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mummyconqueringanxiety
I am mummy to one feisty toddler and wife to a wonderful man, living in the North of England, UK and making it a priority to enjoy life every second we get to spend together as a family.
You will usually find me writing, anything from lists to blog posts, and excited by stationery - show me your post-its!
Following my recent breakdown, I believe talking about our struggles is the key to recovery. I started the blog because I felt compelled to share my story & my main goal is to help other people.
Let’s explore why you should choose Oldham for your UK Family Getaway
Source: Pixabay CC0 License
When you have a young family, domestic vacations are often far more attractive than going abroad. However, choosing the right destination is an essential part of the process. After all, it will provide the platform to build the perfect getaway. When looking for somewhere that isn’t the obvious choice like London, Brighton, or a holiday park. Oldham could be the hidden gem you’re looking for, when selecting your UK Family Getaway.
Here are just five reasons why it can make an excellent choice.
#1. Family Friendly Activities
When taking a trip with young children, your main goal is to ensure that they have a great team. Oldham has several brilliant places to take kids. So, you will not struggle to keep them entertained regardless of their ages or personalities. Crucially, there is a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, meaning even bad weather won’t dampen your spirits.
Many family-friendly places like Bounce and Daisy Nook Country Park offer plenty of fun for adults too. It instantly gives Oldham an advantage over many other places.
#2. Cheap Accommodation
Good accommodation makes a world of difference to any vacation, especially when you travel with kids. A quick look at hotels in the town of Oldham shows that you can find a well-located, affordable, and comfortable solution with ease. The majority include free WiFi, which is virtually an essential feature when you have young children too.
Alternatively, several Airbnb properties can be rented for a short period. Either way, you won’t struggle to find privacy and comfort at a fair price.
Shall we get into more reasons why you should choose Oldham for your UK Family Getaway?
#3. It’s educational
Enjoying a short break with the family will always be the top item on your agenda. Nonetheless, any opportunity to educate your children and enrich their minds should be grabbed with both hands. Oldham was once the cotton-spinning capital of the world. Learning about the Royd Mill and other key buildings is highly insightful. For kids and adults.
The gallery runs exhibitions. Meanwhile, the Coliseum Theatre is a stunning building that can open conversations about the history of the arts in this country. Perfect.
#4. Great Location
Oldham itself has plenty to offer. When spending a week or longer in the town, though, you may want to explore surrounding places. Thankfully, Manchester is very close. Your family could easily venture into Huddersfield or Leeds in Yorkshire too. Worth Valley Railway is only around 25 miles away too. This would make a fantastic excursion for train lovers.
Moreover, Oldham’s location offers good access to most parts of the UK too. This is true regardless of whether you travel by car or rail.
#5. It’s Unique
Nothing is wrong with visiting the UK’s various holiday parks, but trips can blend into one. Likewise, major city trips tend to follow a similar itinerary even if the attractions are slightly different. Visiting Oldham allows you to embrace the town while also enjoying treks and nature. Furthermore, it is easy to tailor the adventures to your desires.
Perhaps best of all, you will actively enjoy the adventures together rather than separating to do your things. As such, magical memories are guaranteed.
Final thoughts
Did you enjoy reading about all the wonderful things going on in Oldham and why it’s great for a UK Family Getaway?
I came across this book when visiting the Bradford Literature Festival. I saw Horatio speak about the book and why he wrote it. I was intrigued. I signed up for the session because I had experienced my own mental health struggles. And honestly, I am all for people with a prominent voice speaking out against the stigma surrounding mental health.
Let’s have a look at the blurb
A story of the wonder and intensity of the manic experience, as well as its peril and strangeness, it is shot through with the love, kindness, humour and care of those who deal with someone who becomes dangerously ill. Partly a tribute to those who looked after Horatio, from family and friends to strangers and professionals, and partly an investigation into how we understand and treat acute crises of mental health, Heavy Light’s beauty, power and compassion illuminate a fundamental part of human experience. It asks urgent questions about mental health that affect each and every one of us.
Based on my experiences and my awareness that people with privilege are often able to access better health services (this goes for all health services and not just mental health). I was dubious about reading an account of mental health struggles from a well-known journalist.
