Finance
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How to Save Money on Groceries
The current price of groceries is a big stress for a lot of people at the moment. Due to the cost of living crisis, prices just keep increasing and it’s hard to keep up. But with some planning and a little bit a savviness it is still possible to keep your food budget low. Enter today’s blog post – 8 easy things you can do today to save money on groceries. Shop your cupboards first Shopping your cupboards first will both save you money and reduce waste. Start by taking an inventory of what you have in. Check your fridge, freezer, and cupboards, and make a list. From this you…
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How I Saved Every Penny Of My Income
During my three years at university, I worked multiple jobs on top of my studies, and I saved every single penny I earned. Sounds crazy right?!? But it became second nature to me, and I would do it automatically without even thinking. You might have already called bullshit because like duh obviously you have to spend some money to live so this must be false. So let me start with a little disclaimer… Fortunately, I was eligible for almost the maximum student maintenance loan (around £9k) each year. This was more than enough to comfortably live on; hence this stream of income became the only one I would budget with.…
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6 Easy Finance Moves To Boost Your Savings
Saving money can sometimes feel like a slog, especially if your numbers aren’t increasing as fast as you want them to. Enter this blog post! Six easy finance moves you can make today to boost your savings. Most of them are as simple as setting it up and forgetting about it, just watch the money roll in 🤑. Disclaimer – this post does include some referral links. Meaning I will benefit it you decide to use my link. I would never recommend a product/account that I don’t use and love. Thank you for supporting BST! Save for your deposit in a Lifetime ISA Instant 25% return on your money –…
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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…
