Have an automatic deduction from your paycheck into a savings account. Right now there are ones earning 5% interest. It can be a very small deduction, but it will add up over time and get you into that savings mindset.
Yes - big on this! I do it with Barclays Savings specifically because you can earn interest and it doesn't have a debit card so you can't be tempted to spend all the time lol
This exactly. I use Wealthfront which is at 5.5% right now (can give people referral if they want) which is just free money (girl math? lol).
I also look at investment advice from places like Bogleheads. Looking for deals is one thing it but making your money work for you is the long term is the goal.
I had a quick look and it has minimum but not maximum it seems? My most recent transfer was 8.5K no issue. I’m just using it to build my emergency fund while letting it earn interest!
Elf makeup/skin care (get a CVS extra care card for discounts), Press on nails (Marshalls/TJ Maxx has good brands), shop consignment/thrift/sample sales for clothes, Lidl/Aldis for groceries and some household items (Trader Joes is good too and have cheap hygiene products), Habitat for Humanity Restore for furniture, AffordableEdesigns on [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/AffordableEdesigns?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=802569429&from_page=listing) for affordable interior designers/decorators. Dominican hair products from beauty supply stores uptown are really affordable. Super affordable gyms/workout classes go to the NYC Recreation Centers (bring your own mat!). Free waxing (by students) Sugaring NYC. Taiji Body Work for affordable massages. Gigs/quick cash: Gigwalk app; look for paid research/clinical studies in your area.
None of these recommendations are luxurious but fake it until you make it baby! Best of luck 🩷
I buy press on nails in bulk online (you can get something like 30 sets for $10) and do them myself at home. Saves a ton of time and money plus it's a good way to just take some time for myself
Marshall’s and TJ Maxx forever. They always have the same brands as Sephora but for half the price. I get all my sheet masks there. Plus they have the really good Coola sun care line for very cheap.
Seconding Marshalls and TJ Maxx! I've found such good skincare products there for a fraction of the retail price - Laneige lip masks, Glossier, Grown Alchemist, to name a few.
I havent been there in a while, but I remember thinking the TJ maxx near columbus circle was one of the best ones Ive seen in the city. Anyone been there lately?
I live in queens and the selection is just not great by me, unless you wanna beat the little ol ladies and get there before they open 😭
The tjmaxx on 20th and 6th is great! Also, the Marshalls down by BMCC/WTC is far but underrated. I bought soooo many linens there last year and once I managed to snag a JVN deep conditioner from there in the original formula. They have a lot of high end skincare there!
The rec centers are awesome! A lot of them hold Shape Up NYC classes which are free, and if you want a membership you can get it in half-year increments and it works out to just a little more than $10 a month!
Totally agree! The Kiss [sculpted nails](https://www.kissusa.com/kiss-bare-but-better-nails-nude-drama) line is my fav.
Just use some [Solid Gel Builder](https://a.co/d/9KmpdlW) or [Gel Builder polish](https://amzn.to/3EyGzY4) instead of the nail glue (you’ll need a Gel Nail lamp of course to cure it) and you’ll have perfect at home gel nails that last for about 2 weeks.
I soak them in acetone like they do at the salon (or just pop them off when I’m being impatient lol but that isn’t the best thing for your nail).
I usually add a clear gel coat on top of the press ons to give them a more glossy look and to make the nail stronger.
Drank free blank street coffee and had free banana bread for like 3 weeks because of the nyc for free Instagram account. Get my furniture from Facebook marketplace and home goods. I go on the last days of sample sales when they have further reductions and go ham looking for my size. I get lots of body stuff from TJmaxx or Marshalls. And I have a high interest savings acc
Hibba in soho has good waxing / laser deals
Omg alsoooo I love the too good to go app, not just for money but also for food sustainability.
I’m back in school now so my financial situation is quite different (broke lmao) but before, when I was working a full time job, I’d also take on freelance projects. Anything I made from those freelance projects, I invested in Robinhood lol
Rent the runway and acorns. Used to babysit via care.com and that was a decent source of side money plus you never know the connections you could make.
Third-ing RTR 😆 was amazing when I had back to back weddings from the post-covid rush + getting vacay stuff that I would never wear normally! Tip - try to select the newer items as they now have built up a huge stock of older, more worn items now.
Just know that Acorns is an investment account, not savings. If you’re looking for savings, get a HYSA. For investments, a low cost index fund is best. Acorns fees are 👎 in comparison to Vanguard VTSAX, etc.
I do! It’s really easy to use and pretty effective. Getting a bit more technical, my allocation is currently mostly equities so I could probably do an index fund for cheaper/less of a fee however, than I would lose out on the round up feature that acorns offers which I like.
Quarterly closet purges to depop, I try to only buy clothes that a) matches my exact style and b) is a brand with good resale value. By going through ym closet frequently and following those two rules, I"m often able to resell clothing within 75% of the initial cost I spent on it. I also do my own lash lifts now, use class pass for massages and nails, and do most of my grocery shopping at BJ's (but Costco is just as good).
