Five tips for getting organised this school term

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So the children should be settled back into school after the Christmas break by now and I bet a fair few of us have decided that 2016 will be the year we are more organised. No more searching the house for missing school shoes with minutes to spare, no more finding out about school assemblies before it's too late and no more finishing breakfast as you walk through the school gates. Sound good? All of this can actually be achieved - all it takes is a little pre-planning and organisation. Most of the time I am left to organise the children and the school run by myself as my husband works 12 hour shifts, here are some little tips I have picked up along the way that may help you escape from school-run hell.

1. The night before is key

When my children are in the bath I get all of their uniform out ready and pop it on top of their drawers. I make sure their polo shirt buttons are undone and everything is the right way around. My children now get their uniform on themselves as soon as they get out of bed which is great. I make sure a hairbrush and bobbles are on top of my daughter's pile too so no more searching in the morning.

2. Keep one diary and one fridge planner and use them

It is important to only use one diary for everything - that way you consistently look at it so are less likely to miss something. As soon as newsletters arrive home containing important dates make sure you transfer them over to your diary straight away. Include all the information you need for example if it is non-school uniform day and children need to donate £1 - make sure you write this in! Otherwise, when the day comes you'll be frantically texting other mums en-route to school asking how much you need to take in.

I have a weekly tear-off fridge planner (I can't recommend this one from Wilko enough - it's only £3) that I complete at the start of every week - I write our meal plans, important school dates and any other important information for the week on there and stick it to our fridge door. This means that the whole family can look anytime they want (and hubby has no excuse for turning up late to collect kids from after-school club).

We have three children at the same school so end up with 3 x copies of everything. Spare copies go straight in the recycle bin and one copy of each letter is pinned to our kids' notice board in the conservatory along with their certificates and artwork. This original letter can be referred to whenever needed. I clear this board every 2 months (or when it gets so full that I can't pin anything else to it).

3. Empty school bags every night

This is SO important. Children will rarely tell you if they have a letter, award, homework or even an invitation in their bag. Make sure you fully empty their bag every night, act on any letters/invites straight away and complete permission slips/forms and place back in their bag immediately before they have a chance to get lost. This way, there will be no shock revelations en-route to school.

4. Get shoes, hats and coats ready in advance

It seems simple but I have wasted lots of time searching for gloves, coats and especially school shoes every morning - now the children's coats go on the back of their chairs at the dining table before we go to bed with their hats and gloves in their pockets and their shoes are lined up neatly by the door.

5.  Start a school fund jar

Sending children to school is an expensive business - £1 here and there for non-uniform days or cake sales, book money, trip money, sponsorships.....it all adds up and it always seems to be the week when you can least afford it that these letters asking for money grace your children's book bag. I now have a 'school fund' jar and save 50p per child per week which equates to £26 per child per year. This is usually more than enough to cover the cost of these extras and it is one less thing for me to worry about. Just make sure if you need to dip into it at any point you replace the money you've taken asap.

Where to shop online for back to school deals

1 - Lots of bargains to be found in the online Asda Back to School shop

2 - Shop the Claire's Accessories Hair Accessory Sale here

3 - Check out Wilko's inexpensive (but lovely) stationery here

4 - Order an online food shop with packed lunch essentials with free next day delivery here

5 - Check out new uniform for the Spring term by Marks & Spencer here

6 - The John Lewis School Uniform Sale is now live - visit their website here

7 - Shop for new school books by year group here

Do you have any tips to ensure we escape school run nightmares in 2018?

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Our first family holiday abroad in three years (and how we are saving for it)

We are probably the same as many hard working families up and down the country. My husband works 12 hour shifts in a call centre and I have forged a career working from home (partly due to the cost of childcare for three children and lack of jobs with school friendly hours). We earn enough money to survive but there never seems to be much money left over at the end of the month. There's always something whether this be new school shoes for the kids, a car MOT or birthdays to pay for and sadly a family holiday abroad for us has had to be put on the back burner for the past three years.

