It gets to that time in your house where everything seems to need replacing, it starts with a lightbulb and ends up with a new bathroom or kitchen! It's because when we buy a house, we invest in everything new and it all seems to need replacing at the same time. Some of the DIY that needs doing can be done by yourself and it often becomes a family project, which brings you all together and when you have finished, you can look back and think about how you did it all together as a family. DIY is so much fun because you can make your house look so much better, sometimes it only needs a lick of paint or a new curtain pole putting up.
DIY can completely change the outlook of your house to and actually be the thing that turns it into a home. Here we have a list of some DIY projects that can be done at home by yourself and can be something to be proud of.
Monday, 18 March 2019
Wednesday, 13 March 2019
How I Managed My Debts After Christmas
Just after Christmas, I wrote about how hard up we were, and that we had to use a food bank to get by. I also wrote about how we had bailiffs knocking on the door because of my poor money management and how I had to find some money really fast to get out of a very sticky situation. I felt like a failure and that my money had been managed so badly, I had wanted to have a super special Christmas With Tilly but it didn't happen. So in the new year, I decided that I needed to look at money differently, that I could still live as well as having to pay my debts back.
I needed to take control of this part of my life and here we are 12 weeks into 2019 and I have almost paid my debts off! It's been hard work and if it wasn't for the help and patience of friends, I wouldn't be able to get it done. So what have I learnt over the past few months?
Ask For Help - Don't struggle with things if you can ask someone for help and advice. The CAB will be able to help you with this. ASk friends for help, you can guarantee, they were probably in the same position once too and they might have the answers that you are looking for.
Make Your Money Go Further - You can do this in many different ways like not wasting your wages when they come in. If you don't really need it, then don't buy it. You could use that money to pay a bill instead or pop it away in a savings account for a rainy day.
Sell Things You Don't Need - If you don't need it, get rid of it. You can sell things that you are not going to use and make use of the money, it's better than having things lying around the house that are just taking up space. Using Facebook groups or apps on your phone means that you don't pay a selling fee either and people can pick up from your house or a mutual meeting place. But eBay offers more protection and people pay with PayPal so both the seller and buyer are protected. When you sell something through eBay, you need to think about the costs added for the sale too.
Work Out Your Debts - The first time that I did this, I recalculated it a few times because I didn't believe I owed so much money! But putting it down on paper, makes you realise the extent of the money that you have coming in and out of the household. You need to do this to even start working out where you will go from here.
Pay Off The Debts - Although I am paying mine off monthly, there are many ways to do this. My friend has taken out a loan to pay all of her debts off. She now has one payment of £180 a month coming from her bank and she only pays that to the loan company, whereas before she owed money to several different companies, now it comes out as one payment and she doesn't have debt collectors knocking on her door. My advice is to shop around for the loan companies online that you can get, this means there is no middle man waiting to take is share of commision, so any savings will be all yours.
Make A Note Of Spending - This is a great way to track where your money has gone because you can see if you can cut any spending if you need to. Now I work out where my wages have to go and how much is going to each person. I stick to this list and I know it's more beneficial to me to do this and it means I am not worrying about money all of the time. Even in the supermarket, keep your receipts because you might need to spend less next week and you can go through your receipts to see where you can cut costs by going for a cheaper brand next week.
Set A Goal - I always try to set a goal for things. In January, I always take Matilda to Aalborg for a couple of days, this helps us in the after Christmas lull and as we had just had a really poor Christmas, it meant something for us to look forward to. This gives us reason to manage our money better because if I didn't then I would have had to cancel it. My bigger goal was a holiday in May with Tilly. Setting a goal gives me sheer determination to get my money sorted out and get to that goal sooner, rather than later. setting a goal is like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey and it makes you work hard for what you want.
Make Sure You Still Enjoy Yourself - Don't stop living! Sometimes we manage to survive on the little income that we have coming in, but we need to actually LIVE and not just SURVIVE. Still, find time to enjoy yourself because being in debt is almost a fact of life these days for many people but you cannot let it drown you. Hopefully, the advice we have offered can help you with debt. It's nothing to be ashamed of and there is always someone there to help out.
Collaborated Post
I needed to take control of this part of my life and here we are 12 weeks into 2019 and I have almost paid my debts off! It's been hard work and if it wasn't for the help and patience of friends, I wouldn't be able to get it done. So what have I learnt over the past few months?
Ask For Help - Don't struggle with things if you can ask someone for help and advice. The CAB will be able to help you with this. ASk friends for help, you can guarantee, they were probably in the same position once too and they might have the answers that you are looking for.
Make Your Money Go Further - You can do this in many different ways like not wasting your wages when they come in. If you don't really need it, then don't buy it. You could use that money to pay a bill instead or pop it away in a savings account for a rainy day.
Sell Things You Don't Need - If you don't need it, get rid of it. You can sell things that you are not going to use and make use of the money, it's better than having things lying around the house that are just taking up space. Using Facebook groups or apps on your phone means that you don't pay a selling fee either and people can pick up from your house or a mutual meeting place. But eBay offers more protection and people pay with PayPal so both the seller and buyer are protected. When you sell something through eBay, you need to think about the costs added for the sale too.
Work Out Your Debts - The first time that I did this, I recalculated it a few times because I didn't believe I owed so much money! But putting it down on paper, makes you realise the extent of the money that you have coming in and out of the household. You need to do this to even start working out where you will go from here.
Pay Off The Debts - Although I am paying mine off monthly, there are many ways to do this. My friend has taken out a loan to pay all of her debts off. She now has one payment of £180 a month coming from her bank and she only pays that to the loan company, whereas before she owed money to several different companies, now it comes out as one payment and she doesn't have debt collectors knocking on her door. My advice is to shop around for the loan companies online that you can get, this means there is no middle man waiting to take is share of commision, so any savings will be all yours.
Make A Note Of Spending - This is a great way to track where your money has gone because you can see if you can cut any spending if you need to. Now I work out where my wages have to go and how much is going to each person. I stick to this list and I know it's more beneficial to me to do this and it means I am not worrying about money all of the time. Even in the supermarket, keep your receipts because you might need to spend less next week and you can go through your receipts to see where you can cut costs by going for a cheaper brand next week.
Set A Goal - I always try to set a goal for things. In January, I always take Matilda to Aalborg for a couple of days, this helps us in the after Christmas lull and as we had just had a really poor Christmas, it meant something for us to look forward to. This gives us reason to manage our money better because if I didn't then I would have had to cancel it. My bigger goal was a holiday in May with Tilly. Setting a goal gives me sheer determination to get my money sorted out and get to that goal sooner, rather than later. setting a goal is like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey and it makes you work hard for what you want.
Make Sure You Still Enjoy Yourself - Don't stop living! Sometimes we manage to survive on the little income that we have coming in, but we need to actually LIVE and not just SURVIVE. Still, find time to enjoy yourself because being in debt is almost a fact of life these days for many people but you cannot let it drown you. Hopefully, the advice we have offered can help you with debt. It's nothing to be ashamed of and there is always someone there to help out.
Collaborated Post
Monday, 11 March 2019
Quick Ways to Make a Room Look a Lot Better
If you are anything like me sometimes you know that your home needs updating. But, you just do not have the time or cash available to redecorate completely. Fortunately, there are ways to quickly freshen up the look of a room, without having to spend a lot of time or money doing it. Below are a few suggestions.
Tuesday, 26 February 2019
Birthday gift ideas on a budget.
Are there some months where you feel as though all you do is buy birthday cards and gifts for friends and family members? It can get quite expensive, can’t it?
Well, with money being quite tight at the moment, I’ve been looking for ways I can still go all out for someone’s birthday but without spending a fortune (if much at all!).
Saturday, 23 February 2019
Kidzania London Review
Last week was half term and we were invited along to Kidzania to spend a session there. As it was Tilly's birthday coming up, we combined it into a day out with a friend and made it a little birthday treat. If you don't know what Kidzania is, then let me explain it to you. It is an activity that kids from the age of four can go to and become part of a little town, where they work for some money called Kidzo's and then at the end of the session, they get to spend the kidzo's in the shop. There are so many different jobs to do and the kids get to choose what they want to do. The jobs range from Doctors to Special care baby nurses and from parcel delivery people to wrap makers.
On arrival at Kidzania, you 'check in' at the pretend airport and you get transported to Kidzania. You're given 50 Kidzo's to start you off and your child is given a security bracelet that means they can not leave the premises without an adult. It works the same way as a security tag on clothes in a shop, an alarm goes off if you try to leave the building. Parents also get a security bracelet too, but if your child is over 8 years old, you get a different bracelet because you can actually leave Kidzania and let your kids do their own thing. If you are planning on doing this, make sure your child has a phone so you can find them later on.
Many of the activities are from 4 years old but some of the harder ones are for older kids, When they choose to do an activity, they get paid a certain amount of Kidzo's. Outside each workplace is a plaque saying what the activity is, how long it takes and how much you get paid at the end. Although some activities are also activities where you pay to do it like the fire station or to make an Eat Natural bar.
Each of the activities is sponsored by a real-life brand that the kids encounter most of the time in their life, this makes it more real for them and they know the brands and think they are working there for real. Tilly and her friend actually thought that they had made a pack of Deli Mission wraps.
There is a little tour bus that goes around Kidzania and it is one Kidzo to have a ride, but you can use this to decide which jobs you want to do. Kidzania does get very busy so you need to think about what jobs they really want to do because you can often wait an hour to get into a job like the fire station. we queued for half an hour on average to get into the different work activities and a lot of kids queued in the queue and then suddenly all their friends would come up and join them, so you were bumped back down the line even further. This is annoying and unfair on the kids that have queued honestly. There was also lots of parents pushing their kids into the queues, even though they didn't want to do the activity.
We did manage quite a few job activities including the ambulance staff (where they go to a major incident to help the injured people), Clothes recycling with H&M, making an Eat Natural bar, making wraps, making a bird feeder with RSPB, being a baby nurse in the SCBU and designing a healthy snack with the new snack food that out called Mavericks. There is so much to do there for so many different types of kids. Sometimes when we go there Tilly wants to get involved in a dance show and then she goes on stage to show people what she has learnt.
Kidzania is found in Westfield Shopping Centre at Shepherds Bush and we used the Wood Lane underground station to arrive and leave. It is on the first floor and is next to Marks and Spencers. Tickets are £18 if bought online and in advance or £38 on the door (so booking online means you get a great deal that's better than 2 for 1). You only have to go in with the children that are younger than 8 years old and if you do, then it is a cost of £18 on the door. But over 8 years old and kids can enter themselves as long as there is an adult with them when they register and enter Kidzania. This is perfect for getting a few hours of Shopping done or meet friends for coffee. You can find the opening hours here
What Did We Think Of Kidzania?
I have said before that if you are going to be in there with your child, you need to take a book to read or a laptop to do some work because there is a lot of waiting around whilst your kids run about doing the activities. There is an adults only place to go (the grown-up shed), but when I went in there, it had kids running about in there and I just wanted some time out from kids! Matilda and her friend enjoyed the day, despite losing their places a few times to people that pushed in the line, It is very awkward because you don't want to say something to the kids because it looks like bullying. I love how the brands are involved and they promote ethical living, they promote the things that we should get our kids to know. They make going to the dentist fun. It is good that they earn their own money because it encourages them to be independent and learn the value of money. I liked that they had face painting and it was only £2, normally when you go to places like this, the extra activities are inflated in price. Well done Kidzania for keeping it real!
