Six Ways I've Managed To Reduce My Monthly Outgoings

The last few months have been tough.
It may look glamorous to work from home, own your own business, be your own boss and live on the internet - but it's not easy. (no I'm not a full-time blogger.... if only haha!)

Taking knocks left, right and centre at one point really hit me hard and I kind of thought... what have I done to deserve this? I've worked my ass off since I was 15 and I'm really trying, but there is no use feeling this way - it could always be worse, I know that.

So over these months I've learnt to tightened those purse strings every so slightly and have learnt to live an adult life (aka not living a home with the 'rents) on a serious budget.
I thought maybe this post could help a few of you, maybe are in a similar position, want to pay off some debt or just looking to save some money each month!

Debt Managed - Going Interest Free!
When it comes to 'debt' I'm not in a terrible hole. I had one credit card, an overdraft, a store account, a phone contract - you know the usual. But I wanted a way to be able to save the money I was having to fork out each month to pay them off...... so I applied for a balance transfer interest free credit card. 
Surprisingly to me, I was accepted and I managed to move over the majority of my credit card sum to the new card which has 18 months 0% interest... saving me a lot of money for the next year and a half! Plus I have also paid off my store/online account too which is yet another weight off my shoulders!
If you're paying the minimum payment on your credit card and seeing near enough the same amount go on in interest each month look into the options available to you - I found Money Saving Expert really helpful for this and I use ClearScore to check my credit rating monthly which I highly recommend you do too!

Planning My Food Shops & Meals
Instead of heading to the shops 4 or 5 times a week and picking up bits and bobs I have been striving to go on a main grocery shop just once a week. I like to use my weekly planner (pictured) to breakdown what I'm going to have each day and therefore work out what I need to buy! Being boring old me I do tend to eat a lot of the same things which doesn't make shopping too difficult.... it's just a pain that eating healthy tends to cost slightly more.

Use It Up 
This kind of links to the above point. I try and look through my cupboards, fridge and freezer before planning my meals and writing any shopping lists to ensure I've using up as much as I already have as possible. 
Have you ever come home from a shop gone to put, say, a bag of pasta away only to be greeted by the exact same bag already in the cupboard? THAT is what I'm trying to avoid! 
This isn't just for food either. Beauty products have always been my downfall and I got into the routine of "it's on offer, I'll buy it", even if it was shampoo and even if I already had three open bottles half used in the shower. So it's now - "there's none left, I need to buy more." before I invest!

Bye Bye Unnecessary Direct Debits
When I get paid, before I buy anything for myself, I pay every single bill I have, minus my direct debits which go out throughout the month.
Over the last few months though I have completely cut down the amount of DD's I have flying out of my account including NowTV, Audible and annoyingly... my gym membership - these were payments that, unfortunately, weren't essential to my life and I knew I could live without them. (Netflix you were lucky.... I NEEDED PLL.... now you're on thin ice!)

The Monthly List
At the start of each month I have been writing a list of things I will, without a doubt, have to splash out on. Things like boat fares (yes I live on an island), birthday cards/presents for loved ones, if my shower gel is running low.... you get the picture! I then try get everything bought asap so I can evaluate how much money I have left for the remainder of the month!

The Money Diary
I've tried these before and given up very quickly.... but what I have going on now seems to be working - I actually remember to add to it! Each payment I make I write down, at the end of each month I can then see what purchases weren't necessary and I can avoid it the next month. I do like to try and withdraw cash to use each week though as I feel like it makes spending a lot harder, you think a lot more if you have to work out if you have enough pennies in your purse!

Got any tips? Send them my way!

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5 Things To Do Before You Head To Orlando

Why hello there my fellow Disney/Universal/Orlando lovers! I'm back once more talking all things holiday and excitement!

If you didn't know already I am heading back to my motherland in March ready for another amazing holiday full of Mickey, Harry and everything in-between!

I'm always asked so many questions when it comes to Disneyworld etc, especially from people booking their first trip or wanting to know what's best to do, wear, pack - so I thought it was about time I wrote yet another post on the magical land of Orlando and how you can make your trip that little bit easier, better and cheaper!

