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From DIY manicures and trading wardrobes to YouTube yoga, 15 inspired budgeting tricks we learned from 2 Broke Girls

Sponsored by WB

Published: 06:36 EST, 21 September 2015 | Updated: 13:20 EST, 22 September 2015

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It's not easy being fabulous on a budget, and as busy girls living in New York City, we can personally attest to finding it virtually impossible.

That's where TV money mentors Max and Caroline come in. From opposite ends of the social spectrum, Max Black and Caroline Channing (the former grew up streetwise and the latter an Uptown girl forced to slum it) have one very important thing in common, they're both cash-poor. As '2 Broke Girls', the hard-working pair toil together in a retro-hip Brooklyn diner while attempting to raise funds to start their own business.

Budgeting is a necessary evil - the CBS comedy literally shows us Max and Caroline's current bank account balance at the end of every episode; but they have given fellow broke girls everywhere some amazingly useful advice.

Here are 16 top tips we learned from 2 Broke Girls:

Money mentors: We can learn a lot about budgeting from 2 Broke Girls characters Max and Caroline

1. Be a coupon connoisseur

No longer just for grandma, you'll be amazed at the bargains you can bag.

On the show, Caroline is embarrassed to use coupons until she ends up paying $12 for $70 worth of food. And then she's converted – in fact, she becomes obsessed with coupons. There are several websites that offer massive coupon databases like bargainbabe.com where you can just print them out at home.

2. Try YouTube Yoga

Who wants to watch other people sweat anyway? Quit your pricey gym membership and try YouTube for tons of free fitness videos from Pilates to Zumba, with instruction on virtually everything. Just start searching and let your internet skillz do the rest.

3. Skip Starbucks

We love the 'Bucks as much as the next Manhattanite but this stuff adds up! Placate yourself by remembering the invariable queues that make you late for work and the barista always spells your name wrong. Instead, buy a high-quality coffee machine on eBay. You'll end up spending around 60 cents a day instead of $4 simply by brewing in your own kitchen.

Who needs a barista? Skip the line at Starbucks and make your coffee at home. Although the champagne bottles in this shot makes us think it's not coffee in those mugs...

4. BYOL

An acronym for bring your own lunch. Brown paper bags are cool again – think of them as retro! Besides isn't it better to know the hygiene standards on everything you eat? If brown paper bagging isn't your thing, trawl eBay for an old-school Wonder Woman lunch box – either way the savings here will add up to hundreds of dollars per year and you probably will eat healthier as a bonus.

5. DIY manicures

Skip the mani-pedi and paint your own nails - an $8 bottle of polish will last you a lot longer than the $30 salon service. And after all, who doesn't need work on their hand-eye coordination?

6. Shop second-hand

Thrift store shopping features highly in 2 Broke Girls – one episode is devoted to it entirely. Goodwill, especially, has a lot to offer.

Max also advises checking inside store furniture for items others have hidden to buy later.

Additionally you can do what the girls do and swap outifts. Your best friend's favorite sweater practically lives in your closet anyway - trade some of your over-exposed ensembles for a few weeks at a time.

7. Pre-party game plan

Start a big night out at home, inviting friends over for an inexpensive bottle of prosecco (ask them to bring one too). By the time you're ready to hit the town you can switch to water, saving on both money and bad dating decisions.

Keep the change: Take a lead from Max and Caroline - most of us tend to forget just how much money we've collected in the form of coins

8. Keep the change

Literally - every little counts. Most of us tend to forget just how much money we've collected in the form of coins until we finally cash it in.

9. Lose the labels

...And not just when it comes to fashion! Shop for generic versions of your drugstore favorites. That shampoo or face wash you love almost certainly comes in a generic, cheaper version that works just as well as the pricey one. Check local drugstores, websites, dollar stores and of course, listed ingredients.

10. Learn to use an Allen key

On the show, Caroline buys a Murphy bed and the girls save money by putting it together themselves.

We confess, we're more likely to call on a hunky friend to come and give us a hand, but either way you will save a fortune by not paying for assembly or delivery each time you buy something new (and you may just find an excuse to contact a hottie you've had your eye on).

11. Put your dreams on paper

Make a vision board. On the show, Caroline creates an inspiration board and includes a photo of a bakery as she wants to bake cupcakes for a living. Doing the same for your financial goals and aspirations (including how much you want to save by a specific date) will help you keep focus and your eye on the prize.

12. Pay in cash

At the diner, Max openly mocks those who use a credit card to pay for a side salad. Do they really need those three airline miles?

Follow the girls' lead by using cash instead of credit cards – not only does it save you lots on interest charges, it keeps you from buying things you can't afford. Also always carry cash. Learn to give the credit card the night off for big nights out – so you're not able to offer any impromptu rounds of drinks after your fourth margarita.

DIY: On the show, Caroline buys a Murphy bed and the girls save money by putting it together themselves

13. Step up your restaurant strategies

Order starters instead of mains, be firm and insist on splitting the bill based on what everyone ordered (why should you pay an even amount when the person next to you ordered three courses and six cocktails?).

Alternatively, share with a BFF – just ask the restaurant to split an entrée onto two plates in the kitchen. Who needs all that food on a night out anyway!

14. Get a library card

These days you can borrow more than books for free. With access to books, magazines and DVDs, there is a lot to be had if you want to save on your Amazon account.

15. Don't be a shop snob

Don't be too proud to shop at Dollar Tree. I have become a regular at my local – and in a sign of the times, I've started running into stylish people I know! It's perfect for staples like Chapstick, aspirin, shampoo and toothpaste. Don't forget, rich or poor, everybody loves a bargain.

From Friday September 21, you can watch 2 Broke Girls five nights a week at 7 and 7.30pm. Click here to learn more.