SAVING MONEY...............

Can be, (or is) a drag!

I had better be more positive. It's a fact of life that we need to 'live within our means' and then save some if we want to start building 'wealth' for our future and even more if we want money to do big exciting adventures with.

Not living 'within our means' indeed means debt and all the interest charging price tags of being in debt, (living off credit).

SO, - obviously if we find ourselves in personal debt, (debt for something that doesn't increase but instead decreases in value) first priority has to be to pay if off as quick as poss!, - and finding ways to either decrease the costs of our lifestyle or earn more income or both.

However we still wanna have fun..............but somehow have to prioritise.

Right now I'm looking at ways to reduce my lifestyle costs without hurting too much:
Here goes some:

* Quit visits to the salon every 3 months for cut and colour. Colour being permanent and foils plus treatment. Cost is normally over $200, - sometimes over $250 when I buy shampoo, conditioner and product. Say $1000 a year.
Today I found a place in Subiaco doing womens basic cuts and trims for $19.50. Another option could be to check out local tafes searching for trainee hairdressers wanting 'models' to practice trims and cuts on for cheap prices. If wanted, buy our own permanent home job colour. That's $40 every three months max. Just I'm not to have foils or go lighter or try a colour more than 2 shades darker. Saving of at least $800 a year.

* Not listen to marketing about excessive anti aging skin products! Sure, I want to not age, and want nice skin! But is some of it a marketing ploy?
I have reduced my facial skincare to: a basic cleanser, - a supermarket brand whatever sounds good and seems cheap with research, a tube of 'tinted Invisible Zinc' which is a moisturisor, SPF 30 plus sunscreen and foundation all in one, a chap stick and a supermarket brand anti-aging night cream, (perhaps I'm still sucked in there). I have eye cream to use up but am debating whether I will continue to buy it. Probably sun protection (or less sun but that's not likely to happen with me) are best strategies for anti aging and good skin! This will save me $800 a year.

* Drink less alcohol! It's only for occasions! Some too easily leads to more and makes it more tempting for us to relax our standards on other things. For those used to a couple, (sometimes more than a couple) of drinks at least 4 nights a week at home ask ourselves................at the end of the year are we really going to feel deprived if we didn't drink alcohol non socially those 200 plus days over the past year. An interest in wine in particular is an expensive one!

* Only use our banks ATMs, don't pay extra in fees

* Really watch mobile use, - not waste $$$ on it and look at and practise ways to get our household bills down.

* Look after possessions as much as poss as losing and breaking stuff is annoying and costly.

* Be disciplined with budget. Once money is spent, it's spent, it can't be spent twice.

* Re-use water bottles, always make sure I'm carrying enough water so I don't need to stop and buy it.

* Just don't use credit cards!

* Don't get sucked into things we don't need, of course prioritise, (that seems the key word).

As per everything discipline and commitment seem to be the key words!

Pip :-)