Finance
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September 2022 Money Review
One month down, only eleven left of my gap year! Crazy how fast time flies when you are professionally unemployed 😂 But the end of the month means only one thing on this blog – time for a September money review! September did not really go to plan but I made the most of the situation. I ended up staying an extra two weeks with my parents because a housesit got cancelled. This was one I had organised with a friend so I wasn’t covered by any guarantee like I am when I housesit through Trusted Housesitters. But this meant for a very cheap month. This will be the last…
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How To Save With A Variable Income
Mainstream budgeting techniques and savings suggestions often ignore the fact that a lot of people have a variable income. They don’t get paid the same amount every single payday and often the paydays don’t follow a regular pattern. Therefore, it can be very hard to get into a saving rhythm. For example, a lot of finance experts suggest automation as the best technique for saving more. But this can be very tricky to implement when the amount you get paid changes each and every time. Plus it may not even be on the same date, so knowing when to set up the automatic payment for is hard. I have had…
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How to Save Money When Eating Out
Eating out is one of those things that people assume you can’t do if you’re on a budget. This is not true at all! Being on a budget doesn’t mean you can never eat out again. But it might mean that you need to become a little more creative and intentional. Budgeting often gets a bad rap as being restrictive and gloomy. At its bare bones, budgeting is simply making a plan for your money. You are taking back control over your money. If done correctly, your budget should ensure there is always money available for those things that add value to your life. If one of those things is…
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Travel Hacking a £145 Flight to NYC
Yep, you read that right, £145!! For a flight from London to New York worth £1,800. Do I sound smug? I’m feeling a little smug. But getting a deal like this has been twelve months in the making. How? Two words – travel hacking. Disclaimer – This post may contain affiliate or referral links which means I might receive a commission if you follow them. This comes at no extra cost to you! What is travel hacking? Travel hacking is the art of collecting points (such as BA’s Avios) which are then redeemed for discounted travel. Travel hacking is very popular in the US but there are deals to be…
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5 Golden Rules Of Credit Cards
Credit cards are an incredibly valuable financial tool if used correctly and strategically. Not only will they do wonders for your credit score, but many come with additional perks, like cashback and free travel. But underneath the fancy perks they are all essentially the same and there is a right and a wrong way to use them. These five golden rules will ensure you do the most positive damage to your credit score! #1 Pay the full balance off every single month Without fail. No excuses. You must pay your full balance off every single month. Using your credit card like a debit card is golden rule number one! You…
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August 2022 Money Review
August has been a busy month for me! I left both of my jobs, moved out of my uni accommodation and moved back in with my parents – temporarily! Just until I leave for my year-long trip housesitting around the world. Let’s get into my August money review! More on that in another post, for now let’s get into August’s numbers. What is a money review? It is where I share reflections on my finances from the previous month and detail every penny in and out. I find doing this at least monthly is a good way to stay connected to your finances. Plus, I love reading them back in a…
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Personal Finance Journey – How I Saved £34k in 3 Years
Whilst I have always been a natural saver, I didn’t really get into personal finance until I started university three years ago. I was supposed to study abroad for my second year and found out I needed to prove I had access to £18k to get a visa. At this point I had zero pounds left in my savings, a part-time job and just eight short months to sort it out. Enter the personal finance community! I became frugal, got intentional about my spending and began side hustling. 6 months later I had over £8k in the bank and that combined with my upcoming maintenance loan, I had enough to…
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The 6 Bank Accounts Everyone Needs
Managing your money doesn’t have to be complex – you can make it very very simple! The easiest way to do this is by splitting it up in different bank accounts. Having multiple accounts which all have a unique purpose makes managing your money so much easier and streamline. Being able to log in to each account and automatically see exactly what you have without having to do any complex mental maths is so helpful! I do want to caveat that personal finance should be just that, personal! Having multiple different accounts is the system that works for me and I believe will work for other people, but it won’t…
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7 Tips for Completing a No Spend Challenge
When I was first beginning on my finance journey, doing a no spend challenge was one of my favourite things to do! I would set myself a no spend goal each month – whether that was a number of days or a set category – to alter my spending habits and become more intentional. This is not something I still regularly do as my mindset is very different now compared to when I started. I no longer need the challenge element to keep me focussed and intentional, that thinking style is now second nature to me! But I still maintain that No Spend Challenges are great financial tools you take advantage…
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July 2022 Money Review
Here we are again! Another month gone, another money roundup. Time for a July money review. Scary how fast this year is going by – soon it will be Christmas again! What is a money review? It is where I share reflections on my finances from the previous month and detail every penny in and out. I find doing this at least monthly is a good way to stay connected to your finances. Plus, I love reading them back in a couple of months! Why do I share this? I know it might seem weird to share this on the internet, but I truly believe in creating the type of content…
