Hello again. There are so many things to buy, so many things we need that it can make our head spin when money is tight. You need to reevaluate what you actually need. What are those things you need for absolute survival, the most basic of the basic. Some things we’re so used to buying that we don’t even think that we could totally get by without for a little time. Today I’m sharing a few ideas from me. Just remember, these are not forever solutions but just to get you by when times are really rough.

Cleaning supplies. That stuff costs! But you can totally get through by making your own detergents, you’ll spend a whole less & it’s even better for you and the enviroment. Pretty much all you need is white vinegar and baking soda. You could even do your own dish soap, but it’s really cheap so I still bought it, plus it’s a great addition to your other diy cleaning mixes or getting stains out of your clothes. For cleaning you can use rags made of old towels or clothes. I did still buy sponges to do the dishes, but tecnically you could even just use your hands and dish soap.

Body wash. Just buy a big packaging of delicate hand soap and use it for body wash and regular soap, 2 in 1.

Hair conditioner. I guess this depends on your hair, but most people can survive without conditioner for a little or long time. If you really need something, here comes vinegar to save the day again. Just rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar, don’t worry – it won’t leave the smell on your hair. I didn’t use conditioner until I was 18, even though I colored my hair, I just didn’t like to use a lot f products, I was a simple girl :) And I stopped using it for 9 months during our financial disaster. You can do it too.

Fabric softener. This is something I don’t use a lot anyway, mostly for towels and sheets, but not for normal clothing. And just like for hair, you can use vinegar to soften your items. If only use the fabric softener for the smell then you can use some essential oils if you have them in hand or just get used to clean clothes without any smell. Remember what I said in my How to get through tough financial times – you can’t be picky!

Big brands. For some reason we think that the most known and biggest brands are the best. Think about famous singers, just because someone isn’t famous doesn’t mean they can’t be an amazing singer! Other times we’re just so used buying the brand we always buy , it doesn’t even cross our minds that there are plenty of other options out there. Just give smaller cheaper brands a go and you might be surprised! Some of my all time favorite products are from small and cheap brands, cause they work so well.

Organic & expensive food . We all know the importance of good food for our health and wellbeing, but all those healthy foods are usually the most expensive. It’s ok to stick to the regular and cheap food for a little while. Don’t feel guilty about it, it’s important that you and your family have your bellies full!

Clothes, makeup etc. I mean, this is probaly the most obvious. Unless you only have one pair of pants with a hole in them you probably can wait a little longer. What’s great about this is that you’ll get more creative with the things you own and use up clothes that maybe you haven’t been wearing. Or use a different lipstick or eyeshadow color. It’s awesome to discover new clothing & makeup combos that you really like. If you’re lucky then you’ll get hand me downs from friends or family. Unfortunately I didn’t have anyone for my boys so I had to buy everything but atleast they didn’t go to school therefore they only needed a few “going out of the house” pieces and at home they could just chill in old sweatpants and t-shirts.

Shaving cream for your body. If you’re a man and shave your beard almost every day then it’s better to use a shaving cream. But for all the women out there, to shave your legs you can easily use soap foam, simple shower gel, baby oil, olive oil, hair conditioner – all kind of stuff that you already have at home. It’s something that I have always done and not to save money but I was so used to it, somehow for me shaving cream was something only for men.

Food & beverages when out. This one is probably obvious as well, but bring your own everything – lunch, snacks, water, coffee. Even a soda or whatever kind of drink, it’ll probably cost more when you buy it at a bar near your office then buying it from supermarket when you get your groceries and buy in bulk.

 There you go, these were just a few things from the top of my head. There are definitely many more things you can give up to save some money. Use your imagination, get creative and remember that all have different thoughts about what are the absolute basic things we need. Next time your making a list or are in the shop, think about the items you’re buying – Can you get a more cheap version? Can you make it yourself? Can you go without for another week/month? Thank you for reading, hopefully you got some ideas on how to save those extra pennies to get through and see you soon :)