Personal Growth

A Simple Guide To Manifesting With A Vision Board!

The new year is the perfect time to start something new and hit any goals you haven't yet met. I love goal setting, but I don't like to add pressure by making them compulsory. Instead, I like to use mood boards to help me picture the life I want to build and motivate me on getting there. Here's how to create the perfect mood board for you and use one to manifest your goals!

What Is A Vision Board

A mood board is a collage of text, images and other media that help you to visualise ideas. You can use them for study, projects or goal setting. In this case, we use mood boards to set goals and help manifest them into achievable targets. You can use magazines, printed images, stickers, handwritten quotes and anything that helps you see where you'd like to be. It doesn't have to be complicated or pretty, but you should have it suit your goal setting needs.

A mood board is a perfect way to manifest my goals, as I can spill all of my thoughts into one place. I like to create a mood board at the beginning of the year and develop it as my thoughts and feelings change. To do this, I use a corkboard and pin pictures and change them as I see fit. I will cut out images, write quotes and use other cute stationery to visualise where I'd like my life to be quarterly and at the end of the year.

Why Should You Be Using One

Mood boards are great for those who like to picture their goals. They are a visual representation of what you'd like to achieve. There are many reasons you should be using a vision board. Here are some of my favourite reasons and how it helps me with my goals:

It defines my vision - I can clearly see my goals and form steps to get there from all the images and quotes.
You can change it freely and adapt as your goals develop.
It embraces your creativity as you use different media, textiles and skills to create.

Related: How To Get More Done With A Life Admin Day

Creating A Physical Vision Board

I prefer to create a physical vision board as I enjoy the creation process. I also prefer to have it in my room ready for use. To start your vision board, you want to have some goals or ideas in mind. Brainstorm what you'd like to see on your mood board and where you'd like to be in a year. It could be themed to study, productivity, body image/self-care, home, etc. Decide which areas of your life need the most attention and what you'd like to develop. You should reflect on the previous months to help you with ideas. If you fail an exam, how will you improve that? If you want to save more, what will you do to change your financial position?

Then you'll want to start creating a board with different materials. You could print out pictures, use magazine cuttings, write your own quotes and use pre-made scrapbooking cuts. Whatever you use, make sure it shows where you want to get to. For example, I'd like to finish redoing my room, so I used cute organisation images. I also want to get better at yoga, so I have pictures and quotes relating to meditation. The photos you use should be personal to you and should be realistic. I like to also write some lists for my board.

Once you have all your media, you can start putting your board together. You could spiderweb your photos so that similar goals are grouped. Or you could arrange your goals by time frame. There are many ways to arrange your mood board, so have a play before you glue things down. It needs to be visually pleasing to you and something you're happy to look at and use. Once you're happy, glue everything down onto a poster board or pin it into a corkboard. You can use smaller images to fill in any gaps that appear. I like to use a corkboard to change goals as I grow and make quarterly transitions easier.

To summarise, here are the steps you need to take to create your mood board:

Brainstorm some ideas of what you'd like your mood board to show
Start cutting quotes, pictures and using stationery that will help you to manifest your goals
Arrange your media and glue/pin everything where you want it to go
Frame your vision board somewhere you're going to see a lot and use it when you need motivation

Creating A Digital Mood Board

If you don't want to or can't print things out, you can create a digital mood board. I recommend creating a vision board on Canva and using stock websites such as Unsplash for your images. It's easier to update digital mood boards as you can move things around freely, don't have to print media, and you can make one for free. All the steps for creating a digital vision board is the same as the above, but you just do it on a laptop!

You can download the file once you've finished. Then, you can save it down as a lock screen or background for easier use. Similarly, you can use Pinterest for your mood board. But, I don't find it as motivating and personal to me. There are other websites you can use to create a digital board. Canva offers a great range of images, shapes and free fonts for you to use. You also have the option to purchase premium extras. You could also use Word and Crello. These are all free to use.

