When a new combi boiler is needed

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2016 was all about the extension for us. We added an extension on the back of the house, moved the living room into the new extension and with the old living room, we partitioned it into two halves which become our utility room and new dining room. 2017 sees our house renovations continue, where we plan on converting the garage into a play-room for the kids and probably most importantly, to replace the boiler.

We currently have a system boiler, which includes an electric thermal storage boilermate upstairs, and a gas boiler, downstairs.

The system has over the past couple of years broken down a few times, 12 years old now, and it's cost us a fair bit in repair costs - especially last year as it needed a new circuit. Also considering the system is not cost or energy efficient.

We want to change to a combi boiler, which will be much more cost and energy efficient for us. In addition, it will save us space in the house. We can remove the thermal storage boilermate and that will give us a spare cupboard upstairs, which we plan to make into Summer's wardrobe.  Her bedroom is the smallest and she has a cabin bed, and that is it, that's pretty much all you can fit in her snug little bedroom. But the thermal storage boilermate in situated in a cupboard directly next door to her bedroom and when we free this up by removing the thermal storage, it would be perfect for her wardrobe.

The gas boiler is currently in the kitchen, and we plan to remove this too and to have the new combi boiler installed in our new utility room, giving us extra space in the kitchen too.

The boiler we will buy from hubbys work (staff discount will come in handy), however, we will need to organise a good heating and plumbing services. Installation of the new combi boiler, of course, must be done by a qualified and certified boiler installation engineers. And so, our hunt for a good reliable local installer will commence very soon. 

There are many ways to find a certified engineer, by word of mouth, internet search, local newspaper ads or an engineer you've used before. We will collect a few quotes and finally, review any feedback or references based on their service.

The plan being we will have a new boiler fitted this year, before the new winter, a boiler that will be under warranty and will give us piece of mind that it won't break down - it will also be cheaper to run, thus, saving us money in the long run.

Winter Veggie Victories

As we begin the slope into the colder months, your gardening efforts shouldn’t disappear. If you take a long winter break, you’ll find that it makes it tougher to get back out the following year. Instead, you should stay active by growing some delicious vegetables that can withstand the winter. Here are five of the best winter vegetables to grow, courtesy of Suttons Seeds…

Peas

Peas are one of the easiest and hardest crops in the world. If you sow them in autumn, you’ll be able to enjoy fresh peas in spring. You’ll want to plant your peas in moist, fertile soil that has plenty of compost dug into it.

Plant them 1” deep, 1” apart in three lines of 12” lengths – but ensure there’s enough space between additional rows. Around 18” should do the trick. You can harvest them in spring.

Broad beans

Beans are a great source of protein and are easy to grow. They’re good to plant in winter, as the low temperature stops nutrients from leaching through fallow soil. You should sow them in autumn, choosing a well-drained site. Sow the seeds 2-3” apart and keep them moist, soaking them well unless there has been heavy rain. Sowing in winter helps prevent black fly infestation – but they need to survive winter so pay close attention to them.

Spinach

Spinach is a healthy salad leaf that withstands winter well with proper supervision. If sown in August, you’ll need to create a fertile bed with plenty of room for plants to grow. Growing in a greenhouse or cold frame helps keep the plant healthy. Whichever method you go for, you’ll need to ensure your spinach has good ventilation.

Garlic

If you’re new to gardening and want something easy to grow, Garlic is a good choice. It’s versatile and resilient. Plant the cloves individually at a depth of around 2.5” – but less deep if you’re using heavy soil. Each clove should be at least a foot apart.

Onions

Like garlic, the onion family is hardy and is good to grow in winter. They can be harvested early in the year and you can experiment with shallots and spring onions too. You’ll want to sow them in autumn and keep a close eye, but most varieties can handle the cold.

General guidelines

So you’ve got your list of hardy winter vegetables that you can start sowing now – but there are some tips to keep in mind.

