#streaming twice a week is a lot of fun but also takes a big portion of my time BUT it's good shorts production

[lukazade2electricboogaloo]

I remember now why I found it so hard to upkeep a schedule of streaming AND youtube. It's the art. I have no time for art. 😰

[venus-says]

Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Episodes 01-24

The biggest irony of it all is that this isn't the 5th precure season.

New month, new season! And march will be another busy month as I'll have to cover two seasons instead of one. I hope I don't get crazy with it, especially considering that both my brother and my birthdays are in this month, I hope I don't get behind schedule again...

But oh well, that's not what you came here for, you came here for precure so let's talk about that.

Yes and GoGo are seasons that I have a weird history with. Much like Splash Star I never got to finish neither seasons, but I got to work on both of them back in the day when I was part of the Brazilian Subs group who takes care of everything precure related, I don't remember exactly what episodes I was involved with but I did quite a few of them, including the Yes finale, funny enough. Because of my contact with the Yes! seasons weren't of a mere spectator I used to hold these seasons in high regard, they were never part of my top 4 but they were very close, I used to say I like them a lot even though I never properly watched them. But now, after properly sitting through the entire thing... I'm more on the fence about what my feelings are.

Much like its predecessor, Yes was a season for a lot of firsts in the franchise which means they were a bit inventive with the ideas for the show, and while some of those ideas work very well, others not so much. Aside from the team of five and all the implications that come with it, the biggest difference from Yes to the past series is that this is the most episodic and more character-focused series up until now. The plot is almost nonexistent but in exchange, we got a lot of focus on these characters and the stories the show wants to tell about each one of them that intertwines with the show's main theme of hope and finding your own path in life. And that's not a problem, au contraire, this is one of its biggest strengths because the main cast is very solid and even the more overlooked of them is able to shine on its own.

The problems of the show start with more of a production level? I'm not a specialist in the matter, and I don't know much about this stuff so don't rake what I say here as fact, but I feel like since Splash Star underperformed they didn't have that big of a budget for this season and you can see that by how every single episode has some sort of fluke in the drawings or the animation. Which is a shame because this show has a great character design and the backgrounds are more often than not very beautiful. Another huge problem, at least to me, is in the action because Yes! didn't just introduce to us a team dynamic rather than a duo, they also introduced to the series a thing that haunts us until today, the stock footage finishers spam. Yes, the animation for the attacks isn't nearly as long as the ones we get today but I think it's very rare that we get a fight where not at least three attacks are used, like if the action portion wasn't already very short. Speaking of it, I don't understand why Dream is the one that finishes the monsters almost every time when it was shown that all other cures (probably only not counting Mint) can also break the masks and defeat them.

But this is more or less minor stuff, I can get behind it. My biggest problem with Yes! is the romance. They tried with Nagisa and Fujipi, it didn't work. They tried with Saki and Mai's brother, it didn't work. They should've learned with that, but instead, they decided to make it again and different from the past two cases they decide that they would sell the romances hard. Like, the first scene of this show was they already trying to sail Nozomi x Coco, and they shove this couple down your throat in a very ugly way. To begin with, it's an adult man with a high school girl and that's gross. "Oh, but he's a fairy" I DON'T CARE, in his human form he's a male adult, he's a school teacher which means everyone sees him as an adult, this shit is freaking gross. And they try to pull it twice because just Nozomi and Coco wasn't enough and they decided to make Nuts and Komachi a thing too. Thanks, I hate it.

Remember that I said the show doesn't look very beautiful all that often? Well, in episode 24 there's a scene with Nozomi and Coco and they're hugging and that shit was drawn with so much care and flare it didn't even look like the same anime. And you know what infuriates me the most? Is that right after it there's a scene that is the great moment of the episode where the whole group reunites and free themselves from Nightmare's control and that scene doesn't get anywhere near the same amount of care that the Nozomi x Coco scene got. They have transformations, attacks (I'm looking at you Aqua Stream), and the whole show looking subpar, but when it comes down to this couple they make it seem like a CLAMP manga, the only thing missing was the arabesques in the screen. I said it once, I'll say it again. THANKS, I HATE IT.

But moving on.

Going into the characters, Nozomi is weirdly enough the one who has let the less of an impression on me, but I would say a big part of it is because of all her thing with Coco. Because she has interesting going for her, like her indecisiveness about her own future, but this ends up being left behind because they wanna either focus on her thing with Coco or show just how clumsy and air-headed she is. It's a weird approach to the lead of the show, there are times that it seems like Nozomi and Dream are two different persons because when Nozomi is Nozomi they focus so much in showing how much of a crack-head she is, but when she's Dream she is very serious and mature, it's not a very good balance.

I like Rin quite a lot, she's the first one to take over the position of being the sporty one that before was exclusive to the pinks, and she has a great personality. She's just as much of a crackhead as Nozomi but she also is very grounded so she displays a full rainbow of emotion by being very funny, but also very snarky, without losing the ability to be angry and serious. She's a lot of fun.

Urara is probably my favorite, I love how the youngest of the cast is the most complex character of the group. Between dividing her life as an actress/singer with school and having to live this life with one of her parents being dead, she's probably the member who had gone through the most stuff in life, and while there are times we see that her past gets to her she does her best to never lose her smile and to always be cheerful and caring to everyone around her. She's a precious kid and I love her to death. That episode where we get to know about her mom is so strong, it's definitely my favorite of this first half.

Komachi is the only other member of the cast that already had a dream when we met her and this is great because we see her go through different situations that the other members of the cast wouldn't be able to. She's very sweet, but it's a shame the show doesn't give her a lot to do. Like in these 24 episodes only two were focused on her, one of them was her introduction as Cure Mint and the other was to try to sell Komachi x Nuts as a secondary ship for the show. She deserves so much more, I hope the second half will give her more focus.

Last member of the team is Karen and she's my second favorite. She's the stoic rich girl with a lot of responsibilities that would later become the rule of thumb for most blue cures. but she holds a lot of personality. I like how she's stubborn but it's not in the level that is annoying, it's on a level where it serves as a perfect contrast for her serious side. I also like her story about how lonely she was and how she used to hide and bottle up those emotions since when she was a kid but she started to open up more when the girls got into her life.

As a group they work very well, they all have amazing chemistry and a great dynamic, I love how they're all very different and have very few similarities between them yet they work magnificently together. I love how they were all introduced since episode 1 and all had small parts in each episode before they all became cures, it felt very natural the way they were getting close together. Another thing that I like, that I also praised this weeks' Healin' Good episode for, is that they don't click immediately, Rin and Nozomi were friends before, just like Karen and Komachi, but when they are the four together with an Urara cherry it's completely different from how they were before and they had to work that out. I would've like if this had been explored more than just Rin and Karen's small rivalry and the plot of episodes 23 and 24, but they're still great regardless.

