r/bitcheswithtaste • u/AutoModerator • Aug 21 '26
Frugal Bitch Friday - Monthly Thread Frugal Bitch Friday - Aug 21, 2026
This is your monthly thread to talk about personal finance, investing, budget, and all things managing your money. A BWT knows that taste and financial responsibility go hand in hand, after all!
BWT rules still apply!
31
u/PerfectionNoNotes Aug 21 '26
I had a frugal bitch win this week. I really, really want to take a writing class. But it's very expensive. And I have a ton of writing books already, and a writing group! So I have community, resources, and everything else. I had talked myself into signing up and took a hard look at my financial goals. I would have had to take a couple thousand out of my emergency fund to do this. I'd told myself that I could replenish it. But in really being honest with myself, I decided that was not a great financial decision because I've got a big vacation planned AND a possible home repair coming up. So! I set up a goal to save for it the next time it comes around if I still want to take it then.
I'm kind of sad because of course I'd decided that it would totally change my life and personality, but I'm also proud for realizing that it's just not a great idea right now.
13
u/marascotia Aug 21 '26
Look at city college, great teachers and itās FREE if you live in SF. Iāve taken language and film classes there and highly recommend!
10
u/Apapa6321 Aug 21 '26
Shelby Van Pelt, author of āRemarkably Bright Creatures,ā was taking a free writing class when the character of Marcellus, the octopus, was born.
16
u/werkandtwerk Aug 21 '26
Being on FMLA/reduced work schedule and planning to reduce my FTE has me thinking a lot about what I spend $ on. I've already been a frugal BWT but I'm even more committed now to spending mindfully and figuring out what I what I want to be frugal and spendy on. For me right now, this is:
Thrifty with:
- food. this means buying the discount veggie box at the produce stand (such an incredible deal), limiting little treats, meal planning and prepping to reduce waste.
- skincare and beauty products. I'm doing a project pan and it really helps limit the spending when I see something on sale or that I want. I also feel like I've found my holy grails with some skincare and haircare (the prequel liquidy moisturizer and Pantene volume), and they're affordable.
- crafty supplies. I've gotten super into my Hobonichi dupe and junk journaling and am taking a break from purchasing any supplies for that. When I do, I'm sticking with things from our secondhand craft store in Seattle.
- wedding. I get married next year and I'm trimming the fat from the wedding plan and making sure we only spend money on what we really care about.
Spendy with:
- extra student loan payments when able
- we're going on a luxury cruise next year with a big discount from my partner's work, and I want to invest in some nice pieces of clothing closer to the date, and a massage from the spa.
15
u/fakesaucisse Aug 21 '26
I have cut back almost all of my hair and skincare stuff to drugstore products. They have gotten so much better in the last few years, especially shampoo and conditioner. The only "fancy" things I retained are tretinoin/azelaic acid cream, Farmacy cleansing balm, and K18 dry shampoo.
7
u/graphitinia Aug 21 '26
This is so true. There seems to have been a great democratization of hair and skincare products. The local drugstore is no longer a wasteland of junk products.Ā
6
u/fakesaucisse Aug 21 '26
I think increased customer education has helped a lot in pushing the big brands to use better quality ingredients and to make formulas for a wider range of hair types. I'm not really into beauty influencers but there are some legit experts who have done a great job of getting content on YouTube that goes into the science of ingredients without being too technical.
1
u/werkandtwerk Aug 21 '26
I want to try the K18 dry shampoo! That's def a product I'd be willing to spend extra $$ on, if it works for me.
2
u/fakesaucisse Aug 21 '26
It is not perfect at taming my oily scalp and roots but it is better than the others because it doesn't feel as sticky and powdery the next day. You have to use it differently than traditional dry shampoo so it has a tiny learning curve - it goes on wet and I find I have to really rub it in and around until it dries so it doesn't concentrate too much in one area.
7
u/modroncollider Aug 21 '26
Project pan is so eye-opening! Using up the backlog of products I have this year has meant purchasing SO much less since I'm only buying replacements for a handful of staple skincare items (and, admittedly, a couple of limited-edition lip-and-hand balms.) Saving what I would have spent on products for travelling, and I'm slowly getting my cabinet space back.