·       Cover vegetables with carpet or something similar if snow starts to fall.

·       Use compost to aid growth and start a new compost pile in winter as you start to cut and bin dead or dying plants.

·       Dig and fork soil to keep it loose and breathing ahead of spring.

·       You can add some store-bought shrubs to a garden to create winter interest with minimal effort.

There’s no excuse to stay indoors during winter. Keep your garden thriving and watch it bloom once spring rolls in! 

Stand-Out.net Wish List

My son celebrated his 17th birthday over the weekend. He's grown into a lovely young man, maybe a little grumpy now and then, but mostly he's a thoughtful and caring soul. I am a super proud mum.

As well as being at college, he is working part-time and spends most of his hard working cash on clothing! Still, after the past 6-months, I get a little odd feeling when parcels come through the door for him - each time it reminds me he is not a child anymore, he's a growing lad.

With his clothing, he's always been quite strict in what he wears - he only ever wears plain and simple colours, no patterns. He mostly wears black, white or grey.  But recently, he bought a nice light pink jumper - which was a pleasant surprise (an actual colour, rather than black or white) and he suits him.

He buys his own clothes now, but I still like to buy him items too. I understand his style pretty well and so I've put together this wish list outfit I know he would like. All items are from the men’s fashion website Stand-Out.net.

11 Degrees White Pitcher Cap - My son lives in his caps, especially when he is going to work or college. It means he doesn't have to do his hair. RRP £23.95 in the sale.

Vans - he had a pair, same as these a couple of years ago, and recently he keeps asking if I know where they went (recycle bin). Anyhow, he is after a pair and these are perfect RRP £41.95 in the sale.

11 Degrees White curved hem long sleeved t-shirt - he has a t-shirt similar to this, and it really suits him. Perfect for these colder months. RRP £34.95.

Levi broken in jeans 511 - he has a black pair like these, and he'd love a light blue pair. RRP £34.95 in the sale - fab price.

Kids and bedroom windows

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Windows are a problem, children love to look through windows, and mostly by sitting on the window sill - which scares the life out of me.

I have this 'thing' about keeping the windows in the house, especially upstairs, locked. I always remove the keys and store them away. Why? because one of my biggest fears that has plagued me over the years, is the kids falling out of the window.

I always remember from when I was a child, a friend, fell out of his upstairs window and was badly hurt - broken bones but he was very lucky. Since then it has stayed with me, and well, I have this huge paranoia about the windows and the kids.

If they want the window open, I will open it on the safety latch, where the window is slighty open (half an inch gap) but you can still lock it. 

Until the past year.

Now my teens don't want their windows locked, they want to be able to open them and keep them open if they get too hot in their bedroom etc. Which I struggled with. I had to respect their request and put my fears aside and trust the kids to be sensible around the windows - yes they are teens, it's not them I worry about, but it's the younger 2 where I still worry. But, if the younger two go into their big brothers bedroom, I ask him to lock his window.

However, I've only gone and lost the window keys! Can I find them! No. So I need replacement keys, before I go into meltdown. 

My kids sarcastically call me the 'health and safety officer' for a reason. 

But my window fear is real - even if my parents or my sister is looking after the younger two, I will often ask them to make sure the windows are locked (without sounding too much like a complete health and safety control freak).

Lock those windows.

Antique Jewellery

They say that jewellery is a girl's best friend. The perfect accessory which can be worn for any occasion at any time.

Certain pieces are symbolic.

Some are worn as a simple statement.

Some pieces carry a deep meaning and connection.

Most are worn just for the love and joy of wearing a beautiful piece.

Antique or Vintage jewellery is often unique or one-of-a-kind, it's timeless and beautiful. It could be the only piece that has survived. For example, Berganza specialise in Antique jewellery and sell extremely rare, and out of this world pieces, i.e, Medieval Duchess of Lancaster sapphire posy ring, circa 1360-1400 AD - Just wow!

