Wednesday 30 December 2015

My Favourie Films of 2015

Hey guys!


Today's post will be about the best films I've watched this year. So, here they are:


From 2015

1. Cinderella
 
Cinderella is my favourite fairy tale, and this version was amazing. I love the costumes, and Lily James is amazing!


2. Hunger Games Mockingjay Part 2
 
Such a fantastic ending to the films! So sad it's over :(


3. Inside Out
 
This film is so cute, and it made me cry!


4. Jurassic World
 
The effects are amazing! So realistic!



Other

5. Ever After: A Cinderella Story
 
Another amazing retelling of Cinderella. If you love fairy tales, you definitely have to watch this!


6. Finding Neverland
 
Simply amazing!


7. Blue Lagoon
 
Brilliant film!


8. Soul Surfer
 
Such an inspirational film!



As always, there are lots of films I didn't get round to watching this year, such as Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (need to read the book first!), Pan, Fantastic Four, Tomorrowland: A World Beyond, The Longest Ride and The Diary of a Teenage Girl.



What are your favourite films from this year?


Hasta luego!


Serena




Tuesday 29 December 2015

Tune Tuesday: 2015 Playlist


Hey guys!

Can you believe that it's almost 2016?! I swear, it still feels like 2012! As it's my last Tune Tuesday of this year, I thought I'd share my favourite songs of 2015!


1. See You Again - Wiz Khalifa - Charlie Puth
2. Drag Me Down - One Direction
3. Perfect - One Direction
4. Love Myself - Hailee Steinfeld
5. Bad Blood - Taylor Swift
6. Wildest Dreams - Taylor Swift
7. Shake It Off - Taylor Swift
8. Want To Want Me - Jason Derulo
9. Fight Song - Rachel Platten
10. Can't Feel My Face - The Weeknd
11. Hello - Adele
12. Sorry - Justin Bieber
13. What Do You Mean? - Justin Bieber
14. Where Are U Now - Justin Bieber, Skrillex & Diplo
15. Should've Been Us - Tori Kelly
16. Confident - Demi Lovato
17. Locked Away - R. City ft. Adam Levine
18. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding
19. Ignition / Do You - Phoebe Ryan
20. Jealous - Nick Jonas
21. New Americana - Halsey
22. Flashlight - Jessie J


Yeah, I know, it's a bit long...but there are so many songs I love this year! What would be on your list? Let me know!


Hasta luego!


Serena


Tuesday 22 December 2015

Tune Tuesday: December Playlist


























Hey guys!


Well, as you can see, it's been a while since I last posted. That was totally not supposed to happen. I had so many posts plans but I've been spending so much time on my essays...and they're not even any where near finished. Will never understand how people can write 2000+ word essays in a day or two. Just crazy!


Anyway, with Christmas Day on Friday, I thought I might as well share my playlist for this month today. The songs are a mix of Christmas and non-Christmas ones. Enjoy!


1. All I Want For Christmas - Mariah Carey


This has been my favourite Christmas song since, well, forever. I can listen to it over and over again and still not get bored of it! I know a lot of people like Fairytale of New York, but I seriously can't stand it - I have to cover my ears as soon as I hear it!


2. Last Christmas - Wham!


Second fave Christmas song! I know it's not amazing or anything, but you have to admit it's good to sing along to!


3. The Feeling - Justin Bieber & Halsey


Justin Bieber has really upped his game recently, and this song with Halsey (who is also brill) is no exception.


4. Sorry - Justin Bieber


I listen to this at least once every day. Is it too late to say sorry? (Sorry, I had to) (HA!)


5. Focus - Ariana Grande


I kinda like Ariana Grande's songs...but at the same time, I find her really annoying...but I quite like 'Focus'.


6. Rock Bottom - Hailee Steinfeld


Yes, I know she's two years younger than me. IDC! She has a great voice!


7. Over And Over Again - Nathan Sykes


Amazing!


8. One Call Away - Charlie Puth


Charlie Puth is a new fave <3 p="">


What are your favourite Christmas songs?


Hasta luego!


Serena







 

Sunday 22 November 2015

Disney Wishlist


 
 
Hey guys!


Hope you're all having a great week! Today I'm back with my first Disney wishlist! I absolutely love checking out what Disney-themed products A Yellow Brick Blog's Kirstie is lusting over every month and it was only a matter of time before I fell victim to this trend. I've loved Disney ever since I was a kid, and both Amazon and the Disney Store have some fantastic themed items on offer.


