tattoos – Jessica G Allen

20 Things To Do Before I’m 20

So, last week, I turned nineteen. It was a great day. I spent the morning with Connor and his family, relaxing, before coming home to spend the afternoon with mum and pampering myself before holding a surprise birthday party for my mum, which went better than I could have expected. I ended the night by going from the party to a club in town and then forgetting my door key when I got home.

And it was great.

But really, in all honesty I’m excited about being this age. When I was a kid all I wanted was to be older, and now that I am older and I can literally do… anything I want. It’s almost debilitating. I can do anything. So.. to counter that… I do nothing.

So, to celebrate the next year of my life, I’ve come up with a list of somewhat realistic, and somewhat ridiculous, things that I’d like to do by this time next year…

1. Stop being afraid of of making phone calls

And actually learn how to make a phone call in a busy office… no one is listening, and I need to remember that.

2. Save over £1000

Which I am well on the way of achieving! Result!

3. Go on a city break

Another one. Athens and Prague in 2016 were some of the best experiences I’ve ever had, and having the independence to be wandering the world without adult supervision is something that I can’t wait to experience more.

4. Go on a relaxing sun holiday

When I was younger I got bored doing the same thing on sun holidays, but now that I’m working full-time, and rarely see the sun when it rears its head in Britain, I feel the much-needed warmth on my face and a cocktail in my hand…

5. Take part in a blogging opportunity

Whether thats a sponsored post, a collaboration, going to an event… I want to start working with more people. (If you want to hit me up my gmail is jallen7137@gmail.com!!)

6. Reach 1000 Twitter followers

Currently on 800+ so I think we got this. Might sound silly to some, but it would be cool.

7. Reach 200 WordPess followers

8. Host a giveaway

Keep your eyes peeled for this one… coming soon!

9. Start giving away books and clearing out

I’m hoping to start the practice of re-reading a book and then giving it away to someone, or to a charity shop, so that im not hoarding them any more. I have way too many books…

10. Actually start my scrap book

It’s been about 4 years since I was gifted this gorgeous Paperchase scrapbook from my mum, and I have a huge box full of souvenirs from the past 10 years of my life to fill it up with. I just… never had the chance.

11. Go to the beach

I haven’t been on a beach day in my actual home town in a long, long time. It’s something I want to do every summer but never have the chance to, and this year I can drive, so bring it on!

12. Solo trip

I want to go somewhere new, completely alone. For a day, a weekend, wherever.

13. Buy a high-end makeup product

Like… really high-end. Not just something expensive from Boots. I wanna be reckless and buy something that my face absolutely does not need, but it wants. (Send me suggestions of what my first high-end product should be in the comments).

14. Eat better

I’ve fallen back into some horrifically unhealthy eating patterns and maybe that’s why I’m not feeling so great recently… time to crack out the veggies.

15. Go vegetarian for a week

I’ve tried incorporating vegetarian meals into my daily life, so a meat-free hot lunch at work, and Quorn products for dinner, but I’d love to start making a real difference to my diet and consumption.

16. Go for a massage

I’ve only ever been for a professional massage once before and, as someone who loves getting pampered, it was like my idea of heaven. Definitely treating myself when I get stressed soon.

17. Get into an exercise routine

What I’ve been working with recently…

18. Go on a Colour Run

19. Play Lazer Tag

20. Get another tattoo

And there you go, my 20 Before 20. I will hopefully, this time next year, be checking back in with these to make sure I’ve done all I wanted to do, which would be awesome.

Until then, what do you want to do before you’re 20? Or 30? Should I make these into a series? Let me know!

Jess

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How to Save Money in 2017! // Life Hacks

Hi! I’m back! And better than ever (ish). And better yet, I’m back with a post that might be able to help some of you lot with your resolutions (if you’re still steadfastly running towards them at full speed, of course).

If one of your New Year goals/resolutions was to save money (which is one of mine, and I struggle daily not to spend my money on ridiculous crap like More Blankets and my 47th Pair of Pyjamas or something), then I’m here to help!

1. Create a Savings Account/Method

Simple, but effective. If you’re one of those people that tells yourself “I can keep it in my current account, I promise I wont touch it”, you are wrong, and that is a lie. You will touch that money you were supposed to save, and regret it.

My solution is to, simply, create a savings account. It’s not difficult, and if you connect it up to your current account then transfers can be made easily and quickly with no fuss.

Alternatively, if you’re younger and don’t have a bank account, or access to a savings account, my advice would be to create a place to put your savings that you can’t touch except for emergencies. This reduces the risk of ‘dipping into’ your savings for things that you “need” like more lipstick and another packet of Mini Eggs (of which I am guilty).

