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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Twenties life: feeling like you're behind

 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. 

Twenties life: feeling like you're behind

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. 

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Learning it's okay to fail

 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.

Learning it's okay to fail

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

Learning how to fail isn't an easy thing to do. It will feel uncomfortable, awkward and many negative emotions, and that's okay.

Try something new for the first time

Trying something new can be daunting, whether baking cake, attending an art class or learning a language.  Nobody is good at anything when they try for the first time. It takes practice and trying multiple times to acquire a skill, so don't feel defeated at the first hurdle. For example, if you go to an art class and your painting isn't as good as everyone else's, don't let that put you off. Trying something new for the first time can help boost your confidence and learn that it's okay to fail and enjoy the activity rather than having to be perfect.

Put yourself out of your comfort zone

Everyone has a different comfort zone and how they push themselves out of it. By getting out of your comfort zone, you're allowing yourself to fail. This could be public speaking, trying a new recipe, going to a new group or social event. Whatever it is, you may feel like a failure or experience negative emotions, but that push will give you an overall positive outcome.

Accept the negative emotions

Failure will undoubtedly bring negative emotions, and that's okay. Failure is associated with people feeling worthless or rubbish about themselves. To get better at failure, it's important to learn how to accept these emotions. For example, you can tell yourself,' Yes, I failed, but at least I tried, and that's an amazing thing'.

Try again

Failure can make us want to give up. And as easy as it can be to give up, the best thing you can do is try again, and again, and again. I always say, try it a few times, and if you really don't like it, move on and try something else. 


Remind yourself that not everyone can be good at everything

Exactly this. Not everyone is a pro at everything, so don't beat yourself up if you fail or aren't good at something. 


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

Thank you for reading <3



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Living by the sea.

 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.

Living by the sea.

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. 


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A weekend in Folkestone Kent: what to see and do

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Folkestone is a creative and colourful seaside town in Kent, England. I'm in love with Folkestone and over the last few years, it has become increasingly popular with Londoners and other tourists for its art scene, cool Harbour Arm area and quirky shops.

A weekend in Folkestone Kent: what to see and do

If you're planning a seaside break for the weekend in Folkestone, here is my guide on what to see and do in the coastal town.

What to see and do

The Leas

The Leas is one of my favourite areas of Folkestone because it's peaceful, has lots of green space and many things to do. You can have a stroll along the Leas and enjoy the views of the seaside and Harbour Arm, listen to music at the bandstand, have a picnic,  and soak up the summer sunshine or make use of seasonal events.  

The Leas has easy access to the beach, town and Harbour Arm as there are designated paths, such as the zig-zag path, to reach the key destinations.

Harbour Arm/Goods Yard Market 

As Folkestone's main attraction, you'll fall in love with the Harbour Arm. It's a destination with more than meets the eye and endless things you can do for all ages. There's the Goods Yard Market, which offers various food vendors, local artists and shops selling their work and the big screen, which shows films and sporting events throughout the year, especially in summer. The Goods Yard also offers live music regularly.

The Harbour Arm has other cafes, bars and restaurants along the arm, mini golf, an interactive darts venue (The Board Room), and is an ideal spot for a walk onto the beach.

Creative Quarter

Right next to the Harbour Arm is the Creative Quarter, a hub for creative shops. It's a colourful strip with cafes and something for everyone, including art prints, vinyls, cakes, toys, organic foods and much more. You can spend a while mooching in the shops, supporting local vendors and taking home a souvenir.

Explore the beaches

As a coastal town, you can't miss the beaches in Folkestone. Folkestone has a few beaches to wander along, enjoy a picnic, swim in the sea and have an ice cream. If you prefer sandy beaches, there's also Sunny Sands.

Walk to Sandgate

Sandgate is a gorgeous village in Folkestone, and a charming walk from the main hub of Folkestone. You can enjoy the pebbled beaches as you walk into Sandgate. The village has many cafes, delis, furniture shops, and other places to eat.

Visit Hythe 

Hythe is Folkestone's quieter sister and well worth a visit on your weekend away. The beach in Hythe is massive and the town has cute shops, independent restaurants and cafes. It's also home to a gorgeous canal area where you can enjoy a peaceful stroll, have a picnic and hire rowing boats in the summer.

