Tales of the unexpected with The Boy, my pride and joy.
The endeavours of life often overwhelms parents. And thinking about planning a birthday party for the children with fun and frugality as the goals becomes too much.
Unfortunately, many parents face a financial pit around their children birthdays. You convince yourself that parties happen once a year – so you go all out.
But once the balloons pop, the treats are devoured and the tunes end, reality hits you. [Read more…]
This is the time of year, following holidays to exotic and balmy locations, that parents often debate moving abroad and starting a new life for their family. I know when my own brother emigrated to Australia last Summer that it was something he and his wife had debated and researched a lot in the preceeding years. In this post, guest-writer Christina Moore explores various reasons for and against moving children to another country.
Making the decision to move is hard, especially when children are involved. For some children, making the transition from one home to another is easy; for others it's a challenge. So when it comes time to make the move out of country, parents face even more challenges.
Recently I've started to say 'no' to The Boy about certain things. In the past if his ask was realistic then I'd automatically say 'yes' and pay for the trip to bowling or a new little toy, however I've started to realise that he is expecting these to come as normal. And while I don't want him to think we're living on the poverty line, or for him to worry about finances (as I did as a child), I do want him to realise that we need to save up for things.
We've started giving him 50p a week pocket money for helping out around the house, and in order to save for a toy he'd really like. He's actually mentioned a few times recently that he'll be able to buy x, y or z with his pocket money (although I'm not sure he'll be able to afford the trip to Legoland as he hopes!).
Read on to find out more sage advice.
You’re never too young to receive valuable financial advice – at least, that’s according to people in the UK.
Saving and being careful when choosing purchases is the most popular financial advice for people to bestow, recent research from budgeting account provider www.thinkmoney.co.uk has revealed.
If you can’t afford it, don’t buy it
More than a third of Brits advise the spenders of the future to be savvy when it comes to purchases, with 37% citing ‘if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it’ as the most important financial lesson to teach children.
And if you thought that it would be the older generation urging children to save money, you’d be wrong. More than three times as many people aged 18 to 24 (25%) as over-65s (just 7%) said that ‘try to save something each month’ is the most valuable wisdom to impart to children.
What do the children think?
However, a video produced by thinkmoney shows that children have other ideas. Watch ‘Kids and Money’ here to find out what they think.
As you can see, leaving financial decisions in the hands of children perhaps isn’t the wisest idea, with some youngsters estimating the cost of a house at just £1! Guesses as to what their parents earn range from 1p to £5. And it’s clear that the old adage ‘money can’t buy you happiness’ is unlikely to appeal to a child, as if they had all the money in the world they’d choose to buy sweets, chocolate, water pistols and Transformers!
Money lessons for children
As well as ‘if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it’, adults rate ‘always live within your means’ as important advice (23%). Meanwhile, saving every month was cited by 16%, ‘looking after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves’ by 9%, ‘money can’t buy you happiness’ by 8%, and ‘always try to avoid borrowing money’ by 7%.
All this advice is sound, but when the world is full of endless possibilities and the most important thing you have to worry about is what you’re getting for Christmas, it’s easy to see why children don’t have the same money concerns as adults!
Advice varies according to age group
Interestingly, the advice given out by young people is different to that of older generations. For example, a quarter of those aged 18 to 24 think it’s important that children ‘try and save something each month’, while only 7% of those aged over 65 agree with this. Perhaps this is because they’re already enjoying their pensions and have a different attitude towards the future.
Or perhaps they’ve realised that all the saving they did in their younger days wasn’t as important as living in the moment. The older generation instead favour ‘always live within your means’ as important financial wisdom. This suggests that older people are less likely to borrow money.
Ian Williams of thinkmoney said: "It's funny to see all the ideas that kids come up with about money. It's important to try and show them the value and importance of money from an early age, though, for example by giving them a money box and a small amount of pocket money each week. How you encourage them to use that money is up to you."
