So a lot has changed since this time last year

Bearing the incredible heat of the Middle East is never fun in Summer but we’re not having a bad Summer here in the UK either. From taking luxuriously exotic holidays to the Far East, to enjoying short breaks in the UK and Europe, my life has changed dramatically, but all for the better.

Since being back in the UK, I’ve been snowboarding, coffee sampling, been to music festivals, climbed Ben Nevis and so much more. There’s only a few more weeks left of the Summer holidays but I plan to make the most of them. At the top of my list are a number of trips out into the UK countryside and most importantly the coast. I’ve only been to Brighton once but I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to going back and enjoying it once again.

However, it turns out that London is not the cheapest place on earth to live. Inundated with bills, increasing transport fares and the general high price of everything has just added to the fact that you need to be on good money to really enjoy London. Granted there are a good number of free things to do in London but there’s only so many times you can wander around some of London’s fantastic markets and not buy anything. Even enjoying views from Hampstead Heath comes at a price as you pay for transport there and lunch, whether it’s a picnic or a slap up meal.

But it’s not just that. I love the gym but that too is expensive. I got a quote for my local Fitness First and it was £60 a month, after the £100 for the first month. As much as I love working out, it’s sadly not money I have to part with. So it’s a daily run around the Common and a bit of circuit training on the way around which is helping to keep me in shape during these hard times. On the nutrition side, again, it’s not cheap but when you shop around, you can get some great deals on workout nutrition, like Activate Nutrition’s Diet Protein Plus or their ZMA capsules.

So if you don’t live in London but want to, I have one word for you. Plan. It’s can be an expensive place and to really experience it, money is important. When people tell you that money doesn’t make the world go round, they are lying to you. It’s one of the most important things in the world.