Mademoiselle Rutere

I’ll start by saying that I’m not by any means a money expert but I do like to find ways to cut my expenses and save more money through out my life. Here are my tips!

Tip no.1-Many years ago a man named Classen wrote a book called “The Richest Man in Babylon”(which is my current read btw)…and the one principle that you ought to get from this book is in order to become financially independent you must learn to PAY YOURSELF FIRST. It can start by something as simple as taking 10% ,15% or whatever you are comfortable with; of your income off the top your paycheck each time you receive one. Pay yourself first and put in a special account for financial accumulation.

Tip no. 2-Cut off some luxuries. Ideally we can’t live like monks but if we cut  off at least one daily or monthly luxury and instead put it in that special savings account the it will go a long way for us. And I quote Jay-Z, “If you can’t afford something twice the you can’t afford it.” Basically the idea here is to not buy anything more than half of the cash that you have in your bank. I don’t think that’s good for anybody to be honest.

Tip no. 3- For those who keep receipts or have records of their spending (which I would highly recommend). This way we are able to  tick off the things that you are paying for and you don’t need or use.

Tip no. 4- Tell a trusted friend or a person whom you wouldn’t want to disappoint your financial goals. This will help you keep on toes.

Tip no. 5- Sell some of the things you don’t use online. I don’t know if OLX still works. If you know of any other platform that works , you can tell us down in the comments.

Tip no. 6- Don’t and I insist don’t spend money when you are emotional. It can easily become an addiction.  If you’ve ever heard of shopaholics then you’ll know you don’t want to become one. It’s as serious as being an alcoholic or a drug addict.

Tip no.7-  Find and do fun activities that are free.  I know for sure I haven’t reached to the point in life where I get to indulge in expensive hobbies.

Tip no. 8- Make the sale season your friend. You get to get yourselves items at crazy discounts. You can simply wait for a month or so. Keep in mind Patience is a virtue and it actually pays. Who else is waiting for November(The ultimate sale season). Yes to the black November! Anyone???????

Tip no. 9- Commit to lowering your  grocery spending. If you have the pleasure of  getting some extra space in your compound, you can try plant some vegetables there. If not we can always improvise.

Tip no. 10- Pack your lunch for work.  You can just imagine how much money you’ll save from that.

Last tip-  Use coupons or loyalty cards.

• Being my mother’s daughter I will ask for that 20 bob 50 bob discount.
• I’ve joined loyalty programmes especially for places that I tend to go a lot- actually you can start with these local supermarkets that we have; tuskys, naivas, powerstar, carre four(i’m not so sure about this though).
• Miniso coupons. You’ll thank me later.

The Last Tip- Don’t use that accumulated amount of money as tempting as it is. Work towards buliding a bigger pot for the future

So before you go out and slash your bills and flog your stuff, remember the golden rule: Any extra money that you can claw back- put it in that special saving account/jar.

***Lots of love***

April’s here and we are already in the second quarter of the year, by the way, and this is a pretty good time to go through your goals that you had set at the beginning of the year( If you had set some), reassess them  now.

It’s time for a little bit of a think-tank-de-moi! A chance to stop, have a cup of tea and work out what is happening in my life, right now.

Here’s what is going on:

Making : A content plan for my blog.  This will help me have a pool of ideas that I can fish from at any given time.
Cooking : spaghetti and minced meat. Which got me into thinking, I should probably do a food blog.
Drinking : As always and forever; GREEN TEA
Reading:  Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.

Wanting: To not want to have a stomach ache right now.
Looking: Forward to the weekend.
Playing: James Corden carpool karaoke sessions. Makes me wish I had a golden voice.

Deciding: on what to forego with my tight budget.
Wishing: my abs would grow overnight.
Enjoying: the fact that it hasn’t rained today.
Liking: My neat room
Wondering: how people reconcile with the bad decisions they’ve made.
Loving: My health journey. Rating it I’d give it a 40%. Not good enough but I’m happy I took that one step forward.
Considering: On starting a YouTube Channel, though I feel I’m not ready yet…. and still scared to do it.
Watching: New Girl Sn 2. If you guys love comedy as much as I do, you should look for this series if you haven’t come across                      this yet.
Hoping: to finish my day’s tasks before heading to bed.  It’s 7:00 pm and I’m only halfway there.
Needing: some massage and spa treatment.
Wearing: My night-gown
Following: The series New Girl. I’m so in love with it. Plus I need the laughter every once in a while.
Noticing: that how you end your day matters just as much as how you start it.
Admiring: some shoes and dresses online
Sorting: out the bad and the good in my life.
Buying: Gifts for my friend’s baby 1st birthday. They grow up so fast, don’t they?
Getting: my nails done.
Bookmarking: some inspiring quotes.
Disliking: people sharing violent/disturbing stuff on social media – I unfollow those people asap (sorry!)
Opening:up to the idea that getting someone to help you is sometimes the only way you can move from one level to the next. It’s seldom a one man-show and the sooner I realize that, the faster I can actually grow.
Giggling: At some funny whatsapp status people in my contacts have put up.
Feeling: glad that I am alive…and not taking the opportunity to start over lightly..
Snacking: On some vegetable salad I made.
Wishing: Money could grow on trees.
Helping:  My small brother in doing his assignments.

