Being
a single parent means we only have one income. So I am always thinking of ways to save money and
budget. I have shared with you how tips on saving money on your food shop
and tips on keeping cost down helpme day go day. Another way that I save money is by
looking out for freebies. I mean who doesnt love a freebie? Today I'm
going to share with you 5 ways how I get freebies,
Write to companies
Companies
love nothing better than hearing good feedback about their
products. If you are really impressed with a product why don't you use a Head Office Finder
to get their postal address and find them a letter. I have done this
before and have received a thank you letter back with either a voucher
for money off my next buy or a sample of one of their newer
products.
Become a "Comper"
Set
up a separate email account, so your personal email account is not
spammed with junk mail. You can have more than one email address if you
want to enter more than once. Competitions can be found on Twitter, Facebook and website such as The prize finder.
This
year alone I have won a hotel stay, DVDs and gift vouchers. So it is
definitely worth taking some time out of your day and entering a few
competions. Around Christmas time there are a lot and I mean a lot of
competitions available. So that will definitely keep you busy.
Join freebie websites
Use
the same email account that you created for entering competitions and use it
to register with websites that offer freebie. I've seen theatre shows
for free via seefilmfirst, and moneysavingexpert.com have a forum where people list freebies that they have found online
Complain, Complain, Complain
I
would never complain about anything until I lived with Debz, who is
never shy to pipe up if she is not happy with a service. We always laugh
about the time my Internet wasn't working on my mobile and she spent a good
hour on the phone asking to speak to the manager. Which resulted in me
not only getting refunded for every day I couldn't log on-line but being
put on a much cheaper contract. Which just goes to show it's good to
complain. But only ever complain if you are actually unhappy, not any of
this "there's a fly in my soup" business!
Be a product tester
If you don't mind being a test dummy,
you can test products and in return for your views you get to keep the
item. Some companies will give you a product to view in return for
leaving a review on amazon.
I
have tested things from bath bombs and hair oils to wireless speakers
and kitchen thongs. It can be very hit and miss but I only ever leave
honest feedback.
So that was my 5 tips on how to get freebies, do you love a freebie?
Interior design ideas to please the whole family*
With the Autumn days and darker nights getting ready to draw in, we’ll be spending more time in the family room so shouldn’t they be as warm and welcoming as they can?
But
for who? Your idea of a perfect family room might be very different
than your partners – and unless you’re an adult gamer or love cartoons –
and your children.
The
layout, style and features of a family room or living room as we used
to call them have to have something for everybody if they are going to
enjoy spending time there.
Here are some ideas to create something for everyone in the main living space:
Play Room
Not
everybody has space for a separate playroom for younger children, or
may not want to create one but there can be one corner of the main room
dedicated as a fun play are for the kids.
Think
about it – without one, the toys can quickly take over and make you
feel like you are living in a giant soft play centre. By turning a
specific space into a Kindergarten, they will feel valued and can be
given the lifelong and important responsibility of keeping it tidy.
It
can be done tastefully with splashes of colour and subtle but important
storage spaces dedicated to toys, gadgets, arts and crafts materials
and more. As the children grow these storage spaces remain and can be
used to house gadgets and whatever else is going to be in five years
from now.
Image-ination
Nothing
can reinforce the idea and membership of a family than pictures of the
members in the room. Any bare section of wall, shelf space or cupboard
is a great spot and if the frames are kept identical in colour and their
sizes, it will re inform the group dynamic.
Choosing one or two of your favourite family pictures from holidays or great days out and converting them to large prints will create warm centrepieces that everyone will remember.
Tech Talk
Modern
technology and gadgets are ubiquitous but the newer designs for flat
screen 4K TV’s and colour coded wifi speakers and routers mean that it
can be incorporated into any living room style perfectly.
Floating shelves can be incorporated to elevate any screens and speakers you wish and modern assistants such as Google Home and Amazon Echo
can be hidden behind plants or ornaments. They are voice controlled so
as long as they can hear you, you don’t have to see them!
