We understand that people can be "victim" to an unexpected expense — whether this is a home appliance breaking down or making that third trip on a bus with only a return ticket. It all adds up. For that reason, here are some assessments on how those extra savings can come in handy if something like that was to occur.
Travelling
Start off with something small, but something that will make huge changes when it comes to your bank account. Using a megarider ticket, you will be able to travel as much as you want and can tailor your own needs to the ticket type. Whether you’re in need of a weekly bus pass for your travels, or a monthly one — you will find yourself making a huge saving in comparison to buying a ticket every day.
If you’re a driver, did you know that the average motorist in the UK will spend an astonishing £168,880 over their lifetime? With efficiency growing in public transport, there is no reason for you not to consider making the bold move that could help you fulfil your resolution this year and save you a fortune.
When it comes to payments across the year, petrol costs a driver £1,052.04. Servicing a vehicle costs can add up to £441 over a twelve-month period — which can change depending on the individual’s situation. MOTs can cost up to £168.46 annually. Cost of parking is on the rise, and with more vehicles on the roads, there seems to be a higher demand.
Over the year, a motorist can find themselves paying £145.80 on parking.When it comes to insurance, this can sway dramatically as younger drivers will find themselves paying a higher cost to be on the road — on average, insurance costs an experience driver £436 every year. Tax can equate to £116.35 on a yearly basis. Car supplies can cost a driver £29.61 and if you were to go abroad and wished to drive, holiday rental cars can leave you £180 out of pocket.
Speeding tickets equal £25.12 for the average driver here in the UK. This would cost a driver £2,594.38 in total where commuters find themselves paying considerably less for a significant service — imagine the saving you would make with a megarider ticket!
Coffee
People in the UK visit coffee shops at least three times per week — although it has recently become unavoidable, as currently there are over 21,000 outlets around the country! This means that Brits visit coffee shops around 156 times a year with an average spend of £8.52 — with travel expenses, this could go up to £13.85. This creates an annual average spending of £2,600 - a majority of which could be saved if you were to opt for taking your own coffee to work.
Smoking
If the health issues involved and the rise in prices for cigarettes hasn’t already put you off, knowing that you could save a whopping £3,796 (if you smoke 20 a day) should be the driving mechanism for you to quit. MoneySupermarket.com has stated that non-smokers pay around £6,309 less for life insurance, which could be something worth investing in for the new year.
An alternative that many smokers are trying to save money is vaping. 10ml bottles of liquid cost around £5 on average — saving those who turn to vaping around £1,900.
Lunch
Many of us find it easier to just buy lunch on the way to work — or popping out on our lunch breaks. But what if we told you that, on average, forking out for lunch every day could cost you £1,288 according to research carried out by VoucherCloud. Evidently, you could make a huge saving by preparing your lunch at home — whether this is making a quick sandwich or taking in a tin of microwavable soup to heat up. When we looked at the total working days in 2017, there was 252 — if we went by Poundland’s price of tomato soup, which is 50p, you would find yourself paying £126! A massive saving for anyone looking to cut down on costs.
Unexpected expenses
We’ve all been victim to an unexpected expense, with 54% of 2,000 people asked saying that they suffered from an unexpected expense within the household. On average, these costs totalled £248.70 — showing that any saving is beneficial for occurrences like these.
47% of these issues happened in the kitchen, a room which is essential to the day-to-day running of any home. If you don’t have the money to pull out instantly, it could cause an everyday stress. Using the savings you would have made by taking your own lunch and coffee to work, quitting smoking, and travelling smarter — you will be able to make life easier. It was also found that 35% of people had to use a credit card to cover the costs of unexpected expenses. With 18% of them not being able to pay more than £100 on their own, 17% had to borrow from friends and family!
You may even unexpectedly get engaged, so will be on the lookout for the perfect diamond ring. So, it becomes much easier when you can shop around and save money on a diamond ring for under $2000 with Brillianteers.
47% of these issues happened in the kitchen, a room which is essential to the day-to-day running of any home. If you don’t have the money to pull out instantly, it could cause an everyday stress. Using the savings you would have made by taking your own lunch and coffee to work, quitting smoking, and travelling smarter — you will be able to make life easier. It was also found that 35% of people had to use a credit card to cover the costs of unexpected expenses. With 18% of them not being able to pay more than £100 on their own, 17% had to borrow from friends and family!
