Here are some Fun Facts about why the Fawcett Society will be taking to the streets with tea, cake and placards:
-The benefits and services women rely on more are being slashed
-Women on low incomes are becoming poorer
-The pay gap looks set to widen
-Women’s access to vital support services is being undermined
-Increasing numbers of women are being forced to give up work as cuts to childcare support means their jobs no longer cover the family’s care costs
In recognition and support of our strapped-for-cash sisters (and brothers) here are some Squeamish Bikini’s money saving tips.
1. Fed up of your insoles disintegrating, wearing away or travelling up and out of your shoe? Might I introduce your uncomfortable shoes to sanitary towels, specifically night towels? These offer more padding and security than the insoles actually designed for the job and you will find you have to replace them less. Whenever I kindly offer this nugget of information people scrunch up their noses, so I‘d like to clarify now; NOT USED SANITARY TOWELS, new ones. Gee.
2. Whilst you’re in Superdrug (I enjoy the weird karaoke music they play), or any good pharmacy, pay attention to that messy shelf in the corner. Everything there is reduced, some of it the shop can’t give away but I’ve found heavily discounted fancy shampoos in this section.
3. Learn what time your local supermarket starts marking down prices. Usually this is 2-3 hours before close - they'll take 25% off then. 90 minutes before close is drops by another 25%. If you are prepared to do a trolley dash 30 minutes from close and meal plans are anathema to you, you can grab random tasty goodies for 25% of their original price. Remember! Best before dates are advisory not compulsory!
4. Put down that decoupage project and start cutting out coupons! In a recession it is time to get cheeky and start complicating all cash transactions by waving coupons in front of the cashier’s face. If the queue behind you gets rowdy use it as an opportunity to sneakily get rid of any expired couples cluttering up your wallet. There are sites such as Groupon and Wowcher et al who will email you daily deals.
5. It appears charity and second hand shops are recognising the allure of vintage (though not febreze). An item of clothing now qualifies as vintage as long as it was made before 2000 in order to properly exploit the vintage trend. If you’re feeling bored of your clothes and can’t afford anything new hold a clothes swap party. No similarly sized friends? A quick Google should inform you about clothes swaps going on in pubs, shops and homes, such as this one.
Squeamish Kate