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
Don’t forget your Car this Christmas
Don't panic. I have not totally lost the plot. I'm not about to sit here in a sleep-deprived new baby state and suggest that you need to buy your car gifts and hang a stocking up from the rear view mirror on Christmas Eve, but I am going to write about how you need to remember your car this Christmas, and in winter in general. I know that a fair amount of our Christmas is going to be spent on the road, travelling up and down the country to visit various family members. I'm pretty sure we're not the only people who will be spending time on the country's motorways doing so. When you think ... read more
How to Apply to Become a Foster Carer
Starting your foster care application is an exciting time. It is the first step to becoming a positive force for change in the lives of young people. It’s the beginning of the journey to great rewards. However, do you know the steps you need to take to become a foster carer? Understand the role Before beginning a foster care application, it is crucial to fully understand the role of a foster carer. This is made difficult because the media doesn’t always present a realistic image. A foster carer is a highly distinct role. You will be providing the care and nurturance a young person ... read more
Why it’s Important to Have Access to Foster Support
If it takes a ‘village to raise a child’, it takes a town to raise a foster child. Whilst the foster carer is the child’s main carer, this is a demanding role that needs both foster carer support and support for the child. Foster carer support should be a primary factor to consider when choosing which body to be a foster carer through. The nature of foster carer needs Being a foster carer is like no other job out there. It’s not defined by neat working hours. It’s 24/7 for long periods of time, often months or years. Furthermore, it is by its very nature, ‘relational’. This means ... read more
Money saving tips for when you have a new baby
One of the biggest expenses in family life can be when you have a new addition to the family. Everyone knows that having a baby comes with costs, but just how much might you need to spend? And how much of it is really necessary? It's a while back since I first wrote on here about how you can have a baby without it costing the earth, and I think that many of the tips and tricks I gave then still hold true today. This time around, my financial situation is very different to when I welcome Little Miss C into my life. This time around I don't still have everything from my first two babies, ... read more
Simple And Effective Tips For Organising Your Home
It’s harder to get through the day when our houses are in disarray. A straightforward task takes longer because we need to clear a space to work, or we get distracted by all the bits and pieces that are not where they should be. Everyone is guilty of this, at least every so often. There are long-term simple and effective tips for organising your home though, find out what steps you have have missed and how to achieve a tidy home. Storage solutions If you haven’t explored any storage solutions, then you won’t understand their power. Storage containers and flexible tubs just slip into the ... read more
Eight tips for planning a family vacation in Asia
The planning required to make any vacation a success can at times become intimidating once you know that the family and kids are coming as well. While fun and relaxation are the prime targets of any family holiday, achieving these goals means to literally go through a maize of selecting a hotel from hundreds, pouring over travel literature and scanning the net for the right flight and seat selection. Asia as a destination can be very enticing, but it is equally daunting, especially if you are a first timer and more so if there is a family in tow. Searching on Google will only confuse ... read more
5 Tip and Tricks to increase the value of your home on a budget
It is no secret that it is harder than ever to get on the property ladder, with soaring house prices and a hugely competitive market. Yet in 2018, the number of first-time buyers is the highest in 12 years. After committing to the biggest investment of their lives, it is not surprising that house buyers are more keen than ever to make sure they can successfully increase the value of their home. Don’t worry, you don’t need to take out a second mortgage to pay for home improvements! Here are 5 tips and tricks to increase the value of your home on a budget. Convert Under-Utilised ... read more