Category: Money Saving Tips

Families, Family Life, Gardens, homes, interiors, Large Families, money, Money Saving Tips

Top Five Ways To Improve Your Home

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[AD] Wether you are planning on renovations to improve your forever home or looking to make improvements to sell your property it can be tricky to know where to start and where the best places to spend your money are. We are always looking at ways to improve our home and here are my top five areas that I think you gain most from when it comes to making change:

Kitchen And Bathroom – These are undoubtedly the most used rooms in the home and unfortunately the places that date the most. They are rooms that can have a hefy price tag, but it is definitely worth spending money in these areas. To keep the budget down choose a simple, timeless designs that can be changed easily with a splash of colour to the walls or adding accessories so it can be changed over the years to move with the times without having to replace large pieces such as the bath and tiles.

Make More Room – More space is something I dont think anyone would say no to. An extra bedroom to give the chidren more freedom, an office so you have somewhere to work independently from your living space, an extention to the kitchen which allows room for entertainment – the list could go on. I know with having a large family having enough room to have our own space is very important to us all…especially the teens! Adding an extra room on your home not only adds space to live in, but also money to your home.

New Windows – Windows are one of the most important features to any home. They keep your house warm and keep the noise out. Replacement aluminium windows will give you a house free from draughts which will save a fortune in lost energy over the years, making them one of the best investments you could make.

Eco Friendly – I think the majority of us are trying to move to a more eco friendly way of life with things like reducing the use of single use plastic, using refillable bottles and recycling more. These changes can be made in the home in lots of different ways too. Smart thermostats and energy efficient appliances are simple changes that can make a huge difference.

Get Green Fingered – Making the outside of your home an extention of the inside with a well planned out garden that can be used throught the year and not just the summer is a great way to make the most of every aspect of your home. Covered sections and dining areas mean that your garden really can be an extension of your home. Making the most of the front garden will also make for a welcoming entrance…this is definitely something I need to do some work on.

Children, Families, Family Life, Food, Holidays, Kids Days Out, Large Families, London, Memories, Money Saving Tips, Photography, Restaurants, Resturamts, Reviews, Summer

Happy Hour At Ping Pong

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[PRESS VISIT] This summer was all about making up for the lost time of lockdown and trying to fit in as much fun as we could. A lot of our time was spent with us being tourists in our own city and exploring parts of London we haven’t been too – and this included a new resturant for us – Ping Pong.

Ping Ping offers delicious Dim Sum and carefully crafted cocktails at a whole host of different locations across London. We were visiting the Tate Modern so decided on the South Bank branch for our visit and were welcomed with a smile and shown to our table.

There are no menus per se, instead you have a list of all the foods and drinks avaliable and then us it as a tick sheet for the items you want. I had completely over ordered to begin with but the friendly waiter was on hand to help me rejig a few things and we were then good to go.

We were there for Ping Pong’s happy hour which runs from 3-6pm Monday to Friday and offers a huge range of their Dim Sum and cocktails for half the price.

There really was something to please everyone and the boys loved the opportunity to sample things they haven’t tried before…and of course it would have been rude not to have tried a cocktail or two!

The soft and delicate prawn and chive dumplings were to die for, as were the turmeric and Chinese vegetable dumplings. The children worked their way through plate fulls of crispy duck spring rolls and enjoyed popping edamame beans covered in celery salt. We washed all this down with lychee and iced teas for the boys and Ping Pong signature cocktails for me.

We couldn’t have faulted our first trip at all. Helpful staff, beautiful surroundings and fabuolous food and drink in a relaxed atmosphere…what more could you want!

Children, Families, Family Life, Food, Healthy Eating, Large Families, Money Saving Tips, Recipes, Reviews, Reviews, Shopping

Slow Cooking With Homepride

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[AD] Cooking for a large family with varying ages can be a challenge to say the least. There are always likes and dislikes, someone is hungry when someone else isn’t or there is a last minute friend turning up that needs feeding.

All of these issues with the need of serving them something nutritious as well as tasty can be mind blowing at times, but this is where my slow cooker is my saviour.

I bought my first slow cooker back before I can even remember now, after getting fed up with serving up a plate of beige food when I was pushed for time after the kids swimming lessons. We would get in late, they would be ravenous and I just reached for nuggets and chips or pizza as they were the quickest and easiest option. 

