How using your Student Overdraft can save you money in the long run

Hey guys, 

often people wonder how I am able to afford all my trips abroad and how it does not cause me a financial strain although I am a student just like everyone else. I am fully financially independent from my parents and take care of my own living expenses and I have so far paid for all my trips abroad with my own money. So you may think - how do you do it? Have I got a lot saved? Nope not at all. 

When talking about overdrafts I feel there is such negative experiences and thoughts by students and how scary they are and about how we should stay away. Well let me tell you, I am a student too and I can truly only tell you positive things about using your student overdraft. To use your overdraft you have to be wise with your money and I am starting to think that it is a skill to master this as many don't understand where I am coming from when I try explain it to them in a brief conversation. So I thought it's time I explain in detail how I do it. 

Overdraft explained

Okay first of all I will explain the overdraft itself in detail as many don't actually everything about it.

When you apply for an overdraft the overdraft limit is set by your bank based on various factors. This limit can be slowly increased over time if you can prove to your bank that you know how to use the overdraft and will pay it back. In first year of university I initially had an overdraft limit of £500 and by the end of first year they had increased it to £1500 .

Common misconceptions 

Using your overdraft smartly does not affect your credit score/rating! If you haven't paid back your overdraft for over a year then obviously the bank can see you'r struggling and not good at keeping clean. Whereas if you use your overdraft yet always manage to pay it back within a reasonable amount of time then this is actually seen as a positive thing as it shows that you know how to manage your money!

There is NO interest fee on the allowed overdraft! Meaning you will not get charged anything for using your overdraft. You would only get charged interest for any amount you spend above the overdraft limit. 

One might say - an overdraft is using money that you don't have and why would you allow yourself to think that you have it when you don't? You should stick to the money you have and learn to live with it. This thinking process is part of a completely different mindset to what I have. Maybe it is because everything I say and do has to do with the future or maybe it is because I have a business mind. Either way that's not how I think life works. Money doesn't always come and leave at the right time. 

Let me give you an example. It's November and end of the university term is almost approaching. You're super broke and your bank balance is on let' say £50 but you see a 5-day trip to Morocco for £200 and your friends are up for it. You know that during the one month December university holiday you would be earning minimum £800. Would you or would you not go into your overdraft, which will cost you nothing to use the money to pay for this trip? Of course I would! That's how I afforded my trip to Iceland. In the moment I didn't have the money but the deal that we saw would have only been available in the moment. I'm only going to be in second year once and only have these people around me once. Why would I not go?

Okay let's pretend I had decided to not go on this trip because I did not want to use my overdraft. In January after one month of working, what would I do with the £800? Let's be honest 90% of us, including me as a student would use that cash throughout February, March and April to treat ourselves on short term happiness - food, cinema, booze and nights out. Exactly! Yet I went on this trip and have everlasting memories and experiences that I will never forget. Oh and don't get me wrong in February, March and April I did spend money on booze, cinema etc. yet within limits. So I got the best of both worlds! 

Don't ever limit yourself because you don't have it in front of you in the moment. Don't let money be your limiting factor in life. Find a way, work for it, earn it and do it! At the end it wasn't free money at all, I worked for it all Christmas. Day and night, crazy long shifts.

Top tips:- only spend your overdraft if you know you can pay it back within the next 2 months - not because of an imaginary job you may soon find or because of your estimated Christmas money you expect to get! Only do it if you have a guaranteed job! 
- DON'T EVER spend money on food. You're lying to yourself if you think that food is worth entering your overdraft for! - do not exceed the overdraft limit as this can affect your credit score really badly and the interest rates are crazy!! - make sure you clear your overdraft always in time, don't leave it too late, especially not till after graduation  

How can it save you money in the long run? 

Let's say you are responsible to get your own phone and pay for your own phone bill. Pay monthly contracts are usually way more expensive but that's the only way you can afford to pay off for your brand new shiny iPhone X. OR waait is there another way? A pay as you go brand new iPhone X is £1150 and a monthly sim is only £12 a month. This works out cheaper overall and if you don't have the money all at once why don't you use your overdraft to pay for your phone and then you can make sure that you move the £55 that you would pay monthly to the phone company into your student current account instead. Does this sound too complicated for you? I did warn you! This is only for those willing to be wise with their money and those that have the determination to work for it. You gotta be money smart! 

Yes taking £1150 out in your overdraft makes your bank balance look bad but a bank balance is for yourself. In the long run you're the smart kid saving the money because spent your overdraft wisely and saved money though it instead of spending that money on cheese pastries at your local university food store. To maybe make it easier you could keep the money you actually have in your savings account so you always know your actual balance. Or you could keep a spreadsheet like I do. (I don't own an iPhone X btw!! I do pay for my own bills though). 

This example can be applied to anything that you would usually get charged interest for.

