spring clean series: monthly resolutions

This post is a day late, but as they say better late then never! 

Every new years I make a list of resolutions, by February I can never remember them all. So this year I decided to do something different. I decided to focus on one resolution per month. This way I only have one thing to focus on and can spend my time working on that one resolution. Hopefully by the end of the month it's become a part of a routine and I can continue it on as well as adding something new the next month. 

This month I want to tackle my unhealthy eating habits that have developed due to a combination of working long hours and laziness to cook for one. My resolution for this month is to eat more fruit and veg. It's recommended that you eat 5 fruit and vegetables a day. If I'm entirely honest, I doubt that I get to 5 a day. 

spring clean series: career

Whether your applying for your first job or searching for a new job, a Curriculum Vitae (CV) is essential. There is no set format for a CV and everyone has their own opinion. These are some generic things I think you should adhere to.

spring clean series: money

I was inspired to do this post as I keep seeing adverts to use up your cash isa allowance before the end of the financial year.


a little info on ISAs:

• Stands for individual savings account
• If your aged over 16 you can open one
• Basically it's a saving's account in which you earn interest without tax being deducted.
• Your only allowed to open one ISA a year and each financial year you have an allowance
• For this financial year you can add £5340 (next year this will rise to £5640).
• If you don't use your allowance for the year you lose it
• There are different types of ISAs, the main ones are instant access , so you can withdraw your money at any time, or fixed, this is for a specified amount of time, the interest is usually higher but if you withdraw money before this time you usually lose out on the interest bonus.
• You don't have to add everything in one go and can add bit by bit. however if you withdraw money and you have already used up your allowance you can't add anymore. So for example say you have opened an ISA with the full amount £5340, and you then need some money so you withdraw £1000, seeing as you have already made the limit you can't deposit the £1000 back in.
• You don't need to have to have the limit to open the account usually you can open with a minimum of £1, and you still earn the interest tax free.
  

I hope that information was somewhat useful. Most of us have that something that we want to save up for whether it's for a rainy day or it's for that handbag you've always wanted or whether it's for a car like myself.


So here are some of my tips for saving:

spring clean series

As I mentioned in my post yesterday, spring has officially begun, which means it's time for a spring clean! I don't just mean spring cleaning your house or your wardrobe, but also looking at all aspects of your life. Taking a holistic approach to identify what areas, whether within your professional or personal life you would like to make changes to and how to go about making these changes, to achieve your goals. 


I've decided to start this new series where I will be sharing my advice and experiences on topics within the general areas of career, health and life. I'm aiming to post twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays for the rest of March and during April. (I'm not claiming to be an expert..I'm just sharing my 2 cents!). I hope that you will find these posts useful!


I think the barrier for most people in achieving their goals, including myself, is a lack of time. Everyone has things that they would like to do, or things that they would like to change, even ideas about where they would like to be. How many times have you said or thought I would be doing whatever it is you want to do but "I don't have the time"  It can be anything from eating breakfast everyday, to finding a new job, to reconnecting with old friends. 


Instead of thinking "i don't have the time" I like to put a positive spin on it "how can i make the time" It's important to create time and take responsibility to make changes to your life in order to achieve your goals, because no one will do it for you. 


I remember reading somewhere "a goal is just a dream until you put a date on it"