The more children I had and the more after school clubs that were happening, the more I was reaching for freezer food and I knew this wasn’t good for any of us.

The slow cooker came on the scene and I marveled at how I could prepare a whole range of meals that were healthy and filling in the morning, and this would be ready to eat as soon as we got in at night.

My narrow minded thoughts of them only being used to cook stews were quashed and over the years the different meals I have prepared have been so vast. The only thing that sometimes holds me up is having a bare cupboard as some recipes require a fair few ingredients and this is why I have been so pleased to discover the Homepride Slow Cooker range.

Homepride slow cooker sauces are concentrated sauces that once added to a few simple ingredients creates a perfectly slow cooked meal packed with flavour in three simple steps.

For me the sauces are perfect for those times when you are in a real rush as all the flavour is packed into this handy little pouch for you which is so convenient when you are pushed for time…or inspiration.

Big families also come with big food bills and these Homepride sauces are extremely budget friendly as there is no need for a high list of ingredients which you can find with some recipes.

As I said earlier, another hurdle I face with my gang is needing to please everyone’s tastes which is no mean feat! The Homepride sauces offer chilli con carne, chicken curry, beef and ale and BBQ pulled pork. My mini critics are a hard bunch to please but I can honestly say each recipe was a winner.

The issue was choosing which sides to have, but because the recipes are so quick and easy to prepare I didn’t mind adding a few different side dishes to please everyone.

The beef and ale worked perfectly served with a creamy mash that I had made in advance, and for my potato fearing kids, chunks of fresh bread worked well. The pulled pork was the perfect after school meal as it could be piled inside floury baps with a big green salad.

The favourite for us though was the chilli con carne. I can never get the combination of spices right and the Homepride sauce gave me a rich sauce with just the right amount of spice.

Head over to my highlights on Instagram to see a step by step guide of how I made it and please let me know what you think if you give it a try.

Families, Family Life, money, Money Saving Tips

Understanding Reverse Mortgage Terminology

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[AD] Retirement is one of the most sort after phases of life; it is a period where an individual may have several life goals and can now sit back and reap the rewards of their efforts. However this beautiful dream can become a nightmare when there is no financial safety net. Most would-be retirees come up with various plans to live a hassle free post-retirement lifestyle, including opting for a reverse mortgage.

A reverse mortgage offers a certain level of financial security. So if you are considering this path, then you should familiarise yourself with its terminology, which I’m going to explain to you now.

What Is A Reverse Mortgage? – Do you know how a standard home loan works? Yes! Such loans come with monthly repayment options right? Now think of a reverse mortgage as being the opposite of that. What I’m trying to say here is that instead of repaying the loan under a regular loan, you receive monthly funds from an approved reverse mortgage loan.

Does this mean their are conditions to access such a long term loan option? For starters your home should be your permanent place of residence, which serves as collateral for your reverse mortgage. With this loan option you can access funds, depending on your agreement with the lender.

Reverse Mortgage Terminology – HECM: HECM stands for Home Equity Conversation Mortgage. What does this mean? Despite the similarities it bears to a standard reverse mortgage, a HECM has a distinct feature. This mortgage comes with a government insurance, whereas lenders issue a reverse home loan. An example of such lenders includes banks.

Reverse Mortgage Calculator – Lenders use reverse mortgage calculators to determine what options are available to a borrower. It evaluates the total home value and uses the information to rates the borrower’s financial status before the approval of the loan application. Here are some of the factors the lender will consider in your home:

• Age

• Condition

• Physical location(address)

By law homeowners cannot access loans based on the total market value of their home equity. Notwithstanding the calculator helps to estimate what amount(percentage) can be made to a borrower. And yes, individuals with an outstanding mortgage will have to settle them first before they can receive payments from the reverse mortgage balance.

What Ways Can I Receive Funds? – A reverse mortgage comes worth various payment options, depending on the borrowers needs and preferences. first off you can receive payment on a lump sum; this is ideal for retirees with several, immediate and demanding projects that need financing. Another option is create a line of credit which provides access to funds at any time. Finally you can opt for monthly loan payments, which is similar to receiving a pay-check. This option makes it easy to predict earnings and execute monthly plans.

