Category: Lifestyle

1. Decluttering your House after the Christmas Fest

   Posted on 8:56pm Saturday 2nd Jan 2016

   Well, it’s practically all over. The presents have been ripped open, boxes played with, chocolates eaten, cuddly toys hugged tight and fought over. The New Year celebrations have come and gone, heads have cleared and the future beckons. Before you can get back to normal, of course, it’s time to deal with those pesky decorations.

   Time to return your home to normal.

   After all the festivities, it’s tempting to throw them all in one box, lug it up to the loft and forget about decorations for another year so if you really want Christmas 2016 to be the occasion you spent three hours unravelling the lights, then go right ahead.

   

   A little time and preparation now can make next year a breeze and also help you keep control of all those trimmings. If you’re like me, your collection can grow, from bespoke baubles and oversized glittering beads to a crazy singing reindeer.

   Sometimes it’s a good idea to declutter, throwing out the old and in with the new, as the saying goes. To do this you have to show a good deal of resolve but it can also be a pretty cathartic process. It can also make sure you stay in control of your Christmas decorations.

   • Sort your trimmings into like for like piles (stars, baubles, tinsel, lights etc).
   • Decide which you are going to keep and the things that have seen better days and need to be let go.
   • Keep your baubles for the tree in one box, your more intricate decorations for the mantlepiece in another.
   • Make sure your lights are wound properly (if you don’t have something ready-made then how about an old strip of stiff card?).
   • Dismantle your Christmas tree carefully and repackage it properly rather than throwing it in the box.
   • If you had a real tree, then take it down to the recycling depot before the pine needles start to fall off.
   • Throw away/recycle any decorations that have lost their sparkle or have seen better days.

   The end of the Christmas period is also a great time to declutter other parts of your house. You don’t have to stop with the decorations. In many Eastern cultures, New Year is the perfect time to get rid of unwanted clutter. Why not try these simple tips?

   • For each gift you got this year, why not get rid of two old ones in exchange. Got a new shirt or blouse, throw a couple into the charity shop sack. What about those DVDs? Try giving away the ones you don’t really watch anymore.
   • Paper recycling can be fun. If you aren’t going to be using that Christmas paper again next year, then make sure you put it in the recycling. But don’t just stop there. What about those old newspapers and magazines that can go too? How about all those books which could be given to the local second hand shop?

   Houses, especially with children in them, can quickly be overwhelmed with stuff and Christmas is the ideal time to get the family involved in reducing all that clutter. Get hubby to sort out his collection of unused sport equipment, the kids to tidy up and give away the toys and games they are no longer interested in, while you go through everything from the closets to the kitchen.

   Once everything is put away and the house is suddenly tidier than you’ve ever seen it, the new year ahead will seem so much brighter. And those properly sorted Christmas trimmings can go up in the loft or into the store cupboard, all set for next December when the festivities begin again. 

   Tweet

2. How to pack "light" for the half term holiday

   Posted on 10:24am Wednesday 7th Oct 2015

   The children seem like they have only been back at school for five minutes but October half term is creeping up on us, so planning a half term get away may be a good way to cast off the autumnal blues that seem to have descended. But holiday packing can be an absolute nightmare, whether you’re sneaking off for a naughty weekend or jetting off for a fortnight with the family and the bane of baggage costs, suitcase sizes, (lets not get started on the liquid allowances) and the inevitable repacking at the check-in desk can be daunting for even the ardent traveller. This obviously doesn't apply if you are going camping, as it is important to pack all the kit for your tent, as you need them robustly built! 

   So we have put together some easy to follow steps for packing light this half term. 

   

   1. Most of us tend to buy new clothes for our holidays but how about taking old clothes and undergarments and dispose of them each day leaving more room for momentos to bring home if you choose. It also cuts down on items that will need washing when you return.

   2. Don't bother packing towels, they take up far too much room (and weight). Most resorts have them available now but if you really insist on taking one, try the Hammamas as they have a beautiful range of turkish cotton towels, which are perfect for taking on holiday as a beach towel, or sarong. We tried one over the summer and they really are super absorbent, lightweight and fast drying, and come in a gorgeous range of colours and sizes too.

    

   3. Think carefully about the clothes that you want to take with you and question whether you really need a different pair of shoes for every night. If you are staying in the UK, the British weather can be unpredictable but you don’t want to end up bringing everything plus the kitchen sink! Pack clothes for your holiday that you can mix and match together and make sure you bring plenty of layers.

   4. Travel size toiletries are your friend. You don't need to take the full size bottle of shampoo, conditioner, deodorant and most have a travel size alternative, which is ideal if you really want to travel light by only taking hand luggage. 100ml liquid rules mean you don't want to have to leave your favourite product in the security bin in the airport.

   5. Leave the laptop behind, as well as the iphone, ipads and any other tech gadget you can think of. For computer addicts, being away from the internet’s constant flow of data for a few days recharges and relaxes you in ways that you never experience at home. Unless of course you have children who can be kept entertained on the plane with an iPad!

   6. If you are travelling with your partner, most men dont usually take hand luggage, so getting him a flight bag means that  he can keep all your travel documents in one place (over his body) and you can simply carry on to the plane. With an easy over the shoulder strap, the Spiral Flight Bags let you keep all your valuables within arm’s reach which avoids having to rummage around in your carry case or handbag every time you pass security.

    

   7. If you can spare 10 minutes a night while you are aware to wash your socks and underwear in your hotel room, you could save a lot of space in your suitcase.