If you owned a piece like this, you are wearing a tiny piece of history, a piece that has a story.

I love the idea of Antique jewellery. The mystery of wearing it, it's romantic. 

With Berganza, you can explore a whole array of design eras and discover which ones most resonate with you.

Antique jewellery you will get:

• Unique - never seen before and will probably be one of a kind.
• Timelessness - when you invest in an antique piece of jewellery, you are purchasing a timeless piece - vintage jewellery pieces from any era are much more likely to stand the test of time.
• It will bring conversation - your antique piece of jewellery will be a piece that people will admire and want to know about.

The One And Only Freebie Guide: How To Score Freebies

If you become a first-class freebie hunter you will enjoy a huge amount of benefits; it will not only will it help your daily budget sometimes but also can help you gain access to products before they are sold to in the shops.

Everyone loves a good freebie and luckily, many websites are actually glad to offer them to you. Even though many of the websites will mainly list similar products, you need to ensure that you get the very best to avoid wasting time trawling through junk.

Visiting Websites That Offer Freebies

Websites such as WOW Free Stuff offer you free products once they acquire them while others are created exclusively to connect users with free products that others are giving away.

FreeCycle is probably the best resource for finding completely free stuff. On the website you can scour your location for items that people are giving away for free. The items can vary from bikes to sofas or even just old stuff but are typically of decent quality and certainly worth more than what you spend to acquire them.

The major drawback is that you will need to collect the items yourself, which makes FreeCycle a great resource for modes of transport including bikes but less than ideal for such items as wardrobes that you cannot easily ride home yourself.

Gumtree and Freeagle are other great resources for finding freebies

Meeting the people who are giving away the free items is usually not dangerous but it is always advisable to ensure that you are comfortable and safe when you are collecting any freebies. It is always a great idea to exercise caution.

Getting The Most Out Of Free Trials

Companies usually attempt to lure people into subscribing to products that they sell by offering free trials. Many people that take up the free trial usually never bother to cancel their subscriptions, which is exactly what the companies are hoping for. Some of the best free trials include:

• Tastecard – Free 30 Day Membership then £79.99 per year
• Xbox Live Gold Trial– Free 1 month Membership then £5.99 every month
• Audible – 1 free audiobook then £7.99 every month
• Amazon Instant Video – Free 1 month trial then £5.99 every month
• Netflix – Free 1 month trial then £5.99 every month

You may be put off when you are doing this considering that you typically have to provide your debit/credit card details upfront but if you are careful and remember to cancel the membership before the expiry of the free trial you will not be charged. The easiest way to do this is by setting a notification on your phone, laptop, or email calendar reminding you to cancel the subscription one day before the free trial expires.

Complimenting A Brand

Being nice to a brand can help you get as much free stuff as you do when you complain about bad products. Write either a letter or email to a brand informing them why you are in love with their products and that you would be glad if they would send you free products.

Ensure that you have personalized the emails and you can be sure to receive a better response. No brand will give away free products to a person that is a big fan of INSERT PRODUCT NAME HERE.

Is it really worth it?

We have heard stories of people that have received lots of free products from brands by simply complimenting them. Free products can range from coupons for Ben and Jerry’s to free burritos at Chipotle.

If you can be bothered, it is definitely worth doing but you can expect to send off a good number of letters for each freebie you receive and for the freebies to take some time to arrive.

If it is your birthday, you can now get all the free stuff that you desire.

Many companies and restaurants love to give away free stuff to those celebrating their birthday. Check the guide we have provided to see the kind of stuff you can expect to get on your birthday. Our favorites include:

·       La Tasca: If you spend £30 at La Tasca two weeks either side of your birthday you will receive a free bottle of Cava. You will need to book ahead of time in the name of the birthday boy/girl.

·       Barburrito: Get a Burritometer loyalty card in a physical store, register it online and on your birthday you will be emailed a voucher for a free burrito.

