5 Working-from-home expenses that your employer can help you with
With many of us back in working-from-home-mode now’s the time to think about how your employer can support you, cover your expenses & help you work from home in comfort…
Read MoreCategory: Personal development
Freelancers: How to get the support you need when working from home
Many people – freelance or otherwise – are choosing to work from home if they can. While this may minimise the impact on our physical health, our mental health could suffer – so it’s important to know how to get the support you need if you’re staying in…
Read MoreHow to boost your self-efficacy to continue achieving your goals in 2020
You may have heard of self-esteem and self-confidence, but you heard of the term self-efficacy before? I’ve been reading about psychology at lot recently and have been learning about ways to boost your belief in your abilities – here’s how…
Read MoreHow to get round to doing the things you never get round to doing
I bet you’ve got loads of things on your to-do list that you WANT to do, but don’t really NEED to do, so they never get done. A third of people say completing a to-do list is one of their top ‘little wins’ so here’s how to start ticking things off…
Read More5 Bitesize personal development courses you can study from home
If your usual routine has changed & you suddenly have more time on your hands, don’t worry – instead, make the most of it! Here’s some inspiration for learning from home…
Read MoreHow (& why!) to start a blog, design a website or run an online shop
Whether you’ve dabbed with blogging in the past, or are completely new to it but would like to start sharing your ideas online, maybe now is the time to give it a go. If you’re planning to start a blog, website or even build an online shop, here’s some advice from someone (me!) who has been doing it for over a decade..!
Read MoreHappy new decade! – and some exciting changes to my thrifty life…
Happy new year! How was your Christmas and new year? What plans do you have for 2020? And the coming decade, for that matter?! If you’re anything like me, you’ll be raring to get started on your goals for the year and will be excited about what the year brings. So I thought I’d share what I’ve been up to, along with some plans for my life and blog…
Read More12 Prompts to help you start journaling in the new year + WIN a journal & pen set
If you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution that’ll improve your mental health, help you track your goals and take you back to basics, why not consider journaling? You only need to do something for 21 days to create a habit so maybe you can start tomorrow by picking up a pen and noting down your new years resolutions in your journal.
Read MoreWhat is intuition & how can you listen to it? Plus a Review of The Intuition Journal
Whether you’re new to journaling or have been doing it for a while, this newly published book is for you. It’s both a self-help guide that’ll inspire you to connect to your higher inner wisdom AND a usable journal where you can make notes and complete daily journal entries. The aim of the book is to help you feel more decisive, creative, fulfilled and work toward achieving your goals and dreams.
Read MoreReading week tips: 6 Ways you can help your teen to settle into university life
If your teen has gone away to uni this year, what can you do to help them prepare for their life at University? Sure they might already be settling in, but they’ll be home for their first mid-semester ‘reading week’ soon and with many first year students having second thoughts about their choice of university or course, this is an important time to support them and help them stay in uni. Here’s some advice I could have used when I was studying…
Read More6 Hacks for sleeping well (even when you’ve got little ones!)
How did you sleep last night? Do you feel rested? Are you enjoying your day today? Getting a good night’s sleep is so important for your mood, productivity and health, but it’s not just an issue to consider alone; it is a family issue. Here are 6 sleep hacks to help you sleep well as a family…
Read MoreTop 5 YouTube channels for minimalism & unique lifestyle inspiration
I’ve been watching a lot of inspirational & motivational YouTube videos recently so I thought I’d share my my top 5 channels on the topics of minimalism, money-saving tips and living an unconventional life…
Read MoreChange up your look for less with these 3 thrifty beauty & wardrobe tips
If you’re planning a summer makeover – or to completely reinvent your look for the new school year – today’s blog post will give you some inspiration to change up your style while sticking to your budget…
Read MoreThe cure for procrastination with help from The Art of Decision Making
If you’ve ever struggled to make a decision today’s blog post is for you. Whether it’s something big, like deciding whether or not to take that job in another country, or something simple like what to choose from the menu (my personal struggle!) there’s a reason behind your reluctance to make a decision and newly published book The Art of Decision Making can help…
Read More10 Ways to tune out of your tech to get a much better night’s sleep
After going to the 24 hour festival First Light last weekend and realising just how much sleep I actually do need, I’ve being doing some research into ways to sleep better. Today’s blog post contain a few of the tech-related tips that could help you to tune out and get a great night’s sleep – here’s how…
Read MorePosture techniques to boost your PI + Win a copy of ‘Physical Intelligence’
You’ve heard of IQ & emotional intelligence, but have you heard of physical intelligence? Today’s blog post is an introduction to the subject, with some helpful posture techniques to get you started…
Read More6 Reasons why meditation is important for everyone
If you’ve never meditated before, you may not think that this Buddhist technique if for you. But wait – you may be surprised to discover just how many problems meditation can help with…
Read MoreTake control of your finances with ‘Embrace Your Money Personality’
It’s the last month of the tax year and money is often a hot topic in March. I’ve got two copies of ‘Embrace Your Money Personality’ to give away to two lucky winners so read on to enter the competition below..!
