Autumn Giveaway – Win A Free M & S Hamper

Posted on September 28, 2022 by rosie

Autumn is well and truly upon us, and it’s time for our September free giveaway. To be in with a chance to win a free M & S Mayfair hamper, simply follow the instructions.

There are plenty of ways to enter, simply scroll down to the Rafflecopter widget below to see the options. You will also see the terms and conditions below as well as all of the blogs taking part – please do take a moment to visit them to show your support to them.

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is a M&S Tea in Mayfair Hamper

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of a M&S Tea in Mayfair Hamper
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.09.2022
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

How Your Children Can Learn From Online Games

Posted on August 25, 2022 by rosie

As Grandparents, we are in the enviable position of being able to spend time with our Grandchildren doing nice, enjoyable things like playing games. We can leave the ‘parenting’ stuff to their parents!

My Grandsons were at their most interesting when they were sucking up knowledge like a sponge. Asking question after question, who, why, what, when, and although it drove me bonkers, I enjoyed combining fun times, with a touch of education too.

As soon as they were old enough, car journeys were always spent spotting specific colours and animals, then counting cars and singing songs, and of course, good old I-Spy, always a winner, and always good for lots of laughs when the youngest ones couldn’t spell and chose completely the wrong initial for the thing they had ‘spied’.

For the older ones it was always very competitive and usually accompanied by lots of groans when the object was, shall we say, a little bit debatable.

When my Grandsons got older and were able to grasp the concept of board games, I spent time teaching them the good old-fashioned favourites that have stood the test of time, such as Snakes and Ladders, Ludo, and Guess Who.

Naturally, back in the day, we played them on a cardboard ‘board’ that folded in half and came out of a box, along with all the necessary bits and bobs, like dice and brightly coloured counters.

But now you can play these games online with your children or Grandchildren, or, they can play by themselves. Obviously, children always prefer to have company and to play their games with someone, rather than alone. But the option is there.

I think we automatically assume that anything that children are viewing on their handheld devices such as iPhones, or iPads is not going to be very educational, and indeed, many people feel that it’s lazy parenting to simply let their children get so absorbed in their technology.

But that isn’t always the case; online games for children can be entertaining AND educational at the same time.

Online Math Calculators

As well as classic board games, and classics like chess and draughts, there are now a lot of educational online games available that can really help children with their maths, algebra, and geometry.

There are also a host of word games to help with spelling and reading, the difficulty levels range from pre-school to harder levels such as crosswords, and even multilingual word search!

If a child is struggling a bit with their lessons, it’s so much easier to persuade them to play a few educational online games, than it is to sit and study books for hours on end around the kitchen table.

Whilst this shouldn’t be used as the only form of a teaching tool, it certainly can be seen as a valuable form of support, and shouldn’t be dismissed out of hand.

I’m really pleased that such progress has been made that enables children to enjoy their screen time, but also to learn at the same time as playing.

And at least with online Snakes and Ladders, there’s no risk of losing the dice, and that must be a good thing!

How To Find Financial Freedom In Your Golden Years

Posted on August 18, 2022August 18, 2022 by rosie

The journey of achieving financial independence will help you to find your passion in life and what you want to do with your life.

The first step towards achieving financial independence is to figure out what kind of lifestyle you want to live. Once you have figured this out, then it’s time to start saving money for the future. This will require working hard on reducing expenses, saving more money in a bank account, and investing the saved amount wisely.

What is Financial Freedom and How to Achieve it?

Financial freedom is the ability to be financially independent and free from financial constraints. It is the freedom to do what you want with your life and money. Financial freedom can be achieved in different ways, but it usually involves saving a significant amount of money for retirement, early childhood education, or buying a house. If you want to retire at a certain age, you need to start saving money now.

How to Reduce Your Expenses Now so You Can Retire Early

To retire early, it’s important to make sure that you’re thinking about it and taking action today. The first step to reducing your expenses is to take a look at what you’re spending. You might be surprised by how much you’re spending when it comes to things like food, entertainment, and other lifestyle expenses. You should also consider making a budget for yourself and sticking to it religiously. This will help you avoid the temptation of splurging on something unnecessary or going over budget in the future.

