Budget Advice

This post series covers hundreds of tips to get you looking your best. Part one has 120 tips to save money on fitness, haircare, skin and make up. Consider subscribing to the blog or newsletter to get updated when further resources are added.

30 Ways To Save Money on Your Fitness Regime

1. Get free daily yoga classes
2. Do the Couch To 5 km running program
3. Tape Exercise tapes of the TV and do them at home
4. Look into consoles like the Nintedo wii for fitness games.
5. Buying a pilates pack - especially on sale - can reduce the cost of purchasing the items individually
6. Buy a Chin up bar. This can be placed in any doorway.
7. Look into tracking your fitness on Calorie King
8. Research the cost effectiveness of off peak gym memberships
9. Use a skipping rope regularly for a great workout
10. Do this exercise to correct flabbiness under chin
11. Read these articles on getting started with Yoga
12. Learn how to play Tennis on the Cheap
13. How to Make a Homemade Weight Set
14. Garden more often. Its a great all over work out plus growing veggies can save money on food!
15. Have more sex
16. Look into Fitter U MP3 coaching instead of using a personal trainer
17. Slideshow of core exercises to do with a fitness ball
18. 11 Exercises to do with a fitness ball
19. Medicine Ball Training Exercises (PDF)
20. Think about training for a marathon
21. Self-Yoga Practice at Home
22. The Couch-to-8K Cycling Plan
23. weight training for women
24. Look at dropping your Gym Membership and go once a week, focusing on High Intensity Interval Training
25. Check out these exercises you can do anywhere
26. Free Blogger proof workout e-book
27. Download the 100 pushups challenge for your ipod
28. Check out this page for home exercises
29. Use favorite run to map your routes and keep a running log
30. Check out this podcast on fitness for less

20 ways to save on your skincare routine

1. Use Apple Cider Vinegar as a toner
2. Look at cleaning your face with a microfibre cloth. This can be purchased from cleaning aisle
3. Have You Tried The Aspirin Mask?
4. Give yourself a DIY facial
5. Stop washing your face
6. Learn how to properly pop a pimple
7. Home made wrinkle creams
8. Ask yourself if toner is necessary
9. Look into buying tinted moisturizer
10. Purchase exfoliating gloves to remove dry skin
11. Bio Oil is an inexpensive way to remove scars
12. Wich Hazel can act as both a cleanser and toner
13. Get skincare samples to ensure the products compatible with your skin
14. Look at purchasing a product that acts as both a cleanser and toner
15. Dampen cotton buds before using the product. This prevents over absorption.
16. Wash your facewasher daily instead of buying cleansing wipes
17. Look at using cooking salt to exfoliate
18. Use a dry body brush to exfoliate and improve skin circulation
19. Visit Aussie Soap Supplies to create your own products
20. Look at using sunflower oil to remove make up

10 Ways to Get Healthier Nails For Less

1. Take Flaxseed oil for strong nails. This can also improve your hair.
2. Massage the cuticles with Lanolin.
3. Use gloves when washing the dishes to avoid breakage
4. Use olive oil to help strengthen nails
5. Look at buying a manicure set from the beauty store rather than go into the salon
6. Clean under your nails by pressing them in the inside of a citrus peel
7. Check out some home remedies for whiter nails
8. Avoid using nails as tools. This preventative step costs nothing.
9. Avoid polish removers with nasties that dry your nails like acetone or formaldehyde
10. Dry your hands thouroughly if you’ve been in water for too long

10 Ways To Reduce Spending on Fiercer Eyes

1. Cheap way to stop mascara smudge
2. Put your regular eyelash curler under hot water instead of buying a heated one
3. Look at using False eyelashes
4. Shape your eyebrows at home instead of the salon
5. Read these tips for wider eyes
6. Buy Eye Shadow Duos for seasonal colours
7. Heat up your mascara tube under a hot tap to lengthen the products life
8. Look into 1000 hour eyelash tinting kits
9. Use a facial wand for eyebrow waxing
10. Consider using a brown blush as an eyeshadow instead of buying a seperate product