The fairies though... they're probably the worst of this entire show. To begin with, they're not consistent between their fairy and their human forms, because they wanna sell Coco and Nuts as hot guys they make the human forms be completely different their cheerful selves as fairies, especially Coco. They're not interesting, they don't do much, I don't know why they're there. Coco is creepy, he's way too handy with Nozomi it makes me uncomfortable as hell. Nuts is a jerk, the dude is not pleasant and the fact they're trying to pair him with Komachi makes me want to hit my head against a wall. Milk is the last addition to the cast and holy jesus she's annoying as hell, much like Nuts she's a jerk as well and the show wants to make us sympathize with her by saying "she's like that just because she has gone through a lot" and that just makes me hate her even more. Also, their collectibles this season are the Pinkys and they're another thing I don't know why it's there, I also hate how there are 55 of these things, that's way too much.

The villains are a mixed bag. I like Nightmare and how it actually works as a company, I love their whole thing with the mask, I think it's a very menacing and intimidating look, it's perfect. I also like how the generals kinda work on a rotation system rather than what was the norm of the previous seasons where one general would come, do their thing, get defeated, and only then a new one would come. The problem is that they don't have that much of a personality? Like, Bumbee and Kawarino of course have a lot of character and they leave a clear impression on you, but the recurring generals not so much. I know they're a mantis, a spider and a frog, but other than that I don't remember much. But I guess that's not that big of a deal since this is more focused on developing the girls rather than the fight against Nightmare.

One last thing before I wrap-up. I love their cures' designs and I also love their transformation device, I wonder why we never got a watch or bracelet as a transformation device again. The transformations are short, just like the attacks, and it frustrates me that they have good concepts for how each one is "choreographed" but the actual drawings for them lack a lot of care in the details. Like I mentioned up there, the animations and the drawings aren't the best and you would think that at least the stock footage they would get it right, but they go off-model quite a lot of times, this gets very evident in Aqua's roll call, their group pose, and Aqua Stream's sequence. Maybe it's foolish of me to complain about this since I'm watching the DVD version and these things are probably corrected in the blu-ray, but again these reviews are about my experience so these were details that tickled me off so I have to mention them.

Well, that does it for now. This ended up being way longer than I expected, thank you so much if you read all of this. Please let me know your thoughts on the first half of Yes! in the comments, I'm enjoying the ride despite all the bad things I said and I'm excited to properly finish this season in the next week. See you all around~ o/

[burlybanner]

Syzygy - 2

Syzygy - An AU of Infundo (post-Infundo Chronicles).

Chapter 2: Phase I Trials

Chapter 2 Summary:  Talking through the baby steps. Together.

Link to Chapter 1

Author notes: This a ridiculously short chapter, so no  “read more” tags needed. Also my posting schedule will be Tuesdays, until I’m stuck in the story and haven’t caught up to my writing schedule.

****

Truth was they couldn't start right away, not without enough data. It took a good two months of Tony and Bruce meticulously analyzing Bruce's metabolism. After tirelessly testing his food consumption, mobility, and sleep habits - and adjusting Bed with different "supplements" Bruce could enjoy throughout the day - they pinpointed the handful theories holding some promise.

"You know," Tony said, eyes scanning the floaty blue diagram of Bruce's body. "We haven't taken one thing into account."

Bruce spread his fingers, further blowing up his body's image while concentrating on the data. He noted a few interesting nuances but his thoughts floated in and out of reality so he didn't pick up on Tony's brainstorm. "I thought you agreed with me on the finer details."

"In theory, I guess, but you didn't like my other suggestion. You know it'd help, in the long run."

Bruce nibbled his lip and cautiously turned his effigy on its axis. His belly became a mountain, high and proud, rising above all the data points. "I'm not sure it would. There's a good chance it'll aggravate the Other Guy, resulting in an unscheduled Code Green."

"True, true." Tony nodded and fiddled with another data stream. "But speed, Brucie. It's a faster way. What we have right now might work, sure. But it may take a while before we get close. Years, even. You wanna wait that long?"

Bruce grimaced and spun his figure around, unnecessarily. "You know I don't. But I've put the cart before the horse before and the results weren't pretty."

"I dunno. Green still suits you."

Bruce glowered over the schematic readings, ignoring him.

"I'm just sayin', Bruce. Think about it."

Bruce remained mum but Tony knew he'd planted the seed.

**

Although the first test week was adequate, Bruce didn't get the results he'd wanted.

"Less than a kilogram? That's it?"

"Well, we're fightin' nature, Big Guy. I can adjust the formulas of the current weight gain drinks and powders but you still need to consume it fast enough to override your body's heightened abilities."

"It's still not...bad," Steve murmured. "It's some gain, right?" But even he looked a little disappointed.

"I know, I know." Bruce ran a hand through his curls and they toppled over his scalp like loose springs. "There has to be a faster way, though."

Steve gestured at the data pulled from Jarvis. "Is there anything else we could do? I mean, it doesn't look appetizing but you could try one of those heavy duty Vitamix blenders and liquefy your solid foods."

Bruce made a face. "I'd rather not vomit, thanks." He grimaced at his boyfriends. "The problem is trying to eat beyond my point of feeling stuffed. We have to increase my caloric intake but the gains don't last when I'm not physically able to eat enough or fast enough."

Tony rocked on his heels, leveling his steeliest gaze in Bruce's direction. "You know my thoughts, Banner."

Bruce held up a stern hand. "No. I refuse. I told you before it's not safe."

Steve frowned. "What's not safe?"

Bruce briefly glanced at Tony who made a curt go ahead, tell him gesture. "It's...possibly faster."

"Guaranteed faster."

"Allegedly faster," Bruce said a little louder, in case Tony didn't hear him the first time. "I'm not risking massive property damage just to gain a pound or two."

"We could use the Green Room in the basement."

Bruce rolled his eyes. "Not you too, Steve."

"Well maybe I want in on the secrets. The two of you can't keep discussing options without me, because I'm as much a part of our family as you two are."

Bruce and Tony traded uncomfortable glances. "Sorry," Bruce muttered.

"Agreed. We should've included you in the science stuff." Tony made a face at Bruce. "We might as well tell him, mind if I--?"

Bruce sighed testily. "Be my guest. You were going to, anyway."

"Right," Tony murmured, and for penance from pushing his portly bf a little too much he gave Bruce a small peck on his forehead. "It's one option that yields good results: fasting."

"Fasting?" A scowl marred Steve's features. "Isn't that the opposite of what we're trying to do?"

"Yes and no. If we do it right it'll make Bruce hungrier and he'll overeat, even beyond the levels he's eating now. Every five days we can switch up his eating routine."