Related: A Guide To Manifestation & Law of Attraction

Ideas For Your Vision Board

If you're struggling with inspiration, that's okay! Sometimes it's hard to pinpoint what we want or how to get there. Here are some ideas for different goals that you could use for your own board! These ideas are things you could put onto your board or can help spark your own. You need to make sure it's something you really want and is for yourself.

Relationship Ideas

Start to say yes to more events

Go on a date with someone new
Spend more time with family
Fall back in love with yourself
Cute date ideas
Spend more time with friends
Rebuild broken or lost relationships
Images of your love language
To forgive people in your past
Get a pet to share your love with
Take time to get to know your kids
Ensure date nights happen more often
Try new family traditions in the holidays
Form stronger bonds with your co-workers
Build a better relationship with yourself
To let go of any past issues/arguments

Health & Wellbeing Ideas

Eat a more balanced diet
Get to or maintain a healthy weight
Exercise more
Sign up for more fun runs
Get an important surgery done and out the way
Join a sports club or team
Drink more water
Try a new skill or hobby
Take the time to improve your mental health
Spend more time outdoors
Learn to listen to your body
Develop a better routine
Try to sleep for the correct number of hours

Money & Career Ideas

Have a better work-life balance
Progress in your chosen career
Make £100 a month hustling
Make £1000 hustling
Make a full-time income from your side hustle
Switch to a new career
Take the leap and go self-employed
Put currency from all of your favourite places
To buy a house or car
Invest in something for your future
Find a way to save more money
Get a promotion in your role
Earn more money at your workplace
Take on more responsibility
Meet new people and gain more clients
To get better at budgeting
To start a pension fund
To save for your dream holiday

Travel Vision Board Ideas

Photos of places you've been before
Names of countries you'd like to explore
Photos of places you'd like to visit
A mini travel bucketlist
Cute travel stickers
A passport renewal reminder
Tickets from previous adventures
A map with pins in places you want to go
Brochures for places you'd like to visit
Small souvenirs from your travels

Personal Growth Ideas

To read more each week
Yoga positions you'd like to try
Outfit ideas for you to try
Affirmations that you believe in
Celebrities or business owners who inspire you
To make a better connection with people
Take more time to be with yourself
Learn to procrastinate less
To learn a skill or hobby
Quotes that resonate with you
Journal more

Top Tips For Creating A Mood Board

It can be tempting to put Pinterest worthy images on your board, but it's not always an achievable goal. You want to have a board that reflects realistic goals and motivates you to work there. Here are some tips for designing a vision board that manifests!

Take a moment to reflect on the last year. Is there anything you want to change or improve on? This can give you an idea of what goals to set.
Use your board regularly and keep it in a visible place.
Use images that make you happy and inspired.
Make your goals simple - it should be something you really want and isn't too complicated.
Make changes when your life changes or you no longer align with those goals.

How To Manifest With A Vision Board

You can use a vision board in many ways, but you need to find the right one for you. Personally, I use my board to set goals that I can work towards. For example, if my board has pictures of money, I'll set weekly goals like selling 20 products or finding a new client. You should look at your board daily and when you need a boost of motivation. Here are the ways you can use your board

Use It To Set Goals - I believe in the power of manifestation while working towards your goals. If you want something enough, the universe will bless you with it, but hard work comes into play too. When setting your weekly or monthly goals, use inspiration from your board to come up with steps to take.

Use It To Reflect - As you progress with your goals and manifestation, you can reflect on where you started. A mood board is a great tool for looking at your mindset and where it is now. You can also look back on goals and evaluate new ones!

Use It To Bring Good Things To You - There is no point putting the time in if you're not going to manifest with it! Look at your board daily and manifest your goals. Try and draw positive energy from it and give yourself affirmations to guide you to achieving your dreams!

I love creating seasonal vision boards so I can manifest things that are relevant to me each quarter. As manifestation is a personal thing, you need to create and use your vision board in a way that benefits you. If you love quotes, make a quote board. If you prefer visuals, try a more picture-heavy board! See what works for you, and remember to keep going back to it. Manifesting doesn't happen overnight, so using it daily or weekly can help you draw positive things! Do you have a mood board? I'd love to hear your favourite ways to manifest and how you designed your board!