In collaboration with thinkmoney
Let’s face it, it’s a great feeling when the party is finally over. All those last minute adrenalin-fuelled moments of panic meant it all fell into place and you can finally sit back, feet up and not think about whether, little Tommy's mum has replied, and if not, will they still turn up at the very last minute like they did last year smiling and expectant. This is when you have to raid your carefully organised party bags for bits and pieces to give him so he doesn’t go home empty handed.
When organising children’s parties, the thought of next year is unlikely to go away completely, despite all the distractions of daily life. Not least because most children like to mull over the many and varied possibilities for their next birthday, changing their minds on a regular basis. Swimming party, anyone? Soft play?
So what are the best ways to make it as smooth, easy, and stress-free as possible when planning a party for thirty five year old boys?
Let’s assume most of us won’t be employing a Party Planner a la Jennifer Lopez, but will be doing it all with the help of friends and family, and, of course, the birthday boy or girl themselves. Lucy Sheridan, Life Coach and CEO of Proof Coaching www.proofcoaching.com suggests you ‘start with the end in mind – but not with your guests leaving!’ So give some thought about the kind of party you wish to create. ‘Measure your preparations against that and you’re not working blind,’ Lucy says. That’s great advice. Basically, it’s all in the planning.
Here are some more hot tips from us www.partysupplies4you.co.uk to make it as stress-free process as possible:
And enjoy!
After all, you won’t need to go through the process again for almost another year…
Share your stress-free party tips and experiences with us below
Fran is the Managing Director of Party Supplies 4 You and has provided an insight into ways that parents can plan a stress free party.
I often thank the Lord above that I have a son because parenting a daughter nowadays must be a scary and worrying business. I'm sure that The Boy will face just as many issues as a girl would, but of a different sort. My own mum had to contend with first make-up sessions (13 and only then was I allowed pink eyeshadow and clear mascara), among with all the other delights of female puberty. Protecting The Boy's innocence is really important to me, especially with my mother in law pointing out how emotionally immature he was on the weekend, but keeping him away from the worrying aspects of society is something I'm keen to keep doing for as long as I can. He may be emotionally immature in comparison to some street-savvy (nearly) four year old boys, but he is still an infant and has no need to worry about fashion, latest gadgets or what the cool kids are doing.
In this guest-post, the author discusses way to ensure older children are able to protect themselves from potential peer pressure issues and become aware of society's dangers in a sensible and controlled manner.
It’s amazing how quickly children grow. One minute we’re carrying them carefully through the front door for the first time, and the next they’re getting ready for their first day at school.
However, there’s a growing concern among parents that the transition from childhood to teenhood is happening too fast. According to a recent survey, an alarming two thirds of British parents believe that kids are leaving childhood behind once they turn 12- but what’s really to blame, and how as parents can we protect our kids?
Pressure to act older
Another common concern amongst parents is that daughters are under pressure to be “sexy” at a premature age, while boys are incensed towards “macho” behaviour.
If your natural reaction is to blame the media, and in particular the sexualised images of young pop stars like Justin Bieber or Taylor Swift, why not join your child next time they sit down for an afternoon of advert-punctuated TV? According to Susan Linn, Director of the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, “most 8-year-olds worship teens, [so] many marketers have decided to promote products to them as though they are several years older.”
Sharing television time will allow you to keep an eye out for unsuitable adverts, and offer the chance to discuss them openly. If your daughter does plead with you to let them try out grown-up clothes or beauty products for the first time, be sure to shop carefully for the best make-up for young skin, and limit use to birthdays or special occasions.
Social media, smartphones and Internet search
With 75% of British youngsters under the age of ten now owning a mobile phone, today’s children are becoming more and more independent.
But while parents can justify the need for mobile phones for use in after-school arrangements, many cite the Internet as a major culprit for children gaining access to inappropriate material. Although tech-savvy parents can use filters to stop children from accessing age-sensitive content and videos online, it’s more difficult to protect little ones from discovering other truths you’d rather keep secret for the time being, such as “does Father Christmas exist?”