You may even unexpectedly get engaged, so will be on the lookout for the perfect diamond ring. So, it becomes much easier when you can shop around and save money on a diamond ring for under $2000 with Brillianteers.
Thinking smarter for 2018 is a must and it's definitely made me think about how much I am spending on my everyday expenses. I've been making small changes like taking my own food to work and walking rather than catching the bus; and I can really see the benefits in my bank account!
How will you be changing your ways to save money?
Disclaimer: Guest post - in collaboration with Stage Coach Bus.
How will you be changing your ways to save money?
Disclaimer: Guest post - in collaboration with Stage Coach Bus.
As a mum, it can be a job in itself looking for comfortable and stylish swimwear that you feel confident and sexy in. Even as a 25 year old childless woman, I sometimes struggle with this myself. However, I can't imagine how difficult it must be for men to find nice swimwear. They never usually have much choice! And swimming trunks just shouldn't really exist should they?
I thought I would put together a family guide on styling everybody in stylish and fashionable swimwear. You will have everything in one place in this guide; making it one less stress for your summer holidays this year.
The Sacred Craft swimsuit (£45) has a multi cross back with a deep v neck plunge and foam cups for support. There is also tummy control which is perfect for those of you who don't feel super body confident right now. Next up is the Pina Colada Starback swimsuit (£38), which thin adjustable straps and a vibrant pattern that just screams out summer. My third favourite pick is the Latino Love swimsuit (£46); with black side panels to create the illusion of a silhouette curve.
The Zoggs Penrith swimming shorts collection (£18) have a few different colours of swimming shorts with elasticated waists and inner drawstrings. They feature two side pockets with mesh to drain water and prevent 'ballooning' whilst emerged in water. If he's feeling daring or likes to experiment with pattern, he may want to try the Discovery swimming shorts (£26); featuring an exotic leafy print perfect for that holiday to the Bahamas.
Zoggs have so many different styles to offer and it's great that they have different fits for different body shapes too. If you're off on holiday with your kids this year, then Zoggs also stock swimwear for girls, boys and babies. You can kit the whole family out in just one click and checkout. Holiday shopping has never been less stressful.
Even better, when you place an order online that is over £30, you will be eligible for free standard delivery. You can also return items that you don't want at a low cost of just £3, so why not place an order with a few different styles and see what you like best!
I think my boyfriend and I will definitely be placing an order with Simply Swim and hitting up the Zoggs page. I already want pretty much every single style available! What are you waiting for?
Disclaimer: In collaboration with Swim Style. All words are my own.
Growing up, I was a bit too old for the Disney Princesses trend, but it was a big thing when my sister was younger. Being 3.5 years younger than me, she had all of the merchandise for every Disney princess ever and always paraded around in her golden yellow Belle dress.
For one of her Christmas presents, I decided to do something a little different by booking an afternoon tea for 2 at The Tea Terrace; located inside House of Fraser of Oxford Street (a 3 minute walk from Bond St underground station).
I kept seeing adverts for afternoon tea inside Cinderella's carriage across social media, so after a quick search engine search, I soon found the official website to make a reservation. You have to put down a non-refundable deposit to be able to reserve the carriage, which is priced at £25. Once this is booked, I received a confirmation email. All that is left to pay is for the food and drinks on the day - which has a T&C of spending a minimum of £21 per adult and £10.95 for children under 12. Pretty reasonable if you ask me.
The reservations run throughout the day; with 2 hour slots per reservation. You are also given an extra 15 minutes to allow you to finish up your food and drinks without rushing. I booked 3 weeks in advance and there was only 10AM and 7PM slots available, so it was proving popular already.
I decided to book for the 10AM slot, so we could make a full day of it. With a maximum booking time until 11.15, it meant this was more than enough time to eat, chat and take photographs of the experience.
Upon arrival, I was surprised to see a Saturday afternoon in House of Fraser so quiet. I was imagining early morning shoppers hitting the streets of Central London for some shopping. A few tables were occupied, which was nice to see as it meant we could really get to grips with the experience without there being a lot of people around.
The Tea Terrace has the most magical of interiors that I've ever seen in a food orientated place. Everywhere is pink, blue and white; with high throne type chairs with silver legs and piping detailing to sit in whilst dining. Cute quotes about tea are dotted around the room on the walls; whilst traditional china plates hang on the walls and of course; two afternoon tea carriages sit in the room available for special reservations.
The staff showed us to our carriage which was beautifully decorated. Artificial white roses and ivy hang from each section of the carriages. The benches are finished with white, quilted cushions for comfort. There are also a few crowns hanging on the sides of the carriages which you are free to use in selfies and for fun. Above us, hang chandeliers made from metal teaspoons. It was honestly so cute and pretty much made for Instagram.
Out of the blue (pardon the pun), Cinderella started walking towards us, dressed in her famous blue gown dress and perfectly blonde hair. Available for hire at special request by email, she walked over to the second carriage and spent the afternoon with a family celebrating their daughter's birthday. I think this is such a lovely touch; although I am unsure if this is at an added cost or not.
Upon being seated in the carriage, the menus were brought over to use and you can opt for a traditional afternoon tea with hot drinks, finger sandwiches and posh cakes. However, I was also pleased to see a varied breakfast style menu, which we definitely ended up ordering from. Choose from a wide variety of cooked breakfasts; such as poached eggs, salmon, avocado and toast and full English breakfasts. We were definitely feeling like two little piggies at a fine banquet, so we both ordered the full english breakfasts (£10.95-£11.95).
In a nut shell? The best damn English breakfast that I've ever had.
My sister is a tea-o-holic, whereas I don't drink tea. I know, I know, I'm weird apparently! She ordered herself a pot of hot English tea and I went for a simple fresh orange juice and water. All of the tea and food is served using traditional tea style cups and plates; with vintage floral prints and patterns. The little touches honestly make it so special.
Before we knew it, 11.15 was upon us and it was time to give up the carriage for the next reservation. The staff kindly moved us to a table nearby so we could finish our drinks. It was a little busier at this point but it didn't start filling up rapidly until we actually left. So, top tip is to get there as early as possible!
To finish up the Cinderella themed afternoon tea experience, we was both gifted a photo frame. This was unexpected and not noted down on the booking confirmation, so was a really nice touch to end a lovely day at The Tea Terrace.
To sum it up... I hadn't heard too much about this experience before seeing the advertisements on social media. However, I thoroughly recommend it if you have the opportunity to visit. Not only is the experience wonderful (I mean, who wouldn't want to be a princess for an hour?), but the food and service is fantastic too! Get down there and get your princess on!
You can make a table or carriage reservation here.
Disclaimer: Not sponsored. Tickets were purchased out of my own money. My opinions are unbiased and not paid for. Photography is my own and must not be distributed and copies are prohibited.
Blog Post: Freya Bikini: Sundance Style
If you know me, you know I love trying new swimwear styles and I am so excited that holiday season is fast upon us. Ok, well I know it's only nearing the end of February but seriously... summer holiday planning will be beginning soon.
I am not sure where we are off to yet, but us fashion bloggers have to be well prepared in advance for these things... which is exactly why I'm already writing about swimwear two months into the year!
Whilst looking for bikinis and maybe even a swimming costume too that I can style on planned summer holidays this year, I came across Simply Beach. They have a wide range of different swimwear styles for all different body shapes and sizes and from a whole bunch of fantastic brands. I tend to get most of my swimwear from online retailers like this. I find it quite a challenge to find matching sets that fit me and make me feel confident to hit the beach.
Having a browse, I became familiar with a few of the brands and couldn't wait to carry on shopping around. Before I knew it, I had a few different styles in my basket and now I need your help in choosing the best one!
Seafolly is one of my favourite swimwear brands, because of their wide range of on trend and pretty styles. This Desert Tribe swimsuit features a super cool aztec pattern with a deep V cut and ladder detailing on the back too. For £100, it's classy, but sexy.
I tend to avoid bandeau style swimsuits and bikinis as a bigger chested lady. However, this Jet swimsuit is a perfect style for lazying around the beach or pool with a nice necklace accessory and massive floppy sunhat. I particularly like the black colour as it's a colour that makes you look automatically slimmer; whilst the white pipe detailing draws attention to the swimsuit rather than just your lady melons. Priced at £160.00.
I have already got some swimwear styles that are grey and they really do look lovely against a tan. This Jets swimsuit in the colour slate is a part of their Aspire range; for D-DD cups. Perfect for me who struggles finding high street styles that fit both my boobs and my body.
This style in particular really appeals to me. The high shoulder straps look like they will really lift you up and support your lady lumps. The sheer panel really adds something sensual, but innocent and classy at the same time. Priced at £165.00, it's a style that I might even treat myself to.
If that hasn't got you in the mood for bikini shopping, then I don't know what will! What do we all have planned for the summer? I have already started to look at a few package deals, but haven't got anything set in stone yet... which gives me more time for more swimwear shopping. Yay!
Disclaimer: In collaboration with Simply Beach. All words are my own.
The truth is... change is all of these things and so much more.
It would be a completely normal thing for me to say a lot has changed in my life, continues to change and will always continue to change. That's completely correct. However, what happens when the change isn't that great?
Jumper: Boohoo - still available here
Jeans: ASOS Ridley's
Boots: Boohoo - still available here
Bag: Carvela
Belt: Cari's Closet *
Coat: Topshop
Earrings: Primark
Photography: Boyfriiiiiiend
I am only allowed to air my own dirty laundry on the internet for thousands to read, which I have admittedly done for years. It's what you guys read my blog for. It's why new readers hit follow and older readers return for more. Simply count it as tuning into the next chapter of a mismatched life. A bitter breakup, why sex can be boring with the wrong guy and all of the other downfalls of my life. Of course, I do share the good parts too and I have so many good things to update you on soon.
Instead, for now, just imagine me having to deal with the dirty water from the dirty laundry instead. The grey-almost-black water; with suds still floating around like an unwanted smell. Ohhhh, and the water stinks too.
Every action has a consequence and I like to think I take this on board with every decision I make in life. I smile at everyone I make eye contact with on my morning commutes to and from work. I do this because not only will it make me look like an ignorant twat if I don't, but you also never know if a smile could improve someone's day.
I am incredibly polite on phone calls; even to the rudest of people who I would love to hang up on. I'll check if anyone needs anything when I head out on a food shop and I will wait for someone a flight of stairs behind me, just so I can hold the door open for them. I'm a nice person with good morals.
My world has fallen apart in ways that I wish I could sit down and spill about and for the first time; it's not related to a boyfriend. There's nothing better than good therapy through that of writing.
I've always been a writer and have always documented my thoughts and feelings. From the time I was bullied at school, to the time I was punched by a boy and had my entire school after me because I 'snitched'. Then there's the time I had my heart broken for the very first time and felt like my life was over (lol Ash) and then there was that time where I finally plucked up the courage to walk away from an abusive relationship. I wrote about all of these mental and emotional journeys through online blogs, notebooks, phone notes, diaries and even on my own bare hands.
I cannot describe the feeling of knowing someone has lied to you. Ya know what's worse? Knowing they have lied to you and you have watched them lying to you about not lying to you. Are you confused yet? I sure am. Metaphorically, I would say it's the same feeling as having a seagull shit on your new Topshop coat or Gucci trainers. However, a seagull has never shit on me before (and hopefully never does), but at least you can wipe bird shit away after a good scrub and plenty of anti-bacterial wash. You can't wipe away lies and lies about lies. That shit does one thing. The damage sticks around forever and affects trust, love and faith.
I want you to close your eyes and imagine something. Imagine trying to hold a brick wall together to stop it from falling down. You stand there looking like you need to release a dump, because you're in pain from holding so many bloody bricks. It's impossible, isn't it? The bricks are too heavy, too bulky and there's just far too many bricks for your hands. However, that is what my life has been like over the last few months and that's what I've been silent on my blog and social media. I've been trying to hold a family together.
I don't like to take breaks with my blog because I am a workaholic. If you're waiting for me to reply to a text or email, then it's no doubt because I am busy in my bedroom, blogging away. However, dealing with so much stress in my personal life has made me want to run away and hide from everything. Seeing other people so blissfully happy in their personal lives really does make me envious at such a horrible and painful time in my own life.
I am sorry I have been away and I haven't explained anything to you. I guess this apology is aimed at whatever sweet soul or obsessed hater is reading this blog but I also apologise to my actual blog for having let you down for all of 2018 so far.
I'm not sure where life is going to go from here. I am simply taking each day as it comes and I am trying to concentrate on my own life and making it the best I can. I am enjoying my job, love spending time with the people who mean the most to me and cannot wait for the darker days to end... and especially for winter to bog off!
Once I figure things out, I will no doubt be back soon with my regular posts and spamming your bloglovin feeds. Until then, please raise a G&T or chicken nugget to me for having the energy to get up every day and face a brand new day. I think I am doing okay.
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