How to Build a Side Income By Investing in Real Estate or Starting a Business

It’s also a great idea to have an additional income or replace your career with a business. This could be something like Franchise Direct or even building up a property portfolio. Investing in real estate or starting a business is not the only way to build an income for yourself. You can also invest in stocks and other investments that can provide you with passive income.

The key to building your portfolio for future income is to diversify it. This means that you should have funds in different types of investments like real estate, stocks, and bonds. If you are unsure about which investment to put your money into, start small and experiment with different strategies until you find one that works for you.

The Retirement Planning Tools You Need

Planning for retirement is a big decision and it can be overwhelming. There are so many tools to choose from and it can be difficult to find the one that will suit you best. Here are two to help you.

Retirement calculators: They offer a variety of different features, such as the ability to calculate your monthly spending, what you need to save up for, as well as how much time you have left before reaching certain milestones.

Retirement planning software: It helps people manage their investments and see how much they have saved over time.

Does Getting Older Influence Your Choice Of Car?

Posted on July 16, 2022 by rosie

An old adage says that a man’s choice of car purchase is an extension of himself, and that may well be the case when you are a young man out to impress.

But as we travel (pardon the pun) through life, our tick list of vehicle ‘must haves’ changes dramatically, and never more so than when we are heading towards retirement.

So what factors influence you when choosing a car to take you into the later years of your life. Will it be a snazzy little convertible, a sensible estate, or maybe a people carrier to well, carry lots of little people and their associated mountain of pushchairs and toys?

Time To Enjoy The Wind In Your Hair

We all remember the nostalgic films of bygone days, when impossibly handsome actors in straw hats and aviator sunglasses drove shiny convertible cars around hairpin bends, to some romantic soundtrack. Usually accompanied by an equally impossibly glamourous female wearing a chiffon scarf which was blowing gently in the breeze. These scenes of course were usually shot in exotic places such as the South of France or the Italian Riviera.

When retirement is on the horizon, you might plan some adventures; maybe a drive across Europe in a nifty little sports car, and you imagine long stretches of open roads, under clear blue skies, with the soft top down and the wind in your hair. How fabulous that would be.

And so off you go on a mission to find THE perfect sports car to take you on your magical road trip. The downside of that idea is, that your knees aren’t what they were, and being so low on the ground, you might just as well be driving a skateboard. You might want to reassess, and choose comfort over the convertible!

Hobbies That Require A Workhorse

Retirement gives you lots of time to enjoy hobbies you used to slot in around your working life. Previously, you may have driven a small, economical car, to and from the station or workplace. But now, you can indulge yourself with the right vehicle for your change of lifestyle. One that can accommodate things like golf clubs, a mountain bike or two, easels, and canvasses, or maybe just a couple of BIG dogs to take on long walks in the countryside.

But of course, a bigger car means it’s not going to be as economical as your little run-around and for everyday uses, when you are just popping to the shops or running errands, there’s a lot of ’empty’ car space behind you. Before deciding on an estate car, it might be wise to weigh up just how beneficial a bigger car will actually be to you.

How Many People Do You Really Want to Carry?

Memories can be short as we get older. And what we do often forget is our own parenting days, when every family outing had to be planned like a military campaign. Loading children, assorted ‘just in case’ extra clothing, buggies, bikes, toys, cool bags, potties, and changing mats into a family saloon. We thought it would never end. Back in the day, a BIG car was a necessity for the sheer volume of ‘stuff’ required to go on any significant journey.

Your retirement dream of spending more time with the Grandchildren might just come back to bite you on the bum if you do invest in a people carrier. Small people still need the same amount of paraphernalia, and ‘impulsive’ trips usually take hours to organise before everyone is safely strapped in. Think carefully, will you become the designated driver for your whole family, simply because Nanny and Grandad have the biggest car!

Later life car purchases need careful thought. Do your research, have fun doing some test drives, but most of all make sure your purchase is right for you and will tick all your retirement travel boxes!

July Giveaway- WIN a £50 Amazon Voucher To Spend on the Grandchildren.