·       Krispy Kreme: If you become a Friend of Krispy Kreme you will receive a free original glazed doughnut right away. In addition, you will be emailed a voucher for yet another free doughnut on your birthday.

We really hope that you have enjoyed this guide. We would like to hear from you what your freebie tips are below.

Why we all should have a bathrobe

I love bathrobes. They give you extra comfort, and warmth; perfect for cold mornings, perfect for when you get out of the shower / bath, lovely for when you arrive home from the freezing cold, you can snugly up into your robe.

Wearing a bathrobe is like wearing like wearing a cup of hot tea. 

If I have no need or desire to go outside, with ease I will quite happily wear my bathrobe all day, and I've slept in mine a few times.

A bathrobe envelops you in a dreamy embrace like no other garment can.

Wearing a bathrobe allows you to lie on a sofa, wrapped up in woolly fabric, barely aware of what’s going on around you, and in an overall state of perfect serenity and comfort. 

Everyone should have a bathrobe, why:

Wake up to Comfort

You can wrap yourself warm and snugly up in your bed and drift off... and wake up in warmth. 

Wrap up in one 

After a bath/shower you can wrap yourself up to get dry, keeping your shoulders your body warm. As the bathrobe covers more surface area of your body, you will dry off a lot faster.

Prepare for a Night out

Whilst getting ready, wearing a robe whilst getting ready and getting other things done, i.e. you can do your hair and makeup more comfortably.

Who needs to get dressed

It's early and you aren’t ready to get dressed, but you don’t want to be out on your front door in your pyjamas when the postman knocks. Or, maybe you are poorly, and you want to curl up on the sofa all day, a bathrobe will give you the comfort you need.

Brantano Kids Trainers Wish List

Trainers are probably one of the most verstile shoes you can wear, which makes them the perfect choice for children. Whether they need them for PE lessons, after school club, to go down the skate park, or just everyday use, trainers are pretty practical footwear.

Kids Trainers come in all sorts of styles, types, colours and patterns. Each of my 4 has their own favourite type. Lewis like a more unique pair, ones that are bright and colourful. Liam prefers just white or black, plain.  Jacob, likes any, as long as they are comfortable (he is very fussy with how clothes and shoes feel, he won't wear anything if that irritates him). Summer loves anything pink. 

Daisy by Character trainers £18.00 - Summer would love these, they are fun and colourful and of course, they are Peppa Pig.

NIKE Mercurial Vortex Iii £36  - These bright pair are perfect for Lewis, being asto turf, they are durable, but comfortable to wear. 

VANS Atwood £34 - Liam has been looking for his old, but hardly worn VANS (I think I threw them out earlier in the year), so these would be perfect for him.

NIKE Tiempo Rio a6 £30  - Jacob needs a pair of asto turf trainers for his PE, these would be perfect for him.

NIKE Fokus £28 - Jacob also needs everyday trainers. He would like these are they are like his old pair, which he finds comfortable to wear.

Brantano has a  good all-round range of kids’ trainers at great prices.

Lost School Uniform - An ongoing issue

We've all been there, you drop your child off at school, fully kitted out in uniform, but come home time, half of it's gone missing.

Lost uniform, which is never to be found again, can be pretty frustrating and expensive. You ask your child 'Where's your jumper' and they look at you blankly, or with that expression 'huh, how would I know that!' and they shrug their shoulders and say 'it's lost'.

Schools are like the Bermuda Triangle for uniforms - Uniform is taken into school and then never seen again. It’s a mystery to all of us.

One of the best ways to save your uniform from wandering off and disappearing into a black hole is to put a name tag on it. Albeit this doesn't always work and the jumper disappears from the face of the earth.

My tips: - 

Label everything with a name tag - I mean everything, the uniform, coats, plimsolls, pencil cases, lunch boxes etc. I'm always surprised looking in the lost property box how many items are not labelled.

