Lessons I've learned in my twenties

Well, hello to you, my reader chums! I can't believe I'm 29 and officially in the last year of my twenties. Some days, it feels like I turned 20 yesterday, and other days, being 20 was worlds away.

20 years old feels incredibly young, and it's wild to me how much I've evolved since that age, how my life has changed, the experiences I've had and the lessons I've learned. The twenties decade is a rollercoaster and one I'm truly grateful for in many ways.

Lessons I've learned in my twenties

If you're in your twenties and feeling overwhelmed, here are the top lessons I've learned and am still learning as I approach thirty.

The worst thing you can do is not try

Failure happens, and that's okay. Don't be afraid to start. When you look back on your life, you'll be more annoyed about not trying than failing. We can't be good at everything, and we can't enjoy everything, but until you try, you won't know what you enjoy or if you are good and can learn to be good at a skill. Life is about growth, trying and failing. Failure sucks but in those moments it's when you learn the most about your capabilities and dreams.

You'll find your crew

I've lost and gained friendships throughout my twenties. Losing friendships is incredibly painful, especially if they're people you've known forever or have a deep connection with. It's okay to lose friends, as they say, some friends are for a season, and some are for a reason. It's natural to drift apart and find new friends as you change and evolve. I've got a mix of friends who have stayed for the long run and new people who popped up randomly and matched my energy.

Friendships fade, people leave, and that's okay. Love is always out there.

Being authentic is the best thing you can be

The 'just be yourself' advice is what you should live by; you'll attract the right crowd, always feel comfortable in your skin and enjoy the everyday. In my early twenties, I was constantly trying to fit in, people pleasing and being a yes girl, suppressing my true self and what I wanted, in fear of losing friends and missing out. However, as I've grown through my twenties and started to not care what people think, I've leaned into my authenticity, love life more, feel fulfilled and attract the right people for me.

Try everything

Your twenties are the decade to try new things, as it's the first adulthood decade. Travel, try new foods, experiences, events and hobbies. Every new thing can help shape you or teach you a lesson. The beauty of your twenties is learning more about who you are, what you love and what you'd like to be. You're always evolving and changing, and that's why trying new things is crucial.

Everyone has a different path

The twenties decade is challenging as it's a time of comparison, seeing others travel, get married, buy a house, have kids, thrive in a career or achieve a top degree. If you're not doing any of that, it's okay. You're not behind; you're living a life authentic to you.

Some people experience different obstacles, some figure out what they want later in life - you don't have to achieve everything in your twenties. Everyone has a different path, different dreams and things they'd like to achieve, whether it's starting a business, creating art or backpacking. Focus on your goals and your dream, and be patient. The beauty of your twenties is that you're so young. You have so much time.

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

Thank you for reading <3

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Making the most of summer - the little things

 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.

Making the most of summer - the little things

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.


Eating on the beach

Whether you're lucky to live near the beach or it's a day out, any picnic on the beach is a joy. Wake up and watch the sunrise with breakfast and a hot drink. Pack a picnic and spend the day at the beach, lapping up the weather, views and sea. Or, have a beach BBQ, put on some music and watch the sunset. It's the simple things on the beach that make the best memories.

Sea swimming

The sea is majestic, beautiful and magical. The best part of summer is enjoying it as much as possible, including sea swimming. Whether it's a morning dip to kick start the day, a sunset swim, or to cool down from the midday sun, making the most of the sea is a gift.

 Eating as much ice cream as possible

One of the best things about summer is ice cream. There's nothing better than enjoying an ice cream when the sun is out, it adds a small joy to every day. This is my influence on you: eat as much ice cream as possible, make any excuse to treat yourself. Ice cream doesn't hit the same in winter.

Reading in the sunshine

I love to read. At any time of day, there's nothing better than opening a brilliant book and enjoying a story. Summer is when my reading dreams level up, as I can read a story in the sunshine, whether on the beach, at the park or in a garden, embracing nature around me as I read.

Beach and countryside walks

I love the little things in life, and my favourite thing is going for a walk. It's an opportunity to explore somewhere new, listen to a podcast or socialise with a loved one. Whether it's the beach or the countryside, I love to walk in the summertime when nature is in bloom and the sun is shining.

Spending quality time with family and friends outside

Quality time with family and friends is what I'm most grateful for. In summer, you don't need any grand plans to enjoy your loved ones. Being outside with them can mean going on a walk, having a sea swim, doing some arts and crafts, having a picnic or grabbing a coffee and having a chat. There's so much opportunity to enjoy the connection with loved ones outside. 

Sunsets and long days

I'm a sucker for a good sunset. There's nothing more magical than watching the sun go down and the sky lighting up with multiple colours of red, orange and pink. I could spend every evening watching the sunset and a good book - plus the bonus of a longer day is a win.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What do you love most about summer?

Thank you for reading <3
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Social media is a highlight reel

 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.

Social media is a highlight reel

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


I've spent too many hours scrolling on social media, feeling bad about myself, and comparing myself to other people's success, appearances and lifestyle. I have to constantly remind myself that social media is a highlight reel.

The definition of success is different for everyone. You are not somebody else. Your success is down to you, and you should be proud of that.

Here are a few ways to not feel intimidated by social media:

Reduce your screen time

Screen time is inevitable in today's world. I spend too long on my phone, scrolling and consuming content, which isn't okay. Reduce your screen time as much as you can by setting time limits on each app, putting your phone on do not disturb and having hours in the day where your phone isn't in reach.

Remind yourself that the online world isn't real

Influencers and people you know only post the good things online. Why would they post the low moments, the breakdowns or the hardships? Social media has been designed to share the best moments in life, highlights and achievements. Every time you see a new post, consider that, especially if you're feeling low, as that person has bad moments too. Their life isn't perfect. 

Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad

We all follow accounts that make us doubt ourselves, whether it's a pretty celebrity or someone with an unrealistic lifestyle. If you're looking at their content and it's making you feel bad about yourself regularly, unfollow them. There's no point wasting your time and feeling negative emotions for the sake of social media. Unfollow, mute or block, whatever is easiest for you.

Limit your eyes to certain types of content

You can press 'not interested in this type of content' on certain apps if there's a theme or subject that you don't like, and it can stop being suggested on your feed. You want to make your feed a place of positivity and joy. You don't want to have a doom scroll and feel low. You want to get off your phone and feel educated and happy from what you've seen.

Consume what feels right to you

This leads to this point. What you consume has more of an effect than you think, especially if you're on your phone all day. If a topic or influencer makes you feel bad, reduce that content and find content that makes you feel better.

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

Thank you for reading <3





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How to save for your first home in the UK

 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. 

How to save for your first home in the UK

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

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