Yearly Archives: 2022

Can You Manage Your Money More Efficiently?*

05th August 2022

Have you been giving your finances some thought lately? Perhaps you have decided that you think you can manage your finances a little more efficiently, and it’s time to start taking some steps in this direction. If you’re struggling with how to do this though, it’s a good thing that you’ve come across this article. Down below, we’re going to be taking a look at some of the things that you can do in order to achieve this goal, so keep reading down below if you would like to find out more.

Photo by Josh Appel on Unsplash

With Some Professional Help

First, we recommend that you get the help of a professional. You can look at a site like financialadvisers.co.uk if you think that this will be helpful to you. They are able to find the problems with your finances right now, recommend things that you can do to get them back on the right track, and even save you money in some places. It’s important sometimes to get expert help so that you know you are on the right track and doing all of the right things.

Finances are a tricky thing to manage, and having someone on your side with knowledge and expertise can be a huge help. The last thing that you want to do is struggle on your own when help is available.

Break It All Down

If you break down your finances into bite sized pieces, they become a lot easier to manage. For example, where you might be getting confused by all the numbers, write them out in a list and take a look at them this way. Make sure that you are matching up all of the bills to the amount you have to pay, what dates they need to be paid, and how much you get paid on payday. Having all of this information gives you power, and allows you to plan out exactly what you want to do.

Keep Everything Up To Date

The final thing that we are going to say is that you need to keep all of your finances up to date. If you have a budget then it needs to be updated whenever there is a financial change. Not taking the time to make the appropriate changes means that your budget is going to be useless to you, and you will be back at square one, super confused and not knowing which way is up in no time. It only takes a few minutes to update the necessary parts of your finances, but it makes a huge impact when you don’t do it.

You can find out more about budgets and why they are important on a site like https://www.investopedia.com if you are interested.

Hopefully, you have found this helpful, and now see some of the ways that you can manage your money more efficiently. It’s important that you are taking the time to keep your financial situation in order as much as you can, and that means looking after it as efficiently as you can. We wish you the very best of luck, and hope that you manage to get this sorted out sooner rather than later.

Posted in money

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Brand Profile: Lindex

25th July 2022

The first time the brand Lindex popped on to my radar was when I was pregnant and I was starting to browse around for baby clothes; in fact I made one of my first baby related purchases from there and have been obsessed ever since.

As well as selling some of the most beautiful baby clothes and accessories that you’ll ever see, Lindex also cater for kids and women too as well as stocking beauty products.

Whilst I can’t comment on anything but their baby selection I can very much vouch for the quality of their products, and the attention to detail on each piece; from two way zippers on sleep suits to make nappy changes a little easier (although there is NOTHING easy about changing a 9 month old’s nappy!) to size extenders such as an extra row of poppers to help you get that bit more wear out of each piece. We have quite the collection these days, and if you follow me on Instagram you’ll soon see some of our latest additions. In the meantime, I just wanted to shine the spotlight on Lindex as a brand as I have nothing but love for them, and they definitely deserve to be better known than they are!

In their own words, here is Lindex’s Higher Purpose:

To empower and inspire women everywhere. We do that through our actions as a company and through a progressive fashion experience.   

We lead the way.   

Our customers, our co-workers and our partners are all part of this ambition.   

We know this might sound ambitious, but almost all of our customers are women,  so basically, this is all about them.   

It’s the kind of customer focus that goes beyond the latest collection and the store window.   

A purpose.   

This includes all dimensions of sustainability. We will demonstrate that respect and equal opportunities are the way forward.  

We want to set an example. It’s about optimism, forward-thinking and self-confidence.  

And this spirit influences everything we do.   

Our collections, our stores, our communication.   

We have a clear point of view and that helps our business.  

It gives us energy and motivation. But it doesn’t make life easier.   

We’re raising the bar for ourselves.  

You can only inspire people if they respect you and respect doesn’t come easily.   

So, if we want to create an amazing company for women, we have to be an amazing brand.   

Sure, Lindex is not the biggest brand in the world. But we’re not small and definitely big enough to have an impact. 

We can change things.   

And when we grow, we can change even more things.   

That’s the idea.   

Lindex also have a sustainability promise, which has three key areas of focus…you can read more about this here

If you’re not familiar with the brand yet, or the fabulous things they sell then I urge you to give them a follow on Instagram and get ready to create one heck of a shopping list!