Encourage your child to have a dedicated place to put their cardigan/jumper if they decide to take it off, they could put it in their tray or to hang it on their coat hook etc. Just not the back of the chair, this is when they are likely to go missing.

Check the school's lost property - you will be surprised with what turns up.

Praise your child for looking after their uniform. Kids love praise and if you tell them you are proud of them for looking after their cardigan/ P.E kit they are more likely to continue to do it in the future.

Xmas Money Saving Tips

Christmas is getting close (It's Christmas next week!) and if you are like me you still have a lot to sort out. But come January, will you be complaining? "I'm skint now". It's not too late to avoid this.

Below are my Xmas Monday Saving Tips.

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Look out for codes, search for vouchers and buy during the sales. don't forget to shop via cashback sites to obtain cashback. I love saving money on my purchases, and/or building up my cashback pot up.

Sell, we all have items stashed in the loft, or maybe far too many nail varnishes, books, DVDs, clothing - something to sell.

Do you really need to buy for the ever-widening glut of extended family and close friends?! For example, a couple of years back my friend and I talked and we agreed not to buy each other's kids presents, they get enough as it is - but we still treat each other, which is nice.

Do you need host all those Christmas parties? We are guilty of throwing parties over Christmas, and spending a bomb. Christmas day we have family around - this is priority, and I wouldn't change for anything but do we really need to then host a boxing day party? New Years Eve party, etc. 

Start to put money and/or buy gift cards aside each month to pay for next Christmas. In the past, I've tried to foot it all from November and December's pay, which was not a good idea. Even if you put a small amount aside, £20 / £30, it will soon build up throughout the year. And, you’ll have a lovely kitty ready and waiting.

Buy presents throughout the year. I do this and pop the pressies in my cupboard. The near to December I will do check to see what I have collected, and always surprise myself on how much I have bought throughout the year - meaning less to buy in the last minute dash of December.

Debt worries over Xmas? We've all been there! Sadly, Christmas isn't jolly for all. If you have debt worries, visit CreditFix for help. Help is good, especially if Debt is keeping you awake at night, then why not seek help.

Christmas Fun Party Bingo card

The Christmas countdown has begun! Crackers, check. Turkey, check. Sprouts….. yes please, I can't wait.

Christmas and New Year are full of traditions. Do you have some? Ours are quite traditional, but we are starting a new one this year and that is getting together with family, and taking the dogs for a walk.  For others, some traditions are historic like leaving the carrot for the reindeer on Christmas Eve or counting down the minutes to midnight on New Years' eve. Others are more recent, such as singing hit songs or watching a fight unfold on Eastenders.

I have the below fabulous Paddy Power Bingo card with some known and lesser known traditions on. See how many you can tick off and how traditionally British your holidays is!

The Step-By-Step Guide To buying a House in Ireland

Hubby and I bought our very first home, 18 years ago, it was the perfect terraced house; 2 up and 2 down.  It was a quaint snug home; but, with very steep stairs (Oh! the amount of times we slipped down those stairs). We weren't earning a lot of money back then, but we did manage to invest in the home, we added double glazing windows and decorated it to our taste. Also, our family started in this house, we had our first baby and my 9-year old step-son came to live with us.

We lived in our quaint little home for just under 3 years before we needed a bigger home as our family was growing and so we moved. We moved and bought three homes over the past 18 years, our current home we've been in for the past 9 years and don't plan to move anytime soon.  

These days buying a property is an issue that faces people across both England and Ireland. Increasing property prices all over England and Ireland have left many first-time buyers wondering when and if they will get on the property ladder.  

The recent announcement from the Irish Government and its Help to Buy incentive in Budget 2017 is designed to assist first-time buyers obtain the required deposit to secure a mortgage to buy or build a new home

AIG Ireland has designed a step by step guide to buying a house a Ireland  which you may find helpful. The infographic takes you through the steps you will have to take to get through the process. For example, did you know at the time of buying your first home that lenders require you and your partners to not only have life insurance but home insurance too?

