A woman is saving £400-a-month by giving up takeaway coffees, clothes shopping and getting her nails done.<br /><br />Lauren Napper, 30, says she's always been conscious about saving money after it was drilled into her from a young age not to be frivolous with her spending.<br /><br />After buying a house in September, 2021, Lauren realised she wasn't saving and often found herself living pay check to pay check.<br /><br />In December 2023, Lauren realised her lifestyle needed to change and she implemented changes to save money - including shopping at charity shops, not going out for food and doing bulk shopping.<br /><br />Since then Lauren who earns £39k a year, has saved between £300 to £400-a-month and plans to use the funds to go travelling around Asia and Australia in 2025.<br /><br />Lauren, who works in marketing, from Luton, Bedfordshire, said: "It was always drilled into me at a younger age that I should not be frivolous with money.<br /><br />"If I go through those points in my life I get annoyed with myself for spending so much money on clothes or make-up.<br /><br />"As I got older, I realised you don't need to spend so much money on clothes, make-up and home stuff.<br /><br />"You realise the hype you get buying it dwindles."<br /><br />Lauren says she has cut out "girly things" like getting her hair cut and nails done and will go to appointments every few months instead of every few weeks.<br /><br />She said: "It is a lot of money to spend every month.<br /><br />"I will get my nails done occasionally if I go on holiday, it's my birthday or Christmas.<br /><br />"Every couple of weeks it would set me back £40.<br /><br />"I have also started going to low-maintenance hair appointments, I don't get highlights in my hair or stuff like that.<br /><br />"A trim is like £50 but it can be more expensive if you want highlights or infills.<br /><br />"I will get my hair trimmed every eight weeks and it will cost me £30."<br /><br />Another way Lauren saves money is by shopping second-hand through places like charity shops, Vinted and eBay.<br /><br />Lauren will now spend between £50 to £100-a-month on clothes - but previously would spend £300 to £350.<br /><br />She said: "I was a bit of a shopaholic.<br /><br />"It has been a conscious decision for me to cut back and think 'actually I don't need that' or 'I have other clothes I can make work'.<br /><br />"I have started shopping second-hand - I shop a lot on Vinted, it is amazing.<br /><br />"You can find things that are brand new things on there and it is a great way to shop.<br /><br />"I heard a tip that if you find something you really like and you're thinking about it a few days later and it will work with other looks in your wardrobe then it is worth investing in.<br /><br />"But if it is a trend piece it is not worth the money."<br /><br />Lauren is not a massive drinker but said she loved to go out for meals with friends.<br /><br />Working in London, she would often buy a coffee on the way to work and will now make her own at home to take with her. <br /><br />She said: "Every weekend I would go out for dinner or breakfast with a friend - once or twice a week.