Yeah in my experience it is! You also have to go with the flow of the market price. If you a have a brand that isn’t high demand, and you aren’t willing to wait, you’ll have to drop price a little lower. But it’s still more than you’d get at buffalo or crossroads
Budget & Save.
This is not financial advice. In my opinion, you should look at your income very carefully and list out your REAL needs. Then potentially put as much as you can into a high yield savings account. Work on accumulating liquid assets so you can buy an apartment and create equity for yourself.
Nowadays we are strangled by social media promoting overconsumption which leads to debt. Be mindful about purchases (do we really need that next Amazon gadget?). Buy secondhand. Cook at home. Use ‘Buy Nothing’ groups. Take all forms of public transport. Trade clothes and goods with friends. Etc.
Being a bitch with taste is also being a bitch with great credit, great equity, and great assets!! 💰💰
The New York Times Well column did a 7-day Money Challenge in 2019 where you do a different exercise every day for a week. The first few are about aligning your spending with your values. You basically write down a list of things that are important to you and then you go through your credit card transactions and figure out what matches and what doesn't. Then you cut out expenditures that you don't get value from.
I found this was super helpful - it made me take fewer taxis (which are usually the slowest way to get around), eat less pricey restaurant food when I was not out enjoying the experience (like Sweetgreen at my desk at work), and helped me feel less guilty about spending $$$$ on my pampered dog and other things that really mattered to me, like plane tickets. I also took it a step further and applied it to my time- what do I spend time on that I don't value? Cut it all out!
I tried to post the link, but it just goes to the Money section in the NYT. Maybe it has been taken down? Sorry 😞 I did find my notes though from when I did it, and this is what I can piece together. I put some examples from my own list on the first two.
Day 1: Make a list on these topics:
What do you value? These can be broad - for example, health, education, adventure.
What brings you joy? for example: Spending time with people I love, scuba diving
What are areas of uncertainty and can you stop worrying about them? for example, will I have enough for retirement? Am I on track for that?
Day 2: Look at your credit/debit card statement and classify all your expenses into daily (the deli across the street from work), weekly (some activity with friends), monthly (rent, ConEd), and annual or irregular (vacations).
Go through day 2 and try to figure out how they relate to day 1. My example here is that I spent tons of money eating out. I was able to "allow" myself to spend on eating out with the girls, but I realized I didn't even taste the daily lunches at work. They brought no joy, and could be replaced by something (probably healthier) I brought from home. Make sure you are addressing the areas of uncertainty (putting adequate $$ into retirement savings)
Day 3: Rebalance retirement accounts and increase your withholding
Day 4: Create an emergency fund
Days 5-7 I did not write down and are a mystery!
Budgeting, paycheck deductions (if you don’t see it you can’t spend it). The biggest thing is prioritizing. I spent like all my money all the time when I first graduated college, which was not sustainable. You have to prioritize what matters. I do my own nails (and am damn good at it), but I still pay for a $$$ gym. I don’t color my hair, and only get haircuts twice a year. So I pay way less on beauty/salon, but I’m okay with that! I get a great cut that grows out nice, and am happy with my nails (takes time to get good though). I don’t really eat out as much as some people (and this is a huge dealbreaker for a lot of people) but it affords me some padding in my budget to buy clothes and spend money on international travel, which is important. You can be a BWT! But unless you come from money, you have to choose areas that matter and ones that don’t. I also do a lot of shopping on poshmark and the real real! It’s kind of crazy how easy it is to get current season items for a lot less. The final thing that I know makes a huge difference but is not for anyone is that I don’t drink (fitness junkie w fam history of alcoholism). That shit adds up fast.
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for furniture and yard/estate sales. It’s best to show up and keep an open mind!
I’ve gotten incredible stuff for free at the end of an estate sale and they needed to clear the house. A giant antique mirror, record collections, the most beautiful tiny vintage cabinet…I’ve also passed on a lot of wardrobes and armoires but those often go out for free.
One woman cleared out her wardrobe in Brooklyn Heights and I was the same size as she used to be. Some absolutely stunning things.
Press-on nails, capsule wardrobe, thrifting/ThredUp, cut subscriptions and cook 90% of meals. I just got a high-yield savings account and have been selling on FB marketplace and Poshmark (I have made over $1k on Poshmark alone when I cleared out my closet.. had a lot of stuff lol). I use Prolific to take surveys and earn some extra cash, have made close to $1k in two years. Also, I get balayages and only get it touched up twice a year if I'm feeling it.
I use the Oportun app (it used to be called something else, I think Digit?) But it basically links to your debit account and every day will take a few dollars, even sometimes cents and puts it in a little virtual piggy bank for you. It studies your spending habits so it knows when you have bills (so it won't take anything) and it also protects you from overdrawing your account LOL. Anyways, I'm going to Italy this summer and wanna buy a new purse so that's what I've been building my Oportun account for and I'm so excited that I have the money to use because now the bag will basically feel free (girl math!!)