"And beyond that," Bruce said, sheepishly glancing down. "I've been...working on a few experimental compounds to quicken the results. But I haven't tested my hypothesis and I'm a little unsure of the outcome.

"But fasting..." Bruce paused and sighed. He ran a chubby hand through his curls and nibbled his bottom lip. "Fasting is problematic because it potentially riles the Other Guy. I hope the compound I'm developing works because I'm hesitant to try anything that threatens my calm."

Tony rolled his eyes. "We've got this, hon'. You know we do. We have the Hulk pod in the basement, and you could even stay down there while you get hungry. Not that you'd want to. And Steve and I'll get your favorite take out, after we're done. Double portions of everything."

Bruce's eyes narrowed, and Tony swore he saw a little green. "We've never tested the containment pod. I've never had a need to, and I've never felt in danger since I've been here. I'd rather not unless there are no other options."

"Suit yourself," Tony said, shrugging. "Five years is an awfully long wait for a goal weight, though."

Bruce made another face. "Too long."

"So go for broke," Steve sighed.

"Exactly,” Tony said. “What harm could it do?"

Bruce locked eyes with Tony. "You don't want the answer to that question."

Having heard enough, Steve sauntered over to his favorite scientists. He slung an arm over both their shoulders (though his reach strained over Bruce’s wide back), and gave both a peck on the cheek. "I think the answer is staring all of us in the face," he told them, and both Tony and Bruce gave him the side-eye.

"It is?"

"You know something we don't?” Tony snarked. “Impossible."

Steve chuckled softly. "Bruce, I know It's not something you really like doing, but the Hulk is part of you. And you eat more after a Hulk-out, don't you?"

Bruce folded his arms and planted his feet, as unyielding as a marble statue of himself. "But I also use up a lot of calories. It's a zero-sum game."

Steve nudged Bruce with his chin and immediately Bruce settled into his warm arms. "Muffin. I think both you and Tony will come up with a plan that'll work, but I don't want either of you over-stressing." His gaze flickered to Tony, who finally caved, lips breaking into a small smile. "We'll figure it out. I'm thinkin' maybe we try a little of everything, yeah? Can we start out slowly, just to see what'll happen? We have time. The answer doesn't have to come today."

"Hmm," Bruce sighed. "I guess so."

"Yeah, okay," Tony grumbled. "I guess he's right."

"You're welcome." He kissed Bruce's temple and held out his other hand for Tony to take it. "Tonight, let's enjoy each other's company. A little food, and fun."

"Don't have to tell me twice," Tony said, quickly shutting down their work station.

                                                         * *

Part three: https://burlybanner.tumblr.com/post/186018435219/syzygy-3

[dammholgersen06-blog]

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[oldbutnotyetwise]

Buddy the Rescue Dog

   It was about five years ago that I was feeling that it was time to get a dog again.  My last three dogs had been purebred German Shepherds and I decided it was time to try something different.  I started following some dog rescue groups and expressed interest in a few of their dogs.  Then one of the rescues contacted me and said although the dog I had expressed interest in was spoken for, they had another dog they thought I should consider.  In August of 2014 the foster parents brought over “Sunny” who was an older lab/chow cross, they assured me that he was a great dog and it was agreed that I would adopt him.  I couldn’t see myself calling my dog Sunny, so after much thought trying to come up with a name that sounded similar, Sunny became Buddy.

    Buddy had come from northern Quebec and only understood French.  It was apparent that one of us would have to learn a new language and I thought the best chance of success was if he was the one to become bilingual.  He was a reddish blonde short haired dog with a body slightly too big for his shorter legs. The big brown eyes could easily melt my heart whenever he gazed up at me.  His right ear stood straight up while his left ear would bend half way up, and when walking him the top half of his left ear bounced up and down as if it was waving.

   As he settled in with me it became apparent that he was not great with other dogs, although he had lived with several others at his foster parents. ��At first he was aggressive towards passing dogs on our walks but in time he merely just looked at them as we walked by.  Prior to reaching that point we had tried the dog park once, and that ……., well lets just say that didn’t work out.  He also thought it would be good to try to rip a 150 pound French Mastiff’s nose.  However with people he was a different dog, so very kind and gentle.  Kids would pet and hug him and he was fine.  In our twice daily walks he came to know many people that he liked to visit with……..they always knew Buddy’s name but probably couldn’t remember mine, if they ever knew it.  In particular around the corner Robert and Linda would sit on their front porch waiting for him during the warm weather.  They always had dog biscuits for him and it was a challenge for me to get him past their house if they weren’t out.

   I had made a deal with Buddy when he came to live with me.  Twice a day he would get out for walks, once in the morning and the second in the afternoon/evening.  Through heat, rain, sleet, cold and snow we went for our walks while the other dogs stayed home out of the elements.  When I was working day shift that meant we were getting up at 4:45 a.m.  and heading out for our walk shortly after.  As much as getting up early isn’t fun, we came to enjoy those quiet mornings, walking the street while most folks and their dogs were still sleeping.  It was peaceful, and it was a good way to start both our days.

   I had been living alone for a bit when I got Buddy, and I longed for company.  I wanted someone to be happy to see me when I came home from work, and Buddy always was. During Buddy’s time with me I probably struggled through the worst year of my life, and I suspect a good portion of credit for getting me through those dark days belongs to Buddy.  They say that when you are struggling you need a good friend who listens more, and talks less.  Buddy was a good listener and never took over the conversation.  I suspect to a few neighbours I would be known as that crazy guy who walked down the street talking to his dog.

   Buddy rarely barked.  Dogs would be barking at him and he would just look at them.  Anyone could walk into my house and Buddy would quietly greet them, but God help us if they rang the doorbell because that was the one thing that set his deep baritone barking off.

   Buddy asked for so little, but gave so much.  The unconditional love he shared with me, even when I didn’t deserve it, helped me get out of bed some days.  He was a rescue dog, but in all fairness I think it was he who was rescuing me, not the other way around.  

   One day I had a friend visiting, I don’t recall what we were talking about but at one point she started to cry over something she had shared.  I watched as Buddy got up, walked over, sat down beside her and then just leaned against her leg.  He had sensed her sadness and went to offer comfort.  What could she do but accept the comfort he offered and lean down and pet him.

   When my adult daughter moved back home Buddy was in heaven.  I was the old reliable walker, and provider of food and cookies but Elizabeth quickly became his best friend.  He adored her and would get far more excited for her arrival home than mine – admittedly a little hard on my ego, but I got over it.  He even forgave her for bringing her cat into the house, yes that’s right the dog that couldn’t tolerate other dogs learned to live with a cat. Neither Buddy nor Rorschach (the cat) would admit it but they worked out their boundaries and came to take comfort in each other’s company.  When Elizabeth and Buddy would snuggle up together on the dog bed, there was a gentle peacefulness, the love flowing both ways was obvious.

