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Fiction Friday: Recommended Reads- Personal Finance

Managing money can feel like a game where everyone else got the rulebook except you. But the good news? You can catch up. You just might need to do a bit of homework first. Here are a few personal finance books that are both practical and actually engaging.

The Money Answer Book by Dave Ramsay

This book is a quick, no-nonsense Q&A-style guide covering budgeting, debt, investing, and saving. Ramsey’s approach is simple: live below your means, get out of debt, and build wealth the smart way. I loved that this book was so quick and easy to read. It’s just a bunch of relatable questions other people have asked.

Manage Your Money Like a F*cking Grown Up: The Best Money Advice You Never Got by Sam Beckbessinger

Basically the book, I wish I read in school. I felt like Sam understood life as a South African which is what made this so fun for me to read. Packed with humor, real-life examples, and a much-needed dose of reality, this is a book I go back to over and over again.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki 

I know there are often conflicting opinions about this book but what I really liked was looking at the way the two dads thought. My uncle made me read this book as a kid (I don’t know why) but until I reread it as an adult a few years ago, I had no idea how many ideas from this book, I still carry with me today. This is an entertaining read but I do wonder if it is still relatable today.

The Latte Factor: Why You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Live Rich

I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say this book changed my life. If you want a mindset shift that makes saving feels effortless, this is the book for you. Despite this title, this book has little to do with coffee. Instead it talks about how to save money in a way that won’t make you feel deprived.

Personal finance does not have to be overwhelming. These books break things down in a way that’s easy to understand and implement. Whether you’re looking to get out of debt, build wealth, or just feel more in control of your finances, there’s something here for you.

My Top 4 South African Beauty Brands

I am OBSESSED with good skin. I had horrible skin as a teen and in my mid-twenties developed horrible under eye lines (I worked Customer Care and it took it’s toll on my skin). Shortly after moving to Marketing, I discovered some AMAZING local beauty brands and lemme tell you they are doing all the things. Here are 4 South African beauty brands I’m obsessed with. If you love supporting local and are looking to take care of your skin, definitely try this brands out.

Switch Beauty

Switch Beauty offers a variety of make-up and skincare items as well as really cute merch. I love their quick delivery and how they made sunscreen effortless by creating a roll-on sunscreen!

Must-Try Items:

#MonoTint – universal lip, eye and cheek tint (This tint adds a subtle but gorgeous hint of colour)

#AirBalm – dewy lip tint (available in a variety of colours, this lip tint allows you to build the colour YOU want with each application)

Standard Beauty

Standard Beauty- available online and in some Clicks stores- offers products for your skin and your hair.

I credit Standard Beauty with my skin. Which is a weird statement to make but it’s true. After I overdid it with actives in my skincare and then had Oratane damage my skin even more, the Standard Beauty Customer Care team helpfully recommended a few products to help me heal my skin barrier. I’ve since pledged my undying loyalty to them.

Must-Try Items:

The mini range (a great way to learn which products work with your skin)

The green range (this range fixes your skin barrier and leaves you with super soft skin)

Silki

Silki offers products for your hair and your skin. What I really love about them is the super colourful packaging. IDK. It makes me happy. My favourite silki products are the serums and the sunscreen. Silki sunscreen was the first sunscreen that I used that didn’t leave me with a white cast and it feels super lightweight which I loved.

Must-Try Items:

SPF30+ Daily Defence Sunscreen (See above)

1% Bakuchiol serum (A plant-based retinol that reduces fine lines and improves skin tone)

Beauty on Tapp

My happy place! Beauty on Tapp offers tons of different skincare brands all under one roof (or website, if you don’t have a store near you). I visited their store recently and it was such an amazing experience I can’t wait to go back.

Must-Try Items:

Anything. Everything. (Might be a good idea to go with a brand you’re familiar with though).

Review: Beauty on TApp

I’ve known about the Beauty on TApp website for a while but never bought from them. I have my tried-and-tested skincare brands, and I never quite had enough in my cart to qualify for free shipping. So, when I heard they were opening a store in Durban, I was thrilled.

But then life happened, and I only just got around to visiting.

Walking in felt like stepping into skincare heaven—all my favorite brands and products in ONE place! The best part? They had testers, which meant I could try products before committing. Since I usually judge skincare based on how it feels on my skin, this was the perfect opportunity to explore new brands I’d been considering.

The Gateway store also offers skin consultations for R400, where you get a full skin assessment and product recommendations tailored to your needs.

But what I really want to talk about is the store itself- I was in LOVE! I tried on tons of things before finally settling on the product I came in for (Pastry body wash). I was ready to pay… only to get distracted by an assortment of face masks at the cashier—and then again at the door.

My only regret? I wish I needed more stuff! I overdid it during Black Friday and now have enough skincare to last me the whole year.

If you haven’t checked it out yet, now is the perfect time. Whether you’re looking to restock your staples or explore new finds, Beauty on TApp makes the experience feel like a dream!

Book Review: The Curated Closet by Anuschka Rees

The Curated Closet: A Simple System for Discovering Your Personal Style and Building Your Dream Wardrobe by Anuschka Rees

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book changed my life.