pop over and see our other adventures at www.misstillyandme.co.uk
On arrival at Kidzania, you 'check in' at the pretend airport and you get transported to Kidzania. You're given 50 Kidzo's to start you off and your child is given a security bracelet that means they can not leave the premises without an adult. It works the same way as a security tag on clothes in a shop, an alarm goes off if you try to leave the building. Parents also get a security bracelet too, but if your child is over 8 years old, you get a different bracelet because you can actually leave Kidzania and let your kids do their own thing. If you are planning on doing this, make sure your child has a phone so you can find them later on.
Many of the activities are from 4 years old but some of the harder ones are for older kids, When they choose to do an activity, they get paid a certain amount of Kidzo's. Outside each workplace is a plaque saying what the activity is, how long it takes and how much you get paid at the end. Although some activities are also activities where you pay to do it like the fire station or to make an Eat Natural bar.
Each of the activities is sponsored by a real-life brand that the kids encounter most of the time in their life, this makes it more real for them and they know the brands and think they are working there for real. Tilly and her friend actually thought that they had made a pack of Deli Mission wraps.
There is a little tour bus that goes around Kidzania and it is one Kidzo to have a ride, but you can use this to decide which jobs you want to do. Kidzania does get very busy so you need to think about what jobs they really want to do because you can often wait an hour to get into a job like the fire station. we queued for half an hour on average to get into the different work activities and a lot of kids queued in the queue and then suddenly all their friends would come up and join them, so you were bumped back down the line even further. This is annoying and unfair on the kids that have queued honestly. There was also lots of parents pushing their kids into the queues, even though they didn't want to do the activity.
We did manage quite a few job activities including the ambulance staff (where they go to a major incident to help the injured people), Clothes recycling with H&M, making an Eat Natural bar, making wraps, making a bird feeder with RSPB, being a baby nurse in the SCBU and designing a healthy snack with the new snack food that out called Mavericks. There is so much to do there for so many different types of kids. Sometimes when we go there Tilly wants to get involved in a dance show and then she goes on stage to show people what she has learnt.
Kidzania is found in Westfield Shopping Centre at Shepherds Bush and we used the Wood Lane underground station to arrive and leave. It is on the first floor and is next to Marks and Spencers. Tickets are £18 if bought online and in advance or £38 on the door (so booking online means you get a great deal that's better than 2 for 1). You only have to go in with the children that are younger than 8 years old and if you do, then it is a cost of £18 on the door. But over 8 years old and kids can enter themselves as long as there is an adult with them when they register and enter Kidzania. This is perfect for getting a few hours of Shopping done or meet friends for coffee. You can find the opening hours here
What Did We Think Of Kidzania?
I have said before that if you are going to be in there with your child, you need to take a book to read or a laptop to do some work because there is a lot of waiting around whilst your kids run about doing the activities. There is an adults only place to go (the grown-up shed), but when I went in there, it had kids running about in there and I just wanted some time out from kids! Matilda and her friend enjoyed the day, despite losing their places a few times to people that pushed in the line, It is very awkward because you don't want to say something to the kids because it looks like bullying. I love how the brands are involved and they promote ethical living, they promote the things that we should get our kids to know. They make going to the dentist fun. It is good that they earn their own money because it encourages them to be independent and learn the value of money. I liked that they had face painting and it was only £2, normally when you go to places like this, the extra activities are inflated in price. Well done Kidzania for keeping it real!
pop over and see our other adventures at www.misstillyandme.co.uk
Monday, 18 February 2019
Ways To Make Some Extra Cash..... SuperFast
January was the longest month EVER! I had a spot of money trouble before Christmas and I found myself having to borrow money to keep bailiffs away from the door. So January was spent finding ways to make some extra cash to pay back the different people that I had borrowed from and still having enough money to live on for the month. Luckily, we are back to normal now and by March I should have all the debts paid off. I got me thinking about all of the ways you can make some extra cash to pay off debts or get money for unexpected purchases that I might have to make. I am sharing some tips today with you and if you have any other ideas, please let me know in the comments below.
