I, like most of you out there am a ‘poor and underpaid student’ (or worker)! Yet, I still like to keep up with the trends and not appear as the British put it so “working class”.
To help all of you out there who find yourselves facing the same situation as I, I have found ways to fully utilise the miniscule amount of funds I (you) have…
Tip One:
I love listening to music and so buying CDs comes naturally … but it’s a habit, which leaves a huge dent in my wallet. The best thing to do is listening to your favourite radio station and call like mad when their giving away CDs … persistence always pays off. So who knows, you may be the winning caller (and sooner or later they’ll recognise your voice and be so annoyed with you they’ll give you the free stuff without having to ask!)
If landline phones aren’t your thing, then enter all TXT competitions (found in the TV Guide, Woman’s Weekly or Woman’s Day). They usually only cost 20c and you’ll end up winning a latest release CD worth up to $35.
If all else fails, go to Real Groovy (located on Queen Street in Auckland and Cuba St in Wellington) or your local Warehouse store. You’ll find a massive range of bargain CDs and if you wait a while, you can usually get your favourite new artist for cheap too!
Tip Two:
It’s time to talk about the necessities in life; clothes, shoes, make-up and accessories … the daily essential for the inner (and outer) girl in you!
Firstly and maybe the most important, your clothes…
Although Glassons are a ‘chain store’ that generally produces ‘clones’ they are the best place to buy that ‘in-season’ outfit. Things are cheap and so you won’t lose sleep over discarding them when they are no longer ‘in fashion’.
If you just can’t buy into the whole clone idea then visit your local op-shop. Here you’ll usually find fun and funky clothes, which are always within your budget. Otherwise, you can take up sewing and save yourself even more money and from the risk of wearing the same outfit as your own worst enemy! (Who knows, you could be our next Trelise Cooper just waiting to happen!)
Next item on the agenda, Make-Up:
Being something that you put on your face, you don’t want to be too much of a scrooge about it. However, there are products in the market that are light on your wallet and good for your skin. For your washing needs try products such as Clean & Clear (“it’s what you want your skin to be”) and it’s not overly expensive … also usually, your local Foodtown, Woolworths or New World grocery stores will have them on special.
For everything else make-up go to K-Mart (especially when they have their 15% off storewide sales) and The Warehouse (parallel importing should be your new best friend … it brings in all your favourite products at a cheaper, more affordable price!)
That’s clothes and make-up done; now it’s time for shoes…
A girl’s best friend, or was that diamonds?!
Places I like to buy them are (somewhere expensive if the parental unit decide to pay) otherwise; places like Number 1 Shoe Warehouse … don’t let the name put you off. They have a great range of shoes (some you’ll even find in places like Andrea Biani … but without the extra cost!) For example, I got the cutest pair of pointy-toed, kitty-heeled shoes for the affordable price of $29.95!
Also, again check out the Warehouse and even Farmers - you never know what you may find.
On the other hand, if your parents are paying, splash out and go to places like Overland, Andrea Biani, Sole and all those cute little shoe boutiques.
Last and certainly not least, accessories…
Being poor and underpaid, you can’t afford too much. The best places for all your accessorising needs are K’Road, the Aotea Square markets, at times your local $2 shop (depending on your tastes), craft stores such as Spotlight and Arthur’s Emporium (you can even make your own, one of a kind jewellery), Glassons, Chemists and of course Kleins (where you can get up to 50% off with their discounts scratchies and, if you’re a part of their club you’ll receive and extra 10% off.)
If you want the ‘real stuff’ wait until stores such as Pascoes, Michael Hill and Stewart Dawson’s have their sales … they sometimes have up to 50% off and so you can find real bargains!
I’ve got most of your look sorted but I’ve missed a vital part of your appearance … your hair!
Most places charge an arm and a leg for just a trim so, go to your local ‘Just Cuts’ … don’t let the cheapness of the price put you off, they usually do a great job! Otherwise try the salon down the road from your house (they are usually very affordable). Though, if pampering is what you want, call the head offices of all major hair salons … they’re usually looking for secret clients or hair models for their hairdressers to practice on.
Tip Three:
At the end of all this grooming and pampering your not going to have too much money left but you still have to feed yourself right?
Now I know you hear this a lot but it truly works … instead of buying your lunch everyday or buying that coffee on the way to work or school … take something from home (last night’s leftovers will be a tasty and easy way to save some cash and as for the coffee, invest in a ‘travel mug’ … this way you can take your coffee any place you want and still make it at home!) Or, just take water in a bottle, it’s a cheap drink and your skin and body will love ya for it!!
Well there you have it darlings, your guide to being Cheap but still staying Chic.
Now shop my little beauties, shop!!!
Meenal Maharaj
Hey there fellow NZGirlers, I'm the latest person to be added to the nzgirl team. I'll be talking about everything from interviews to reviews to ball pieces and maybe the odd recipe or two. Just call me, ‘Miss Anything and Everything’.
I, like most of you out there am a ‘poor and underpaid student’ (or worker)! Yet, I still like to keep up with the trends and not appear as the British put it so “working class”. 
Tip Two: 
That’s clothes and make-up done; now it’s time for shoes… 
Tip Three: