Adulting: Savings

Money. We all need it everyday, and yet lots of us are really bad at keeping some back for the harder times. I’ve been thinking about saving a lot over the past few years. First I saved to go to Kenya in 2010, then I saved at University to travel the world for a year, and for the last 2 1/2 years, my savings efforts have been split towards having a proper adult life and having enough money to see places. There’s so many different types of savings accounts, methods, not to mention pensions, that it’s been a couple of years of trying and testing different methods.

So, with that in mind, I have a set of 2018 Savings goals and some methods to try and help me achieve them!

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New Year, New Resolutions: Welcome 2018

2017 has been a mixed year overall really. It’s been a year of some really enjoyable highs, and some pretty crappy lows, and just about everything in between. On a global scale, the world is becoming unrecognisable, and uncomfortable; on a personal level, life doesn’t look nearly as rose-y as it did at this time last year.

My resolutions for 2017 proved quite eye-opening, and really showed me what my priorities are. It made me think about things that I find important, and regularly looking back at my resolutions in the form of quarterly check-ins kept my resolutions in the forefront of my mind, and made them more attainable. Emma, my friend/housemate/fellow blogger at The Terror of Knowing has some resolutions that cross over, so I think we can hopefully use each other to keep us accountable.

So, without further ado, my resolutions for 2018:

Adulting: Manners Maketh Man

I’m sitting in a hotel after a day full of sightseeing in London, and after having an awesome day touring the Palace of Westminster and shopping in Harrods, I am left with a nagging feeling of irritation. This often happens when I navigate London streets, make my way through the underground system, and battle the crowds of Christmas shoppers, and today was no different.

Now, those of you who know me are probably thinking that it’s rich of me to say this and that they’ve known more polite or tolerant people than me, but I really do believe that manners are free and not used enough.

Adulting: Growing out a Pixie Cut 2

A few months ago, way back in April in fact, I talked all about the process of growing out a pixie cut. I moaned about the constantly worsening state of my hair, and my sheer stupidity and pigheadedness in believing that this phase would completely pass my by. That post was written around 3 months into growing out, so here we are 5 months down the line and 8 months into the growing out process and we have hit ‘The Bob’ phase.

I was going to write a completely new post today, but when I was going back and reading the old post, I couldn’t help but giggle at where I was, and think about where I have come, so I’ve copied some of the points I made and added round 2 commentary!

Adulting | University Illusions: The Alcohol Edition

As another September rolls around, the student offers, packages, and nights out are being advertised everywhere, and the wonder of fresher’s fever and money for alcohol. University is the time to make new friends, discover yourself, move out of your parental home, and spread your wings. Oh, and get a degree along the way too.

So what if you’re not all about the nights out? What if you’re not into alcohol binges and hangover wasted days? What is university REALLY like?

I am going to start this with a small disclaimer, and a little bit about me. Yes guys, I am one of THOSE people. Y’know, *whispers* a non-drinker *side glances*. I’m not ill, there is no religious, moral, or health reasons that contribute, I just don’t really drink alcohol. I also don’t dislike or judge anyone who does or doesn’t drink. I don’t really care about all of that. This post is an honest account from someone who doesn’t usually drink. Oh, and It’s probably a long post, so be warned, in advance!

New Year’s Resolution: 2nd Quarter Check-In

At the end of last year, I decided to compile a list of resolutions for 2017 in the hope of improving various aspects of my life. I set myself some rather large goals, and as I have a tendency to set them and the completely forget what they are, I have decided to check in with my progress over the year. At the end of March, a quarter of the way through the year, I posted a quarterly check in (which can be found here). I wanted to check back in and see how I was getting on with them, and it’s safe to say that it’s not exactly going to plan. Just to recap, my New Years Resolutions can be found here.

Adulting: Routine

Adulting….isn’t it hard work, eh? For those of you who know me, you’ll probably know that I am fairly laid back. For those of you who don’t know me, I try my best to go with the flow, and often live in the midst of organised chaos that works for me! I have enjoyed the freedom, and the time that working different shifts has allowed me, I enjoy the long weekends it gives me off to enjoy myself, and I like the early finishes, and the lie-ins it sometimes affords me. However, I absolutely love routine, which contradicts this completely.

But the one thing my life is currently missing is routine. I used to have a real routine nailed down to the second. I try not to waste time in the mornings, and I used to have an almost military timed routine in place. You’re probably thinking this goes against all that I have just said about being chilled out, but the routine I build lets me be like that. I don’t like faffing so I know how long every task takes me, and know how long I can sleep in for, and at the end of the day, it gives me more time to be relaxed. I feel like a lack of routine is starting to really wear me down.

*Sorry for the long, pathetic rant that is about to ensue/lack of sense in the content!

Adulting: Teeth

Do you remember when you were really little and you moaned about having to brush your teeth TWO times a day? Do you remember when you tried everything you could to pretend you had done them twice, when really, you had the brush in your mouth and stood there like butter wouldn’t melt? Do you remember only being vividly interested in your teeth when Do you remember you parents saying ”you’ll regret not looking after your teeth when you’re older, you only get one set? Do you remember vividly thinking ‘what do they know, they’re only adults; they’re only parents’?

Well, they were right….

Adulting: Growing Out a Pixie Cut

Until recently, I always had long hair. Not passed my bum long, but always beyond my shoulders and long enough to tie back/braid, and generally do stuff with. I travelled the world, slung it back off my face, and never thought much about it. It just always was, well, long. I thought about cutting it super short regularly during my time at University, and my time travelling, but it never seemed practical. When I returned home, ready to launch into real working life, I went in for the chop and cut my lovely red waist length hair into a pixie crop.

Now, I know what you’re thinking, so, before I launch into this little post/rant, I would like to make a little disclaimer first. I read all of the posts I could find, I asked for advice, I watched videos and tutorials, and I still don’t feel like I understood what this period was going to be like.

Adulting: Post-Holiday

Holidays, vacations, trips, breaks, whatever you like to call them, they are great. We get away from the mundane and repetitive existence of home and working life, and explore new places, see new things, taste new food and drinks, and (usually) relax. And then you get home, and everything that was going on before you went away is still going on, and there is stuff you need to do that you didn’t realise was a thing. Why is adulting so hard?