The Budget Fashionista

taking the subway and using coupons at the grocery store. I;ve started to eat healthier as well, which is cheaper and we pretty much only eat out once per week or less. We used to go to a play eveyr month- but we’ve stopped that and went on one big trip this year that we combined with a business trip so it was partially paid for…

P.S. and I am saving like crazy.. pretty much all of my extra money goes into savings…

Let’s see…

-I’ve started going to cheaper places for haircuts and eyebrow waxes.
- I bring snacks with me when I go to the movies, although what I really want is popcorn.
- I’ve basically stopped getting manicures and pedicures.

I know there’s more, but at this point they’re involuntary. :)

I know this may not sound good, but I cut my own hair and my children’s hair. I bought clippers ($40 at Target), haircutting scissors ($10 at Rite-Aid), and the book Haircutting for Dummies.

I keep my hair long enough for a ponytail, and I keep it covered, so even if I screwed up, no one would notice. And so far, I actually like the results.

As for my children… my daughter actually likes her haircuts. I keep them super-quick and simple. Her hair is curly, and I plan to let it grow, but just before her last birthday, I cut it into a cute little bob with layers, and she looked so unbelieveably adorable.

The problem is with my son. I’ve given him one haircut, but he was so frightened by the whole thing that he kept flailing around. It took my husband and my father-in-law to hold him while I used the clippers. Because he was so scared and wouldn’t sit still, I couldn’t do a precise job. Now, everyone is telling me that I should bring him to a barber. Problem there is that I’m positive that the only thing a barber would’ve done differently is that he would’ve given up much sooner. No one could’ve done a truly good job with a little boy who is frightened and flailing and won’t sit still.

Maz just keep at it, he’ll calm down. Trim him at night when he is asleep, to fix any “mistakes”. The other thing is a good old fashioned bribe.

Set something he wants in front of him but out of reach,  explain that if he can sit fairly still, and let you cut his hair, he can have it, it’s waiting for him.

That or turn on a show he likes. depends on his age. Nearly all of them fuss a bit at the first.

I used to do my baby boy in his high chair, while he ate something he liked.

As with most of you I am trying to bring lunches to work, along with trying to stay in a little more on the weekends than going out.  The hardest thing on the list is not going shopping:(

Classique - 24 June 2008 05:30 PM

We also installed an automatic thermostat last fall.

Very much worth it, if you live in a cold state during the winter.  I live in MN and we program our thermostat to be 60 degrees F both overnight and when we’re gone during the day at work.  I can’t imagine the costs of heating the place while we’re gone for hours!

We rent movies from RedBox and pop our own corn; Shop clearance racks (especially with coupons!) - got $170 worth of shirts for the kids for next spring for a total of $21 at JCPenney yesterday!  I cut my hair and daughters, but take son in because I’m not good at “male” hair, LOL.  Get lots of great purses cheap at a Designer Resale shop - especially at their sidewalk sales.

I try not to go out as much. I spend more time home and out of the malls. I stock up on meats so that I can make different kinds of things to eat for dinner and have left overs for lunch at work.

Clearance racks, yearly sales which boast 50% discounts, deconstructing/reconstructing old clothes.

- combined my family’s cell phone plans.
- finding the best shopping deals online or in the store, spend a minute online looking for coupons before I buy anything.

MizHalsegan - 04 July 2008 05:41 PM

Let me add my congrats on the weight loss. You’ve done a healthy thing for yourself and the people who love you and want you to stick around!

I’m packing lunches every day (saves a ton ‘o money), riding my bike or walking when I can, driving much less or consolidating trips. I also bring a bag of nuts or other healthy snacks so I’m not tempted by the vending machines or expensive food in the cafeteria in my building. I also bring my own tea (love loose tea) and make myself a cup or two a day.

We also don’t go out to eat as much. Too pricey! Second-run movies, DVDs from the library (same with books) and I have deleted all favorties off my computer for EBay, Amazon, BlueFly. We’ll see how my willpower holds up. But I find if that I just don’t go on those sites, I’m ok.

I’ve also just started shaving 10% of my pay off the top when I get paid. Just marking it in my checkbook as “savings.” It’s still in there, but mentally, it makes me think I have less $$ than I do. I used to do that when I was younger and made less money, and it works for me. Then when you need a big purchase, you have some $$. I found that 10% is pretty easy for me to sustain.

This is such a great suggestion! I think I will start trying to save 10% as soon as I can, because it’s not so much that I will really notice, anyway!