What to consider when buying your first family car
Posted inFamily life

What to consider when buying your first family car

Having a family is a big step, which brings with it a lot of change and a lot of tough choices. One such decision is choosing your first family car, something which many people do not consider until they’ve had the experience of trying to fit a child-seat, a half-folded up pram and a bag of nappies into their beloved hot hatchback. Investing in a family car will set you up for the future, from going on adventures while on holiday, to just making life easier on a day-to-day basis.

The importance of managing your mental health on maternity leave
Posted inMaternity leave

The importance of managing your mental health on maternity leave

Maternity leave is always a hot topic in the news. With the pressures of work pitted against the importance of new mothers having time to bond with their new-borns, it can seem like an added stress and a recipe for disaster. Some employers take a very positive approach to maternity leave. For example, Netflix recently came out with the introduction of unlimited leave policy for new parents that allows them to take off as much time as they want after having a child.

Use your head! Five ways to make more money…
Posted inMoney - how to keep it and how to make it

Use your head! Five ways to make more money…

If you’re struggling financially the good news is that it is easier than ever to make extra cash. No matter what your skillset, how much time you have or how much you need to earn, there are plenty of methods out there that can earn you some extra money – here are just five ways you probably didn’t think of:

The psychology behind why people buy
Posted inMoney - how to keep it and how to make it

The psychology behind why people buy

We live in a consumer based economy, and the reasons behind why people buy certain things can appear disorientated and confusing. Despite this, there is a real rationale regarding these issues that surround what influences consumers and a knowledge of this can prove to be a salient force in your own business. What it eventually comes down to is psychology.

Podcast: Sunshine through the rain – Lorena Oberg talks success after acrimonious divorce
Posted inPodcasts for mums Real mums

Podcast: Sunshine through the rain – Lorena Oberg talks success after acrimonious divorce

Divorce can be tough no matter how grown up you and your other half choose to be about it. But when it’s acrimonious and you don’t have a penny to your name, and you need to stay afloat so you can keep your children, what do you do? Well, start a business – of course!

Summer’s here! Get your children beach ready!
Posted inFamily life

Summer’s here! Get your children beach ready!

With summer officially upon us, families will now be making plans to enjoy all the fun that the season brings. Whether you’re planning a holiday away or simply preparing to enjoy the warm weather, having beach wear ready for the children is important. This way, your children can enjoy the cool waters at a moment’s notice and you can be confident that they are fully prepared.

Looking for ways to make your 16-19 year old’s studies pay?
Posted inChildren & Relationships Family life Money - how to keep it and how to make it

Looking for ways to make your 16-19 year old’s studies pay?

By the end of June, when GCSE season has finally been put to bed, parents around the country will start to bemoan the cost of keeping a teenage bloomer in the style (they think) they deserve.

If you can get through the summer holidays, the good news is that if your child stays in full-time education, there is help at hand.

EMAs

Known as the Education Maintenance Allowance, EMAs come in the form of £30 paid every week into your child’s account to help them afford to stay on at school. Children in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland cane apply directly from Student Finance Wales.

If your child doesn’t have one already, they will need a bank account for the payments to be made into – they’ll need these details for the application form.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund

For students in England, the new bursary scheme will help with the cost of equipment for school, travel and lunch. It replaces the EMA for England (only), which was scrapped in 2012.

The bursary amounts to £1,200 and is discretionary, so schools and colleges can decide which students need it most to help them continue their studies.

Four places to get free childcare during the summer
Posted inChildren & Relationships Get organised Parenting tips Things to do with the kids

Four places to get free childcare during the summer

With just a handful of weeks left before children break up for the longest school holiday of the year, parents around the country are looking for ways to not only keep children busy, but to cover childcare while they work…you are not alone!

So, what have you got planned? Here are some ideas that start at zero cost to less than £100 per week.

Pencil… check! Filofax Notebook… check! How a pencil and paper will change your life
Posted inProduct reviews

Pencil… check! Filofax Notebook… check! How a pencil and paper will change your life

Technology may have the world fooled, but not us! One of the most important tools in life already exists in your home: a pencil. That’s according to author Stephen Covey in his book, ‘Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success’, and he should know. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe you’ve heard of his other bestselling book, ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People‘ one of the must-reads for anyone who is serious about making an impact in the world.

Tax credits renewal alert!
Posted inAll things tax

Tax credits renewal alert!

It’s that time of year again, when the taxman is on the prowl. This time, it’s in relation to tax credits, to which HMRC is urging parents to renew their tax credits early and online.

Product review: Filofax meets the cash envelope budget system #filofax
Posted inChildren & Relationships Money - how to keep it and how to make it

Product review: Filofax meets the cash envelope budget system #filofax

If you’re still licking your wounds from the school Easter holidays, you’re not alone. According to a recent survey, school holidays cost parents a staggering £1,500 a during the school summer holidays alone – and that excludes all the regular costs that go with raising our children when they are in school.

Four ways to plan your maternity leave so your colleagues will want you to come back to work
Posted inMaternity leave

Four ways to plan your maternity leave so your colleagues will want you to come back to work

While you may be nursing swollen ankles, and trying to navigate the big bump your third trimester suddenly sprouts out, going on maternity leave may seem like a little way off.

However, the chances of your baby arriving on the due date are slim; according to the National Childbirth Trust, only 5% of babies arrive on their due date. This could have something to do with the fact that pregnancy is measured from the date of your last period, even though the conception could have taken place at any time in the weeks after it.

How to save £700 on your food bill by freezing your eggs (no, this is not IVF)
Posted inFamily life Foodie Fridays

How to save £700 on your food bill by freezing your eggs (no, this is not IVF)

That’s £58.33 a month to spend on other essentials around the house…and it won’t cost you anything to make the saving.

According to the iFreeze, iSave initiative Brits waste hundreds of pounds wasting food every year, when it could be put into the freezer. Instead, we’re storing the strangest things in the freezer instead – do any of these items have a home in your freezer?