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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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61 comments

  1. I agree it really is a trap and I seem to fall for it always lol.. btw those are some amazing post ideas and I really did like your top 10 under £10 post.. :)


    Chic Peachy Pink l Twitter l Instagram l BlogLovin' l Facebook

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  2. Great tips - I love the idea of beauty for £1 (& so does my bank account lol!)
    x

    Small&Blonde♥

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  3. There is definitely a trap and I'm so so guilty of falling into it! I spend nearly all of my spare cash on make up - can't even pick up a sandwich in Tesco without buying a new lipstick - the extra £4 - £6 each day definitely adds up! Love these post ideas x

    Amy | Get Glam

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  4. Great advice - it can be super difficult not to end up convincing yourself that you NEED to buy ALL the beauty products! These are really useful ideas though (although I still need to work on my desire to have ALL the products just to try them, even outside of blogging! :p)

    Misia xx
    gowashyourface.com

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  5. This is such a great post and thanks for the ideas! I know exactly the pressure to feel the need to buy the newly released products, not just because I have a blog, but because I get tempted easily, especially with lipsticks. I do wait for discounts and a lot of reviews of the products before I finally decide whether I should get it or not, and I like to use my mom's make up or skin care to be featured on my blog as well, so although my collection is not that big, there's always something to be post up in my blog :)

    Sitha | lemmeswatchit.blogspot.com

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  6. Your posts are always so good!!! Thanks for another great one. Totally agree with the Boots points - I saved mine for a year or two and finally treated myself to a bit of a high-end haul with zero guilt!

    The Beauty Locker

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  7. Ah these are great tips! My housemates are set in their ways thinking that's it's impossible to blog without spending a load of money, but this really isn't the case. Though I don't want to think of how much money I've spent on products as a result of reading blogs, I literally can't afford to be buying the next biggest release as a student, so putting products on a wishlist for my birthday/xmas makes me think do I really want/need this. I also love finding dupes of high end products and reusing products in blog posts as I feel it really shoes that you love and use them. This is such a lovely and helpful post Jasmine :) x
    Charlotte's Road // Beauty, Fashion + Lifestyle

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    Replies
    1. I'm glad you enjoyed this :) I think limited means forces you to be more creative xx

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  8. Great tip on buying makeup through ASOS, I'll be using that next time!

    http://laurenslittleblogs.blogspot.co.uk/

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  9. It's definitely a trap to rush out and buy everything, although over the last few months since I started taking in physical cash I seem to buy a lot less!
    Jodie, xo // Jodie Loue

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  10. It was something that I did when I first starting blogging, going out to buy all the things 'for my blog' but I couldn't keep that up or even use that amount of stuff so you have made some great points and thanks also for the topics too :)


    Pams Stuff and Things

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  11. I agree there is no need to buy every new release. I think it is easy to get caught up in the blogging hype sometimes x
    Emma | Emmys Beauty Cave

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  12. This was such a useful post! Your post ideas are a huge help, but I love your points on comparisons - it is definitely so easy to compare yourself to other bloggers, but the great thing about blogging is that everyone is unique and different and has a different style so we shouldn't compare ourselves all the time. Thanks for the tips :)

    z0elouise || Beauty & Lifestyle <3

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    Replies
    1. Yeah definitely, you can't spend your life trying to emulate someone else! xx

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  13. I always wait to buy products that are really hyped up because I don't think sometimes they are worth the money! Drugstore finds are the best kind of finds!

    Parie x

    classandglitter.com

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  14. Thank you for these tips! You can find so many topics that does not require money, there's so many interesting things to talk about.

    Miriam A whole lot of serendipity

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  15. I personally really like seeing the more well-loved products. First impressions of something someone has only used once or twice aren't very helpful in my opinion.

