Back To School? Can I Cope With the Cost? With the school year ended and a new one soon to begin, a lot of parents thoughts will turn to buying Back to School supplies over the coming weeks. This time of year can be very expensive as it can be difficult to spread the cost of buying supplies, especially uniform or school wear as kids can grow so quickly. There are a number of things that you can do to try and reduce cost however, and even if not all are possible, even a small amount saved can be a big help. Top Money Saving Tricks 1. Try and buy essential items such as stationery when on special offer. Lots of stores have sales on throughout the year where items are reduced, sometimes by up to 50%. Towards the end of the school season, clothing and footwear are also reduced in some stores to make way for the new stock. If you think your child might have a growth spurt over the summer, buy the next size up. If they don't, at least you know they'll always grow into it plus it … [Read more...]

Fun Summer Crafts for Kids Whether it’s a day that’s filled with summer showers that’s forcing the kids to stay indoors or a day that’s just too hot to be playing outside for any longer, crafts can make a day spent inside just as enjoyable as those spent outside. If you’re looking for the perfect summer craft to take up an afternoon, these four will fit the bill: Sea shell picture frame. If you’re kids have been begging to go to the beach but there just hasn’t been the time then bring the beach to them by bringing home sea shells and some sand to make a beach-inspired picture frame. Cover a piece of poster board in glue and sprinkle sand all over it to mimic a sandy beach, then set it aside to let it dry. Once dried, take a hot glue gun (the kids will need your help with this!) and create a frame around the edges of the poster board out of different seashells. Then set it aside to dry, otherwise the shells will fall off, and once you do make it to the beach you’ll have a frame … [Read more...]

Budgets and The Bible: Employing Christian Principles in your Family Budget Christians are often told to be “in the world, not of the world.” This can prove ever-difficult in a world where secular media seems to rule the population. In order to build healthy habits, it is necessary to find creative ways to work faith into everyday life. One area of life that faith is often left out of is the family budget. After all, money has been called the root of all evil. But we can’t live successfully in the world without it. Therefore, Christians must find ways to use their money in ways that are pleasing to the Lord. Here are some tips on how to do so. Love of Money The Bible says that the love of money, not money itself, is the root of all evil. Therefore it becomes important to register when you are becoming too attached to money. Having money is not a bad thing, and it is always important to be prepared for emergencies, but most of us have a lot more than we need. It is always good to … [Read more...]

School supplies then and now The pricetag on a basic middle class lifestyle just seems to keep exploding all over the place!  College tuition continues to increase at twice the rate of inflation, weddings cost an average of $27K (which is more than a college education used to cost), it costs over $10K just to give birth, and the overall cost of raising a child has risen 40%.   Figures like this can make your head spin.  The trick is to maintain your equilibrium and be strategic rather than reactionary about how you’re spending money on your kids. Buying school supplies The modern classroom is evolving, and it isn't always easy on parents' wallets. A lot has changed over the past couple of decades in the public education system, and technology has been the driving force that’s ramped up the cost of sending a child to public schools. Now, instead of paying with mere pocket change pencils and notebooks, families wonder how they will pay for iPads, laptops and other digital learning … [Read more...]

Why does chocolate taste so good? What does make chocolate taste go great, and keep people coming back for more (even when perhaps they shouldn’t). The appeal of chocolate can be traced back to several areas: the early history and refinement of chocolate as a commercial product; the process of making chocolate, and how its chemical makeup stimulates the taste buds and the body to produce a tasty reaction and addictive qualities. History In terms of the history of chocolate, the Aztecs in South America roasted cocoa beans, harvested from cocoa plants, to produce thick, bitter drinks. These were often treated with pimento and chili peppers, and represented a much rawer form of chocolate than what we are used to today. Forms of this chocolate, which was also mixed with maize and honey, were brought to Europe in the 16th century by Hernando de Soto, and became a luxury item for the aristocracy, albeit the chillis removed, and sugar added. In the 19th century, powdered sugar and more … [Read more...]

Back to school on a budget Regardless of their age, preparing our children for the return to school can be stressful - and costly. Stationery, clothes, a new school bag, gym kit, new lunchboxes, deposit for the next school trip, new shoes... With their minds filled with wonder and excitement and their hearts set on the latest mod cons, the list can seem never ending. Of course we want nothing but the very best for our children but sometimes our financial realities mean that we simply cannot provide them with all the ‘back to school’ material dreams they’d hoped for. In this article, we will explore different ways that you can check off your child’s return to school list without breaking the bank! 1. Needs vs. wants Often the most essential school items are the last thing on our children’s minds and this is understandable - I mean, who is thinking about the practicalities of a sensible gym shoe when there’s a shiny new stationery set on the cards? However it is important to … [Read more...]

Frugal Ways to Spice up Your Patio this summer An outdoor patio is like an extension of your home's living space during the mild summer months. Bring out the fun this space by spicing it up this summer with decorations that suit your personality and your home. You can create an inviting atmosphere outdoors with these frugal suggestions for decorating your patio area. Selecting a Theme Begin by selecting a theme for your patio. If your indoor living areas have a theme, continue that into your outdoor area. Or, turn up the excitement a notch by incorporating a tropical, Mediterranean, ocean side, floral or Hawaiian theme. Having a theme to your patio makes the decorating process easier and helps you in coordinating colors, fabrics, finishes and accessories to achieve a cohesive look. Choosing Colors Look to the outdoor area surrounding your patio for inspiration when choosing colors. Blossoms on nearby flowering plants and trees, the luscious greens of summertime and the … [Read more...]

Make the most of the Olympic Summer - without leaving the house! When the whole world has well and truly caught Olympic fever and the sights coming from London are so spectacular, being ‘stuck at home’ may never have felt more dull. However the cost factor of the Olympics has also reached spectacular highs with nearly 10 billion pounds of public money being pumped into making it a success. If you didn’t manage to get your hands on a golden ticket or simply could not afford it, there are still ways to make the most of the Olympic Summer for all the family at a fraction of the cost, from the comfort of your own home. Bring the London Olympics into your home The Olympics only comes around once every four years, but even if you’re not attending you can still make sure that it’s memorable. If you are worried that their heads are getting frazzled by computer games and daytime TV during the summer break then the Olympics is a good means of introducing some productive fun back … [Read more...]