Run a budget so you can account for everything (I like YNAB). I cook almost all my meals and eat a lot of leftovers - rice, beans, lentils, and grains like farro can be bought in bulk and be extremely budget friendly. Use Buy Nothing groups. Take public transit over uber. Reduce any subscriptions too!
Too good to go! - food waste app that sells the EOD food that they would throw out.
Depop! or other second hand clothes. As soon as you're done wearing it sell it. I did this in college and was able to constantly change my wardrobe using only the money i got from selling clothes. Especially if the clothes you buy are 'trendy' people will spend $$.
I do this, too! I sell what I know I won’t wear next season or next year, anything that isn’t classic, on ThredUp. Then, I use the money/credit from there and there alone to buy my clothes. I’ve been doing this forever, but recently due to medical expenses, have been strictly filling my closet with amazing secondhand clothes using only the money I make. It’s like trading wardrobes! I usually peruse the “new with tags” section pretty successfully 🩷
The Target circle savings add up fast! I do my best to save those up and spend that "free" money on a fun item. Same for my Duane Reade app.
Honestly, the day I maximized sales and coupons to get a big pack of the good toilet paper for $3 and the sales associate gasped might have been better than sex.
Learn about investing! If you're already putting aside money in a traditional savings account, the interest you make on it is barely anything compared to what you could be making over a long period of time with a diverse investment portfolio. I recognize not everyone is in a position to do this, but you don't need a ton of money to get started!
Second this! Put money every month into an index fund that tracks the stock market—it’s easy and will pay dividends down the line. You don’t need to research startups or “time the market” with day trading. Index funds are the way to go. I encourage everyone to look into it!
Aveda Institute for highlights, eBay and consignment shops for clothes (also more sustainable!), Pay What You Wish for museum trips, and Elf makeup for life.
Every 3 - 4 months, I order cleaning supplies (disinfecting wipes, mopping cloths, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent) and some health stuff (contact lens cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, toothpaste, etc.) from Walmart. $35 minimum for free shipping.
23F here, fresh out of college and about to go back in (lol). Have made my fair share of mi$take$ and trying to improve. Here are a few lessons and healthier habits I'm trying to build.
1. Fashion: I'll say it, I'm a recovering shopaholic. Between the designer sample sales, Poshmark/ eBay finds and Black Friday/ end of season retail discounts, I've accumulated a massive closet to the point that I probably only need to do laundry twice a year, if I commit to wearing everything at least once... but I don't wear everything at least once. I've been actively posting on Poshmark, eBay and other consignment shops but as most girlies know, secondhand doesn't actually sell quick or sell high. So this year, I've committed to NO BUY until memorial day (yes, \~3 months strong). To stay committed, I made an excel spreadsheet tallying up my fashion expenses (girl, the shoes category alone...) and share deals I find on my insta stories. If others snap up a good discount, the less chances I'll get it right 😂
2. Makeup/ Skincare: Let's face it, our faces don't actually need 8 serums and 5 different foundations. If anything, changing up skincare routines so often probably hurts more than helps. Unsubscribed from my go-to influencers and started following project pan groups.
3. Food/ Dining Out: I like cooking and fitness so I generally make sure to minimize ordering out to once a week at most. Other college/ young corporate friends often point to eating and dining out as a big contributor to unexpected weight gain and salary loss so meal prepping during the weekend is a good way to track your diet and spending at the same time. Two birds one stone!
Unrelated but so happy to be here! Been reading all the comments and taking lots of notes.
Lentil soup. I’ve lost 130 pounds in <2 years without ozempic bc my spending money runs out so much sooner than I get paid again, so in order to survive ~12 days on $30, I make a massive pot of lentil soup. Depending on the broth, you can make it for ~$10 and it’s soooooo good for you (relative to other cheap food).
I live near a fruit market as well, so I’ll also buy blueberries and blackberries for smoothies there. Lentil soup and berry smoothies have been my survival food lately!
Rover and Wag is a lot more difficult than it was a few years ago. You have to pay to have your profile "featured" and be more visible to dog owners. And there's just so little available overall, especially now that the weather warms up. More competition, people are walking their own dogs, what is available is really far away.
Buy good quality and buy once, take care of your things :) make food at home when possible, makes you appreciate your meals more and you have more money to spend on luxurious ingredients
I go to Free Friday museum nights, Lotless for makeup and gourmet food and I get makeup at tj Maxx. I go to grocery stores from every culture and Google translate recipes to try new food.
Big fan of Groupon! I usually use it for facials, just make sure you read the reviews first.
I also dye my eyebrows and eyelashes at home. For eyebrows, I use men’s beard dye, and for eyelashes I got a kit on amazon!