To clarify, I am thankful people with status speak out – it’s needed. And I would NEVER diminish someone else’s mental health struggles – because mental health problems do not discriminate. It can happen to anyone – it doesn’t matter how much money you have in the bank or how big your house is. But it DOES matter that people may receive fair treatment regardless of their circumstances.
Privilege addressed in the book
Horatio himself addresses privilege and talks honestly about his situation compared to people in other circumstances. The latter part of the book also discusses possible treatments and outcomes for mental illness, with some great suggestions for alternative therapies and up-and-coming strategies for addressing mental health.
Why I ended up loving the book
Although I was dubious at first, I ended up loving the book. So much that I stayed up way too late reading endless pages. Just to find out more about Haratio’s journey.
The main themes I loved the most:
Impact on family
The book explores the huge impact that Haratio’s erratic behaviour had on his family. And their worries about managing his mental health moving forward. This rings true for so many people out there. Ultimately, if you had a broken leg, the people closest to you would pick up the tasks you were unable to do. The same applies to mental health. When someone is unable to function, because of their mind, it’s usually family and friends who protect and look after you.
Discussions about mental health with children
Because I was mentally ill during pregnancy and with the pressure of becoming a new mother, it was inevitable that I would have to discuss this with my child. Although she’s young, we are always honest with her about things. And we always will be. Explaining that Mummy sometimes has things going on in her mind. Therefore, she needs a rest and some downtime. These discussions are something we do regularly.
I wrote previously about toddler emotions. Kids pick up intuitively on more than we realise. And they always seem to know when something is wrong or you need a hug. Don’t underestimate their understanding. And as a parent or carer, consider being honest about your struggles. And about emotions and life in general.
The science
The science behind mental health problems is something widely debated. And it has impacted the treatment I received from day one. For example, the doctor was understandably reluctant to prescribe anti-depressants. But when I actually looked into the studies behind taking them, the data was inconclusive.
There literally is no right answer to what impacts an individual’s mental health. Everyone is different and therefore impacted differently. The book explores this in great detail and provides a balanced argument for studies and therapies available.
Summary
I hope you enjoyed my review of the book. If you want to check it out, click the links below:
I started this blog in August 2021, because I felt compelled to share my story with other people. Going through challenging circumstances, naturally makes you assess how resilient you really are. I was in a dark place at the time, social media and talking about my experiences really helped me. And I knew it would help other people.
Talking about your experiences could make someone feel less alone. I am now accepting mental health guest posts. I would love to help other people get their message out there – to the people who need it most.
Let’s explore – Topics To Get You Started In Talking About Your Mental Health
Everyone has a unique experience
I hope other people never experience the darkness of anxiety or depression. However, the reality is, that we may all experience challenging circumstances in life. There will be times when our stress bucket fills up and there needs to be an outlet. A healthy amount of anxiety is a natural defence mechanism. And in small amounts, it can keep us safe. But it’s when the balance tips that the problems begin.
Talking helps
It is no secret that talking to other people can help with our mental health. There has been amazing research on the power of community groups and connecting with our peers.
One main lesson I’ve taken from starting my blogs is that we can speak out – to help other people. But we may never know about the great impact this has. We don’t need to know. The purpose of kindness and empathy is to give it out. Not to measure the effect you had on someone’s life. Just know – that by talking honestly about your own story, you may positively impact someone else. You could even quietly save a life.
Sam – Mummy Conquering Anxiety Blog
Let’s dive into the topics you could talk about, to start a conversation which may help other people
The symptoms of your mental illness
Everyone is different. And like all other ailments, both physical and mental problems impact individuals differently. Talking about the symptoms you face, could help you relate to other people out there. Whi might also be experiencing the same thing as you.
Every person is different and no mental health diagnosis will impact people in the same way. Writing about what you personally do to stay well, despite your struggles, could help inspire someone else to adopt well-being tools.
Your mental health goals & aspirations
Because my mental breakdown was triggered by pregnancy, work stress and becoming a new mother, all of these factors are something I personally worry about. Overcoming this adversity and worry has proved to be a massive hurdle for me. But worth the work.
Often great life goals can be borne from the toughest of life circumstances. Writing about how you formulated these goals can be liberating. And it will definitely help other people.
