One of the most irritating things about becoming an adult and having to be ‘responsible’ is that your income is no longer solely expendable. It’s sadly no longer reasonable to blow it all on clothes and nights out and then not be able to feed or clean yourself for the rest of the month. The fully stocked fridge and bathroom cabinets of yester year (a.k.a. the time you lived with your parents) now need to be stocked by YOU. You, the newly blossomed adult, are going to find yourself buying stuff like shower gel, tampons, toothpaste… and here’s the thing: They’re not cheap.
There’s nothing more disheartening than spending money on things that give you no joy. Unfortunately, in this case, it can’t be avoided. Here are our top tips on how to save money on those essentials, so you’ve got a little bit extra for fun, or, you know, sensible saving.
Spend more, save more.
We’re talking bulk buying! The rise of websites like Groupon and Wowcher mean that it’s SO easy to buy 24 tubes of premium brand toothpaste for under £20, if you like. Obviously, this means spending more money up front, but you won’t need to buy it again for, like, ages.
Split with your flatmates
If you have flatmates, why not share the load? You could come up with a kitty that you each pay into monthly. That way you know exactly how much your toiletries are going to cost each month AND you’ll always have a supply. Just make sure you don’t become either of the following people: 1. The person who leaves irritating notes about whose turn it is to purchase the products - nobody likes that guy. 2. The person who forgets to buy the products/contribute money – nobody likes that guy either.
Get acquainted with your local pound shop!
If you’ve not experienced the delights of the pound shop yet, then you’re missing out. Set aside your prejudice and head on down. It’s not just full of the cast of Jeremy Kyle, filling up on instant noodles and sugary drinks; it’s a treasure trove, truly. The best thing is, they stock name brands you’d usually pay £2-3 for, for £1, obvs. HOWEVER: it does NOT count as a savings goal if you also leave with bags full of tupperware, Christmas decorations and scented candles.
DIY
Combine money saving AND fun and give making your own toiletries a go? We’re not suggesting you fashion your own tampons, but there are loads of great recipes out there showing you how to use household ingredients to make scrubs, and moisturisers etc. You can even make kitchen cleaner. It’s as simple as citrus fruits, essential oils, salt, vinegar and filtered water.
Now that you’ve made a tonne of savings, you should check they’re protected! That means if your bank failed for any reason, you'd get your money back automatically - and it's completely free. Find out more at: www.fscs.org.uk/protected
We're giving away little prizes every day for the next 3 weeks, to make becoming a #Supersaver a little bit easier. Follow us @TheDebrief and look out for our #Supersaver competitions every week day for the next 2 weeks! Ts & Cs here.
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.