Today, I am interviewing Megan from Student Charade, a U.K. blog that talks about fabulous lifestyles on a student budget (and you can tell she’s from the U.K. too with her writing language — I found it cute).
Her own biography:
Hello.
I’m Megan, student of Creative Writing, budding budgeter and general life enthusiast.
What is Charade? It’s the lifestyle you design; it’s an everyday performance of your most magnificent self; it’s surviving in style.
The thing is… I love money, I just can’t help it. I’ve tried to rehabilitate myself but the labour is futile. So what’s a lowly student to do with barely a penny to her name?
By Jove, she can put on a show!
In creating Charade I’ve made the decision that a thriving, remarkable and opulent lifestyle is always within reach, on any budget; it just takes a little know-how.
Stick around for regular musings from a girl who’s masquerading her way through a budget lifestyle.
The Charade mantra is simple: Style, Success, Survival.
What’s behind your blog name and what made you want to start blogging?
‘Charade’ is about playing up, putting on a show, and making the best of what you’ve got. It’s roots lie in style, success and survival and I just think it’s a wonderful way to describe a lifestyle – it’s making things happen for yourself, showing the world how fabulous you are, and not letting anything (like a student budget) hold you back.
I started blogging because I love to write and wanted to connect with fabulously like-minded ladies (and gents).
Ultimately, I wanted to make a declaration of the lifestyle I’m designing in the hope that a few others might want to join in…
What are the major things that define who you are and inspire you?
I’m inspired by optimism, in all its forms.
I think that if you live and learn wholly focused on the good and the positive in the world that is all you will ever attract.
I define myself by what I like to think of as an insatiable appetite for life; my desire for financial freedom and success (which aren’t the same thing in my eyes); my aspiration for total love and appreciation of myself and the external world, and my ideals to live as abundantly and completely as I can.
In your line of work, does fashion play a huge role?
I’m a student and I think fashion is key to the student lifestyle.
I think fashion can become a million times more interesting, inventive and original when it is limited by a budget lifestyle such as that of a student.
When you are studying as a young adult you often have far less responsibility than you will in later years and therefore have much more time to play around, take risks, and have fun with fashion.
Why did you choose your line of work?
I chose to continue my education instead of heading straight into a conventional career, mainly with the aim at honing my skills as a writer, but also just because I thought it would be amazing fun, and what’s the point in life anyway if you don’t squeeze every last drop of fun there is to be had from it?
Pick 4 dishes you could eat for the rest of your life
Caesar Salad
Garlic bread with cheese
Moussaka
Tiramisu
Why is fashion and style such an important subject for you?
Fashion is one of the few mediums by which we can meet minds with people without even opening our mouths.
We can learn more about our own selves through fashion as a creative daily ritual; enrich our lives with aesthetic appeal, and have a great deal of fun.
Why is personal finance such an important subject for you?
For me, outstanding personal finance is a matter of total freedom and fulfillment. I know many wouldn’t agree, and I will say that certainly money does not bring happiness with it.
But if you are a healthy, happy and balanced individual with a lot of love already in your life, then money will sure as heck spread that grin a little wider.
To me, taking care of our finances and generating a personal fortune means living out our dreams; helping others to do the same; travelling the world and providing richly for our families and future family.
Name your 3 best buys/investments, and why do you consider them so?
1. My ongoing education which I will pay through the nose for but which will be worth every penny.
I’m a bona fide nerd and get an immeasurable buzz from scholarly activity. I’m also on a continual mission for self-improvement and I think a good education pays dividends in all other aspects of life, including our careers, our relationships and the basis of these: self-confidence.
2. Moleskine diaries are all well and good, but I personally love my Filofax organiser, it keeps my life in tip top order, will last for years, is easy to personalise and has a wealth of handy inserts.
3. I love to read so buying a new book, from classic fiction to contemporary self-improvement books, always feels like a great investment.
What are the 3 worst fashion trends….EVER?
Fashion is always 100% subjective and I love that, so the number 1 worst trend for me is the idea of a ‘trend’ itself – everybody wearing the same thing just because it is ‘cool’?
How boring.
In particular though, I get really bugged by sweatpants with writing on the rear – cringe!
And the multicoloured Louis Vuitton bags; am I the only one who thinks that, well, they’re just plain hideous?
Especially when they are unashamedly fake.
(FB: I think all LV bags are ugly, but that’s just me).
And a la Sex and the City:
Do you have a signature touch?
Generally, I’m a bit of a make-it-up-as-I-go-along kind of gal, and it’s unusual that I’ll ever feel completely cool wearing the same outfit twice – it always needs a tweak.
I do have two fragrances I like to stick with though which are Cacharel’s Amor Amor and Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle.
I’d love to create a more signature style though and it’s something I’m always aiming towards.
What are 5 top things/services you can’t live without?
1. The Internet. I’m pretty sure I would literally shrivel up and die if I no longer had access to this magnificent tool – what did we ever do without it?!
FB’s Note: This is really a picture of the internet. All the little web lines connecting to each other. No really!
2. Blogger. It’s the platform I use for Charade and I find it really easy to use with a lot more potential than people give it credit for.
3. A really good toaster.
4. My camera. I love the way photos help to retrieve memories you might otherwise lose and the way they can give you a glimpse at the lives of others, even if they are living thousands of miles away.
5. Microsoft Word. As a student, writer and blogger it is truly indispensable to me.
You have $1000 to spend. Where would you go and what would you look for?
I’d head to www.travelzoo.co.uk and grab myself and my boy an amazing holiday.
What’s on your “Must-Buy” list right now?
1. A professional redesign of Charade as well as my own domain address.
2. Quality, quality, quality. I’m currently saving for amazing designer pieces rather than high street bargains. On the list are a Chanel handbag and a cashmere cardigan.
FB: Isn’t that satin clutch kind of blingy cute?
Name 3 of the most frustrating things about going shopping:
1. That annoying law that if you have the money – you can’t find anything you want, and when you’re poor – you want everything!
2. Seeing the same trends in every store.
3. Having a picture perfect idea in your head of an item you want and not being able to find anything even vaguely similar.
What are the 3 worst financial mistakes a person can make?
1. Being ignorant or purposely hiding their head in the sand. We must be clear, educated and upfront about our financial situations; they are not taboo.
2. Not looking to the future. Financial freedom is a matter of the long term; rarely are there any quick fixes. We must begin working towards what we want for ourselves in the future right now.
3. Thinking that finance is a matter for the men to handle! No, no, no, no, no, no, NO! You, as a female, are empowered by your financial situation, and giving it up to a man is akin to giving up your independence.
There are few certainties in life, and relationships are often the most uncertain of all, so always keep your eye on the financial ball.
Thanks for letting me take part FB!
FB: Any time. You were great!
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I am switching my domain name over to FabulouslyBroke.com tomorrow, Friday April 24th at 7:00 a.m. EST, when I wake up.
