HOW TO MINIMISE SPENDING & SAVE MORE EFFECTIVELY

I'm very new to saving money and spending less. If you've been following my journey on Instagram or blog you'll already know that I'm not shy when it comes to spending money. In fact, I spend more than I earn - or at least I used to.
I kept a spending diary for a year which made me realise that I was spending way too much on things that I did not need. Did I need an extra coat this season? No. Did I buy one? Yes, I did.
After carefully calculating how much money I spend on unnecessary items I have decided that enough is enough and that I will minimise my spending to only things that I actually need.

As I work in the beauty industry I do get a fair amount of discount across many brands (most which I use). Occasionally, I receive free items from the brand that I work for as well as PR packages from some of my favourite brands. This puts me at an advantage to minimise my spending as I have heaps and heaps of makeup and skincare products laying around my house! So far, I haven't spent any money on makeup or skincare this year so I'm going strong 💪🏻

So far I have spent around £100 on necessities such as new tights, work uniform, toiletries etc. I have a holiday coming up and I have been very tempted to order new clothes specifically for the holiday - but why do I feel like I need a whole new wardrobe for a few days away? Instead, I have listed a lot of my old clothes that I haven't worn in a while online and whatever money I get from selling them I will allow myself to buy something new. My only rule is that if I really really want something, then I will treat myself to it as I do believe that we should award ourselves with nice things for working hard.

These are some of the things that I have done and that you can do to help you get better with money:
-> Open a savings account
-> Create a 'Save the Change' account
-> Declutter monthly - try and sell unwanted items
-> Cancel memberships you don't use/need
-> Recycle your old outfits
-> Use recycling programs to get free products - e.g. Back to Mac or Origins Recycling Program
-> Get insurance from Compare the Market to receive 2 for 1 cinema ticket and meal offers
-> Stock up on products you need when there are offers

I'm still learning how to become the best version of myself and to save up effectively. I want to have a constantly growing income, so I've started reading The Richest Man in Babylon. It's quite hard to read but the lessons it will teach you are very important.

Another thing I have started doing is buying multipacks of drinks, chocolate bars and crisps and keeping them in my locker at work. I don't always bring a packed lunch with me so this is a great way of trying not to overspend in shops when I'm hungry. On average I would spend around £5 on my lunch if I didn't bring one with me but now that I have snacks in my locker I will only spend £1.50 on a sandwich from the nearest supermarket. Still, the best option would be to make a packed lunch every day (it's best to use slow energy releasing carbohydrates as then you'll remain fuller for longer, but that's a lesson for another day haha 😂).

I hope you've enjoyed reading this post. Let me know in the comments section if there's anything you can relate to from this post 🥰

Do you have any tips on how to save money? Comment them down below for others to see! 

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FASHION || HOW TO STYLE A LACE BODYSUIT FT FEMMELUXE - AD

* This post contains gifted items. 

As some of you already know, I’m working with Femme Luxe on a gifted basis which means that I receive some items from them for free in exchange for a blog & Instagram post.

In my most recent order, I have picked this gorgeous Black Lace Long Sleeve Plunge Bodysuit and I couldn’t wait to wear it. I’ve paired it up with a white Primark ribbed high neck t-shirt, Primark mom jeans and Gucci belt. I’m not brave enough to wear this out on its own and I love the layered look in Winter.

The quality of this bodysuit is good, it also fits really well. If you wanted to wear it on its own then I would suggest getting nipple covers or wearing a bra underneath. I did find that it was slightly too small for me in the cup area so I'd suggest to size up if you have bigger boobs. It is also super high cut so is very flattering around the hip & waist area!

This bodysuit only comes in black, however Femme Luxe have a variety of gorgeous lace bodysuits in different styles and colours which you can find here.

*This bodysuit was gifted but the post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2019 || BEAUTY LOVERS' GIFT GUIDE FOR ALL AGES - WHAT TO GIFT A BEAUTY JUNKIE

*This post contains a PR press sample and affiliate links.

Being such a big fan of anything beauty related, I feel like I could be seen as a trusty source when looking for Christmas presents.

The Ordinary has been a brand that I've been wanting to try for a while but never quite got round to researching the right products for my skin type. Some of the products I have bought are 100% Plant-Derived Hemi-Squalane, Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%, and High-Adherence Silicone Primer. The first and third products are great for all skin types, especially for those that are looking for a radiant complexion look. The second item is best for acne-prone skin as it helps to unclog pores and clear the skin from bacteria. It is one of my favourite skincare products I've ever tried. 

Eye Majic World's First Instant Eyeshadow (PR Press Sample) is a press on eyeshadow, giving an instant colourful look on the eye. This product is available in 24 shades, so you won't feel limited to just one eye look. I think these are great for those who don't have much time to get ready in the mornings but want to add a bit of colour to their daily makeup look. Eye Majic is also very hygienic (one-use product), cruelty-free, paraben-free and recyclable which makes it the perfect product for everyone! It retails at £5.99 for 5 applicators or £19.99 for 20. You can find Eye Majic Press On Shadows here.