Filled with super helpful tips that will help you declutter your wardrobe while building a collection of clothing that you will love (AND more importantly- actually use!).

I strongly recommend this book to anyone struggling with the dilemma of having “nothing to wear”.

There is a TON of work involved in this book but it is so worth it.

I have 4 cupboards…but mostly use gymwear or PJs (I’m a freelance writer). This book was the push I needed to get the closet I deserved and let go of clothes that I was keeping just because.





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Book Review: The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Samantha Sweeting wants one thing in life- to become partner at her prestigious law firm.

She’s worked overtime, birthdays, given up holidays. The partnership is almost hers..until it isn’t,
She makes a major mistake that costs the company millions. Unable to handle seeing her dreams die, Samantha walks out.

She ends up on a train and then in the middle of nowhere. When she stops to ask for directions, she’s mistaken as an interviewee for a housekeeper position. One thing leads to another and Samantha doesn’t correct the error. Instead, she starts working as a housekeeper.

Samantha has absolutely no domestic skills and this is made clear from the very start.

What interested me about this book is that I felt like I could relate to it. With absolute no domestic skills, the first thing I did when I faced a career setback was start cooking. So it was fun to see someone else go through that strange transition.

Like most of Sophie Kinsella’s books, this was a funny read. It really pulled me in and I couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished this book.
I would give it 10 stars if I could because it was that good.

The characters were lively and entertaining, there’s some small town vibes which I always love and of course a hot love interest.

What more could you want?



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Book Review: The Last Battle by C.S Lewis

The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I had to brace myself going into this book since it was the last book in my boxset.

The Last Battle opens with a toxic friendship between a not so clever donkey and a very devious monkey.
When the monkey comes across a lion skin, he invents a scheme that changes all of Narnia for the worse.
Aslan summons the Friends of Narnia to help but this time it looks like they might be too late.

This was a great book but it felt like all it did was make me cry and smile and feel all warm in my heart. Over. And over. And over again.

This was a great series that I enjoyed despite my very adult age



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Book Review: The Silver Chair by C.S Lewis

The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I’ve made no secret of my absolute hate for Eustace.

But a mere two seconds into this book and it’s clear that he is a changed person. So when he and Jill are sucked into Narnia and then quickly separated, I was genuinely worried.
Aslan comes in and requests that Jill track down Eustace before the two of them go and locate the lost prince.

At this point, I no longer have any idea what happens in Narnia so it was great being thrown back into a familiar world but with no clue as to what lay ahead. I was also incredibly scared of the witch/creature who kidnapped the prince.

This was my favourite book so far and I cannot wait to see how the series ends.



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Book Review: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #3)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


FINALLY A Narnia book I know very little of.

I remember the painting and the ship and that’s it. So I was excited to dive into this one. Edmund and Lucy are staying with their horrid cousin, Eustace for the holidays. I don’t think I’m the type of person to hurt a kid but gosh, I really wanted to punch Eustace. He annoyed me so so much. Take every adult trait I hate and put it in one snotty kid and that’s Eustace. Know-it-all, snobby and no imagination whatsoever (that last part bugs me because despite his lack of imagination Eustace ends up in Narnia and it’s clear that he and Narnia are NOT a fit!).

When Eustace, Edmund and Lucy end up back in Narnia, they end up on the Dawn Treader, Prince Caspian’s ship.

Prince Caspian is on a journey to find the seven lords- nobleman who supported his father and who his uncle banished. Thing is, it’s been a looong time and these lords could be dead.
(I feel like Caspian just wanted to get out on the sea for fun but okay).

I think this might have been my favourite book in the series. There was always so much happening and it was so entertaining. I couldn’t get through it fast enough.

I’ve reached the stage where it feels like Narnia is my home and it’s really going to hurt me to move on from this series.



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Book Review: Prince Caspian (Chronicles of Narnia, #2)

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Let’s get one thing straight: I read Prince Caspian for Ben Barnes. No shame, no regrets. I loved him as a kid, and I still love him now. Sorry, not sorry.

Now, onto the book.

The plot of Prince Caspian felt repetitive to me- why is Narnia always in turmoil? Can’t it just be a peaceful, magical land for once? This time, the story revolves around Prince Caspian, who’s forced to flee after discovering that his uncle, King Miraz, wants him dead. Meanwhile, the Pevensie siblings are magically transported back to Narnia after years away, only to find the land in chaos. They team up with Caspian to fight for Narnia’s freedom, hoping to finally establish a just ruler.

I’ll admit, part of my enjoyment came from picturing the movie cast in every scene. But even without that mental imagery, I found myself really invested in the story. Still a bit embarrassed that I’m enjoying this series so much at my age but loving it nonetheless.



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Book Review: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia #1)

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Do I even need to review The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? It feels like we all know this story by now. Four kids stumble into a wardrobe and end up in a magical world. Classic.

But honestly, I loved it all over again. This book reminded me why Narnia is so magical- C.S. Lewis’s world-building is incredible, from the snowy woods to the grand battles. And seeing Aslan again brought back all the feelings I had as a kid. SO MUCH COMFORT!

Once again, I found myself completely enchanted. Maybe I am a reader of children’s books now.



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