The money archives: money and Other People

Miss Smith and Dolls. Emily Smith (1901-1980), daughter of New York. Gov Al Smith, circa 1919-21. George Grantham Bain Collection.

While you’re sorting your financial shit out, it’s invaluable to talk to other people about how they manage their budgets and savings. When I first started revising my money situation, learning about other people’s money management helped me to keep focussed on my own debt recovery and savings. And I’m still not bored of it - to this day, personal money management and savings techniques are things that I really enjoy reading, and talking, and telling about.

During the early days of the Debt Unicorn (2010!), I did an investigative blogging series which included talking to people who always seemed to be good at managing their money. “Good at managing” meaning that they could afford to buy a coffee the day before payday, or travel overseas on the smell of an oily rag - things that at that time seemed to me to be beautiful, impossible dreams.

While all three of the people I spoke to are now in different financial situations, I'm reposting those interviews in order to inspire and ponder.

• Lizzie (in her post-grad student days)
• Lake (in his Urban Tramper days)
• Natalie (in her mature-student days)

 And, you can also read an interview with me from last year, about my money habits, now that your appetite is whetted.

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Brief life note

Notice how I didn’t talk about the election? That’s because I’m so fucking gutted.

In happier, if more frivolous news: this weekend I cooked beef cheeks for the first time and they were great! Strongly recommended. I’m quite looking forward to have another go, maybe I will cook this Cuisine recipe for chilli & tomato beef cheeks.