Read MoreHow to take care of yourself while chasing your 2019 goals
Sure, it can be tempting to rush into the new year and complete your 2019 goals as quickly as possible but if you’ve been going ‘all in’ so far, you might be close to burn-out by now. Here’s some inspiration for self care, wellbeing and making positive changes to your life…
Read MoreThe 5 steps to starting your own home-based side-hustle business
Starting your own side-hustle business can seem like a daunting task but, if you break it down, it’s just a series of checkboxes you have to work through. Here’s what you need to know about starting a home-based business…
Read MoreDinosaur decor ideas plus inspirational tips for finding your passion
Finding your passion is a powerful way to live a more positive and fulfilling life. Palaeontologist Elaine Howard shares her passion for dinosaurs and provides advice on discovering your own passion with this Jurassic themed interior decor inspiration post…
Read More3 Sports to boost your health in 2019 (without realising you’re exercising!)
If boosting your health this coming year is important to you, have you considered taking up a new sport? Trying something different can give your new years resolution a kick-start – you’ll hardly notice that you’re exercising as you get to grips with a new skill or sport. If you’re hoping to get more active this year perhaps today’s blog post will help. I thought I’d share the sports I’m planning to take up in 2019, which might inspire you to do the same.
Read MoreMy freelance life: Why working from home can save you money
Other than an improved work-life balance, working from home has many benefits – and the extra money in your pocket is a big incentive. If you were to work out how much money you spend going to the office each day, you would be amazed. Allow me to throw some figures at you…
Read More5 Things you can do online today to improve your future career
With every type of information, product and service available on the internet, it’s never been easier to take control of your life and future. Online services can make your life admin easier and even help you change your career so here are five important things you can do online to boost your future life and business…
Read MoreLand your dream job by adding these transferable skills to your CV
If you’re on the hunt for your dream job, it can be difficult to see how your experience matches a job description. Soft and transferable skills are all just as valuable as a first-class degree so here are some of the most desirable transferable skills you should include in your application, as well as some of the amazing careers where you can make use of them…
Read MoreFrom keywords to content – 5 tricks to help your CV stand out from the crowd
It’s difficult to get the job of your dreams, isn’t it? First you’ve got to actually find a job you really want to do, then you’ve got to get through the software selection process and then the dreaded interviews. But you’ll only get that far if you have an impressive CV. If your CV is so-so, what chance do you have? So what makes a great CV? Here are 5 tricks to help yours stand out from the rest…
Read More4 Ways to manage the budget of your small business
Managing the budget for your small business is one of the main things that an entrepreneur needs to deal with. No matter whether your business project meets the objectives set out in the beginning, and is delivered on time, if it goes wildly over budget, it is not going to be considered a success. And, of course, it is easy for businesses to go over budget, especially when changes are made. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover some top tips on how to manage the budget of your small business effectively.
Read MoreHow the internet makes ‘life admin’ easier + what to do to simplify your life
Advertisement feature in collaboration with EDF Energy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. When you’re running a home and working practically every hour, it’s a pleasant surprise to find something that simplifies your life, rather than taking up time and energy that you just don’t have. That’s why I’ve decided to pull […]
Read More5 Reasons why I’ve decided to study online (and why you should too!)