Lancome has to be a mum's favourite brand, doesn't it? My mum was the person that introduced me to the brand, and even though it might be seen as an "older lady's brand" it definitely has some amazing products for all skin types and ages. The best, and probably the priciest, range from Lancome is Absolue Premium. The ones you can see in the picture are the day cream and the night cream, and I have received them as part of Lancome's Gift with Purchase. These make great gifts to those who are looking for anti-ageing products or really like the brand.

Another great choice for gifting a beauty lover is anything from Morphe. I bought the 25B Bronzed Mocha and 25D Oh Boy palettes to give to my sister this year as they were amazing value at only £12 when I bought them! Whether you're shopping for someone who has "too much makeup" or doesn't wear much eyeshadow, I feel like you can't go wrong with a basic neutral eyeshadow palette especially at such an amazing price.

I hope you can take some inspiration from my post next time you look for Christmas presents for a beauty lover in your life!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

FOOD || SPICED ORANGE HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPE (AD)

*This post is sponsored and includes a gifted product.

I'm probably the biggest fan of chocolate and spice at the same time haha. I can't go a day without having something sweet as a treat, but I also have to have some sort of spice in my meals too so I thought why not combine the two? So I came up with my own little twist on a regular orange hot chocolate which I hope you will love as much as I do.

You will need:
Hot chocolate powder
Orange zest or essence
Ground cinnamon (I use Schwartz)
Milk of your choice

Method:

1. Measure out a mug (or two if you are treating someone else) of milk and pour it into a pan. Heat up the milk on slow heat and gently bring to boil.

2. While the milk is heating up, grate a tablespoon worth of orange zest (around half an orange) and add into the pan. You can add half a teaspoon of orange essence into the milk instead if you don't have any fresh oranges available.

3. Add 3 heaped teaspoons of the hot chocolate powder and half a teaspoon of cinnamon into the boiling milk and turn down the heat.

4. Stir the mixture constantly until it is fully heated. I like my hot chocolate very hot to warm up in winter so I usually keep it on the heat for 5 minutes after boiling.

5. Pour half the drink into your favourite mug and add any extras you desire. I usually add a generous helping of whipped cream and marshmallows with orange zest and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Tip: If you are using fresh orange zest and don't like pulp-like texture then make sure you strain the mixture through a sieve before serving to ensure your hot drink is smooth.

This is my favourite hot drink to have during Winter. I find that it warms me up from the very first sip I take, but it's also quite filling so makes a great dessert or breakfast for all chocolate lovers.

As this post is a collaboration with Schwartz, I wanted to clarify that I buy all of my seasonings from this brand anyway. I believe that Schwartz offers the best quality and variety of herbs and spices on the market. You can purchase the Schwartz Ground Cinnamon spice that I have used in my recipe here.

*This post is sponsored and includes a gifted product, however, all my opinions are genuine and my own. This post does not include affiliate links.

What is your favourite Wintery drink? Have you ever made a spiced orange hot chocolate? Let me know if you're going to try my recipe!

Lots of love,

Maya xo

BLOGMAS 2019 || GIFT GUIDE FOR MEN

Every year I struggle with finding what to get for my partner, my dad and my brother for Christmas (and birthdays). I always want it to be a thoughtful yet practical present that they will like, and nothing rubbish they will open and force a smile at.

This year I have put together a modern gift guide for the men in your life based on their interests and different budgets. I have decided to go for 5 different interests: gamer, sports fan, animal lover, musician and outgoer. I know that I can pick at least one item from every list for my boyfriend, dad AND brother and they are all different ages starting from 11. If I can find something for my loved ones, then I'm sure you can too!


1. GIFTS FOR A GAMER:

- The newest Xbox/PlayStation console
- Nintendo Switch
- Personalised controller - Scuf or ControllerModz
- T-shirt of their favourite character from a game


2. GIFTS FOR A MUSIC LOVER:

- Favourite band t-shirt
- An instrument
- Tickets to see their favourite singer/band
- A microphone and audio set


3. GIFTS FOR A SPORTS FAN:

- Men's tracksuit set
- Trainers
- Tickets to see their favourite sports club
- Favourite sports club t-shirt


4. GIFTS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS:

- An online animal adoption (to help save endangered species)
- Donating money to an animal shelter in their name
- Possibly adopt a pet from a shelter (if they can really look after it)
- A onesie representing their favourite animal


5. GIFTS FOR OUTGOERS:

- Cinema gift card
- Restaurant gift card
- A weekend away
- An escape room experience

Is there anything else you'd add to this list? I hope it helps with finding the best gift for the men in your life!

*This post is sponsored but all opinions are honest and my own.

Lots of love,

Maya xo