This week we caught up with Laura of ThriftyLondoner.com and discovered how she began blogging and her tips for making and saving money.
Tell us about your blog
Thrifty Londoner is all about millennial personal finance, with an emphasis on living a thriftier life in London (and beyond!).
Why do you write about money?
I write about money because of my own experiences of money struggles in London. After moving to London on a low salary (by London standards!), with sky high rent and commuting costs, I suddenly got a wake-up call that I needed to be extremely careful with my money to avoid getting into debt. That meant setting a strict budget and taking up side hustles to have the lifestyle that I wanted and to meet my financial goals.
If I can help someone in a similar position to find a budgeting style that works for them, a side hustle, or new ideas about how to save money I am happy!
How did you start blogging?
I started my first ever blog when I was 16, but posted on it very rarely- those were the days before Instagram and iPhones! I’ve always followed bloggers with interest, and love writing. But around a year or two ago I discovered Emma Drew’s blog. It was the first time I had read a blogger writing about blogging and after a few weeks took her ‘Turn Your Dreams into Money’ blogging course. In the middle of taking the course, I went to Barcelona with a friend and told her my idea, and the name Thrifty Londoner was born.
What’s your most popular post and why?
My most popular post is a pretty straightforward one- 20 Ways to Make Extra Money! It’s popular because it’s to the point and answers a question that a lot of people are searching for.
What’s your favourite post you’ve written, and why?
My favourite post that I’ve written so far is 100 Free Things to do in London. It’s my favourite because it fits the message that I want to send on my blog- that you can enjoy the best that London has to offer without spending a penny.
What’s your top blogging tip?
My tip for any new blogger is to optimise your posts for Pinterest straight from the get-go. I recently went through all of my old posts and created new Pinterest images for each of them and it took forever!
Why are you part of UK Money Bloggers?
I am part of UK Money Bloggers because it’s so amazing to have a group of people who are there for support, and who you can help support too.
Who are your three favourite UK Money Bloggers?
My 3 favourite UK Money Bloggers are:
Emma Drew– Emma’s blog is the first money blog I came across, she is the font of all knowledge on all things money and is an inspiration to me!
Ruth Makes Money– Ruth has a fantastic blog with a ton of information on freelance writing, by following Ruth’s posts I got my first freelance writing gig.
Lotty Earns– I love Lotty’s fashion, beauty and travel content.
And now…some quickfire questions
What’s your number one money tip?
My number one money tip (for Londoners!) is to add a rail card to your oyster card- you can save 1/3 off single off-peak tube fares.
What is the best bargain you have ever bought?
A 70s suede coat for 10p! I spied it on the rail in a charity shop as they were having a sale, and it fitted like it was made for me.
What is a product / service you are happy to pay the extra for?
The thing I pay the extra for is… tomatoes on the vine. It’s a little ‘luxury’ and, to me, they are worth it!
Tell us something about yourself
I love making things- dress making, knitting, crochet, embroidery- I love it all!
And finally…where can we find you on social media?
You can find me on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/thriftylondoner/
And Twitter here: https://twitter.com/thrifty_london