Christmas Around the World

It's not long until Christmas 2017! Christmas is the highlight of the year, every year. It's a time to gather, be close to family and enjoy each others company; eat, drink and be merry.

Around the world, people celebrate the Christmas holidays in many different ways. Many Christmas celebrations reflect local culture and traditions and the festivities can be very different from country to country, focusing on different aspects. 

No matter where you are in the world, if you celebrate Christmas you are sharing in the wonder and magic of the Christmas season. 

Bright Horizons Nursery in Twickenham designed a fun fact infographic full of interesting information. It shares some lovely facts about Christmas Around the World and how it is celebrated in different countries; how to say Merry Christmas in different languages, about different cultures’ idea of ‘Santa Claus' and much more

Which E-Cig Should you Choose

Over the past few years we've seen more and more people turning to vaping, and for different reasons, whether they're trying to find a healthier alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes, or maybe they would like a cheaper option.  There's also people who try out vaping and love it even if they don't have a smoking habit - I know a couple of people who social vape, they've never smoked before, but now they are vaping -  I also know quite a few people that have moved from smoking tobacco cigarettes to vaping.

I quite smoking along time ago and vaping doesn't appeal to me at all, but I've also seen how vaping has become an alternative option to a few people around me.  It seems to have helped them, which I feel is a positive move which I support - vaping is better than tabacco!

This new pastime isn’t going anywhere, and if you are considering changing to vaping, what e-cig should you choose - take a look at this helpful Infographic:

Peer to Peer Borrowing

Borrowing money with a peer-to-Peer lender.

What is peer to peer lender?

It's a community lending/saving circle. An alternative way to borrow money.  You borrow from individuals, who invest their money by lending it to you.  This concept allows the borrowing and lending between individuals or a group of individuals, or ‘peers’, without a traditional financial institution such as a bank or building society being involved.  

All this is arranged with the peer to peer company; they pair up people who want to earn a return on their money, with those who want to borrow it. There are a few peer to peer lender websites, and each should be researched fully before making a decisions -i.e, what one meets your needs best?!

Why peer to peer borrowing?

The benefits of this format, namely, the rates are very competitive and you can pay it off early without having to worry about additional charges. The rates can look more attractive on loans, i.e. a £5,000 loan from a peer to peer lender over a three-year term comes with a rate of 6.9% APR. 

So no matter what the reason for the loan, whether it be for home improvements or to buy a car, if you want to borrow money, the peer to peer lender's websites put you in touch with individuals that want to lend it to you. As such, the companies behind these services act as intermediaries between a borrower and a lender or lenders, dependent on certain factors such as your credit score.

If you apply for a loan, you will be credit checked using a credit reference agency and also have to pass the peer to peer company’s own credit tests.

So if you prefer to take a loan without the need of bank or building society, perhaps you've been turned down by one in the past, or simply the peer to peer competitive interest rates and the flexible loan terms the websites offer, then peer to peer borrowing may be an option for you.

ONE IN FIVE CHILDREN DON’T KNOW THAT MILK COMES FROM COWS

A child's thought process is uniquely fascinating, their logic and reasoning as they learn can be charming and endearing and somewhat amusing. Children think outside the box and their minds are full of imagination. What they believe and the myths they pick up over can lead them to understand / perceive things differently.

A recent research survey* carried out by Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons has found out what children between 4 and 8 years old believe where their food comes from and the results are, interesting:

• Over one in ten boys (11 per cent) believe milk comes straight from the supermarket
• A fifth (20 per cent) of five-year-olds believe that chocolate is made from eggs
• Almost a third of children (29 per cent) believe a cow’s diet consists of sandwiches and pizza

The survey also captured parents opinions and how a large 73 per cent stated that knowing where their food comes from is important to them. As a parent myself, I would be within the 73%. But, when it comes to the children, one in five don't realise that milk comes from cows.