You can select any one of these options, depending on your financial status and needs. However it is essential to discuss your options with a reputable lender to get the best deal. This type of mortgage is perfect for people in need of financial security once they retire.

Families, Family Life, Large Families, Money Saving Tips

Getting Pension Savvy With Profile Pensions

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[AD] Retirement and pensions are words that a lot of us would associate with old age; and in a way this is true but they are also two very important things that need to be considered as early as possible to make for a worry free and comfortable time in our later years.

As well as being put on a back burner due to thinking we have all the time in the world to get this sorted it can more than a little confusing and all to tempting to bury your head in the sand…just as I did!

With over 10,000 pension schemes available, changing demographics in the way pensions work and a huge lack of knowledge on the subject is no wonder people don’t know where to start when it comes to choosing a pension.

A pension is in short a savings plan that you put into – usually monthly that allows you to have a regular income once you are retired. The bonus to saving in this way is that you don’t have to pay tax on this, making it the most effective way to save for your future.

We all need a pension as a way of being supported once we are no longer working and if provisions aren’t put in place then a state pension will have to be relied upon and in turn things will have to be sacrificed due to a limited income and I’m sure that this isn’t how any of us would like to spend our golden years.

Aside from the state pension there is a workplace pension and a personal pension.

Workplace pensions simply take a contribution from you, your employer and the government each month and this is then given to you once you reach retirement age; and a personal pension works by having money put into a plan on a monthly basis from a provider you have chosen yourself. These are best suited to self-employed persons such a myself.

This is of course a very brief outline of how pensions work and with limited access to advice unless you have the funds to a financial advisor it can still be very hard to know which provider is best suited to you and your needs. For me the worry of not having an employer to take away some of this pressure was huge and I wanted an bit of an idiots guide to help me make the right choices.

Pensions Profile offer an online pensions health check that is a great way to check the status of your pension with no cost to sign up, which is a bit of a no brainer really! Even if you already have a pension in place it could be poorly performing and they can get this checked for you. Many people are at risk of having a poorly performing pension, especially those with pension dating back pre-2000.  Sadly women tend to be paying higher fees than men as their pot sizes are often significantly lower than men’s. They can see if you have any missing pensions from previous employer, this was the case for me and it was great news to find this and know there is a little more available to me. They can even give you an outline of how much you will need to be comfortable during your retirement which gives you a real peace of mind in all areas.

I hope this has made things a little clearer for you and it has given you that push to get your future finances sorted as its really not as scary as we all think.

For more information and to sign up for your pension health check click HERE.

 

Baking, Children, Christmas, Families, Family Life, Food, Large Families, Money Saving Tips

Get Ready For Christmas With These Handy Tips

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[AD] Christmas is creeping up on us quickly and before we know it we’ll be pulling crackers and tucking into our dinner.

But before that comes a lot of planning. Have you started to prepare yet?

As we approach the festive season we often overstretch ourselves and tend to start feeling stressed – especially if we know we are welcoming guests.

However by getting organised early you can ensure that you and your family have a magical, memorable Christmas to be enjoyed by all! So what can be done to ensure you feel ready and excited this Christmas?

Budget In The Months Leading Up To Christmas – Although it would be amazing to have a no expense spared Christmas, unfortunately that’s unrealistic for a lot of us, especially when your family had five children! Minimise the risk of of falling behind money wise or getting into debt in the run up to Christmas by budgeting for it early on.

Whilst not many of us want to think about Christmas Day in October, by beginning to purchase some presents this early on you will be able to spread costs nicely throughout the months.

Enjoy Family Activities Together – As the temperatures begin to drop there is nothing better than getting snug with the kids and watching Christmas films.

Before watching Elf for the tenth time research some recipes for gingerbread houses and once you are ready pop the film on and get decorating with your children. It’s a great way to spend some family time.

Decorate The House – If you have got guests coming over for Christmas dinner this year you may want to make home feel even more Christmassy than usual. Ensure that your house is picture perfect ready by picking some gorgeous Christmas lighting and cute decorations – they’ll not only make you feel more festive, but your guests will appreciate all the effort you’ve gone too.

Put Time In Your Calendar To Visit Family And Friends Further Afield – With family often spread across the country it can sometimes prove difficult having everyone in one place over the Christmas period. If you have presents that you need to drop off make sure you schedule your visits early on so that you have time to see everyone.

