July 2013 | Mum In The Madhouse

July 2013

Savory Scones

My mum was an amazing cook and baker and growing up our home was filled with the smell of cooking and baking.  She cooked everything from scratch including bread and biscuits.  One of my favorite things that she baked was her savory scones.  She could whip them up in 10 minutes flat and always said

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Securing Your Family’s Finances

Securing Your Family’s Finances
You are your family’s protector. So it is important that you manage your family’s finances wisely. There are many risks and challenges in today’s economy, so how do you maximise your family’s financial security? Here we offer some of the best advice that has stood the test of time.
Check Your Debts
Debt is money lost. Now while some debt might be useful, like a mortgage, other debts are bad especially if interest rates are high. Check every source of debt, and find out if you can pay it down or get a better rate. In some cases debt consolidation can lower what you pay in the long run. Here are some options for paying off your debts.
Balance Your Budget
Sit down with your spouse and review all your expenditures. Do you really need an expensive triple latte every morning? Can you buy bargain brands instead of name brands? Remember, sometimes the easiest way to make money is to save it. Once you identify the fat, then trim it and keep it trimmed. A yearly budget review keeps your spending in line and avoids waste.
Pension Plans
The next step is to find out if your company has a pension scheme. If they do they will make contributions that match or partially match your contributions. This is a guaranteed return that you must take advantage of. Also, study what the scheme is investing in, and find out if you can make personal modifications. Remember that soon, workers will be automatically enrolled into a workplace pension scheme.
If you are self-employed or if your employer does not have a pension scheme then you can still save with an Individual Savings Account (ISA). You can contribute up to £11,520 a year into the account, and all returns are tax free. There are different options that you can choose from including a simple cash savings ISA or a stocks and bond version. In any case, the tax break is money in the bank so start an account as soon as you can.
Insurance Issues
Now while all of this trimming and saving is important, you also must take unforeseen risks into account. What will happen if you get sick or injured unexpectedly? What if you die? In these cases disability and life insurance should be in place. Even though these are expenses, your family’s financial future should be secured in the event that something goes wrong.
There is one case, however, where insurance can be an investment vehicle. Whole life insurance is where you are the owner of the policy until you die. All money that was contributed to the policy grows tax free. After fees and commissions are removed, the remaining cash is added to the death benefit. Some policies even allow you to borrow or withdraw from your insurance account. Find out more by reviewing policies at Compare The Market.
Other Investments
If you are fortunate to have some cash to spare, then you should consider other investments such as precious metals, real estate or stocks. The best advice is to diversify, but you can focus on certain areas that interest you. Educate yourself as much as possible about the markets and their risks. Financial advisors cost money, but if you don’t have the time to do the research it might be worth hiring an advisor.
Buying a home is usually a good investment as well. First of all you get to live in it, and you can borrow against it if necessary. Later, as you age, you can sell it and move into a smaller property.
Re-evaluate As You Age
Your savings goals will change as you get older. As you approach retirement age you should gradually move your investments into more stable vehicles. For example, your company pension scheme might start out heavily in stocks, but as you get older move it into stable cash. While cash certainly can lose its worth, it is less likely to plunge in value as quickly as a stock.
You can also look into a Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) which gives you greater control over your investments. If you have been doing your homework over the years, then you should feel comfortable steering your own investment ship as your working years wind down.
Conclusion
The world economy has become extremely challenging. Nevertheless, there are still ways that you can fireproof your family’s finances. It is important to have a plan, stick to it and live within your means.

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Postcards from Butlins – Day one and a competition

Win an iPad, Wii U, iPad Mini or iPod Touch with Butlins

Butlins are call for all bloggers to tell them about a special childhood holiday memory that still makes you smile and you could be in with the chance of winning one of these 4 prizes: An iPad, WiiU, iPad Mini or iPod Touch.

Once you have thought about which childhood holiday was most memorable to you, all you need to do is write and post on your blog a short description and conclude the entry with the end line “Competition sponsored by Butlins Holiday Parks, helping your family make memories.” Then email us at blogcomp@butlins.com with link to your blog entry to let them know!

How to enter

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Sunderland International Airshow 2013 – a view from the sea

We adore the Sunderland International Airshow and it is something we have visited every year with the boys since returning to the North East. However, this year MadDad and MIni had the opportunity to view the airshow from a different perspective. They took the DFDS Sunderland Airshow Sailout, which costs £15 for children and £30 for adults and includes a three course lunch too.

The sailout is such a popular event that it often sells out early and we were lucky enough to receive our tickets via the press office.

The trip at a glance

10:30-11:00 Check-in and board the ship. Boarding will take place at 11am
11:30 Ferry leaves port for Sunderland. You have a three course buffet lunch.
12:20 Ferry arrives at viewing point off Seaburn and Roker
14:00 Ferry leaves Sunderland for voyage back to port
15:00 Ferry arrives back into port. All passengers disembark
MadDad’s Review

You are guided to a free car park as you enter the Port of Tyne and then are shown where to exchange your ticket for boarding pases and board the ship. Once onboard you have the freedom of the ship and we decided to go for our lunch, which was a three course buffet style meal. Both Mini and I enjoyed the food, although we did find the drinks rather expensive (which are the only extras you have to pay for).

The boat dropped anchor off shore at 12.20 and we found a place on the deck to watch the Red Arrows who were opening this years airshow. It was hot on deck and I was glad that we had took sunscreen and hats. Although there was 500 people onboard the ship didn’t feel crowded and there was plenty of room to find a vantage point.

