Head’s up: If in the unlikely case you’re reading this as a 50+ year old, with a lovely semi-detached and a secure pension plan; this may not be the post for you.

If however you’re a millennial that has a house to rent and dresses to buy, here are some (very) basic financial tips. I say basic, because I know nothing about stocks and shares, but sometimes it’s good just to have a dose of common sense.

1. I actually cannot believe I have to include this on the list; it seems too obvious. However the number of people I know that need to apply this is beyond measure, so here goes. If you lose a bank card/pin number etc, get off your arse, get to the bank and sort it. Seriously, a trip to town in the rain might seem like a hassle, but in the long run it’s a lot easier than finding a mate to buy things for you on the premise you transfer the money, every single time you need a new outfit or pint of milk. Shocking, I know.
2. Set up regular direct debits, for just after pay day. This might seem a bit rich, given I’m writing a post on finances, but I don’t really know the exact amount my car/insurance/phone cost per month. I have a vague idea, if I really sit down and think about it. What I do know is that they all come out the week after pay day, and whatever’s left after that is all for fun stuff (basically shoes.) Easy? Yes. Lazy? Meh, probably.
3. Face the hard truth: If you haven’t been to the gym in 3 months, you ain’t gonna go. I know, you mean to go, you’re busy. But is faking an interest in weights really worth £70+ a month? Honestly?
4. Spend ten minutes on Google checking tax brackets, and five minutes a month looking over your pay slip. Trust me on this one, your boss might be the most organised, professional person ever to have graced our planet – but everyone makes mistakes at some point. It’s up to you to make sure you are getting paid what you agreed, don’t just sit back and wait for the tax-rebate that might never come.
5. Don’t feel pressured into lending people money. OK, so helping a friend out every once in a while is a given – but if it’s becoming a regular feature of the relationship you’ve got to learn to say no. And if you are going to give them another loan – make sure they’ve paid back all previous ones before you transfer the cash. It will probably be awkward, hard and may even cause an argument (if the person in question is a totally douche bag) but you are not their personal bank. You’ve got to manage your money, and they have got to manage theirs, simple as.
6. Before signing up for a monthly plan – think about the long term cost. £30 quid here or there to make something slightly more convenient can easily add up to a holiday. A few more TV channels to ignore whilst you play on your phone or an all-inclusive jaunt to the Mediterranean? Take your pick.
7. Get an ISA… Don’t we sound all grown up? But seriously, it’s a lot less tempting to dip into your savings when the grumpy woman at the bank tells you you’ve got to give 40 days’ notice before withdrawing anything.
8. If you’re already in debt, it can be a stressful place. So start off by stalking pinterest boards all about facing the fear and taking control – now you’re in the right mind-set, go and get it sorted. Even small steps like visiting the Money Advice Service can help open up your options and make you fell more in control.
9. “Just don’t spend more than you’ve bloody got” – Dad, since 1992.

As it’s nearly the end of the month, I thought I’d share with you some of the things I’ve been loving this month but probably shouldn’t be. Otherwise known as another blogger doing a monthly guilty pleasures thing.

Though it may become a weekly thing. I guess we both may have to wait and see about that one. Either way, here’s four guilty pleasures from this month.

1. Pook’s birthday.

A bit sad; ok really sad that my dog’s birthday is on this list. And that we celebrated it. It seemed pretty sad/embarrassing at the time when I actually paused to think about it, but even more so now I’m typing it up – just a heads up if you are planning featuring your dog’s birthday online. All that said, it was a big birthday – my old chap turned 13 and we celebrated by getting him a Mcdonnalds a breakfast. His vet (who’s already suggested a diet) will be thrilled come the next weigh in.

2. Moroccan Oil

Every time I went to the hairdressers I tried to work out which one of the products used left my hair feeling softer than I have ever known it, because let’s face it you’d have to be packing plastic to stock up on all their products in one go. Long story short – last time I went I snapped up this Moroccan Oil, and I am 100% convinced this is the miracle product. A lot of products I’ve used before have left even my massive hair feeling heavy, but this one is light and leaves hair shinier than I thought was possible without photoshop. #Winning.

3. This Beaut.

Just in case most of you don’t know who this stunner is, it’s my big sister Nicola. This month, we’ve been spending a lot of time together sorting out some general household things. Although we see each other a lot, it’s been nice to get stuck into a project together.  I already know she’s pretty awesome, but this month it’s been incredible to see how motivated and creative she is – even with a ten year old Instagramming in the background.