1. Minnie Mouse Cosmetic Bag - £7.38 - How adorable is this?!


2. Cinderella mug - £5.47 - Though I'm not a fan of (regular) tea and coffee, I do love hot chocolate, and this mug is perfect! It's no secret that I'm a fan of Cinderella! This mug is a good price too!


3. Snowflake Earrings - £22 - Perfect for winter!


4. Frozen Tote Bag - £2.39 - Oh, I definitely need this! I love how simple it is, and it would come in handy now, what with the 5p bag charge! And it's a total bargain too!


5. Alice in Wonderland Notebook - £9.99 - I saw this notebook over at A Yellow Brick Blog and immediately added it to my list! The cover is so pretty (I apologise for the blurry version above).


6. Elsa Figurine - £50 - A little expensive, but so pretty!



I doubt it will be long before I give in and purchase one (or all) of these products! They're just so cute!


Hasta luego!


Serena


P.S. If you want some more Disney inspiration, don't forget to check out Kirstie's November Disney Wishlist!

Sunday 15 November 2015

Blogs I Love


Hey guys!
As I spend a lot of time reading blogs, I thought that I'd share some of my favourite ones with you. These are a mixture of lifestyle, travel and food blogs.

1.  Poppy Loves- Poppy Loves is one of my favourite blogs. I love reading about all the wonderful
places in London that Poppy has visited. Her afternoon tea posts always make me hungry and crave cake! Just look at the meringues! Poppy has some great tips for bloggers too! And don't even get me started on how fabulous Poppy's photography is!
poppy-loves



2. Pam Scalfi- Another blog I love! I've been reading Pam's blog for over half a year and I enjoy her outfit posts. Don't you just love this necklace?!
pam-scalfi-blog

 
3. World of Wanderlust - I probably shouldn't be reading travel blogs as there are so many fantastic places I want to visit (some of which I mentioned in my Top Five Countries I'd Love to Visit post) and it's just not possible at the moment, but a girl can dream! Definitely check out the city guides if you're planning on visiting some of these places.
world-of-wanderlust-blog

4. Sprinkle Bakes - This blog is really cake lover's paradise! This Jane Austen cake is too perfect to eat!
sprinkle-bakes-blog


5. Fine and Dandy - I just need to visit a cat cafe ASAP! It's such a brilliant idea! And I definitely have to make some strawberries and cream cupcakes! Yummy!
 
fine-and-dandy-blog
 
fine-and-dandy-blog
 
 
6. A Yellow Brick Blog - If you love Disney (and let's face it, who doesn't?!), this blog is the one to read! I love Kirstie's regular Disney Wishlists- they're so cute!

a-yellow-brick-blog


Of course there are many other blogs that I love to read, but these are just a few! Do you read any of these blogs? What are your favourites?
Hasta luego!
Serena


Thursday 12 November 2015

My Third Year Bucket List


 
Hey guys!


Today I am going to share my bucket list for this year. I know it's almost the eight week of term, but better late than never, right? I still have over 20 weeks to complete this list so there's no rush.


1. Write more articles for the student newspapers.

I haven't had much inspiration for articles recently, but if I can manage between 8 and 12 before June that would be great. I've stuck to the food section in the past, so I think I'll try writing for another section this year, like Music, Film or TV.


2. Bake / cook more with flatmates.

Erm, so this hasn't really gone that well so far, but maybe I should suggest doing a roast at some point? And there's always Pancake Day...I didn't do nearly as much baking as I would have liked to last year, so I want to make up for it this year!


3. Attend a blogger event.

Not really uni-related, but there are some blogger events around Yorkshire (and London too, for when I'm back home). I was planning to go to an event in Liverpool last weekend but I decided to go home instead (to see kittens!). Hopefully I'll be able to attend the event at Kiehl's in a couple of weeks.



It seems to be forever hiding from me but cake. CAKE.


5. Go to King's Manor.

Because apparently it's a really awesome place (I'll believe it when I see it).


6.  Write a totally awesome dissertation.

And get a first for it! Because I've already spent hours doing the reading for m dissertation and it would be heartbreaking if I didn't get a first!


So those are my goals for my third year of uni! What would you like to achieve this year?


Hasta luego!


Serena


Tuesday 10 November 2015

Tune Tuesday: November Playlist




Hey guys!


How are you all? I've just realised that this is my first blog post since Halloween! Hope you all enjoyed Halloween (and Bonfire Night too)! I went to a house party for a bit and dressed up as Carrie (from Carrie). My outfit kinda failed and people had to ask who I was, but oh well!