Our last family holiday was in Sanguli back in 2013 and although it is still a budget friendly place to go, the cost of flights is just ridiculous in the summer for 5 people and they all need to be paid up front which is something we aren't in the position to do.

At the end of last year I decided to make another holiday abroad for us a reality in 2016 and spent hours searching for the best value deal. In the end we have booked to stay at Camping La Siesta in Calella de Palafrugall which is an unspoilt part of Spain with traditional tapas restaurants, sandy coves and not a lager lout in sight. We are travelling by bus (with wifi, lots of leg room and personal tvs) and I am trying to look at it as one big adventure. A week at the end of June has cost us less than £250 per person for a three bedroom lodge, fantastic facilities and transport. We still need to save for this though, and here is how we'll do it:-

1 - Don't buy your partner birthday or christmas presents 

We made a pact not to spend any money on each other this Christmas and instead used the amount we'd save towards a deposit. We'd both much rather go on holiday than receive a gift at the moment and we still had other presents to open from other people so didn't even notice. We also saved any money we were given from relatives towards our holiday fund. 

2 - Stay motivated to save

One of the things I struggle with being self employed is that you don't have one pay day a month. You have 10+ pay days per month and you never know when this is going to be (it all depends when your client pays your invoice). I am very guilty of realising I've been paid and then spending it straight away. Whether this be on something we would like for the house, new clothes for the kids or a meal out. I need to STOP this and stay motivated to save all of my money. To do this I have created a photo calendar for my office wall with lots of our favourite memories of holidays abroad and the phrase 'KEEP SAVING' on every page. I will look at this every day and hope it will encourage me to save rather than spend.

3 - As soon as you have any spare cash, pay some of your holiday off 

Following on from the above tip, rather than saving up until I have enough to pay the balance of our holiday in one go, as soon as we have any spare money in the bank after our bills have been paid I will be using it to pay off some of the balance. Whether this be £10 or £50 - every little helps!

4 - Minimise food waste

Through meal planning and writing shopping lists we only buy what we need and have ended up cutting down on a lot of food waste. When we shop like this we always have more money left over at the end of the week and you guessed it - it's all going in the holiday fund! Every time I go to the shops now I will write a list and not be tempted to buy anything that isn't on there. 

5 - Don't book anymore trips until this one is paid for

I am slightly addicted to planning out our whole year full of trips and usually ensure we have one mini UK break every half term. I am being strict on myself though and not booking anything else until our holiday abroad is paid for. Although I am pretty good at finding bargains, even a low deposit is still a deposit and money that could have been spent on paying off our main holiday balance. Plus, I want my only focus to be on paying off our holiday!!!!

Our final balance needs to be paid by the end of April. Fingers crossed we can do it!

How to encourage children to save with Jangle - a free and fun app from Sarah Willingham and Experian

My children have asked this year if they can start receiving pocket money and to be honest, money is tight at the moment as we are saving for a family holiday and I wasn't too keen. Over Christmas though their pester power has worked and I have relented. Every parent is obviously different but I've decided to give the kids a maximum of £2.50 per week in exchange for various chores. Harry (aged 9) has decided he would like to save for a wii u and game. They aren't cheap at £200+ but he seems determined and I think encouraging a savers attitude from a young age can only be a good thing.

Last year I was invited to lunch with Sarah Willingham (yes the Sarah Willingham from TV's Dragons Den) and the Experian team to put a new app they had been designing to the test. Although it was in it's preliminary stages, I was impressed with how the app encouraged money management in children and importantly - featured no adverts or in app purchases and was easy to set up and use with parental controls. Now that the app is available to download on iPads (other devices coming soon) I knew it would be the perfect tool to help Harry manage his money and save for his Wii U.

How Jangle Works

Jangle is FREE with no pop up adverts or in-app purchases. Yeah! That is the first breathe of fresh air. I set up Harry's profile with him and created a pot of money for him to save towards (you can create more than one pot if you like). You can upload a photograph (or find one from google) of the item or experience you are saving for too which is a nice touch.