   I know that when he came to me he was considered a Senior dog, and as he was a rescue we never really knew how old he was.  The light colouring on his muzzle started to spread and he began to show his age.  A limp would come and go, we never quite figured out what was causing it.  And then he started having accidents in the house, almost always on his bed.  His beds were then covered with several towels and the washing machine ran daily.  He would get up off his bed and you could tell that he was as surprised as we were that he had an accident.  Then the amount of accidents increased and I would watch him in the yard or on our walks trying to go to the bathroom with no success.  The expensive ultrasound at the vet confirmed he had a tumor on his bladder.  There was an expensive surgery option but with his age and the risk the surgery involved we followed the Vet’s advice and just let things take their course.  Over the next three months he would have good and bad days, but soon the bad days outnumbered the good.  The heartbreaking part of it was during the day he was for the most part fine, but at night he repeatedly had accidents and was constantly asking to go out all night long.  I would watch from the dark window as he would walk about trying to go to the bathroom but failing.  I can only assume that the tumor had grown causing him to feel like he always had to go, and being unable to determine when he really did.

   It’s hard in the end to make the decision when the right time to let your friend go is.  I owed Buddy so much, it was important to get this right, but yet so hard to get right when you are trying to understand what is going on and he can’t tell you.  In the end it is a best guess kind of scenario, but the problem is…you want to be sure.  After a particularly rough night I made the decision that it was time.  I sat there with the phone in my hand…it took three hours to finally hit the call button.  I can only presume that the Vet is used to this, they were great and gave us the last appointment of the day.  

    Buddy laid on his bed and tolerated me laying there beside him, gently petting him as he laid there sleeping.  I know he saw the tears running down my face but I think he was dealing with his own stuff, as those big brown eyes just stared out at me.   There was the very slight scent that had never quite gone away after his encounter with a skunk months earlier.  I tried to explain that I hoped that I was getting this right and I would like to think he knew that I was doing the best that I could.  The thought of him suffering because I didn’t have the strength to let him go was just not an option.  I owed him more than that.

   It was a long eight hours from the time that I called to the time that my daughter and I took Buddy in.  There was lots of quiet time and snuggling.  We went out for our last hike, a nice long one at the Royal Botanical Gardens which I think may have been his favourite place to go.  It was wet, and it was muddy, but we both just enjoyed our slow stroll through the woods.

   We returned home and for supper instead of the kibble with a little bit of canned dog food he got straight canned food, more than a can of it, which he quickly devoured.  Then Elizabeth came home and I gave them their time together.

   Finally the time had come, we loaded up Buddy for the one way trip to the Vet.  He was great as he always is, happy to go wherever we take him.  They got us in the room and we laid there on the floor saying our goodbyes, a steady stream of tears flowing down our faces. Buddy just laid there, big brown eyes looking up at us.  As always he just looked at me with absolute trust, he trusted me with his life and I guess in the end he trusted me with his death.  First shot to relax and then a few minutes later the second fatal shot. I know that he went out knowing that he was loved, I hoped that he knew how grateful I was for his companionship over the years and that I had always done my best for him.

   I don’t know what Buddy’s life was before he came to live with me, but I hope that both he and I could agree that the last part of his life was a good life, where he was part of a loving family.  

    And now it has been a week that Buddy has been gone, and I realize what a huge hole he has left in my life.  Please don’t misunderstand, I have a wonderful lady, a great daughter and wonderful friends.  Buddy was just a huge part of my life, even more so then I realized, and it is now when he is gone that I notice everything.  When I wake up in the morning I am no longer greeted by those big brown eyes and wagging tail by the side of the bed.  There is no more dog kisses or licks or requests for pets.  I am no longer stepping around his huge dog bed, during the night in the bedroom or during the day in the living room.  I can now open the fridge door  without a blur of fur coming in to see if I am offering anything to the canine benevolent fund.  I can now cook in the kitchen and not trip over Buddy every time I step back. The morning and afternoon walk times come and go and he isn’t coming to get me.  The top of the fridge has been cleared off, no more dog food and dog treats. The dog food and treats have been sent home with friends for their dogs.  The dog towel and leashes have been taken down from by the side door where they waited for our walks.  I am still finding poop bags in my pants and numerous coats.  I can now use the dryer whenever I want (for reasons we never understood running the dryer terrified him).  Every time I get ready to go out, or when I come back in my first instinct is to let Buddy out, but of course he isn’t there.  When I come through the door now there is no loving dog waiting for me like I am his favourite person in the world ……. or second favourite after my daughter.  I no longer have Buddy to remind me that as long as we have food, am healthy enough to go for our walks and have each other…. then life is good.

   In closing I guess I just felt the need to express my gratitude to a very dear friend who is now gone.  Thanks Buddy, for the friendship shared, love given, for all the days you dragged me out the door on walks or hikes, and for reminding me that we need very little in life to truly be happy.  

D.

[frostedpetticoat]

11 Smart Ways to Save Money

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

We’d all like to have a little more cash in our bank accounts, but when it comes to getting it, we usually look at our salaries, and wonder how we can get it bumped up a little. While there are ways to get a raise -- and is, indeed, recommended to ask at certain points -- it is not actually the best method. The best way is to reduce the amount that you spend. It’s much easier to keep the money that you have, rather than trying to find more of it. In this blog, we’re going to take a look at a bunch of ways you can save your cash -- and the good news is that none of them will lead to a lifestyle that’s less fun or enjoyable than it is now. 

Photo by ELEVATE from Pexels

Happy at Home

People who are content to stay in their house, rather than go out, end up spending less cash than those people who are forever out on the town. Just think about how much money you spend when you’re outside, compared to when you stay in (which is effectively free). This isn’t to say that you should stay in all the time, but just acknowledges that it’s a problem if you have to go out because you’re bored in the house. So look at investing in your property a little. You’ll be more inclined to stay in and watch movies if you have comfortable seating and high-tech entertainment options. 

Cut the Cord

But talking of entertainment options, it’s important that you avoid going overboard. You’ll want to have some options, but you’ll end up spending a small fortune if you have a comprehensive cable package and subscriptions for all the online streaming sites. So instead of blindly subscribing to everything, think about what you really want to watch (and how often), and pick a budget-friendly option. It would be cool to have access to every channel, but the reality is that in those circumstances you’re paying for a lot of stuff that you will never watch. 

