A Savings Challenge...Continued

Hello to all You Lovely Budgeters, Savers, Scrimpers and People living and loving Frugality.


Lets be Blog Friends and share our smart savings as well as what our savings are spent on in lots of lovely pictures. Here is an update on the £2012 in 2012 ish Challenge!


I have completed the Excel Sheets so everyone can join the fun of saving, it will do the Mathematics for you  as you enter your savings, the only thing you have to do is add as you save in specific monthly categories...
Say I have £20 and want to add another £20 to that month in that category, I click and write in £40 instead.. Got it?

Savings can come from all sorts of sources and this is NOT to collate all your savings into an account but more to keep track of savings you make. If you are saving a portion of your income for a holiday, it counts. If you save a bit of money using a coupon, it counts. If you find some money and put it in a jar for a rainy day, it counts. If you answer surveys online for vouchers and gifts, it counts. You really cannot go wrong. If you spend your savings on something like a holiday it still stays in your savings calender but I want a lovely picture of what you saw put on your blog, so everyone can see the benefit of saving.



Savings Spread Sheet £££                      
Savings Spread Sheet $$$



Click from the links above to your choice savings currency to open the online spreadsheet. Click 'File'.

Scroll down to 'Download As' to make sure it is compatible with your computer, select the relevant option and Save it on your desktop!

If anyone knows of a quicker way to set a document download from a Blog let me know how to do it maybe? This will do for now, technology can be a pain.


On the spreadsheet is included a list of ideas of where the savings can come from. Let me know if you are joining the challenge so I can put a link in each money saving post I write to posts about your savings adventure. 


Lets get saving!

A Savings Challenge...

Hey!


So if you read my previous post about budgeting and a savings plan I did a bit of research and came across a little gem on the Money Saving Expert Forum. There was a thread about saving £2012 in 2012 and I am going to take the challenge, if a little late in the year but see it through to July 2013. I have made myself a little spreadsheet that I am going to share on here for anyone who wishes to save too. Obviously let me know if you are joining the Challenge in a comment, we all need a bit of support now and then. I won't be joining in on the forum mentioned as it all seems a bit messy but my spreadsheet should help me keep tabs on my own financial journey into savings. 

I will attempt a weekly post about my saving week every Sunday and like in that sitcom Two Broke Girl$ my total so far will be included. 


Anyone else up for the Challenge? I would like to all you bloggers who want to take part to let me know so I can check your blogs for regular updates on how you make your savings too. I will post recurring blog links to yours in my Sunday posts to make sure I can get to you easily. I will also make an attempt at a cute little button to share for ease.


I will finish the blank spreadsheets tomorrow in both ££ and $$ then upload them on to this post.


£2012 in 2012 ish. Yay!


Happy Saving,

Lets Talk Money

I am currently in the process of writing a guest post for Pretty Providence about budgeting for their 'Money Talks' section, so lets talk money!


Inspired by Jessica and Sarah I realised I was crazy not to have posted previously about how I live on a budget and you could too! I am not embarrassed to talk about money and would like to share with others just how I manage my finances, I think people that manage on little are an inspiration (that is how my parents started out and my main inspiration/influence), in fact talking about great savings and how you save can be a real confidence booster. 


My parents no longer live on such a tight budget as all us kids have moved out but Mum still loves a bargain and LOVES telling us about it. After a few young years of being dragged to boot fairs it got to the point where I actually pestered my parents to go and often tagged along with a friend and her parents if mine were too busy that weekend. It has also turned out that I am extra pleased with gifts if I am told they were a bargain, I know, I know, I shouldn't be told how much a gift costs but it is a bizarre pleasure I have to know that the giver got me something for a good price. The OH most definitely gets kudos points for this as I am proud of him for it. Sounds a bit patronising but it isn't something he often thinks about.


I am not saying you shouldn't spend and get what you want but if you learn to compromise, the things you can get instead make up for it. For example a family holiday creating lasting memories because you spent all year spending £25 less a week by not buying brand name food. Saving from small things amounts to bigger savings and better money choices in the long run and also that smug self accomplishment you feel when you reach a savings goal is brilliant.


Here is an example of lasting memories...This is me in South Africa (with the pink hair and black top sitting at the front in the shade) where we all had to save £3'000 each over two years working with World Challenge to trek in SA and also do some voluntary work at a School that ours had pen pal connections with. There were 30 of us (divided into two groups) and aside from the money to take ourselves there we also worked as a team to raise another £10'000 for the school project (pictured below with the Head Teacher and the organising teacher  who was also an African Prince!)

