Budget Babe Tips & Tricks

Hey beautiful ladies. We have been asked many many questions on how we shop, how we afford to go shopping almost every day. How we budget our spending and how we resist impulse buys. Well we never really sit down and go through our bank statements or calculate our weekly or monthly spending. We never actually think when it comes to shopping we really do stick our card in at all the different stores and SHOP SHOP SHOP! However there are some basic tricks that have been programmed into our heads.

We always find ourselves liking a gorgeous top in a shop and remind each other that "YOU CAN GET THAT IN PRIMARK FOR A FIVER" So yes we are not a total recipe of madness.

We've all had moments where we want to shop until we drop but our wallet is telling us to go home and have a big tub of ben & jerrys and an episode of Eastenders instead to mend our broken hearts. 

Read our tips and tricks to never have a rebound moment again *wink*

DISCOUNT: If you go on the website www.moneysavingsexpert.com and go to the shopping section and then click into the shopping vouchers section you can get money off vouchers that'll save you loads of money. Did somebody say 25% off ASOS and Warehouse?? Another form of discount is STUDENT DISCOUNT which we both abuse the privilege of. Topshop, ASOS, Sumaiya even asked for student discount for her laptop. Like i said we abuse the privilege. Those who know me personally will occasionally see me put up a status on Facebook begging for an NUS card number during my crazy online shopping spree times at 3am. Um yeah. 

BUDGET VS BLOWOUT: Scan magazines, the internet and stores for designer pieces you'd LOVE to own in a perfect world where that designer coat could have been bought by sacrificing your strawberries and cream frappucino. (Hey a girl can dream) Keep an eye out for how they're styled by the pros. Now go to Asos, Topshop, Zara, River Island & Primark etc and bag that look for peanuts. 

Investment buys: Yes i hold my hand up to trying to justify a stupidly priced blouse and try to pass it off as an "investment" just to satisfy my conscience. No we're not talking those kind of "investments". We're talking the real deal. We mean some things are just worthy of a few extra pounds. Like that winter coat or a decent handbag that is going to last you. You can justify this purchase by calculating the cost per wear. Lets pretend a bag costs you £240. If you wear it day in, day out for eight months over three years, that works out at £10 a month. Not bad right?

Make the most of freebies: Nowadays shops like Topshop, Gap, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols etc offer the service of a free personal shopper/style adviser. Yes you can feel like a celeb with your very own stylist for free. This person will know all the latest trends and every item of clothing that will suit your body shape. Enjoy the experience and you don't have to buy.

Shop out of season: Yes i know you don't want to be buying knitwear in the middle of July when everyone else is stacking up on Flip-Flops but that's when you'll save the most. 

Wait for the Sales: There is nothing worse than buying that coat you've been lusting after and then seeing it for a fraction of the price a month later. Keep an eye out for when your fave store will be starting their sales. Most stores usually stick to January for spring/summer items and July for fall/winter items. I have joined all the mailing lists for my fave stores such as ASOS, River Island, Topshop etc so they always email me in advance of any sales and they are always emailing me discount codes. So that's worth doing too.

We always save and save for the big blow out - Boxing day sales and we will shop like theres no tomorrow.

Cherish those trousers: We all have that one pair of black trousers that always comes in use for something or another. Yes we know they sometimes become a little worn out. A good trick is to re-dye them with Dylon Fabric dye for machine in black Velvet, £4.80 at John Lewis. Its great for updating tired garments. 

All those tips and you'll soon be shopping like crazy like us. *wink*

Hope that helped dolls.

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We love you all.

Its a girl thing 11 xoxo

Money Saving Tips.

Hey dolls!! So today we are going to teach you our money saving tips and tricks. Who said that style & beauty has to suffer because of the credit crunch? Here's how to be a recessionsta! *wink*

1. Exfoliating gloves
You can pick these up for as little as £1 from any drugstore such as boots,superdrug and body shop and they are just as good as those expensive, fancy exfoliating scrubs. You can wash & dry them so they last forever. All you need to add is shower gel or soap and scrub away. A star investment.

2. Swishing
This is actually a well known concept where women organize a swishing party. They all bring a few items of clothing or a handbag for example and swap their items with other women at the party. This is a great way to go shopping for FREE!
For example Sumaiya will often bring a bag full of her clothes for me to my house and she'll fill it back up with my clothes and take it to hers. We always say how it feels like we've actually been on a shopping spree after it.

3. Lip Plumper
I have actually mentioned this recipe in one of my posts before but it is ace so i have to mention it again. For those of us who cannot afford expensive lip plumping glosses & creams etc here is a DIY home made recipe. Add some Vaseline in a bowl. Add peppermint or cinnamon extract and mix it together. Apply as you would any other lip balm. Sit back and feel the blood rush to your lips making them appear plumper. All that under £5. Angelina Jolie eat your heart out.

 4. Hair mask
Deep conditioning masks are essential for healthy hair but they can be annoyingly pricey. I swear by coconut oil. Massage into your scalp and leave for a few hours then wash your hair as you normally would. It will make your hair softer and silkier than any fancy hair mask. I usually never get time to moisturize my hair and my dad sits me down and forces me to have it put in my hair especially in the winter months as your hair is stripped from its natural moisture and you sit in front of heaters for hours on end i always start getting a really dry scalp. We have also mentioned before how it is great for hair growth.

5. Face Mask
Use pure warm honey as a facemask. Add a few drops of olive oil if you have dry skin, or a few drops of fresh lemon juice if you have oily skin. Honey evens skin tone, moisturises and is a anti-bacterial, so helps with spots and redness. Basic ingredients you can find in your kitchen. No need for a fancy label.