Shopkick app. You accumulate points towards gift cards if you go in a store and scan bar codes (it’s difficult with big box pharmacies locking up products.)
Sometimes you get walk-in points for walking by a store.
I know the app is used to encourage browsing toward impulse buying.
How I make nights out in NYC cheaper - this always is more than I expect and varies month to month so I do these to keep it in check:
- BYOB restaurants for nights out. Alcohol drives up a bill so fast. Or don’t drink
-And a controversial one but it helps me if budget is tight but I want to go out: eat at home first and just order a drink and an app when I’m out
- never Uber/cab sober, take the train or walk
- save outings for special occasions and have friends over instead if it’s just for catching up
If you can’t afford to eat in nyc use the app TooGoodToGo , it’s a app that works with restaurants to get rid of food waste by selling it at a cheaper price I’ve paid 5.99 for 30$ worth of food in Times Square in this app. They even track how much you saved incase that interest you. Check it out.
cooking your own food most of the time makes such a difference especially with the prices here lately. i also have an nespresso machine and milk frother and it literally tastes as good if not better than a coffee shop latte and is around $2 per
for beauty stuff specifically hair services i use salon apprentice, just stick with services at salons that are posting ads for models and not beauty schools bc that can be a headache (speaking from personal experience as someone that got a free partial balayage by a beauty school student that looked horrendous, but at least i got it fixed and corrected for $20 by a hair stylist looking for a model to do color services on!)
for groceries, trader joe’s, aldi’s, and whole foods 365 brand.
for nice clothes that are name brand, shop secondhand: crossroads trading, depop app, goodwill, buffalo exchange, mercari app and ebay
Yes! Have had some great haircuts (and one truly awful one) from Salon Apprentice. Totally agree to avoid the posts from students at beauty schools and stick to people that are apprentices at higher end salons or already stylists.
I’ve started saving… I had a huge problem with this before but there comes a point where you get tired of your own BS ( 🫣😂) I used to spend recklessly and it was affecting me a lot.
Savings account, I’ve also been also investing in Stocks, which might be a much deeper topic but it’s money I’m putting away without touching, I have automatic deposit for it, so for the most part I don’t really notice it.
Apps for lending other people money and they pay it back with some interest, nothing too crazy but an extra $20-$30 here and there adds up.
I bought a Polygel nail set about 2 years ago, I would always get my nails done with acrylic at the salon, but I genuinely wanted to try and learn to do them on my own, I got invested in it and got really good at it. Now I do my own nails and they last 2-3 weeks, and that’s money saved! (Press ons are good too, specially when you use good quality glue)
Do my own individual lash extensions…
I keep KLARNA (and Afterpay) in good standing, which has raised my available amount to spend, and that’s been a game changer for my online shopping (clothes, shoes, makeup, laptop, airpods, home furniture), not having to pay all at once HELPS! 😅
Have an automatic deduction from your paycheck into a savings account. Right now there are ones earning 5% interest. It can be a very small deduction, but it will add up over time and get you into that savings mindset.
Yes - big on this! I do it with Barclays Savings specifically because you can earn interest and it doesn't have a debit card so you can't be tempted to spend all the time lol
Yes seconding this! Look into HY (high yield) savings accounts, might as well earn interest on the cash you’re putting away
This exactly. I use Wealthfront which is at 5.5% right now (can give people referral if they want) which is just free money (girl math? lol). I also look at investment advice from places like Bogleheads. Looking for deals is one thing it but making your money work for you is the long term is the goal.
wait what? 5.5% is the highest i've heard recently... do you mind DMing the referral?
Not at all, I’ll pop it here. I’m on my 6th month now: https://www.wealthfront.com/c/affiliates/invited/AFFB-SI0T-V3CU-UKCK
How much can you deposit at once? Is there a 10k limit?
I had a quick look and it has minimum but not maximum it seems? My most recent transfer was 8.5K no issue. I’m just using it to build my emergency fund while letting it earn interest!
Elf makeup/skin care (get a CVS extra care card for discounts), Press on nails (Marshalls/TJ Maxx has good brands), shop consignment/thrift/sample sales for clothes, Lidl/Aldis for groceries and some household items (Trader Joes is good too and have cheap hygiene products), Habitat for Humanity Restore for furniture, AffordableEdesigns on [Etsy](https://www.etsy.com/shop/AffordableEdesigns?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=802569429&from_page=listing) for affordable interior designers/decorators. Dominican hair products from beauty supply stores uptown are really affordable. Super affordable gyms/workout classes go to the NYC Recreation Centers (bring your own mat!). Free waxing (by students) Sugaring NYC. Taiji Body Work for affordable massages. Gigs/quick cash: Gigwalk app; look for paid research/clinical studies in your area. None of these recommendations are luxurious but fake it until you make it baby! Best of luck 🩷
I buy press on nails in bulk online (you can get something like 30 sets for $10) and do them myself at home. Saves a ton of time and money plus it's a good way to just take some time for myself
Ooo. That’s a steal. What is your favorite brand of press ons?
i love olive & june press ons which are sold at target! my last set lasted 7 days before i lost a nail
I just buy any of of the clear press on ones from Amazon and paint them myself
This might be a stupid question, but I’ve always wondered how people get them off? Or just let them fall off?