Want more Topics To Get You Started In Talking About Your Mental Health?
Your daily & weekly self-care routine
We should ALL have a self-care routine. Despite what society tells us, it’s important. We look after ourselves physically but often neglect the mental health we should preserve and nurture.
Sharing what you do daily or weekly, to look after your mind can inspire other people to look after theirs. Or adopt some of your routines, which could prove to be life-changing for them.
An example from my own life was persevering with a Hypnotherapy course. Agreeing to start it was completely out of my comfort zone and some days, I was simply too busy to set aside time for the Zoom calls. But it was worth it. And I am now well versed in meditation, so much so that a quick 5-minute meditation recording really helps.
Life changes you’ve made to help your mental health
It’s a fact of life that we sometimes need to make significant changes in order to help our health. In the same way that you would eat less sugar if you were diabetic. Or you would pursue a course of physiotherapy after a severe physical injury. Sometimes we have to make changes to our lives to protect our mental health.
Sharing some of the life changes you might have made, with other people, may help them to start putting changes in place. Or start to think about the possibility of doing so. There is power in this.
Final Thoughts
One main lesson I’ve taken from starting my blogs is that we can speak out – to help other people. But we may never know about the great impact this has. We don’t need to know. The purpose of kindness and empathy is to give it out. Not to measure the effect you had on someone’s life. Just know – that by talking honestly about your own story, you may positively impact someone else. You could even quietly save a life.
With Christmas approaching, it’s the perfect time to introduce you to our family T-shirt brand—designs lovingly created. We hope you love them as much as we do.
Sustainable Clothing Items For Christmas Gifts…
Let’s talk about the sustainability element
We picked a platform where sustainability was at the forefront of making the products. And the quality in designs and wearability is there. Everything is made from organic materials, using renewable energy. We must all start doing our bit for the environment and it starts small.
Why we started the family business
Who doesn’t love sustainable Clothing Items For Christmas Gifts? Welcome to Roaring Pumpkin Tees. Since experiencing a mental breakdown in 2021, I have made it my mission to share my story, with honesty, to raise awareness of mental health struggles.
My first blog Mummy Conquering Anxiety began when I had an overwhelming feeling I had to start talking about my experience.
THE DIFFERENCE – this is a family project…
If you follow my first, second and third blogs, you will know I refer to my toddler as ‘little pumpkin’. And oh my – she is fierce, feisty, and sassy! Just like her mummy. This business is dedicated to my very own roaring pumpkin. I made her. I’m proud of her. May she always go out into the world and conquer it.
Ready to take on the roaring pumpkin spirit? Check out our lovingly made designs…
Shall we get into the lovely products we’ve created for you all
You never know the struggle someone is facing. I hid my anxiety condition for 15 years. People sometimes feel ashamed to reveal their true feelings or struggles. Therefore, I want everyone to wear the message – Be Kind.
Being Kind can have a massive impact, which you will probably never know about. A kind word or gesture could literally save someone’s life.
Love really does make the world go round. And it was love from family, friends and complete strangers on the internet, that got me through my mental breakdown.
Be kind, make connections, and express love. You won’t regret it!
I kept myself closed for years. But opening myself up, and stepping out of my comfort zone, was the best thing I ever did.
This lovely bear was drawn by my toddler, spruced up a bit using my hubby’s technical skills and brought to life by the skills I’ve self-taught as a blogger.
I tell my little one about having limited channels on the TV. VHS movies, DVD players. She’s had a tablet for a few years, with access to an Amazon & Disney+ subscription. So she doesn’t really understand the struggle.
GUEST POST – Author Bio – Tips on living Live Your Best – Most Positive Life
Hello from me, my blog is GAWD, Generalised Anxiety and Worry Diaries.
On the surface, I’m your average forty-something mum, with two kids, a husband, and a dog. Giving off the impression that life is effortless. But scratch that surface and you’ll find that I’m harbouring a secret power, I am in fact – Super Anxious Brummie Mummy! It’s a title I take very seriously. I can spend hours agonising over the stupidest of things. I meal-plan weeks in advance, make endless lists, set thousands of reminders, and have online shops booked in for over a month. Super anxious mum has all bases covered, she’s got fingers in every anxiety-inducing pie.