The
family that games together stays together so make the space compatible
for a family viewing and gaming experience. A couple of colour
coordinated beanbags cost less and take up far less space than chairs
and can keep the space informal and comfortable – even if you are
entertaining big kids for a movie or a match.
Family Friendly Flooring
The
modern flavour of wooden floor is here to stay but it can be brightened
up with a large or several smaller rugs. Keeping the room tidy and
free of clutter is also imperative but different colours and materials
will offer an interesting aspect.
Having
a thicker or woolly rug will also be great for kids’ feet and to sit on
when their friends are around. Even more so if they match the
beanbags.
Open Spaces
A
modern design idea that will function all year round is increasing the
light in a room. But what if you could also open up the wall to let
nothing but light in and take advantage of great weather days?
Installing some powder coated, colour-coordinated aluminium bifold doors is an elegant solution and provides a variety of fourth wall options to rethink any family room arrangement.
With increased light and ventilation
coming into the room, it will feel like there is more space available
for everyone – and it’s a quick and easy way to get the kids more active
in the outdoor spaces and you will be able to see them easily from the sofa!
5 Reasons Why A Driving Experience Will Make The Perfect Gift For The Woman In Your Life*
I don't know about you, but sometimes I struggle with buying gifts for
people. I am not a fan of buying something just for the sake of it,
preferring to put thought and effort into buying something I know they'll
love. Over recent years I have really enjoyed the idea of giving
presents that create memories - anyone can buy someone a new dress or a
DVD, but when you buy experiences you create memories that last forever.
This can be done by sending them out for dinner, or something unique
like experience days.
I love the idea of an experience day as it is something a little different.
She Won't Be Expecting It
I think buying something that someone isn't expecting is amazing. Not
only will they get to enjoy the experience you send them on, but the
thrill of opening your unexpected present and the anticipation of the
big day is priceless. I can honestly say that none of the women in my
life will be expecting something like this, so it would make the perfect
present for many of them.
You Can Enjoy It Together
When I give a present, I don't do it because I want thanks - but that
said, creating memories together is something really special. One of
these driving day experience is easily something you can make into a whole day -
go for dinner afterwards or even treat yourselves to a stay in a swanky
hotel!
It's Unique
Honestly speaking, these days are unique so who wouldn't love it? You
can pick from different cars, so whatever the female in your life likes,
there will be something to suit!
It's Affordable
I can't always afford to treat my friends and family as much as I would
like, so any ideas for affordable gifts is good by me. I love this type
of present because it is all about the experience not how much you have
spent. It's a present that they're going to know you have given thought
to, and that is what makes it so special.
Convenience
Lots of my friends (like yours I am sure) fun family homes, work busy
jobs and have vibrant social lives so getting together can be tough.
When I looked into these driving experience days I loved the flexibility
of times and locations, so I can be pretty sure that we'll be able to
find something that suits all of us!
What unique gift ideas would you like to share?
5 Ways You Can Improve Your Credit Score*
There
are many reasons why it is imporrtant to have a good credit rating,
from buying a new car on credit, getting credit cards or loan with a low
APR or if you are saving up for a mortgage.
If you are in need of a loan and have been rejected due to having a poor credit rating, then a instant loans might be best for you. Remember though, loans are great if they work for you - however sometimes it's important to make sure that you only borrow for what you need and can afford to pay back!.
You can check your credit score using one of the four main credit scoring agencies in the UK: Equifax, Experian, Callcredit and Noddle. You can ask a full report of your credit report for free. Your credit report will include; all loans,credit card accounts which are open, current overdraft, previous credit applications, any missed payments and the number of times it has happened and any history of debt, CCJs etc. This will also identify people who are connected to you including partners, other people who have lived at the same addres as you etc
Today I am sharing with you 5 ways you can improve your credit score;
Pay bills on time
Credit history is built up slowly over time as you increase the number of on-time payments you make. Missed and late payments can stay on your credit file for up to six years. Paying your bills on time is a great way to prove to lenders that you’re capable of managing finances effectively.