By following these handy tips you will be ready for Christmas without the unnecessary stress.

Money Saving Tips, Parents, Shopping

Prepping Your House For Winter

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[AD] Winter is coming…

With the weather already offering more of a chill, the annual arguments over when to put the heating on have begun in millions of households nationwide, with the divide between warmth lovers and thrifty savers clear to see.

For a lot of people this period means prepping the house appropriately for the colder months. If you’re one of them here are a few ideas for getting your home ready for an enjoyable winter.

Boiler Check – If you’ve never experienced a boiler breakdown during winter, consider yourself lucky. It’s a real case of you don’t know what you’ve got until it gone with your boiler, which is why a regular service is advisable. Nothing too crazy – once a year should be fine, but it’ll make sure everything is in working order.

Think of it this way, you’d rather pay for a service than a whole new one. If your boiler ever breaks down you’ll need to have some financial backup funds ready to get one.

Lag The Pipes – You might not have heard of this term before but it’s actually a really simple process. Lagging is simply placing insulated foam tubes around your pipes, particularly by plastic ones in order to reduce heat loss.

A small investment that will get you some small savings in return, but more importantly it will help prevent your pipes from bursting in the cold – something that you’d definitely rather not pay for.

Draft Proofing – If you live in an old building without double glazing you might have already noticed a few shivery breezes rolling into the room on occasion. Poor draught – proofing is surprisingly common in UK homes, so it is worth checking to see if it needs doing.

It’s a good investment too – you’ll make savings in the long run and keep your home nice and snug.

Insulate The Loft – Bit is a bigger job this one, but if you have a loft then it’s highly worthwhile. Your loft may already have some insulation but it might be quite old. Today’s insulation is much thicker than that of yesteryear do see if y out can top it up.

Again this will be an investment here, but it will pay off once it starts to get really chilly.

Be Smart With The Thermostat – There are two ways to do this – be smart with your existing thermostat or get yourself a smart thermostat. If you have an old school DIY thermostat be sure to set practical timings in your day to day heating so you get a mix of comfort and economy.

Obviously you want the house warm for when you get in and wake up, but you need to be careful not to have it wakes up all day long and in turn get a big bill at the end of the month.

A smart thermostat meanwhile will handle all of that for you, but you do need to install it into your system at home. Either way using your heating wisely will keep your bills down over winter.

The weather might be getting colder but that doesn’t mean things have to be glum. Prep your house correctly and you can enjoy getting snug and cosy every night, all while daft in the knowledge that you won’t be spending to much money in the process.

Children, Families, Family Life, Imagination Play, Kids Days Out, Large Families, Learning, Memories, Money Saving Tips

My Top Ten Cheap Summer Holiday Activities

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I love having the kids home for the summer…well most of the time, but my purse certainly feels the strain so I always try to find as many cheap activities to get us out of the house as I can I have have listed my top ten here for you to take a look at.

  • IKEA – This Is my saviour at least a couple of times during the holidays. We head over there early to grab their cheap breakfast and avoid the queues and then the kids absolutely love walking around and playing house in all the different room set ups. As long as I can resist popping candles and pot plants into my trolley then it makes for a really cheap day out.
  • Swimming – Over the summer months a lot of council run pools offer free or heavily subsidised swimming for kids. This is perfect to keep my teens busy for free as well as the little ones. Check out Croydon Pools or Donyings, Redhill if you are a Surrey local.
  • The Library– Most libraries run a reading scheme over summer that gives the children a chance to use the library and gain merits of different kinds once they complete different stages.
  • Fruit Picking – This is something I love as much as the children to be honest. They get the chance to see where the fruit is grown and then can go home and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
  • Soft Play – To be honest soft play is never my first choice of activity but the kids absolutely love it and many independent soft play facilities such as Little Lambs Soft Play have some great offers running over this period.
  • National Trust – We have had a National Trust card for a few years now and it really is so worth the money. A couple of trips and you will have covered the years membership and it gives you a whole hosts of homes and gardens to discover and lots of activities to take part in once you’re there.
  • Play Dates – A change is as good as a rest so they say. Sharing play dates is a great way to get out of the house, see friends and save on having a big day out.
  • The Park – For us a trip to the park is good wherever the weather. There is puddle jumping when the rain shows it’s face or bug hunting and picnicking when the sun comes out to play.
  • Hit The Beach – A trip to the beach is great whatever the weather too. For the price of a packet of chips or an ice cream you can have a whole day of exploring.
  • Food Shopping – Now this one is a little random but all my children have loved to help with the food shop. They can read items off the list and find them on the shelves and even get all the ingredients to then get home and help out with dinner. For me it’s an essential thing to do that can be made fun!
Children, Families, Family Life, Large Families, Money Saving Tips

