Collaborative postDo you have kids who love to draw, paint and craft? If the answer is yes, chances are you’ll be struggling to keep up with storing and displaying their creations - there’s only so much room on the fridge, after all!Putting your children's artwork on display is a lovely way to celebrate their skills and give a real family feel to your home. But it’s easy to run out of space and inspiration, so here are some ...
What to pack for fun family days out
Collaborative postDo you have a packing list for family days out? It sounds super-organised, but in my experience it’s an absolute must!I’ve had my fair share of disasters in the past, when what should have been fun family days out have suffered from my shoddy packing. I’ve learned from experience that it’s important to avoid lugging around lots of unnecessary stuff, but at the same time you need to take a few essentials to ...
Tips for handling debt
Collaborative postBeing in debt is not something anyone aims for, but a lot of us are probably in exactly that position. According to the TUC, the average UK household has £886 more non-mortgage related debt than they did the year before.If you’re in a situation where your debt is getting worse, or not going down, you need to take action to get it under control. Here are some tips for handling debt to get you started.First steps ...
Gardening for Nature: easy ways to create a bee-friendly garden
If you’re interested in gardening and nature you’re probably aware that bees are in trouble, with numbers and species in quite dramatic decline. What you might not be aware of is just how important bees are to us and the planet in general. Bees don’t just make honey and give us a lovely sound in the garden on summer afternoons. Bees are vital for the pollination of plants - including food crops - and this insect family which is in ...
How to budget for a switch to part-time work
Collaborative postIs making the switch to part-time work something you'd love to do?There are many reasons why people work part-time. Perhaps you’re returning to work after having a baby, and would like to reduce your hours to spend more time at home with your little one. Or you may be starting to think about retirement, but don’t feel ready to give up your job completely. Alternatively, it could be all about freeing up time to pursue ...
What to plant now – July
We’re into the height of summer now, and you probably think it’s a bad idea to start off seedlings when there is such a high risk of failure due to the hot, dry conditions we (hopefully!) get at this time of year. You’re right to a certain extent, but there are still some crops that you can sow for harvesting later on in the summer. And I know none of us want to think about it yet, but now is also a good time to make a start on crops ...
Holiday houseplant care: how to keep them alive!
With the end of the school term fast approaching, I bet lots of us are counting down the days to a long-awaited summer holiday. And with that comes the inevitable pre-holiday organising. Last-minute shopping, packing lists and pet care arrangements probably spring straight to mind, but if you’ve got any houseplants, you also need a plan for keeping them alive while you’re away. Most houseplants will be able to tolerate neglect for a ...
Plant care tips for containers
Collaborative post The world of plant care can be more than a little bewildering, can’t it? Unless you’re a gardening expert, it can be tricky working out just what you need to do (or not do!) to make sure your indoor and outdoor plants thrive. I love gardening, but that certainly doesn’t mean I’ve got the plant care right every time; in fact I’ve had many disasters over the years. I’ve also had lots of times where my plants ...
7. The 10 minute gardener: quick summer gardening jobs
Welcome to the latest post in this series, looking at quick gardening jobs you can fit into a busy schedule. This time I'm looking at ways to stay on top of your summer garden. Things have certainly warmed up in the last couple of weeks, and I’m really enjoying my garden now the summer plants are bursting into life. I think the ‘little and often’ approach is best for gardening at this time of year; keeping on top of the garden through little ...
How to eat organic food on a budget
Collaborative postDo you try to eat organic food where possible? The last fifteen years have seen a huge increase in the availability of organic meat, fruit and veg and dairy products, reflecting the growing consumer interest in the benefits of choosing organic food over conventionally grown alternatives.Those benefits include a healthier diet with less artificial additives, reduced impact on the environment from synthetic ...