10 Things I’m Doing to Save Money in Paris

I don’t cognize astir you, but lately it seems similar everyone is talking astir money: needing much of it, spending excessively overmuch of it, oregon worrying astir wherever the adjacent paycheck volition travel from. In my ain circle, I cognize radical who’ve been laid off, seen status accounts shrink, or—like me—are juggling aggregate freelance gigs to wage the bills.

Half of my income comes from tourism. I pb nutrient & vino tours successful Paris, mostly for American visitors, and I’ve noticed a subtle shift: June, typically a booming month, feels a spot slower with less afloat booked tours and smaller tips. Maybe Americans are tamping down connected their European question plans, oregon if they are inactive coming, possibly they’re skipping the “extras.” Whatever the reason, I’m tightening up.

The bully news?

Paris is really a large spot to unrecorded frugally without feeling similar you’re missing out. A croissant present tin outgo conscionable €1.20, and an espresso €1.50. You tin bask a precise delicious luncheon retired for €22. And, adjacent connected a shoestring, you tin unrecorded fully.

Photo by The Now Time.

I’ve ever been frugal; my ex-spouse utilized to regularly telephone maine a radine (French for cheapskate), but I’ve ne'er felt deprived. I inactive splurge present and past connected ballet classes, Pilates astatine a precise posh workplace successful the Marais, and spontaneous glasses of champagne. For me, frugality is much astir choosing what matters. Here’s however I bash it successful Paris:

1. Take the Metro oregon Bus

At €1.99 a thrust with my Navigo Liberté+ card, nationalist transit successful Paris is simply a bargain. I seldom usage Ubers oregon taxis (last clip was to instrumentality my feline to a specializer an hr extracurricular town). Even to and from the airport, I instrumentality the RER commuter rail. You spot the city, prevention money, and skip getting stuck successful traffic.

Photo by Christian Tokoto.

2. Buy the Store Brand astatine Monoprix

Monoprix is fundamentally the French Target, and I astir ever spell for their store-brand items, which are the aforesaid prime and often fractional the price. Yogurt, pasta, laundry detergent... store marque toujours (always).

3. Simplify Your Beauty Routine

No manicures, uncommon pedicures, and a bob haircut that lone needs trimming doubly a year. I had an Audrey Tautou–style pixie chopped I loved past year, but the upkeep was excessively costly and time-consuming. Simple = savings.

4. Buy Secondhand When Possible

From apparel and appliances to furniture, I bargain utilized erstwhile I can. My fridge and microwave-oven combo were secondhand from Murfy. My table came from Selency, a French resale tract I love. Exceptions: socks, underwear, and shoes (for evident reasons).

5. Repurpose What You Have

I’ve turned an aged anchovy tin into a soap dish. Shopping bags go trash liners. A jam jar becomes a pencil holder. In Paris apartments wherever abstraction is limited, originative reuse isn’t thrifty; it’s sometimes necessary.

6. Limit Restaurant Meals

It’s tempting to devour retired often successful Paris, but I mostly navigator astatine home. When I bash dainty myself, it’s usually for a sandwich astatine a boulangerie or a scoop of crystal cream. Restaurant dinners are reserved for peculiar occasions oregon erstwhile I person friends visiting from retired of town.

7. Use Every Last Drop

I chopped unfastened tubes of lotion and toothpaste to get each past bit. It sounds obsessive, but that other week of usage adds up, particularly erstwhile immoderate French products tin beryllium a spot pricey.

8. Repair, Don’t Replace

Cobbler shops and tailors are casual to find successful Paris. I resole boots, re-stitch torn seams, and re-zip jackets. It’s usually overmuch cheaper than buying new.

9. Ditch Unnecessary Subscriptions

No Spotify, nary Netflix, nary Amazon Prime. I marque a fewer exceptions for enactment tools (Dropbox, Microsoft Office), but otherwise, I strive to debar monthly charges—especially to companies I don’t emotion supporting.

10. Remind Yourself: You Have Enough

Living successful Paris means temptation is everywhere, but erstwhile I dilatory down and truly look astatine my life, I recognize that I person a cozy flat I adore, books to read, delicious bread, and apparel I like. What much bash I need?

I spent portion of the day walking astir Saint-Germain, conscionable taking successful the gorgeous upwind and feeling truthful grateful to unrecorded here.

Living frugally successful Paris isn’t truthful overmuch astir sacrifice arsenic it is astir choosing intentionally and appreciating the abundance already astir you. If you’re feeling immoderate benignant of fiscal pinch, I anticipation these tips connection a spot of relief, and possibly adjacent immoderate inspiration, too.

À bientôt,
Victorine

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