Today I will be sharing my playlist for November. As with my October playlist, this month's playlist will comprise of my favourite songs at the moment.


1. Confident - Demi Lovato

2. Perfect - One Direction

3. Hello - Adele

4. Hands Of Love - Miley Cyrus

5. Used to Love You - Gwen Stefani

6. Same Old Love - Selena Gomez

7. Sober - Selena Gomez

8. Night Like This - Hilary Duff



I'm absolutely loving Demi Lovato's Confident. It is so catchy! I could honestly listen to it over and over again! The same goes for Hilary Duff's Night Like This! I'm so glad she's still making music! It's great that Adele is back too! I'm kinda embarrassed to include One Direction but I do like their two most recent songs, Drag Me Down and Perfect. I'll be honest and say that I'm not really a fan of Selena Gonz but Sober and Same Old Love have been stuck in my head ever since I first heard them.


What are your favourite songs at the moment? What do you think of Adele's new song? I'd love to hear your thoughts!


Hasta luego!


Serena


Wednesday 28 October 2015

4 DIY Halloween Costumes With a Black Dress


Hey guys!

 
With Halloween just around the corner, I thought today would be a good time to suggest some last minute costume ideas. Yes, I know Halloween is only a few days away, but not everyone plans their costume weeks in advance!

 
One thing these outfits all have in common is a black dress (I've chosen a simple one from Amazon) - and I'm pretty sure you all have one stashed away at home somewhere! You will also need some other bits and pieces, but they're fairly easy to find (Etsy has a fab selection of Halloween-themed clothes and accessories) and won't leave you bankrupt!


1. Wednesday Addams



First up, we have Wednesday Addams. I was initially planning to dress up as Wednesday for Halloween this year, as I pretty much own everything I'd need and wouldn't have to buy anything extra. However, the clothing I would've worn are all the way back in London, and unfortunately I can't really go back until early November. Luckily, I had another idea, something a little less popular...but I shan't reveal it yet! :P Anyway, as shown in the picture, a Wednesday Addams costume simply consists of a black dress with a white shirt underneath. If you want to make this look more realistic, cover your face with white make-up and tie your hair into two plaits. You could even add black contacts! There's a great tutorial for Wednesday Addam's make-up over at Mayeyelook!

 
2. Minnie Mouse

 
 
Minnie Mouse is more cute than scary, but it's still fun to dress up with her for Halloween! Team your black dress with a red cardigan, red shoes (either flats or heels, depending on how much dancing you're planning on doing), and mouse ears (bonus points if they're special Minnie Mouse ones). Add red lipstick and a red belt to your dress if you wish.


3. Holly Golightly 

Audrey Hepburn is famous for her role as Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and now you can dress as her for Halloween! Jazz up your black dress with a pair of black gloves, a pearl necklace and a black cigarette holder.
 
 
4. Maleficent
 
 
 
 Dressing up as Maleficent may seem complicated, but all you need is a plain black dress, a cape and some horns.
 
  
Hope this post has given you a few ideas of what to wear this Halloween!
 
 
Hasta luego!
 
 
Serena
 
 

Tuesday 20 October 2015

Tune Tuesday: October Playlist



 
 
 Hey guys!


You may have noticed that I haven't done any Tune Tuesday posts for a while (since the beginning of September to be precise - not as long ago as I thought, but still). I have be meaning to, but I keep getting sudden sparks of inspirations for other posts. I finally sat down on Sunday afternoon and drafted this post. I've discovered some great songs recently and thought I'd share them with you. 
 
 
1. Pyramids - Noonie Bao

 
Noonie Bao isn't a singer many people are familiar, but her song 'Pyramids' is so catchy!
 
 
2. White Houses - Vanessa Carlton
 
 
All this time and I've only ever heard ONE song by Vanessa Carlton ('A Thousand Miles' of course)! That is just so crazy! 'White Houses' is another good song by Vanessa Carlton - I don't know why 'A Thousand Miles' is her only well-known song.
 
 
3. Sober - Selena Gomez
 
 
I don't particularly like Selena Gomez, but her two latest songs ('Sober' and 'Good For You') are quite catchy.
 
 
4. Locked Away - R. City & Adam Levine
 
 
Anything with Adam Levine is bound to be great, right?
 
 
5. Love Myself - Hailee Steinfeld
 
 
Love this!
 
 
6. WILD - Troye Sivan
 
 
Great song!
 