So, here's five things to do before you get on that plane!

1. Have a plan
As annoying is that is - it really is better to have one, even if it's a vague basic idea of what you're going to do!
If you're staying at a Disney hotel I would highly advise heading to the parks with 'Magic Hours' each day - that extra hour in the morning really is amazing for avoiding huge queues and getting on those rides maybe you wouldn't be able too in normal peak times.
When it comes to Disneyworld - booking dinners and Fastpass's is also essential! 
Again, if you're staying at a Disney resort hotel this is easy - just get the My Disney Experience app and you can book your meals 6 months in advance and your fast passes 90 days in advance! This sounds crazy but it is a must, you won't get into Be Our Guest unless your booked - I booked ours last week which was 6 months in advance and there was only 3 dinner times to choose from!

Fastpassing is also the guaranteed way to get on those busy rides and avoiding the hours and hours of queuing! You get three a day so use them wisely (Mine train, the 3 mountains, TOT and Toy Story are always super busy so make sure they are included in your choices!)

When it comes to Universal the way that works for us is starting at Islands Of Adventure, getting there about 45/30minutes before the gates open and queuing then going straight to Hogsmeade (yes... we've been known to run) - doing everything there and then working our way back down to the Marvel area before getting the train over to Universal Studios!

2. Buy your tickets
I CANNOT tell you enough to buy.your.tickets.before.you.go.
With our booking our Disneyworld tickets were included but if you are planning on staying in an apartment/villa/off Disneyworld property then you 100% need to buy your 2 week/1 week tickets before going!
This is the same with Universal - buying a 2 week pass here in the UK is SO SO much cheaper than even trying to get a two-day pass once in Orlando!
The perfect place to do this is Attraction Tickets Direct - check them out for all your ticket needs and save yourself the money and the stress of paying full price on site! 

3. Organise your transfers
This is probably an obvious one and a tiny detail but make sure your journey from landing to your new bed for the next week or two is seamless!
 If you're staying with Disney this is included with Disney's Magical Express which drops you to your hotel from the airport on a fun-filled coach BUT you do have to confirm your place on these - so make sure you have that sorted before you jet off!

4. Invest in handy bags and comfortable shoes
Probably my number one piece of advice - the right shoes and bags can make or break your trip!
For me trainers are probably my number one go-to footwear for walking round the parks all day! (and luckily they are in fashion right now!) You are on your feet alot so flip-flops, unless super comfy, can be a pain! Aswell as comfort, trainers are a little bit more secure for when you are on big rides at places like Universal... no sandals flying off half way round!
Bags are also a big thing for me when I'm away - with posing for photos, grabbing your phone and wanting you hands free at all times a handbag really isn't the one - I like to go for a cute across body bag and my boyfriend usually takes a backpack for us both to pop in extra clothes and snacks!

5. Save, save, save!
Yup, it's true you're going to need money - and if you want to have a relaxed vacation, not worrying about each and every purchase, it's always better to save too much than not enough!
Obviously seen damn Brexit the exchange rate hasn't been as fantastic as it was but maybe it will improve soon.. who knows!
On our last trip my boyfriend and I took $3000 ... yes this might seem like alot but we didn't want to have to think too much about the money we were spending! We work hard so why not?
This was $1000 each to buy/do what we wanted and also $1000 for our food, wallmart trips, dinners out etc.

I hope this has been some help to some of you - if you enjoy these Orlando/Disneyworld posts do let me know!

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Blogging Behind The Scenes : How I Make My Collages

This is a question I have been asked so many times over the last couple of years - 'how do you make those collages?"
I'm talking about my wishlists, my 'I'm Loving' posts, my 'Dress Like Disney' posts etc etc. It's always kind of hard to explain over Twitter or on Facebook so I thought what better than to do a quick and easy 'How To' blog post for you all!

First up I use picmonkey.com (my ultimate blogging weapon!). 
These posts normally don't take me too long as most of the time I get all my content prepped before I start making the collage itself.

