A savvy saver has shared her top tips for saving money without sacrificing her social life
A woman has shared how she quit her job for the summer after using 10 tips to boost her savings. TikTok user @laurievmcallister claims she “saved enough to quit her job for summer” but could still afford “to eat well, socialise and look nice”.
In other words, Laurie didn’t sacrifice her social life to meet her savings goal, but instead made money-saving swaps, such as inviting friends to her home rather than going out for dinner or borrowing outfits instead of buying new clothes for special occasions.
The savvy saver captioned her post: “10 underconsumption habits that helped me save enough to quit my job for summer.” Her caption added: “ It’s easy to let lifestyle inflation creep up on you and spend money for convenience when you’re busy and stressed. I’ve been there.
“I looked at what I had made normal (buying a new dress for every occasion, eating out a few times a week, shopping for stress relief and as a little treat) and unravelled it. These are the habits I stick to now without fail.”
Before sharing her tips, Laurie explained: “I had a good – but not amazing – job, no children, live alone & spent a fortune on my commute.” She then shared the ten habits that worked best for her lifestyle.
Borrowing outfits
Laurie explained: “I stopped buying new clothes for events and asking friends to borrow theirs.” She added that she also repays the favour and loans her dresses when asked.
Dining in
“Invite people over, rather than going out for dinner,” she suggested. “It’s so easy to spend £30-£50 per person if you go out. Having people round is much cheaper and I save going out for a special occasion.”
Choosing a cheaper gym membership
The TikToker decided to downgrade her gym membership in order to save money with a cheaper monthly subscription. She reasoned: “I don’t need a fancy gym, I just need somewhere to work out.”
Buying clothes from Vinted
Laurie said her next tip is ‘not rocket science,’ but it is one she has found helpful. By buying her clothes from platforms such as Vinted, she said she saves money and prevents the instant gratification that shoppers sometimes chase.
Socialising outdoors
She said she often suggests going for a walk with someone when she’s planning a catch-up in order to enjoy a free activity.
Replacing makeup
The savvy saver revealed she’ll only shop for new makeup when she needs to replace something she has finished. “I still buy nice brand but I replace it when it runs out and only then,” Laurie shared.
Making coffee at home
Laurie revealed she always makes coffee at home unless she’s meeting a friend or working in a coffee shop for the day. “Yeah it might not help you buy a house but £4 coffee a day is actually £1,460 a year. If you cut it down to twice a week instead, you’ll save £1000.”
Opting for low-maintenance hair
Laurie said she moved to ‘recession blonde’, aka a hairstyle that requires an annual refresh rather than regular appointments. “I’d love super blonde highlights but it’s sooo expensive. I get my lowlights done once a year and embrace a lower key blonde. I use a glaze about every 8 weeks to refresh the colour,” she shared.
Using the library
While the bookworm said she still buys some books from platforms like eBay, she makes a weekly trip to the library to save money.
Appreciating what you have
For Laurie, another key tip is “romanticising life and making the little moments feel special.” Sharing her final tip, she explained: “Underlying all of these – I focus on appreciating what I have, rather than thinking about what I lack. Enjoying time at home, making the time to have a coffee and treating myself nicely. It all adds up to make me want to spend less on ‘treats'”.