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£5k Budget Update – February 2023
Halfway through my budget gap year and I still have some money left – woohooo!!! I’m taking that as a win 😂 February has been one hell of a good month! I got to see my parents for a weekend as the couple I was housesitting for welcomed me to have guests to stay, I ticked off two new countries, got another tattoo, saw SiX again, spent quality time with some friends and had a lot of time to read on various overnight journeys – which is always a win 🙌🏻 Mind blowing that I’m at the halfway point already and I still change my mind daily on what I want…
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Cheap Transportation: 7 Ways To Save Money
Alongside housing and food, transportation is usually one of the biggest expenses in most people’s budget. It might seem like a unavoidable cost of life that is just something you have to pay for but it there are some ways you can reduce the cost. You could easily save hundreds each year if you combine a few of these cheap transportation tips. Related Articles: Disclaimer: I mention TopCashback a lot in this post, they are not paying me to do so, I just genuinely think it’s a great site (which I have used for years) and cashback is something everyone needs to take advantage of. All the links to their…
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£5k Budget Update – December 2022
December, month four of my gap year and the first month I’ve spent fully abroad and zero nights crashing at my parents house 😂. As I’m following where the housesits take me to save on accommodation costs, I spent all of December in the Pacific North West. I’m here until mid-January then I’ll be flying over the east coast for the remaining 3 weeks of my time in the US. Disclaimer – This post contains affiliate links which means I may receive a commission if you use them. This comes at no extra cost to you <3 New here? Let me give you a little context... I graduated from uni…
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I Saved 63% Of My Income – 2022 Financial Review
2022 has been a wildride. I graduated, read 115 books, wrote a 10 thousand word dissertation, went to 2 weddings, ate countless bags of crisps, spent 48 hours on a train, saw my first west end show, slept in an airport, started housesitting for strangers off the internet, spent 7 weeks in the US, experienced an ice storm and so so much more… hands down the best year of my life to date!! But it’s all over and you know what that means! It’s time to review every penny I earned and spent over the year. Why are you sharing this? You’re probably thinking it’s weird to share all of…
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£5k Budget Breakdown – October 2022
Well, October has been a spenny month! Only two months into my year-long gap year and I have already spent over 20% of my £5k budget. Just writing that percentage down is a little panic inducing BUT surprisingly my projections have me still in budget! New here? Let me give you a little context... I have just graduated from uni and have chosen to take a gap year before deciding what to do next, career wise. I will be spending the entire year travelling and have set myself a strict £5k budget which needs to cover all costs and last the entire year! Seem a little tight? Check out this…
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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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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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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…
