MONDAY
morning coffee
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
Morning coffee is a ritual
and an essential part of the
working week. How else will
you debrief your weekend?MELISSA’S TOP TIP: ‘I am
a coffee snob and cannot be
convinced not to enjoy my
one great takeaway coffee
each day. Note, I said one. If
you’re a threeaday drinker
and your coffees cost $4 a
pop, then by dropping two
a day you could save almost
$3000 a year.’WEDNESDAY
catch-ups
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
At least once a week, an old
friend from university or an
excoworker wants
to catch up. That’s
easily $50 on lunch
or dinner... but
networking is
important!MELISSA’S TOP TIP:
‘Restaurants at lunch
time are noisy and
you need service to
be quick and snappy.
Suggest you bring
lunch and head to a
park instead. Bring
a blanket, take your shoes
off, lie in the sun for your
lunch hour and catch up.’THURSDAY
night shopping
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
Your girlfriend hits you up
to help her find the perfect
party dress and you end up
falling in love with a glittery
number you simply must buy.MELISSA’S TOP TIP: ‘You
just know you’ll be forced
to try on clothes and they’ll
harass you to buy something
so they feel better about their
purchases. Like with a bad
date, have another friend call
you to say that an emergency
has popped up. Or leave
your card at home and take
$20 just in case. Save your
shopping nights for when
you really need them.’FRIDAY date night
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
You’ve swiped right all week
and finally found a winner- hello, lush date night! But
you’re worried about the bill
at the end of the night.
MELISSA’S TOP TIP: ‘Why
should Friday and Saturday
nights be the holy grail of
date night? Show that you’re
flirty and thrifty by going
on your date on a Tuesday
night for cheap prices. Avoid
expensive movie popcorn –
head to Coles and stack up
on retro lollies and snacks
beforehand. Or for even more
of a retro feel, pack a picnic
and head to a drivein
instead.’SATURDAY party
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
The event invites on
your Facebook feed are
stacking up. It’s always
someone’s birthday,
which screams gift.MELISSA’S TOP TIP:
‘It doesn’t matter if you’re
five or 50, most people have
much more than they need!
Why not give your loved
ones the gift of time instead?
If your sister is a busy mum
and has no time for herself,
create babysitting vouchers
she can use. If you live with
your parents, give them date
night vouchers where you’ll
cook them a special dinner
or wash their car or walk
the dog for them.’SUNDAY wedding
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
Everyone’s getting married!
It’s super costly – a dress, a
gift, transportation and even
accommodation.MELISSA’S TOP TIP:
‘Weddings can be expensive.
Which means you need to
decide on a budget for the
whole thing and stick to it.
If your budget is $100 for
everything, then it’s time
to get inventive.
This might mean
pitching in with
girlfriends for
bridal showers
and wedding
gifts, hiring
your outfit and
only turning up
to some of the
hens’ festivities.
Check out some
Airbnb options
where a group of
you can save costs.’ #COSMO’S SLOWLY CONVERTING
TO THE COFFEE POD LIFE.WORDS BY JOSHUA JOYNES. GETTY IMAGES; STOCKSY
SAVE MONEY, AND
WORK OUT. WIN, WIN!TUESDAY travel blues
MONEY CONUNDRUM:
You spend up to $70 a week
on public transport – and
paying for parking in the city
is not much better!MELISSA’S TOP TIP: ‘Why
not consider cycling to work
instead? That way you can
get fit and save cash. Or, you
might realise that carpooling
with colleagues is cheaper
than the five bus fares you’re
all paying. Or convince your
boss you’d get more done by
working from home one day
a week. #wishfulthinking.’ALDI WINE:
AT $2.99
A POP
YOU CAN’T
LOSE.SCHEDULE
YOUR SHOPPING
TO AVOID
OVERSPENDING!AIN’T NOTHING
WRONG WITH A
TIGHTARSE!THREE
WORDS:
D.I.YIT’S NOT
YOUR DAY,
DON’T GO
OVERBOARD.