The Real Cost of Your Commute (and How to Drive it Down)

Do you spend several hours every week travelling to and from work? As well as the time it takes you, there’s also the cost; a recent study from Totaljobs revealed that the average UK employee spends £146 a month commuting - which comes to a whopping £135,871 by the time you come to retire.

That monthly spend is over double for workers heading into London. On top of petrol, parking and daily train tickets, there’s the unforgotten costs like vehicle wear and tear and even coffees at the station - all of which eat into your wage on a daily basis. Some commuters may need to look into other financial routes to cover their travel arrangements on top of other essentials.

Thankfully, there are simple ways to make it cheaper. Try these four tips to drive down your commuting costs.

Calypso Holiday Hacks #2 - Tween Reads

Keeping the kids busy all summer without selling your soul or remortgaging can be hard at times but thankfully Calypso have created the Holiday Hacks app. These simple top tips are provided by, and tested by, parents for parents so you can be certain that they will put smiles on faces until the return of school, regardless of the weather!

We have already put one idea to the test this month and we've now picked a second to keep the Mini Mes occupied, especially while I'm working from home.

"Keep your children reading throughout the holidays - it stimulates their imagination as well as keeping their minds engaged until they get back in the classroom."

10 Great House Warming Gifts

It’s important to mark the occasion of a friend moving into a new home with an extra special gift. A new house is a place where they will start a new life, create memories, and enjoy their very own space. A house warming gift should be a celebration of this new phase. The present that you give should help them make the most of their new nest and heighten the excitement that comes with moving into a new home. Here are some gift ideas to give you inspiration.

Tool Box

Sooner or later every new homeowner is presented with the need for a good set of tools. Don’t let them come up short when the moment comes.

Personalised Products

From coasters to clocks, there is almost no product which you can’t personalise with a photo or text online. Have fun with the name of their new address, use a picture you know they like and get them something unique.

Top 5 Family Destinations for the Summer Holidays 2015

Travelling abroad is one of life’s greatest experiences, but what’s even better is sharing it as a family. Holidaying together allows you to make life-long memories, see the world together, and create bonds that will last a lifetime. In order to ensure all of these things, you need to find a place that will be suited to everyone, from the babies to the grandparents. Due to this, a lot of people are now opting for boutique family holidays which guarantees an ideal adventure catering for all your needs and desires whilst abroad.

With summer is fast looming, you may not be sure where to go. Here is a quick guide to the top 5 summer holiday destinations 2015.

The Mini Mes in Kefalonia

Turkey

This is a European destination where families with children are very welcome with the locals being extremely friendly and helpful. Famous for its mud baths and delicious cuisine, Turkey also has a lot more to offer. If you are keen on history and architecture, the capital city Istanbul has an array of castles, palaces, and markets to visit, as well as trips on ferryboats to experience as a different mode of transport to the everyday walking and catching the bus. 

Girls Summer Fashion from Melijoe

Although I'm a little disappointed the Easter holiday has now come to an end and the Mini Mes have returned to school, I'm still feeling rather content due to the endless sunshine that we seem to be having at the moment - I love it! It really reminds me of summers gone by which always bring thoughts of BBQs, afternoons in the garden and of course lazy days spent on the beach. The pace of living seems to slow down between July and September and everyone just seems so much happier, don't they.

With this in mind I started to think about how unprepared I actually am for the warmer weather, and our holidays abroad, as our wardrobes are some what lacking in suitable summer fashion! Minxy in particular has had a bit of a growth spurt recently so I soon found myself browsing Melijoe for some key designer pieces. 

I put together these three lovely outfits...

I selected the Rykiel Enfant Flared printed cotton poplin skirt as it is a piece that Minxy could wear all year round. It goes perfectly with the pretty Pom d'Api sandals but at the same time she could team this with some tights and boots when Autumn arrives. Being black and white it would go well with a lot of her existing clothing and the Liu Jo top I've teamed it with is such a lovely deep shade of fuschia and a style that can be both dressed up or down for any occasion making it very versatile.

Work Options For Parents

When planning a family it's vital to think about childcare and whether or not you will be taking a break from work to raise your child(ren). For many it's not a feasible option financially so they opt for childminders and nurseries to look after their little ones, but that can be costly which again creates questions about what is best for you. Some parents may not wish to stay at home after maternity leave as they enjoy their careers too much to part with, whereas some mums and dads have an amazing support system of family friends to care for the kids so they don't need to worry as much - every situation is different but deciding to be a working or stay at home parent can be difficult. 

Setting the stage: simple tips to make your home more valuable

Staging is the process of preparing your property for sale with an aim to render it as appealing as possible. Though the culmination may result in you debating whether you even want to leave such a pleasant abode, it can help sell your property faster and increase its value.