I head to PicMonkey and to get started I click edit, choose computer and find a previous collage I have done or a good sized photo.
Once the picture had uploaded I then go straight to 'Canvas Colour' and change it to plain white (colour code ffffff) to give me a fresh base to work on.

Once this is done I click the butterfly symbol tab on the side bar which is for overlays (pictures) and then go to the top option which is 'Your Own'.

Previous to this I normally have found all the pictures that I want to be included in the collage. Depending on what sort of post I am doing depends on where I get the pictures from but I near enough always go for a picture with a plain white background as it is easier to work with and well.... they look better!
I find the picture I want online (e.g. Stitch cushion) and save it to my computer.

Once I've found the image I want when I've clicked on 'Your Own' overlay I just double click and upload it to the picture.

I carry on doing this with all my pictures for the collage and then it's time for the fun part - to re-size, organise and make them into a pretty collage.

This part is normally pretty straight forward, sometimes I just need to eraser bits here and there if photos are laying on top of each other/blocking each other.
For this all I do is click on the photo in question and choose 'Eraser' - I usually whack my eraser size up to fairly large to make things quicker and  I just get rid of that white background from the picture that I don't need or that is in the way!

Another way I get around photos blocking each other is sending them to the front or back, which is when I send the photo chosen to be bought forward and lay on top of another photo or to be send behind.

After all the fiddling around and once I'm happy with the finished result I click combine all making the collage into one solid picture.

It's then time to save! I just hit the save button at the top which then gives you options as to how you would like to save your photo.
 ALWAYS save in PNG form, this ensures that the backdrop to your photo is bright white when uploading it to your blog, normally if you save it in JPG form it is a little grey and doesn't look as good.

And..... TA DA! Here's the finished project! (Everything pictured from the Disney Store UK)

I hope you guys found this helpful, let me know in the comments below and let me know if you'd like anymore 'How To' posts!

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TIME TO SAVE : 6 Ways I'm Going To Make It Possible

Now you may have read that title and thought.... well that Kirstie is 25 now, she's getting on a bit... she's probably decided to venture into the proper adult world and is going to start saving for a mortgage - or maybe she's finally going to learn how to drive?! But I'm about to disappoint you all..... and maybe even make some of you more sensible people roll your eyes.... but - I'm totes saving for a holiday!

And not any old holiday either.... yes... fingers crossed I'm heading back to Orlando aka Disneyworld & Universal! 

I've mentioned this a 'few' times on Twitter recently and you guys have been just as excited as me!
Orlando is not cheap. 
I mean, the holiday I've looked at is a fab deal (exactly the same as last time) but it's everything that comes along with it... the spending money, the new clothes, travel to and from the airport etc, etc! So for the next year I am going to be trying to SAVE SAVE SAVE as much as I can!
I did a post like this last time I was counting down to my holiday and I thought what better a motivator than to have my plans written on here in black and white so I cannot hide from them!

6 Ways I'm Going To Save Money

1. eBay

eBay is a website I have used for years and years but over the last couple of months I've just found it it more effort and time consuming than it's worth! BUT I'm determined to get back on the selling train and get rid of all clothing and bits and bobs that are just taking up space in my flat! If I haven't worn it this year.... it's going! I'm going to try and keep all that money in Paypal - like a virtual money pot and hopefully it will start adding up without me even realising! (My eBay account)

2. Meal Planning

I waste SO much money on food.

 Living in my own place with my boyfriend I'm forever picking up things here and there without even thinking 'Do I need this?' - I mean.... how many boxes of cereal do two people need? Just because its on offer doesn't mean we need it!

 I'm going to start planning all my meals so I don't over spend or waste anything! This also goes for snacks.... I'm a sucker for picking quick bites to eat whilst on my work breaks - but even just holding back from spending that £1 or 2 each work day will add up each month! 

3. Thinking Before I Buy

This is mainly aimed at my beauty addiction. Shampoos, conditioners, lipsticks... things I have plenty of already - I don't need anymore! There is no point buying a new shower gel if I already have 3 at home or buying a new candle because it smells nice even though I just bought a one the week before! I'll be thinking before every purchase!

