The last few years have felt disproportionally hard – so Capsule, with the help of our pals at Shark and Ninja, are here to figure out how to make life easier, without breaking the bank, as well as diving deeper into WHY we do what we do, the struggles we all collectively face and all that’s glorious and good about being a mana wahine!
This month, we’re tackling the ever-present strain on our lives, our wallets and our bank accounts – the cost of living and how to actually get as much value as possible from your purchases.
Capsule x Ninja
So the government has announced tax cuts, so there might be a teeeeeny bit more money in your wallet. It’s been a constant battle to keep our households humming along, and choosing to spend whatever money we have left in the wisest/best fashion we know how because if there was ever a time we should (rightly!) demand value from what we’re buying, it’s now!
I’ve been looking at my own shopping habits over the last wee while and while I am VERY aware my privilege in the sense that I know there are so many people properly struggling at the moment, I’m feeling the pinch as I approach what surely has to be the most expensive time of my life – saving for a wedding, preparing to (hopefully) buy a house and eventually, having a kid.
So while I’m trundling along doing my best to both save my pennies AND stimulate the economy (trust me to find a way), I’ve figured out nine things that have actually helped me over the last few months with the $ I have left over.
Extending out the fancy stuff – as a woman now firmly in her 30s who has far more than her fair share of grey hair (thanks Mum, I guess) for me, no hair dye is NOT an option because while I absolutely froth a strong confident woman with a gorgeous head of grey, my skunk streak is just not the vibe I’m after for my life right now. But it’s also not the time to be popping into my hairdresser every two months, so it’s a case of stretching appointment out as far as I dare without turning into Pepé Le Pew. I’ve now made my appointments for every four months, and in the meantime I’m making the most of root sprays (they’re actually bloody good). Same goes for the brows – home lamination and tinting kits have really come along in leaps and bounds (trust me and do EXACTLY what the lamination kit says though – try Ardell for good results) and they can be a great way of cutting the beauty budget.
Get you stuff that does both (or 11!) My kitchen has needed a bit of an upgrade for a while now as my cheap appliances have died their inevitable death. I’m trying to stick more to a mantra of ‘buy once, buy quality’ with the idea that sure, maybe it’s a little more upfront costs, but I’ll be helping not only my wallet but the planet when I have things that actually last. It also makes sense for me, as one with a small unit and not a lot of storage space, to buy things that do more than one thing – the Ninja 11-in-1 Multi Cooker is a prime example of this. Rather than just replace the busted air fryer, I’m going with an option that also pressure cooks, slow cooks, steams, sautés, bakes, roasts, grills and even a few other things (including dehydrates which, I have to admit, I was convinced I would never use but then I remembered fruit garnishes for cocktails and we’re away laughing). Less space in the cupboard, and you get a mini kitchen? Glorious. (We’ll have a Capsule Considers review of this up very soon too!).
Smarter and cheaper choices for the same stuff – I get SO pissed off at myself when I waste food. It’s literally throwing money away and I swear with every soggy spinach packet and weird floppy carrot that gets biffed, my bank account cries just a little. So I’ve been turning to frozen fruit and veges more and it’s been actually quite revolutionary. Turns out they can be even better for you than fresh as they’re frozen very quickly after picking, locking in nutrients, and the idea that you can just take what you need every time you’re cooking means no waste. Plus, they’re always on hand so there really is no excuse to not reach for the healthy kai (I take that back most absolutely, a hangover is not the time for a frozen vegetable medley). I’ve been buying those edamame beans in the shells for a snack, however – just steam them up and add chilli salt (salt with chilli flakes added) or soy sauce and Kewpie.
Using my bank account smarter – Online banking has made managing finances SO much easier than our days of Kashins and hiding pocket money in my Harry Potter books so my brother wouldn’t find it. Since I had a bit of a reno on my banking app, I’ve found that managing what’s going in and out of my account is so much easier. I’ve set up multiple accounts – RENT, SAVING, SPENDING, TAX, WEDDING FUND, RAINY DAY – so I know exactly what money is for what. It’s also really helped me stay motivated to keep saving, and tamed my anxiety about affording my rent every week because I make sure to funnel funds into the rent account the second I receive it. It’s a huge weight of my mental load and I can’t recommend doing it enough if you have a brain like mine that needs folders, organisation and even a bit of colour coding.
Socialising and saving – My gals and I have long traded in nights on the town for a more girls-gone-mild approach to hanging out because, one, we’re in our thirties, two, they all have children and three, who the hell can afford dinner and drinks AND ubers right now? But sometimes you need a bit of an activity – the next one I’m really keen to try is a clothes swap where you all bring in stuff you don’t want anymore (and wine, always bring wine) and you can swap away to your heart’s content – a brand new wardrobe without spending a cent? Sign me up. Plus, you can donate the leftovers to awesome charities like Women’s Refuge and Dress for Success (and yes if you’re my pal you WILL be invited to a clothing swap very soon!). TradeMe reckons the average New Zealand household is sitting on thousands of dollars worth of unpaid stuff, too – maybe a little whip around is worth it?
Shopping list – but not just for the supermarket Now is the part of the story when I admit the obvious – I love to spend money. Shopping is my happy place; that thrill I get when I purchase something is a great high and sometimes I can replace that want with a well-timed supermarket trip, or even with paying a bill (Auckland Transport and their damned bus lanes that pop out of nowhere can go to hell though). So I now have a working list of everything that I need-ish to buy – new undies, hair product, jeans that actually make my butt look good – and I take great joy when I tick one of them off. It also keeps me accountable with the ish part of the list, and makes me consider what I’m spending a little bit more.
A more thoughtful approach to clothes – Look, fashion is my passion (well, high street fashion anyway) and my God, I love a new outfit. But as I mentioned above I’ve been trying my best to be a little smarter with my choices when it comes to buying clothes, including: 1) The three outfit rule – before I purchase anything, I have to think of three different outfits in which to include it. 2) My wardrobe key words. As I mentioned in this story, I’ve been adding to my wardrobe by making sure all purchases fit my key words as to what my personal style is – STRUCTURED, BOLD, CLASSIC, UNFUSSY – and it’s been a game-changer as it helps you eliminate spur-of-the-moment purchases and helps you edit down your wardrobe to a true working capsule.
Subscriptions and removing marketing emails I didn’t realise just how important this one was. Unsubscribe from EVERY marketing email and life gets so much easier. It’s also worth having a bit of a trawl through your subscriptions – I guarantee there’ll be one rogue one in there that you have no idea how it got there (check both your bank account and your subscriptions list on your phone).
Click and collect I still don’t understand how this is a free service but considering the margins on supermarkets, it’s probably the least they can do but STILL, utilising online shopping (and not wandering aimlessly through the aisles in my quest to feel the rush of the purchase) is always a good idea. You avoid temptation, you stay within a budget and you don’t have to battle through slow people, hoards of children and Abba’s greatest hits in the actual supermarket.
What are your best value-for-money tips that have worked for you lately? Let us know and we can share them with your fellow gals on a budget! Email us at hello@capsulenz.com
This story has been produced with the support of our partner Ninja. Every click, like, share and comment supports Capsule’s work and our commitment to keeping our content free. Thank you for supporting independent, female-owned media! 💛