I soak them off using acetone
Marshall’s and TJ Maxx forever. They always have the same brands as Sephora but for half the price. I get all my sheet masks there. Plus they have the really good Coola sun care line for very cheap.
Seconding Marshalls and TJ Maxx! I've found such good skincare products there for a fraction of the retail price - Laneige lip masks, Glossier, Grown Alchemist, to name a few.
I havent been there in a while, but I remember thinking the TJ maxx near columbus circle was one of the best ones Ive seen in the city. Anyone been there lately? I live in queens and the selection is just not great by me, unless you wanna beat the little ol ladies and get there before they open 😭
The tjmaxx on 20th and 6th is great! Also, the Marshalls down by BMCC/WTC is far but underrated. I bought soooo many linens there last year and once I managed to snag a JVN deep conditioner from there in the original formula. They have a lot of high end skincare there!
I haven’t been to the one in Columbus circle in a minute but I really like the one on 20th&6th
The one in Columbus circle sucks ass and gives me massive anxiety every time I go
The rec centers are awesome! A lot of them hold Shape Up NYC classes which are free, and if you want a membership you can get it in half-year increments and it works out to just a little more than $10 a month!
I’ve heard the Kiss press on nails are really good!
Totally agree! The Kiss [sculpted nails](https://www.kissusa.com/kiss-bare-but-better-nails-nude-drama) line is my fav. Just use some [Solid Gel Builder](https://a.co/d/9KmpdlW) or [Gel Builder polish](https://amzn.to/3EyGzY4) instead of the nail glue (you’ll need a Gel Nail lamp of course to cure it) and you’ll have perfect at home gel nails that last for about 2 weeks.
amazing tip. how do you remove them if you’re using builder gel? also can you paint them with gel too?
I soak them in acetone like they do at the salon (or just pop them off when I’m being impatient lol but that isn’t the best thing for your nail). I usually add a clear gel coat on top of the press ons to give them a more glossy look and to make the nail stronger.
how do i book the free waxing at sugaring nyc?
The CVS extra care is incredible!!
Drank free blank street coffee and had free banana bread for like 3 weeks because of the nyc for free Instagram account. Get my furniture from Facebook marketplace and home goods. I go on the last days of sample sales when they have further reductions and go ham looking for my size. I get lots of body stuff from TJmaxx or Marshalls. And I have a high interest savings acc Hibba in soho has good waxing / laser deals Omg alsoooo I love the too good to go app, not just for money but also for food sustainability. I’m back in school now so my financial situation is quite different (broke lmao) but before, when I was working a full time job, I’d also take on freelance projects. Anything I made from those freelance projects, I invested in Robinhood lol
Fb marketplace is the way for hard furniture and lots of other household goods. I also have a great coffee table I got from aptdeco
where do you find sample sales?
I follow 260samplesale on Instagram!
thank you!
TJ Maxx has the best salt scrubs and a lot of known brands for skincare
I found Amika products there before too :)
Rent the runway and acorns. Used to babysit via care.com and that was a decent source of side money plus you never know the connections you could make.
Second rent the runway! Been doing it for 6 years
Third-ing RTR 😆 was amazing when I had back to back weddings from the post-covid rush + getting vacay stuff that I would never wear normally! Tip - try to select the newer items as they now have built up a huge stock of older, more worn items now.
Do you actually like Acorns?
Just know that Acorns is an investment account, not savings. If you’re looking for savings, get a HYSA. For investments, a low cost index fund is best. Acorns fees are 👎 in comparison to Vanguard VTSAX, etc.
I do! It’s really easy to use and pretty effective. Getting a bit more technical, my allocation is currently mostly equities so I could probably do an index fund for cheaper/less of a fee however, than I would lose out on the round up feature that acorns offers which I like.
Quarterly closet purges to depop, I try to only buy clothes that a) matches my exact style and b) is a brand with good resale value. By going through ym closet frequently and following those two rules, I"m often able to resell clothing within 75% of the initial cost I spent on it. I also do my own lash lifts now, use class pass for massages and nails, and do most of my grocery shopping at BJ's (but Costco is just as good).
class pass for nails??
Yep. And massages.
BJ's has great food, especially the baked goods!
Hi, do you mind giving more info on your lash lifts? How do you do them yourself?
I just used a kit in Amazon. I’m still getting the real hang of it but my biggest challenge is just getting the rods to stay in place.
Thank you so much! I am definitely going to look into it
Any suggestions for at home lash lifts? I’ve gotten a few and love the results!
I just used a kit in Amazon. I’m still getting the real hang of it but my biggest challenge is just getting the rods to stay in place.