What’s more, recent studies show that restricting access to the home computer isn’t always enough. In 2012 a YouGov survey found that an alarming 1.2 million UK children used their phones to look up violent or adult material.
The most important action to take with your children to educate them about how to use the Internet safely early on, and to ensure that if they’re using social media sites like Facebook or Instagram, then their privacy settings are as high as possible. Remember that these sites also operate a minimum age policy of 13.
Don’t be afraid to talk
With a growing number of external influences on your child’s life, it’s more important than ever to keep your relationship strong. Where possible, try to vet the media they consume so that you can face difficult issues head on and be clued up about what your daughter encounters, in school as well as in the media.
For instance, if your daughter is interested in reading women’s magazines like Glamour or Cosmopolitan, try read a sample first and make a note of anything that troubles you: such as the use of size-zero models. Sit down with her afterwards and chat about the magazine in a mature way, as this can go some way in combating body image or weight concerns.
There are no easy answers to this problem, but you can at least be on hand to offer your children advice and support, and to make the most of these formative childhood years.
Guest-post.
With the revival in recent years of crafting as a hobby, having a dedicated space within the home where both adults and children can enjoy pursuing various crafts is a great idea. This will ensure that other areas of the home are free from the all the paraphernalia involved in different crafts and become something of a bolthole for those who are enthusiastic about their hobby.
Which room?
Not everyone is lucky enough to have a room to set aside for a hobby but there are ways of creating this extra space if needed. A summerhouse in the garden that is properly insulated can be used for crafting all year round, or a box room can easily be converted into a studio. If the room is to be used for more than one person then a spare bedroom is the obvious choice for a crafter’s room.
Once the room has been chosen it is necessary to think about some of the essential facilities that it is going to need. If the craft makes use of electrical equipment, such as sewing machines, are there adequate power points? Is there enough natural light getting into the room? All of these points are important and if the space available does not meet the criteria then it is a good idea to think about alternatives. Can the room be rearranged so that the power sockets are more conveniently placed? Can lamps that simulate daylight be used in addition to the existing natural light?
Furnishing a craft room
One of the main points for a craft room is adequate storage. Adequate cupboard space is essential and a drawer unit is a good idea, particularly if the room is being used for more than one craft. Everything can be organised and kept separately until needed. It also ensures that at the end of the day everything can be tidied away properly and found easily again the next day.
A large workspace is also going to be needed, particularly if more than one person is using the room. Dining tables are a good choice for a workspace as they can seat several people and offer plenty of space to work on, no matter what the craft choice. They also tend to be fairly easy to clean but can be protected with waterproof cloth if needed.
Craft essentials
There are many different options depending upon the type of craft that is chosen. Children’s crafts will inevitably include items such as paints and various different types of paper, but added to this can be crafting scissors (child-friendly of course!), decorative paper punches, paper glue and stamps. For children, opt for the long rolls of plain paper as they last for a long time and are not expensive to buy.
Other craft essentials might include lamps to help out when natural daylight is not enough, a sewing machine, fabrics and yarns. Ensure that everything that might be needed is to hand as there is nothing worse than getting halfway through a project and discovering that it cannot be finished!
It seems highly appropriate that I publish this guest-post on my blog, as right at this moment in time, Mr. TBaM is shoving our luggage into the boot of the car as we head off to Butlin's for a short break! In this stress-free family car travel advertorial, Isabelle from Passsmart.com (the UK service for learner drivers) presents a variety of ideas to minimise the anxiety of getting there. I'm off to pack some fruit and ditch the chocolate!
Long car journeys can be stressful at the best of times, but when you've got the children in the back and they're asking "Are we nearly there yet?" every half a mile, it doesn't get any easier! In this article we're going to take a look at some tips to keep the children happy and occupied in the car, and, no matter how many little ones you've got to keep entertained, it's sure to help make the ride a little smoother.