Posted on July 12, 2022 by rosie

There can never be enough garden toys when the summer holidays arrive. Especially for visiting, and often bored, grandchildren. Here’s a free competition to enter, with chance to win a £50 Amazon voucher which you could spend on paddling pools to keep your little visitors happy!

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is a £50 Amazon GiftCard

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of a £50 Amazon GiftCard
2. There are no runner up prizes.
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.07.2022
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things That Men Do Not Need To Hear

Posted on June 23, 2022 by rosie

One of TV’s most cringy moments was, in my view when lightweight Kendra Wilkinson offered up far too much information on live television during I’m A Celebrity Get me Out of Here. After a dismal performance, she blamed her lack of stars on the fact that ‘she was on her period’.

I recall Ant, poor lad, turning away in embarrassment, whilst cheeky chappie Dec, bravely glossed over the statement and battled on regardless.

Of course ‘boys’ these days, are taught about these mysterious ‘girl’ things at around 11 years old, and as my own Grandson reliably informed me, even during THE lesson many of them were hiding behind their hands, sniggering in the back of the classroom, and have probably been going ‘yuk’ ever since.

Personally, I’d far rather ‘Miss’ had banged on to the boys a bit more about treating girls with kindness and respect, which will stand them in more good stead than knowing how a tampon expands in a glass of water!

So even though mature men know all about the inner workings of the female body, I think most of them just want to leave it there, no further informative updates are required, thanks very much.

And I agree with them. I think girls today share far too many intimate details about their bodies with their partners, and indeed in Kendra’s case, millions of strangers.

I mean seriously, of all the inappropriate things to say, in the jungle in front of Ant and Dec on live television, ‘I’m on my period’, must get TV’s embarrassing moment of the year award!

She was almost loud and proud; BUT in reality, ‘I really look forward to my period’, said NO woman EVER!

Let’s be honest, it’s a messy and sometimes painful old business, and unless you are some tree-hugging, Mother Earth, nut job, who loves to embrace her inner woman, it just interferes with our lives and we hate it.

Men generally want their women to be a vision of loveliness at all times. Yes of course they ‘know’ that periods happen, but don’t really want it spelled out to them that it is actually happening, like today, right here, right now!

I’d love to see girls going back to being a little more mysterious and discreet, ‘I’m not feeling too good today’ can be far more effective than a full-on period alert, and who is really interested anyway.

Yes, when it comes to men and the monthlies, NOT sharing, IS more caring!

How do you feel about it? In this day and age, should girls ‘share’ or do you think some things should remain personal.

How Debt Consolidation Can Help You In Later Life

Posted on March 23, 2022March 23, 2022 by rosie

No matter which way you look at it, the word debt seems to strike fear in the hearts of many people, and none more so than children of the 60’s.

For some reason, the older generation sees being in debt as a tad shameful and something to be avoided at all costs. As if to give themselves some moral high ground, I’ve often heard mature people proclaim ‘I don’t owe anybody anything’.

But is that something to be proud of, or, could it indicate that you’ve denied yourself some luxuries, or not enjoyed your life as much as you might have otherwise if you’d taken out a loan, however large or small to live more comfortably or to help your family perhaps.

But despite your best intentions, what happens if, in later life, you do find yourself with a few different loans which are all incurring interest, and are in fact causing you some worries.

Most Important – Don’t Worry!

If you are living life to the full it’s likely you may have invested in a motorhome, or a new car to enjoy during your retirement. You may have kindly helped your children with a deposit for a house or supported a Grandchild or two through University. You may have enjoyed some long-haul holidays courtesy of your credit card, or revamped your home or garden. All these things cost money and are things over and above the cost of day-to-day living.

Sometimes all of a sudden you decide to take a look at your finances and realise that you have 3 or 4 outstanding loans which are all incurring interest at an alarming rate.

To alleviate some of your concerns, it could be time to consider if debt consolidation might help you.

How does Debt Consolidation work

Quite simply, you replace all of your outstanding loans, such as credit cards, car finance, house improvements, with just one loan, and one interest rate. Very often this can be at a lower interest rate than the ones you are already paying. It tidies up your outgoings and is more manageable than having your money going out to so many different organisations.