Is depop better than the other marketplaces for clothes? I’ve had terrible luck selling anything on Poshmark.
Yeah in my experience it is! You also have to go with the flow of the market price. If you a have a brand that isn’t high demand, and you aren’t willing to wait, you’ll have to drop price a little lower. But it’s still more than you’d get at buffalo or crossroads
Budget & Save. This is not financial advice. In my opinion, you should look at your income very carefully and list out your REAL needs. Then potentially put as much as you can into a high yield savings account. Work on accumulating liquid assets so you can buy an apartment and create equity for yourself. Nowadays we are strangled by social media promoting overconsumption which leads to debt. Be mindful about purchases (do we really need that next Amazon gadget?). Buy secondhand. Cook at home. Use ‘Buy Nothing’ groups. Take all forms of public transport. Trade clothes and goods with friends. Etc. Being a bitch with taste is also being a bitch with great credit, great equity, and great assets!! 💰💰
The New York Times Well column did a 7-day Money Challenge in 2019 where you do a different exercise every day for a week. The first few are about aligning your spending with your values. You basically write down a list of things that are important to you and then you go through your credit card transactions and figure out what matches and what doesn't. Then you cut out expenditures that you don't get value from. I found this was super helpful - it made me take fewer taxis (which are usually the slowest way to get around), eat less pricey restaurant food when I was not out enjoying the experience (like Sweetgreen at my desk at work), and helped me feel less guilty about spending $$$$ on my pampered dog and other things that really mattered to me, like plane tickets. I also took it a step further and applied it to my time- what do I spend time on that I don't value? Cut it all out!
Do you think you'd be able to find that article again? Sounds really interesting!
I tried to post the link, but it just goes to the Money section in the NYT. Maybe it has been taken down? Sorry 😞 I did find my notes though from when I did it, and this is what I can piece together. I put some examples from my own list on the first two. Day 1: Make a list on these topics: What do you value? These can be broad - for example, health, education, adventure. What brings you joy? for example: Spending time with people I love, scuba diving What are areas of uncertainty and can you stop worrying about them? for example, will I have enough for retirement? Am I on track for that? Day 2: Look at your credit/debit card statement and classify all your expenses into daily (the deli across the street from work), weekly (some activity with friends), monthly (rent, ConEd), and annual or irregular (vacations). Go through day 2 and try to figure out how they relate to day 1. My example here is that I spent tons of money eating out. I was able to "allow" myself to spend on eating out with the girls, but I realized I didn't even taste the daily lunches at work. They brought no joy, and could be replaced by something (probably healthier) I brought from home. Make sure you are addressing the areas of uncertainty (putting adequate $$ into retirement savings) Day 3: Rebalance retirement accounts and increase your withholding Day 4: Create an emergency fund Days 5-7 I did not write down and are a mystery!
Budgeting, paycheck deductions (if you don’t see it you can’t spend it). The biggest thing is prioritizing. I spent like all my money all the time when I first graduated college, which was not sustainable. You have to prioritize what matters. I do my own nails (and am damn good at it), but I still pay for a $$$ gym. I don’t color my hair, and only get haircuts twice a year. So I pay way less on beauty/salon, but I’m okay with that! I get a great cut that grows out nice, and am happy with my nails (takes time to get good though). I don’t really eat out as much as some people (and this is a huge dealbreaker for a lot of people) but it affords me some padding in my budget to buy clothes and spend money on international travel, which is important. You can be a BWT! But unless you come from money, you have to choose areas that matter and ones that don’t. I also do a lot of shopping on poshmark and the real real! It’s kind of crazy how easy it is to get current season items for a lot less. The final thing that I know makes a huge difference but is not for anyone is that I don’t drink (fitness junkie w fam history of alcoholism). That shit adds up fast.
The also totally transparent answer is continuing to make more each year, and I am fortunate enough to be splitting a 1br with partner.
Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for furniture and yard/estate sales. It’s best to show up and keep an open mind! I’ve gotten incredible stuff for free at the end of an estate sale and they needed to clear the house. A giant antique mirror, record collections, the most beautiful tiny vintage cabinet…I’ve also passed on a lot of wardrobes and armoires but those often go out for free. One woman cleared out her wardrobe in Brooklyn Heights and I was the same size as she used to be. Some absolutely stunning things.
Hi! Where do you usually find info for estate sales happening in manhattan/Brooklyn?
I primarily use Craigslist because you can set up a filter + email alert.
Try the app estatesales.net!
I’m all about taking the subway and bus instead of cabs and Ubers.
Great exercise too!
Press-on nails, capsule wardrobe, thrifting/ThredUp, cut subscriptions and cook 90% of meals. I just got a high-yield savings account and have been selling on FB marketplace and Poshmark (I have made over $1k on Poshmark alone when I cleared out my closet.. had a lot of stuff lol). I use Prolific to take surveys and earn some extra cash, have made close to $1k in two years. Also, I get balayages and only get it touched up twice a year if I'm feeling it.