GAWD is a place where I serve you up some regular ramblings from me and my bonkers, anxious brain. Some of it is not that easy to stomach, gawd no. Some bites could give the Norovirus a run for its money. Some of you will relate, some of you will laugh out loud, and I’m guessing that some of you will run for the hills. But that’s what it’s all about. Having those difficult conversations, in the hope that those affected, will reach out. I’m a mental health mentor and young person’s mental health advocate. I’m a MSc psychology grad, so I’ll throw in a teeny bit of science into the pot, to help us make sense of things.
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
It’s getting dark by 4.30 pm, the mornings are gothic and misty. The long, hot, sunny days are fading into a distant memory. With winter firmly on the horizon, you’d be forgiven for losing that positive outlook on life. Winter blues are a real thing. Especially for anxious souls like me. Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat. Please will someone put a nice big dose of positivity in my bobble hat? Isn’t that how the old rhyme goes? Well fear not, I have devised a clever strategy to help us all, even the seasonally affected folk, to start feeling that festive cheer and pack away that negative bleurgh.
Festive? Cheers…
At the time of writing this, I was dusting off the Halloween decorations, getting the sparklers out for bonfire night, and starting to think about the big ‘X’ (festive celebration, starts with X and ends with ‘mas). I don’t know about you, but it kind of feels like the moment that the children go back to school, after the summer holidays, life ramps up ten gears.
If only it was a slow burn into Autumn, revving up to Christmas. But oh no, it’s stress-o’clock from the get-go. It’s so busy, it’s like our fixed calendar celebrations and holidays are setting us up for a fail. Then January hits and it’s all quiet on the western front, with only the most depressing day of the year to look forward to.
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Tips on living Live Your Best – Most Positive Life – CONTINUED
Plus there’s life’s daily demands and those curve snowballs, for instance; navigating the freezing school run, endless amounts of laundry, wardrobe changeover, what to cook for dinner, and salads are officially out. (Not that my kids thought they were in.)
My LATEST gift guide – including fall home decor to bring in the season in style! & a few Christmas gifts
It doesn’t help that I gave birth to my children in the Autumn months. I mean, I should have really mapped out the old gestation calendar a bit better. I always say I’m not going mad, we’ll keep the kids’ parties simple. Cut to – headless chicken-style party planning with the end result resembling a Hollywood-esque style, grand affair. Sixteen party favours per bag, bubble teas being produced at a rate of knots, icing cupcakes until two in the morning. I do jest, I love making the kids happy. But I feel like anxiety adds pressure to my plate that’s kind of unhelpful. An inner push-me-pull-me scenario. Is this good enough? Am I good enough? Push, push, push and break.
Bee positive
So short of moving Halloween to January, or home-schooling the kids, (not gonna happen). I feel the need to post some guidelines on how to not lose your mind get through the busiest of seasons and most importantly stay on a positive tip. But what do I mean? You can say “bee positive” and all of those other lovely little phrases, but it’s hard when you’re faced with life’s trials to actually grasp what it means to be and more importantly, stay positive. Sometimes it feels so much easier to focus on the bad things in our lives, you know. Especially those who suffer from anxiety, spiralling in and out of negative thoughts. And the culprit? I present to you, cortisol. This little firecracker is a chemical in the brain which increases when we’re on a negative tip. It’s the body’s reaction to stress or a threat.
Walking risk assessments
Negative thoughts are essentially threats to our system. Being prone to negativity is not a new thing for humans. Many moons ago, being on guard and looking out for risks, with high levels of cortisol running through our veins, was essential for survival in an unsafe world. Now we live in a safe(ish) world. Unfortunately, it just so happens that anxiety disorders can make us feel like those poor old cavemen and women. Like we are in imminent danger, every second of every day.
Anxiety and negativity do have their positives, even in these modern times. Anxious, negative thinkers often catastrophize thoughts and think of the worst-case scenarios, thus avoiding potential drama. We’re able to spot where helpful changes could be made in our lives, so we make great leaders. Negativity could save a life, anxious people make great risk assessors. We’re also fab realists to have around. So make sure you keep us on your Christmas card list.
