Stupid Sh*t I Used to Waste Money On (And What I Do Now Instead)

Let’s be real: we’ve all wasted money on dumb stuff. At the time it felt justified, exciting even. But looking back? Absolute chaos. Today I’m sharing a few things I used to regularly drop my hard-earned cash on, and what I do differently now (aka older, wiser, and mildly less impulsive).

Pop Figures

At one point I had over 50 of these little vinyl creatures staring back at me from every corner of my room. I loved them... until I didn’t. I’ve since sold off most of my collection, keeping just six of my absolute faves. Lesson learned? Collecting is fun until it becomes clutter - and a bank-draining one at that.

Now: I only buy merch I really love and will use or display with purpose.

Beauty Purchases

My blog used to be beauty-focused, and I lived for the latest releases, haul content, and discount codes. But it got to a point where I was buying stuff just for the sake of it - not because I needed it. Half of it went untouched.

Now: I’ve got a solid skincare routine and a few trusted makeup staples. If it’s not an essential, I pass (unless it’s on a ridiculous sale, let’s be honest).

Heels

I cannot walk in heels. Never could. Never will. And yet, I owned multiple pairs "just in case". Spoiler: the case never came.

Now: I stick to comfy shoes I’ll actually wear - flats, trainers, and the occasional chunky boot. I still have a few small heels I can just about wobble through a restarunt in, but that's it! 

restaurant

Meal Deals Every Day

Buying a meal deal every day at work was my norm because I hated prepping lunch (still kinda do). But it added up fast.

Now: I meal plan before doing the food shop, and make sure I have food for lunch and dinner planned and purchased.

Notebooks

Stationery girlies, unite - I am still one of you. But there was a time I was buying 1–2 notebooks a week for literally no reason other than: "oooh, cute!"

Now: I limit myself to one new notebook per season (ish). And yes, I still struggle walking past the stationery aisle in The Works.

Clothes I Didn't Love

The early YouTube days of Primark hauls? Yep, I was deep in that phase. I’d buy loads of clothes for the sake of content, but half of it never fit right or wasn’t even my style.

Now: I only buy what I know I’ll wear. No more haul pressure.

Honourable Mentions (aka The Random Sh*t List):

• Tacky jewellery that fell apart within a week.
• Fragrances that triggered my asthma (love that for me).
• New food items from the deli at my old job - curiosity is expensive.
• Packaging and shipping supplies from my brief “I’m going to sell stuff online” era.
• Subscriptions to weight loss apps that I never used.
• Rune stones I never learned how to read (still cute though).
• Cheap tech that barely worked beyond opening the box.
• PENS. PENS. PENS. I don’t even know what to say here.

Moral of the story?

Impulse buys are fun in the moment, but being intentional with your money is so much more satisfying long-term. Don’t get me wrong - I still treat myself! But now I ask myself if it’s going to be used, loved, or just another thing that ends up in a box under my bed.

What’s the dumbest thing you used to blow money on? Let me know - no judgment here! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Living with Social Anxiety

I’m not entirely sure how to word this post, so please bear with me!

The first time I really noticed I had anxiety was when I was 15. That’s when I realised what it was called and why I was feeling the way I did - along with experiencing panic attacks. By the time I was 18, I’d figured out what triggered me or made me feel 'off'. By around 22 years old, I’d developed certain techniques to help calm myself down and to deal with panic attacks when they occurred.

The good news was that in 2017, I only had about six or seven pretty bad panic attacks, along with a few smaller ones that were easier to manage. Considering I’d been dealing with this since I was 15, having had around 100 major panic attacks in total feels like decent progress. It’s strange how it works - sometimes I can go months without one, and then other times, they happen every other week.

These days, I rarely leave the house. I don’t tend to see people, go shopping, or do much outside. I see one of my friends every Thursday, and my other two friends around once a month. Social anxiety has made my world feel much smaller, and it's something I'm constantly trying to work on.

Social anxiety is my biggest challenge. I turn down social outings about 90% of the time. The 10% I do say yes to are usually when my one of best friends are there, or if it’s a familiar place with friends I feel comfortable around.

One month a few years ago, I managed three social outings over one weekend, which felt surreal looking back! Friday night was dinner out with Nicola, and I had no anxiety whatsoever. Saturday was a night out with some friends from work, heading into town for drinks at various bars. Which I NEVER did back then (or now, for that matter!)

