2013 Travel Series: How To Pack Stage 3: Last Minute

The final and often most important stage of packing is not actually the packing itself but the 'last minute' stuff. It's likely that you will be using the vital things you need for your trip up until the last hour or so before you leave (i.e. toothbrush, hairbrush, phone), and you might therefore forget to bring the extras that aren't packed securely in your suitcase. To avoid this why not try these tips to avoid stress:

1) Make a 'do not forget' list on a Post-It, index card or journal to tick off before you leave

2) Keep a pile to one side of the clothes that you want to wear on the day that you leave to travel. Plan your 'travel outfit' at the same time as you plan your holiday outfits and pack your clothes

3) Make sure you keep everything that you might need accessible when travelling (medication, travel itineries, passport, etc.) readily available, for example in an outer pocket of your suitcase or in your hand luggage. I keep my important documents in a clear Rapesco folder

Carpe Diem xx

My Graduate Gap Year Update: Moving On and Growing Up

A quick update on my at-home graduate gap year: 

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about deciding to have a kind of at-home graduate gap year where I would focus on things such developing transferable skills, blogging, work experience and travelling in the UK. 

This is my original blog post:

http://cupcakesandcosmeticsbyclare.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/my-stay-at-home-graduate-gap-year.html

I graduated last week. For the first time in my life I don't have a permanent paid job, am not in education or training, and I have no idea where I'll be in a years time. Have I become a NEET? Here's a quick update on the way my plans are going at the moment:

Travelling: Still not enough savings to go to Asia, but I have two holidays in the UK planned for the next month, so I'll be blogging about those adventures soon!

Work: For the past month I've been volunteering 2 days a week at my local charity shop, yesterday I helped hand out Meals on Wheels to housebound people, and all of next week I working at a children's holiday club. I never really expected to be volunteering so much of my time for free but the experience is amazing and it is very fulfilling work.

Blog: As some of you might notice there are a few changes here! There are now ads on my blog and I'm blogging around 6 times a week. I love writing and hope you all enjoy reading.

Here's to uncertainty!

Carpe Diem xx

My Stay-At-Home Graduate Gap Year

So, after finally finishing all my exams, handing in coursework, ordering my graduation cap and gown, looking at travel tour brochures and realising it would take a lot longer than I hoped to save up for one, I spent a lot more time looking out of the window and deciding that what I wanted to do with my life was to be a cat....

Ok, so graduating two years earlier than most of my school friends, skipping the around-the-world post-A levels gap year, and being one of the youngest in my year group, I can relax slightly on the job front and have decided on a gap year of sorts. A stay-at-home gap year is a very environmentally friendly way of working out what you want to do, gaining valuable transferable skills and experience and generally getting your life in order. 

Here's what I plan to do with my 'stay-at-home graduate gap year':

1) Volunteer - I've already worked in local charity shops and at local events so plan to continue on the same road as its a great way of gaining customer service and retail experience.

2) Blog and YouTube - I started my blog two years ago and have recently started blogging every day, so watch this space and enjoy!

3) Job Hunt - Generally work out the specific jobs and sectors I want to work in and apply for jobs in those areas.

4) New Experiences - While I don't have the time pressure of a 9-5 job I'm going to take on as many new experiences as come my way.

5) Travel - I'm not sure what will happen here, it depends on how quickly I can save money, if at all, but I have got plans for a few adventures in the UK, so holiday-at-home it is!

Check out these websites on stay at home gap years:

http://www.do-it.org.uk/magazine/features/personaldevelopment/gapyearathome

http://www.ecofriendlykids.co.uk/stay-at-home-gap-year.html

Are you planning one?

Carpe Diem xx