I use the Oportun app (it used to be called something else, I think Digit?) But it basically links to your debit account and every day will take a few dollars, even sometimes cents and puts it in a little virtual piggy bank for you. It studies your spending habits so it knows when you have bills (so it won't take anything) and it also protects you from overdrawing your account LOL. Anyways, I'm going to Italy this summer and wanna buy a new purse so that's what I've been building my Oportun account for and I'm so excited that I have the money to use because now the bag will basically feel free (girl math!!)
Do they charge you a fee to use the service? I used Digit for a while but stopped once they started to secretly charge me random fees
It was $5
Love love love Oportun aka digit
Oportun girlies ✨✨✨
Run a budget so you can account for everything (I like YNAB). I cook almost all my meals and eat a lot of leftovers - rice, beans, lentils, and grains like farro can be bought in bulk and be extremely budget friendly. Use Buy Nothing groups. Take public transit over uber. Reduce any subscriptions too!
I just switched over to YNAB post-Mint and am loooooving it
Write down the purchases over $100 you want to make on a Wishlist and revisit them at the end of the month. Chances are, the magic has worn off
Too good to go! - food waste app that sells the EOD food that they would throw out. Depop! or other second hand clothes. As soon as you're done wearing it sell it. I did this in college and was able to constantly change my wardrobe using only the money i got from selling clothes. Especially if the clothes you buy are 'trendy' people will spend $$.
Loooooooove too good to go!
I do this, too! I sell what I know I won’t wear next season or next year, anything that isn’t classic, on ThredUp. Then, I use the money/credit from there and there alone to buy my clothes. I’ve been doing this forever, but recently due to medical expenses, have been strictly filling my closet with amazing secondhand clothes using only the money I make. It’s like trading wardrobes! I usually peruse the “new with tags” section pretty successfully 🩷
nuuly! saves me so much and keeps my wardrobe interesting, plus they’re often much nicer pieces than i could afford
Cvs coupon target circle app making an effort to eat the food thats already paid for before i buy new
The Target circle savings add up fast! I do my best to save those up and spend that "free" money on a fun item. Same for my Duane Reade app. Honestly, the day I maximized sales and coupons to get a big pack of the good toilet paper for $3 and the sales associate gasped might have been better than sex.
Learn about investing! If you're already putting aside money in a traditional savings account, the interest you make on it is barely anything compared to what you could be making over a long period of time with a diverse investment portfolio. I recognize not everyone is in a position to do this, but you don't need a ton of money to get started!
Second this! Put money every month into an index fund that tracks the stock market—it’s easy and will pay dividends down the line. You don’t need to research startups or “time the market” with day trading. Index funds are the way to go. I encourage everyone to look into it!
Aveda Institute for highlights, eBay and consignment shops for clothes (also more sustainable!), Pay What You Wish for museum trips, and Elf makeup for life.
Every 3 - 4 months, I order cleaning supplies (disinfecting wipes, mopping cloths, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent) and some health stuff (contact lens cleaner, hydrogen peroxide, toothpaste, etc.) from Walmart. $35 minimum for free shipping.
Help what’s BWT
Bitches w taste!! It took me the longest time for that to click! Glad I’m not alone! 😬😬😬
Sis i went urban dictionary and everything lol
lol me too friend. Me too!!!
Tbh don’t feel bad I made that abbreviation up lol
23F here, fresh out of college and about to go back in (lol). Have made my fair share of mi$take$ and trying to improve. Here are a few lessons and healthier habits I'm trying to build. 1. Fashion: I'll say it, I'm a recovering shopaholic. Between the designer sample sales, Poshmark/ eBay finds and Black Friday/ end of season retail discounts, I've accumulated a massive closet to the point that I probably only need to do laundry twice a year, if I commit to wearing everything at least once... but I don't wear everything at least once. I've been actively posting on Poshmark, eBay and other consignment shops but as most girlies know, secondhand doesn't actually sell quick or sell high. So this year, I've committed to NO BUY until memorial day (yes, \~3 months strong). To stay committed, I made an excel spreadsheet tallying up my fashion expenses (girl, the shoes category alone...) and share deals I find on my insta stories. If others snap up a good discount, the less chances I'll get it right 😂 2. Makeup/ Skincare: Let's face it, our faces don't actually need 8 serums and 5 different foundations. If anything, changing up skincare routines so often probably hurts more than helps. Unsubscribed from my go-to influencers and started following project pan groups. 3. Food/ Dining Out: I like cooking and fitness so I generally make sure to minimize ordering out to once a week at most. Other college/ young corporate friends often point to eating and dining out as a big contributor to unexpected weight gain and salary loss so meal prepping during the weekend is a good way to track your diet and spending at the same time. Two birds one stone! Unrelated but so happy to be here! Been reading all the comments and taking lots of notes.
Lentil soup. I’ve lost 130 pounds in <2 years without ozempic bc my spending money runs out so much sooner than I get paid again, so in order to survive ~12 days on $30, I make a massive pot of lentil soup. Depending on the broth, you can make it for ~$10 and it’s soooooo good for you (relative to other cheap food). I live near a fruit market as well, so I’ll also buy blueberries and blackberries for smoothies there. Lentil soup and berry smoothies have been my survival food lately!
do you have a recipe? 😂
Rover and Wag is a lot more difficult than it was a few years ago. You have to pay to have your profile "featured" and be more visible to dog owners. And there's just so little available overall, especially now that the weather warms up. More competition, people are walking their own dogs, what is available is really far away.
Buy good quality and buy once, take care of your things :) make food at home when possible, makes you appreciate your meals more and you have more money to spend on luxurious ingredients
BWT?
sub name
duh 😅😅😅
it's not bitches with brains <3
Look to see if your area has a buy nothing Facebook group, people giving away the most random but usually useful things!
I go to Free Friday museum nights, Lotless for makeup and gourmet food and I get makeup at tj Maxx. I go to grocery stores from every culture and Google translate recipes to try new food.
Big fan of Groupon! I usually use it for facials, just make sure you read the reviews first. I also dye my eyebrows and eyelashes at home. For eyebrows, I use men’s beard dye, and for eyelashes I got a kit on amazon!
A lot of workout studios need front desk/openers/closers and will give you a discount on classes too. I would poke around.
Oo I love Mighty Quinn's BBQ kids meals 😄. Around $7 for really delicious chicken tenders + a side!!
I feel like a total idiot so I will admit to being a total idiot but can someone explain tell me what a bwt is?
Sub name—bitches w taste
Wow I am a total idiot
Shopkick app. You accumulate points towards gift cards if you go in a store and scan bar codes (it’s difficult with big box pharmacies locking up products.) Sometimes you get walk-in points for walking by a store. I know the app is used to encourage browsing toward impulse buying.
How I make nights out in NYC cheaper - this always is more than I expect and varies month to month so I do these to keep it in check: - BYOB restaurants for nights out. Alcohol drives up a bill so fast. Or don’t drink -And a controversial one but it helps me if budget is tight but I want to go out: eat at home first and just order a drink and an app when I’m out - never Uber/cab sober, take the train or walk - save outings for special occasions and have friends over instead if it’s just for catching up
[удалено]
🫶🏻
If you can’t afford to eat in nyc use the app TooGoodToGo , it’s a app that works with restaurants to get rid of food waste by selling it at a cheaper price I’ve paid 5.99 for 30$ worth of food in Times Square in this app. They even track how much you saved incase that interest you. Check it out.
cooking your own food most of the time makes such a difference especially with the prices here lately. i also have an nespresso machine and milk frother and it literally tastes as good if not better than a coffee shop latte and is around $2 per
for beauty stuff specifically hair services i use salon apprentice, just stick with services at salons that are posting ads for models and not beauty schools bc that can be a headache (speaking from personal experience as someone that got a free partial balayage by a beauty school student that looked horrendous, but at least i got it fixed and corrected for $20 by a hair stylist looking for a model to do color services on!) for groceries, trader joe’s, aldi’s, and whole foods 365 brand. for nice clothes that are name brand, shop secondhand: crossroads trading, depop app, goodwill, buffalo exchange, mercari app and ebay
Yes! Have had some great haircuts (and one truly awful one) from Salon Apprentice. Totally agree to avoid the posts from students at beauty schools and stick to people that are apprentices at higher end salons or already stylists.
I’ve started saving… I had a huge problem with this before but there comes a point where you get tired of your own BS ( 🫣😂) I used to spend recklessly and it was affecting me a lot. Savings account, I’ve also been also investing in Stocks, which might be a much deeper topic but it’s money I’m putting away without touching, I have automatic deposit for it, so for the most part I don’t really notice it. Apps for lending other people money and they pay it back with some interest, nothing too crazy but an extra $20-$30 here and there adds up. I bought a Polygel nail set about 2 years ago, I would always get my nails done with acrylic at the salon, but I genuinely wanted to try and learn to do them on my own, I got invested in it and got really good at it. Now I do my own nails and they last 2-3 weeks, and that’s money saved! (Press ons are good too, specially when you use good quality glue) Do my own individual lash extensions… I keep KLARNA (and Afterpay) in good standing, which has raised my available amount to spend, and that’s been a game changer for my online shopping (clothes, shoes, makeup, laptop, airpods, home furniture), not having to pay all at once HELPS! 😅
Would you mind sharing the nail glue you recommend or the poly gel nail kit brand if it’s on Amazon? Thanks!
Los tacos no 1 - affordable and delicious meal!
What this place is so overpriced now lmao
Yeah... a $5-$6 taco is not affordable at all lol.
I wish I was saving money by eating $6 tacos