Lastly please remember, be wise! Don't go into overdraft for silly things! I value travelling, if there is anything you value as much as I value travelling then please go ahead and chase your dreams and use your overdraft ONLY IF you can pay it back with your job money. PS: FINDING A PART-TIME JOB ISN'T HARD!!! I HAVE 3!!! You gotta work endlessly for what you want. 

Package Holidays VS Booking Flights + Hotel separately - What's better?

Hey guys,

As the summer months are nearly here and people are eagerly going on lastminute.com to book their holidays the same questions always arise - go for an all inclusive package or book the flights and hotels separately?

When I first started travelling I used packages and I would do this until you are confident enough to travel without having everything pre-organised for you. 

Okay to get the biggest question out of the way - Which one is cheaper? That really depends on yourself. Overall booking separately works out cheaper however, if not done correctly you can make it cost a significantly higher amount than package deals. Booking separately can be a tedious process but if you have the time and know how to book flights and hotels separately correctly then it can save you a lot of money! As there are a lot of things to consider when booking separately I will be writing another post in full detail on how to book flights and hotels separately to make it fit your budget.

Package Deals

There are various different types of package deals. When booking package deals the main things to consider are:

What do you want the package to be inclusive of?

Flight + Hotel

Flight + Hotel + Airport Transfer

or

Flight + Hotel + Airport Transfer + Activities 

Hotel Board Type

Then the Hotel can offer Full Board, Half Board or Bed and Breakfast

Location of your Hotel

This is especially important when booking island holidays. It is easy to forget that even if a small island the location of your hotel can still be far enough to make a big enough difference about the kind of experience you will get. I will be going into more detail about this in my next few posts about booking package holidays.

Luxury or budget holiday?

Don't be fooled into thinking that booking a package holiday automatically means that you will get the most luxurious and best hotels. There are many many 1* and 2* part hotels which are very different to the 4* or 5* hotels. This also means that package holidays aren't just for people with a bigger budget looking for a luxury holiday. Budget trips can be found on package deals!

So as you can see even when booking package holidays there are things to be looked out for because if you don't you will most likely not have the kind of experience you expect.

In summary
Reasons to book a package deal:
Easier to book
You have limited time
You haven't been on many travel trips before and aren't comfortable yet to sort all things separately
Downside - more expensive

Reasons to book separately:
It's cheaper if done correctly
You have more flexibility with the type of accommodation you book
Downside - a lot more things could possibly go wrong if you aren't sure on the factors to consider

I'll be back with more detailed posts on these but if you are still a little confused let me know via email undercovermathu@gmail.com and I shall make a post answering your questions!


Hope this helps guys!

The Luxurious Mother's Day Guide 2018

Hey guys!

It's almost time for Mother's day in the UK and this year I have decided to bring you a new kind of guide. If you want to go all out this year and treat your mum a little bit more than usual this mother's day then this might be the perfect guide for you. All women love to live the luxurious lifestyle and who would deserve it any more than your mum?!

The world's most expensive perfume in the world!

Don't worry this product will not empty your pockets! If you want to treat your mum the extra special way, then you should definitely try this unique traveler set  by Clive Christian. Clive Christian is a British luxury fragrance. It is as luxurious as you can get and this travelers set has 5 different fragrances in one set which guarantees that your mum will definitely find one she really likes. The fragrances are made with rare and raw ingredients which makes every penny worth it.
If the travel perfume set sounds like something your mum would enjoy you should get this Luxury Perfume Gift set.
Surprise her! 
 Luxurious doesn't always mean pricey! You could make a cute surprise for her. How about an elegant personalised bath robe for your mum. She deserves time for herself and just to take a day off. I found one on amazon here.
But here's the extra special twist! When she open it she will find a spa weekend ticket within the robe and to make it cuter add a little note telling her how much she deserves this weekend for herself.

Allow her to explore!

Mum's are always working on a schedule to provide for us but they really do deserve a few days off. A few days without having to worry about doing chores an paying bills. Usually, I am the one that is travelling the world and exploring this beautiful earth. This year I took a step back and realised I wouldn't be the person I am now, with all this wanderlust if it wasn't for my mum. She has brought me this far and that is why she deserves this way more than I do. Which is why I bought her an all inclusive flight ticket to Canada this year! She's also turning 50 this year so I scraped together all the cash I had to make this possible but it is totally worth it.
https://www.expedia.co.uk/ - Expedia is a great website to compare prices and find a package suitable for your mum!

I hope this guide helps you guys, until next time.

21st Birthday Outfit Details!

You wouldn't believe me if I said that I turned 21 last month and I'm only blogging about it now! I underestimated how difficult second year of my course is guys. Pushing to try get a first in my degree as well as striving to update my blogs and vlogs regularly whilst being the president of Kent Tamil Society are major goals that I really underestimated.

