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No-Spend November - Week One


Week One, Day One:
I survived the first day. 
I was shocked by how often I thought about buying something or popping into a shop. I wrote a little list of times, I thought about spending money and managed not to:
  • Halloween Films: I watched Megan Rhiannon's Youtube Video (here) and was listening to her film recommendations. The ones I thought about buying were Hocus Pocus and the Halloween Town collection.
  • Wooly Jumper: I saw someone post a photo of a mustard, cozy knit on Instagram. I stopped myself before looking at one!
  • Reduced Halloween Decorations: I was going to go to Poundland to see if they had any decorations reduced. I don't even need them for another year.
  • Belinda's Cafe (here): An ex-coworker opened her own cafe today, but (thankfully) I left my purse at home and reminded myself that it would still be open after my No-Spending ban.
  • Dog Halloween Costumes. This is almost a daily occurrence for me.
The money that I did spend: I paid my Roadtax (thrilling), and I spent 54p (from my tips money)(tips money doesn't count) to buy a donut after work. That's all. I'm pretty proud of that. 

Week One, Day Two:
Today was a lot easier. I had a home day, concentrating on my dissertation. I left the house to take the dog to the park, feed the ponies, and pop along to Tesco with Mum. In the next couple of days, I'm going to have to put some fuel in my car though!

Week One, Day Three:
Again, an easy day. Home days mean I don't go out and see anything I might consider buying. And constantly worrying about my dissertation, means I'm too busy to think of anything to buy.

Week One, Day Four:
Ah, I got caught out. We ran out of milk and orange juice, which I apparently can't go without on a Saturday morning.

Week One, Day Five:
Sunday. Rent day.

Overall, week one was easier then I expected. I have a feeling that this could be an anti-climatic challenge if it carries on this easily.

- KayleighBickle

The Honest Truth: What Nobody Tells You About Driving


I knew that my practical driving test was going to be harder than the theory. I knew I was better at learning from a book over physically driving a car. But with only two attempts, I passed my driving test! *woop woop*

Honestly, it was terrifying. And the money that I've spent on driving lessons, insurance, driving tests, etc, makes me feel sick. But I'm now carrying a pink driving license and having frequent amounts of panic while sitting in my little Clio on the main road - after stalling.

I didn't start to learn to drive until I was 20, and it took me 18 months of on and off learning to pass. Learning to drive, also, involved me having to change instructors - which is scary and you feel a sense of obligation to someone you were paying to spend time around. But, I found the right driver for me. She used diagrams and kept going over past mistakes, so I could get them right. Although, in August she told me she was going to be given up, suddenly I was booking my driving lesson, and franticaly booking driving lessons (all while my student loan dwindle away and I couldn't find a job). First test: failed. Two hazards. I, also, stalled a LOT. I was so incredibly nervous. Second Test: I was still nervous, but my only aim was to have a comfortable drive with a complete stranger in the car. My biggest problem was being in a confirmed space with someone who I didn't know. And, I did it! I passed and didn't cry at the examiner. Win-Win. My biggest problem before my tests was doubting my ability, even though I knew I was a good & safe driver - I would scare myself with the worst case scenario thoughts.

But, now I'm traveling on the road ALONE. And sometimes I find the idea terrifying, other times I cruise around and don't think twice about what I'm doing. Overall it's easier than I initially thought. But here is my list of 'things' that nobody tells you about driving:

1) Driving in and out of where you live is the easy part, getting beyond the first junction is where the fear kicks in.

2) It's lonely driving on your own without the radio on. But when the radio is on, you'll get carried away singing or lost in thought and question how you've driven so far without crashing or causing any accidents for the past 10 miles.

3) Parking. You have to plan where to park. You have to plan a route that means you have more than one parking option, and then you'll still freak out when I road is randomly closed and you park a 20-minute walk from work. Essentially saving you no time after choosing to drive or walk to work.

4) You feel really badass the first time you drive somewhere alone. I cannot express the euphoria I felt. Magical.

5) Your car will be a lot older, and completely different to drive. When you're learning to drive you're in a brand new, top of the range, fancy car. Suddenly you're driving a 15yr old Renault with wonky steering. You're pretty much learning to drive again, with an older car.

- KayleighBickle

Preparing for No-Spend November


Today is my start of No-Spending in November. Pray for me. Seriously.

Here is a list of things, that I did, to prepare myself:

1) Cancelled unnecessary subscriptions. (Netflix, Audible, Spotify, etc). I canceled these in advance so that they wouldn't take me by surprise in this month. If there are I've forgotten, I can contact them directly and (try to) get my money back.

2) Planned what I can and cannot buy. This way I won't be questioning whether or not I *need* another set of pastel highlights. [Answer is yes, but not this month.]

3) Tell EVERYONE. This way people will hold me accountable. Others will be watching me, waiting for me to fail.    (-.-)

4) Christmas Presents. It's November, it's inevitable the C word is going to come up on more than one occasion. If I see the ultimate Christmas present for someone, I will HAVE to wait until December - if I'm unable to find it again? They'll go without. Or receive it in January when I find it again.

5) Create a log in my bullet journal for writing down any money I do spend. This will be including necessary money. But, also, writing down where I save money. If I choose not to buy those pastel highlighters, I'll count it as a saving. Not only am I aiming to know how much money I have spent, but also the money I have saved.

Today is Day One. Hopefully, I have managed to not spend any money today. 

If you have any more tips, send them my way! Otherwise, keep your fingers crossed for me. 

- KayleighBickle