Debt Update Part One

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Financial peace isn’t the acquisition of stuff. It’s learning to live on less than you make, so you can give money back and have money to invest. You can’t win until you do this. –Dave Ramsey

I know from my post https://elizalilysmiles.blog/2019/01/03/lets-just-be-honest-for-a-second-i-think-im-addicted-to-spending/ I mentioned that I was going to do a quarterly update, but I’ve been a bit bogged down health wise so I haven’t really been in the right mindset for it – Also with the amount of money I have to keep throwing at prescriptions it has really scuffled my budget that I had worked out. Sadness overwhelms me.

But on to the important things, How is it all going? Well truth be told it hasn’t really. Other than almost paying off my two of my low balance credit cards, I have the two ‘big ones’ to tackle and my loan, I don’t feel as if I have made much progress. The only substantial thing I think I have accomplished is balance transferring the majority of my credit card debt onto another credit card with an interest-free period. This allows me to have the breathing space to pay the debt off without the impending fear of interest creeping up on me.

Fact: A balance transfer is effectively ‘moving’ the debt to another provider which may have a lower interest rate, this means that the overall amount you pay back in interest isn’t as suffocating. Some credit card providers also give you an interest-free period in which the only amount you pay back is the money you owe. Of course this is subject to what you are offered and in the terms and conditions of the card – but for the majority as long as you are making your minimums you should benefit for the full term of the interest-free period!

It is a tad embarrassing sitting down with your parent and being 100% honest about the numbers and just seeing the pure shock mixed with disappointment on their face. Getting to this point wasn’t intentional but getting out of it is the main goal.

Personally I want to get to a stage in my life whereby I am able to do the things I enjoy without seeing how it is going to break the bank – some of the things I’m looking forward to is saving to complete some courses to gain a qualification in finance and to save for driving lessons. Story time – I did complete the majority of my driving lessons when I worked on the bar, but my instructor ‘disappeared’ before I could complete the last few hours I had paid for. Then life got in the way and tad-ah we are still not driving haha.

I’ll do another finance update in a couple of months when I have managed to tackle the next credit card – it is looking very promising to have that done within the next 3 months!

One last note, i’m still considering uploading a ‘vlog’ type video soon, but I feel like I need to look a little less bedraggled but whatever is making me sick!

Speak soon and let me know if any of you are in the process of tackling debt. I’d love to know how you are getting along!

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Museum trips in Amsterdam!

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Something I found really calming whilst on holiday was visiting the museums. The above is from the Rijksmuseum and I have to say, it was just incredible to experience it.

The exhibits were really interesting – the layout and the vast expanse of them. I also enjoyed the app available which allowed you to have your own walking tour through the museum – it also meant that you could view more information about each room just by entering the code for the exhibit.

Something I really want to get into more is visiting the museums available in London. I’ve been to quite a few since I was little but I never really appreciated them for what they were worth. The rich history available at our finger tips is actually quite mind-blowing.

Another place you should visit, even if you don’t get to go because of the demand is Anne Frank’s House. Having Jewish heritage in my family has allowed me to understand an element of the history through family stories and just general chats with my grandparents. But seeing this house in the flesh was awe-inspiring. Knowing that the journal of a young Jewish girl during the war, would become something people read, empathise and just feel is amazing.

The house was so popular the queue was extremely long and sold out the majority of our trip. Plus I couldn’t get a picture outside without people in haha

Before I go I will say this, if you find yourself in Amsterdam, please visit the Rijksmuseum and Micropia! Micropia is a microbiology museum and its really fun and interactive.

We did plan to visit the sex museum, the torture museum and the museum of prostitution, but we ran out of time. But these are also very interesting and I was gutted we missed them but it just gives me more reason to go back!

The silent library was utterly breath-taking.

Thank you for reading. Let me know what museums are your favourite!