Saturday, 16 February 2019
Check Your Tyres Are Safe In The Icy Weather
Have you checked your car recently? With this cold and snowy patch of weather that we are having, it can make driving so much more hazardous. So it's important to make sure you have ensured that your car is roadworthy.
Probably one of the most important things to think about when you check your care to ensure its safe to drive in the adverse weather conditions is the tyres. In normal weather conditions, if you are travelling at 70 MPH, after you slam on the breaks in an emergency, you won't come to a stop until 96 metres later. In the rainy weather, it is 192 metres from the moment that you slam on your brakes!
Probably one of the most important things to think about when you check your care to ensure its safe to drive in the adverse weather conditions is the tyres. In normal weather conditions, if you are travelling at 70 MPH, after you slam on the breaks in an emergency, you won't come to a stop until 96 metres later. In the rainy weather, it is 192 metres from the moment that you slam on your brakes!
Friday, 15 February 2019
5 Awesome Musical Games Kids Will Love
Music is food for the soul, some say. It calms your mind and rejuvenates your senses. Researchers also say that music helps in the faster development of the brain in children, among other benefits. Overall, music has been found to have a positive effect on a child's overall development. Looking for a way to encourage your kids' interest in music? We have several musicals games lined up for you. Here are 5 awesome musical games your kids will love, which was inspired by Star walk Kids.
Wednesday, 6 February 2019
How Safe Is Your Internet?
Sometimes we forget how vulnerable we are when we go online, it is part of our everyday life and even our babies use the online world to watch things like YouTube as they are pushed around the supermarket. Online is everywhere, but so is the danger that the internet brings.
Next month sees the fourth year since my daughter's partner was arrested for being a paedophile, he had groomed my daughter from right under my nose, I had always been so protective of her and up until she was 16, I always made sure that I had her login details and would check her social media accounts to see what she had been up to. It was a huge invasion of her privacy but it was to keep her safe. The thing was as soon as she turned 16 and I let my guard down, she was groomed. It goes to show that its not just the little kids that are vulnerable on the internet. I never got my daughter back from this, she has been brainwashed and won't listen to anything that we say. I have Tilly who is 8 and she is allowed to use the internet because I don't want her to be scared of it, it is a way of life and the internet is a huge part of her learning. We do have extra precautions in place now, She has a Youtube Channel and Instagram but both are managed by me and she doesn't have the passwords. Sadly she has had to find out about internet security, the hard way.
Next month sees the fourth year since my daughter's partner was arrested for being a paedophile, he had groomed my daughter from right under my nose, I had always been so protective of her and up until she was 16, I always made sure that I had her login details and would check her social media accounts to see what she had been up to. It was a huge invasion of her privacy but it was to keep her safe. The thing was as soon as she turned 16 and I let my guard down, she was groomed. It goes to show that its not just the little kids that are vulnerable on the internet. I never got my daughter back from this, she has been brainwashed and won't listen to anything that we say. I have Tilly who is 8 and she is allowed to use the internet because I don't want her to be scared of it, it is a way of life and the internet is a huge part of her learning. We do have extra precautions in place now, She has a Youtube Channel and Instagram but both are managed by me and she doesn't have the passwords. Sadly she has had to find out about internet security, the hard way.
Wednesday, 23 January 2019
Cool things to do in London with kids In February
February may be a short month but it feels very long if you don’t have anything to look forward to. If you like to find activities for your youngsters to enjoy, February can be a challenging month. Valentine’s Day takes most of the attention but this isn’t a great day for kids, so take a step aside from the love and romance, and find something cool things to do in London with the kids.
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| Photo by Luca Micheli on Unsplash |