30 Ways To Save Money on Make Up

1. Buy Skincare Products and Cosmetics from StrawberryNET.com
2. Miressence often has some great specials!
3. If you know the product suits you and has a long shelf life, consider buying it in bulk
4. Check out this plumper lip recipe
5. Go for a natural look. Less make up = less cost.
6. See if importing certain make up brands will cost lest
7. See if using less of the product gives you the same result.
8. Always test a product before buying it. See what its like in daylight.
9. Apply powders with a brush
10. If you get the wrong color foundation, see if you can mix it with another shade to create the right colour
11. Research what generic items are the same as expensive make up, just with different packaging
12. Use a lip brush on your lips to reduce product wastage
13. Purchase make up items with skin protection to save on sunscreen
14. Check online websites to see what make up freebies you can get
15. Looking after your insides reduces the amount of products needed on the outside
16. Read these tips for larger lips - without surgery
17. See if you can get budget cosmetics free with a magazine purchase.
18. Look into getting different shades of foundation for each season.
19. Many cheap eyeliners provide the same result as expensive eyeliners
20. Use an eyeshadow primer if you want the eyeshadow to last for significantly longer
21. See if stores offer free or cheap makeovers. This can let you know what products work.
22. Get rewards cards for your favourite beauty stores. Ensure they are the best for value though!
23. Visit Eyes Lips Face for cheaper cosmetics
24. Check out Cosmetics cop for the lowdown on products your considering
25. Mix lipstick ends with Vaseline to make your own lip gloss
26. Join the newsletters of larger cosmetic companies to see if you can get free products
27. See what products can be bought on ebay. Be careful of fakes!
28. Buy dedicated eyeliner sharpeners
29. Wait until your favourite brand has a promotion and stock up on the item.
30. Look at buying lipsticks that double as blushes

20 Ways to save money on haircare

1. Look at dying hair with natural dyes
2. See if your beauty schools offer cheap haircuts. Get testimonials first if you can.
3. Dedicated haircare stores often sell the same dyes that salons use. This can be a way to get a stunning colour without the hefty price tag
4. Look at childrens haircare products. Occasionally, these are priced for less than adult brands.
5. Have you thought of cutting your own hair?
6. Washing your hair with soap could save you money
7. Don’t over style your hair. Too much product can damage it.
8. Get your hair cut on the cheaper days if your salon offers discounts
9. Look at trimming your own bangs
10. Buy products created for your unique hair type
11. Don’t skimp on the brushes. Cheap ones can result in expensive hair breakage.
12. When getting haircuts, aim for styles that don’t need a lot of product to maintain.
13. Look at being a hair model. It can be a great way to get a new style!
14. Have you checked out natural hair care recipes?
15. Don’t shampoo every day - see below hint
16. Perhaps consider washing your hair less
17. Join the Vogue forums and check out the forums to see what haircare discounts you can get
18. Use shower gel as shampoo
19. Look into thisolive oil hair treatment
20. Check this site for great haircut ideas

When I first moved out, menu planning was the furthest thing from my mind. I had a rough idea of the amount my fellow students spent and would adjust my food purchases according. I assumed that by spending a minimal amount, I was somehow compromising my health.

Two years on, and with the help of Simple Savings, I have realized that menu planning can promote heaps of positive long term changes

Improve your wallet and your waistline.

Many readers are familiar with planning a menu for dietary reasons. Planning to save employs the same concept. The key is going back to the food basics and planning.

Calorie King has an article titled Healthy Eating on a Shoestring which

Menu planning can help the environment

In 2005, it was reported that Australians through out 3 million tonnes of food a year. ggg

Good resources:

• Tasty Planner
• Food Cents
• The Worlds Healthiest Foods
• 30 Day Gourmet
• Mealopedia
• Hillbilly Housewife
• Supercook
• Simple Savings

Aldi can be daunting for the uninitiated. Why would one want to peruse a store where you have to pay to use trolleys and bags?

Aldi employs these techniques to keep the prices down and unlike other stores, there bargains are oft the most delicious!

