I'm baaaaack.

Ok, let's face the elephant in the room. I've been very MIA for a hot minute, and I want to explain why. I haven't had a trip to write about; many have been canceled, and quite honestly, between my normal 9-5 and everything I do on the side, I have simply spread myself too thin. But things are looking up! The vacation my other half and I have planned for the last two and a half years that kept getting canceled for various reasons is finally happening! The accommodations are booked, and time off from work is in for both of us, so no turning back now.

So where are we going?

Well, I'm very happy to say we are headed to London for a 10-day trip. So let's be honest, money is still tight, and I need to make every dollar count, so I'm inviting you to join me in the planning so you can see how I plan everything, while saving money, and not using every spare second I have to get everything sorted out. First up? Figuring out dates, for us, the most expensive part is the accommodations. My partner works for an airline, so we are blessed to be able to fly standby, which saves us quite a bit of money (but, despite popular theory is not free). Since we fly standby, that meant we had to be a little more particular with our dates and choose days to fly into and out of London on days that would be easiest to get tickets. Once that was figured out then I was determined to find the best deal possible.

So here's the thing, if we had been able to figure this out months ago we would be spending less then $700 for 10 days in an incredibly nice place, however when I started looking there were some health issues with my cat (which sounds lame but he has asthma and a rare heart condition and some other things, so the trip almost got canceled again-like it did last year because he had to have several thousand dollars worth of testing and scans done the week we were planning on going.. that being said my cat is like my child and I'll cancel traveling a thousand times if I need to). This delayed our booking where we were going to stay by several months, and in that time everything we had picked out booked up, and the ones that didn't had tripled in price.

When booking where you're staying, it's important to take several things into account. For us, we have some non-negotiables:

• A full kitchen

• Wifi

• TV

• Near the easiest public transportation (so in this case, I wanted to be near a tube or train station)

• Local grocery, restaurants, or pubs nearby, so we wouldn't have to take a load of transport to get essentials or eat

I'm sure some of you are thinking that it's kind of a strange list. Welp. That's the list we look for, you do you, and pick out what your must-haves are. For us, I have several very serious food allergies, so a kitchen is a must. Preparing our own food also allows us to reduce prices (we can spend the same for a week's worth of food as two days in restaurants) and try local things we can't find at home in the local markets.

Here are some shots of the place we ended up booking:

Our grand total after fees for this BNB? $1220.

Pretty damn good if you ask me for a more short-notice booking. Especially given that the price is split between 2 people.

Now that this part is done is the fun stuff. So what is in the area around our BNB? there's a whole slew of things to do:

• David Bowie Mural
  Pay tribute to the hometown hero. Quick stop, cool pic, and some serious music history.
  Tip: Go early for decent lighting and fewer people.

• Brixton Village & Market Row
  Foodie heaven. Think jerk chicken, Colombian arepas, Ethiopian platters, vegan donuts, and vintage shops all packed into a market that’s been around since the 1870s.
  Loud, chaotic, and the thing I'm most excited for in the neighborhood.

• Pop Brixton
  Outdoor hangout made from shipping containers. Street food, indie shops, and cocktails with fairy lights overhead.
  Good vibes, better dumplings.

• The Ritzy Cinema
  Classic cinema meets cool local hangout. Catch a movie, grab a drink upstairs, or stumble into a live event.
  Fun fact: It opened in 1911 and still holds up.

• Brockwell Park
  Huge park for laid-back walks, skyline views, or just flopping on the grass. There’s also a 1930s outdoor lido if you're up for a dip.
  Perfect if your brain needs a reset.

• The Crown & Anchor
  Classic Brixton pub with solid craft beer, comfy vibes, and real food (not sad bar snacks).
  Check the board for tap takeovers or quiz nights.

• Hootananny Brixton

  • Hootananny: Live bands, reggae, Afrobeat, and a huge beer garden

• Brixton Bookmongers
  Fun little secondhand bookshop where you’ll probably find something unexpected.
  Smells like nostalgia and paperbacks.

• Brixton Makers’ Market
  Rotating street market featuring local artists, prints, candles, jewelry, and handcrafted everything.
  Buy something cool that didn’t come from a chain store.

Not to mention there's an entrance to the tube 5 minutes walking distance from where we are staying, with direct access to central London. So location-wise, for what we look for, I think we nailed it. Up next? Figuring out a rough schedule so we can get tickets for things early and save even more money. Don't let that stress you out! If you're not a planner, it's ok! Nothing needs to be set in stone, but if saving your hard-earned dollars is your jam, then it's necessary.