I remember having a massive panic attack that morning and a few smaller ones while getting ready, but I still went out. It felt like such an achievement to push through that fear. I stayed out for a few hours, but my anxiety was a solid 8/10 the whole time, especially in one overcrowded bar where I felt like I was being crushed. Even after getting home, I could still feel my heart racing, and my legs were heavy from all the foot-tapping I did to distract myself.

On the Sunday, I went to a nearby pub in the evening with a couple of work friends. Despite it being a new place and with people I hadn’t hung out with much before, I felt completely fine. I was genuinely proud of myself for managing that so well.

So, what triggers my anxiety? Here are some of the biggest culprits:

• Large crowds of people
• Unfamiliar places
• Going somewhere new
• Going somewhere alone
• Driving long distances
• Feeling confused and not knowing how to handle a situation
• Arguments or confrontations
• Social gatherings

How do I cope? 

These are the techniques I rely on when my anxiety gets really bad or when a panic attack starts to set in:

• Counting slowly to 20
• Using the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique (engaging my senses)
• Sitting by a window and looking at the sky to create a sense of space
• Getting some fresh air
• Get the hell outta there, and go home!

If you have any techniques that help you or could be useful to someone else, please share them! I’m always looking for new ways to calm down quicker. 

Sorry if this post feels a bit all over the place - it’s so hard to put these feelings into words. But thank you for making it this far! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)


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June 2025 Wishlist

I like to make these now and then so I can visualise what I'm after at the moment, and then I can hopefully go and buy them once my clients all pay me! 

Here is what has caught my eye for June!

Disney Mulan PopSocket | Balance Active Formula Vitamin C Brightening Serum | BIOVEN BARCELONA Retinol Eye Roll-on | Murder in Market Hill Murder Mystery Game | PILOT - Set of 4 sets of 3 Refills | YOURS Curve Blue Ditsy Floral Print Strappy Sundress | Krush Emily Womens Black & White Trainer | Razer Kraken Kitty V2 Pro Wired RGB Headset

What's on your wishlist for June? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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Universal Studios Florida Bucket List: Updated

Universal Studios Orlando, is another one of my fave places on this planet (second to Disney!). The thought of being there makes me immensely happy, but being there is a whole different thing. The screams of being on The Mummy, watching the James Bourne Stunt Show, watching Marilyn Munroe perform in the streets - it's just amazing. 

In 2017 before I went to Florida for the first time in a while, I made this bucket list of what I wanted to do. Since then, I've been three times, so here is what I have and haven't yet done off the list!

1. Meet the Marvel characters ❌✔️
• This is a yes and no - we met Spider Man in a store, but haven't yet seen mat any other characters from Marvel!
2. Ride the Hulk Coaster ✔️
3. Go on the King Kong: Skull Island ride ✔️
4. Watch the 8th Voyage of Sinbad show ✔️
5. Visit Hogsmeade ✔️
6. Visit Diagon Alley ✔️
7. Try Butterbeer again ❌
• Ended up remembering I didn't like it during a brief visit in 2013, so don't want to try it again!
8. Have a picture in front of the big 'globe' ✔️
9. Go to Volcano Bay ❌
• We're not huge on waterparks, so this is currently off the list!
10. Meet the Minions ❌
• I saw them in the parade if that counts!?!?
11. Go on Jurassic Park River Adventure ✔️
12. Brave going on Rip Ride Rock It! ✔️
13. Try Duffbeer ❌
• Soooo I no longer drink at all, so this is off the list!
14. Buy a wand in Ollivander's ❌
• The queues for this are ridiculously long, and also my love for Harry Potter has dwindled a little over the last decade, so this isn't something I feel a need to do anymore. 
15. See the Blue Man group ❌
• We thought about going. Hurricane Irma hit. We forgot about it. By 2019 the show had pretty much stopped. 
16. Watch one of the daily parades ✔️
17. Watch the Blue's Brothers ✔️
18. Meet a Raptor ❌
• Honestly, forgot all about this one, so maybe next time!!
19. Go on Dr Doom's Fearfall ✔️
20. Race through New York with Jimmy Fallon! ✔️

Is there anything I've missed from the list that you think I might want to do? Please let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

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