4. The Ring.

This list is in no particular order – but this one is at the bottom because I don’t have a new photo of me andthe boyf, blame him for that one. Anyway, after various delays this week I got to pick up my engagement ring after getting it resized. As such, I’ve been on a second ‘ohmygod I’m engaged’ high. Pretty much every time I’ve been apparently looking thoughtfully at my keyboard, as if crafting a very important email, I’ve actually just been swooning over the ring a little bit.

So there you have it, one guilty pleasure a week. And a sneak peak of how to make your elderly dog overweight – don’t say I never teach you anything.

This outfit of the day post, was going to be based around my new camel sleeveless jacket; however the more I took note of my outfit, the more I realised I had a bit of a witchy-poo theme going on.

I’m not sure what that says about me really. I’m not sure I want to know either.

Because everything in this outfit is so loose and laid back, it is mega comfy (perfect if you’ve had a sleepless night at the boyf’s) yet when I wore it to work the big cheese said I looked ‘very smart’ in my waistcoat. Comfy and office appropriate? I think we’ve cracked it with this one folks.

The shirt is an old H&M find, and if you wear it with ripped jeans I guarantee it will make you feel a bit Rhianna*

The sleeveless jacket (or waistcoat to everyone over a certain age – hi mum!) is a newbie from New Look. They have a great selection in at the moment; but I chose this one specifically because I’ve never, ever owned something in camel colour. Plus it’s substantially lighter in weight than the black and khaki variations. I’m smittened with the textured, crepe like finish but also slightly saddened by the fabric, supposedly its 95% polyester but it creases like buggery.

The shoes are also from New Look and they are that great I’m slightly tempted to buy a second pair, just for when these give up the go. Pointed black (fake) suede, lace ups and a gold heel, a shoe of dreams. They also get brownie points because I’ve worn these to two consecutive all day conferences in Manchester and can proudly say I wasn’t crippled at the end of it.

The criss-cross lacey bit (technical term there) that goes over the foot can look a bit witchy if you look straight down at your own feet. This is wasn’t all my witchy-ness though.

On my nails I’m wearing Max Factor’s Gel Shone Lacquer in Teal. Although it is not the shiniest of polishes, it does have minimal chips. I always thought of this colour as a British Racing Car Green… until my sister described it as being ‘a bit witchy’ and now that’s all I see when I look at it.

The rings are just a small part of a collection of stackable rings from Primark, but I like them.

So there you have it, my outfit of the week – witchy-ness and all.

*Though it’s not necessary to get your tits out. Obz.

A taupe dress… it doesn’t exactly sound like something to get excited about does it?

I do like this one, however. I bought it last month from New Look, to wear to a ‘lunch hour wedding’ – Just to explain – this isn’t the latest fad for lunchbreak services (I hope) this was the big boss letting us out for an hour or so to attend a wedding.

Because I would be working before and after, and the wedding was quite a relaxed affair with a quick service, I didn’t want to wear something mega fancy. That said, work pants and a blouse just wouldn’t cut it. So along came this little garment.

A taupe chiffon dress, with an all-over floral dusky pink print, I was wearing a bright-ish lip with this outfit – however the crappy lighting on the day of the photo means both the lip and the dress look a bit more washed out than in the flesh. As this was actually taken on Saturday morning (the day after the wedding) I also look knackered – but apparently I can’t blame the lighting on that one.

The dress has an empire line cut, meaning the skirt starts right under the bust. If you ever want to feel like a low-key Disney princess this is the cut for you, because let’s face… I bet you can’t think of one that hasn’t donned this style of dress.  The frills around the neckline and shoulder also make you feel really feminine and pretty and graceful and the like.

Taupe and beige clothing always reminds me of the post-war era and 1940’s fashion, so I paired this dress with a 1940’s style patent shoe. The fact the dress needs brightening up is another brilliant excuse, because believe me, while red shoes are all well and good, finding an outfit for them regularly is another matter.

The shoes are from Hush Puppies, I know… I sound about 80. I got them from when I worked in a neighbouring department to them in a retail outlet; but they are oh so pretty.

I proper pillar box red, with real ribbon ties. My life feels complete just thinking about them. Although with the ribbon being that chunky they do have the tendency to need tying back up a few times a day. A point in their favour though is that they also have some really pretty scalloped detailing and stitching, just to give them an even more vintage feel.

So there you go; some fashion inspiration for a lunch hour wedding. I bet you don’t get that every day.