I’m a money-saving pro – the nine ways to save cash so you’re not in debt and why bath bombs could hold the secret
MANY cash-strapped Brits simply have no option but to be in overdraft – but according to one money-saving whizz, there are ways to make the financial burden less heavy.
Whether in debt or not, it may be tempting to treat yourself every now and then – however, as one whizz, Kathryn Leech, revealed, this is where people often go wrong.
To find out which products are best avoided if you’ve racked up a debt or are sitting in overdraft, Fabulous chatted to Kathryn, better known to her 30.8k fans as @katsaves.
Here, the money-saving whizz shares the nine products to avoid wasting your cash on – and what to nab instead.
Bath bombs
Whether it’s the cheap £1 bath bombs from Primark or the more luxurious ones from LUSH, the guru insisted that bath bombs are a ”huge waste of money”.
This, she added, is because these beauty products are only made for one use.
Kathryn added: ”A better and more cost effective alternative would be a bath soak or even putting a bit of coconut oil in the water which is so good for your skin.”
Face masks
Although single-use face masks might give you an at-home spa feels, your wallet certainly won’t be as relaxed.
What’s more, the whizz added, not only do they tend to be pricey, but you also won’t see much benefit on your skin.
”Try using a serum or an oil with the correct ingredients for your skin type, as you can use this multiple times,” Kathryn advised.
Make-up wipes
Biodegradable or not, make-up wipes are highly popular amongst those into beauty – but again, this is yet another single-use product that lands in the bin and landfill after one use.
The money-saving guru said: ” They’re also very drying on the skin and don’t remove makeup as effectively as you’d think.
”Another option would be a cleansing balm as they last such a long time and can be used just with your hands!”
Jewellery
This doesn’t necessarily mean leaving the home with no accessories altogether – it’s the cheap rings, necklaces and earrings that Kathryn urged to ditch.
According to her, it’s usually the plastic options sold by fast fashion retailers, such as Primark, Shein and H&M, that tend to tarnish and break quickly.
”It’s a better option to just not waste your money in the first place as you’ll probably just keep repurchasing every time one breaks.”
White T-shirts
A white T-shirt may be a classic you can style with almost anything – but unless the material is thick, chances are the quality is poor.
Instead of wasting your cash on this garment that also tends to get dirty and stained easily, Kathryn advised to try wearing different colours.
Crochet clothes
The pro said: ” I’m talking about the tops, skirts and dresses that look amazing when you first buy them, but because of the material, they end up stretching out of shape really quickly!
”If you want to buy an item of clothing that you’re only going to wear once before it’s ruined, get something made out of crochet, but if not, go for literally any other material.”
Smoothies
Who doesn’t love a smoothie, especially when after something refreshing on the go? Well, your bank account.
Kathryn explained: ”I hate to say it because I love the taste of them, but the pre-made smoothies such as Innocent or Naked are a waste of money.
”You can literally make your own with the exact same ingredients for a fraction of the price, just look up the recipe.”
Snack bars
Snack bars are also yet another easy grab-and-go option for those looking for a quick bite.
But, as the whizz claimed, not only are they not the best choice if you want something healthy, these bars are usually also relatively pricey.
”Have a look at the sugar content and also the ingredients, you might be wasting your money on something you think is healthy but actually isn’t.
”Nutri-Grain and Nature Valley are ones to watch.”
Bottled water
The rising TikTok star said: ”This one is self-explanatory, you can get free tap water practically everywhere you go.
”There is no reason to buy bottled water, just take a reusable bottle with you and fill it up anywhere without paying a penny.”