Oh I think I’m male, hang on I’ll check. Yep it’s still there. Despite the joking around my gender, the second question – age is a serious one! I’m going out of the 18-24 box to the 25-30 box. I’ll be twenty five this week, Saturday to be exact! So to celebrate I toyed with a few ideas (see Birthday Celebration Ideas) and settled on a night out in Blackpool.
So if your out, perhaps I’ll see you there! If not I’ll be sure to share some of the less compromising photos taken on the night on the blog and Facebook.
With Yuletide (or Christmas) on it’s way, I had a week off this week to prepare. Monday I bought a real Christmas tree, named Trevor:
(Click on image for full size image, Trevor was decorated by me at some point in the week!)
I manged to spend time with my Grandma on Wednesday, leaving time for mum on Thursday evening and Saturday. I caught up with my good friend Simon on Thursday as well. In between times, I crammed in my assignment for my Leadership module (see A general update). Finally finishing it yesterday (Friday). So now I can relax, well apart from the last minute Christmas shopping.
My poor laptop is starting to die though, so I had to buy a new one online. Hopefully once it arrives and is up and running I will get back to normal blogging and facebook habits.
Well we are about to find out! I’ve upgraded my Blackberry Storm to an Iphone 4. I’m so excited! I’ve wanted one for soo long, in preparation for it’s arrival I’ve been on iTunes and downloaded some apps, here’s what I’ve downloaded:
Blogging – WordPress App
The essential tool for blogging from my phone, so now I’ll be able to blog from anywhere!
News – BBC News, Metro, The Guardian, MEN News Apps
I couldn’t decide on one news app, so I’ve downloaded four.
Pagan – Star Walk & Pagan Gods Apps
Star walk apparently enables you to look at constellations, moon phases, etc. so should be a good app. Pagan gods is an app with apparent beautiful artwork images of popular gods/goddesses and gives a bit of information about them. So both should be handy.
Entertainment – Movies by Flixster, Civilization Revolutions, TVGuide.co.uk Apps
Now I’ll be able to check out the latest movies on my iphone, play civilization (one of my all time favourite game series) and always know what’s on TV.
Living Frugally – Ace Budget Lite & Jumpsoft Money Apps
I’ve downloaded both of these to try. The idea is that I can set my budgets and manage them on my iphone, rather than on scraps of paper. Will make a massive difference to my spending.
Shopping – Amazon Mobile UK App
I’ll be able to shop and track my orders on Amazon, on my iphone.
Productivity – Documents to go, Google Mobile App, Dictionary.com Apps
Will be able to view, edit, etc, microsoft office documents with documents to go, which will come in useful. Google will enable me to search the web and Dictionary.com will ensure I can spell.
Health, Stop Smoking – iQuit & Easy Stop Smoking Apps
Downloaded both and will try both in my first serious attempt in sometime to quit smoking.
Health, Diabetes – Diabetes Log & Glucose Buddy Apps
Downloaded both and will try both to help me better take and record my blood sugar readings.
Others – Facebook, Free Translator, Navfree, Met Office Weather Apps
Facebook – essential for life. Free translator just-in-case I ever need to write an email in another language or somet, Navfree apparently like Tom Tom but on the Iphone and Met Office Weather so I’ll know what to wear.
Ok so maybe I’m exaggerating (as I have a tendency to do) the effect it will have on my life. But if it will help me to make some positive changes in my life, it’s worth it right?
After the Christmas period many of us feel the financial pinch. There are two ways essentially in finance to deal with this:
1. increase your income or 2. reduce your expenditure. I’m voting for the latter by attempting to live more frugally. To live frugally means:
Frugal Definition
adjective
not wasteful; not spending freely or unnecessarily; thrifty; economical
not costly or luxurious; inexpensive or meager a frugal meal
(From http://www.yourdictionary.com/frugally, Last accessed: 05 January 10)
So with this in mind here are my top tips for living frugally:
Setting a monthly budget
Set a monthly budget carefully and realistically. Consider the following:
Consider the amount you earn after tax and budget to that amount. If your expense is bigger than your income you need to look at what your paying out and what to cut back on.
Consider the real cost of things (e.g. don’t put a £30 for your mobile bill if it’s more than likely going to cost you £50)
Consider when writing it any one-off expenses during the month (such as people’s Birthdays, Car Insurance, etc.).
Consider the occasional 5 week month and adjust your budget accordingly
Ensure you have some “free cash” for leisure purposes.
Now you’ve got a budget, stick to it.
An Emergency Fund
Start an emergency fund in a separate account if possible. Saving a set amount a month will mean if you have an unexpected expense it doesn’t mess up your monthly budget and lead you in to getting in to debt (or more debt).
Plan to Reduce Debts
Most people have debts these days, however you need to keep them manageable. You need a plan to reduce your debt, ideally making more than the minimum payments each month. Budget your debt payments in to your monthly budget.
Shop around for Insurance
Whether it’s car insurance, buildings insurance, home contents insurance, etc shop around. Use the price comparison websites like Go Compare, Money Supermarket, Compare the Market, etc. Don’t automatically go with your previous provider as there may cheaper alternatives giving you the cover you need.
Shop around for High Priced Purchase Items
So you need to buy something big eh? Perhaps it’s a new TV or a Bluray Player. What ever it is again shop around. Consider Amazon and Play.com. Look at Froogle to compare prices from different retailers like you can for insurances.
Negotiate a deal on your Bills
Companies are going to hate me for writing this, but did you know you can often blag a discount on your bills when your coming to an end of a contract with a provider?
For example when your mobile phone contract is coming to an end, ring up your current provider. Say that you’ve been offered a better deal else were and ask could they offer you a similar deal? You’ll be surprised the amount of times they will come back to you and offer you some sort of discount on your bills if you renew your contract with them. This is because they don’t want to loose your custom. So make it work for you. Negotiate with them (or in my terminology blag em) to get the best deal for you.
Stop & Think
If your an impulsive shopper like me stop and think. Ask yourself Do I really need this item? If you can’t justify a good reason don’t buy it. Think about what impact buying this item will have on your monthly budget, will it still make your budget workable? This is particularly important to remember in Supermarkets. They often have 3 for 2 offers on to get you to spend more and bulk buy. Again you need to stop and think.
In my case I love clothes shopping. Were it can’t be justified (i.e. clothes needed for work or a special occasion) and it isn’t budgeted for I must NOT buy.
Keeping in Touch
We all like to keep in touch with our friends and family. However long phone calls or text conversations can be pricey at the end of the month when the bill arrives. So at every opportunity keep in touch for free via email or Facebook.
Leisure activities, don’t have to cost…
…an arm and a leg. There are loads of things you can do for free or at a smaller cost. For example you can go walking which is essentially free. Or rather than going on a night out and spending a fortune in pubs and clubs consider a home party which will lower the costs. You simply need to be creative here.
I hope my advice has been useful (just little tips I’ve picked up along the way), now all I have to do is stick to my monthly budget.