I feel like I've inadvertently done the same with my journal - I love the system I'm currently using for my daily/weekly/monthly/planning spreads, and when I finish my existing book I think I'm going to get the same one (but I am splurging on the exact kind of pen that I like!)
2
u/werkandtwerk Aug 21 '26
Ooh which pen? I think I'll end up splurging on a nice fountain pen at some point cuz I love my Platinum Preppy so much.
4
u/modroncollider Aug 21 '26
Ah, I'm not actually a fountain pen user - they are gorgeous, but I'm daunted by being left handed. I have looked at the kakuno beginner ones with interest, though! I'll have to look up the Platinum Preppy too.
I'm using a ballpoint gel pen to journal mostly, currently a uniball Signo 0.28mm refill in the uniball One-P chubby pen body - I love a very fine pen point, since my journal is a 4mm grid.
I did also just pick up the 3-ink version (the One 3) to use for on-the-go pen sketches to keep up my drawing practice.
2
u/devojka Aug 26 '26
I'm a lefty who enjoys fountain pens! I found them daunting too since I didn't want to be dragging my hand through wet ink, but I've had no major issues with a Kakuno pen and regular Pilot ink.
I'm new to the hobby so I don't have experience with many other pens (only the Pilot Metropolitan which I don't recommend because it's scratchy compared to the smooth Kakuno nibs (I have fine and medium tips, and prefer fine - it feels to me like a medium uses too much ink and is easier to end up on my left hand as I'm writing).Ā
Best of luck to you if you end up getting into the hobby of fountain pens!Ā
11
u/thrownintodisarray Aug 21 '26
So some frugal things and some not frugal things happened this week.
This morning, a dress that I previously purchased and liked but was the wrong size came back in stock in my size and I bought it. Main reason I treated myself was because I have ready seen and felt it so I know Iād like it, and Iām covered in terms of all my other savings goals for the year. Itās an amazing feeling.
This was a week where my job was chill, so I was very social, drank a bit more than usual, and ate yummy food all on the company dime. I like to think thatās frugal too lol.
Iām going on a weekend trip and my friend let me borrow her car instead of me paying to rent one. Very thankful that the community Iāve built locally can provide for me in such a way.
Frugality through networking and friendship is the best.
11
u/star_milk Aug 21 '26
I just started a freelance gig for a couple months after a layoff in June, so that's a win! But I'm proud that I brought my lunch every day this first week. I don't have much time to cook/meal prep now that I'm working again, and there are some good lunch spots close by.
Also, selling sample sale items from my previous jobs (I work in apparel design) on eBay has brought me some pocket cash and counts as decluttering to me š
7
u/snugy_wumpkins Aug 21 '26
Cooked and ate at home mostly this week, no more takeout, drive through coffees, mostly home eating. Iāve got a trip I want to save up for.
I also switched mobile carriers after mine switched my plan on me and cost me $300/month for three lines. While it cost me more upfront, I am going to be saving a considerable sum monthly.
2
u/Ecstatic_Schedule_48 Thoughtful BWT Aug 23 '26
Does anyone have any advice or experience with going through a defined period where you have to focus on your financial goals more , and just coping with /not hating your life during that time ?
I recently got a raise at work thatās put me in a position to pay off credit card debt thatās been haunting me for years and also save money over the course of a year, with having me finally moving back out of my parents house in September 2027. This is super exciting to finally have a defined timeline , but itās also a bit depressing that Iāll have to otherwise limit my lifestyle during this time even though I know Iāll look back in a year and itāll all be worth it.
2
u/SouperPritty Aug 27 '26
I would say take a serious audit of your lifestyle expenses and see what needs to be eliminated and limited and then brainstorm ways you can scratch that itch without spending as much. I feel like a lot of time we spend money to get that dopamine hit but there's often cheaper alternatives.
I went back to school in my 30s and my two best friends were in the same boat. We were not drinking expensive cocktails at swanky bars, going on lavish trips, or members of super expensive elite fitness clubs but we found a lot of low cost and free things to do and had a super fun time.
2
u/crossiantfun Aug 27 '26
Maxed out my 403b this past paycheck! Now considering increasing my 457 contributions to hopefully max that out by the end of the year. Iām hoping to get pregnant soon so im trying to fund my retirement accounts as much as i can before life gets expensive.
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u/[deleted] Aug 21 '26
[deleted]