In the hope that I can inspire someone else to save in small ways and stretch money just a bit further so that saving for something special is a possibility, I am going to attempt a few weekly posts including coupons and discounts, how to's, deals, helpful website reviews, and other tips and ideas of course including cheap crafts. I am based in England so some things may not be as readily available for some readers likewise I do not get the great coupon discounts I see on the 'extreme couponing' programme I watch occasionally and seethe with jealousy at a free shop. To read more about World Challenge CLICK! They are no longer my go to for volunteering abroad but they suited our needs at the time.


So after trawling through my massive explanation I am going to have a think whilst I finish up my post for Pretty Providence and get back to you on my savings plans. Also now you have endured this go and see them, they are fabulous and frugal. Hooray!


Happy Saving!

Glass Pebble Love

A while ago I pinned a really cute project onto my craft board from Claire at Craft Addiction and I FINALLY got my hands on some clear glass pebbles for cheap; 89p for a whole bag. I bought two bags of clear, one of green and two different blues I was so excited by them...

It was an amazing find, and I have plans for the other colourful ones as well as being open to ideas for the clear ones I haven't used yet! Basically Claire, aka Canadian Blonde had the genius idea of making them glittery and boy am I sucker for glitter. My other half often refers to me as different birds, the two I get most regularly are 'You're not exactly a homing pigeon huh Kayleigh?' when I get lost frequently and call him asking to Google map my location and direct me. The other is 'YOU are a magpie' when it of course comes to sparkly things...


So I grabbed my PVA glue, glitter and pebbles and had a sudden inspiration realising I could do something else with them. My sister gets books from working for Easyjet (people read the book and leave it on the return flight when they are finished!) most of which are trashy holiday novels with sappy endings. We read them and the good ones I donate to a charity shop in Liverpool that give free books away to stop them getting pulped. Then oddly, I sacrifice the other books to my crafting obsession.


So here are the tools:

It is so simple you don't need a step by step but just in case refer to Claire!


Polish the pebbles so they are clear and shiny. Some will stay a little tarnished but that is the price I pay getting them so cheap!

Then laying them curved side down, put down a layer of PVA followed by a tonne of glitter. When dry, add another blob of PVA to seal it! 


And as for the book inspiration I had, cut around a word you like so it is kind of pebble shaped (trashy love novels with happy endings have the best words) and do the glue, page, glue layering.


So this is how I started.

I loved how the word pebble turned out I made one or two more...

I think the word pebbles are great for mantras or giving to your friends and family as a compliment or mini loving gift to brighten their day. I have a few project ideas for the pebbles, for now they can sit in this cute little tea cup as a tea light holder.

Though I am thinking rings, brooches, edging my mirror, magnets (of course), maybe even a mosaic, but the 'with love' one is reserved for a special gift!


Happy Crafting!

Are You Worrying?

I saw this on my facebook feed today and it made me really happy. After an hour call with my best friend in major panic mode after finishing her Psychology degree and having no clue what to do with her working life whilst struggling to get interviews for just about anything she needs this... Its a Buddhist rule about worrying.

Basically; Don't.

"If it can be fixed; why worry?

If it can’t be fixed, what’s the point of worrying?"

Thanks Shantideva and elephantjournal for the enlightenment today.

Easy Paper Bunting

I finally made some paper bunting for my drab looking university room. Turns out it takes less than an hour and is SO easy!


I got pretty paper from a gifted magazine from my house mates Mum who is craft crazy too.

I had a tonne of pretty paper but thought the freebies with simply homemade should be put to use.

So I collected the paper I wanted to use (its a nice thick paper) from my stash and also got my pretty tape the same friend bought me in Japan.

With scrap paper I cut out a template of a large elongated 'bunting flag' shaped triangle with a slim rectangle included above it, trimming until I was happy with the size. 

Tracing it onto one sheet of paper I then grabbed a handful and some very sharp paper scissors to bulk cut them out. EASY!

Using my pretty tape I taped along the slim rectangles at the top of each flag...

Joining them as I went. This was the only only tricky part as the tape likes to stick to EVERYTHING and you have to double it up behind the flag to ensure it is a strong hold whilst aligning the tape and un-sticking it from everything.Also leave a little at each end for hanging/pinning.

Then hang it! 

See, easy and pretty :) Oh and a sneaky look at my 5 ft map too.

