Blogging on a Budget | Tips & Post Ideas

Blogging can be an expensive hobby and I shudder to think how much I’ve spent on it both directly and indirectly this past year or so. There can be a huge pressure to always have new and pricey things, even when we know we can’t really afford them. These are my top tips and some post ideas for when you’re short of cash.

You Don’t Need to Rush Out and Buy Every New Release

I think this is a trap a lot of us fall into and I’m certainly guilty of buying 3 new release lipsticks instead of just the one shade I really love the look of ‘for the blog’. I think it’s all too easy to end up picking up multiple products on offer in Boots and Superdrug, thinking they’re affordable, however they add up! You don’t need to own the whole of a new range to feature it on your blog, there are many ways you can work just the one product you think you’ll use into a post. Instead of buying every shade of that new lipstick formula for a ‘New X Range by Y’ post, why not get the one you like and feature it in ‘5 Lipsticks I Can’t Stop Wearing'? Often products are released to a huge amount of fanfare so if there's something you want, wait until the initial wave of PR is over and some more balance reviews start coming out before you commit.

People Have Different Priorities in Life

It’s very easy to justify spending money when you’re immersed in the Blogosphere as there are so many people with an excessive amount of products. But the thing is, you don’t know their personal circumstances. Maybe they’re a Makeup Artist and the majority of what you’re seeing isn’t for their personal use. Maybe they’re in crippling credit card debt and you only spend what you already have. Maybe they’re just extremely wealthy and fortunate. Maybe you’re trying to save for a deposit to buy your first house, maybe they live rent-free with family. Maybe you have kids, maybe they don’t. See where I’m coming from? There’s no point in comparing yourself to someone with a completely different life to yours.

It’s Nice to See Well-Loved Products

I don’t know about you but there’s something I kind of like about seeing products that have obviously been well-loved as opposed to someone going on about a product that’s only had very light use because they own so flipping much they don’t get to use what they have! You don’t need to only feature brand-new products; there’s a charm to those that have clearly had a lot of use.

Cash in those Loyalty Points and Wait for Discounts

You can easily rack up points in stores like Boots and Superdrug just by buying the essentials. Why not check your balance and treat yourself to something new? For essential purchases, wait for a discount or special offer. If you see something you want in Selfridges as an occasional treat then why not see if you can find it on Feel Unique, ASOS or a similar site that runs lots of discount codes? Yeah, you can walk into Selfridges and buy yourself a Nars blusher as a payday treat but you could equally get it 20% off through ASOS.

Affordable Post Ideas

£20 Makeup Challenge

(challenge yourself to do an entire face of makeup on £20 or do a swap with another blogger)

Top 10 Under £10

(your top 10 favourite skincare/makeup/haircare products under £10)

Affordable Alternatives to…

(cheaper brands that do something similar to a high-end product)

The £10 Manicure

(your favourite nail routine that comes to £10 or less from your buffing cube to your topcoat)

Pampering on a Budget

(your affordable pamper essentials: face masks, bath products, candles etc.)

Drugstore Holy Grail Products

(your must-haves from the drugstore)

Dupe Post

(find affordable alternatives to great high-end products – but only if you already have the high-end equivalent!)

Budget Brands to Try

(try some super-affordable brands and share the ones that impressed you)

Saving Whilst You Spend

(your favourite discount sites, current deals, best loyalty cards etc.)

The £1 Beauty Haul

(do a beauty haul where everything costs £1 or under; think MUA £1 lipsticks, Rimmel at Poundland etc.)

Free Post Ideas

Makeup Memories

(go through your stash and write about products that bring back memories for you)

Your Morning Routine

(what you like to make for breakfast, what products you use etc.)

5 Things That Made You Smile This Week

(this could be anything from your pet dog to a place you visited)

Things You’ve Learnt About Yourself…

(from moving out of home, from blogging, from going to university, from your first job etc.)

Inside Someone Else’s Makeup Bag

(your little sister, your mum, another blogger, your best friend etc.)

Products You Gave a Second Chance

(dig out some products you didn’t love first time round and try them again)

Products You’ll Always Re-Purchase

(the products you’ve been using forever and think you’ll always love)

Share Your Blogging Tips

(how you take your photos, how you organise yourself etc.)

5 Essential Pieces in Your Wardrobe

(keep it general so you don’t have to use current season items and feature stuff you already own. E.g. black skinny jeans, Chelsea boots, a fringed handbag etc.)

Share Your Goals

(whether it’s blogging, your career, life in general etc.)

I hope this post has been helpful to some of you who may not have loads of money to throw at blogging!

What are your top tips for blogging on a limited budget?

 

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