Next, Harry could select a few tasks from the large selection in the 'activities' section of the app. The app is very easy to navigate and any child who can read should be able to find their way around without any problems.

Activities range from quick tasks such as the washing up to longer tasks that require thinking and research. I particularly like the energy expert task which encourages children to find how how much we pay for our fuel and use price comparison sites to find us a better deal as well as researching ways in which the family can save money on our energy bill. There are over 30 tasks to choose from in total and many such as washing up or washing the car could be completed on a weekly basis.

Once the children have picked their tasks for the week, a grown up must input how much they think that task is worth and enter their special grown up password to approve. For me, I think washing up is worth 50p. 

Once the task has been completed to the desired standard, mum or dad can check and then press complete (and enter their password) and a virtual 50p (or however much you have promised) is added to your child's pot of money. They can watch their pot grow from their profile. 

Personally, we have LOVED using Jangle, it is free, simple to use and teaches valuable skills. Harry is now much more willing to help around the house and after completing a few tasks has definitely been more aware of the cost of things (he even turns his bedroom light off when he leaves his room now).

Tips for using Jangle

• Agree a maximum limit your children can earn per week in advance otherwise. The activities are genuinely fun as well as educational and you don't want to end up in the situation where you are paying your children £20 per week.
• Encourage other family members to be involved too. Harry plans to take his iPad to grannies next time he visits to see if he can complete any chores for her.
• It is easier to use the app if you are sitting next to your child as you do need to enter your grown up password a few times.
• As a parent, it's great as when the kids are bored I can get them to complete a task in exchange for money even if I don't have any spare change in my purse. 

You can download Jangle and try it for yourself via the App Store here (where you'll find it has 5* reviews). Let me know if you do and what you think.

Our Family Health, Fitness and Wellbeing Goals for 2016 with Decathlon

It maybe cliche but there is no better time than the start of a new year for you to evaluate the year gone by and make plans for the future. There's no doubt about it, 2015 was a fantastic year for us but although I do try to plan for us all to eat healthily, exercise and ensure we take care of our mental health too, there is still a long way to go. We definitely still eat too many takeaways, order the wrong foods when we are eating out and take the car to places we could just as easily walk. It's all about making little changes I think and as much as I would love to say 2016 will be the year I lose 4 stone, I say that every year and nothing changes, so instead, I am focusing on a healthy and happy family with 5 easily achievable goals.

A huge thanks to Decathlon who have provided our family with a bundle of products to help us achieve our fitness goals. Their new store has just opened in the Team Valley Retail Park Gateshead and was a joy to walk around when compared to other sports superstores I have visited. The staff were friendly, the layout simple and easy to navigate and their prices are extremely competitive too. They stock everything from waterproof hiking gear to gymnastics wear, table tennis tables, fishing equipment, bikes, scooters and more and they offer a FREE click and collect option via their website for next day delivery to store with no minimum spend. Fantastic! Back to our goals for 2016 though........

1 - Drink More Water

It is recommend for optimum health that women should drink 3 x 500ml bottles of water per day and men 4 x 500ml bottles. There is no way I reach this level at the moment. I think my fluid intake probably consists of 3 x strong black coffees and 1-2 glasses of pepsi. I would love to say I could cut out coffee but this won't be happening! I am however going to limit myself to two cups per day and drink water for the rest of the time. I'm going to get the kids involved too - they do actually like water and can help themselves at school so there's no reason why this can't continue at home. I am planning to give them their own water bottle to store in the fridge door (these 0.75l ones are only £1.50 each and easy for kids to open) and encourage them to help themselves at breakfast and after school.

2 - Enjoy an outdoor walk together as a family at least once per week

Walking is something that is free and easy and can be enjoyed whatever the weather. We've been known to pull on our waterproof trousers and wellies and take a stroll in the pouring rain before - it is actually quite energising and kids love jumping up and down in muddy puddles! Make sure you check out our top tips for outdoor family fun in the winter to ensure the kids are prepared and for grown ups make sure you invest in some decent waterproof walking shoes. Steve swears by these ones which have so far kept the rain out and provided lots of support.