I’ve always been a fan of lifelong learning. If I’m not taking a college course or reading a textbook, I’m watching instructional videos or doing research online. I love to learn new skills, expand my general knowledge and add things to my CV. This year I’ve decided to put my writing skills to the test […]
Read MoreCharity fundraising ideas – How to plan an event to remember
If you’re planning a fundraising event this year, here are some handy ideas that’ll help you plan an event that you, your guests and your chosen charity will remember…
Read More6 Life skills you can learn online
Stuck at home on a rainy day or in one of those moods when you feel like you have all the energy in the world yet you have nothing to do? Grab your tablet or laptop and your beverage of choice: we’ve got some learning to do!
Read More8 Reasons why women are excellent at eCommerce (& why an online shop could be your side hustle!)
I think it’s time to celebrate women in business and I want to show you how your skills can lead to exceptional success. ECommerce is a hot topic in the business market, especially for people who want to make an extra income with a side hustle, so read on to find out why you might […]
Read MoreHow to become more creative with the help of Mind Map Mastery’s Tony Buzan
Creativity is like the golden egg of personal development: we all want to be more creative, yet how to climb the beanstalk, claim the treasure of creativity and bring it into our lives? Today I’m sharing some creativity tips from Mind Map Mastery author Tony Buzan and I’ve got TWO copies of his book to […]
Read MoreHow to stick to your health & happiness goals in darkest winter
The dark days of winter can really drag on, can’t they? I’m starting to feel like January will never end! Even though we start the new year with the best of intentions, it can be hard to feel motivated when it’s another drizzly, grey day. So how can you achieve your health and happiness goals […]
Read More5 Reasons you should take up a new craft in the new year
Today’s blog post is all about getting stuck in to a new craft this year and the five reasons why you should try a hands-on project in 2018…
Read More5 Ways that technology can change your life
In this modern age, it is rare to find someone who is yet to engage with technology. Even people who are relatively uninterested in the latest gadgets are still likely to be benefiting from technology in their day to day life. In fact, embracing the world of technology can actually help you to live life […]
Read MoreCalling all freelancers – 5 reasons why you should study bookkeeping
Whether you are considering a change of career or adding some qualifications to the experience you already have, one of the professional development courses that should be top of your list is bookkeeping. Even if you’re just balancing your own books as a freelancer, a course in bookkeeping will really help you get to grips […]
Read MoreHow bookkeeping makes your home business more money
Bookkeeping is a bit like the difference between maths and art in school. Some people are good at one, with others preferring the opposite, and the two rarely meet. I know that was certainly the case for me anyway! Among most home business owners, finding creative ways to grow is the art, and bookkeeping falls into […]
Read MoreThree tricks to help you grow in confidence
For a lot of people, there’s one thing that seems to be standing between them and everything they really want both in their personal and professional lives: confidence. Many people see confidence as this strange, foreign idea that other people have but that they’ve never really managed to understand or achieve. As if confidence is […]
Read MoreMy latest interior design features PLUS I’m in an eBook!
I’m super excited to let you know that I’ve contributed to an ebook and, after a few months in the making, it has finally launched! This completely FREE ebook is called Niix Tricks for Busy Women and it’s a comprehensive guide of fun, clever hacks to help busy women fit more time into their daily routine.
Read MoreThe ultimate guide to recovering lost or deleted files
Losing an important file can make you feel a pang of dread in the pit of your stomach. It’s happened to me on more than one occasion, and that feeling is the absolute worst. But there’s no need to enter panic mode straight away, because there could be an easy solution to the problem. If […]
Read MoreWhy my blog isn’t perfect
After blogging for 10+ years, I’ve made some very definite decisions on how I want to run my ‘little corner of the world wide web’. When I look back over the years, I sometimes cringe at the posts I wrote, the photos I took and the design of my site, but it was all a […]
Read MoreWhy I blog (and why you should too!)
