Yes, It’s Possible—and No, I Don’t Just Eat Instant Noodles!
Let’s be real.
Living in the city on a tight budget feels like trying to do yoga in skinny jeans—restrictive, awkward, and kind of painful. 😅
But guess what?
I’ve been living on $1200 a month in a metro city for over a year now.
And not just surviving… I’m thriving in my own small, budget-savvy way.
So if you’re a woman trying to make ends meet in New York, Toronto, London, or any big city that eats wallets for breakfast—this post is for you. 💖
🏡 1. Housing: The Real Budget Monster
Let’s start with the beast: rent.
City living is expensive. Period. But I refused to pay $1800+ just to have granite countertops and “natural light.”
Here’s what I did:
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✅ I found a shared apartment through a Facebook group (ladies-only, safe, respectful)
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✅ My rent? Just $600/month (including utilities—bless!)
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✅ I chose a 15-minute farther neighborhood but saved $400/month
💡 Pro tip: Look for basement suites, student rentals, or consider becoming a part-time house-sitter to offset rent.
🍽️ 2. Groceries: Cooking Like a Boss (on a Budget)
Eating out? Cute, but not sustainable.
I had to completely shift my grocery game and guess what? It worked.
My grocery tricks:
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🍝 Meal planning every Sunday
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🛒 Shop once a week at budget stores (Aldi, Lidl, or local markets)
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📦 Bulk-buy basics: oats, rice, frozen veggies
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🚫 Limit snacks & processed food (they add up!)
💰 Grocery budget = $160/month
🚇 3. Transportation: Ditching Uber for Good
Uber used to be my guilty pleasure. But I had to break up with it. 😔
Now I:
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🚶 Walk more
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🚴♀️ Use a second-hand bike I got for $30
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🚇 Use a monthly transit pass ($80)
Not only am I saving $150+ per month, but my mental health has improved from those long walks while listening to empowering playlists or podcasts. 🎧✨
💡 4. Utilities & Phone: Strip It Down
No cable. No fancy data plan. No guilt.
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📶 Phone: $25/month plan with Wi-Fi calling
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🔌 Electricity & water: included in rent (thank you, universe)
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📺 I use free streaming platforms + a few YouTube vloggers who feel like friends at this point 😅
Minimal living = Maximum peace 🧘♀️
💅 5. Beauty & Self-Care (Without Breaking the Bank)
Just because you’re on a budget doesn’t mean you stop feeling beautiful.
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💇 DIY hair trims & nails (thanks, YouTube)
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🧴 Use multi-purpose products (coconut oil = hair mask + body moisturizer)
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💄 Limit splurges to once a month – $20 max
It’s about feeling good, not looking Instagram-perfect.
💰 6. Entertainment on a Dime
I still have fun. I just redefined it.
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📚 Free books from library apps
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🎬 Community movie nights
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☕ Coffee dates at home with friends
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🏞️ Free events in the park
Fun doesn’t have to mean fancy. It just has to feel intentional.
💖 Why I’m Sharing This
Because I know how it feels to:
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Worry about rent every month
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Feel guilty for buying a coffee
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Compare your life to others on Instagram
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Feel like budgeting = suffering
But it doesn’t have to be that way.
Living on $1200/month taught me:
Peace isn’t found in money. It’s found in managing it well.
And trust me—you can do it too.
