How to ... Budget For Happiness

Hello Friends !

How are you ? I hope you're happy because everybody deserves to be happy. Unfortunately from time to time when money gets tight it can be a lil bit difficult to budget in a way that allows you to pay for the things that help keep you smiling. Especially when you're a student struggling along on very little money and a lot of stress from studying which is NOT a good combination. However, recently I've been working with Earnest.com to learn about ways you can control your money. They have a new system that allows graduates to refinance their student loans to fit their post-college life, with the ability to skip or change your monthly payment. It got me thinking about ways I can break down all this complicated money malarkey into five key areas that I'm going to explain in simple, no fuss terms so that YOU can budget for the happiness you deserve.

I like to divide my monthly wages into four. This allows me to see what I have to spend each week and makes it harder for me to lose track of my budgeting and over spend. I then split the weeks money between five key areas for happiness.

Nutrition

Without the nutrients that your body needs then how will you be able to feel happy and healthy in the most important part of your body, your mind. Spend some time planning out healthy meals filled with plants and whole grains that won't cost the earth. A healthy diet can fit to any budget. Buying frozen vegetables is a great way to bulk up any meal and adds a delicious twist for a low price ! You can even reduce the price of your favourite meals by removing expensive meats. For example switching the mince beef in chili con carne for extra kidney beans and some quinoa ! Alternatively, you can switch your expensive super food smoothies for the fresh homemade kind or even the healthiest drink of all, water!

Fitness

Keeping with the theme of  Healthy Body = Healthy Mind and it's important to keep yourself fit ! There are lots of ways to do this. Some budgets will allow for gym memberships, if so then makes sure that you shop around for the best membership deals. Think about inclusive exercise classes, good equipment, Is it in walking distance ? I always look for a gym that I can walk to because that walk acts as a warm up for my session ! However if a gym is a little out of your price range there are lots of alternatives. How about taking up yoga. You could go to weekly classes or if that's not fee-sable then how about using YouTube videos to help you to learn, for example Yoga With Adriene.

Treating Yourself

Every now and then it's important that you treat yourself to a little present to remind yourself of how special you are. It doesn't need to be something big, perhaps a little nail varnish or a bar of chocolate for a little pick me up ! You could even save up your extra money over the month to buy yourself something bigger like some new hair straighteners or a nutri-bullet !

You Time

There is very little more important than spending time with yourself, it's essential for learning who you are, who you'd like to be and how you're going to get there. There are lots of ways to spend time with yourself. You can simply curl up with fairy lights and a good book or if you have a little more money, what about a spa day? There's no better way to relax than a lovely massage or a facial. It's the perfect reminder of how wonderful you are and how much you deserve happiness.

Time With Friends And Family

However important it is to spend time learning to be grateful to yourself, it is also important to spend time with your loved ones. Sometimes, especially as a student you can begin to feel very isolated when you feel that you don't have enough money to go out and socialize with your friends and family . But there's no need ! If you have a slightly higher income then how about a trip to the cinema with student discount and pre-bought snacks from the supermarket. If you have a lower income then don't despair, put together a picnic and take your family to the park to enjoy it ! It a lovely day out and think of all the fun the younger members of your family will have !

How do you budget for happiness ? I'd love to hear from you in the comments ! If you found this post helpful and would like some more ideas then head over to the Earnest Blog for lots of brilliant ways to take charge of your spending habits and continue to live a happy and fulfilled life

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) Stay In Budget

Lots of love, Marianne xxx

P.s. I wrote this post in collaboration with Earnest.com but all opinions are my own.

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Five Essential APPS For New Bloggers

Hello Lovely People ! 

I've been blogging now for around two years and although it is hard work it is also incredibly rewarding and I absolutely love helping all of you lovely people to find the silver linings in your lives. I loved blogging from the very beginning but despite this, there are definitely a few apps that I would have been very grateful for when I first started out ! So today, I thought I'd share some of those with you .

Blogger ( Or the App of whichever platform you use ) - Free

Although this is rather an obvious one, this is great especially when you first start blogging and are not used to sticking to a posting schedule. When I first started out I used blogger to post when I remembered on the bus home that I'd completely forgotten to post. It's a great way to keep on track and I also use it to check that my blog is running well on mobiles.