The Right Packages

And your entertainment packages isn’t the only monthly bill that you should take another look at. Are you paying too much for your internet and cell phone packages, for instance? If you blindly took the first deal that you came across, then the answer is probably yes. Many people end up using nowhere near the full potential of their internet and cell phone allowance. Instead of paying for expensive phone coverage, look at smarty PAYG instead; with that, you’ll only pay for the data that you use. For your home internet, look at your actual needs -- some people overpay because they want the fastest internet, but if you're just browsing the web and streaming videos, then it’s probably not worth it. By scaling down a little, you could end up saving 30% or more on your monthly bill. 

Daily Expenses

Many people are pretty good at keeping those big expenses under control, but then take their eye off the ball when it comes to the daily expenses that can quickly add up to a pretty penny when multiplied by a few weeks, and into a fortune when multiplied by years. You’d always think twice about signing up for a subscription that costs you $100 a month, yet many people routinely spend that amount of money on takeout coffee each month and don’t even think about it. And that’s just coffee -- if you add takeout lunch into the equation, that amount can double. And the most amazing thing of all: people aren’t even aware that they’re spending this cash. Get a snapshot of where your money is going, and you might be surprised at how much these relatively inexpensive daily expenses add up to. Challenge yourself to limit those costs for a month, and your bank balance will look much healthier.

Going Out

We talked earlier about setting up your home so that you can have a good time without spending the money that’s always needed when you go out on the town. But no matter how great your property is, there’ll be times when you just want to venture out with your friends and have a good time. If you’re not thinking about the correct approach to these nights in, then you could reasonably spend much more than you’d like: enough to undo the progress you’ve made elsewhere, in fact. You don’t need to spend a ton of cash to have fun out on the town! If you want to enjoy a meal with your loved ones, look at going for lunch rather than dinner -- it’ll be around 30% cheaper. And it’s always worthwhile keeping your eye out for the cheapest bars in the area/ones that have promotional deals. 

Having Fun

Ever wake up and have a hankering for a day of fun? Sure you do, we all do. Alas, most fun things cost money, right? Well, not really. While it’s more than possible to blaze through some cash when you’re having a good time, it’s not as if it’s a prerequisite. It costs little to visit a local state park, for example, and they can be just as enjoyable as anything that you would pay large amounts of money to do. In the city, it’s worthwhile finding a good website/magazine that lists all the goings-on around town. Even small cities usually have a long list of free events and activities to do, especially during the spring and summer. 

On Your Travels

People seem to think that traveling is an inherently expensive activity, but this is not the case. There are plenty of ways to keep costs to a minimum. The main things that influence how much you’ll spend will be where you go, when you���re going, and what you’re happy to do when you’re there. You’ll spend a lot more in Paris during the height of summer, than you would in Prague during early spring, for example; and you could reasonably argue that visiting Prague would be even more fun. Other good tips include avoiding any overly touristy areas of a city, and booking accommodation with a kitchen; you’ll save a fortune if you can avoid eating every meal in a restaurant. 

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels

Shopping Finds

You can’t avoid spending money; you can only hope to make smart decisions when it comes to your purchases. Take buying items such as clothes, tech, home products, and so on. There are just certain things that you’ll need if you’re going to enjoy your home and be a functioning member of society. But it doesn’t have to cost you the earth! Instead, look at waiting for sales, conducting research to find the best deals, and buying second-hand. There’s no reason to pay full price for anything, ever. 

Write a Shopping List

A significant portion of your monthly budget will go on food shopping. But if you’re not writing a list and making conscious decisions when you’re in the supermarket, then you’re almost certainly spending more money than you need to. For one, we’re terrible at making shopping decisions when we’re in the store. Second, we always underrate the genius of supermarkets. They carefully position products to make them more appealing to customers, hence why you probably always leave with items that you didn’t intend to buy. Even the brand of product influences how much you spend -- could you switch to a less famous but equally good brand for some of your items? Surely. 

Getting From A to B

There are some expenses that are unavoidable. You can avoid buying a coffee each day, sure, but you can’t avoid paying to get to work. However, as with most things, there are ways to reduce the amount of money that you spend on getting from A to B. Is it cheaper to drive some of the way, then use public transport the rest? If there are toll roads and expensive parking waiting for you in the city, then the answer will be yes. You can also save money by changing your driving style to help reduce your MPG (miles per gallon), which will create longer gaps between trips to the gas pump. 

Remember to Stay Disciplined!  Finally, remember that the number one thing that influences how much money you save will be your discipline. That you can save money in virtually all areas of your life is not the hard part; the difficulty lies in actually doing it. You have all the information you need, but can you overcome the desire to, say, go to an expensive restaurant rather than preparing a meal yourself? A good way to practice discipline is to break it into small chunks. Don’t plan to live frugally for the rest of your life. Just try it for one month. It’ll be easy to achieve when you know it’s only a matter of weeks, but when you see how much money you’ve saved, you’ll likely be inspired to keep the frugal train rolling for a little longer.

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[amongwclves-archive]

1. What are three Netflix shows that they’ve rated five stars? the walking dead, american horror story, stranger things. there are a few others ones but these are her absolute favorites.

2. Where do they prefer to read? On the sofa, in bed, at a table, on the porch, in a cafe? claire's not really a big reader, so it doesn't make much of a difference to her --- if she had to pick, though, she'd probably choose at a table, in a nice quiet. the bed and sofa are too comfy, easy for her to doze off if the book is extra boring, wheras it's a bit easier to stay alert at a table. if it's too noisy though, it becomes diffucult for her to focus on the book.

3. Do they like to play games? What kind of games: video, card, board? What are some of their favorites? claire loves to play games, so long as there's some sort of challenge, and a clear winner or loser. she loves all sorts of games, although card and board games are her favorites; she's become quite the poker player thanks to years of being around the boys, and monopoly and risk have been her shit since she was a little kid.

4. What’s their food weakness? What food can they never turn down?honestly she doesn't really have a food weakness? i guess if anything, trail mix, it's her favorite snack and she doesn't worry so much about portion control with it. she's also a bit of a sucker for freshly made fish fry, although she won't eat a large portion, and it has to be made just the right way.

5. Do they prefer movies or TV shows? Why? personally claire tends to lean towards movies, for the simple reason that she finds it difficult to keep up with tv shows due to her hectic life ; while she does like that tv shows tend to incorporate better plotlines and more little details, it's easier to sit down and watch a two hour movie than a twenty-two episode season.

6. What holiday is their favorite? Which is their least favorite? while she's not a super big holiday celebrator, claire's got a bit of a soft spot for the fourth of july; the always have a big bonfire, and her uncle sam pulls out the grill, and there's fireworks. it's always a good time. she was also quite found of halloween when she was younger though, mostly for the costumes. if anything, thanksgiving would probably be her least favorite, just because she doesn't get as excited about the food as everyone else. 