Happy Crafting.

Fathers Day

So being at university in Liverpool and working over the summer means I have to post my Fathers day card to other side of the country and make do with seeing my family in a months time when I can afford the trip home and time off. I have been struggling to find the card perfect for my Daddy and in the end decided to make one. I don't think he reads my blog so thought I would share it with you all.


Now being the youngest of three I consider myself quite spoilt my Daddy does everything he can to help me achieve what I want through his care, love and the 'youngest child support' I get... I hate to say that I am not a self sufficient grown up yet whilst studying my degree and I cannot wait to one day repay my parents all their kindness (I don't think they will accept actual money, it isn't their style). 


Through travelling to South Africa for a month where I was hospitalised; he was ready to jump on a plane to rescue me (it really wasn't as serious as google claimed, so him reassured, I finished the trekking and charity work I was there for), when I quit my first University course whilst working in America to travel he remained supportive. I also moved five hours away from home to study Art History after that. He knows it makes me happy so he accepts I am where I have to be even though he would rather I was closer to home. I know that when it comes to getting a house, opening my own gallery, and when I have children that he will be there too.  I am headstrong, erratic, impulsive, VERY trying and a big dreamer; it takes a lot of patience and restraint having me as a child and I love him for managing so well.


But anyway here is the card I posted today, I hope he likes it. With about 4 stamps as I fear the wrath of the Royal Mail for not paying enough in postage...


I chose this paper of a parent giraffe and a baby giraffe, I like knowing at 22 I am still his little girl.

Then I got some white card, some pretty paper for inside and some paper cut hearts to disguise my scruffy gluing as I had a bit of an argument with the pritt stick. 

Fold and cut as required. I made a really awkward shaped card so wrapped it in book pages to post it! 

And this is the inside, its a bit crinkled from the glue drying in the picture and I got a bit glitter happy, I love glitter and sequins falling into peoples laps when they open my cards.

OH! If you just want to make a shop bought card more personal try adding pretty paper inside or/and a ribbon/ ribbon-rope around  the middle like a little book.

 I wish I had put my blog link into the card now so he can see how much he means to me and how much I appreciate everything he and my Mum do for me.

I think the moments I most look forward to are him walking me down the aisle one day, and the Father/Daughter dance we will have that day. I know I will cry. A lot.

Bargain Hunting - ReLoved Boot Fair Finds.

Time for a mini recap to show why I love boot fairs.


So after a few mornings at boot fairs, these lovely finds and a winter of rain and frost, I have a few pictures of how my purchases are being put to use in our university house. There are also little tutorials for one or two of them in previous posts; linked of course.

I picked up some chalk in a home bargains for 69p especially for these babies (two packs of white, two of pretty colours AND a mini chalkboard eraser that makes me want to now get a chalkboard for the kitchen too!) The boyfriend got at a jar I had nothing for yet...These are chalkboard stickers but a bit of chalkboard paint in a nice shape on any jar would work!

These candle holders are for outside as the wax will get very messy. They were rusting somewhat so I took them apart, sanded off the rust and got spray paint happy with silver paint. I used spray paint that is for cars... Mainly because it was in the shed, free from dads work and also it helps that it will be weather proof!

These 'Victorian' lampshades are now garden tea light holders thanks to some garden wire, pliers and simple when doing but complicated sounding instructions. TUTORIAL

And I used the fruit bowl as a planter for a miniature garden in our concrete jungle yard, in hindsight I wish I have drilled holes into it as it now has pond life...

I am looking forward to a few more boot fairs this season.

Happy Summer!

Twitter

So I finally got me a Twitter account! 


Gotta get used to these hash tag things but hopefully once I get the hang of it I can be posting all sorts: creative and inspiring images, upcoming arty and crafty events I know of / am desperate to go to / am attending, useful and inspiring crafty links and blog updates too! How exciting.


If you are on Twitter follow me! If you use it for arty and crafty things I will follow you back :)


Happy Tweeting!

Wait, They Don't Love You Like I Love You...Maps.

I know I am not the only one with a map obsession out there...

Fashion and Accessories
































































For the home...

Printables! 

(Download the two above from 'i do' it yourself for the proper file!)








And for on your travels...






(Go to the website for the download as they're much bigger files!)





And lastly, some more creative map love...

Sorry if your browser took ages to load all of these or froze from shock.

Either way I am sure it was worth it. 

I bought some old maps in a second hand bookshop yesterday and I can't wait to get creative.