6. Sell your stuff
How many of us have items lying at the back of our wardrobe that we NEVER wear? Me & Sumaiya actually have loads of clothes with their tags still attached that we bought in a moment of madness because it was so cheap at the time or we just HAD to buy it. What did we do? We sold it all. We both set up an Ebay account and sold all the stuff we never wear. Including dresses that we only wore once at birthdays to stuff we have just gotten sick of. We stuck it all on ebay and made some money off it. 


Also now ASOS actually have a Marketplace section where you can also sell your clothes. 

7. Stitch it up
The other day i was in Zara and read a sign about alterations so i was fascinated and asked the shop assistant about it. She said if there was an item that wasn't in your size they can have it altered for you for around £4. How cool is that? So if you find that top you've always liked has gone down to a fiver but its not in your size? They'll fix it. Also learning how to use a needle and thread is always handy. While i was growing up i was an awkward size. So it was always hard to find my size in trousers so my mum would always sew in the trousers to make them fit me. This is also a handy tip if you've torn your favorite top slightly. You can always stitch it up again. For serious sewing however get gran involved. 

8. SLEEP!
Yes we have already told you but do not underestimate the power of sleep. Make sure you get atleast 7 to 8 hours. Sleep is free and sleep works wonders. 
People deprived of sleep for long periods appear less attractive and more unhealthy than those who are well rested, say researchers.
Make sure you get your beauty sleep.

9. WATER
YES IT IS VITAL & FREE We have mentioned this before but we cannot stress this enough.
You need it to flush toxins, waste, and pollutants out of your body. If you have been a heavy drinker of teas, coffees, hot chocolates etc your complexion may have a tired-looking, drawn-out haze.
Your complexion could also suffer from a greasy or oily texture. Skin "spots" or "stains" can also be a side effect of excessive use of these drinks. Stop spending money on those kind of drinks and have water the cheaper and more beautiful alternative.

10. Stop the impulse Buys


So you see the perfect pair of heels. How gorgeous are they? Wow they've been reduced in sale. They are amazing yes we agree. However do you NEED them? No you don't. Its okay just put them down and walk away. Thats right. You're gonna be okay we promise. Buy yourself a muffin on the way home as a reward. We won't tell. 










Thanks for reading girlies. Don't forget to click the follow button to make our day.

We love you loads.

What are your money saving tips?

xoxo Its a girl thing

Mahaim

Get Interview Ready!!

Hi Dolls!!!

Hope everyone is well,just want to start this post with a massive thank you to everyone with your feedback it's very much appreciated we physically cannot believe that we have had so many views!out target was 1,000 for the week and we are currently on 11,95!we are so impressed..keep showing your support by joining our facebook and twitter page!!

Right okay now to the post,today we are going to go over interview questions and answers and also an ideal outfit which willl make your interviewer scream YOUR HIRED :D

So whether your in college or university or working, at some point of our lives we all have an interview and it can be very nerve recking so today we are going to discuss work interviews!!

First things first you have to look the part right? here are our favoutire pieces to purchase for an interview remember you can mix and match with ONE pair of good fit black trousers!! Heres how:

Black River Island Palazzo Pants: £35.00

These honestly flow soo well,if your on the shorter side (like me) then you will be amazed at what they do for your legs.

River Island: Cream Peter Pan Lace Top :£34.99

This gives a cute classic look,tuck into the trousers with a thin tan or the belt included paired with some bangles and VIOLA! :)

 Jane Norman Pussy Bow Blouse: Reduced to £15.00

I bought this blouse at the full price at £35.00,and I was so satisfied with it,and now its been reduced more then half price it's a MUST HAVE team with some oversized vintage jewellry for a sophisticated look,wear with black palazzo's or with some tailored shorts :)

Miss Selfridge Nude Tie Neck Shirt £32.00

Cream and black elasticated puffy sleeeves

Team With: Black Palazzo's, Camel Colour Shorts,Wide Leg Trousers.

 River Island Black Court Platform Shoes £45.00

Pair these killer heels with any smart interview outfit and the look will officially be complete :D













I know that some of these pieces might seem a little pricey but the quailty speaks for itself, it will last you AGES!I have a pair of shoes and trousers that are solely kept for interviews and I have had them for ages this because realistically how many interviews would you go for in a year?

Job interviewing never seems to get any easier - even when you have gone on more interviews than you can count. You are meeting new people, selling yourself and your skills, and often getting the third degree about what you know or don't know.

-Prepare
-Watch
-Get Ready
-Be On Time
-Stay Calm
- SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW!

We have been for many many interviews ourselves and we find that with a customer service role/sales assistant these were questions that ALWAYS came up:

When have you provided good customer service?
The interviewer is looking for you to highight one situation and provide steps that you took in order to go the "extra mile" for the customer.

When have you dealt with an angry customer and what was the outcome?
The interviewer is looking for you to identify the customers issue,put yourself in their shoes and always remember your representing the company, take appropriate steps in order to resolve the situation.

When have you reached a target and what steps did you take?
This could mean that you could talk about targets at work or even at college/university!!state what you do to achieve your target, what goals do you set yourself?

Have you ever recieved customer feedback?
This could be if a customer just said a simple "you have been great thanks alot" or it could be a major praise given to your manager which awarded you in an extra 15 minute break ;)

Why should we hire you?
The main question which I can promise you will definatly come on,this is your opportunity to totally SELL YOURSELF, take a few minutes to compare your job description to your abilities.As well as mentioning all the times you have been sucessful in your previous position.



 Good Luck..Be Yourself..Be Confident & Remember Always SMILE!!

Take Care Cause We Care..

Its A Girl Thing.. xoxo

Sumi..