Secured or Unsecured Terms

There are two types of consolidation loans, secured and unsecured. If you choose secured, the loan will be offset against your home and will take into account the amount of equity you have in it. The interest rate for this type of loan can be lower as the lender knows it is exactly that – secured. But don’t forget any loan secured against your property immediately puts your home at risk, you must be sure you can meet the monthly payments for the length of the loan term.

An unsecured loan is riskier for the finance company as the security is merely backed by your promise to repay it, thus the interest rate could be higher. Things to consider here are that if you fail to pay back the loan or miss a monthly payment, your credit score will be affected. Before taking out an unsecured loan make sure it works for you.

When Debt Consolidation is NOT the right choice

If you are already having difficulty meeting the monthly payments of your outstanding loans, having them all under one roof, so to speak, really won’t make much difference unless you manage to fix a considerably lower interest rate. You will still owe the money, and you will still have to pay it back, but just to one lender, instead of maybe 3 or 4, and let’s face it, in later life the opportunities to earn extra money diminish by the year!

No matter how old you are, if you are already struggling, then you need to seek a different kind of solution and talk to a debt counsellor, or your local Citizens Advice office.

Spring Competition Time

Posted on March 9, 2022 by rosie

Spring is in the air, and it’s always a great time for new beginnings and possibilities, so here is our latest free competition giveaway. This M&S Hampton Gift Box is packed with goodies, to lift your spirits after these past few months of grey skies.

Bloggers Taking Part

Here is a list of all of the bloggers taking part in this giveaway – please show your support by visiting them.

The Prize

This prize is an M&S Hampton Gift Box.

Gift Contents

Luxury Gold Tea Tin (250g/80 bags)
Sparkling Normandy Apple and Pear Juice (75cl)
Collection Apple and Fig Chutney (100g)
Collection Italian Chocolate Assortment (300g)
Collection Black Truffle and Olive Oil Hand Cooked Crisps (150g)
Collection All Butter Cornish Cruncher Biscuits (80g)
Roasted and Salted Large Peanuts (200g)
Collection Belgian Milk Chocolate Florentines (170g)
Collection Rye Sourdough Crackers (130g)
Hat Box

Terms and conditions

1. There is one top prize of an M&S Hampton Gift Box
2. There is no runner up prize
3. Open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway
4. Closing date for entries is midnight on 23.03.2022
5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the blogs involved, but you only need to enter on one blog
6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget, and complete one or more of the tasks – each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw
7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw.
8. 1 winner will be chosen at random.
9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their delivery address, or a replacement winner will be chosen.
10. The winners’ names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this).
11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their details.
12. The promoter is Drew Media LTD t/a www.MakeMoneyWithoutAJob.com
13. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions

Enter now

Simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entry widget options below to be entered. You can also tweet about the giveaway daily to earn bonus entries.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are You Single and Ready to Mingle?

Posted on February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 by rosie

When I mentioned my latest crazy ideas to an (available) male friend, I was met with derision wrapped in a pastry case of pitfalls.

And of course, in many ways, he was right, HOWEVER, in the same vein, let’s acknowledge how many times ‘some’ great manuscripts have been rejected before they are critically acclaimed and become bestsellers.

Yes, some crazy ideas just need a little bit of spit and a polish with a Granny’s lacy hanky, and they are good to go. Unlike my friend, let’s not be too quick to judge. It may be a YES from you dear reader…..

I was pondering the dilemma probably all of us face at one time or another, when you spot an attractive man, or woman, in the supermarket. Maybe you lock eyes and do that thing where you hold their gaze for a couple of seconds longer than necessary, or even, do a double-take. Obviously, that’s reserved for very attractive shoppers only.

If you are really a smitten kitten, you might even casually follow the attractive shopper around the store to judge by the contents of their basket, if they are shopping for a meal deal for one….. or two.

And of course, we mustn’t forget that in these modern times, depending on the contents of your pants and persuasion, do their 10 items or less, indicate the contents of their own pants and persuasion, and basically, are you likely to be compatible. It’s a minefield of genders out there, one cannot be too careful.