Life changer
There are times though, that negativity needs to take a back seat. To make way for positivity and raise those levels of dopamine and serotonin – the happy chemicals. It’s not just about being happy-go-lucky little cheeky chappies, it’s so much more than that. Those with optimistic outlooks are said to live healthier, more fruitful, and enjoyable lives. I think one study said that optimistic women live on average 4.4 years longer! 4.4 years folks! There is an indirect relationship between optimism and adopting a healthier lifestyle, thus extending time on this sweet planet. I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. “Time is our most precious commodity.”
Happy little pictures
So how do we go about living our best positive lives? I decided that rather than grand red letter day-type positivity excursions. (They were all out of hot air balloon rides in Surrey.) I’d go about identifying the small everyday wins. I set about conducting a small-scale experiment. To post daily pics on my Instagram. account – Super Anxious Brummie Mummy! What better way to document the small wins than by the power of photography? There’s nothing like an uplifting or funny picture to lift the spirits. Plus those little hits of joy were exactly the bursts of dopamine and serotonin my body needed to counter the negativity.
Now I’m going to lie, it wasn’t easy. Some days I was racking my brain thinking, “What on Earth is a winner from today’s s**t show?” And worse than that, anxiety and cortisol were fighting against my small wins and trying to cloud them with negativity. Brain, why do you test me so?!? On other days, small wins smacked me right in the kisser. They took on exciting new forms, like, finding joy at the loo seat being clean and put down, or watching my dog, a most excellent, furry bullet squirrel chaser. I did some real soul-searching. This process, for me, has really proved that, where there is darkness, there’s also light. Yep, it was also National Poetry Week, I had a go at poetry. I liked it = small win.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Books to help you on your positivity journey:
By confronting negativity head-on and finding the positive within a negative, I was adopting the ‘negative bounce’ method. Real bonafide psychologists have coined this fun term, (Tugade, 2004). Also, it turns out that I am not only countering negativity and becoming more positive. I’m building resilience to future negative events. Because guys, headliners – ‘life is full of these ups and downs.’
Tips on Living Live Your Best – Most Positive Life. Other top small wins and negative bounces:
Bee rescue, I saved a bee from a spiderweb. This is even after my unfortunate encounter in the summer, where one travelled up my trouser leg and stung me twice! Overcoming fears and wildlife rescue. I mean, it’s all there, right?
In future, when someone is asking me to “Bee positive ” I’ve a good mind to tell them to “buzz off!” I’m doing just fine without a winged stinger of a phrase to keep my chin up. I am, of course, joking, who doesn’t love a little positivity meme? I’m just trying to drum home that positivity is in the eye of the beholder. But do remember negativity has its place, it’s how we manage stressful situations and protect ourselves. It’s learning how best to bat those thoughts away when they become unhelpful, that’s the key
gawd blog founder
Not lost my stuff because a coffee pot lid had been left off, so when I went to use it it fell open and sprayed coffee everywhere. I laughed. That is a small win right there. (Big win for others in my house you might argue.)
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Want more money-saving tips – you can check out my money-saving hacks page:
Celebration that I can keep a plant alive, not just any old plant. My child’s bonsai tree is notoriously difficult to care for. Small win. I would move that to big wins, but let’s see if it’s still alive in a few months.
Capturing a very large spider in a glass and setting it free. I’m petrified of the hairy beasts. But the kids were fascinated and we had fun looking at its gorgeous fangs… We named him Derek Gordon. (8-year-old son’s choice.)
And do you know looking back and seeing all of those small wins documented, is an affirmation that I am ok. I’m happy with my lot. In future, when someone is asking me to “Bee positive ” I’ve a good mind to tell them to “buzz off!” I’m doing just fine without a winged stinger of a phrase to keep my chin up. I am, of course, joking, who doesn’t love a little positivity meme? I’m just trying to drum home that positivity is in the eye of the beholder. But do remember negativity has its place, it’s how we manage stressful situations and protect ourselves. It’s learning how best to bat those thoughts away when they become unhelpful, that’s the key. Right, back to Instagram.
TTFN.
