By Veronica Murphy
December has come and gone and so too has the tendency to over-indulge during the festivities; that extra glass of mulled wine with your food and splurging a bit more than usual on gifts for your loved ones. But now that things have resumed back to normal you may notice your wallet feeling a lot lighter than it did before. Here are a few tips and tricks to bounce back after the Christmas period.
Avoid being lured in by January sales:
Don’t get me wrong, the January sales can be great and you really can get some good deals, but it’s also very easy to get carried away on the idea that you’re doing yourself a favour by saving money on something which you don’t actually need. By all means if you have something in mind that you’ve been wanting for a while, now is the time to strike. However, try to steer clear otherwise.
Prioritise:
When you’re trying to scrape back some of the pennies you splurged over the festivities, for a month or two you may need to start prioritising until you get back on track. For example, if you have a gym membership maybe cancel it for a while and try some at home workouts or just upping your steps every day. If that won’t work for you, why not make a pact with yourself to avoid eating out for the month or limiting your number of nights out.
New Year, new saving scheme:
There is no better time to get into the habit of saving a few extra bob wherever you can. Invest in a savings tin that can’t be opened unless you use a tin opener, they really do make the saving process a lot easier (you can buy them in any euro shop). Whether you decide to put away a €1 coin every time you receive one or are in a position to put away €5/€10 a week, it all adds up! I also find it to be a bit more motivating to save by keeping track of everything you are putting into the tin, so stick a piece of paper on the side of the tin and tally up how much is in there as you go along.
Don’t forget your student discount:
More often than not, shops won’t ask if you’re a student and eligible for a student discount, so get into the habit of asking every shop if they have it. So many places have it on offer and while saving 10% here and there may not seem like much at the time, I’d still rather have the extra in my back pocket than someone else’s. Register with UNIDAYS if you’re an avid online shopper as there is a great list of retailers that supply a decent student discount online.
Be book smart:
You will probably be bombarded with what books you are required to read upon starting the new semester. Before you splash the cash on a book list that is as long as your arm, find out which ones you can get your hands on in charity shops and which ones will be available to rent in the college library.
So, there you have it, a few simple ways to help you get back on track with your spending and undo all those drinks you bought during 12 pubs.