Book a show at The Leas Cliff Hall or Quarter House

Folkestone is a hub for art, including theatre shows, music and comedy. The two best venues include The Leas Cliff Hall and the Quarter House, which host seasonal events and shows all year round.

Visit the Folkestone Bookshop

I adore books and love to support independent bookshops where I can, and my favourite is the Folkestone Bookshop. Located on Tontine Street, behind the Creative Quarter, it's a hub for all your book needs with a reading room.

Where to eat

Restaurant recommendations: Marley's, El Cortador, Sotirios Bar & Restaurant, Dr Legumes, The Harbour Inn, Annapurna Nepalese Restaurant, Viet Street, Luben's, Burrito Buoy and The Radnor Arms.

Cafe recommendations: Yoke, Okay Folke, Steep Street, Brew, Orchard Lane, Sailbox, Harbour Coffee and Panataria.

Pubs and bars recommendations: Brewing Brothers, The Beer Shop, Cabron, The Radnor Arms, The Pullman, The Pilot Bar, The Blind Pig and Blackmarket.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning a trip to Folkestone?

Thank you for reading <3

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5 Tips to Make Buying a Home Less Stressful

 Well, hello to you, my reader chums!

This blog post is a contributed post, written by another author.

Buying a home is a dream for countless people, and it’s natural to be excited when you’re in a position to do it. But it can also be a long and stressful process, especially when it’s your first home. More than a few people end up feeling a little overwhelmed because of it, and it’s easy to see why.


You could feel yourself feeling more than a little stressed because of it. You don’t have to settle for it being that way, though.

By using a few house-hunting tips, you could make the process a whole lot less stressful. You’ll still have to put the time and effort into it, but it shouldn’t have to be as complicated as you thought. You’ll end up making it a much easier process, especially with the right tips and tricks.

Some of these could have more of an impact than others, which is why they’re worth focusing on from the start.


Use Property Websites

Buying a property can be a stressful process for more than a few reasons. One of the more notable of these is that there are countless houses you could go out
and see. Trying to see each of these would take up too much time, and you mightn’t even end up liking many of them.

That’s where property websites come in. You can use these to find options you’ll actually be interested in. They’ll help cut down on the amount of time and effort you put into house hunting. After that, it’s just a matter of viewing the ones you’re actually interested in.


Factor in Repairs & Maintenance

You’ll find more than a few homes that’re almost perfect, and you’ll want to put an offer in on them. As amazing as many of these will be, it’s worth keeping potential repairs, maintenance, and improvement in mind. Many properties could need this more than you’d think.

Then there’ll be the overall cost of these as time goes on. For some homes, this cost could be larger than you’d like. Make sure you’ve factored that into your decision before signing any contracts. It’ll help you make sure your home is actually affordable to live in long-term.


Have a Narrow Search Area

You’ll need to narrow down potential properties before you start viewing them. If you don’t, you could end up wasting a lot of time on houses you don’t end up liking. They mightn’t be appropriate for more than a few reasons. By narrowing them down, you save yourself a lot of time and stress.

One of the best ways to do this is to have a relatively narrow search area for the properties you’re looking for. These could be certain neighbourhoods that you’ll like living in. The more specific you are with this, the easier it’ll be to find a property you actually want.


Be Ready to Buy Fast

The housing market can often be a competitive one, and you’ll often need to move quickly when you’re buying a home. Many houses you could be interested in could be bought up faster than you would’ve thought. It’s worth trying to prevent that as much as you can.

You’ll need to be ready to put an offer in relatively quickly. While that could mean getting your ducks in a row beforehand, it’ll help make sure you can actually get the house you like. It’s worth getting this sorted as early as you can.


Think Long Term

There’ll be plenty of houses you could end up liking and want to put an offer in. Think twice before you do, though. As much as the property could meet your needs now, you’ll also need to think long-term with it. Is the property somewhere you can see yourself living in as time goes on?

This is especially true if you’re planning on starting a family sometime soon. Make sure the property can meet your needs as time goes on. While that could mean taking a little extra time to think things through, it’ll be more than worth it. As exciting as buying a home can be, it also takes a lot of time and effort. It can be stressful because of that, which nobody wants to deal with. Thankfully, there are ways to get rid of a lot of the stress that’s usually involved in the process. More than a few house-hunting tips can be enough to help with this. 

There’s no reason why it should be a stressful process.
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