Posted in brands I love, shopping

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Returning To Professional Life After A Long Absence*

24th July 2022
Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Coming back to work after a long absence can feel quite disorienting, and a little nerve-wracking. There’s no need to worry of course, because you’ll be surprised just how easily you will fit back into your new normal despite how rusty you may initially feel. On top of that, it’s important to not feel out of place or unjust in taking that break, if it was important to you to do take that break, you don’t have to prove to any corporation why you’ve made the life decisions you needed to make – so keep that in mind.

Once you’ve decided to go back into the workforce or to try and launch an initiative of your own, preparation is the most important approach. For some, this might simply mean driving the commute to the new office a couple of times before starting, simply to get used to the route. For others, it might mean becoming familiar with video conferencing apps now that remote work is normalized.

In this post, we hope to help you move forward into this new normal with care and self-love:

Request Onboarding Guidance

It can’t hurt to ask your employer, no matter if you’re starting somewhere new or returning to an old workplace, to give you some time for onboarding. The workflow systems may have changed a little since you were last in that position or one like it, and as such, it’s only right that a business gives you time to adapt, and someone you can field questions with. Businesses will usually help newcomers with everything they need to feel capable in the role, but sometimes if you don’t ask, you might not get.

Invest In Educational Resources

For some, the road back to work means investing in educational programs or accreditations to ensure they’re up to date with the necessary knowledge and requirements going forward. For instance, engaging in a prince2 certification course can ensure all of the technical knowledge, management experience and workflow for IT project management is available; allowing you to dive into your renewed official role with further confidence, the cobwebs dusted, and the most current knowledge and understanding thoroughly on your side.

Become Comfortable With Networking Again

Becoming comfortable with networking again means once again resting in the social and connective norms of your workplace or industry at large. This can be as simple as establishing B2B connections once more; or it might mean connecting with old colleagues and asking what they’ve been up to, potentially securing you an opportunity. At the very least, pleasant and approachable candor in your new workplace will help you feel more at home when making work friends, allowing you to settle in more easily and get help where you need it. Some even use online resources to simulate this approach, like discussing freelance writing online with others in the field.

With this advice, you’re certain to return to your professional life after a long absence. Going forward, this will help you thrive.

Posted in work

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Cycling Storage, Safety, and Starters – The Essential Guide

21st July 2022

Cycling is a great way to get outdoors and embrace nature, fresh air, and the elements, whatever the season. Hornit was founded by former lawyer and Ironman triathlete, Tom de Pelet. Tom spent 7 years commuting to work in London and saw a gap in the market for innovative cycling products. When the brand launched in 2012, the objective was to create pioneering accessories that make cycling safer without compromising style. The first product to launch was the dB140 – the world’s loudest bike horn. The horn enables cyclists to alert distracted drivers and pedestrians to their presence and the sleek design blends seamlessly with any bike.

Since the success of this product, the team at Hornit has dedicated itself to sourcing and designing innovative, stylish, and fun cycling products for people of all ages. From lights and horns to cycle storage and helmets, each Hornit product has been created to improve cyclist’s lives in some way.

Now an established brand, Hornit has won several awards and its products are sold in over 40 countries worldwide. Innovation still remains at the heart of Hornit and Tom’s passion is shared by the whole team who make it their goal to create cycling products that transform your ride.

They offer a range of exciting and useful products to help store bikes, keep you and you safe and also help start a child’s biking journey through their super-lightweight balance bikes.

Here are some of their most popular products:

Hornit Clug Pro £25.99 – £27.99 from Hornit.com Save space and store bikes on a wall with the innovative bike holder. Weighing just 26g the Clug Pro holds up to 30kg, with different versions to suit bike tyres it will help keep bikes safe and secure.

Hornit dB140 Bike Horn £29.99 from Hornit.com The dB140 is the loudest cycle horn on the market, putting you in control of your safety by letting people know you’re there. It’s small, sleek, and enables you to alert distracted drivers and pedestrians to your presence. Featuring upgraded internal components and a brand-new Garmin style mount developed in collaboration with K-Edge, your dB140 is better than ever: rock solid on the bars, easy to remove, and interchangeable with other Garmin compatible devices.

Hornit Mini £17.99 available in 4 colours from Hornit.com The ultimate lights and sound effects and horn for children’s bikes and scooters. Loaded with 25 fun sounds including fire engine, police siren, motorbike, bike bell, and wolf, your child’s imagination will run wild. It also has 6 light settings including white, green, and flashing lights.