Remember the travel games you used to pay as a child? Well, they work just as well these days! Classic travel games like the 'Number Plate Game' (where you make up sentences using number plate letters) and 'I Spy' are all fantastic ways to make the journey pass a little quicker. Best of all, they won't cost you a thing!
Make sure you've packed some games and activities which will allow you to get some quiet time in. Whilst games like I Spy are great for keeping the children entertained in the car, they're also pretty noisy! Taking some activity books or a portable games console will help you get a bit of quiet time during the journey, and will also make sure you're able to keep your concentration on the road instead of what's going on in the back.
We all know the best part of a long car journey is having a big bag of sweets to munch your way through, but children, sweets and sitting still don't really mix. Instead of bringing sweets and chocolates for the journey, pack some healthy snacks like trail mix, raisins and fruit salad. OK, they'll probably be less enthusiastic about their in-car snacks, but at least you won't have to deal with a sugar high mid-journey.
You don't have to cut out the sweet things completely, though. If you do let them have a few treats, make sure it's just before you stop off for lunch or a toilet break, to ensure they have some time to burn the excess energy off before they get back in the car.
It's important that you take plenty of breaks when going on a long car trip. Not only will the children need a chance to run around, but you'll also need a break from being behind the wheel. Take plenty of chances to stop off and refuel (the car and you!), because although it may take you a little longer to get there, you won't arrive feeling cramped and grumpy!
We all know children can get through clean clothes at an alarming rate, so make sure you pack some easily-accessible spares. It's also a good idea to pack a fresh pair of pyjamas to make things a little comfier when it comes to nap time too.
It's essential to make sure the little ones are comfy as well as entertained, because sitting uncomfortably for that amount of time can make even the most grown up of us irritable!
In today's guest post, the author explains the background behind the teddy bear.
A couple of days ago I came across a couple of DVDs which I hadn't watched for years. Among them was the wonderful Pixar film Toy Story, an old favourite of mine, so that evening I settled down on my couch and played the DVD, happily reliving the adventures of Buzz Lightyear, Woody and their friends. By the time the film ended, and no doubt influenced by some of its themes, I found myself reflecting on the reason I had not watched the film for such a long time, namely that I now have a new "toy"- my computer. The films I watch nowadays are computer files, not DVDs or videos. And although the Toy Story franchise shows no sign of flagging (I gather Toy Story 4 is now on the cards) it struck me that the DVD format was rapidly becoming outmoded and is probably on the way out. My DVD player may itself soon be discarded, like a child's toy which has fallen out of favour.
While many of today’s toys may be considerable more technologically advanced than those of yesteryear some of the old favourites never seem to lose their appeal. The Teddy Bear, for example, continues to exert a unique hold on the human psyche. It is now 111 years since the incident took place which triggered the ursine phenomenon. It was 1902 and the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt was out in the wilds on an unsuccessful hunting trip. The others in the hunting party caught a bear and tied it to a tree, so that the President could make an easy kill. When the President showed up, however, he refused to shoot deeming it unsportsmanlike. A newspaper cartoonist depicted the scene and consequently New York shopkeepers Morris and Rose Michtom started a company that produced the first Teddy bears.
At around the same time the Steiff family in Germany came up with a design for stuffed bears and introduced them to Europe at the 1903 Leipzig Fair. The rest, as they say, is history.
Although cooking with children can be a lot of fun, it can also be quite a challenging experience. You need to watch them constantly, keep them interested and make sure they’re being safe. Here are some tips on teaching your children to cook.
Fun recipe ideas
All children love cooking treats like fairy cakes, rainbow cookies and chocolate brownies, but it can be harder to get them involved with cooking main meals. Focus on the foods they love and practice making them from scratch. Research children cooking recipes to get some fun ideas.
You could teach them to make mini burgers, to which they can add cheese, bacon and salad, or you can show them how to make home-made fish fingers and mash. One of the easiest and best loved children meals are personal pizzas. Get them to roll out the dough, favour the sauce and grate the cheese. They can then choose all their favourite toppings to sprinkle on top.
