The importance of having less

In light of the festive season, I have thought a lot about the materialistic side of Christmas and how my values of such have changed drastically since last year. I make a decent salary in Bangkok, and I go from month to month with no real worries about money. I am able to save, go out on the weekends and plan awesome holidays. Even though I stick to some sort of budget, its never really a stressful experience in terms of day to day expenses. Just recently I was thinking about how much my spending has changed when comparing 24 year old me living abroad to 22 year old me back home, that was always working (sometimes 3 jobs) but for some reason always running out of money. I figured it out... and this epiphany is something that has actually changed me in the best possible way. I don't waste my money on 'stuff' anymore.

5 Baht butterfly crumpets anyone?

Be present

So often I found myself being distracted. I would be talking to someone and look down at my phone when a notification popped up, or gaze behind a shoulder at the television programme that caught my eye. The worst part is that I caught others doing it and would feel offended.

Confessions of an aupair

I was an aupair to two lovely children (lets call them George and Lucy) for a year while I was a student living in Durban. Aupairing in South Africa is convenient for young women such as myself who need part time jobs that fit in with going to lectures and writing exams. I am in no way complaining about the fact that aupairing exists as a job, but I am confused as to why they are necessary. This is my story.