Oh Happy Valentines Day guys! Well guess what, I am so single that the first time after months I find time to open up my blog is on valentines. As any other place is currently occupied by couples and I am really avoiding everyone right now so the best place is my room.

The last time I was really feeling myself was on my 21st Birthday...oh god the more times I say it the more it is hitting me that I am that old. If someone asks me how old I am I somehow still say 18. Stuck in time.

I posted a few pictures of my 21st Birthday party on Instagram and you guys wanted to know where I got my outfit from so here's the details and a few pictures.

I would be lying if I said that Ariana Grande did not inspire my 21st Birthday Outfit! So thanks to Ariana's stylists for this inspo.

Bralet: Missguided

Skirt: Pretty Little Thing

Knee high heels: H&M - January sales are just beautiful!

Hair Extensions: Hair Rehab London - Human Hair - review coming up soon!

Mathu's beautiful and hot angels ♥

I'll be back soon with exciting news that I have to share!!

Till then....                                                                                                 Yours truly,

How to set New Year's Resolutions that can be achieved! | 3 Simple Tips

Hey guys,

first of all I wish you a Happy New Year and I hope you have all been enjoying the festive days in the best way possible. If you have eaten too much and feel like it's time to change things in the new year, 

you have done Christmas just right. That's the point everyone gets to by the 31st December. Then the whole sensation of New Year's Resolutions begins. Some believe resolutions should not be set as it is setting thing you won't stick to anyways and way too unrealistic, others set them on a yearly basis but forget about them by the time it gets to summer.

There's one more type of people, people that set New Year's resolutions and actually achieve them. They are no different to you or me. They just know how to set them so that those New Year's Resolutions are attainable. Up until the age of 18 - I was never entirely successful at New Year's resolutions. Afterwards, I quickly learnt the trick and ever since - well the last 2 years - (I'm not that old yet!), I have been quite successful. 

This is the thought process that goes in for me personally and I see these habits within other individuals who set these goals as well.

Resolutions are AIMS for you overall GOALS or VISION.

First of all yes, there is a difference between aims and goals. Set yourself an overall goal or you may have a vision for the future in your head. Now aims are the stepping stones toward the goal or vision. New Year's Resolutions should be aims rather than goals. Time does not reset on NYE, you don't begin a new life just because the year you're in changed. It is not a time machine.

Example 
One of my goals is to TRAVEL the world as much as I can till the day I leave this earth.
See - I spoke in the present tense. It is a goal. It won't be completed just within a year.


Year 2017 - my new year's resolution was to travel within Europe
Completed - I traveled to 8 countries.

This was a smaller attainable, affordable, realistic aim that leads to my overall goal.
Now that I have completed this, my excitement will not stop me to go further.

This takes me to my new year's resolution for 2018.

Year 2018 - To save up and travel to destinations on another continent (preferably South East Asia)


Be VAGUE 

It's not always good to be precise and specific. If they're too specific it makes it harder to successfully complete them. Don't set yourself up for disappointment. One thing about resolutions is that you want them to keep you going into the next year and encourage you to complete even more resolutions. 

Example

"Year 2018 - To save up and travel to destinations on another continent (preferably South East Asia)"

I could've been more specific and said that my resolution is to travel to e.g. Sri Lanka, Thailand and Cambodia. However, being so specific would make me think on the more negative side of things. If I ended up going to Columbia instead of Cambodia I may have not quite exactly met my resolution.

Be REALISTIC
Aims - Stepping stones remember? Only set aims that can be realistically achieved in the year. Especially if they're dependent on finances such as travel. BUT that does NOT mean give up on your goals. If the finances aren't there, find a way for them to be there! You're chasing your vision, goal and dream after all! That's the whole point of setting new year's resolutions.

Example

I mentioned ...
 Year 2017 - my new year's resolution was to travel within Europe

But guess what my resolution was for 2016?
Year 2016 - To find jobs that will not only cover my living costs but allow me to travel on top

Initially, when I set this resolution I was looking for multiple jobs. I thought there was no way one job could cover my travel expenses.
I browsed every single job in London but nothing fitted around my busy university schedule. I didn't give up though, when I was back in Germany I thought - well Germany is within the EU and I can work here too. I grew up in Germany and my German was just as fluent. I took my chances and asked around for jobs in Germany and I was successful. I found a waitressing job and the higher German minimum vague as well as the tips really covers a lot of my travel expenses. Oh and by the way my first day did not go well at all! My first day at work - experience.
I stuck around and it's 2018 and I still work in the same place.


I am sorry this post turned out to be super long but if made it till the end then you are determined enough  and I am sure you will take my advice on board and will be successful this year. I wish you a happy and successful year.

                                                                                                                          UndercoverChick

Iceland in December! | Costs and Budget

Hey guys!

At the end somehow I did manage to squeeze in one more final trip abroad in 2017. In all honesty Iceland was nothing like I expected . I did not know that such beautiful, natural places existed on earth. I felt like I went back in time and saw the world as it was before humans changed nature. What I loved about it the most was that although there were many areas that were made habitable and had all the essential things we are used to having, they have preserved most of the places and it is all nature. Majority of the things we saw were free entry, just nature as it is without any input by humans.
Oh and when you go there please drink the tap water there!!! It's liquid gold. Never have I tasted such pure and tasty water. I can't really describe it, you have to try yourself.

In this post I will cover the costs of going to Iceland in December. However, if you want to see more of our trip be sure to check out my vlogs on my youtube channel that I will be uploading soon!
My YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/undercoverchick
Iceland is the fifth most expensive country in the world so be prepared when you go. Regardless, if you want to cover the main things you'll be fine since entry for most places are still free. The only thing that will cost you a lot is FOOD! Food is very very expensive in Iceland. We took advantage of the 23 Kg baggage allowance with British Airways and took lots of food with us which came in very handy.

Trip length - 4 days, 3 nights
Flight and Apartment - £270
Blue Lagoon with Transport to the airport  - £92
Classic Golden Circle Tour - must go! - £50
Airport transfer from airport (one  way) - £25
The northern lights would've cost us another £90. However, we were unlucky as it was too cloudy in the days were there to see the northern lights.
In total main trip cost us - £437

The Apartment we booked was called Apartment K. It was beautiful and I would recommend booking an apartment in Iceland rather than a hotel. We were provided a living room and kitchen so in the evening we were able to heat up the food we brought with us enjoy our meals.

We booked the Classic Golden Circle Tour through Grayline before we got there.
If you are able to drive in iceland and can hire a car, I'd recommend doing that instead of booking this tour. You can go anywhere you want to and stop anywhere to take pictures. Although I must say if you're worried about driving in heavy snow in December, you shouldn't. As well as that the Golden Circle tour covers very interesting places.

You will need roughly £500 when going to Iceland, including smaller spending but please take advantage and go while you can. I hope the country doesn't change too much over the  next 50 years. It's somewhere I'll definitely visit again.

Things to consider when looking for a student house at University

Hey guys,

 As a fresher it was so easy as you get to live on campus accommodation and everything is set up for you and ready to go. There is plenty of other things to worry about as a fresher and so it's great that on campus everything is taken care of by maintenance people provided by the university. EDIT: I recently found out that not all universities provide cleaners and campus security in accommodation! Shocking to me as all of this was included for us in Kent.

However, in your final years at university that's when life really kicks you. You realise you're officially an adult when you receive water bills under your name, pay deposits and have to start signing tenancy agreements. It becomes so hectic - I'm actually currently on the phone to my water supplier while writing this blog post. I thought setting these things up would be easy but there is more to that than you realise....they might get the bills wrong, not have accurate meter readings, the house might need fixing etc. So I thought I will tell you guys everything I know to make sure you look out for the right things just to reduce your struggle.

Things to look out for when looking for a house:


1) Bills included or not? I'd recommended getting bills included and if not arranging your own bills package. A good website for this is Splitt The Bills. 

2) Location - Transport
I'm a walking distance away from university and this is the best bit about my place. It's not the fanciest house, we pay for location. However, I save  money by not spending too much money on the food places on campus.

3) Types of Rooms
You could be receiving any of the rooms in the house. When you look at them make sure you are happy withe every single room, if it comes to picking out of a hat,  you don't want to be disappointed with the room you received. If you're only unhappy with one room, make it clear to your future housemates before signing the contract. Maybe, someone else will be willing to take it.

4) Location of the boiler, gas meter, water
Sounds weird but we only found out after we moved in that our boiler is outside in the shed!

5) Heating - does it work?
Where are the heaters placed? If during winter, was the house well heated and cosy when you walked in?

6) Things that need fixing - will they be fixed?
Ask and make it clear that you won't  move in until you have the guarantee of it being there functioning when you move in.

7) Price
Depending on how much money you have, you don't need luxury. However, don't go for a place that's way too cheap, there's most likely going to be a catch.

8) Terms in the Tenancy Agreement
Read it well before signing it!

9) Who to contact in case of a house Emergency
Do they have an arranged maintenance person?  Do you get to contact the Landlord or is everything handled through the Letting Agency?

10) Potential MOULD
If you walk in and smell the mould but can't see it on the walls. Run whilst you can!

 11) Contract Length - half rent during the summer?
Ideally you want half rent, paying for a full 12 month contract is way too much.


I'd recommend reading this post again before signing your contract, use it as a check list! Or even take it to a house viewing and mentally tick things off.