Safety tips
It’s important to teach your children all the safety rules for cooking in the kitchen. While they are learning, keep them away from sharp knives and hot pans. Never leave them cooking alone and make sure you explain thoroughly how they should be using each utensil.
Put them in aprons to protect their clothing and teach them to clean up spills as they go, so that foods don’t become contaminated and they are less likely to slip over.
Explain fire safety and the difference between a normal fire and a grease fire. Make sure they don’t wear long sleeves which could catch fire. Also, tell them to use oven mitts instead of a tea towel to move hot pans off the stove, so that it doesn’t trail in the flames.
Dos and Don’ts
After a long day teaching your child to cook, you may feel like you never want to cook again! If you want to eat well, enjoying delicious and balanced meals, food hampers can be a solution.
Forman and Field, specialised in food hampers which range from everyday meal options, for those with busy lifestyles, to gourmet gift hampers for special occasions. Hampers can also be sent as presents – you can put together your own hamper with your children to get them involved in making a unique gift for someone.
Keep things light and fun and you’re bound to inspire your children to get cooking!
Mrs. Green blogs at Little Green Blog where she writes about green tech, natural health and parenting. She's passionate about doing her bit for the environment but doesn't always succeed!
I don't know about you, but I tend to start the beginning of each new year with some vague goal of 'getting my house in order'. Top of the list is decluttering. I know I have an inner minimalist waiting to be given the light of day but I think my decluttering mission has been going on for 5 years now!
I'm also on a 'pay of debts' mission – aren't we all? And as I love a good declutter and I love to make money I thought I'd share some top ways to combine two of my favourite tasks!
CLOTHES
Hands up who has a wardrobe full of clothes and nothing to wear? Anything still with the labels attached? Any items that are the wrong size?
I'm fortunate enough to have a second hand dress agency nearby. I take in my clothes, the owner puts them on the rails for 8 weeks and I go in to collect my money at the end of the stint. She keeps half and I get half – it's a win-win! There are online services if you have nothing local to you.
Ebay can be great for selling bundles of clothes; especially children’s. I personally find listing on eBay a procrastination job but once items are up there it's a great buzz to see how many people are watching your items and to get a bidding war at the end. Remember to weigh things before you list them and take into account eBay listing fees and paypal fees so you're not out of pocket if your items sell for a low price.
ELECTRONICS
Electronics are one of the most common Christmas presents – tablets, smart phones, cameras and a myriad of other 'essential' gadgets that we can no longer live without.
The average person in the UK updates their mobile handset every 18 months and millions of unused phones are hiding in drawers and cupboards across the land.
The thing is, you can make money and save previous resources by recycling your mobile phone. Top Dollar Mobile were rated “Best Overall”, from a selection of phone recycling websites offering the highest prices, in the February 2011 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. They send you a FREEPOST envelope so there's nothing to do but dust off your handsets and start earning money!
TOYS
I find the second hand toy market a bit depressing. We spend a fortune on flashing pieces of plastic ready to turn our kids into geniuses and a few weeks later the toys are worth nothing.
But it's such a waste to throw them out so why not let your children hold a garage sale or take them to a car boot sale? It's a great way for them to earn a bit of pocket money, meet new people, learn to haggle and practice giving and receiving money!
BOOKS
My favourite place for selling books is Amazon. It's so straight forward and there are no fees until you actually sell something. You need to find the ISBN, describe the condition of the book and submit it! It stays there for ages and if you're savvy and keep checking in to make sure you're offering at the lowest price, you can usually make quite a bit of money.
Another site is Green Metropolis. While the market isn't as large as Amazon it's straight forward to use and I've had a lot of success.
Selling books on these sites is better if you're not in a hurry for space. If you want to get rid of them quickly you might be better with a car boot sale, or selling as a bundle on eBay.
What about you? How do you declutter your home and make money?