A final word from MCA founder, Sam:
I hope you enjoyed reading this fab guest post – Tips on living Live Your Best – Most Positive Life
Learning the tools for managing stress is easier than ever these days. There are so many resources out there, but those who are obsessed with finding wellness tools to combat their anxiety may inadvertently be suffering from a different type of anxiety. Overthinking is a mental loop that can be paralysing and affects many different aspects of life. When we overthink our decisions, it will impact our well-being. So, if you are a chronic overthinker, let’s explore some invaluable resources that can help you dial it down.
Limiting Stimulants
Some people can benefit from slowing down. Changing your state sends a signal to your brain that you need to be calmer. It’s not as easy as telling yourself that you need to slow down but about sending those signals on a regular basis. Sometimes we need to ease ourselves into a slower pace by limiting our stimulant intake. Alcohol and caffeine can kick our overthinking into high gear. Reducing the consumption of stimulants can help calm the mind and alleviate the mental loop of overthinking. Understand your caffeine limits, but also look at products such as medical cannabis and CBD oil. Learning to change our state is key because when we make that conscious decision to slow down, our body and mind will eventually come to match it.
Journaling
For many, writing down thoughts and worries is very cathartic. When we start to make regular notes about times when we’re overthinking, we will come to recognise certain patterns. When we see our overthinking stems from conflict with a certain person or a certain situation, we can then look at this on paper and take an objective view of the situation because it was not part of our consciousness at the time. This is particularly effective if you find yourself overwhelmed at home. If you find yourself in conflicting situations or a disagreement with a spouse makes you very stressed, taking the steps to write down your thoughts on the situation and having a pragmatic approach to your thinking can help you stop yourself from overthinking in the future when you encounter the same type of situation.
Regular Relaxation Practices
The importance of learning how to relax cannot be overstated. If you have an overactive mind, understanding the triggers is one thing, but as we’ve already touched upon, changing your state will also give you better control over how you feel. We have to remember that overthinking is linked with stress and anxiety. This, in turn, is the body’s reaction to a situation, even if it’s not particularly stressful. We all have that inbuilt fight-or-flight response, so having those moments throughout the day where you can focus on your breathing, even if for a couple of minutes, or engage in progressive muscle relaxation, as well as techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve, can be vital.
If you find yourself overthinking, you may need to go for a combination of these tools and tactics. If you are a chronic overthinker, you are not alone. It could be a persistent challenge, but with the right tools, you can break the cycle and recognise that overthinking is detrimental because it stops you from being present. When you are present in the moment, you won’t stress, and you will get so much more out of life.
Halloween is one of the most magical times for many of us. Whether you have fond memories of trick-or-treating as a child. Enjoy donning your fancy dress outfits for a night out on the town or prefer to stay inside sipping a PSL, it’s always guaranteed to be lots of fun.
However, the holidays seem to become more heavily commercialised with every year that passes. New trends are always popping up around this season. Which tend to be bigger, better and usually, more expensive.
Enjoy a low buy Halloween and autumnal season without the pressure to spend excessively by using these three tips…
Here comes your Low Spend Guide to Halloween
Opt for activities instead of items
The supermarket aisles are filled to the brim with seasonal items during October. If you’re trying to reduce the overwhelm, steer clear of the temptation to buy, and focus on planning activities instead.
Some low-spend ideas to get you in the mood for the change of seasons could include:
Rotating your wardrobe, bringing out your comfiest jumpers and cosy socks, and storing your summer items away until next year
Taking a long woodland walk through the crunchy leaves
Binge-watching an autumnal TV series (If you haven’t seen Only Murders in the Building, this could be the perfect choice to watch it, whilst snuggled on the sofa!)
Get recipe testing
One of the best ways to embrace the colder evenings is to spend time perfecting a few tasty meals. Look out for new recipes to try which use seasonal ingredients. Such as butternut squash, mushrooms, pumpkin, apples or figs.
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Warming vegetable soups with crusty bread are always a huge hit at this time of year, or try something a little different, like a butternut squash risotto.
If you’ve got experience in the kitchen, you could even try a Halloween-themed dish, such as pumpkin gnocchi or ravioli. Another option is to create mini pizzas or pies in spooky shapes.
For the cosiest family dessert, try making mini smores using tea lights, or perhaps a chocolate fondue!
Another tip, coming up in the Low Spend Guide to Halloween
DIY your decor
Instead of purchasing lots of Halloween-themed decor that is likely to be stored away for the majority of the year, only to see the light of day for one month of the year. How about making your own decorations instead?