   8. Wear your heaviest clothing on the plane, like jeans and boots to travel in, you will have them with you but they won't contribute to the weight of your case!

   9. Keep your sunglasses, ear plugs, snacks, lip balm, toothbrush, hairbrush, a change of underwear, pen, and any special medicines and necessary items you need in the top of your bag or even in your hand luggage because you never know what may happen when you travel.

   10. Wheels? Do you need them on your luggage? You should consider if you want your bag or suitcase to have wheels or not. They take up lots of precious packing space and add weigh to your bag. But they are also super handy at helping to maneuver luggage through airports!

    What would you add to the list?

   Tweet

3. Does it cost a guest to go to a wedding?

   Posted on 9:34am Wednesday 2nd Sep 2015

   Have you been to a wedding this summer? Did you find that being excited for the couple is one thing and then you realise that it might be quite costly for you and your family to attend as a guest?

   We have two weddings to go to this year, one in the Autumn and one on New Years Eve and whilst the latter helps us to solve the "what are we doing for New Years Eve debate" it also means hotels, outfits and gifts straight after the expense of Christmas. We are firm believers in never arguing about money but it is quite sad to see that one in four Britons has argued with their partner about the cost of watching others say "I do"

   There has been a recent survey by Experian’s that suggests the rising cost of weddings is rocking the boat for many couples, and not just for the bride and groom. In fact, almost a quarter of Britons (22%) have argued with their partner about the cost of witnessing others tie the knot. Eek!  

   Experian have highlighted some top do's and don'ts for financial harmony, which I think is great advice for any frugal family.

   Do

   • Set the ground rules. Do you want a joint account for regular expenses and separate bank accounts for personal spending? Or do you want everything to go together?
   • Work out who does what. The more frugal partner could look after the budget, while the more extravagant works out the ‘treats’, like meals out or trips away
   • Agree on short and long-term goals and how you’re going to achieve them, and review regularly together
   • Be honest about your past. If you have a less-than-perfect history of repaying money you owe, this could affect both of you in the long-term if your credit reports become linked
   • Take time together to understand if you need to improve one or both of your credit reports. Do this well in advance of applying for credit together

   Don’t

   • Spend all your time together talking about money 
   • Keep secrets. Research from Experian shows that 29% of people in the UK discovered that their partner was keeping credit card debt from them
   • Dig yourself into a hole. If you find yourself in debt, don’t borrow more in the hope of putting things right. Ask for help and be open about it with your partner
   • Talk about money issues when you are angry. Arguing about money is never going to be productive
   • Expect your partner to completely change. It’s unlikely an extravagant spender will do a complete about-turn and suddenly become frugal

    

   

    

   Managing your finances and your relationship can be quite a balancing act – when it comes to both organising and attending weddings, moving in together or just life in general. That’s why Experian have created a dedicated Money & Relationships Guide to help people understand what we know can be quite a complex series of topics – in jargon-free, easy-to-understand language. All of the guides are available online. Hopefully these guides will be helpful for you and your followers who are trying to get their heads around how credit referencing works, and the good, the bad and the surprising when it comes to managing your finances to get what you want in life.

   Tweet

4. The Growing Popularity of Purchasing Garden Plants Online

   Posted on 2:24pm Thursday 20th Aug 2015

   It is no secret that I love shopping online and while you used to have to visit a local plant nursery or gardening centre to find the plants that you want for your garden, these days you can shop online instead. And there are plenty of great reasons to do so, which is why buying plants online has been steadily growing in popularity.

   Are you interested in learning about a few of the benefits of buying plants online, whether you want to give a plant as a gift or you need to look for specific flowers, bushes, and trees that you want to adorn your front and back gardens with? Then are you sitting comfortably, let me tell you more......

   More Variety and Choices

   Shopping online gives you the opportunity to make purchases from all over the world. And when it comes to gardening, there could be plants online that you simply can't find locally. This means that you don't need to make any sacrifices when it comes to the vision that you have for your garden. Just be smart about your online purchases by only shopping with reputable sellers, purchasing your plants early enough so that they'll have time to bloom at the perfect time after they're planted, and making sure that the plants you purchase are suitable for your zone.

   Get Very Young Plants at Reasonable Prices

   Another great reason to shop for plants online is the fact that you can get your favourite flowers and trees while they're still very young. Once you transplant them into your garden, you can watch them grow and you can nurture them with the right fertilizers and the right amount of sunshine and water.

   

   Plus, when you purchase younger plants, you can often find them at very reasonable rates, so you can save money in the long run if you shop online rather than at a retail location where the plants are already larger and pricier.

   Ask Questions from Online Experts

   The best online plant sellers will have experts available to answer your questions. So if you aren't sure if a particular plant is really right for your garden space, you can ask questions before you make a purchase, just as you would do at a regular nursery or garden store. Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of making incorrect purchasing decisions while you shop online.

   Enjoy Free Shipping (and we love free!)

   Many online retailers also offer free shipping, especially after you spend a certain amount of money. So instead of spending money on fuel to get to and from the garden centre, you can instead stay home in your comfortable office room or living room, shop for your favourite flowers, and then have them at your door in a matter of days at no additional cost. If you already prefer shopping online versus shopping in a brick and mortar location, consider getting all of your gardening plants and supplies on the internet as well. There are many reputable online gardening shops, such as The Gluttonous Gardener, that offer a variety of plants and gardening gifts, so there is definitely no shortage of options.

   Tweet