Whether you’ve been reading my blog for a while or are you’re totally new to my website, you may be interested to know why I write a blog post almost every day. I’ve been blogging for over 10 years now, and am still loving every minute. It’s my diary, my social life, my photo album, […]
Read MoreA little bit of press coverage for Cassiefairy.com
Hurrah it’s been a busy month here at Cassiefairy HQ because my thrifty little blog has popped up in a few unexpected places. I thought I’d gather together some snapshots of my recent press coverage in case you missed it – as you can probably tell, I’m REALLY chuffed!So in June, I was Home Style […]
Read More5 Useful tools to get your new business off on the right foot
When you’re starting your own business, there are a whole host of tools to help you on your way to entrepreneurial success. Whether it’s cloud-based finance apps to help manage your cashflow, or scheduling apps to manage your time, you won’t be short of options when you finally take the leap into self-employment. However when it […]
Read MoreHow to work fewer hours & have more time for fun
How many hours are you working each week? Whatever your answer is I’m going to say that’s too many hours. When the sun is shining and you’re overlooking people playing in the park it’s tempting to quit your office job there and then. But you really don’t need to do that in order to start working […]
Read MoreGetting the best from your DSLR camera
In terms of making an investment in technology for the long-term, Digital SLR cameras are definitely the way to go. They are able to capture moments for you in ways that your smartphone simply can’t. And (even though there are upgrades available) if you have a decent camera then you can stick with it for life.
Read MoreThe ergonomics of working from home
If you’re a full-time freelancer like me, or someone who works just one day a week out of their home office, this is the blog post for you. That’s because I’m sharing some research I’ve done about the ergonomics of setting up a home workspace and I’m sure that it’ll help you enjoy working from home even more than […]
Read MoreStudents – Tips for improving your essay writing
We’re only one month into the new year and I bet that you college students out there will already have a stack of assignments to catch up on. I remember that my university tutors all used to set their essays, reports and presentations within the first couple of weeks of term, so by now I would […]
Read MoreHygge and Lagom – Living the Scandinavian way this winter
Hoo-gah. Honestly, that’s how you pronounce it. Lagom is slightly a tougher one… lar-gohm. If you’re already over hygge, then maybe lagom is for you. With the new year in full swing, the Scandinavian concept of ‘everything in moderation’ may be better suited to you (especially if you’re making changes to your lifestyle and diet) than […]
Read MoreBooks, books, books – What I got for Christmas & first impressions
I guess I was quite adamant when I said I only wanted books for Christmas, huh? Because that’s what I got – and piles of ’em! So you can imagine how thrilled I am to start the new year with a stack of books to read and plenty of reviews to bring you throughout 2017. I’m just […]
Read MoreNo wifi for the weekend
When was the last time that you went offline? For me, it’s probably been years. Ever since I got my first smart phone I’ve not had a day away from the internet. Well, when you’re carrying a computer in your pocket at all times, and your job is based online, and your friends contact you via […]
Read MoreGuest post – How online learning can help you achieve your career goals
If you’ve been looking for a way to reach your ultimate career goals, why not consider starting an online learning programme? Designed to help you achieve your employment objectives, these courses could open up new doors for you when it comes to your progression at work. If you’re unsure how online learning could aid you, […]
Read MoreWorking pains: An ergonomic solution to using my laptop all day
Calling all bloggers, freelancers and students. In fact, anyone who works on a laptop for any length of time. I’m worried about you! As I’ve become busier and busier with my freelance writing work, I’ve found myself chained to my desk for longer periods of time. While I love my work (and don’t really want […]
Read MorePersonal Development – Here’s my card… the importance of networking
Welcome to the weekend everyone! It’s time for me to remind you about work on Monday morning and let you know what you can do right now to help you achieve your career goals. After all (I’ve seen this quote literally everywhere last month) ‘dreams don’t work unless you do’. Okay, I know you just […]
Read MorePersonal Development – 3 reasons for learning at home
Over the years I’ve done a lot of studying online. I’ve studied branding, community journalism, IT and marketing, to name just a few. And, no surprise, I’ve completed a course in Personal Development via distance learning too. I studied the course, completed assessments and gained a qualification without ever meeting a tutor or any other […]
Read MorePersonal development – Which career is right for you?
It’s all about careers on the blog this week – did you spot my article last weekend all about learning as you earn?? I think it’s the whole ‘back-to-school’ feeling I get in September that makes me want to think about jobs, studying, careers and personal development. So today we’re finding out how you can tell if a job […]
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