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, by Love, Em

Making Money

10+ Budget Hacks To Help Stretch Your Money Further!

Are you struggling to stick to a budget? Are you finding it hard to make ends meet every month? Don't worry. You're not alone. Millions of people are in the same boat. But that doesn't mean you have to give up and suffer through austerity measures month after month. You can do plenty of things to get your budget under control and start saving money. Check out these budget hacks and see which ones work best for you. Implement as many as you can today and start seeing the savings add up!

Try A Budgeting App

Anyone who has tried to save money knows that it can be challenging to stick to a budget. There are so many temptations and unexpected expenses that can quickly eat away at your savings. But what if there was a way to make budgeting easier and even automatic? That's where budgeting apps come in. Some apps will allow you to put money into them, while others will just track the figures you input. I use Moneybox for my lifetime ISA, which helps track my savings. But there are other apps such as Emma that help you see where you are spending and can even earn you cashback.

These handy programs help you track your spending, set goals, and stay on track. They can also remind you of upcoming bills and help you find ways to save money. Budgeting apps are a great way to hack your budget and finally start saving more money. So why not give one a try today? You may be surprised at how much difference it makes. I'd recommend trying out a few before committing, especially if you need to pay. There are many free budgeting apps if you're not ready to pay to manage your finances!

Negotiate Services & Bills

We have all been hit with an increase in bills. Many of us worry if we're going to be able to afford utilities this year as the price continues to increase. Believe it or not, most of your bills may be negotiable. Consumers may not get a discount because they don't take the time to make the call. It may take a little more effort, but it is well worth the time. Even if you could save an extra £100 a month, that's £1,200 a year toward your savings or financial goals. So, take a bit of spare time and make a few calls.

First, look around at cheaper suppliers to see if you can get a better deal for switching. Some utilities, insurance and cell companies will offer you a reward for switching to them. If you'd like to stay with your current supplier, give them a call and let them know you're looking elsewhere. They can usually offer you better packages or a cheaper discount for your loyalty. It's also worth looking at things like insurance before the renewal date. I've managed to cut my insurance by £500 as I've joined a multicar policy with my partner, who also shaved £100 off his bill!

Use A Bank that Helps You Budget

It's no secret that managing money can be difficult. Where does it all go? As soon as you get paid, the money is gone again. One way to help get a handle on your finances is to use a budgeting assistance bank. Many online banks now offer features that allow you to see where your money is going. Banks like Starling and Monzo will even round up your spare change and deposit it into a separate saving pot attached to your main account. This is incredibly useful as it can help you naturally build an emergency fund.

If your bank isn't helping you save money, maybe it's time for a change. There are plenty of options, so do some research and find one that best suits your needs. If you're recommended by a friend, you can often get a cash reward for swapping to a better bank. Some banks will even offer you cashback, better interest rates or fee-free spending abroad. Look around at different banks and see what perks work for you and what you're looking for.

Try Meal Prepping

According to Statistica, the average UK person spends £15.26 a week eating outside the home, but what if you could save that amount? Meal prepping can help you save on cash and be healthier. Take a Sunday with your family and plan all the meals for the week. It makes it even better if you divide your meals into individual containers. What's better than saving time and money?

Establish AutoPay and Savings

Wouldn't it be nice if you didn't have to think about your bills or savings each month? Well, setting up auto-pay can do just that. By setting up auto-pay, you also eliminate the chance of forgetting to pay your bills. Setting up your auto savings is also a great way to help you keep on track. This will help ensure you always pay yourself first and prioritise savings.

One way that my partner and I do this is through a joint account. We estimate how much things cost by looking at previous bills. We both put half into the account. The account has direct debits set up for all our bills. That way, we can spend the money in our personal accounts without worrying about how much money will need to come out! I also put money aside each month into a savings account before I spend anything. That way, I know I won't be overspending and cutting into my savings.

