Cheapskate in expensive city

A shopaholic doesn't equal to big spender. I am born shopaholic. Who doesn't know how I love the sight of malls, row of shops on open street and colourful shopping bags. This bad liking of mine has earn me shopaholic as my middle name.

But that doesnt mean I'm any less attracted to sales, free giveaway, crossed out price tags and bargain. Nature with  superb education from my mommey-lovely have both turn me into a more careful shopaholic. Erase that imagination of how I would look like Isla Fisher in the movie Confession of the shopaholic. I am far from having negative account and I am financially healthy.

Living in big cities like London, it's unavoidable to experience days where cereal's become staple for a week or you have to say NO to fun stuff or eating out because the only cash you have is debris of your overspending. Furthermore, a shopping city like Londonium also a fashion city, this hostile environment somehow manage to infect you with the urge to keep yourself up-to-date with the current clothing style - hence leaving you so penniless before the next allowance comin in.

I find this mind-boggling at times, there are times I despise these Prada and Burberry wearing who are so able to keep up with the latest trend without breaking their bank.After a couple of years, I've discovered some of the secrets to living the life I thought I could never have.

• To buy designers' like Guess, Rayban, Viviene Westwood, Burberry etc - checkout brandalley.com
• always google for promotional codes before purchasing anything, anything at all online - at times it might not work (due to passed expiry date), if you're lucky you can get 25% off for London Fashion Weekend tix (just like I did!)
• sign up for studentbeans - they give away 2 for 1 vouchers for fancy restaurants, fastfood even movies
• sign up for sample sale newsletter - you might get the best in-season purchases such as Ted Baker, Warehouse, FCUK etc
• shop during the second or third week of sale - because the first week of sale usually the prices are not that low just yet. And keep revisit the shop in case they cross the prices down to 90% lesser (if you're really lucky)
• always compare websites - some perfume stores are relatively cheaper than the other then rush to the store and grab em
• use ebay to sell of unwanted stuff, you'll get your money back
• keep the reciepts, you might not like wht you bought or you might just wear them just once in your life. I once return a coat that I wore to a trip without tearing off the price tag, found it being not as warming as I thought it would, return it and get my money back. Happy person on earth.
• look for factory outlets - they sell things at wayy cheaper price
• Groupon! you can get amazing voucher for spa, cooking class, eating out, sporting activities like skydiving etc here.
• get good books from carboot - its like just 50 p for a book compared to bloody expensive 12 quid book stores. 
• go round random streets, you might found indie stores selling Mellissa Viviene Westwood Anglomania or Franklin Marshall or Radley at half price. Lucky bargain.

Besides all this, the number 1# tip to being filthy rich is - plan your financial and spend within your means. You'll get there :)