7. What’s their diet like? Are they vegetarian, vegan? Do they have any food allergies that make them have a special diet? claire runs a very strict and healthy diet due to her dance training; it consists mostly of a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, white meat, protein, etc. while she's not a vegetarian, she doesn't eat a lot of meat, and when she does, it's mostly white meats like turkey or chicken. it's a very rare occurence she'll touch red meat, just out of preference. she doesn't have any food allergies anyone, although she was had a bit of a lactose intolerance when she was a child that sometimes flairs up nowadays.

8. What sort of toys did they play with as a child? claire was a bit of a stereotypical girl; she was all about her barbies, stuffed animals, princesses, that kind of stuff. she was especially found of a ballet-themed barbie doll her friend leslie had gifted her, and a stuffed wolf quil had given her when she was little. 

9. How often do they go grocery shopping? Do they tend to do one large trip, or smaller ones throughout the week? claire will normally do one or two smaller trips throughout the week, and maybe one large trip every month or so to pick up some of the non-perishable stuff. because her diets consists of a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables, and perishable items, it makes more sense to do smaller trips instead of trying to buy a shit ton of it just for it to all good bad on her. 

10. Do they eat breakfast? What’s a typical breakfast look like for them? breakfast is the one meal claire very rarely skips, although she keeps it light; just a bit of granola and yogurt usually, maybe a smoothie once in a while. 

11. Do they like going to museums? What type of museums do they like to go to? Art, science, historical; interactive, quiet, a mix? while not an avid museum go-er, claire typically won't complain about going to one, depending on the topic of the museum. she tends to like the art ones the best, although the historical ones can sometimes be interesting too. a nice mix of interactive and quiet works for her; she doesn't like when they get overcrowded, and she doesn't like the ones where you just stand there and stare at stuff. 

12. How do they organize their books? Alphabetical by author, by title? By size, color, date published? Is there any rhyme or reason? claire doesn't have a whole lot of books to organize since she's not a big readers, but she organizes them alphabetically, first by author and then by title. there's no real reason for it, it's just how she likes to do it, and it settles her slightly ocd mind. 

13. Have they ever been do Disney World/Land, or any other amusement park? What do they prefer to do at them: go on the rides, play the games, eat the food? she's been to disneyland twice in her life, and to a few other, smaller amusement parks a few times as well. mostly she likes to go to these kinds of things for the rides and games; she can get quite competitive in trying to get the prize she wants, and well, the rides are just fun.

14. How do they eat their popcorn? What do they put on it? claire tends to eat her popcorn plain, maybe with just a little bit of salt on it if anything. she's not big on butter or all those seasonings that are out there.

15. When do they pay their bills? As soon as the bill comes in? At the last moment? Or are most of their bills automatically taken out of their account? claire has her bills set to be automatically taken out of her account, not because she doubts her ability to remember to pay them on time (she prides herself on never forgetting deadlines) but just because it's one less thing on her mind.

16. What time do they normally go to bed? How many hours of sleep do they usually need to function in the morning? she normally tries to get to bed between 10 and 12 o'clock, although she tends to have a hard time falling asleep most nights. still, she typicallly gets around five or six hours of sleep, although she can function on less than three (no less than two, though), and has on more than one occasion --- it just requires A LOT of coffee.

17. Do they have cable, or do they rely mostly on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services? claire doesn't see the point in investing in cable, given how rarely she actually watches tv. she does have a netflix account, and tends to use it for the majority of her tv/movie viewing pleasures. 

18. What is their preferred weather? What would be a perfect weather day? if there's one thing claire loves about wasington, it's the constant overcast and regular rain. she's not big into sunny and hot days, as she doesn't like running the risk of a sunburn or sweating profusely when just sitting there doing nothing --- but she's not the biggest fan of freezing temperatures, snow and ice, all that lovely stuff either. so the somewhat dreary weather that seems to surround her hometown is perfect for her.

19. Are they more of a snacker throughout the day, or they eat three meals and call it a day? neither, really; she's the 'maybe eat one or two meals a day and call it done' kind of girl. once she gets her eating habits back on track though, she opts for more snacking/small meals in lieu of the traditional three meals, as it's suggested to better contain appetite and to be the healthier route. 

20. Have they ever had an imaginary friend? no; at least, not that she can remember. she was more of the 'pretend my dolls and stuffed animals are alive' kind of girl.

21. What were they a part of in high school/college, if they went? Were they a part of any clubs, did they play any sports? What clique would they have been considered a part of? claire doesn't really do any types of clubs, her only real activity being her dance; she takes lessons at the local studio, and partipates in competitions across the nation. because of how much time her training takes, it doesn't leave a lot of time for other extracurriculars. in regards to cliques, she's kind of part of her own litle clique formed up of friends from dance class; but if you wanted to type case them, they'd probably fit into the artsy/theater kids stereotypes, especially since a good majority of them are part of the school's drama program.

22. Do they have a favorite restaurant? How often do they go to it, and what’s their usual order? her all-time favorite restaurant is probably this little thai restaurant up in port angeles. whenever she's in the city, she allows herself a splurge day to eat out there, ordering a different dish everytime. it's a very rare opportunity she actually gets to eat there, just because she doesn't go into the city very often. her second favorite restaurant, where she actually does it fairly regularly, is the forks diner; it's proven to be a perfect settlemet for her and quil as they offer a wide selection of healthier options for herself, while also offering some of his favorites. she'll normally order a veggie burger and a salad, although sometimes she likes to mix it up.

23. How do they prefer to watch movies? In the theater, on a streaming site, from an owned DVD/digital download, rented from somewhere? honestly, she doesn't have much of a preference, although at home is usually the way to go, either from a dvd or something she's found on netflix. it has to be a really good movie for her to want to go see it in theaters. there's just something a bit more comfortable about watching at home, with her own snacks, no crowded theatres, being able to talk to whoever she's watching with and make commentary on the movie. plus with the shit that's coming out nowadays, she can't justify paying to go see most of it in theatres.

24. Do they watch any sports? What are they a fan of, and what teams do they root for? Do they watch the games/matches on TV or do they try to be there for some in person? Do they just catch the highlights on their phone later on? claire's not a big sports fan; in fact, she's not even a little sports fan. she finds them quite boring to be perfectly honest, and can't be bothered to waste her time watching them, save the occasional school football or basketball game (and even then, she mostly just goes to hang out with her friends, and pays little attention to the game). 

25. What do they prefer to do in the summertime? Do they like going to the beach, do they prefer camping, staying in the city? Do they like to stay indoors and away from the heat? claire likes to keep busy in the summertime, mostly by doing a bit of travelling, and then outdoors activity; she's constantly talking quil or one of the other guys into joining her for hikes, jogs, cliff-diving, going to the beach, swimming, etc. her evenings are usually spend just relaxing on the porch with her friends, maybe playing some games or something, and the occasional bonfire & cook out.

