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Take your dollar further

by Jessica Goulburn | 13 Feb 2013

We’ve got some great tips on how to make your money go a long way, meaning you can spend more on life’s little luxuries.  

Lotions and potions

Buying beauty creams and treatments can become expensive so why not make like the good old days and create your own? Face cream, foot cream and lip balm can all be made in your very own home using ingredients from your pantry or fridge. Make a facemask out of whipped egg whites or, for something scented, a ripe peach mixed with thick cream makes a wonderful face cream. Simply puree the peach, add in the cream and just make sure to keep it refrigerated.

Grow a vegie patch or herb garden

Growing a vegie patch or herb garden can be quite relaxing and rewarding. You’ll save money on vegetables and herbs for your cooking, plus you ensure their growth and development is top notch.

For your herbs, make sure you have a sunny spot. It can be inside or outside, as long as it gets enough sunlight and warmth. If you choose to grow them indoors, some pots on the windowsill are a great addition to the look and feel of your kitchen.

While a vegie patch does need to be outside, the section of your garden that you choose doesn’t need to be huge. Ensure the area is as big as you can manage, and remember you’re going to have to water and weed it.

Generally, an area with substantial sun and low winds is ideal, but check the labels on the plants to see what conditions they need.

When choosing which vegetables to plant, keep in mind which ones you use the most. This will mean your grocery bills will go down as your healthy vegie intake goes up.

Lower your electricity bills

Keeping warm in winter and cool in summer doesn’t have to rack up your bills. It’s all about being organised.

In summer, make sure your blinds or shutters are drawn at the hottest time of the day. While the sun shining in can be beautiful and bright, it brings the heat.

It’s also a good idea to create a cross-breeze through your home. Open the front door and the back door, plus a couple of windows, and any breeze outside will flow through your home nicely.

In the cooler months, make sure you reduce drafts by shutting doors and windows and sealing the gaps at the bottom of doors. And open those blinds; the natural sunshine will warm your home up.

Swap swap swap

Purchasing books can be expensive – whether you’re buying the paperback or the digital version. Join or form a book club where instead of everyone purchasing and reading the same book, swap different books so everyone gets a turn with each. That way, you get to enjoy dozens of books, but you’ve only paid for one. Or join a library.

Alternatively, if you like having your books lined up on your shelves, scour the second-hand bookshops and give a discarded book some love again.

Supermarket shopping

When heading to the supermarket or local corner store, always make sure you have a list and that you stick to it. You’re less likely to impulse purchase if you have a list of products that you need and you’re not perusing the shelves so much.

Another good tip is to try to schedule your shopping after a good breakfast or a hearty lunch. If you’re hungry when you shop, you’re more likely to take things off the shelf because it looks delicious rather than because you need it.

Also, don’t fall for the specials all the time. Check to see whether buying two is actually better value than only buying one; especially if it’s not something you use everyday.


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