To help the younger generation , Cadbury Dairy Milk Buttons has partnered with Giovanna Fletcher has partnered with Cadbury Daily Milk Buttons to help kids understand food provenance; in particular where the glass and a half of milk used to make each packet of its iconic Buttons comes from. In the video, Giovanna takes some parents and kids back to the farm to learn some truths:

*The research was conducted between 10th – 24th October 2016, on a sample of 1,500 parents and their children, living in the UK British parents and their children aged 4-8.

How to budget for Christmas

With Christmas right around the corner, there has never been a better time to look at your spending.

Setting a budget for the festive period can be tricky but Logbook Loan provider Auto Advance have outlined some top tips for not only setting a budget but sticking to it.

Setting a budget

Firstly look at what you need for Christmas, gifts, food, decorations etc. Prioritise them. The core of your budget should be based on the absolute essential items.

Once you know how much all the essential items are likely to cost look at how much you can afford to spend towards them, either as a portion of a monthly salary or a weekly figure.

This should be a sensible figure; something that means you can put money aside while also covering the costs of bills and other common costs that would be present with or without it being Christmas.

Make sure you give yourself some wiggle room on this figure too, particularly as some prices can fluctuate over Christmas depending on retailers, items and how close to Christmas you are.

Remember:

• Some items like chocolates or wine can be bought well in advance
• Keep an eye out for special offers and deals in the run up to Christmas
• Set a sensible budget that won’t leave you struggling financially

How to stick to a budget

It can be really easy to use “It’s Christmas” as an excuse to go a bit overboard.

Keeping that urge to go over the top in check is really tricky at this time of year but it can save a lot of financial difficulty in the long run.

It isn’t so much a case of being strict but being sensible with what you buy. A budget shouldn’t make life difficult or make you feel like you are missing out on things, careful budgeting just means showing restraint in certain areas. Forgoing the occasional take-away or night out in order to have more money for the Christmas period for example.

The key to a Christmas budget is understanding that due to the time of year there will be a slight hit to your finances regardless of what you do. The key is giving you time to financially recover. This means resisting the call of the Boxing Day sales and relaxing at home, instead of spending more.

Going into the sales often means you are armed with vouchers from relatives and many people don’t realise how much they wind up spending when they use the voucher, then put some of their own money towards a purchase too.

If you aren’t mindful your careful budgeting up until Christmas Day can come unstuck. The whole point of Christmas is to enjoy yourself and spend time with friends and family. Putting a sensible budget in place can help you enjoy Christmas more knowing that you are in better financial shape going into the New Year.

Keeping Your Home Safe Whilst You Go Away

Each time you go on holiday and leave your home, it becomes vulnerable to thieves.

We've been lucky enough to have family members temporarily move in and look after our home every time we go away, but, there are many people that don't have that option available to them.

When you go away, you want your home to feel safe; as I tell my kids 'home is the safest place in the world' and so it should be.  

There are steps you can take to help make your home feel safer and put off burglars. Some of these steps can also help keep down the cost of your house insurance.

Lock all windows and doors.

Always check the windows and doors of your home to make sure they shut and locked properly and that they are secure.

Secure the garden

Make sure all your valuables are locked away securely: bikes, and tools – make sure the ladder is put away, so a bugler cannot use it to his advantage.  And, make sure the gate is shut and locked.

Motion detector lights

Install motion detector lights to deter the burglars. Above the garage, on the shed, in the back garden etc. 

Install a monitored home security system.

With today's technology, you can install a home system that allows you to remotely access your home security via your phone. You can even use your device to lock/unlock doors via security cameras. 

Talk to your neighbours/family

Ask a neighbor and/or family member to watch your home and report any suspicious activity. 

Protect your possessions

Insurance gives you the safety net of covering your possessions. If you go for the cheapest home insurance then make sure it covers everything you need it to.