    Rachel | www.currentlyrachel.com

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  16. These are such great tips and ideas, thank you so much for sharing! I'm definitely guilty of spending more money than I would have for the sake of blogging, and it's a habit I want to try and break.


    xo, Liz
    http://lipstickandconfetti.com

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome :) glad you enjoyed and I think we all are to an extent! xx

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  17. This is such a great post, I definitely sometimes spend too much on beauty products by justifying them as necessary for my blog! I love all your post ideas, especially the £1 beauty haul :) x
    Chasing Belle 23

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  18. I totally love your blog, it gives me new ideas everyday <3 Thanks!

    Kisses!

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  19. Totally agree about what you've said here, especially when it comes to personal circumstances. It can be easy to fall into the trap of buying so many products but only later realizing how much you've actually spent. I definitely fall into that a lot! I love seeing posts about products that have been well loved, it makes me truly trust the opinion of the person since using products lightly sometimes don't get to show you how the product performs down the road!

    xoxo
    http://www.hellohimawari.com/

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  20. I get so much buyers guilt sometimes like when I buy another blusher I do not need but want etc to add to a growing collection. It really is a ridiculous habit when you think about it but I've decided I'm really going to make an effort to stop. After Christmas when all the nice sets are gone :P I have to say though I am good at waiting for a discount code or sale but then I seem to buy more!

    Danielle's Beauty Blog

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  21. Great tips! I also think a good one would be picking out make-up you haven't used for a while and creating a completely different look to what you usually do. I love experimenting with new colours and combinations!

    http://www.abigailalicex.com

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  22. Lot's of great post ideas there! My tip would be to write about favourites that you already have :)

    Velvet Blush

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  23. Great tips :) I really enjoy reading about other people's most loved products for sure, they always make for more interesting posts!

    Gemima | Lovely Witches

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  24. These are some great ideas! I've been so good at only buying products I actually wanted anyway, rather than buying them to have something to blog about! x

    closingwinter.wordpress.com

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  25. Such a fantastic post Jasmine and its given me some more motivation to my not buying makeup challenge, you're right its so easy to get sucked into the blogsphere and just buy loads of things! It's important to take a step back and realise when you have enough...and then actually enjoy everything you own ^_^
    Iqra |The Blushing Giraffe x

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    Replies
    1. Definitely, especially when you're comparing yourself to people who do beauty for a job! xx

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  26. Thanks for sharing this, Jasmine - you've got some fab ideas for posts and I'll definitely be giving some of them a whirl! It is so easy to get sucked into the must-buy-everything vortex of blogging and I definitely lost a few months and a fair amount of cash in there when I first started blogging but I feel like I've come out the other side now, I mostly only buy things that I really want (and can afford!) and have found it's made me a lot more imaginative in my blogging :)

    Jess xo
    http://just-jesss.blogspot.co.uk

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  27. I love your blog post idea's thats a really big help if somebody is stuck on what to do! Especially the £1 beauty haul - Never thought about rummaging through pound land for makeup products. Thank you! great post!

    xx

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  28. This is such a great post Jasmine! x

    Liz | LotsofLoveLiz

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  29. These are good tips! I always end up buying new products just because they've been blogged about and are really hyped up. If I don't buy it and leave it for a month or so, more often than not I don't even want it anymore!
    girlavie.com x

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    Replies
    1. Yeah definitely! There are certain brands who know how to drum up that initial hype in the blogosphere but you just have to resist it xx

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  30. This is a great post for when I loose inspiration :) thanks for sharing yet another fab post xxx

    www.kirstyjennifer.com

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  31. This is a really great post.
    Blogging can definitely be expensive! I've been off work with an injury for almost a month now, so am having the really budget myself. You've given me some inspiration!