Paper decorations are super cheap to make. And can either be folded flat and stored for next year, or recycled.
If you have small children, try heading outside with a bag and collecting dried leaves to make your own leaf crafts and projects. This could include garlands, collages or even puppets!
Another thrifty option is to collect any old glass jars and decorate them to make colourful tea light holders. This is a simple upcycle that the whole family can enjoy, and it’s free too.
Avoid adding to the clutter, and get your craft on this season!
Author bio
Taryn runs a money and lifestyle blog called ‘Saving in London City’ and is on a mission to share the best money-saving tips, tricks and hacks. Taryn discusses the best ways to have fun on a budget today, whilst also saving towards long-term money goals for your future, such as a house deposit or dream holiday.
Being a parent is challenging, especially when it comes to raising kids. As the world evolves, you want your kids to be ready for the outside world when they become adults. You want them to be strong, enough to adapt to the complex landscape, technological advancement, and unforeseen challenges. As parents, you want the next generation to have the skills, mindset, and resilience to thrive in an uncertain future. If they can grow up feeling brave no matter their situation, you have done your job.
Let’s dive into Parenting: Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future
Quick note: Some of the links contained on this page are affiliate links and if you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. I only recommend products I use myself and think would be useful for other people.
Here are some things you should look out for when Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Shall we have some discount codes before we begin…
How to Secure Your Kids’ Future
Effective Communication
Communication is a difficult skill to master since adults struggle to master it, too. Without communication, you can’t understand the other person’s thoughts or wants. Kids are always curious more than adults, so you want to teach them how to express themselves clearly, actively listen, and collaborate with others. Without communication, how can your kids have good relationships with others? The reason why relationships are difficult to handle is because of poor communication skills. Raise your kids to express their thoughts confidently.
Embrace Challenges
Life isn’t perfect. There are many challenges and obstacles in life. As parents, you need to prepare your kids for the unknown future. You want your kids to be strong and face those challenges head-on. Help them see that a challenge is an exciting opportunity rather than something daunting. Even if they fail, you should cheer them on or encourage them that there will be a next time as the parent. By doing so, your kids can tackle a new and unfamiliar task in the future. This will help them to have a positive mindset and be problem solvers.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – If you want to get started with selling on Vinted – you can find tips & standard promo wording to use, in this blog post
Independence and Responsibility
Part of Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future is nurturing learning and growing, so you want to give them simple tasks to learn from. You can give them simple chores like making the bed, wiping the table, or folding clothes. Giving them age-appropriate chores will instil a sense of responsibility and independence. Slowly, you can give them difficult tasks to do so they can have strong work ethic and the ability to manage tasks effectively. If you spoil them all the time, they will never know what independence and responsibility is when they are adult.
Lifelong Learning
Most kids grow up thinking they don’t need to learn anymore after school. However, life is a journey full of the unknown. Your kids won’t know everything all the time. You want your kids always to be curious and keep questioning things about the world. Learning is not just confined to the classroom but a lifelong pursuit. Encourage your kids to explore various subjects so they can develop a habit of seeking information. Whether it’s dancing, singing, arts and crafts, or filming, your kids want to learn, encourage them to try and learn.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Parenting books to help you on your journey
Financial Literacy
Not many kids grow up knowing anything about money. You don’t have to teach them the complex things but the basics so they understand how money works. The earlier they learn, the better off they will be. Don’t spoil them by giving them money for free because they will never want to do anything. Life isn’t free, so they should know how hard it is to get money. Let them understand what hard work is and being paid to do a service.
FROM THE MCA BLOG – Want more money-saving tips – you can check out my money-saving hacks page:
Kids don’t know what being grateful is. When kids see what other kids have, they want it, too. Teaching your kids to be grateful is essential because it is the foundation of their emotional well-being. If you teach your kids to appreciate things, they will treasure what they have, not get entangled in materialism, and focus on contentment and personal growth.
