or a family holiday for example) then I/we have to earn it over and above of our normal salary. I went in to work on Saturday to pay for it, if I had not booked my haircut I would not have worked, getting up at 5.30 on a dark cold saturday morning is not easy for me! The college will do the job just fine I am sure and I have used them before but... well I don't know, I have 'earned' this haircut.
I feel really bad though now! A couple of weeks ago I wrote on here how I had booked a family holiday to Cornwall in the summer and some mse'rs wrote to ask if I was really serious about my lightbulb moment. It made me and DH really look at our plans and we cancelled our arrangements just before I sent off the cheque and have now booked a cornwall holiday at a campsite costing around £80 for the week.
I'm not changing my hair arrangements though...yet!

amosworks

themaccas wrote:

Hi amosworks, don't worry that's a fair comment and this site regularly makes me justify my spending and examine what I am doing with our money. I am finding some things very difficult to change ie my haircut and others very easy, ie entertainment spending - cinemas, eating out. The way I have been justifying it is if there is something I want for the family or myself that is an extravegance (my haircut and colour or a family holiday for example) then I/we have to earn it over and above of our normal salary. I went in to work on Saturday to pay for it, if I had not booked my haircut I would not have worked, getting up at 5.30 on a dark cold saturday morning is not easy for me! The college will do the job just fine I am sure and I have used them before but... well I don't know, I have 'earned' this haircut.
I feel really bad though now! A couple of weeks ago I wrote on here how I had booked a family holiday to Cornwall in the summer and some mse'rs wrote to ask if I was really serious about my lightbulb moment. It made me and DH really look at our plans and we cancelled our arrangements just before I sent off the cheque and have now booked a cornwall holiday at a campsite costing around £80 for the week.
I'm not changing my hair arrangements though...yet!

I suppose when you put it like that, if you have "earned" it as such by working extra hours that require you to get up at 05hr30 on a cold dark day to do something you don't want to do, then maybe it's not all that bad. I suppose the worst thing is using debt repayment money to fund these sort of things but as you're not, I guess you're no worse off for it.

I too (for a bloke) used to spend £20 a week getting my mop chop at the local traditional barbers (very high class, a beer on arrival, individual themed cutting rooms, appointment only, regular stylist etc.) It was *extremely* nice but I gave that up and now get my OH to run over me with the clippers every now and again for free lol.

I'm glad you don't think I was harsh by saying that, it's just when I saw you paying £85 for something I now get for free, it made me kinda jump a bit! But, there's obviously a difference between us (I doubt you'd be happy paying £85 for a grade 3 all over hahaha).

But, £50 for people that can do it just as well but cheaper, why not do that then spend the money you'd save on a one-off purchase of a nail kit so you can get both done with the price of one?