 
7. Bad For Me - Megan & Liz
 
 
A bit of an old song, but doesn't stop me from liking it!
 
 
8. Stole the Show - Kygo & Parson James
 
 
Love love love!
 
 
9. Better When I'm Dancin' - Meghan Trainor
 
 
My favourite song by Meghan Trainor! It's brilliant!
 
 
10. On My Mind - Ellie Goulding
 
 
Very catchy! She's definitely done something to her lips though, it's kinda annoying. Just leave your lips as they are people!
 
 
 
What songs would be on your playlist for this month? Let me know in the comments!
 
 
Hasta luego!
 
 
Serena
 
 

Wednesday 14 October 2015

And I STILL haven't seen these Disney and Pixar films...



























Hey guys!
 
 
You're never too old for Disney, right? Well, this week I will be sharing 10 Disney and Pixar films I never got round to watching. You may be thinking, "What?! How has she not seen these?!" I'm surprised myself, but don't worry, I will sit down and watch them...sometime...soon...

 
1. Anastasia
 
Source: Impawards
 
I just can't...it's ridiculous I never saw this as a kid.
 
 
2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
 
Source: Whatculture
 
Unacceptable, pretty sure everyone has seen this.
 
 
3. Robin Hood
 
Source: IMDB
 
How is that even possible?!
 
 
4. The Rescuers
 
Source: Disney
 
I'm sure I saw a bit of this once...but can't really remember :/
 
 
5. The Fox and the Hound
 
Source: Entertainment Weekly
 
 
6. Oliver & Company


Source: Wikipedia
 
Yeah, again, unacceptable. THE MAIN CHARACTER IS A CAT! And it's based on Olive Twist.
 
 
7. Up

Source: The Guardian
 
It's on Netflix now so really no excuse.
 
 
8. Brave
  
Source: ANU Women's Department
 
 
9. The Princess and the Frog
 

Source: Wallpaper Pixel
 
10. Monsters University
 
So that's my list! In terms of non-animated Disney films, I still have yet to watch the original versions of The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday (the remakes are two of my favourite films), as well as Hocus Pocus (one for Halloween methinks) and Tuck Everlasting.

 
Are there any Disney or Pixar films you haven't watched? If so, what are they?
 
 
Hasta luego!
 
 
Serena
 
 

Wednesday 7 October 2015

Back To Uni Wishlist




Hey guys!


I can't believe it's already October!! The summer hols flew by! Now that I'm officially back at York (I did come up for a week before my work experience placement, but that doesn't count), I thought I'd share with you some products I'd like to buy for my room and desk (and wardrobe). "Back to education" shopping trips aren't really as exciting as they used to be when I was at school (that feels like such a long time ago now!), but I do still love looking at stationery products! I often find myself wandering into Paperchase and finding 135564 items I want to buy. Unfortunately, I've accumulated way too many pens and notebooks so I can't really justify buying any more, no matter how pretty they may be!


1. Poppy Lux Dorothy Sweater

 I adore Peter Pan collar sweaters. This one is fairly simple but great for Autumn, and I do need some more jumpers / sweaters (I'm pretty sure I have around 8-10 overall, which may seem plenty, but in the UK that's not nearly enough!).


2. Weekly Planner Pad

I really really really need one of these in my life! Weekly planner pads seem so useful, more so than diaries!


3. Pencil Pot

A pencil pot will definitely stop me from cluttering my desk with pens and pencils! This one is only £1.73 too! Bargain!


4. Vintage Notebook

I have enough notebooks to open up a shop, but I love this one - the cover is so pretty.


5. Retro Light Up Sign

 The 'Sweetheart' sign would look good in my uni bedroom - I've been living in my new room for two weeks overall and it's still really, really, really bare.



So there's my wishlist! Why not check out the wishlists on Fashion Train  or Elle Yeah? There's also some lovely stationery over on Em's Little Box!
 

What products would be on your wishlist?


Hasta luego!


Serena


Tuesday 6 October 2015

What I've Been Watching In September




Hey guys!


I know it's a bit late, but here are my mini reviews of the films I watched in September. I didn't get to watch much TV because I've cancelled my Netflix subscription for a while. I have, however, resumed watching Awkward, and started Scream Queens. I'll admit that they're not the most intellectual shows on TV at the moment, but they are quite funny, and Scream Queens does have a great cast. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a legal way of watching Scream Queens and Awkward here in the UK, so I was only able to see a few episodes. They should really be on Netflix - I mean, Awkward has been on for a few years now, and there has been a lot of buzz about Scream Queens. This is why I shouldn't watch American TV shows!