• Dry Cat Food: At $1.99 a kilo its more than a dollar less than the other dry products on the market. If your cats are like mine, this can amount to huge savings over the long term.
• Shampoo and Conditioner: I can’t believe how good this is. My hair loves it and at just $2 for a large bottle, I can’t go past it. My hairs health has improved dramatically.
• Frozen Chips: I am something of a chip expert and believe these crinkle cuts to be the best offered in Australia. At $1.99, they are the best value as well!
• Sanitary Napkins. They’re cheap and relatively comfortable. Can’t ask for much more (except for not needing to use them!)
• Toilet Paper: Both the recycled and normal options are considerably cheaper than the ones offered at other supermarkets, without sacrificing on quality.
• Chocolate Ice Cream I went through a phase where I was craving just chocolate ice cream, and was refusing to pay $5+ just for one litre because I could only find three-coloured. This was one of my greatest finds, although I rarely buy it now. Its too addictive.
• The Biscuits: The butternut and barbecue ones are two I get if I know guests are coming.
• Bread: Its around $1 a loaf, but is the tastiest budget bread on the market! I use it for broths, toast and sandwiches and LOVE it!
• Multivitamins: I’m not sure how they compare to similar products, but its excellent value at less than $5 for two months!
• Nescafe. I don’t drink coffee but often buy this for my coffee addicted friends. At just $5, its an expense everyone loves
• Garlic Bread: Very cheap and very, very yum!
• Powdered Milk: This is great value. I don’t drink it, but use it in cooking. Its also part of my stockpile.
• Disposable razors: I bought a pack months ago and am still on the first razor. I only use it on armpits but it gives such a close shave.
• Washing powder: This gets rid of all sorts of smells which comes quite handy when it comes to washing cat bedding. It lasts forever and doesn’t irritate my skin.
• The weekly special I get a lot of items as part of their advertised special. Great buys include a cat tunnel and pasta maker.

It only took five books and $50 to completely change the way I viewed freelancing and earning money online. It is more than possible for the average internet user. Let me know how you enjoyed the books in the comments section and if any e-books changed your outlook.

1: Zen to Done by Leo Babuata

Leo has released copyright on this brilliant e-book, as well as his content on Zen Habits. Leo is a great man who has inspired thousands. He has stated he would rather you purchase Zen To Done and support his work, but would also love for his writing to reach a far greater audience.

Therefore, I am able to offer this e-book for free. If you enjoyed this book, please considering checking out Zen Habits. He also runs Write To Done.

2. How to be a rockstar Freelancer

I’m working on becoming a freelance writer and photographer. This book was an enormous help! It set down the foundations, provided inspiration and completely changed my perspective.

Make sure to checkout Freelance Switch website. If you enjoyed this book, register to get $10 off their next one “How to be a Rockstar Wordpresser.”

3. How to Develop Money Making Niche Sites with Wordpress by Caroline Middlebook

This is a FREE e-book. It is concise and explains how to set up and install wordpress. Caroline isn’t an expert in Niche Sites however this e-book gives you the technical know how in order to set them up.

Amy Bass of My Debt Free Goal has considerably more information on niche sites if you care to check out her blog.

4. Joel Comms Adsense Secrets

If you have a blog or site you are hoping to earn money from, read this now! It clarified and explained so many things that had previously confused me in one pdf file, rather than multiple help pages. At $10, it is definitely worth the investment in your financial future.

A warning - make sure to read the sales copy so that your signing up for the e-book only. There had previously been controversy, since rectified, where buyers had inadvertently signed up to a one month trial of another program.

5. Blog Profits Blueprint by Yaro Starak

This e-book is a presell for the Blog Mastermind program however it is one of the best free books on blogging. Combined with Yaro’s other resources, this should definitely set you up blog wise!

More:

I haven’t read all the books on the following list but thought they may be useful to readers:

• The Blogger’s Library: 28 Free eBooks and Excerpts for Bloggers
• 30 Free eBooks To Learn Everything You Want to Know About Personal Finance