HELP! We're in the poo!

bandraoi

beanielou wrote: »

Why dont you buy one wine box a month?
Can I suggest that you actually make a payment to your council tax even though a payment plan has not been agreed.Ths shows you are willing.
Most councils let you pay online.

I would second this. Don't cut out wine. You will only crack when the going is tough and buy it anyway and feel terrible. Include the wine in your budget. Allow yourself a certain amount for the month and ration it to yourself as and when you need/want it.

Princess_Jane

rE the makeup. I used to be a marketing man's dream when it came to beauty products.

I still say you can't beat Urban Decay eyeshadow, Dior mascara or Lancome lipglosses, but it CAN be done the MSE way.

I've got mega sensitive skin and have just started using the Lily Lolo range.

It's mineral foundation and includes little samples for 99p which last aaaages.

Also, lots of 'drugstore' essentials are worth checking out. I love St Ives facial scrub post-Brazilian for blasting ingrowing hairs (honest, my beautician recommended it) and Johnson's baby lotion is great for taking off eye makeup.

Honey and crushed up aspirin is a brilliant face mask especially if you have any acne scars.

Check out makeupalley.com to see how many people will vouch for this!

I pick up a lot of makeup from ebay and always check out the freebies board on here.

Most cosmetic counters will give you samples to try if you ask nicely.

I haven't had to buy any moisturiser for months as I have managed to blag loads of stuff via this 'ere site.

Stock up at Xmas and birthdays and try to ignore the advertisers' hype.

Hope this helps.

brokeinwales

Well, thank you for the continued advice - in a way I'm quite enjoying the whole concept of finding ways to save money - feels like a new hobby. I'm just hoping the excitement doesn't wear off too quickly.
Though I don't need any just now, I had a nosy around ebay at some of my usual make-up (I am a big Mac fan unfortunately - IMO cheap make-up is a real false economy, other than Rimmel kohl pencil, which I can absolutely assure you is the best on the market!) and it is quite a bit cheaper. I'm thinking of keeping a little list of ways I find to look good on a budget of virtually nothing and writing it up as an article for my writers' group in a few months time. so thanks katiepops for starting me off on that one.

think you must live very close to me from the description

I was thinking that! Maybe I'll see you at Splott market if I decide to give it a go!

One thing I'm struggling with is the cashback sites - I must be thick, because even after reading the threads on them I can't work out how I'm meant to make any money on them without spending any. Bizarrely greasypalm is telling me I have £7.25 but I'm not quite sure how I made it!

have you thought of mystery shopping??? or a second job???

I would LOVE to do mystery shopping, but every site I've been to either it seems you have to make an initial outlay (which I can't really do at the moment) and/or you need your own transport. Like I said, I'm upping the anti on the modelling front, being a bit more pro-active in getting work - I can't really see that I could take on a regular second job (and my current boss probably wouldn't be keen on the idea), although I wonder if I could do something more casual, like home-working.

Why dont you buy one wine box a month?

If I buy one big box it disappears in two days! Just encourages OH to drink more! It's honestly better if I just leave him to buy wine as he wants it out of his pocket money and I just have the odd glass.

But if you're passing Lidl next week I'm the tall skinny bird with the massive rucksack on!

Honey and crushed up aspirin is a brilliant face mask

That's so bizarre!

Anyway, I'm off to look at the freebies board now :j

In_Search_Of_Me

Lol!! Its funny with people "around" (weezle also in Cardiff!!) as you almost feel watched IYKWIM & wondering whether people are MSE!! Was at splott market this am & managed to get some cheap oranges (& a nice fresh donut!!) although they actually werent that good quality for marmalade which is simmering nicely as I type...think I got away with it! Alsi (or is it lidl - always confuse the two!!) didnt have any lemons either so was forced to mr T!!
I can relate to the make up - I rarely buy any but do get some nice stuff BUT I would say that things like cheap bubble bath, shower gel do fine & I have very sensitive skin. Some things wont work but I just flog em at car boot! One thing of cheapie tesco own, mega value cheap shampoo I even made a profit on!!! No mean feat at Splott car booty I can tell you!!
Re the cashback sites I tend to get cashback (mostly quidco) as try to use it when I by online...you can also do daily clicks but I dont do them every day ...quidco is the high street web for 4p me thinks. It does add up mind you!! ie I got my virus protection from mcafee & got cashback for that then got 15.50 cashback from lovefilm as realised that with the money I currently pay in late fees at blockbuster that I would be saving money on the 3.99 a month deal & that would mean I got 2 dvds a month for the price of blockbuster - IYSWIM!! Currently owed 18 ish...plus sell bboks on green metropolis - you actually make a bit unlike amazon which I never seemed to on!! Do plan in some treats though or you'll go dolally When I started I stopped everything & had a major blip of thousands because I was so tired & fed up! Treats now are different for me - simple things like breakfast in med with my own toast & marmalade cant be beaten & I never got such a buzz from shopping thats for sure! Keep up the good work!!