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Eco-Friendly Etsy Christmas Gift Guide
Let’s face it, as a society we produce far too much single-use plastic, much of which is not recycled and thus ends up in landfill and our oceans. Thankfully in recent times there has been a shift towards more eco-friendly products but I think we can all agree that there is still so much that we as individuals can be doing. This year, when choosing gifts for friends and family, I have included several eco-friendly gifts. I have found that Etsy is an absolute treasure trove of such products – what’s more, by buying from Etsy you are supporting small sellers so with each purchase you are making someone’s day.…
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A Guide to Keeping Your Credit Score on the Straight and Narrow
This will not come as a surprise to many mums around the country but raising a child in 21st century Britain is a costly endeavour. By the time our kids are ready to fly the nest we will already have spent hundreds of thousands on them. What’s more, most of us are battling a rising cost of living and employer wage repression as well as an era of austerity that still hasn’t ended no matter what Downing Street may say. As such, parents of all ages are finding increasingly that their wages are insufficient to keep them financially afloat. This leads to the inevitability of borrowing and debt. While there’s…
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How Much Should You Spend on Christmas Presents for Your Little Ones?
The holiday season is fast approaching and increasing numbers of us are starting to turn our minds to Christmas presents for our little ones. This is an extremely exciting time of year for them and you’re going to want to ensure that there is something beneath the tree that will bring a smile to their faces on Christmas morning. But how much should you really be spending in this area? Here are a few tips to guide you in the right direction! Only Spend What You Can Genuinely Afford Many of us really feel the pressure to pick up absolutely everything our little ones put on their Santa wishlist. But…
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Christmas Gift Ideas for Grandparents
Welcome to the second installment of my Christmas gift guides: gift ideas for Grandparents (see my previous post about gift ideas for new parents). I hope the below gives you some inspiration as to what to buy for Grandparents (whether they are yours or your kids’) – I find them very hard to buy for. Magazine subscription Personally I have a Style at Home subscription and for me it’s always a lovely treat when the magazine comes through my door each month. The great thing about magazine subscriptions is that there is something to suit everyone. The site that has never let me down is Magazines Direct. A magazine subscription is…
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The Future of Your Family’s Finances
It’s something you probably think about a lot: are you going to have enough money a few years down the line to support everyone in your family unit? Will you be able to keep a roof over your head? Will you be able to shop for weekly groceries? These are all scary questions, but they’re quite responsible to keep in mind in the here and now. You can plan for the next few months or so, keeping to a strict budget that works perfectly for you, but you don’t know what might happen in a few years time – with that in mind, here’s a couple of things to think…
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Christmas Gift Ideas for New Parents
This is the first in a series of Christmas gift guides for those categories of people that are tricky to buy for. First up, I will be offering up some suggestions for gift ideas for new parents. It’s hard to know what to buy new mums and dads – maybe in previous years you might have bought them a voucher for their favourite restaurant but let’s face it, their life is dramatically different now. Here are some suggestions: Netflix With a young baby, parents will be spending a lot of time sitting down on the sofa, feeding and snuggling their bundle of joy. One of the things I was grateful…
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Planning A Budget Wedding That Still Feels Lavish
Whilst everybody wants the dream wedding, not everybody has the necessary financial backing to rent out an expensive venue and create a luxurious affair. But you don’t have to settle for second best if you’re working within the constraints of a restrictive budget. There are ways to plan a budget wedding that still feels lavish if you plan effectively and take the resourceful route to putting together your big day. In this article you will find some helpful wedding ideas on a budget that might give you some inspiration in this regard – remember that more expensive doesn’t automatically equal better. Consider your financial options Before you start cutting back on the…
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The Stresses and Strains of Caring for Elderly Parents
You love your parents unconditionally; throughout your entire life they have done so much for you, but now it’s your turn to return the favour. You are suddenly feeling the pressure to take care of them a lot more now that they are getting older. You feel like you have to stay strong for the kids, but everyday is a struggle. You are constantly trying to balance your time between caring for your elderly parents, holding down a job and looking after your youngsters. This point in your life has never felt so tough and you’re not sure how to get out of the vicious circle you have entered. Taking…
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Simple Ways to Break the Cycle of Debt
Everybody gets into debt at some point in their lives. Sometimes, you just can’t avoid borrowing money. That’s not a problem if you can pay it all back easily but it doesn’t take much to get into a cycle of debt. Once you’re in that cycle, it’s incredibly difficult to get out of it. If you find yourself in this position, you’ll be spending a lot of money on interest payments every single month and it’s incredibly difficult to manage your budget. It could also affect you later in life because your credit score is going to suffer. That’s why it’s important to get out of that cycle of debt…
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Why I decided to get a Contract Phone
For many years, being money-conscious, I have avoided mobile phone contracts. Instead, I have opted to buy a cheap Android phone (often used or refurbished) outright for around £100-£150, and then I have used a pay monthly sim card and paid a set amount for calls, texts and data. Most recently, I have been paying £15 a month to Giffgaff. Recently however, I became extremely tempted by the Huawei P20 Pro phone, mainly due to the beautiful photos it could produce. As someone who takes at least a dozen photos a day, I had severe camera envy. However, at around £600 to buy outright, it was way out of my…