The last two years have seen the most enormous changes in my personal life. In that time I have left my then husband, got divorced, sold a house, rented a flat, bought a house, got married, and had a baby! At the start of these two year I would never have imagined quite what was going to happen, but as I took that first, very scary, step, I knew that I had to make a change. For my benefit, and also for my kids. I also knew, that as well as all the emotional upheaval in my life there was going to be so many practical changes too. Finding somewhere new to live was probably the most ... read more
The Importance of Buying the Right Tyres for Your Car Model
You might not realise it but the type of tyres you choose for your car should always be appropriate for the particular model you drive. It is something that all of us need to take into account but it is especially so for mums and grandparents who will be transporting little ones in their car with them. Properly fitting tyres which are optimised for your exact model of car will help you to maintain better traction, stop more rapidly and avoid spinning out of control if you need to swerve at late notice. In short, correct tyres keep you and your occupants safe when you are out on the road. What ... read more
Bingo Probabilities
Bingo is a fantastic game that has become a world-wide phenomenon since the launch of the internet back in 1991. Thanks to this invention there are now hundreds of sites, like Paddy Power that offer you the chance to play at home and win cash prizes. Thousands login to play the game every day, but how does it actually work? We take a look at the basic maths behind bingo and the probability of your randomly generated numbers coming up. Probability of Winning Like many games it is hard to determine how well you will do as a lot of it is down to luck. However, there are few things you ... read more
Choosing the right savings and investments
There are more options out there today for those who have a little money to set aside than ever before, whether it is playing the stock market, investing in property or even starting a business. But while ideas like these are great for long term returns, what if your saving and investment aims are a little more modest? Perhaps you’d like to set aside a hundred pounds or so every month for a holiday or Christmas fund? Start with a cash ISA As ISA is the investment product that even those with no interest in finance have heard of, and it should be your first port of call, particularly ... read more
Level Up Your Finances: 3 Investment Ideas
Life is full of financial milestones that are worth celebrating. From buying your first home to paying off all of your credit card debt and waving goodbye to your student loan, these milestones are a part of marking our journey into and throughout adulthood. Image by: Pexels When you have managed to pay off most of your debt and have been a proud homeowner for a couple of years already, you might be wondering what’s next? Saving up for our retirement is surely great and all that, but it feels a bit sad if this is the only financial goal we have until we’ve reached our golden years. If ... read more
Finding where to dine out in London
We're lucky enough to live quite close to London. Good train routes (that run 24 hours a day) mean that getting into the capital for dinner or a night out is really simple. What isn't so simple though is deciding where to go. London is one of the world's best places to eat and drink. But how do you know, or decide, where to go when you fancy a night out there? A few years back my then husband and I came up with a plan to have regular date nights in the capital. Each month we would have two, and we each would organise one as a surprise for the other person. There was only one rule - it ... read more
Refreshing my wardrobe post pregnancy
When you stop and think about it pregnancy can play havoc with your wardrobe and personal sense of style. Before I had my most recent baby I'd got to a position where I felt really comfortable in the clothes that I chose to wear. I felt that I had a good range of things in my wardrobe that fit my body shape and size well, whilst also suiting me and giving me an individual sense of style. They were items that I'd picked up in all sorts of places over the years - both new and secondhand. Then I got pregnant and suddenly everything ended up going into storage and I instead invested in what ... read more
Prioritising motoring costs
New Year. A time when many of us are looking at out bank accounts and wondering just how to pay off the excesses of Christmas. Online forums are full of people asking for advise on how to pay off credit card bills, or how to reduce their monthly outgoings. As I've written many times on here, there are loads of ways of saving money on a regular basis by cutting your outgoings, but there are some expenses that I don't believe you should ever cut back on. I rely on my car. It means that I can collect my children from their Dad's, take them to school and also do practical things like go to ... read more
6 things to do before you go on holiday
With the festive season already a distant memory, many of us are looking forward to planning and booking our first holiday of 2019! Whether you’re hoping to head off in the next half term or you’re saving until the summer holidays, there’s going to be lots to plan, sort and arrange before you set foot in sunnier climes. So, with that in mind, we’ve come up with 6 of the most important things you need to do before you go on holiday – just in case you’ve forgotten! Read on for a few ideas. Get your travel insurance sorted. Whether you need a straight forward policy for yourself or ... read more
Holiday Haze: How to Make Lifelong Memories this Holiday Season
Everyone is excited about the holidays, and you probably have some great events planned—but do you remember what happened last holiday season? Probably not. The holiday haze is a real thing, largely due to an increase in libations and over-committing to events. However, there are steps you can take right now to make the most of the holiday season and really build some traditions and memories. It all starts with getting to the festivities in comfort. Leasing or buying a new 2019 Jetta or other dream car is a great way to treat yourself. It’s the ultimate holiday gift, and if you get it in candy ... read more