1. How to Deal

Source: Google

























I can't believe that I only just recently realised that a film has been made of Sarah Dessen's books. Talk about being behind the times! It just shows how much of a flop it was. I mean, How to Deal does have a rating of only 5.7 (out of 10) on IMDB. Part of the reason I watched How to Deal (rather than waiting to read the books first) was to see if the film was really as bad as the reviews suggest. I wanted to enjoy this film, but it turned out to be rather mediocre. Disappointing, since Sarah Dessen is a brilliant author. Hopefully, the books (Someone Like You and That Summer) are better.



2. Tangled


Source: Animation Begins
 


















I have seen bits of Tangled before, but I finally sat down to watch the film in its entirety at the beginning of September. I'm so glad I did. Tangled is a funny film, and I love the songs. It's such a cute movie and perfect for both kids and adults.



3. The Falling

Source: The Dull Wood Experiment


















This was a very strange, and I agree with Nigel that it isn't really clear what the message of the film is. The Falling was quite different to how I expected. However, Maisie Williams was great.


4. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

Source: Fanpop
 














I am so useless at watching films when they are in cinemas! It's taken me two years to watch The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones! To be fair, I did only read the book last year (again, useless!). The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones has a load of negative reviews, but I really enjoyed it. I love Lily Collins and Robert Sheehan (he was hilarious in Misfits). Jamie Campbell Bower is great too (I recently saw him performing on stage in Bend It Like Beckham the Musical). I like all the action and effects in The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, though I do think that some things weren't explained well enough (e.g. 'the Clave'). However, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is an enjoyable film, not just for fans of Twilight.


5. Safe Haven

Source: Rogerebert

























Safe Haven is one of the few films that stay very close to the book it's based on (Nicholas Sparks's novel of the same name). It's about a woman who flees to a small seaside town and soon falls in love. The reason why she has to escape from her previous home is quickly revealed. They may not be the best actors, but I do love the chemistry between Julianne Hough (Katie) and Josh Duhamel (Alex). Lexie is soo cute too! Tierney (a.k.a. Kevin, in the book) is very creepy! Safe Haven is undoubtedly a lot different to other works of Nicholas Sparks, but it's still fantastic.


6. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Source: The Atlantic

















This is such a moving film, and cute too. However, I didn't find myself crying, which is what I thought would happen before watching the film. Nevertheless, Greg and Rachel are lovely characters.


7. Chasing Liberty

Source: Tumblr
 

















Keeping up with the Mandy Moore theme (How to Deal and Tangled), I also watched Chasing Liberty in September. It had been on my list for a while. Chasing Liberty is very much like First Daughter - they pretty much revolve around the same idea: the overprotected daughter of the president longs for freedom, and falls in love in the process, not realising the guy's true identity. However, Chasing Liberty is my favourite of the two movies. I enjoyed watching Anna's adventures in Europe with Ben (Matthew Goode, who is so good looking!). It made me want to visit some of those places!


8. Bend It Like Beckham

Source: Planet Bollywood

























Having seen the musical recently, I thought September would be a good opportunity to re-watch the film. I love Bend It Like Beckham - it's hilarious! I'm not the biggest fan of football, but that really doesn't matter with this film! I'd definitely recommend watching Bend It Like Beckham!



Let me know if you've seen any of these films!


Hasta luego!


Serena


Sunday 4 October 2015

My Summer Reading List Revisited




Hey guys!


You may remember that I posted My Summer Reading List back in June (wow, that feels like so long ago!). Well, now that we're at the beginning of October, and summer has well and truly finished (*sob*), I thought that today would be a goo time to let you know how I got on with my list.


Although I set myself the target of reading 22 books, which is a little ambitious in itself, I somehow managed to read a total of 25 during my four-month long holiday. I'm quite surprised I managed to get through so many books - some people don't even read that much in an entire year!




Anyway, sixteen of the books were from my list, while the remaining 9 books were ones that I either received spontaneously, either through Netgallery, Xpresso Book Tours, or from the author themselves (in the case of Untamed), or picked up a while ago and only recently got round to finishing it due to uni commitments (e.g. Lola and the Boy Next Door and Fangirl). I also decided to read Allegiant and The Duff last minute.


