Stevie Martin
London based writer. Freelancer for hire (Published in Grazia, Vice, Elle, and others)
The Ultimate Guide To A Thrifty 2013 (Go Think Big)
For anyone who’s been reading (hi mum) I’ve been trying to provide moneysaving tips for fellow breadliners on a whole variety of things. Looking back, misty eyed, hysterically crying over the last few months, we’ve covered Christmas cards, parties, networking, vouchers, dates, vouchers while on dates, the time I lost my purse and immediately got a call saying it was in Wimbledon (have never been to Wimbledon) only to go and be presented with a purse I’d lost a year ago. Oh, we didn’t cover that? Well I also lost a purse (I’ve lost three in three years) and it was found in a bin. I’m not only terrible with money, but terrible with the things money is supposed to go in.
Aside from all of this, there are some basics I’ve slowly started to get a handle on that I think I should share:
If you have a smartphone, get a banking app. I have the Natwest one and it’s soothed my genuine fear of checking my bank balance. I used to go months without knowing which got me into a lot of trouble- the amount you presume you’ve got in there is never correct. Sometimes you get a good surprise, more often than not, you get the surprise which ends in wine and crying.
Stop buying coffee and crap sandwiches from Pret, Starbucks, Costa, Nero et al. If you buy a coffee or a sandwich every day, you’re spending over a grand a year on nothing. And that’s having calculated £3.50 per day. A coffee AND a sandwich? You don’t want to know the amount (£2,190). Make coffee at home, buy a thermos, bring your own sandwich, always carry snacks with you. Simple and cheap and, weirdly, something I personally haven’t nailed yet. Yep, I keep going to Pret. Hello New Years Resolution.
If anyone ever says “hey, do you want to set up a standing order?” do it. Even if there is suddenly an earthquake and a large fireball is shooting down the street towards you, take cover until it passes, then RESUME THE BUSINESS OF SETTING UP A STANDING ORDER. All I’ll say is: fines. Fines for late Council Tax, fines for late rent, cutting off your phone bill (and fining you), fines for your electricity, FINES. If you’re like me and would forget your eyes if they were detachable then always ask if there’s a possibility to set up a standing order.
Stevie Martin 
I believe what you published was actually very logical. However,
what about this? suppose you added a little content?
I mean, I don’t want to tell you how to run your blog, however what if you added something that grabbed a person’s attention?
I mean GoThinkBig: Hipster Tipster: The Ultimate Guide To A Thrifty
2013 « Stevie Martin: Freelance Writer is a little plain.
You should peek at Yahoo’s home page and note how they create news headlines to grab viewers to click. You might try adding a video or a pic or two to grab people excited about everything’ve got to say.
Just my opinion, it might make your posts a little bit more interesting.
You’re damn right, at the moment this is just acting as an online portfolio for potential freelance clients as opposed to a blog, but it couldn’t hurt to change the headlines. In fact that would probably make it a lot better- didn’t really think of this. Thanks!