Champagne purchases on a beer budget.

Posted August 10th, 2015

For the better part of my adult life, if I needed clothing my instant thought has been to head to the likes of Kmart/Big W/Target, etc. I've been programmed to think, this is the place to find cheap new clothes. For the most part this is true. The value is often tripled if you combine end of year sales and store discounts. I understood they would only last a year, but at those prices, that was ok. I was staggered recently to find much better quality clothing at even LESS than Kmart/Target prices.

I feel the cold very quickly. My BF says my hands are like a dogs nose, there's something wrong if they're warm. Each winter I usually layer 5 different t-shirts, singlets, jumpers and jackets in an effort to stay warm and I end up looking like the Michelin Man all bulked up. In passing to my BF I wondered if it was worth looking at Kathmandu for a thermal undertop. Surely, all those people at the snow, must have some awesome thermal ware going on. I've looked in Kathmandu previously and lasted about 3 mins after looking at the price tags. I wasn't hopeful, but was optimistic that I might find something that didn't break the bank. I jumped online to see what I could find.

JACKPOT!!

Timing is everything, and I happened to stumble upon an end of financial year sale, offering a further 25% off already reduced clearance items, available online only. Using free click and collect, I was able to pick up a thermal top, normally priced at $49, down to $15. A further look found pants around the $15-40 mark, even thermal socks for $5 each!! I was deliciously thrilled to find a few items in my price range and perfect for my needs. I can report, once they arrived, everything was of such a quality, I've never had before. With simply my new thermal top and jumper I was so incredibly warm. I was so impressed, it was worth buying a couple more at $15. The online sale had finished, so I popped into the clearance outlet here in Adelaide. If you search, there are so many bargains to be found. Pants that RRP for $180, down to $20. Tops from $89 down to $10. I will admit, I look like a bit of a brand snob, covered head to toe in their label, but to be so toasty warm at the kids sport, and out and about is wonderful. It's certainly opened my eyes to finding Champagne taste items on a Beer budget.

I've had a number of my previous thoughts on good value challenged of late. When you have a restricted budget, it's hard to think long term in regards to savings or overall value. I was at a market recently near an Enjo consultant. I've always admired the products, but again, beyond my budget, or so I thought. A friend recently mentioned her love of the skin care range. The desire for a set grew. When I saw the consultant had 50% off the facial kits, that was it - SOLD! Yay - it was mine, so pretty, so useful and will save me buying cleansers and scrubs for years to come, not just for myself, but the 2 other teens in my house. I might have spent $77, but within 6 months this will have already saved us money, and be better on our skins. I went about the rest of the market thrilled with my purchase. When I got home I separated the kit amongst myself and 2 of the teens. This gave each of us something to use. As I loved using the products, 2 days later I realized my sister's bday was in a few days. This would be a wonderful gift, but at $77, more than I had budgeted for her gift. Then I remembered another friend's bday also coming up. $77, was more than I had in mind for one present, but less than $40 was the prefect amount. I contacted the consultant and bought another kit. I separated the pack into a 1xbody item and 1x facial item each, and used the toiletry bag from my kit, so each gift could be presented in the toiletries bag. Individually the items would have cost over $216, but thanks to a review from a friend, I was able to gift a wonderfully good value, thoughtful, money saving and useful gift to my loved ones.

One last little tip I discovered during the school holidays is in regards to Movie tickets. This has been another "too expensive" purchase in our home. At over $13 for the kids, and $18 for adults, we didn't see the value. Ofcourse there's always half price Tuesday, but they are really busy, and with school, sport practice, etc just not practical for us. Then I was given two wonderful tips, that I now share when I can. The first is to go to the Drive in. It's only $24 a car!!! In my assumption it would be too expensive, I never bothered to find out the price. The other little saver, turns out, has been available to me for years, but I never paid attention. As an Optus member, I can buy tickets for $10 each, and once ordered, will be emailed instantly, to use straight away. $40 is still a lot for us to spent, but now it's a very occasional treat available to us rather than a blanket never.

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