Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I'm a summer girl. I love the sunshine and the joy it brings. Everything feels better in the summer: the longer days, endless ice cream, warm weather, cute dresses and a peppy spirit in the air. Although with summer, everything gets busy and there's this massive pressure to have a million big plans and book all the events.

This is your reminder to make the most of the summer. It's not about the big things; it's about the little things. If you're feeling overwhelmed with the summer season, here is how to make the most of summer without massive plans.

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I've had social media since I was a teenager, and back in the day, it was worlds away from what it is now. I don't envy teenagers today, and I can't imagine growing up with the influencer culture and TikTok world. I also work in social media and spend a lot of my time consuming online content, which isn't the healthiest, but I use my time mindfully, avoiding the negatives of social media.

If you're glued to social media like me, here are my thoughts on social media as a highlight reel.

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Buying your first home can feel impossible in today's market, and honestly, I have every sympathy for millennials (like me) and Gen Zers. With everything against you, unless you have the privilege of family support, a good wage or low-cost living, you may feel like you'll never buy a home.

I want to give some hope that it is possible. If you want to buy your first home, here are my best tips for securing that deposit. 

The Lifetime ISA

Saving for a first home is hard, and any help is a huge benefit. The Lifetime ISA on the Money Box app is a lifesaver, and I recommend everyone sign up for it. This ISA means that for every £4,000 you put in each year, you'll receive £1,000, which means you can save £5,000 each year! You can only use this ISA to buy a house, which is a benefit because it prevents you from taking out the money when you 'think' you need it.

Set a savings goal each month

Goals are key to saving money at a progressive rate. Everyone has a different income and amount of disposable income per month, which can fluctuate in how much you can save. You should create a monthly budget spreadsheet with all your outgoings and designate a chunk of that income to savings and disposable income. The savings part can all go towards the house, or there may be other things you're saving for, such as holidays and an emergency fund.

Be mindful of how you spend your money

When you create a budget spreadsheet, you'll be more aware of where your money is going. I'm not saying you need to completely restrict, but every time you spend, be wary of it, whether spending an obscene amount on a food shop, eating out too much or buying clothes you don't need. The spreadsheet will help you see how much of your money a month goes to the 'fun' things, whether that's eating out, a concert or a new item you'd like. Once you know the amount you can spend a month on this, it'll make it easier not to overspend.

Don't remove everything you love

Being on a savings journey doesn't mean you need to restrict everything. You deserve to enjoy the things you love whilst you save, just on a smaller scale. You can use that designated monthly budget to put towards the fun things, plan them out and have a set budget which will help you stay aligned with your financial goals and still enjoy what you love.

Understand that it can be a slow journey

Saving a huge amount of money can be a slow journey, especially if you have high outgoing expenses or a low monthly wage. It's a privilege to save quickly. Even though a slow journey, track your progress, celebrate the little wins and think about the end goal as it'll keep you motivated.

Earn an extra income

To top up your monthly savings, you can get another job or build a side hustle and use that money towards the house. Obviously, building a side hustle takes time, energy and skill, but the rewards can be great and add to your overall savings goals. You can sell clothes online, build up an online profile and work on affiliate marketing, sell digital projects or keep things offline, and get an evening job, such as a takeaway driver or bar job.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What would you add?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Being in your twenties is a rollercoaster; it's a decade of learning who you are, starting a career, new relationships and friendships and travelling the world, it can seem like a minefield to figure out what you want in life.

The beauty of our twenties is that you can try and fail. The problem with your twenties is the constant feeling that you're behind. 

If you're feeling behind in your twenties, here is my guide to reassure you about living in your twenties. 

How to deal with feeling behind in your twenties

Know you can't be behind in your life

Everyone has a different life. You can't be behind in your own life. It's the silliest phrase that you're behind in your twenties. How can you be behind in your life? We all experience things at different stages. Some people get in relationships young, some have kids young, some travel young, and some buy houses. But you're not behind if you don't do those things in your twenties or ever. You can experience love later in life and buy a house whenever (if it's something you want to do).

Everyone is following their own path

The only path you need to be worried about is your own. We're all following our own paths and have different goals. You may want to build your career or business in your twenties or spend them travelling as much as possible. Or, you may want to spend that time working on self-development. Keep your eyes on that path, rather than those around you, because we all experience different things that change the course of our lives.

We all have different priorities

This goes hand in hand with everyone following their own path. We all have different priorities. Some people spend their twenties at university and further education. Some people are parents. Some people have changed through different career paths. Some love to travel. Some are just trying new things until they figure out what is right. We all have different priorities - focus on yours, not everyone else's.

You're not failing

Repeat after me: You are not a failure. You may feel behind or sad that your friends are doing 'better' things, but it doesn't mean you're a failure. Keep trying. Keep failing. You'll find the right path for you.

It's your first decade of adulthood

Before your twenties, you are a child, in education, most likely. You haven't even seen or experienced the working world. Give yourself a break; it's your first decade living as an adult and doing adult things. 

I hope you enjoyed this post. 

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Failure is a terrifying thought, and often why many of us don't try something new or put ourselves out there. I've failed time and time again, and as much as it feels awful, it has taught me many lessons and made me feel more courageous and daring to try new things.

We don't always have to be good at everything; remember that.

If you're keen to try something new or fear failure, here's my guide on learning that it's okay to fail.

What is failure?

Simply, it's the lack of success in a desired outcome or goal. Failure can be seen as not getting the grade you want, not achieving your personal best, not getting your dream job or being rejected by an agent. Failure is an uncomfortable experience, and we don't want to have it as it doesn't feel good; in fact, it can make us feel insecure or low.

How to learn it's okay to fail

 The slow life. The peaceful life.

Seagulls and birds chirping every morning. The sound of the waves wherever I go.

Living by the sea is everything, a dream and all I've ever known. 

The coastal breeze, the endless 99s, sandy toes, the lingering smell of seaweed.

Mornings spent on the sands, watching the sunrise, lapping up that vitamin D.

The peaks of summer afternoons. Laughing children. Talking adults. Sandcastles everywhere. The cracks of can openings, the spritz of suncream. The pages of the book are turning. The endless waves, ebbing in and out of the shore. The sounds of the seaside are nostalgic.

The sunsets at the beach hit differently. Year-round, on a clear day, the colours of the sky are everything. Red. Orange. Pink. Purple. The joy of colour and magic as the sunset paints the beach every night. 

Living by the seaside is a joy all year round. The summer peak is underway for a hot minute. But the magic is during the quieter time when the beach is all mine. The tourists and day trippers leave, and my seaside town is mine again. I can roam on beaches and feel free with few people. The peacefulness of the waves is mine and mine alone.

The swishing of the water is more aggressive in the off-season, as it feels every season. The chillier air, the cold ears and hot chocolates. I love the power of the waves, the smiles from locals and the peace I feel at the beach.

Living by the sea has shaped me. Living by the sea has given me peace, freedom and joy in nature and the wonders it can bring to my daily life.