How to Upgrade Your Life on a Budget

Most people are looking at social media or their neighbours and comparing their lives. Often we want to upgrade or update things, make a change or feel we are falling behind.

So how can you upgrade if it is what you truly want?

Firstly, what is it you want to upgrade? And why do you want to upgrade or feel you need to?

For some this might be smaller such as upgrading the food they eat, or getting a new lounge and for others it could be bigger such as a car or changing careers.

Knowing what you want to upgrade helps you make a plan so it can actually happen and how to make it work within your budget.

When you think about what it is in your life you want to upgrade, dig a little deeper and ask yourself why?

Is it a need such as the car has completely died and you have to replace it? Or is it because everyone else seems to have something better or be upgrading and you feel left behind?

Do you feel you should be at a different stage in life or have more things because people on social media seem to or your parents had xyz at your age? If it is social media, take a break. If you are comparing to older generations, do some research. The world is not the same at all. The statistic and research show how much more expensive life is now compared to back then and how much harder it is to buy a home, new car, travel etc.

That said, here are some tips for if you do truly want or need to upgrade:

Check out how to upgrade your life when you're broke for tips including education, career, health, home, car and more.

Also read these tips that include mindset, time management, life admin and improving life easily.

As for specific areas:

Home: Look for free decor you like on Facebook Marketplace. Grow plants from cuttings to change how your indoors and outdoors looks.

Health: You can find all the articles on how to save money with health here. 2 popular ones are 12 habits to improve your health, wealth and time as well as 7 tips to manage your money when you have health issues (especially mental health).

Car: If you want a new car, do your research. Whatever car you have decided you want, search common issues, recalls etc. Search it on Redbook.com.au to find the true value so you do not overpay. Thoroughly check everything when you take it for a test drive. Use these 10 tips from a female mechanic too.

Travel: Want a holiday either for yourself or the whole family? Read how to travel for free or super cheap, how to get more travel and adventure in your life, and start applying what you can. Collect points to convert them for travel, get free camping gear on Marketplace and go to free campsites, enter competitions, look into housesitting. There are ways to make it work.

Career: If you want to change careers, start something, have a business or want to earn more, read these - How to double your income (includes tips for career changes), how to start a business for under $100.

Other: How $100 can improve your life and finances has loads of ideas that are more affordable. How to live with champagne tastes on a beer budget gives luxury tips for less.

How To Upgrade Groceries

Sick of your meal plan? Feel like all you eat is rice, pasta and potatoes? How can you upgrade without blowing the budget?

Here are a few suggestions:
​1. Grow and use fresh herbs. They cost almost nothing to source and grow, yet they completely improve the taste of whatever they are used in. Plus some herbs such as basil can make pesto which is great to stir through pasta as a simple meal.

2. Grow things from scraps. Use the seeds, cut off the ends with roots and grow them for future use. This article has a lot on this and other ways to use things you might otherwise toss.

3. Forage and barter. In our area most homes have fruit trees with an abundance of fruit. People put the spares in a box at the front of the house for anyone to take. Some also let you pick e.g. you can get enough olives anywhere to make your own olive oil for way less than you can buy it. Citrus fruit, herbs such as rosemary grow everywhere. Foraging and bartering can save heaps and uplevel your cooking with incredibly fresh produce.

4. DIY things such as sourdough which is much better for you, create your own seasonings and buy the spices in bulk.

5. Velveting meat. This is a technique used in many Asian dishes to make cheap cuts soft for stir fry etc rather than slow cooking. Learn how to do it here.

For more tips to reduce the cost of groceries, you can find all our articles on groceries here.

What I Am Reading

​You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth comes highly recommended by many so I got into it this week. I can see in my own life how my finances shift with my mindset and what I am focused on.

Discounts For You!

​20% off women's wellness products with Gaiae​
​$100 from ING in a few steps​
​Other freebies and discounts are on our freebies page.

The Thrifty Issue Community

For more and to connect with others check out The Thrifty Issue Facebook group, Facebook page, Instagram, Pinterest.​