Out of the books I read this summer, I would have to say that The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Stolen, The Invention of Wings, Perfect Chemistry and Everything, Everything were my favourites. They're quite different, but all beautifully written. Safe Haven, The Duff, The Miniaturist, Untamed, Solace of the Road and Entangled come close. I did enjoy the other books I read, but they don't really compare to the first five books mentioned in this paragraph. I was actually quite disappointed with Lola and the Boy Next Door and Fangirl. I'd heard so many good things about the latter, and despite having a relatable protagonist, the story didn't seem to have much plot. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to connect with the characters in Lola and the Boy Next Door as much as I did with Anna and Etienne in Anna and the French Kiss.


(The mini reviews for the majority of the books I read can be found either in my June post, July post, August post or September post)


The Books I Didn't Manage to Read


Unfortunately, I didn't have time to read 6 of the books I was planning to read over summer. I'll probably read them over Christmas, Easter and next summer instead. They are as follows:


1. Easy


















2. Emma





















I was planning to read one classic this summer but that failed!


3. The Scorch Trials





















:(


4. Romiette and Julio


















I even own a copy of this book!


5. Sister, Missing





















Ditto!


6. Before Midnight
















Two Cinderella retellings was enough for one month!



What books did you read this summer? Have you read any of the books I read? Let me know!


Hasta luego!


Serena


Thursday 1 October 2015

How to save money at uni



























Hey guys!


Following my Top Tips For Uni post, I thought I'd share with you some of the ways you can save money whilst studying at university. There's nothing worse than being stuck in debt and not being able to enjoy your life at uni. By utilising these tips, hopefully this won't happen to you.


1. Get a railcard

As a student, you'll be using trains at least six times a year, so it's worth investing in a 16-25 railcard. It only costs £30 per year (o £70 for all three years), and you'll be saving 1/3 on train tickets. You can find out more by clicking on this link.


2. Hold pre-drinks at home

If you're going on a big night out, get your friends together and pop to the local Aldi for any prinks (a.k.a. "pre-drinks"). This will cost as little as £3 per person, whereas drinking in bars can add around £15 on top of the £3 entry fee to the club. And £18+ is a lot to spend on a night out when you're a student, especially if it's going to become a regular occurrence.


3. Alternate nights out

What I mean by this is, go out every second week, rather than every week. It's really not necessary to go out every single week and you'll be saving money this way. The other nights you can stay in and watch a film with your flatmates.


4. Limit the takeaways

It may be tempting to stop off at McDonald's (or Efe's, if you're in York) on the way home after a night out, but think about all those calories! And all those fivers you spend on a burger and fries / pizza could add up and you'd be able to afford a ticket to visit your friend in the next town (I'm sure they'll be so happy to see you!)!


5. Subscribe to Netflix

You may be glued to your TV when you're at home and having your own tele at uni can be sociable (ironically). However, subscribing to Netflix can save a lot of money. Netflix may also have films / TV shows that aren't available on an ordinary TV (e.g. Pretty Little Liars).


6. Walk

It's shocking how much you can save each year by simply walking instead of taking the bus / a taxi. You could literally afford a weekend's holiday if you saved all the money you'd be spending on buses. I'm going to try to limit my bus journeys to once a week (so one return ticket), if that. Also, as my mum tells me almost every week, "walking is good exercise". The uni gym is so expensive so walking is a cheaper alternative. I use a pedometer whenever I go out, so that gives me more incentive to walk rather than hop on public transport.


7. Use the library

Any books you'll need for your course are bound to be somewhere in the uni library. Check before spending £50 on a book that might be difficult to sell after you've finished using it.


8. Sign up to experiments / help out at open days

It is so hard to get a part time job so look out for any psychology experiments at your uni. Some Departments / Colleges may need students to help out at open days, and they can pay quite a bit, so make sure you volunteer if you have time and you haven't managed to get a job.


9. Keep a money jar

Keep any spare change in a jar / large purse and it'll eventually add up! At the beginning of first year, choose a type of coin, for example 20p, and try to save every coin of that type. I personally try to save every coin dated 2012 or later. I started at the end of first year, and I'm now starting third year, but I've saved quite a bit! Only "break into" the jar in real "emergencies" - like if you're getting a taxi home and don't have enough cash on you, you could quickly run up to your room and take some coins from the jar and "pay yourself back" later (this happened to me last term - I was only £1 short! :( ).


10. Get loyalty cards

It's probably wise to get a loyalty card for shops / restaurants you'll be purchasing things from regularly. I'd recommend getting ones for Starbucks, Costa, Superdrug, Boots and Nando's. Also see if your local cinema gives out loyalty cards.


I hope these tips come in handy! Thanks for reading!


Hasta luego!


Serena