Something like a lockable money-box (and giving someone else a key) or even giving your money that you want to save to a parent or guardian to save for you could be foolproof.

2. Save STRAIGHT AWAY

This is something I’ve recently learnt to do, and it is to save your money as soon as you get it. If you get paid at the end of the month, don’t wait until the end of the next month to transfer it over to your savings. I’ve witnessed so many people get to the end of the month, and panic, because they literally have like 12p in the bank, and no way out.

When you get money, put it safely away as soon as you get it. That way, if you run out of money, you can dip into your savings if needed, but then you don’t feel invincible with all this money, that ideally you haven’t got. Then, linking back to the first point, if you put your savings in a secure place that takes time and effort to get into, then you’ll think twice about touching your savings when you really shouldn’t be. (Also, seeing that number in the savings account get high is a REALLY good feeling).

3. Have a Copper Can

This is one of my favourite tips of all time, ever. In 2010, my Dad bought me a money-box. It was really cute and helpful for 12 year old me to put my coins in, but there was a catch: it didn’t open. The only way in, was through the money-in gap, or to smash it open. So I saved. And saved and saved. The only things that went into it were coppers (1 and 2ps) and 5ps.

A few weeks ago, with the money-box full to bursting, I smashed it open with a hammer, and took the proceeds to one of those ‘count-my’change machine. I’d managed to save up around a tenner. Might not seem like much, especially as it was over about 7 years, but to have this little amount constantly growing on my windowsill could be the difference between eating for two weeks for some people. So, before you chuck away that penny, think twice, and put it in a jar.

4. Make a Monthly Budget

Might be obvious, but I never did this. If you know how much you ought to be earning a month on average (e.g. without overtime or extra money coming in), write it down. Then write down your necessary outgoings (so for me, it’s things like car insurance, petrol, my phone contract, etc). This could also include things like your regular outgoings, like gym memberships, or subscription box subscriptions.

This will allow you to see what you need to spend on, what you don’t need to spend on, and then might also help you keep track of your spending.

5. Pack Your Lunch and Drinks

Carry water with you at all times. Put a bottle in your car, and one in your bag (and gym bag!) and keep them full. This will stop you having to buy drinks and bottles when you’re out and about.

If you regularly buy lunch from school, college, or work (or near work), then pack your lunches the night before (you could even get them ready a few days before), to stop you nipping to the shop for biscuits (guilty), or to Subway for lunch.

It might not be great for your ‘healthy eating’ resolution, but even keeping a chocolate bar, packet of crisps or cereal bar in your bag (or car) could be make the difference of spending £1 on something from the shop every day (and think: that could save £365 over the year!)

6. Take Part in Savings Challenges

There are tonnes of saving challenges online, just Google it! Things like the No Spend Challenge No Spend Challenge, the 52 Weeks Challenge and the Penny A Day Challenge.

Little things that you could take part in, along with friends and family who also want to save money this year (or you could even join money-saving and budgeting groups on Facebook and pages on Pinterest for inspiration. These methods are ready-made and fool-proof to helping you save – maybe more – than you could have hoped!

7. Keep Your Receipts

As fiddly and annoying as this one is (annoying especially when your mum constantly tells you to), keep your receipts. Not only will this help remind you of the stupid shit you bought (did you really need that NERF gun?), but it will also help you keep track of where your money is going, and where you may need to excercise more control.

If at the end of the month, you’re sifting through one million and one Starbucks receipts, or ten million receipts with the word ‘CARRIER BAG – O.5p’ on them, then its time to reevaluate your life choices a bit.

Have a special box, tin or drawer, just to keep your receipts in, and go through it every so often (especially if you use cash on the regular! Online bank statements make looking at your expenses easier these days).

And there we go. My top tips for saving money in 2017. I hope they were (somewhat) helpful and that you (maybe) learnt some new tips that you didn’t before. Here’s to saving money in 2017, to make 2018 and the years after even better!

Let me know what your saving goals and resolutions are for this year, and how you’re planning on staying on track. Also let me know if you’d like to see any other money-saving tips and tricks in the comments! Til next time,

Jess x

My Nose Piercing Experience!

I’m not one to make rash, rebellious decisions (usually).

However, last week, in a spur of the moment, I got my nose pierced. Well, I say spur of the moment, it was over the course of a few days deliberation. Which is pretty spur of the moment for me.Continue reading “My Nose Piercing Experience!”