HOW NOT TO BREAK THE BANK WHEN BLOGGING [PART 1]

*stock photo thanks to Monique at SHE WHO LIVES*

Part 1

We all know how hard it is to blog on a budget, most of us are either students, saving or working on minimum wage so it is a struggle to come up with blog posts where you don't have to get new products or fancy equipment. In my case, I'm still paying my wedding back, saving to buy a house at the same time as paying rent, bills and all the rest. Even though I am saving like mad, I still end up spending a lot more money than I should or I'd like but I can't help it, I have an obsession with buying make up. Yesterday alone I bough five lipsticks, FIVE lipsticks. Do I need any more lipsticks? I already have over 50. The answer is no, I do not need any more lipsticks however, I could not help myself. So, apart from those little moments of weakness that I'm sure we've all experienced I've come up with some of my tips on saving money when blogging. 

• Don't be scared to ask for samples. Most high end brands offer samples not only for foundations but eye shadows (if they have a new collection out), primers, etc. If you're going to buy a product to review and you hate that product it does feel like a waste of money and you'd probably wish you could've tried it before buying it so this is the best (and cheapest) way to find out and you can always review the product mentioning you've tried it from a sample, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.
• If you've been blogging for a while, go back to your old post and re-write a post. It's likely that you didn't get as many views when you started as you do now so a lot of your readers might have missed out on that amazing post you wrote a year ago.
• Also going back to the start of your blog, try products you reviewed a while ago again as your opinion might have changed after a year or two, give products that didn't work on you back then another chance, you'd be surprised!
• Write about things you already have, favourites and collections are really good ways to blog without having to buy new products. For example, your favorite red lipsticks, favorite blushers, all the products you own from a specific brand, etc.
• Make Up looks are also free and very interesting. I love seeing make up looks as it gives me ideas and inspiration for my own make up. Tutorials are great too!
• You don't always have to review high end brands, in fact, I believe most people would rather read reviews about more affordable brands.
• Places like Home Bargains, Poundland and Savers sell high street brands slightly cheaper than Boots or Superdrug so it's always worth having a look there first as it might save you a couple of £.

I have quite a few more tips that I want to share with you so I decided to do write this in two separate parts as I wouldn't want it to get too long!

Do you find these tips helpful? Is there anything else you do to save yourself some money when blogging?