My ASOS Autumn Sale Picks

Does anyone else find the ASOS sale addictive? I swear I could spend half the day browsing and searching the bargains on there!

As the exciting Autumn sale is now LIVE I thought I would share with you all some of my top picks that are waiting patiently in my saved items.... my bank is telling me no... but my wardrobe is telling me GO! #HELP

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!

Want to chat or see more? Find me below :

Twitter - @alohakirstie

Instagram - @alohakirstie

Facebook - /AlohaKirstie

A/W16 Wardrobe Wishlist

My favourite time of year is here again!
Yes, it's time to reach for the gloves, over-do it with the knitwear and purchase 132 pairs of black boots that are ever so slightly different from one another... because, why not?

I LOVE Autumn and Winter - mainly due to the fashion, I love wrapping up in a million layers and popping on a favourite pair of boots!

Fashion this year is on point so I thought I'd share with you lovely lot the bits I'm ordering, popping into my saved items/wishlist and pretty much just drooling over! #prayformybankaccount 

Festival Fever Fashion

IT'S FESTIVAL SEASON...... and I just love Festival Fashion - check out the below for some top picks of mine!

What Festivals are you all going to this year?

5 Things I Cannot Live Without In My Cupboards

I don't know about you guys but when it comes to other people's shopping - I am so nosy.

I LOVE seeing what everyone else is buying and what everyone eats - haha.... the weirdest of the internet right?
So today I'm talking about the 5 items I cannot live without! The 5 things that are always in my shopping trolley and are essential to my week!

1. Green Tea
This has to be #1. I am an avid green tea drinker - I literally think I have a problem ... and now I work in an office full of other green tea drinkers my daily intake seems to have doubled! 
I love the stuff AND it's good for you, win-win! (Top tip : if you don't like normal green tea .... try the new gingerbread version from Twinings #amazing)

2. Peanut Butter
What an essential! The greatest of all the spreads  I'd say (although Marmite is a beauty.)
I have peanut butter on ...everything. It's such a winner when it comes to my sweet-tooth cravings (which hit daily). My favourite snacks are a granny smith apple with peanut butter and oatcakes with peanut butter.
When it comes to crunchy or smooth.... I'd have to go for crunchy but I do buy smooth aswell - I like to have options okay!

3. Eat Natural Bars
Over the last 6 months I have become completely and utterly obsessed with these and have one daily without fail! With trying to cut down on sugar and eat cleaner these have been the perfect replacement for any chocolate/cakes I seemed to have been downing before. With everything in the ingredients list clean and readable (none of those crazy additives that you can't pronounce) I never feel bad treating myself to one of these and they keep me going!

4. Porridge Sachets
Yes this is lazy. I know I could just buy a bag of oats and what-not but I love these easy sachets from Oats So Simple, I always grab the family size boxes (22 sachets) when they are on offer in Tesco for £1.99. I have one every morning with almonds and honey and at the weekends I like to treat myself to some raspberries and blueberries... crazy aren't I!

5. Wholemeal Wraps
My lunch. Every single day. I love my chicken salad wrap I do, and these wholemeal ones are the best! 

What are your top 5 things in your cupboard that you ALWAYS have stocked up?


Follow

ASOS Christmas Upto 50% Off Sale : My Top Picks