Tips to live your best life on a total budget. I’m not cheap, but I am budget-conscious and definitely love saving money. The less I spend on general hobbies and expenses, the more I have to invest in high-value experience such as travel and specialized activities. This blog will fill you in on all the things I use to live my dream lifestyle on a budget.
Reading
Ok so I know that I’m the best version of myself when I’m reading a good book. This one has a really really amazing answer: utilize your public library. This is one of the best public resources we all have access to, but most people don’t utilize. Being that I travel and move around so much, carrying physical books is very impractical. Fortunately, many public libraries also grant access to ebooks. My public library back in New York, for instance, uses the essential platforms Libby and Hoopla. Both apps allow you to seamlessly check out books digitally, just as you would at the physical branch. I personally travel with a kindle and love it so much.
You also should look out for physical book exchanges, I’ve done this while traveling at hostels before. Switch out a book you already read for one you would like to. My other solution, is my go to for a lot of things, thrifting! You can often find a wide selection of books on all topics at unbeatable prices. This way you can buy and read physical books but without the environmental and financial guilt of frequently buying them new.
Entertainment
Great news for the library crew: Hoopla also offers streaming content! They have many shows and movies available, though offerings may vary by library. Beyond that, the single greatest free resource remains YouTube. While this is obvious, the platform offers unlimited, high-quality niche content no matter your interests.
Lastly, my absolute favorite, podcasts! I love podcasts, they other a niche retrospective on a wide array of topics. My main categories are science, politics, and language learning. With my all time favorites being the Pod Save America podcast for politics and the Beyond Jaws podcast for shark science.
Food
So my best food hacks are two apps everyone should have, the Fork and Too Good to Go. The Fork gives large discounts at restaurants and lets you gather points. This app is a lifesaver especially for sit down restaurants. And Too Good to Go, is an amazing platform where restaurants sell “surprise bags” of their unsold food at the end of the day. These bags are typically less then $5 but include a good amount and variety of food. I especially recommend utilizing these apps while traveling, when eating out is more appealing then cooking.
Language Learning
For language learning there are so many options. For effective language learning on a budget, I break my studying into three pillars: listening (podcasts), vocabulary (Algo and Lingohut), and consistency (Duolingo). Podcasts exist at many levels for most commonly studied languages, but if there isn’t any available alway check youtube for more free audio resources. Algo and Lingohut serve similar purposes, focusing on flashcard-based vocabulary learning. Lastly, I have a toxic relationship with Duolingo. Duo threatens me to do my lessons, but it definitely works evidenced by my 865 day streak. Duolingo alone will not get you fluent in a language but, when combined with other factors can be really helpful. These techniques have help me gain some level of proficiency in spanish, dutch, and portuguese. However, now a days I’m most focused on my spanish and portuguese progress.
Yoga and Exercise Classes
Now, I have one major method I use for free classes. Youtube, yet again. Youtube has amazing fitness content you can do from home. I do yoga classes at home on Youtube most days, but there really are endless possibilities. For certain specialized courses that offer high-value skill-building, I prioritize investing in class packages. Committing to packages makes activities like Lyra and Pole Dancing far more affordable. These activities are too specialized to do at home and are absolutely worth the investment (I spend 75 euros a month total on these classes). I am also starting surf lessons soon (130 euro for 10 lessons). My rule is to pick and choose the physical activities that are worth the financial investment for your growth.
Fashion
Thrift, thrift, thrift! There are options in person and online (platforms like Depop and Vinted), but definitely thrifting is the answer. I love thrifting because I feel like I’m treasure hunting, I’m constantly searching for good finds and get to reduce the financial and environmental guilt associated with buying new clothes. Great quality vintage finds often, cost similar price wise to new fast fashion items. I love thrifting when I travel, and recently found vintage Versace pants for only 13 euros in Spain.
Funding your Dream Life
The ultimate key to living as a baddie on a budget isn’t sacrifice; it’s about resourcefulness. Every dollar you save on fast fashion or costly general habits is a dollar you get to reinvest in your real priorities: your education, your travel, and your personal growth. Stop paying full price for an average existence. Start channeling your budget into the dream life you deserve. It’s time to own your worth, utilize your resources, and build the exceptional life you’ve always wanted without excuses.
Kellianne Adventures 
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