But you can follow the attractive person all around the store, via home cooking, and artisan bread and cakes, and sadly it will all still be futile if they are not actually available. But how will you know….and here’s where my crazy idea came in…..

If there was some visible indicator of a person’s availability status, or their willingness to be approached for a quick chat, and possible exchange of numbers, then things would be a lot simpler.

Picture the scene. You spot someone at the checkout. You lock eyes more than once, you are checking each other out. But their queue is moving quicker than yours, and they are heading off far too soon out into the car park, whilst you are still trying to find your loyalty card. Within seconds, they are lost forever. AND yes, possibly going home to their significant other. But possibly not.

So if you did happen to know that they were free and single, you could abandon your shopping for one, and follow in hot pursuit, ready to strike up a car park conversation. And who knows what could happen.

I stand by my original idea, that all free and single, and happy to mingle with people, (note my nod to gender fluidness) should have a badge of availability honour. Like those old Rotarians, but far less classy.

That way, you could be sure you weren’t approaching a man living with a coach load of children, or a lady living with a man. No woman would live with a coach load of men. It would be just plain silly. One is more than enough.

Armed with all this knowledge, you could bag yourself a mini Supermarket Speed date in Sainsbury’s, a Micro Date in Morrisons, or a Winner Winner Chicken Dinner in Waitrose.

The possibilities are endless. So whose up for an availability badge, I’m ordering some sticky back plastic as soon as possible.

Wedding Anniversaries – Perfect Stones for Every Milestone!

Posted on February 14, 2022February 14, 2022 by rosie

Some may say, that by the age of 60+ you have probably got all the jewellery you are ever going to need/want. But can you ever have too much?

As Valentines Day approaches and ‘much younger’ people turn to the internet to order huge, overpriced bouquet’s, and book vastly expensive restaurant tables, in an attempt to impress their loved ones, what is it that floats the boat of the mature, been together years and still loved up, market? Is it confined to 14th February? What about those other all-important relationship milestones, such as wedding anniversaries.

Personally, I love the idea of marking a special date with a romantic gesture, such as gifting your loved one with a new necklace or earrings to recognise the importance of a milestone wedding anniversary.

Yes I know, Bernard, c1950 will look pretty daft in a matching set, but you know what I mean. Us women love all things sparkly and there’s a stone for all occasions!

Recently, I was lucky enough to be gifted THE most gorgeous sparkly bracelet for my birthday. It was such a lovely surprise, and all the more appreciated because it was totally unexpected. My wrists are fairly small, and my gift was very fine and delicate and is absolutely perfect for me. It arrived unannounced in a lovely presentation box from CARAT and is one of the nicest presents I have ever received.

RUBY WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

The ruby traditionally marks 40 years of married life and is possibly one of the richest coloured stones for those couples married in their 20’s, and about to celebrate this milestone in their 60’s.

Let’s be honest, reaching the all-important 25 year Silver anniversary is a drop in the ocean of relationships, compared to this one.

There are lots of lovely ruby collections to mark this achievement from CARAT of London which will melt your good lady’s heart, and ladies, it’s definitely one to have on your wishlist.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Now we are talking big figures, 50 years of wedded bliss. Time to really push the boat out and buy something beautiful for your partner. Many women find chunky bracelets a bit annoying and restricting, so a fine, elegant yet stunningly pretty bracelet will be the perfect answer. This one will work daytime through to the evening, and will also be the perfect accessory for special occasions.

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Well, you’ve well and truly nailed the marriage lark, congratulations! 60 years is a wonderful achievement, and this wedding anniversary should be marked by something special – and I feel that nothing less than a matching set of jewellery will do. Yes, this milestone calls for something fabulous, such as earrings, a necklace, and bracelet. Especially if you are going to celebrate with a luxury cruise or trip of a lifetime. What better time to show off your new jewellery collection.

Even if you don’t normally wear many accessories, it’s still nice to have a few little bits tucked away in your drawer to bring out on special occasions. And for those who really love to rock some stones, these gems really will have you smiling!