Millennial Saving Habits And How To Improve Them

*A Collaborative Post with Shepherds Friendly*

Despite the bad press that millennials often receive for regularly spending money on dining out and entertainment, they are in fact some of the best savers within the country with 59% putting money away at least once a month. Admittedly funds are generally saved towards short term goals like a holiday in preference of a home or retirement, but it's possible that this is due to the general cost of living being higher and these longer term goals appearing less obtainable in today's society.

The above infographic shares some important stats about the saving habits of millennials (those aged 18-34) and Generation X (those aged 35-54). Although many are saving money frequently which is great to see there's still a big percentage that aren't regularly popping the pounds away, if at all, which of course is a little concerning.

There are a few tips included which can certainly help you to save but being someone who puts funds away every pay day, without fail, and sets yearly targets, I have a few suggestions of my own which should have a positive impact on your bank (or ISA) balance.

How To Make A Small Room Seem Bigger

Many of us have a small room, which is essentially a dumping ground for “stuff” so why not

transform your box room into a spare bedroom, office or snug? You just need to declutter and add a lick of paint to brighten up the space. You could also invest in a modern Scandi light for a touch of trendiness.

Paint the walls light colours

When painting a smaller room, you want to open up the space with light colours, such as whites and pastels. This will make the room feel more spacious and airier.

Darker colours will only make the room feel boxy and claustrophobic. You want to bring light into the room, not take it away.

Use hidden storage

It’s time to get crafty with your storage techniques. Floor to ceiling wardrobes are a great option for utilising space and hidden storage under the bed is a life saver.

Opt for furniture with multiple purposes. Invest in some wooden baskets to put under

the bed or your window seat. There is no need to take up extra space with large drawers when you can secretly tuck away items.

Fun with Fortnite - Supply Drop Characters and The All Terrain Kart

If you've got a gamer in the family, especially a tween or teen, it's likely that you will have heard of, if not played, Fortnite. It's available for free on a variety of consoles, including PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC, and enables multiple players to build, create and battle in 100 player pvp mode until there's just one character left standing.

With Jambo and Moomin both being incredibly competitive it's ideal for them and now that there is a toy range to match they can still play in real life when it's time to switch off the tech.

The Supply Drop figures come in solo, duo or squad packs. With each posable figure being 2 inches in height, they are easy to transport to keep kids entertained when on the move whilst also being great to collect and display at home. Each character comes with two accessories and a stand which are interchangeable so you can swap the weapons and back bling around allowing little ones to really customise their toys.

4 Clear Signs Your Tyres Need To Be Replaced

Cars have become an almost inseparable part of our lives and we are often totally dependent on them for our commute. But even when we know they are extremely important for our safety, we ignore our car tyres to a great extent and continue to use the old and worn out ones - just to avoid breaking the bank. But if we talk about long term, this negligence only magnifies the repair costs because if tyres are not performing, they tarnish the overall vehicle performance too. For example you live in Birmingham and you want to travel out of town by road for a business trip - you need to make sure your tyres are in good condition otherwise you will face inconvenience.

You can follow this simple 4 step checklist to know if this is the right time to make a tyre replacement.

Seeing Unusual Bulges

If you see uneven bulges in your tyres surface that means that they are in the depreciating state and continuing to drive with them will be very dangerous. Inspect the surface carefully and you should be able to find any bulges or cracks.

The Real Cost of Your Commute (and How to Drive it Down)

Do you spend several hours every week travelling to and from work? As well as the time it takes you, there’s also the cost; a recent study from Totaljobs revealed that the average UK employee spends £146 a month commuting - which comes to a whopping £135,871 by the time you come to retire.

That monthly spend is over double for workers heading into London. On top of petrol, parking and daily train tickets, there’s the unforgotten costs like vehicle wear and tear and even coffees at the station - all of which eat into your wage on a daily basis. Some commuters may need to look into other financial routes to cover their travel arrangements on top of other essentials.

Thankfully, there are simple ways to make it cheaper. Try these four tips to drive down your commuting costs.

How to Enjoy the Ultimate Mum and Child Pamper Day

Want to enjoy the ultimate pamper day with your kids without stepping foot inside a spa? There’s a wide range of products you can buy which can be used to pamper yourself at home and no matter what your budget, you’ll always be able to find items to match it.

Stock up on pampering products

You’re going to need some basic products to pamper yourselves. Face masks, moisturisers and maybe even foot scrubs will all come in useful for some well deserved R&R. While you can potentially save money shopping online, it may be a good idea to actually go shopping.

This is especially true if you’ll be hosting the pamper day pretty soon. With online deliveries, there’s always a risk the parcel could get lost or simply not turn up on time (we've all experienced that). So, going physically shopping will eliminate any stress for on the day.

Making a House a Home with Desenio

We've been decorating the house room by room for the last couple of months and it's now at the stage where I can actually select the finishing touches for certain spaces *hooray*. I think it's the final few pieces like plants, candles and wall art that really transform a house into a home, and gives a room some style. It was therefore lovely to select some prints from Desenio - especially after gathering so much inspiration from their Instagram page!

Desenio have a large collection of posters and prints, which are primarily Scandinavian, that help you to create the atmosphere you desire - whether that be a sassy teen bedroom or a relaxing bathroom. If you're seeking classic black and white, retro items, bold quotes or something cute for a nursery, they have some great quality products and they of course have the perfect frames and accessories to enable you to get your purchases up and on the walls or shelves quickly.