4. Avoiding The Evil CC

I only got a credit card for the first time last year. It was probably a mistake because now, each month I seem to use it to bail myself out of being poor - but no more I say, no more!

 I'll be paying this off over the next year - slowly but surely -it will be left at home and will go nowhere near the ASOS sale!

5. The Money Pot

These are a great way of saving money! I got the one in the photo above for Christmas from my little brother - and I love it (obviously!) I have this one and another one to help me save, save, save - once it's in not coming out! Then when it's time.... Smash! 

6. Cash vs Card

This is something I am going to put into practice from right NOW! 

I am a sucker for just using my card for anything and everything, I'm like the queen... I never carry cash! This is a savers worst trait, buying things here, there and everywhere - no matter how small the price - really adds up, and without me even noticing! 

So I'm going to try and just withdraw maybe £10 a week to keep in my purse for those little things and maybe I'll think a little more about spending it when I can physically see it right there in paper and coins!

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Mini Birthday Haul

So after lots of you said yes yes yes to me doing a birthday haul type post - here it is!

 Just thought I'd share of my photos from Saturday and a couple of the presents I was lucky enough to receive - I truly do have such incredible people around me who made my day so special!

I turned up to my friend's house to see this! Wow! Everyone knows I am a crazy Disney lover and my friends seriously knew what would make me smile! 

Banner, balloons and party food (including princess cupcakes!) - if I hadn't already done my make-up I really would have let the tears flow!

This was bought into me at midnight by my lovely boyfriend! He knew that I'd seen this cake ages ago in Tesco and really wanted it - Finest Red Velvet - and check out those candles - boy did good! YUM!

 Look how cute this is! I love this Micky & Minnie ornament so much - just got to decided where to put it now!

Birthday treat time! Wahoooo I got my nails done! I've actually hated not having them done the past few weeks - having them just make me feel 200% better about myself and so much more glamorous, especially for my night out!

 I got this gorgeous brown/taupe type colour , I really fancied a neutral shade this time round, I know I'm meant to be on a spending ban but I think this is one luxury I can't give up just yet!

Beauty addict alert! Look what I got from my boyfriend - yup... 3 gorgeous Mac lipsticks! All are shades I have wanted for ages - Impassioned, Candy Yum-Yum & Girl About Town. All pink and all gorgeous, I am obsessed! And of course there will be reviews and swatches up soon! (How could I not?!)

 By the name of my blog you may have noticed I'm a bit of a Wizard Of Oz fangirl! (And this birthday I recieved lots of W.O.O. themed presents aswell as Disney - people just know me so well!) My Mum got us tickets to see Wicked this year so this was a perfect present from her! I LOVE musicals and cannot wait to see this, it's been on my to-do list for years!

 I am an obsessive DVD hoarder - I love films! These are both movies I had seen before and loved - one was from my little brother and the other my boyfriend! These are both must-see's I love them and so glad I can watch them again whenever I want now!

I did have one of these until about a month ago- when I smashed it open to pay for my deposit for Disneyworld! 

So what a perfect present! I will be filling this up to the brim and smashing it open just before I go away - perfect way to save save save!

 Since moving out I have been loving getting bits an bobs for my flat! This is the cutest timer for the kitchen! Cath Kidston with the little pup on the top, adorable!

This was such a special present from my parents! Limited edition framed cells from the movie The Wizard Of Oz - only 700 of these were ever made and I am lucky enough to have one of them! The cells I received are brilliant aswell - such an exciting and personal present.

That's just a few of the presents I got - I had such a fab day and evening!  A great way to start my year of being 24!

If you want to see more then let me know as I have lots of other things to share but if you don't like this sort of post then let me know aswell :)

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Blog Sale

As we all know I am on a spending ban! No more spontaneous buying, getting things I already have hundreds of and things I don't really need! Nope - I am a changed woman... for now! 
Aswell as cutting back on my spending I have decided to have a clearout.
Products, make-up, clothes, shoes - you name it, I am being harsh and brutal and getting rid of the stuff I really don't need,use or wear!