**lots of love**

From the very first time I open my eyes everyday, I like to compose myself and look forward to a great day ahead. That thought alone gives me something to smile about. It’s important for me to feel happy every day because the moment I let go of that feeling is the moment I fall out of love with life. The old me didn’t understand that you had to consciously live a happy life, it doesn’t just happen. You learn to live happier and you learn how to love life.
I’m not always smiling, I’m human of course, but whenever I find myself in that gloomy mood I always remind myself the small rules towards my happy fulfilling life, and here I am sharing these little secrets with you guys.

• ENGAGE IN AN ACTIVITY THAT WILL CHALLENGE YOU- Ice skating was a challenge for me. I had a phobia of falling and hurting myself. But after a couple of falls and picking myself up I managed to learn and laugh and smile and walk on ice.
• ALWAYS FORGIVE – Don’t just forgive, forgive and let go. We have all experienced times in our lives where we feel that we may have been wronged and it’s even harder to take when it’s from someone you like, cared about or even aspired to be. But holding on to those feelings of animosity will inevitably consume you and any happiness that you may have once felt.But learning to let go, accept what has happened and move the hell on from it, perhaps even learning a little and growing as a person along the way really is a satisfying and liberating process. All you have to do is let it go.
• EXERCISE AND BE CONSISTENT IN IT – I’ve come to realize that taking care of your  body  is the best way to appreciate it and your life in general.  Exercise absolutely changed my world it enabled me to fall in love with my body, learn just how disciplined I am and also push myself through nothing but motivation. It really has moulded me into a better person. 
• BE THANKFUL – Being thankful is something I try to practice daily. From things that are as simple as waking up in the morning, the amazing people I have in my life, like seriously there’s billions of us out there and I got blessed with a bunch of the best, what are the odds? I’m thankful for all of these little moments throughout every day.
• SURROUND YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE – If you’ve read my previous post, I’m sure you so this as part of my top 22 items / people that boost my moods. somehow I ended up with a great bunch of humans surrounding me. But when I say somehow what I really mean is I selected them intrinsically. From the best friend who selflessly helps me in day to day life or picks me up when I need it most to my closest family member, Le Sister who is always there for me. Those are the people who I choose to keep around me, who enrich my world every day and make it as happy as it is.

How Do You Live Your LIfe?

How Do Manage To Spice It Up?

Let me know in the comment section.

Have yourselves a wonderful week.

*Lots Of Love*

Sometimes life can get really stressful and hectic and all you want is to feel relax and not tired at all. I’ve always been a firm believer that if you pay close attention to the little things around you, life will definitely seem better and you will start seeing such a huge difference.

Today, I’ve rounded up a few of my 22 instant mood boosters in case you are in need for a little pick-me up.

1. Take a hot shower- The sound of water running alone helps me to calm down.  The warm water relaxes tense muscles and calms your central nervous system.
2. A cup or two or more of Green Tea- I can go on and on and on about green tea. All I know is that it leaves a smile on my face and helps me feel relaxed.
3. Make a favorite playlist- I fill it with happy songs, Songs that speak to me. I’m currently into French Songs; Indilla being my favorite  French Musician.
4. Sweat it out- I’ve come to appreciate some little exercise and try to keep it up. It helps me release my frustrations and endorphins.
5. Go for a swim- That is practically impossible with the bad weather, but whenever the sun is out, I will not hesitate to dive into the water.
6. Tick off something on my to-do list- It makes me feel like I am a little more on top of my life.
7. Go for a walk- Aside from soaking up the sun and getting that extra vitamin D, it also helps me reflect.
8. Eat some chocolate- It is said to make us happy.    By Us I mean women.
9. Get lost in a really good book- My current read is “On Black Sister’s Street”
10. Try a DIY- This helps me keep distracted as I focus my energy on creativity.
11. Organising and Cleaning out my room- I’m not a neat freak but a little organisation leaves me feeling great about myself.
12. Do something nice for somebody else. Showing kindness can help us feel better. Small actions— holding the door for the person behind you, sending a quick love text to a partner or friend, or donating to charity all count.
13. Practice breathing and meditation. Used for centuries as a relaxation technique, meditation has been shown to ward off depressive thoughts and anxiety.
14.  Detox your phone and social medias. Go through and delete anyone who sucks. There’s no greater feeling than this. Trust me on this one.
15. Visit a nice eat out joint- and just treat myself to some mouth watering dishes. A full tummy makes Puritie a happy girl.
16. Write down things that make you happy. Like a list. Lists make me happy. I should have started with this one. This is my happy to do list.
17. Learn something new. Learning can help us build confidence and a sense of self-efficacy, and fuel our creativity. You have a world of knowledge at your fingertips, don’t waste it in one corner.
18. Have a pamper day. Manicures,Pedicures, Massage, chocolate, cosy oversized sweaters & a feel good movie. Yes please. All day, everyday.
19. Make plans. Whether it be travel or dinner plans, having something to look forward to can raise spirits.
20. Surrounding yourself with people who lift your spirits- I am lucky to have such amazing friends.
21.  Smile. Even if you don’t feel like it, sometimes moving the muscles in our face activates chemicals in our brains to lift our moods.
22. Be grateful. Your happiness is only as good as your mindset.

You can tell me what boosts your moods in the comment section.

Have yourselves a lovely Tuesday.

*Lots of Love*

I am that person who is constantly changing her phone background. There’s just something about it that makes me feel refreshed and sparks some little joy inside me.  Also, knowing myself too well, I have the attention spam of a puppy and I love having something new and shiny to look at.

I am always looking for new ways to entertain myself. Today, I decided to share some of my favorite phone wallpaper that brings that little sparkle in my life.

I hope that you will all enjoy your week.

*lots of love*