    Amelia Rose | Beauty and Lifestyle Blogger

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  32. love this post, so helpful and amazing photography as always Jasmine!
    Sophie Jenner
    x

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  33. I needed this little read, a lot of these things is something I do a lot. I always look at the new releases and wish I could splash on them but realistically I don't need them or need to waste the money! I make do with what I have and occasionally buy new ones. Going to save this to remind myself when I need it! xx

    Tamz | http://www.throughneweyesx.com

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  34. I really agree w/you a lot. I have to admit I am not as influenced to buy the latest and greatest because I don't see the point of spending excessive amounts of hard earned money to write on a blog about. I will only buy the products for myself, then introduce them for the blog, and not the other way around. BUT I do get tempted now and again! haha

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    Replies
    1. Yeah that's the right way round to do it - unless it's your job there's no point having products other than for your own use :) xx

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  35. Oh my goodness, you basically took the words right out of my mouth here! I definitely agree with all of these points, especially the one aimed at buying new release products and the fact that we all have different priorities in life. Too often we think that blog posts need to be featuring current and up to date products in order to be successful which I find the furthest thing from the truth! Glad to see that you have shed some light on this topic, because I totally agree! Xx
    The Style Icon

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  36. I love reading posts like this because I feel like there's so much blog-induced spending going on, it can be hard to not want the newest release etc. I agree though, I love reading about well used products because personally I think it's only until you've really used something for a long while that you can judge it.

    www.thesundaymode.blogspot.com.au

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  37. Thank you for these great tips!

    http://www.gemmacarey.com/

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  38. Lovely tips and I do do most of them. I have never been one to buy hyped products until I have read plenty reviews and I am satisfied I can make the plunge. It's so much easier blogging on a budget because drug store products have really improved and I find that many people/readers love reading drug store posts which is always so lovely...xx

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    1. Yeah I find drugstore posts are usually very popular too :) xx

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  39. The point you've made about comparing yourself to others without considering their circumstances is so true! I've judged people before based on their gigantic makeup collections, tutting at how ridiculous it is to own over a hundred lipsticks, and then later read that they are actually makeup artists and buy for use on clients... oops! I think shopping your stash is a fab idea for new posts xx

    Laura | Lala London: Beauty & Lifestyle

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  40. I love these ideas!! I've definitely spent above my means 'for the blog' but now I'm really trying to stick to what I can really afford.

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  41. I really enjoyed this post, very helpful, thank you for sharing! http://www.withoutlipstick.com

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  42. This is such a fab post! I love that you are talking about this, Jasmine! You always impress me with your posts that are like this. You are very well spoken and wise in your phrasing of words, as not to offend while keeping it honest. Wonderful post!
    http://www.lipstickisalife.com/

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  43. Loved this post Jasmine - some really great ideas here that I'm definitely going to use! I'm so guilty of buying 4 shades of the same lipstick, and justifying it 'for the blog' and it does really add up in the end! x

    emily x ❤ | emilyloula

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  44. One hundred percent agree with you on this, really you don't have to buy every new release even though its so tempting and hard to resist. But got some great ideas for future post. Excellent post Xx.

    Sam || Beautydetour

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  45. Thank you everyone, I really loved reading the comments on this post :) xx

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  46. This post is so helpful thanks Jasmine! Since I'm a uni student I don't have a lot of money to spend on beauty, and I know have more than enough makeup/beauty products to last me for a while. I agree that it can be temping to go into Boots and buy many new products just because they've been released but I can't afford to!

    Emily // Beauty and Lifestyle Blog

    xx

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  47. Brilliant post! It is hard thinking of ideas when you feel a bit tight on cash. Some really great tips I would never have thought of. Thanks for sharing :) Helen xx www.littlehelsb.com

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  48. This was so helpful! It just goes to show that you don't need to splash out on the high end products to make good posts!

    I'd also love to see how you do your backdrop for your photos?! Your marble background makes your photos look amazing and very unique to your blog and branding. I really need to improve my photos at the moment and I struggle to find aesthetically pleasing spots in my house as it is decorated to my parent's taste!

    Jodie @ Jodetopia x

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    Replies
    1. Not sure how I missed this comment, so sorry! I already have a blog post on it if you do a search xx

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  49. Such a lovely and helpful post especially at this time of year when I've spent all my money haha!! Thanks for sharing Jasmine:)


    KIRSTY | www.kirstyjennifer.com

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