[frop]

do all of them you mother fucker

not Once but Twice u have done this to m 

Star Platinum – Your thoughts on the stars? i always did like then when i was younger but now they just make me think of jojo so now i especially like them 

Magician’s Red – Do you know any magic tricks? no but im gonna say what u said and i can bend my fingers waay way farther than most people

Hermit Purple – Show a photo of yourself! I HAVENT taken a selfie in forever i’ll do one later 

Silver Chariot (Requiem) – How much sleep do you need on average? i would love a good 10+ but i only get that much on saturday now boo but on average its like 6-7 

The Fool – Tell us a joke! Is your refrigerator running? Because i’m gonna suck your dick

The World -  A place you want to visit? canada like you would not believe 

Crazy Diamond – What do you treasure the most? hmmmmmmm my friendships with my friends 

The Hand – Do you like your hands? nnnot particularly bc i spent a good portion of my life and still do sometimes where i bit my nails til they bleed so they dont look as nice as i’d like them to be when they grow out 

Echoes – Your favourite sound? The world’s time stop sound, but not jotaro’s version, dio’s specifically

Heaven’s Door – Share a secret! my parents’ divorce has made me scared for the future of my own relationships to the point where i can see myself not ever wanting to be in a relationship ever again bc it would be easier than my partner getting tired of me or hating me. on top of the fact that i’m almost exactly like my father and my mom’s ex fiance in every single emotional department which is what caused their divorce/breakup respectively in the first place and that leads me to believe that in the long run i am Romantically  Unlovable 

Killer Queen – How would you like to die? preferably quick and painless 

Bad Company – What kind of character trades do you dislike? any character that is like ‘waahh wah no one understands me bc i enjoy [’highly advanced’ niche series/book/etc] and they all read [popular series/book/etc] like whatever the fuck his name was in aku no hana, it got so obnoxious i had to drop it lmao 

Red Hot Chili Pepper – Can you handle spicy food? cat’s out of the bag guys im actually a Fake Mexican bc i only like mild stuff and hot chips 

The Lock – Anything you feel guilty about right now? ya but thats for another day 

Love Deluxe – Are you secretly in love with someone right now? its absolutely no secret that i am in love with jonathan joestar 

Pearl Jam – Your signature dish? i can make some mean ass rice apparently 

Achtung Baby – Do you want kids? nnnope no thanks never ever i have my cat and thats enough for me 

Harvest – Do you pick up coins in from the street? no bc u dont know where thats been and money is super dirty already 

Cinderella – Which part of your body do you like the most? dang, i guess my thighs? but lately i’ve been a lot easier on myself abt my stomach and how soft it is 

Atom Heart Father – How is your relationship with your father? pretty good bc we’re really alike in temperament too but sometimes it gets pretty awkward bc he can never see me as anything but his little baby daughter who Never Grows Up

Enigma – What is puzzling you currently? when is davidpro gonna drop the part 5 teaser 

Earth Wind and Fire – What’s the best classical element? i personally have always liked fire 

Stray Cat – Cats or dogs? i love both but man im more suited for cats 

Gold Experience – A precious experience you have not shared with your followers? oh man over this summer my dad his gf and me and my sis when on a trip to her dad’s place in this really small town that was like 3 hours away from our city and it was so nice and quiet and peaceful and i felt so clean and happy there, we were only there for a couple days but ever since i’ve really been wanting to go back

Sticky Fingers – Zippers or buttons? zippers are so much faster but they get caught sometimes so Really, pros and cons of each 

Moody Blues – A song that makes you sad? OOO man i was gonna say epitaph bc Of Course but as i was writing this down melancholy man by moody blues came up on this playlist and now im thinkin abt abba and crying 

Sex Pistols – Have you ever shot a gun or riffle? no im tiny and a weenie and i would probably die from the recoil

Aerosmith – Are you afraid of flights? ive never been on one but i am scared of heights so i cant imagine thats any better 

Purple Haze – What makes you really angry? it used to be not being listened to but now i just let it happen bc Why bother but now its more whenever my mom makes a big deal out of simple mistakes of waiters/waitresses or when shes being obviously racist 

Spice Girl – Your favourite spice? idk what its called but theres this one i like to put on fruit before i eat it to make it Spicy 

King Crimson – Is it possible to predict the future? man idk my mom says yea but who knows 

Black Sabbath – How easily do you trust people? like stupidly easy 

Man in the Mirror – Do you like looking into the mirror? nope lol im ugl. ALSO bc i have a bigger than average fear of reflective stuff in general bc what if i see somethign behind me u kno,,,, 

Beach Boy – Have you ever been fishing? nope! the one time my dad went that i knew abt i was in mexico 

The Grateful Dead – What do you want to be remembered for? honestly, anything else that being the ‘way too nice one’ or the doormat 

White Album – Your favourite CD? aaaaa i dont have one i dont really listen to albums 

Talking Head – Are you a good liar? i guess ? i can keep a pretty straight face but its harder to lie to someone i actually know really well bc they can probably tell what my tics are 

Baby Face – Your thought on babies? theyre cute but i would greatly prefer to never have any 

Metallica – Do you like listening to metal? yea

Green Day – Ideal way to spend a day off? sleep, Sleep, stream with friends and lay in bed

Oasis – Best place for a holiday? hhhhh anyplace that relaxes u tbh 

Stone Free – Are you a indoor or outdoor person? i n d o o r i dont like bugs 

Kiss – Who would you like to kiss or get a kiss from? jonathan joest

Burning Down the House – Ever destroyed something and then regretted it? nah, once again im a weenie and im too worried abt consequences to ever do smth like that

Foo Fighters – Your favourite drink? god damn i fucking love raspberry iced tea 

Diverdown – Your thoughts on diving? the ocean fills me with the fear of god. no thanks 

C-Moon – What would you do for your friend’s sake? put myself in bodly harm 

MadeinHeaven – What do you believe happens after you died? nothing tbh you just end up in a grave or urn or wherever u wanted to be put 

Weather Report – Your favourite weather? man i looove love stormy weather 

Whitesnake – Your thoughts on snakes/reptiles? i love them theyre all gorgeous and beautiful

Tusk – Tea or coffee? coffee

Ball Breaker – Your favourite ball game? to play? its basket ball but to watch baseball 

Oh! Lonesome Me – Do you feel lonely right now? no not right now but im sure it’ll happen soon 

Scary Monsters – Your favourite dinosaur? i love velociraptors and also triceratops !!

Cream Starter – Do you usually wear make up? nope and if i do its only ever lipstick

Catch the Rainbow – Your favourite colour in the rainbow? blue and green!! 