Watching from the sea gave a whole new perspective on the airshow. The planes were closer and we had super views and really enjoyed our day. There was people of all ages on board the ship from families with small children and older couples. You avoid all the traffic and queues getting out of Sunderland.

The only negatives were that the day was far too short and we didn’t get to see all the days flights and also the drinks were more expensive than I anticipated. Saying that we will be looking at booking tickets for next year for the whole family.

Mini’s Review

I was really excited to be going on a special trip with just Daddy. I love planes and have lots of models at home and the airshow is one of my favorite things to go and see. I have never been on a ferry as big as the one I went on, which was called the King Seaways. The food was gorgeous and the carrots were my favorite part of the meal.

After the meal we went to get a drink of slush as it was very hot on the deck. I was excited to see the red arrows and they surprised me by being so close and it felt like they nearly skimmed the funnel of the ship. We also saw Misdemeanor (a Hawker Hunter), which I have seen before and could tell it was her by the colours she is painted.

We also watched two helicopters that did lots of tricks and they were absolutely class. I was a little upset to have to set off back before we saw the Typhoon. I wish the trip had been longer and I would love to go next year with all the family.

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No screens after 6pm #screenfree

We are also trying to reduce our dependance on screens for those I am boarded moments whilst waiting for food to be served or waiting in queses with small games and have recently been sent Dobble from Esdevium Games, which is a card game and the perfect size for keeping in my bag. It is a card game, which is based on the concept of snap and needs, speed, good observation and super fast reflexes. You can play up to five different mini games from the one tin of 55 cards (which are circular) and is a great game for all ages and is currently less than £10.

What are your favorite screen free pastimes?

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Moving Tips for Fort Worth, Texas

Moving Tips for Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas consistently makes its way onto “Best American Cities” lists, and for good reason. The city of 770,000 is home to several major employers, including Lockheed Martin, American Airlines, FUNimation Entertainment and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. Fort Worth’s cost of living is 10 percent below the national median, so it is an affordable city in which to build a career and raise a family. As part of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, you have access to excellent schools, restaurants, culture and recreation. Whether you want to root for the Dallas Cowboys or attend “Don Giovanni” at the Fort Worth Opera, there is something in Fort Worth for everyone.
When moving to Fort Worth, there are several things to keep in mind. Your list will be different depending on whether you are a rambling family aiming to stay in Fort Worth for just a year or two, or a family hoping to lay down permanent roots in the city. However, regardless of your length of stay, you still need to find homes, schools and methods of employment.
Housing in Fort Worth
There are as many options for family housing in Fort Worth as there are families. Choose a downtown apartment or a suburban rental. Fans of older houses and historic architecture will find multiple options in Fort Worth’s Hi Mount neighborhood.
However, for a rambling family, there are other options you won’t want to overlook. Consider doing a house trade with another family, or providing housesitting and grounds keeping services for people who are away from their homes for several months. With the Naval base on site, Fort Worth has more than its share of families and individuals with short-term military assignments; look for opportunities to provide service to service members by maintaining their homes.
If you’re looking for a space to store your belongings while you ramble, invest in a local storage unit from Uncle Bob’s. They provide units as small as 5 by 5 feet and is a great way to store belongings that you don’t need for a few months.
Education and Schools
The Fort Worth Independent School District includes many Gold Seal Schools of Choice. There are also a number of private and parochial schools in the area. For homeschoolers, Fort Worth includes numerous homeschool groups as well as a yearly homeschool prom. Whatever your education choice, you and your family are certain to find the options you need.
Employment
Between corporate headquarters, such as Lockheed Martin and Radio Shack, and local bookstores, coffee shops and art galleries, there are employment options for everyone. Fort Worth’s unemployment rate is 6%, nearly half that of other urban areas like Los Angeles; Fort Worth is a city committed to finding work for all its citizens.
If you’re a rambling family, look for short-term temporary work or freelance contracts in writing, animation or web design. The Creative Group is a great resource for finding these types of jobs in Fort Worth.
As you prepare to move, don’t forget basic travel tips for families: drive in short spurts, take breaks often and make sure every day includes something fun. Check out Family Rambling’s trip to Fort Worth’s Cultural District for more ideas of what to do when you arrive in town, and enjoy your move!

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Cut the rope Toys review

They received a plush cut the rope OmNom that makes the cut the rope noise, which Mini really loved. As it is a circle the boys took to throwing it at each other and it wasn’t long before Alvin decided that this must be his new toy. This is around £9.99 and has been a big hit with any of the many children that come through my house.

We were also sent a joke book (RRP £4.99). My boys who are now seven and eight really love and understand jokes. This book has been well thumbed and has 64 pages of age appropriate jokes. It is a super book for any reluctant reader and prepare yourself to be inundated with jokes.

We were sent a comic, which is a monthly publication and is £3.99. I find childrens comics quite pricey, but this did have a lot of content and was also filled with puzzles posters, experiments and also things to make and do, so Maxi enjoyed it and as always the boys love the freebies that you get on the front of childrens comics and magazines. This edition came with a small book and pen and some cut the rope stickers.

We were also sent a doodle book, which I actually nabbed to put in the boys summer activity packs for the car. This is £5.99 and is filled with activities including dot to dots and mazes (which are Maxi’s favorite).

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