Hornit Children’s Helmet £34.99 from Hornit.com Painstakingly designed to look stylish & fun (or quietly understated in the case of Stealth!), they are fully adjustable, comfortable, lightweight, and actually, something children will want to wear. They will also love the integrated LED which is an added safety feature. With a range of colourful helmets, Hornit help stop children from arguing about putting their helmets on. With 15 designs to choose from everyone will be happy.

Hornit Airo Balance Bike £139 available in 6 colours from Hornit.com Made from a super lightweight, ultra-hard-wearing magnesium alloy, at 2.95kg this balance bike is levitating light, helping reduce injuries, falls, and accidents. The super-strong balance bike helps children concentrate on balancing and therefore helps them learn to ride much quicker than starting on stabilisers.  With a lifetime guarantee, Hornit is confident the bike is here to last.

For more information visit Hornit.com

Posted in family, healthy living, lifestyle

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How To Buy Less Jewellery & Why You Should!*

12th July 2022
Photo by luisana galicia on Unsplash

Regular readers of the blog will know that we’ve spoken about buying jewellery before. The actual process of going out and buying the items can be harder than you think, which is why we’ve spoken about tips to help you out in previous posts. 

However, today’s post will focus on something slightly different. Instead of tips to help you buy jewellery, we’re going to look at ways to help you cut down on buying these items. Why? Well, let’s answer that question first, before jumping into the tips!

Why should you buy less jewellery?

Firstly, it can help you save a load of money if you cut down on the jewellery pieces you buy! Rings and necklaces can be expensive, particularly if you want to get good quality ones. In fact, it’s worse when you buy the cheap stuff because it’s so cheap you don’t think twice about buying loads. In the end, you’ve spent a mini fortune on small items that really don’t need to be purchased. 

Nevertheless, the main reason to cut down on your jewellery purchases is the environment. It costs a lot of natural resources to make jewellery, so if everyone keeps buying loads of the stuff, it increases the demand to mine for precious gems and stones. Overall, this harms the environment and we should try to cut down – just like we should cut down on fast fashion. 

How can you buy less jewellery?

You’ve seen the why, now for the how. How can you start buying fewer jewellery items? Well, it requires a great deal of mental fortitude, but it can be done. Here are some tips: 

Focus on meaningful items

Instead of just buying anything to go with any outfit, focus on only buying a small handful of meaningful items of jewellery. Something like a pendant with a special stone in it or someone’s picture can mean so much to you. You can get some of the best Claddagh rings that symbolise love and togetherness, adding more sentimental value to the item. The idea is to purchase things that actually mean something to you. This way, you stop buying loads of small pieces that end up discarded in your jewellery box after wearing them once. Your meaningful items will stay with you for a long time!

Take care of your current items

A big reason people keep buying the same jewellery is that their old stuff breaks. You had a nice ring or set of earrings, but they slowly started becoming chipped and damaged. The earrings had pieces breaking, so you couldn’t wear them anymore. This type of thing happens all the time, meaning you have to go out and spend more money replacing the items. 

Instead, you could just take better care of everything. As a general rule, stop wearing your jewellery in the shower. Even if it is technically safe to do so, water can damage most metals – especially cheap jewellery. The metal starts to corrode and peel off, leaving you with a damaged piece that needs to be replaced. Similarly, stop wearing things to bed. Earrings can definitely break while you sleep, so ensure you take things off and leave them in a safe place to avoid any damage. Therefore, everything lasts for longer and you don’t require constant replacements!

Invest in high-quality pieces

As with most fashion items you buy, it is often better to get expensive things than cheap things. Why? Well, as mentioned earlier, cheap things don’t last for a very long time. They’re easy to break and can deteriorate quicker than it takes you to recite the alphabet. So, what seems like a money-saving purchase ends up costing more because you’re constantly rebuying the same thing again and again. 

You bought a £20 ring, but it barely lasts a few months of regular wear, so you end up buying another after half a year, then replacing it again after six more months. In five years, you may have spent close to £300 on cheap rings. If you spent this much on a good ring initially, you can almost guarantee it would last for years, possibly even decades. It can be daunting to buy expensive jewellery, but if the quality is there, it is definitely worth it. 

We should all make more conscious decisions to reduce the jewellery we buy, slowing down the industry and saving the planet. It can be difficult, but these three tips show that it isn’t that hard to do if you are strong enough!

Posted in jewellery

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