Register to vote
If your name is not registered on the electoral roll, you will find it harder to get credit. You can register with your local council to vote on-line or by post.
Pay off your debts
Paying more than your minimum payment can be seen as you managing your debts responsibly. Which means that prospective lenders would more than likely want to give you credit.
Stay within the agreed credit limit
Try and avoid getting into your overdraft, regularly being in your overdraft means you are not in control of your spending, and a credit company will be less inclined to loan you money, as there is a risk that you will not be able to pay back the money borrowed.
Avoid opening many new accounts
Credit reference agencies don't get told if you are rejected for credit, but a note is made every time a credit search is made by a lender. The more credit searches carried out in a short space of time, the less likely you are to be accepted for credit by most lenders.
If you need some more advice about improving your credit rating Step Change are a debt charity who give free debt advice & debt management. Step Change are fantastic, they are happy to give you advice when you need it.
Have you recently improved your credit rating? I would love to hear how you did it.
If you are in need of a loan and have been rejected due to having a poor credit rating, then a instant loans might be best for you. Remember though, loans are great if they work for you - however sometimes it's important to make sure that you only borrow for what you need and can afford to pay back!.
You can check your credit score using one of the four main credit scoring agencies in the UK: Equifax, Experian, Callcredit and Noddle. You can ask a full report of your credit report for free. Your credit report will include; all loans,credit card accounts which are open, current overdraft, previous credit applications, any missed payments and the number of times it has happened and any history of debt, CCJs etc. This will also identify people who are connected to you including partners, other people who have lived at the same addres as you etc
Today I am sharing with you 5 ways you can improve your credit score;
Pay bills on time
Credit history is built up slowly over time as you increase the number of on-time payments you make. Missed and late payments can stay on your credit file for up to six years. Paying your bills on time is a great way to prove to lenders that you’re capable of managing finances effectively.
Register to vote
If your name is not registered on the electoral roll, you will find it harder to get credit. You can register with your local council to vote on-line or by post.
Pay off your debts
Paying more than your minimum payment can be seen as you managing your debts responsibly. Which means that prospective lenders would more than likely want to give you credit.
Stay within the agreed credit limit
Try and avoid getting into your overdraft, regularly being in your overdraft means you are not in control of your spending, and a credit company will be less inclined to loan you money, as there is a risk that you will not be able to pay back the money borrowed.
Avoid opening many new accounts
Credit reference agencies don't get told if you are rejected for credit, but a note is made every time a credit search is made by a lender. The more credit searches carried out in a short space of time, the less likely you are to be accepted for credit by most lenders.
If you need some more advice about improving your credit rating Step Change are a debt charity who give free debt advice & debt management. Step Change are fantastic, they are happy to give you advice when you need it.
Have you recently improved your credit rating? I would love to hear how you did it.
How To Save For A Mortgage*
Getting on
the property ladder can be hard, especially like me where you are
spending hundreds a month on rent. We currently live in a flat and a
dream of house with space that we can grow into and a garden where Darcy
can play. I know it is not impossible but it will be hard work. I've
been working out how I can make my dream a reality and have come up with
some ways to save up for a deposit. Which I am going to share with you
today;
Location
You really need to take a moment and think about the place which you want to live in. Can you really afford it? Would it be more financially sensible to downsize, move to an up and coming area or even move out of the city? If you are currently renting moving to a different area with lower rent costs means more money in the saving kitty. But do not forget to weigh in factors such as travel costs.
Get a Side Hustle
There are lots of way you can make money from side hustling.From being a reseller on eBay, to taking a few minutes out of your day to complete on line surveys. I use Prolific which I find really easy to use and they pay out via Paypal. Or if you are brave enough there is Matched betting, which is something that I am looking into. If you have the time extra rime find yourself a part time job, this could be in the evenings or even at the weekends.
Do you have a hobby which you can turn into a business? Making crafts has been a popular way of making money for a while now. With a lot of people opening Etsy stores or selling via Facebook groups or on Instagram.
