First things first, I have a confession. Whilst I have been running every week for the past month or so, I am yet to buy new trainers, as I had promised – having an advert and two films cancelled in short succession does that to you. But, I recently took a much bigger risk than trainers. Last…
Should I save or should I blow (my savings)?
I am in a bit of a dilemma. I am self-employed and work in the arts. It’s not a particularly high income, at the moment, but I am good at saving money and am really not a big spender. Though I have had to pay out well over £100,000 on rent, estate agent fees, and landlord checking fees…
Date in a dash: a pub quiz with romance?
Dating can be an expensive business; from paying, to apps, to nights out. So, I have taken up the gauntlet to explore different ways of dating and their value for money. In the name of research, I signed up (with a friend), to do my first speed dating pub quiz this month. I’ve done speed…
Why diversity will help your work force!
I can’t quite believe that I am writing this because, to me, it seems bloomin’ obvious that diversity would help your work force. Maybe I would say that; with my three cultural backgrounds and having lived in Essex and Yorkshire. With a myriad of friends and colleagues, some from mansions, council estates and everywhere in…
Hold back the river, let me buy a houseboat…
With only half of 25-34 year olds on the property ladder now compared with in 1996, and the number of young people owning outright trumping those with a mortgage (Sesame Street Explanation: only those with the wealthiest parents can buy), many people are looking for housing alternatives. I have spent the past 18 months exploring shared…
Seven things to consider before starting up a company
Do you need to start a company to achieve what you want? Or will a one-off project suffice? A fellow theatre maker and I were given opposite advice by two established theatre companies. I was advised to start a company as you get longevity for future shows and projects, you’ll have a better chance of…
Welcoming in 2017: we’ll take a cup of kindness yet
2016: Brexit. Trump. Syria. Yemen. Attacks. Cuts. The rise of fascism. All the lost icons. Southern Rail. 2017…??? I don’t think I have ever looked forward to a new year as much as i look forward to 2017. Whilst, personally, I had a lot of highs (I got to go to six weddings!), 2016 has…
Mouthy no Money: my new year’s resolution
Last week I worked 60 hours. The week before I worked 80 hours. The two months before that I averaged 40-70 hours. I have spent all of this week asking to be paid for work done between September and November, I haven’t started my Christmas shopping yet, and I am avoiding doing my food shop…
No train, no gain, much pain
Train fares in Britain will go up by an average of 2.3% from 2nd January, the rail industry announced today. ‘Campaigners said passengers would be disappointed by the increase.’ Too bloody right we are! It is already expensive. I travel by train a lot and have lost count of the times that I have cancelled…
The ease of ethical shopping
Whilst the exploitation of workers is sadly nothing new, dangerous factory conditions, anti-environmental policies, and even companies supporting apartheid are frequently ‘outed’ on the news channels and on social media. I’m a bit of a reactive conscious consumer; as soon as I hear that a supplier of clothes/food/technology is using slave labour, not paying tax,…