You don't need to spend a fortune though. I picked these walking shoes up that more than do their job for only £14.99.

One final note about walking with the family and back to that dreaded coffee. There have been many times when we've been out and about with the kids and I've noticed other families stopping at picnic benches to open their flask of coffee whilst their children play. I am always so jealous of this as I sit nearby choking for a cuppa! but now I can be the one people are envious of as I have my very own flask that holds just enough coffee for two people and will be joining us on our 2016 adventures.

3 - Teach Jack to ride his bike so we can ride to school together

Something that has really frustrated me in the last few years is Jack's inability to ride a bike! Harry and Heidi both mastered this skill when they were only 2 years old but Jack is stubborn and refuses to even sit on a bike most of the time. He is now 5 years old and has both a balance bike and a bike with stabilisers but still can't ride either. Our walk to school is a 1.5 mile straight walk along a LONG cycle path. This usually takes us around 20-25 minutes in the morning and I can't wait for the day we can all cycle to school in less than 10 minutes. It will make our mornings so less stressful if we can leave a little later! We really enjoyed cycle rides together during our trip to Center Parcs a few years ago (Jack was in a trailer) and I will do whatever it takes to ensure by the end of the Summer holidays in 2016 to prove that Jack can ride a bike! Whether this involves choosing new bike accessories or maybe some new protective clothing and a funky new helmet or trying him with it every day, I will do whatever it takes. Any pointers will be gratefully received!

Children's bike selection at Decathlon Gateshead

Helmet buying guide and selection at Decathlon Gateshead

4 - Practice Mindfulness and Gratitude

As much as your physical health is important, I am also a strong believer in looking after your emotional wellbeing too. I took part in 100 days happy with the Northumberland Mumpreneurs last year and it was lovely posting every day about something we were happy about. I would love to extend this with the kids and maybe encourage us all to write something we are thankful for that day in a family gratitude diary. Look out for a post with more on this soon!

The kids took part in a Yoga course at school last term and have chatted excitedly about it for weeks. They loved learning different positions and it's something I would like to continue at home together as a family. Decathlon stock over 1000 different yoga products but we will be starting out with a simple tracksuit to get us in the right frame of mind. Studies have proven that yoga substantially increases a child's mental ability (including creativity) and fights depression. Win Win! We will be following some youtube tutorials and I might dedicate a post just to them so keep your eye out if you are interested in following our progress.

5 - Try 5 new sports together in 2016

In 2015 we tried our hand at clay pigeon shooting and archery at the Calvert Trust and loved the challenge of trying something new together as a family. I could see the huge sense of achievement in the kids' faces and wish I could bottle the feeling myself! This year we would love to try more new activities whether this be the new climbing wall at our local sports centre, learning to swim when we are on our annual summer holiday or maybe even boxing or judo. There are lots of opportunities out there and in 2016 I would like us to try at least 5 new sports.

Heidi checking out the archery equipment at Decathlon Gateshead

Looking back it is quite a list! I have worked hard though to ensure our goals are easily achievable and are small steps that will hopefully make a huge positive impact on our lives. Do you have any family health, fitness or wellbeing goals for 2016? I'd love to hear them.

Decathlon - Europe's No1 Sports Retailer, making sport accessible to all.

Northumberlandia with toddlers

Northumberlandia (or the lady of the North) is a relatively new attraction in South East Northumberland. She is a large piece of public art set in 46 acres of parkland. There are 4 miles of walkways around the sculpture and she stands at 100 foot high.

I have visited and climbed to the top of Northumberlandia before, but never with my children. It can be quite steep in parts and I wanted to wait until I could be sure our toddler would manage it. Today was a lovely sunny day and seemed like the perfect day to visit.