So I thought doing a blog sale would be a great idea - some of this stuff I have never used or only used onceor twice so why would I throw it away when it could do alot of good somewhere else!
I decided to pop my beauty bits on here as a blog sale and then all the clothing will eventually be put onto eBay! Saving money is my aim for this year - I have a holiday to think about!
These items, I have just never used, don't get one with, don't need or have them more than once!

All payments will be through Paypal as it is safe and easy for everyone involved and each product will have an individual p&p price with weight and size being taken into consideration included - so the price you see if the price you pay.

If you are interested in any of these items please e-mail me at : ayellowbrickblog@hotmail.com with "BLOG SALE" as the subject and I will get back to you as soon as possible to organise payment and shipping!

Soap & Glory Peaches and Clean - Brand New : £6 (RRP £8)

No7 Soft & Soothed Gentle Toner  200ml - Brand New : £5 (RRP £8)

No7 Beautiful Skin Radiance Exfoliator Normal/Dry Skin 75ml - Brand New : £5 (RRP £8.50)

Creative Comb-In Hair Colour (Green) - Brand New : £2  (RRP £3)

VO5 Smoothly Does It Frizz Free Cream - Used Once : £3  (RRP £3.89)

Goody Ouchless 27 Hairbands Thick Black - Brand New : £2.50  (RRP  £3.49)

Sanctuary Cocooning Body Butter 200ml -Used Once : £7 (RRP £10.25)
One Direction Our Moment Body Lotion 150ml - Brand New : £7 (RRP £12)
Champneys Spa Treatments Watermint Body Scrub 200ml - Brand New : £3.75 (RRP £6)

Soap & Glory Hand Food 125ml - Brand New : £3.50 (RRP £5)

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Instant Tan Medium Matte - Brand New : £4 (RRP £5.99)

Witch Gentle Exfoliating Face Wash - Brand New : £3 (RRP £3.49)

Revlon Colourstay 16 Hour Eyeshadow Quad 535 Siren - Brand New : £5 (RRP £7.99)

Bourjois Smokey Eyes Eye Shadow 16 gris party -Brand New : £4 (RRP £7.99)

Eyeko Skinny Mini Liquid Eyeliner - Brand New : £3.50 (RRP. approx £6)

St Tropez Shimmer Brick Bronzer - Used Twice : £6 (RRP £7.50)

Soap & Glory Feel Good Factor Translucent BB Cream - Used Once : £7.50 (RRP £12)

Revlon Colourstay Lip Butter 005 Sugar Frosting - Brand New : £4 (RRP £7.99)

2 x Seventeen Brow's That Brow Kit - Both Brand New : £3 each (ONE LEFT)

Soap & Glory Beauty Sleep Accelerator Night & Flight Moisture Miracle Cream - Used Twice : £8 (RRP £13)

FCUK Eye Shadow Palette - Brand New : £7.50 (RRP £12)

Seventeen Stay Time Long Wear Primer - Used Twice : £3 (RRP £5.49)

Seventeen Photo Flawless Primer - Brand New : £3 (RRP £4.99)

Palmers Natural Bronze Body Lotion - Used once : £4 (RRP £5.35) 

2  x Soap & Glory Glad Hair Day Intensive Conditioner - Brand New : £3 each - Both for £5

Dove Visible Effects Hand Cream 75ml - Brand New : £2.50 (RRP £3.70)

Nivea Hand Cream Smooth Nourishing 100ml - Brand New : £2.50 (RRP £3.16)

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Cracked Heel Foot Cream 40ml - Brand New : £3.25 (RRP £6.15)

Liz Earle Intensive Nourishing Treatment Mask (Mini) , Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask (Mini) & Liz Earle Orange Flower Hand Wash (Mini) - All 3 for £10

Soap & Glory Thick and Fast Mascara Black - Brand New : £5 (RRP £10)

Lee Stafford Argan Oil - Used Twice : £7.50 (RRP £11.99)

Bumble & Bumble Thickening Hairspray 50ml - Brand New : £5 (RRP £7.50)