My Favourite Music, TV Programmes and Games
Hi, I thought I’d do something a little different from my usual money-saving and self-improvement posts. Instead, I’m going to share some bits about my life.
For all of my working life, I’ve worked in administration and retail. However, I always wanted to start my own blog. I put it off for years with excuses about time, money, no experience, etc. But after being made redundant in 2025, I decided to stop making excuses and give it a go. It has been a massive learning curve, and I have enjoyed every minute of it.
I still have moments where I doubt myself, but I’m learning that every new skill takes time.
Music
Music has always been a huge part of my life. I listen to it every single day and enjoy almost every genre—pop, rock, indie, dance and even a bit of new age. My favourite era is definitely the 1980s and 1990s.
As for today’s charts…I’ll admit I’m a little lost! Maybe I’m just getting older, or maybe music really was better back then! But I always try to find new music to keep me inspired.
Here are some of the songs Spotify said were “Your All-Time Top Songs!”
- Firestone– Kygo
- Sonnentanz – Sun Don’t Shine – Klangkarussell
- Anywhere – Rita Ora
- Show Me Love – Sam Feldt
- Gypsy – Fleetwood Mac
- Together – R Plus and Dido
- Waves – Mr Probz
- Following the Sun – SUPER-HI
- So Good to Me – Chris Malinchak
- Long Summer Nights – Oliver Nelson, Lilla Vargen
- Run Away with Me – Carly Rae Jepsen
- Malibu – Miley Cyrus
- Hypnotized – Purple Disco Machine
- I Don’t Care – Ed Sheeran and Justin Bieber
- The Gift – Way Out West
- Waiting On a Sunny Day – Bruce Springsteen
- Soak Up the Sun – Sheryl Crow
- Little Bit of Love – JP Cooper
- Time to Move On – Tom Petty
- Be The One – Dua Lipa
Spotify recently showed me my “All-Time Top Songs”, and I was quite surprised by the results. I’d expected loads of 80s classics, but apparently, I’ve been listening to more modern music than I realised!
Computer Games
I grew up playing computer games, and my first console was the Atari 2600. Later, I moved on to the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and the Sega Mega Drive. I couldn’t afford to buy many games at the time, so gaming became more of an occasional hobby.
Things changed when I got a Game Boy Advance and, later, a Nintendo DS. I played my DS almost every day. By then I was working and could finally afford to build a decent game collection.
When Nintendo introduced the 3D version, I quickly discovered my eyes (and brain!) weren’t fans, so I stuck with simpler games instead. And then, with the cost of living, I now only play free-to-download games. Unfortunately, most of them have adverts, but I can put up with them.
Here are some of the games I love playing on the tablet and mobile.
- SimCity BuildIt
- Nonogram – Jigsaw Puzzle Game
- Meow Tower – Nonogram
- Picture Cross
- Where’s My Water 2
- Cut the Rope
- Minion Rush – Running Game
- Block Blast!
- Lucky Balls
- Pixel Flow
- Match Factory
- Fluffy Drop
- Find It – Hidden Object Game
- Goods Puzzle – 3D Sorting Game
- Hill Climb Racing 1 and 2
- Royal Match
- Word Wow Around the World
- Everyday Puzzles – Mini Games
- Snail Bob 1, 2 and 3
- Lep’s World 1, 2 and 3
TV Programmes
As a child, I was completely addicted to television. Back then there were only four main channels in the UK, so everyone seemed to watch the same programmes. Things changed when we got Sky TV in the mid-1990s, and suddenly there were hundreds of channels to choose from.
But sometime in the 2010’s I stopped watching it as much. Now I don’t have a TV but watch everything on my tablet.
Here are some of the random things I watch on YouTube/Hayu.
- Weird History channel – This channel has so much history from very different topics.
- Todd In the Shadows channel – He reviews music, and he is so funny!
- Retro Rollback channel – This shows how Britain was in the 80s and 90s.
- MsMojo channel – They have top ten lists of “celebrities, music, lifestyle” things
- Drew Binsky channel – He travels all over the world and shows how ordinary people live.
- Supernanny
- Say Yes to the Dress
- Hoarders
- Sister Wives
- Extreme Couponing
- Ice Road Truckers
- The Cosby Show
- The Waltons
- The Real Housewives of Atlanta
- Love & Hip Hop – Atlanta (this is fading fast! I’m struggling to watch the new series)
Hobbies
My hobbies at the moment are doing crystal art. Crystal art is relaxing for me and is also known as diamond painting or 5D diamond art, where you use tiny resin or glass crystals to build a shiny image.
I also enjoy doing scraperfoil, also known as scratch art. That helps pass the time and stops me overthinking!
I have just bought a DIY Miniature House Kit with Furniture and LED Lights to build. I’m hoping to enjoy doing that as they are really cute when they are finished. I’m not sure how good I will be, as my eyes aren’t as good as they were!
When I’m not crafting, I enjoy learning and reading about how to save money, leading a simpler life, decluttering, and under-consumption – Pinterest and YouTube have a way of keeping me occupied!
And when the weather is nice, I love to walk around the duck pond and woods that I live near. I’ve always found that spending time in nature helps clear my mind and puts everything back into perspective.
Final Thoughts
Although my hobbies have changed over the years, I still enjoy finding simple, affordable ways to relax and make the most of my free time. That’s one of the reasons I started this blog—to share ideas that help us enjoy life without spending a fortune.
What are your hobbies? How do you pass the time? Let me know in the comments!