Gentlemen's Gift List

Why is it so hard to find the right gift for a man? whether it's your teen son, you hubby, your brother or your dad, I struggle every time, it drives me crazy. 

Christmas is coming, the woman in my life are easy to buy for, but when it comes to the men, not so easy! I try and avoid the clinch gifts - but, at the end of the day, it is the thought that goes into finding the gift, and I always give it a lot of thought! 

Every year I struggle to find the perfect gift for my dad. I normally ask mum and she will tell me clothes, or a hat (last year it was a hat for his walks).  I got him a furry trappers hat that covered his ears, which he loves, and is perfect for him during the cold months.   

I do think I overthink it when trying to find a gift, especially when it comes to the men in my life - my dad, my hubby, my sons.  So this year, I am going to keep it simple - nothing wrong in cliche gifts, as long as there is thought gone into it.

I've put together some ideas for Christmas gifts below from Chums website.

Baker's Dozen Initalled Handkerchief Set- when I was a little girl, my dad always had a hanky, thus, I always have a hanky still to date I keep a hanky with me during the winter months (dropped with Olbas Oil to help clear my sinus).  I would get these lovely personlised hankies, because they remind me of my dad! I just know he hasn't received hankies as a gift for many many years - he probably still owns the same ones since I was little!

Mock Sheepskin Trapper Hat - my dad was over the moon with his hat we bought him last Christmas, perfect for him when he takes the dogs on walks.  But, he only has the one hat, so I new addition would be nice for him. 

Dunlop Twin Gusset Slipper - I am such a fan of slippers. I love my slippers. I know my parents love wearing slippers (it's where I get it from), thus, this pair are a lovely choice for my dad.

Aramis Aftershave - You can never have enough Aftershave, it gets used every day, and it's a bathroom essential. 

Sandalwood Shaving Set - My dad has always had a mustache, but apart from that has always been clean shaven. I remember my dad having a shaving brush when I was younger, but I don't think he has owned one for many years, this would make a lovely retro gift. 

Choosing Not to Go to University

Finding out I was dyslexic a couple of months before my GCSE exams, was both a revelation and a knock of confidence. Any thoughts I had of going to university to achieve the business career I so wanted were rapidly thrown out of the window. 

I went on to college as I wasn't ready to leave my friends or go into the workforce.  And, so I did business studies. I left college and embarked on work, but at this point in my life, I also made a promise to myself that I will push myself to learn and work hard. 

Having a family put my climb up to my career on the back burner for a few years. Then after a lot of hard work, a bit of luck and lots of determination, I worked my way up. I got the dream job and I did it without going to university, so is the cost of university degree really worth it?

With the increased costs of going to university and a lifetime debt, many people could well be wondering whether it is worth it anymore. 

For many, they have no choice but to go down the route of going to university to achieve their dream job. For example, my oldest son has just started college, the courses he is currently taking is Law and Criminology - he wants to be a Lawyer, thus, that means he has to go to uni to achieve his goal. Then my middle son, who is 13, he has had a dream since he was young to become an Architect, again this is a career where achieving a uni degree is compulsory. Both my boys are prepared and understand they have to go onto university.

For them, it's more than about the money, the cost of achieving a university degree is an investment and hubby and I encourage and fully support; but it does break my heart that they will, in the end, have large debts, and to think, the amount of time it will take for them to pay it off... heart breaking.

University isn't right for everyone, and depending on what career you want, having a degree is not always necessary, there are other options out there. 

The online money saving and voucher code website MyVoucherCodes have taken a look at the British University system to see what students are getting for their money. The research finds that the average starting salary for graduates is £25,000, whilst the approx. cost of gaining a university degree sits at around £44,000, so depending on what career they want, is the investment worth it? Of course, there are degrees that provide a graduate with a significantly higher starting salary.

You can read more on the research here.