Ten life hacks for keeping up appearances

It's relatively easy to keep up appearances on even the most shoestring budget. Photo / Thinkstock

Sometimes your bank account dips lower than you anticipate, your car registration is due or you just really had to buy that vintage Prada on eBay. Whatever the cause, there's no need for the façade of life to suffer; it's relatively easy to keep up appearances (or some semblance of) on even the most shoestring budget.

Here are ten life hacks to keep up appearances:

1: Never turn down brunch, just do it on the cheap

Don't condemn yourself to a whole weekend of weak tea and Ryvita for breakfast; a leisurely morning meal is one of life's simplest indulgences, and you shouldn't have to go without. Take the austere route and order from the sides menu - you can get a hearty slab of sourdough toast at Odettes, crumpets at Orphan's Kitchen or handmade bagel at Goodness Grascious, Best Ugly or Federal Deli (sadly, temporarily closed) all with the shrapnel in your wallet.

2: If your nails look good, people will assume you have your shit together

Hands tend to speak louder than any words or status updates; be it the visible trauma of a hangnail and torn cuticles, or the anxiously bitten down nailbeds - our fingers and hands tend to express most clearly whatever stress or pain life is throwing at you. Even when life is falling apart around your ears, groomed nails with sleek red polish manage to keep up appearances like little else. Nor is there any need to drop big bucks on a professional manicure, in fact letting yourself have a small ritual of vanity amongst chaos gives pause for reflection and enjoyment - even if it's a somewhat harried attempt in between other tasks. And, if in doubt, always choose red.

3: Bottomless coffee is your friend (and delicious)

Although instant coffee is a necessity and certainly helps you get through the day, you'd be pressed to find someone who heralds it an indulgence. Life is too short to not enjoy the ritual of coffee at least once a week. Ponsonby's Good One (alongside the aforementioned and temporarily closed Federal Deli) offer bottomless brewed coffee - hearty, classic and endless.

4: Invest in key, quality wardrobe pieces then wear them to death

A single perfect piece, albeit more expensive, ends up cheaper in the long run than buying numerous, frequently replaced cheaper options. Natural fibers like cotton, silk and wool not only last a long time (with proper care), but they look infinitely better then cheaper alternatives. Investing in a few key, quality pieces that both look and feel good means far less expenditure in the long run; the cost per wear of one lambswool jumper far outweighs that of five itchy acrylic options, likewise one simple white cotton shirt is a far smarter purchase (in both style, feel and longevity) than a polyester version. Find a discernable uniform of sorts that suits both your lifestyle, body and budget - communicating confidence of choice and style. A reliable, refined rotation of classic pieces ensures you always look tastefully put together and will never date - take your cue from Jane Birkin, who's signature look of blue jeans and a white shirt has never gone out of style. Bonus points for shopping locally at the likes of Juliette Hogan, Penny Sage and Miss Crabb for product manufactured in New Zealand (something that's increasingly hard to find).

5: A couple of glasses of wine and a white tablecloth is far more chic than a takeaway curry

Sometimes the only thing that can cure a terrible day is some semblance of elegance; when you both feel and look like something the cat coughed up, upper-crust charm can make everything better. Scrape together the shrapnel at the bottom of your handbag and take yourself to somewhere with a white tablecloth and great service (I always opt for Ponsonby's inimitable Prego). Find your favourite partner in crime and indulge in a glass or two of cheap red wine and a cheeseboard for a splash of sophistication from a twenty dollar bill.

6: Clean hair and sunglasses help most dire situations

Nothing conveys grooming quite like freshly washed hair, whilst a good pair of sunglasses will hide most sins. Sometimes we forget that it's the simple things that can keep up appearances. Clean hair and a dash of red lipstick can work wonders.

7: Fresh flowers lift any space

Prepare for company, or simply make a day at home less dull with a bunch of flowers - with the miraculous ability to brighten the dullest room and inject some life into things. They needn't been anything high-maintenance or fragile either; crisp white chrysanthemums are simple and last forever, or raid the roadside offerings for plump hydrangeas - or visit recently opened Muck, Floral & General Store in Grey Lynn for something refreshingly different.

8: Don't dry clean, hand wash

Because who really has the money to dryclean every delicate item in their wardrobe? Not to mention the harsh chemicals used by commercial drycleaners have me highly skeptical about their impact on both clothing and skin. Instead, buy a box of Sunlight soap and Ecostore soaker and take the time (it's really very minimal) to handwash everyday delicates like underwear, knits and silk. Not only is it faster and more eco-friendly, there's something undeniably soothing about the act itself.

9: A single piece of jewellery looks more expensive than an armful

The only thing more desperate and tacky than an abundant "arm party" of jewellery is the telltale green ring left by certain cheap parts of it. Instead, strip your jewellery look right back to one or two quality pieces in silver or gold - far more elegant and the perfect look for any occasion, because nothings more chic than not trying. Not to mention (yet again) the value of conscious consumption.

10: Valet park because it's usually cheaper

Auckland City parking options will bleed you dry in a heartbeat and then ask you for more money. When venturing into town at peak times such as dinner, surprisingly the cheapest option is Britomart's valet service; at $15 for three hours, it actually works out cheaper than the regular building ($6 for half an hour), most on street parking and especially the exorbitant $24 charge of the Hilton carpark. Plus you'll never be late for dinner again.

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