Parents
Move in with Parents or Friends
If your parents are not the in positon to help you with a deposit for a mortgage. You could always see if you are able to move in with them to help save the pennies. It might be hard at the beginning but there are so many benefits to moving in apart from saving money.
Shared Ownership
If you cannot afford a 100% mortgage, shared ownership might be for you. Shared ownership gives you the chance to buy a share of your home, from 25- 75% and pay rent on the remainder share. When you are in a better financial place you can buy a bigger share of your home.
Have you saved up for a deposit? what tips could you share to get people on the right path? I would love to hear them?
Location
You really need to take a moment and think about the place which you want to live in. Can you really afford it? Would it be more financially sensible to downsize, move to an up and coming area or even move out of the city? If you are currently renting moving to a different area with lower rent costs means more money in the saving kitty. But do not forget to weigh in factors such as travel costs.
Get a Side Hustle
There are lots of way you can make money from side hustling.From being a reseller on eBay, to taking a few minutes out of your day to complete on line surveys. I use Prolific which I find really easy to use and they pay out via Paypal. Or if you are brave enough there is Matched betting, which is something that I am looking into. If you have the time extra rime find yourself a part time job, this could be in the evenings or even at the weekends.
Do you have a hobby which you can turn into a business? Making crafts has been a popular way of making money for a while now. With a lot of people opening Etsy stores or selling via Facebook groups or on Instagram.
Parents
I'm
super proud of my Mum, she got herself a mortgage as not only a single
parent, but also a full-time student with not one but two part time
jobs! And this year she will finally paid up her mortgage and the house
will be officially hers. She's a great role model and we have spoken in
depth about her helping me get a mortgage and
the importance of owning a property. We sat down and used this tool from
SunLife
to see how much her house has made her and it just proves how being a home owning is a great investment.
Move in with Parents or Friends
If your parents are not the in positon to help you with a deposit for a mortgage. You could always see if you are able to move in with them to help save the pennies. It might be hard at the beginning but there are so many benefits to moving in apart from saving money.
Shared Ownership
If you cannot afford a 100% mortgage, shared ownership might be for you. Shared ownership gives you the chance to buy a share of your home, from 25- 75% and pay rent on the remainder share. When you are in a better financial place you can buy a bigger share of your home.
Have you saved up for a deposit? what tips could you share to get people on the right path? I would love to hear them?
Tips for finding your personal style when redecorating *
Sometimes, it can feel tricky to decide how you would like to revamp your home visually.
You might recoil at the sight of the home into which you have recently
moved, but as you pore over various decorating styles on Pinterest and in magazines, you could still struggle to settle on just one style.
Perhaps
your tastes are simply too electric or obscure to fall into many
narrow, previously-defined categories. Here are some ways of pushing
yourself closer to deciding where exactly your heart lies.
Consider your long-term passions
Many of us have hobbies and interests in which we have been regularly engaged even as far back as childhood. For example,
friends and family might have known of your strong fondness for red as a
kid - and, if you still like that colour, you could incorporate it into
a new redecorating scheme.
Still,
there remains nothing wrong with subtly updating such elements to
reflect how you have changed since childhood. For example, pairing red
with black could create a darker, more adult look.
What would you choose if your budget had no bounds?
While
you might lack a bottomless pit of money, you could still list every
single decor item for which you would love to shell out if you didn't have to fret about your money becoming fully depleted.
Through mentally throwing off the fetters in this way,
you could open your mind to less orthodox ideas to which you might have
previously put little serious thought. Don't worry if you don't proceed
to buy any of these items, as you would still develop a clearer perception of your genuine passions.
Have a look around your garden
You
might already habitually do this if you are an avid gardener - but,
whether or not you indeed are, you could also take in the sight of
neighbours' outdoor spaces and more public settings.
Follow HuffPost's advice to ask yourself why you love these spaces. You could also determine which aspects of them repel you. Incidentally, in gazing around your own outdoor space, you might see a damaged roof blighting the backdrop, leading you to Google "roofing repair companies near me".