Finding The Right Broadband Deal For You

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When it comes to household essentials I would say for us good connection to the internet is essential. My husband and I both rely on it heavily for work, the youngest two use it to watch their favourite tv shows and as for the teens well it would be like cutting off a limb if we got rid of it!

We have always opted for fibre broadband as it provides super fast connection through fibre optic connections to the copper cabling that would already be in home from existing phone lines. These cables transfer data at super high speeds and can cover a great range of distances.

It can however be a bit of a minefield when it comes to choosing a provider and there are a lot of factors to consider before you make your final decision:

  • How many people using the connection – This is a big consideration for us as we have such a large number of people in the house using the internet at any given time so we need a package that can cope well with this.
  • Who supplies your area – It is all well and good to pick a provider that will offer you the best service but it is essential you check to see if they cover your area as without that the deal is worthless.
  • What speed do you need – Some people are happy with a slower connection time that will save them a little money wise. We however are usually on a pretty tight schedule so speed is the key for us. This also needs to be thought about if you like to download a lot of movies and tv shows as your connection needs to be able to cope with the demands of this.
  • Do you want an entire entertainment package – We actually got rid of our tv entertainment package a few years ago now but a lot of people still like to have the option to have this alongside their broadband so would be something to look into if this is you.
  • Budget – This should probably be ranked at the top of the list but I think all of the other options need to be thought about before you find an entire package that suits you and your family. Getting all the things you need for a good price is ultimately what most of us want and those are some great comparison sites that can do just this for you.
  • I would love to know if there are any other things you consider before choosing your home broadband.
    • Families, Family Life, Large Families, Money Saving Tips, Uncategorized

    Staying On Top Of My Finances With Youtility

    by thejoyoffiveLeave a Comment on Staying On Top Of My Finances With Youtility

    [AD] Housing costs are at a 13 year high with no hope that things are set to improve anytime soon. The bills that are coming in highest are housing, fuel and power which are obviously necessities and not something we can get on without. This coupled with huge costs of rent/mortgage payments, travel to and from work, food and clothing can often leave people with very little to spend on free time which can be extremely hard on family life.

    Due to this keeping an eye on money coming into and out of the house is of upmost importance and sadly I am the worlds worst at organising my finances. I don’t keep track of anything coming in and out and very rarely shop around for cheaper deals which is so important when it comes to getting the most from your money.

    I know that for me this is an extremely poor way to deal with things, especially as I am trying to run such a large household, so when I was approached by Youtility to try out there app I knew it was the perfect time to get things into order.

    Youtility offer a one stop app to revolutionise the way you organise your household bills so that everything you need is all in one place.

    Every Bill In On Place – Youtility allows you to add every bill you have to the app so you know exactly what you have and how much is going out in, all in one place instead of having to log into each account separately to get all your details.

    Track Your Homes Performance – This was something I really loved about the app. You can see how efficiently you are running your home compared to others in your area. It really makes you think about things like your electricity and gas consumption and has really prompted me to make changes in these areas. Having shorter showers, turning the thermostat down a notch or two and making sure that the house isn’t continually like Blackpool illuminations are all great ways to make small changes.

    Compare And Change – As I said earlier making time to make sure we have a competitive rate on our bills is something I rarely look into as I never seem to find the time to do it. With Youtility it is all done for you, so if a better deal comes up for you then it can all be done through the app.

    Keeping You In The Know – There are breakdowns of how much you have spent and what you have ready to come out which makes it really easy to budget. They will let you know about any high bills that you may need to take a look at and keep you informed of when contracts are coming to an end which is great to make sure you are taking a look at everything you are getting is as you need and if not then changes can be made at the right time.