Okay so we all know that I’m broke at the moment because I don’t stop bitching about it but the truth is I’m learning to live bloody cheaply here in this big old city. Here are a few things working for me…
* The Queen Victoria Markets – I go every Sunday and buy fruit, vegetables and meat. I rarely spend over $15 and I have everything I need for a full week.
* A big mofo vegetable stir-fry – We all know I’m a bit of a health nut but at the moment I can hardly afford my avocado and baby spinach salad and low-carb protein shakes. Instead I’ve been making an ENORMOUS vegetable stir-fry on Sundays and dividing it into my beloved tupperware for my lunches. It’s brilliant, filling and cheap. I can feed myself for five days on around $5.
* Morrocan Soup Bar – If you’re feeling a little cashed up and want a delicious takeaway just grab your own containers (the bigger, the better) and mosey on into this little heaven. Ask for a takeaway banquet for two. It will cost $15 and it will feed you for days. Although the chickpea bake rarely lasts longer than 5 minutes in Smaggle land. Too delicious.
* Aldi wine – I’m serious. I’m so pov-core that I’ve resorted to purchasing ALDI WINE!!! And to be honest it’s not too shabby. Give the Dearborn Cab Sav a go ($5 a bottle) and the cask of Dry Red ($8) is also rather enjoyable.
* Get a thermos – Take your tea and coffee with you. If you buy a take-away coffee every day for a week and impulse buy a cheeky cookie one day you’ve spent $21. That’s enough for a movie, a couple of magazines, a gorgeous lipstick or when times are really tough your weekly groceries. I know which I’d prefer…
* Shanghai Dumpling House – Massive plates of dumplings for $5 and $4.80 imported Asian beers. What’s not to love?
* Socialise at home – This is a foreign concept to most Melbournians but it’s a SERIOUS penny saver. In Canberra we have a huge lounge room culture because there isn’t really anywhere else to go. In Melbourne you have so much choice but if you have four beers in a pub and a plate of chips when you get hungry and take a tram there and back it’ll cost you around $45. If you grab a six pack and head to your mates place you’re looking at around $20. Cha ching!
* Savers – Needs no explanation. Although I found this thread on the Vogue forum with a reader having a polite dig at the staff for nabbing the best stuff. Well der! If I worked there and had to plunge my hand into a mine of unidentifiable and possibly soiled material and happened to pull out an Allannah Hill coat and a Chanel 2.55 you can bet your arse I’m keeping them. And good on the little suckers who work there – their sense of smell may never recover.
* The Tan – As much I would love to I simply cannot afford to join a gym. But I’ve been keeping fit with Co-Dependent Smaggle running around The Tan – the track that goes around the outside of the Botanical Gardens. It’s GORGEOUS! And free… Pilates DVDs (that you already own) are also free. They are just deathly boring.
* Mie Goreng – I’m in no way endorsing these noodles as a healthy meal. They will literally solidify your arteries with fat and salt and render you a vegetable at the age of 30. They are, however, the most delicious and nutrient negative pile of MSG that I have ever encountered. Chop up some vegies and toss them in. It makes you feel less revolting.
Happy saving my little chickens! Please feel free to add suggestions in the comment – I’m only new here and have barely scratched the surface of cheapness here!
Love Lady Smaggle
xxx
P.S You can find Mie Goreng in the asian section at your supermarket. The one exception is my local supermarket because my ‘asian section’ contains only taco and burrito packs. Riiiiight. I think we need to have a little chat with the manager about geography. The Mi Gooreng in my supermarket is near the rice. Neither of which are anywhere near the asian section. I just don’t think that grocery shopping should be that difficult.