Make a dream destination come true
For plenty of us, there are particular places in which spending time can feel utterly blissful. Where do you most yearn to visit, whether for the first time or repeatedly?
If
you would love to sit back in an elegant Parisian hotel, you could add
touches of romantic glamour to your home. On the other hand, if your
idea of fun is more feeling
the gentle breeze on your skin just outside a beach house, tropical
motifs could make more fitting additions to your home interiors.
Don't be afraid to mix and match multiple styles
Many of us have a broad spectrum of preferences when it comes to interior design. If you are among these people, take heart from Freshome's insistence that "it's not only acceptable to embrace these different tastes and styles, but it is encouraged!"
Where Can You Find Ideas for Home Decorating?*
A stylish and on-trend
home is possible but finding the latest ideas can be problematic,
especially when some sites say one trend in hot and another says not to
do it. Take a look at the best places to find the best ideas for home decorating.
Know your interior designers
Just
like fashion, if you are serious about home décor and style, you need
to know your designers. If nothing else, you can develop your
appreciation of trends that could be coming your way and how to apply
them to your home and space.
This is a worthwhile move even if your budget doesn’t stretch to the designer price tag.
For example, Kelly Wearstler is known for her global luxurious style whereas, for the modernistas amongst us, Peter Dunham is a favoured name.
Interior design magazines
The next place to look is to see what interior design magazines, in print and online, are making of the latest collection from established and new designers.
As
you would expect, there are a whole host of interior design magazines.
Look for articles that pull together the latest trends using colour, or
‘trends for the year’ kind of articles.
They
look to designers for inspiration and will often translate how we can
use their ideas in the busy family home, a skill that many of us aren’t
quite able to translate.
They
will also show you various ways of decorating your home, as well
providing a list of high street and online retailers where you can buy
the must-have items.
High street stores
Buying
from the high street is the place most of us search for the ideal
chair, sofa or dining table, preferring to see and touch the furniture
before we buy.
It
makes sense too because the colour reproduction of photos online may
not be true to shade or finish of the wallpaper or furniture item that
gets delivered.
High
street stores will often replicate designer items but by doing so,
place them within your price range. And with your chance to take a
closer look, you can get a feel for whether the item is right for your
home or not.
‘How to’ guides
How to guides are great for helping you understand the principles behind decorating and styling a room.
Colour is usually the most difficult choice for many of us. Just how do you choose the right shade, mix and match colours an
d then there is the whole question of how to successfully mix different styles of pattern.
The web is a vast place and full of ideas, as well as well-written how-to
guides. For example, how to choose a colour and shade for a room is
guided by many principles, other than your own personal preference. This
is covered in this how to choose a colour for a room, a great start if you really have no idea.
Interior design bloggers
Another great source of inspiration which has mushroomed in recent years is taking a look at the personal blogs of other amateur interior designers and home decorators.
Home interior bloggers are a fantastic source of information and ideas, as well as giving out handy tips on what to do and what not to do.
And don’t restrict your search to British bloggers either, although they do have some amazing ideas. There is an infinite number of interior design bloggers across the globe, many of which have some great ideas to try.
Why not take a closer look at the interior design blogs that a top interior design magazine recommends?
Social media sites
Both Pinterest and Instagram could be sites that also show you how to make the right home decorating choices;
- Pinterest is an online scrapbooking site which is perfect if you like a certain colour, style or item that another user has posted to their board. You can see where they have acquired certain items, ideal if you want to find it.
- Instagram is perfect as a source of inspiration, a chance to see and share what others are doing in terms of home décor from across the world.
Online retailers
And finally, check out what online retailers are offering not just in terms of products for sale but their blogs too.
Online retailers are often specialists in their field, such as Sloane and Sons’ tub chairs
and wingback armchairs are commonly featured in articles and blogs
across the web. These online retailers will give you great ideas on how to incorporate certain items, colours or styles too.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Sloane & Sons work with their customers to produce the results and style in their home and workplace that they want – and within budget too!
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