Ticket to Ride – What was the last ticket you bought for? i didnt buy it but the last one i had was for the rogue one like. 2 weeks ago

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap – Do you believe in the multiverse? i dont think abt it too often but sure

In a Silent Way – Do you enjoy complete silence? yes!! besides some music, i cant concentrate otherwise 

Soft & Wet – Shower or bath? shower bc its easier but i havent taken a bath in forever 

Paisley Park – How good are you with reading maps/directions? Terrible God Awful

Nut King Call – How good are you at assembling/constructing things like Ikea furniture? hmm it depends if i have the manual for it and if i have time to really think on it and im not in a rush or anything

Paper Moon King – Can you do any origami? nope 

King Nothing – Your favourite smell? i really like the smell of cinnamon 

BornThisWay – A strange habit you have? i crack my fingers all the damn time and i like to take off the little plastic circle off of soda bottles and chew on it 

Les Feulies – Your favourite plant? oh damn hmm i like lavenders 

Fun Fun Fun – Something you really enjoy doing? man. i could watch jojo a million times over and i’d never get bored of it 

California King Bed – What size is your bed? currently i sleep in a queen size bc my mom and sis and i share a bed bc we only had one room in our old apartment but now that we moved im sure i’ll be kicked off into a twin soon enough 

JESUS christ ok its almost midnight i hope ur happy you mother fuckre 

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Top 20 “how-to” save money tips in 2020

Meal plan every single meal

Moving on to the important topic of food. Katy Stevens from Katy kicker is kicking back on takeaways. She advocates to “avoid the takeaway. Stop running out of food and avoid food waste”. It saved her a fortune in 2019.

Make twice as much food as you need and freeze the extra portions

On a similar note, Bronni Hughes from Bronni advises making twice as much food as you need and freeze the extra portions. “It’ll stop you reaching for a takeaway menu when you can’t be bothered to cook”.

Learn the difference between “best before” and “use by”

Continuing the food theme, Fiona Elizabeth Hawkes from Savvy In Somerset highlights the importance of learning the difference between ‘best before’ and ‘use by’ – “so much food gets wasted because people don’t know what’s safe to eat and what isn’t. It’s also surprising how much food can be frozen – things like chocolate, cheese and even whole birthday cakes!”

Switch down to cheaper brands when you don’t know how to save money

Hayley Muncey from Miss Many Pennies advice is “to switch down to cheaper brands when you do your grocery shop. If you can��t tell the difference (and a lot of things taste just the same), keep switching down until you you’re unhappy with the change. It doesn’t seem like a huge amount each item, but across your whole trolley, every week, it can make a big difference!”

Consider the whole life cost of a purchase

Hollie Hutchinson from Thrifty mum highlights the need “to think long-term before committing to a purchase”. Mark Furniss from Not taught at school also recommends “not to impulse buy something you wouldn’t normally, instead wait a week and see if you really needed it”. Most of the time, he never goes back and purchases the product he was initially going to buy.

Never let a contract renew

Pete Chatfield from household money saving recommends to always “find a better deal or negotiate with your current provider”. This can often be a very time-efficient task and not the hours of hassle you expect.

Always search for discount codes and apps before buying online

Emma Bradley from Mums savvy savings reveals to “always check cashback sites like TopCashback, Quidco and Boom. Over the years these cashbacks add up. She gets about £200 a year, which goes towards Christmas”.

Use money-saving apps when shopping

Martyna Sroka-Lalewicz, from Money Saving Girl uses money-saving apps when grocery shopping: Shopmium, green jinn, checkout smart. For cosmetics and cleaning products she uses Savers. This has saved her a lot of money over the course of a year.

Maximize your pension pot

Nick Daws from pounds and sense recommends checking if you have a full state mention on the government website https://www.gov.uk/check-state-pension. If there are gaps in your record and/or you were “contracted out” of paying full National Insurance for a few years, you may be able to make up the shortfall by paying extra NI to fill the gaps. Even if retirement is still some years away, it’s important to do this as soon as possible so you can assess the situation and plan accordingly”. On the theme of pensions, Onyemachi Cyprian Njamma from money notes also agrees to add more to your pension pot. “You get a tax exemption of 20% – 40% depending on your marginal tax rate. If you are an employee, then you may also get a top-up from your employer.  In some cases, you get up 60% more money above what you have actually contributed.”

(If you have kids) – Teach them the value of money

Saving is much easier as a parent if your children understand why. Jennifer Dixon from my mummys pennies “My tip would be to teach children the value of money and how to shop savvy. Saving is much easier as a parent if your children understand why you are making these choices.”

Get freebies to help you save money

Katie Schulten from student skint top tip would be “to get freebies to help you save money. You can easily get free food, groceries, drinks, household items, and furniture! Turn it into a fun challenge with your friends/family/kids on who can find XYZ for free or as close to free as possible”. Freecycle is a good website, essentially people give items away for free, you just pick them up.

Reduce non-essential spending

Emma Jackson from bee money savvy highlights for the sake of your finances look at reducing your non-essential spending! “How much are you spending on ongoing contacts that you don’t need (or use anymore) such as streaming services, entertainment packages, and gym memberships? Cancel what you don’t need and watch your finances improve.”

Review all your subscriptions

Emma Maslin from the money whisperer recommends to “Review all your subscriptions (go through your direct debits and standing orders on your online banking) and cancel any you can’t justify any more or have simply forgotten about.” Or Goren from cord busters agrees and highlights “to cut the cable TV cord and stop paying hundreds of pounds a year for channels you don’t even watch. By replacing Sky/Virgin/BT with TV-on-demand services like Netflix, you can control your spending and save A LOT of money in the process – while still watching great shows”.

Make small changes to your spending habits

Lauren Bolton from finding the pennies preaches to make small changes to your spending habits; for instance, “Say no just for today. No to today’s Costbucks coffee, no to that it’s-just-a-pound purchase at the shop, No to late-night online shopping, just for today.”

Have a no-spend month

Jane Berry from shoestring cottage recommends a no spend month. “You pay bills and for groceries but buy nothing else.” January is a good month for this as it helps you recover from the excesses of Christmas!

Fixed-rate mortgage over? get a new one.

Sara Williams from debt camel highlights that once your mortgage fix has ended, go get a new one.  It doesn’t take too long. “There are 800,000 families who could save an average of over £900 a year by doing this”.

Set your self saving goals

Eileen Adamson from your money sorted leaves us with an inspirational quote “Where would like to be this time next year, and in 5 years, and 10 years. Set yourself big, exciting goals, and build your budget around about that. Saying “no” to things that are a waste of money, suddenly becomes easy when you have more exciting things to look forward to.” If you have any tips on how to save money in the UK and not only, that work for you, please share them below.