Posts by Editor - motherswwhowork.co.uk

Does anyone feel cheery this year in the run-up to Christmas? Is it just me or are fewer homes displaying Christmas lights this year than this time last year?

Well our friends in the US are planning to spend $764 (around £495) on gifts this year, according to a poll and that means that we probably aren’t that far behind.

It’s that time of year again…office Christmas parties, celebrations with friends and family. And an ever-expanding Christmas shopping list. Just how do you make sure you look not and not break the budget?

There are some fabulous ladies dresses on the high street market this season for which the inspiration clearly hails back to this season’s hottest catwalk looks. If you’re yet to find your perfect party piece then now’s the time to shop, with major department stores such as House of Fraser (you can check out their ladies dresses online before braving the pre Christmas high street) offering many a competitive discount as part of the commercial mayhem running up to December 25th.

Women’s dresses are taking their style inspiration from any number of different eras and trends of years gone by, but one thing is clear: fabrics are modern and finishes are slick.

When it comes to shoes, you have to think carefully about the restrictions and requirements of everyday life. Busy, working mums like us are unlikely to have the time to be tottering about in 6 inch stilettos unless they’ve been taking master classes from Victoria Beckham or Sarah Jessica Parker after Pilates. But that doesn’t mean that your shoes can’t say something stylish about you and your own sense of fashion. There are a range of practical shoe trends in vogue for the season, and, with many a vintage-inspired design popping up on the haute couture market, it shouldn’t matter whether you prefer to shop for shoes in House of Fraser or The Salvation Army: there’s sure to be a bargain out there for you.

Thanks to Prada, cowboy boots are back in a big way. Prada reinvented theirs by styling up a classic boot shape from a brightly coloured, synthetic snake skin fabric. If you’re looking for utmost versatility, you don’t have to go for the neons, but you’ll soon find that animal prints make for a glamorous yet wearable variation on the traditional black or brown designs. And a cowboy boot comes with the added advantage of a low and manageable heel that can still be worn with smarter ensembles.

As teachers go on strike today over pay and pensions, thousands of mothers around the country will be forced to either pay for expensive one-off childcare, take the day off, or work from home.

While we all hope that this strike action will not be the start of many to come, there will other events that will mean mums around the country will not be able to work in the office, and will have no choice but to work from home with the kids…one example is if it snows this winter. How prepared are you for that?

Working at home can provide the flexibility needed to also provide childcare, but when these two jobs are carried out simultaneously you can quickly find that you are sharing your home office with some decidedly distracting ‘co-workers’!

Here are some useful tips to help you cope – and actually get some work done!

Public liability insurance is not a legal requirement that businesses need to have, but it is certainly highly recommended. For one thing if someone sued your business it could spell the end of your start-up business dream.

Public liability insurance basically covers you against any kind of injury or illness a member of the public, or somebody who is not associated with your business, might sustain on your property.

Whether it’s preparing for Christmas, wanting to make extra money to clear debts or pay bills, or to save for a special treat, many of us are looking for ways to make extra money. For working mums who are already juggling a job with children and other family commitments, the thought of finding a part-time job to get that extra money can be very demotivating.

Buying and selling gold is something mums can do from the comfort of their own home – and while the recession is in full swing, you stand to make good money because when the economy is down, the price of gold tends to go up. If you can buy gold when the cost is low and sell when gold prices increase, you can make good profit.

Here are some tips for selling and buying gold: