Category: Current News


November 2011 marked a one year anniversary of my first steps into the investing world. In my final two years at university I copiously researched investing (risk tolerance, where to invest effectively for tax purposes etc) and finally decided to take the plunge three months into my first job out of university. November 2011 has also marked some important steps in progressing my finances. As I’ve mentioned in previous articles – personal finance management does not stop. You must continue to stay on top of your situation and ensure your money is making money for you whilst you sleep. Complacency and personal finance should never be said in the same sentence.

What are the three steps I’ve taken this month?

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This weekend passed I was looking through my expenses of the last few months. Since I moved out of my sister’s place and back into Central London I knew that my expenses would have increased. I was careful at the beginning of the year to sort out my budget which takes on the 70/20/10 structure. I’ve never been great at splitting my money into more than essentials, non-essentials and savings so this budget always worked best for me. View full article »

I’ve recently been promoted and am over the moon as I’ve been working long hours and more intensively than I ever have before. The time and energy put in has finally paid off. With the economy making it difficult for graduates to get a job I feel incredibly fortunate to have a job let alone a career. The promotion was not something that I could have achieved on my own and it was with the help of the great bloggers that I follow religiously and of course with the support of my line manager. With a combination of my experience and the great tips I took from others I’ve compiled a list of must-do’s to ensure steady, career progression and that all important promotion.  View full article »

New to The Thrift Diaries?

Maureen is on holiday this week.

If you’re new to the blog then Welcome! I hope that what you read on here is accessible and applicable to your situation whether you’ve just started uni, just graduated or have been working for a few years already. My aim is to share my experiences of personal finance management back when I started as a fresh-faced 15-year-old up, throughout my years of university and finally through my 2nd year of being in the working world. View full article »

This weekend gone I successfully moved into my fifth flat in five years. I’m living in Central London again having spent one year paying minimal rent by staying with my sister and brother-in-law (back then just a fiance – hence the move). My intention is to keep moving around so that I can make a good habit of not having too much stuff. Five years on it seems things are worse than they were when I was at university. So how have things changed?  View full article »

The Money Diaries @ I Will Teach You To Be Rich: Based on New York Magazine’s Sex Diaries. A collection of stories from real people about their spending habits over seven days, anonymized and posted here.

When renting is smarter than buying @ Get Rich Slowly: This a topic that many people feel strongly about. Myths such as ‘you’re throwing money away’ tend to transpire when the discussion gets underway. Sometimes it can make more sense to rent.

Extreme Early Retirement in Practice @ Get Rich Slowly: I’m always keen for young people and graduates especially to take their pension and retirement seriously. If you’re not contributing to your pension yet when do you expect to start? This article will help to put things into perspective.

Why We Save @ The Simple Dollar: The simplicity of everything we do. Trent’s 5 year old is saving for a Nintendo DS. If a 5 year old can save surely anyone can?

The riots across the UK have dominated the headlines for most of the past week as politicians and the general public alike stuggle to comprehend the true cause of the violence. I was disappointed as I watched footage of my beloved London being destroyed by people as young as 11. As the rioting took a hold of the headlines I watched more and more footage of reporters asking those that were looting why they were committing such acts. One girl proudly says “We’re getting our taxes back innit”. This girl could not have been any older than 18 so it’s questionable how much ‘tax’ she had a ‘right to claim back’. On other footage hooded youths were being asked why this was happening and they explained that due to budget cuts they had lost access to youth and sports clubs which we all know are essential to keep young people from gang culture. It’s sad that young people have had many of their entertainment facilities removed. There was also discussion that young people couldn’t find work and that other Londoners (those in employment)  are ‘rich’ whereas they’re poor. View full article »

My anniversary of working at my first full-time job following graduation is fast approaching. It’s been a roller-coaster ride with peaks and troughs but I’ve enjoyed every bit – even the stressful and long evenings!! My year in the business also coincides with the end of the fiscal year when performance reviews are taking place too. Everyone hopes for a bonus at the end of each year but I’m trying not to expect one to avoid potential disappointment. View full article »

Travel on the cheap

I’ve just got back from 4 days in Germany’s second biggest city, Hamburg. I had been looking forward to this holiday as it’s the first travel abroad (for fun, not work) that I’ve been on since August 2010. My sister and I had fun except for slightly colder weather than expected but we were also happy to see that we came in under budget. As this was the first experience for a while to experience travel, I took notes of how we ensured we travelled on the cheap. Here is my list of tips to keep expenses low without compromising enjoyment: View full article »

The tuition fees dispute has taken a backseat in recent news due to the Royal Wedding and Osama Bin Laden. It’s still a key issue though Jill McDonald boldly stated in the Evening Standard: Why go to university when you can learn on the job? It reached the front page and will no doubt fuel the argument that university isn’t worth it. View full article »

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