Implement Healthy Habits
Teach your kids that health is a priority over anything else. Healthy habits are vital for kids and adults. Kids should get plenty of sleep, eat healthily, and stay active. With technology these days, kids don’t know what outside is. Don’t let them sit in the house, play video games, and watch YouTube all day. Create a schedule for them where they can stick to it. Kids should learn that health is an important factor in life and should not be ignored. By teaching them to make good choices, they will have a healthier lifestyle.
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Build Relationships
Having strong relationships with others is good for your children’s growth and well-being. In life, you can’t do everything by yourself. Teaching your kids to build healthy relationships by communicating effectively, resolving conflicts, and cooperating with others will lay the foundation for successful collaboration in the future. The world doesn’t revolve around just you but multiple people in the universe.
If you set an example, your kids will follow. You are the leader that should lead your kids with pride. Kids look up to their parents the most, so whatever you do, you will greatly influence them. Kids often learn through observation, so whenever they observe an adult’s behaviour, they will follow. Whatever morals, values, behaviours, and skills you want your kids to have, you must teach them when they are young. Slowly, they will develop and become the person you want them to be. If you become a role model for them, they will become role models for others.
Creativity and Innovation
Kids can be so creative sometimes. They think about things that not even adults know. As parents, you want to encourage your kids to follow their passions, think beyond conventional boundaries, and develop problem-solving abilities. By encouraging them, you empower them to be confident, independent thinkers better equipped to tackle the complexities and uncertainties of the future.
In Summary
Parenting: Preparing Your Kids for a Brighter Future – Think About Your Kids!
No matter how hard life can be, your teachings are important to your kids. As parents, caregivers, and educators, you play a huge part in your kids’ lives, so lead them by example. They are the next generation, so you want them to prepare for the unknown. Every parent wants what’s best for their kids. If you want your kids to live happier, more fulfilling lives and become well-rounded, you must impart these valuable lessons.
Author Bio
Cindy is the blogger behind Ordinary Asian Girl. She is your average Asian girl who wants to share relatable experiences that adults navigate daily. Whether it’s financial matters, thrilling adventures, or life’s intricate puzzles, she wants to share her experience and knowledge with all.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that everything seems to be getting more expensive at the moment. And as such, there’s a lot of value in working to keep your costs down to a minimum. After all, while you can’t eliminate some expenses entirely, there are usually things you can do that’ll help to reduce the cost — and that can have a big impact on your overall financial health.
In this post, we’re going to focus on reducing the costs of owning and using a car, which is one of the bigger expenses that people have to contend with. You can’t get the expenses down to zero unless you give up car ownership, but with these tips, you’ll be in a stronger position to handle the many costs.
You might have the day-to-day costs of owning a vehicle under control, but what if something goes wrong? There’s been a 40% rise in the cost of car repairs since 2018, so if you have an incident that requires expert help, then you could find that it has a significant impact on your bank balance. While you can’t always prevent car-related issues, you can minimise the risk by investing in your car’s maintenance. It’s much cheaper to prevent a problem rather than fix one, so be sure to stay on top of your car’s servicing.
Invest in a Reliable Vehicle
Not all cars are created equal. Some vehicles will cost you a lot more money than others. This happens in two ways — either they have poor fuel efficiency (which means more trips to the petrol station) or they’re just unreliable, and constantly need to be taken for expensive repairs. If your current vehicle matches either of those descriptions, then you can reduce your long-term car-related expenses by upgrading to a more vehicle car. Hyundai cars, for instance, are well-known for being reliable and easy to maintain, so consider paying a visit to a Hyundai dealership to see what vehicles they have available. Of course, upgrading your car will bring another advantage, too: you’ll enjoy driving more!
Petrol-Saving Driving
Some cars naturally use more petrol than others. But equally, some drivers use more fuel than others. And it all comes down to their driving style. If you’re accelerating or braking overly aggressively, then you’ll end up using much more petrol than is necessary. Learn the art of keeping your MPG down, and you’ll be doing your bank balance a big favour.
Use Public Transport
Finally, keep in mind that you don’t always need to drive all the way when you need to get somewhere. In some cases, you don’t need to drive at all. It can be much cheaper to drive a portion of the way before taking a bus or train the rest of the way — for example, if you’re driving into a busy centre. In that scenario, you’d use more petrol standing in traffic and may need to pay for expensive parking. It’s always best to check the most cost-effective way to get somewhere!
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