Blog from the boat

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I’m currently on a girl’s trip to Amsterdam for my cousin’s birthday and I’ve been trying to get the motivation to blog since we got here but I’ve been unsuccessful – mixture of the heat and just general tiredness catching up with me after long hours of work. But this boat ride around the city learning about the city and its culture has really helped. We have 2 days left here after today and I have a handful of days at home but I’ll probably start to schedule posts when I’m back. I’ll go into a lot more detail about my holiday and post some pictures as well.

I feel more refreshed, but dreading going back to work. I’m just not all in it right now, but im starting a temporary new role when I’m back so maybe it’ll get better.

We shall see.

Mellow Monday! Jay Park – V

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Hey everyone,

Sorry for the super delayed post. I’ve been quite ill and just focusing a lot on work so I haven’t had much time to do anything.

But I’ve decided to take some time to really focus on the things I love and want to do, and this is one of them! I know it doesn’t seem like it, considering I’m constantly flitting in and out of posting. But I really love producing content for others to read and discuss. There are going to be a few new posts coming up over the next few weeks, one namely the finance update for my year of development, also some practices I’ve taken up in my spare time.

But! Back to the post at hand, the Mellow Monday! Today’s song of choice is V by Jay Park. I recently watched the YouTube docuseries about Jay Park and it really let people see Jay as a human and someone who really works hard in his career. It really outlined his struggles as an Asian American in both the American and Asian markets, and all the feats he has accomplished over this time. It also has a lot of wise words from some notable artist like Dumbfoundead, Far East Movement, Dok2, Simon Dominic, and Loco to name a few. It’s a sure fire watch for anyone interested, so I definitely suggest checking it out.

The song V for me is just a really feel good song and puts me in a good mood every time I listen to it – it gives me real summer vibes! Plus the 1 Million dance cover was immaculate, YooJung Lee and KooSung Jung did such a good job with it.

I’ll end this post now, and I’ll leave a link below for the docuseries’ trailer. I’ll post at some point this week.

Happy Bank holiday for readers in the UK, and have great weeks everyone x

Mellow Monday! City Girl

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This Mellow Monday is a little different to the others, as its a full album not one particular song. It was a tough choice choosing which album to post as I pretty much listen to all of them equally, but I settles with Neon Impasse as it was the first one I found.

I think the best way its described is a mixture of Lofi/Jazzhop/Chill music. In short – its easy listening. I normally listen to City Girl on my way to work in the morning, whilst I’m working, or when I’m blogging at home. It’s not as distracting.

I feel like I’m rambling so I’ll end this post here.

Enjoy

Mellow Monday! On Your Collarbone – Jordan Klassen

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I’ve been a bit all over the place recently. I haven’t blogged. I haven’t replied to my pen pal. I haven’t really made time for myself properly. All I’ve really been doing is spending money and drinking constantly. Probably not the healthiest thing to be doing, for both me and my bank balance, but that’s life I guess.

This week’s Mellow Monday is on the soundtrack for one of my favourite dramas, Hello My Twenties. I’m rewatching it for the second time and it’s just one of the songs that make me smile.

Here’s hoping I can fix myself up and just do some things that are more productive for my physical and mental wellbeing.

Enjoy

Mellow Monday! Diary of Jane – Breaking Benjamin

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I was looking through my blog posts and can see its 8 days shy of a year since I last posted a Mellow Monday segment. I really enjoy making these posts as I’ve been told I have an eclectic music taste because I literally listen to everything – I’m being serious when I say that, not like some people that use it as way to seem interesting. I also really like sharing with you songs I have a genuine connection with and I know I’ve been extremely lax with my posting. I’m going to switch it up a bit this year and have it as a bi-weekly Monday post in the hope it will push me to post more.

So this weeks song is Diary of Jane by Breaking Benjamin. Not a new song but something I listen to quite frequently. A friend of mine in secondary school introduced me to the band and I’ve been a fan since. I hope you enjoy this song and look into some of their other songs. I struggled between choosing this song or Dance with the Devil, another favourite of mine but settled with this one.

I have a few posts lined up too so see you then.