Northumberlandia is well signposted, just past The Snowy Owl pub (ideal for a drink after your walk). There is ample parking with a recommended donation of £2, a visitor centre with toilets open 9:30am-4:30pm and there is an exciting events programme.

We enjoyed our walk around the site which can be steep in parts and there are some un-fenced ponds and the path can be uneven so keep a close eye on children. Our 3 year old managed just fine and we spent an hour walking around the sculpture, spotting wildlife, playing shadow games and watching the diggers in action at Shotton surface mine (the view from the top was fab). The beauty if Northumberlandia is that there are many different routes to take and there is a route for every age and ability.

Northumberlandia is a free attraction (donations welcome). You can learn more via their website:- www.northumberlandia.com

Our toddler was getting a little tired towards the end of our walk, so we bribed him with a trip to a park. Cafe Azure  in Azure garden centre is only 1 mile away from Northumberlandia. They serve lovely homemade cakes and have a fantastic enclosed play area for children. We played here for half an hour and enjoyed a drink outside on the picnic tables before leaving for home. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Have you visited Northumberlandia before? What did you think?

Why you should prioritise travelling with your baby

My three children are in full time school now and as a result we haven't been on holiday abroad for three years. As a family of 5, travelling in term time is very expensive. You are usually looking at around £3000+ for a one week break during the school holidays. This year, I've had enough and we are taking the children out of school for a week in the sun. Yeah! It is still expensive though and in order to pay for our week in the sunshine (and there had better be sunshine!!) we've had to make a few sacrifices to save. Flights, accommodation, spending money and holiday clothes for us all certainly mounts up.

If I could turn back the hands of time I would definitely prioritise travelling with my children when they were aged under 2. Contrary to popular belief, babies are easy to transport and quickly adapt to new environments too. We used to take our children camping when they were babies but I much would have preferred to travel the world whilst we still had the chance.

Reasons to travel with a baby

1 - You can buy nappies and wipes abroad (other countries have babies too after all) which saves on packing. Just make sure you have bought items you can't usually buy from a supermarket (such as a travel changing mat for example) from the UK before you travel and you are good to go. Online retailers such as online 4 baby stock everything you should need. Although babies don't usually have any luggage allowance, if you pack carefully their belongings usually don't take up too much space in your suitcase. You are usually ok to take a pushchair or travel system on a flight free of charge too but check before you travel if this needs to be pre-booked. 

2 - Children under 2 are usually FREE and don't pay for flights (or pay a minimal charge). I wish someone had told me this when I first started a family and I would have planned to pack in as many trips in as possible! When else in your life will you get the chance to travel the world for free? You are allowed to take baby milk, breast milk and baby food in your hand luggage if you are flying (check here for restrictions) and many airlines will provide in flight cots free of charge. I actually think flying with a baby is actually less stressful than travelling by car!

3 - Babies will usually sleep in their pram or buggy or lie quite happily when you take in the sights and cultures of a new country. We bought a cheap buggy for Heidi when she was a baby and we visited Turkey. This was a mistake as it was really difficult to steer and she couldn't really lie flat. I wish we had taken our travel system which had three wheels so was far easier to manoeuvre. I often hear about people buying a cheap second pushchair to take abroad but in my experience there really is no need. 

4 - Taking your baby on holiday is lots of fun for them too! My children have always loved spending time in the swimming pool or on the beach and going away for the week allows you all to spend some real quality time together without life getting in the way.

5 - Travelling with a baby abroad is actually more relaxing than being at home! Babies love new environments to explore and always get lots of extra attention when they are on holiday. This photograph was taken at 7pm on a Wednesday night. If I was at home there is no way I'd be smiling with a cocktail in hand! More likely tidying the house/cooking dinner/trying to get baby to sleep.....you get the picture! Routine kind of goes out of the window on holiday but that's no bad thing.

Have you travelled with your baby? We've only managed to get as far as Turkey with our little ones. I'd love to hear where you've taken your tot, especially if it's somewhere exotic. 

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