Buffer - Free ( In app purchases )

Buffer allows you to write social media updates in advance and set them to post at a particular time ! This app is a life saver and I still use it now. Every morning on the bus to college I write three tweets to go online throughout the day and then I don't have to worry about it !

Google Keep - Free

I only recently discovered Google Keep.You can write colour coded notes or lists that are presented in the style of post it notes. It's perfect for writing down all your wonderful blog ideas on the go . But what makes it really special is that when you log into your google account on your computer then you can open the notes there which makes it much easier to transfer your notes into blog posts.

Rhonna Designs - £.1.49 

Rhonna Designs is the only bought app on my phone but it is more than worth the tiny price. You can use their pretty backgrounds or your own photos and add words in a wide range of text styles and adorable stickers. I use this app for every blog post I write and wouldn't swap it for anything.

Outlook - Free

When you become a blogger you become obsessed with checking your emails ( Well... at least I am... please tell me I'm not the only one ) and it's so important to be able to access them quickly in order to give efficient replies to both your audience and anybody who is contacting you to work with you. I honestly don't know where I'd be without my emails on my phone, I'd never get back to anybody.

What apps do you wish that you had when you first started out blogging ? Have you tried any of the ones I've mentioned? What's your number one app ? I would LOVE to hear from you in the comments so that we can all learn from each other!

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) 

lots of love, Marianne xxx

Bake Someone a Cake | Random Acts Of Kindness

Who doesn't love a delicious, homemade cake ?

When you're feeling down, a thoughtful gesture from a friend can mean the absolute world. I personally think that when somebody goes to effort of taking the time to make it themselves, means even more. I while a go one of my friends was feeling a bit rubbish, not for any particular reason but we all have those days. So to cheer her up I made her some white chocolate cupcakes and she was so grateful it made my heart melt :) It doesn't even have to be a cake ! You could make a batch of cookies, brownies, or fudge. There are loads of things that would easily make someone's day and would only take you half an hour !

This week, try and make something nice for a friend who's going through a rough time, feeling down or just needs to know how loved and appreciated they are !

Let me know in the comments some of your ideas of things to make to cheer up a friend or tell me about a time somebody has made you something that got you smiling again :)

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) 

Lots of love, Marianne xxx

Essential Autumn Staples

Hello Friends ! 

Autumn is my and my girlfriends favorite month ! We love the cold nights, cuddles, hot chocolates, conker collecting .. well .. actually we love EVERYTHING about Autumn. Some may say we're obsessed ! So today I've decided to put together a collection of my autumn staples and I can't wait to hear about yours in the comments !

Fashion 

You simply cannot go through Autumn without at least three essential shades of nail varnish . Everyone needs a burgundy, a gold shimmer and a navy ! Well .. I do anyway hehe, what shades do you love in Autumn? Let me know in the comments !

Boots are one particularly important staple , especially in good old rainy Britain ! There are cute boots everywhere at the minute and as exciting as it is, it's incredibly bad news for my purse . However possibly the most important thing as the colder months move in is a snuggly autumn jumper ! Nothing feels better than snuggling up on the sofa in a jumper and leggings and a lovely hot chocolate.

Hair And Make UP

If you are a regular reader then you'll know that I never leave the house without glitter in my hair . I personally love to use The Body Shops "The Sparkler"  or as I call it " Glitter Puff" because it's the most adorable little vintage style perfume bottle and with one squeeze a beautiful puff of glitter is covering your hair and what's not great about that ?

Personally, one of my favorite things about Autumn is changing up my make up. Bringing in those gorgeous golds and beautiful berry colors is the best part of the year ! My personal favorites that I'm wearing Rimmel Glam Eyes Golds palette eye shadows that give the most beautiful and well pigmented shimmery effects you could imagine. Meanwhile my go to Autumn lippy is the Rimmel Drop Of Sherry !

Home Decor 

In Autumn, one of the most simple pleasures can be to cuddle up in your room with your good friend Netflix. I love to make my room feel Autumnal. In ASDA they super some ADORABLE duvets with hedgehogs and foxes on and all sorts of sweet snow scenes :) I also love to add a few burgundy pillows to the bed to cosy everything up and of course, fairy lights.

What's your favorite season ? How do you get in the autumn spirit ? I'd love to hear all of your wonderful thoughts in the comments !

Stay Strong <3 Stay Smiley :) 

Lots of love, Marianne xxx