Whether you’re thinking of selling soon, or considering the possibility several months down the line, the following simple tips can provide a real boon.

Clear the way

During staging, it’s important not to lose sight of the fact that it’s all for the prospective buyers. You might think your living room exudes a cosy ambience, but to a fresh pair of eyes it might look like clutter-central, population: “not me”.

Decluttering is an easy and inexpensive first step that can boost your property’s value and help you enjoy it more in the meantime. After all, as well as putting off realtors, bank appraisers or viewers, clutter has been reported to cause negative psychological effects like stress.

If the task ahead looks beyond the abilities of Mary Poppins, you could hire a professional clearance company. With a considered choice you can get an affordable clearance made possible through waste

The Flu Vaccine - Protecting Your Children This Winter

The bugs are back in town. That's right; it's that time of year again when the tissues come out and the coughs creep back in. Flu can develop quickly and leave us feeling quite unwell indeed. With many of us not wanting to miss work or school and definitely not wanting to be poorly over the magical festive period in particular, it might be worth booking your family in for a flu vaccine today. 

Facts about flu

• In an average flu season in England, flu affects up to 10% of children aged 0 – 14 years

• Children are the main transmitters of flu and pass the virus on for longer than adults. For every 10 children who missed school because of flu-associated illness, eight household members subsequently became ill

How to teach children about saving energy

You might be looking for ways to cut down the cost of the energy bill at home but it doesn’t just have to be the adults' job to look out for a rogue light left on or a dripping tap - get the kids involved as well.

You can find advice and ideas from organisations, such as the Energy Saving Trust, on how to save energy and then get to work on encouraging the kids to take an interest.

It’s important that little ones view energy saving as a fun task: screeching at them when they leave the TV on when no one is in the room won’t get you very far.

Make them feel like a superhero and tell them that by turning off the lights and shutting all the doors that they are saving the world, one flick of the switch at the time. If they want to wear a cape whilst undertaking their energy saving duties, don’t stop them!

What happens if you die without a will?

In the UK, approximately two thirds of all people who die don’t leave a will. This means they die intestate, and according to an article in the Guardian, new laws for these situations were introduced on 1st October. The changes will not effect those who leave assets of less than £250,000, but those who leave a larger estate will be affected.

Where does the unclaimed money go?

The new rules are very complex and using the services of a solicitor or a will-writing firm belonging to The Institute of Professional Willwriters is advisable. For notarising wills for use abroad, consulting a company like Vanner Perez Notaries, specialists in such matters, will make life easier in the long term. 

Getting a will written up is becoming more important than ever due to the fact that more people own their own property and with house prices on the increase, thousands of people will have substantial assets to leave behind when they die. Having a basic legal will can make a huge difference to any family that you leave behind, saving them going to court and also stopping any of your assets going to the state. Approximately £76 million was taken from unclaimed assets in 2013 according to the BBC website.

5 Amazing Educational Apps for Kids

As most parents know quite well, kids and mobile devices seem to go together as naturally as toast and marmalade. Even small toddlers can grasp the concept of using their mum’s smartphone to play games. While our kids certainly enjoy all sorts of activities on these devices, we mums and dads hope that our kids are using apps that will help them learn. Fortunately, there are a variety of fun and engaging apps that also are educational. For example, consider the following:

Money&Co.'s Fortune Finders

What is the Fortune Finders?

Looking for some extra funds in the run up to Christmas? Why not have a go at Money&Co.’s Fortune Finders, where you could win £10,000. It will last for 10 days and features six hunts. Participants will have the chance to win an investment fortune of £10,000 and five prizes of £1,000.

How do I play?

Playing is easy. During each hunt, participants must decipher clues in order to find the hidden gems that look like this one below: 

Ensure You're In Safe Hands: Keeping Healthy This Winter

It’s important, as the cold weather quickly draws in, that you take precautions to ensure you and your family stay healthy. As fuel bills rise and we try to resist switching the heating on, you should be looking at ways to stay healthy over the cooler months until spring rolls around again.

Winter is a time of year when we are more prone to getting sick and suffering with flu like symptoms. Children and older people are much more vulnerable to illness over this period, so make sure you take the first step to staying healthy by protecting yourself from their symptoms.

What Does Your Child Want To Be?

Blossom magazine features a different aspirational career within each issue and to get their young readers involved, by sharing their dreams and goals for the future, they have recently launched a new campaign; #IWantToBe. All your little one needs to do is create and submit a video for a chance to win! 

The prize is pretty awesome too:

• A VIP London family trip which includes one family ticket to ZSL London with a Meet the Meerkats experience
• A Rainforest Café voucher worth £100
• Overnight accommodation in one family room at 3-star hotel, in Central London 
• A visit to Blossom HQ plus a Blossom Goody Bag.