Make a Shopping List

Have you ever been to the supermarket and bought ten items you didn't need? Are you tired of pitching leftover food? If so, make a grocery list and stick to it. Before heading to the grocery store, make a list of items you need. Do not derive from that list when you get to the market. This is another excellent way to stick to your budget and save time when wandering through the store.

If you're looking to save even more, do a pantry inventory. Do you even know what's in your pantry? See what you have, and then make a recipe out of it. Add any missing items to your shopping list. Countless apps help you figure out a meal with ingredients you already have. Get creative and make something new. There is no need to waste unused items! We did this during the first lockdown to save money and use up what was in the freezer/pantry. Not only did we clear out rubbish, but we were also able to donate unopened food and save some money. There were a lot of things we had frozen and completely forgot about!

Wait 48 Hours Before Making a Purchase

Impulse purchases can really break the bank. If your item was not budgeted for, you need to allow some time to contemplate the decision. When you see something you want to buy, take at least 48 hours to think about it. You never know. You may decide it's not worth it!

Related: How to manifest your financial goals!

Review Your Budget Weekly

Making adjustments to your budget is a part of the course. Your budget will fluctuate every month. That's why it's essential to sit down every week and review your budget. Determine where adjustments should be made and change your budget accordingly. If there are unexpected costs, you need to factor those in and determine how to afford them. It's good to have sinking funds where you save each month for upcoming expenses such as birthdays, Christmas and car insurance/issues. If your bills go up, you'll be able to spot them straight away to avoid overdrawing your accounts. By reviewing your budget, you'll also know where your money is going. I often look at my statement and wonder what I've purchased, but since reviewing my budget, I know everything that comes in and out of my account.

Take a Walk

You know that walking can be good for your health, but did you know it can help your budget? If you live close to a convenience store, work, or your friend's house, take a walk and save on fuel. Even if you can just save £10 a month on fuel, that could be a big win for your budget. Especially in 2022, when fuel prices are continuing to rise! If you're able to cost it out, it might also be cheaper to take public transport than drive if you're going a distance.

Taking a walk and getting outside can also help you save money with the kids. As summer approaches and schools break up, we tend to spend lots on days out. Instead, why not try some free outdoor activities! You could visit local parks or national trust sites for free adventures. Many have lots of things to do while you're there to keep the kids entertained.

Review Your Subscriptions & Contracts

Many people have subscription services they don't use. Even if it's minimal, it can still add up. Review your bank statements and credit card bills, and ditch any subscription you don't use. If you haven't used it in a month, it may be time to get rid of it. There is no sense in paying for something you don't use.

While it may be convenient to let your subscription contracts auto-renew, you may be missing out on a better deal. Companies are often willing to give their existing customers discounts to avoid cancelling their contracts. If you're willing to be brave and threaten to cancel your contract, you can usually get a better deal. For example, Sky often gives deals to existing customers - but you have to be willing to ask for them.

The same goes for any insurance policies. According to research by MoneySuperMarket, 52% of motorists let their car insurance auto-renew in 2021, which means that over half of us could be getting a better deal. So next time your contract comes up for renewal, don't be afraid to shop around and negotiate a better price.

Use Generic Brands

Even if you're devoted to a brand, generic brands can be just as good. Shop around and try purchasing a generic product. You never know. You may even like it more. Brand loyalty is just fine, but it's time to try something new when it affects your budget. There are some things my family won't give on, and that's okay! You're allowed a little luxury in your life. But things like beans, wraps, desserts etc., could be swapped once a week. I like to play a taste test game with my family, and if they like it more, we keep it. You could also swap laundry and cleaning products to see if it makes a difference. If it's not something you're happy with, see if you can find places to purchase it cheaper instead of purchasing it at full price.

Budgeting can seem overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, there are many simple things you can do today to start getting your finances in order. We've put together a few budget hacks that will help get you started on the right foot. One great way to start budgeting is by using an app. There are several different apps that can help you track your spending and stay within your budget. Another great way to save money is by establishing auto-pay for your bills. This ensures that you never miss a payment and helps avoid late fees. Which budgeting hack will you try? Let me know in the comments below!

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