Tag Archives: UK Blog

How to keep your home safe while on holiday

May 9, 2018 By in Travel Tags: , , , , , , , , 21 Comments

The holiday season would soon be here, so it makes sense to start thinking how to keep your hope while on holiday. A good number of break-ins happen when the property is empty. Which is why we have to take our home security very seriously.

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I am currently working on a campaign with www.dpp-law.com on tips on burglary and keeping our home safe while on vacation. Here are my 5 top home safety tips.

Check your home insurance

It is shocking to find that many people still do not have home insurance. Before going on holiday, you need to make sure you have a home insurance policy that covers your needs and the event your home is broken into while you are on vacation. It may also be wise to have an alarm system in your home as some providers offer lower insurance premiums if you have one installed. Verisure Smart Alarms is one security company to look into as the brand offers different types of security systems to suit your home.

Leave your house looking occupied

You should mow the lawn before you go away on holiday if you need to. Leave your curtains and blinds half-opened. Having a car in the driveway is a great idea if possible. Also, ensure you cancel any regular deliveries like the milk or newspapers.

Keep your valuables safe

If you have to keep anything of value in the house, like money or expensive jewellery, you need to keep them in a place no one would think of checking. Don’t leave valuables lying around and make sure anything you do leave cannot be seen from outside the house.

Don’t tell the world you are going on holiday

I tell only few selected people about my holidays before I go. Sharing actual dates of holidays and how long you will be away for is a no-no. This is the easiest way to invite burglars into your home while you are on holiday.

Try not to post pictures on social media from your holiday destination

Now I know this is a tough one for bloggers, especially travel bloggers. But it is important we don’t advertise the fact that our home is vacant and that is what posting holiday pictures while on holiday does. Social media platforms are like windows into our lives, so we have to be smart. If you must share holiday snaps on social media while on vacation, ensure your security game is tight and only a selected group of people can view your photos.

How do you keep your home safe while on holiday? Please share your tips in the comments section.

Have a great day.

 

*Collaborative post.

Caring for Plants this Spring

May 4, 2018 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , , 23 Comments

I am not perfect when it comes to caring for my garden or plants or any landscaping stuff, but I am getting better. Flowers are easy to care for. I always get flowers so I had to learn how to care for them years ago. But caring for plants was tricky for me. I remember learning a bit of what to do with plants in our Agriculture class in high school, but that was many moons ago. When I got plant pots from the kiddies for Mother’s Day, I had no clue what to do with them. So I had to learn on the job. Along the way, I picked up some plant care tips which some of you may find useful.

 

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How to Care for your Plants this Spring

 

Try not to move your plants around

Plants take their time when it comes to acclimatizing to different surroundings. So try not to move them around, as they may not adapt quickly. Luckily for me, this was not an issue from the beginning. I found a great position on a window seal from day 1.

 

Avoid over watering

One of the major causes of early plant death is over watering. Plants growing in soil that is too wet will suffer from a lack of oxygen which leads to the death of roots. This is a major issue as many of us tend to over water our flowers and plants to keep them alive. There is no street watering routine to stick to. It all depends on the type of plant you have. I water my plants when they need watering. Which is when the soil is dry.

 

Keep the plants near a window 

The plants need to be as near a window as possible. Placing them near a window means they can get all the light that they need. Plants need light and warmth to survive.

 

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Don’t spill coffee or tea into the plants

Be careful not to spill any coffee or tea into the plant pot. as this will attract flies that will eat away your plants. The sugar in the drink would make it a perfect breeding ground for insects as well.

 

Go for an easy to care for plant

Now this is the best tip of all. If you a novice like me, go for the easy to care for plants. The plants that are low maintenance and require little attention. Plants like geraniums and sago palms. They are durable and very easy to care for.

 

Do you have any tried and tested tips to share when it comes to caring for plants this spring?

 

*Collaborative post.

3 Finance Tips for the Self-Employed

April 19, 2018 By in Freelancing/Self-employed Tags: , , , , , , , , 58 Comments

Being self-employed is amazing. It is one of the best things I have ever done. I really can’t imagine working for anyone ever again. It feels liberating to be able to dictate the pace in which I work. And being able to work from home whilst care for my growing kids is a blessing. I am super thankful everyday for this amazing life I have been blessed with.

 

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Having said that, managing the finances can be a little tricky when you are self-employed. Especially when you are dealing with clients that never pay your invoices on time. I have had to put on my accountant hat to keep my business thriving. For those who do not know, I have a degree in Accounting (graduated university in 2006) but only practised for 1 year. The story surrounding that is a whole new blog post for another day.

Here are some finance tips I have picked up in my self-employment journey.

 

Be Careful with Credit

As a self-employed person, you need to be very careful with credit, especially credit cards. You may find it super easy to shop on your credit cards, especially when you are dealing with late payments and need to survive. If you must get some kind of credit to survive, make sure you understand the payment terms and don’t get carried away with spending money that isn’t yours.

If you have to deal with unforeseen circumstances and need quick money, a company like Cash Lady could come in handy. This company helps customers to find short-term finance solutions. So they are good for when your boiler or car break down, or when you need money quickly for urgent home improvements.

 

Keep Records

I am always on top of my records. Leaving it all until the end of the tax year will stress the life out of me. So I make a note of money coming in and going out.

Sending invoices is a great way to keep track of your money. I always send out an invoice for every project I work on. Even if the client does not request one. I need it for my books, so I get invoices sent out for my records.

 

Claim the Expenses

When filing my tax return, I make sure I claim every expense. This advice also links back to the keeping records tip. I always keep track of every expense, all year round. This makes it easier for me to claim the right amount of expenses. If you are not sure what you could claim as an expense, here is a detailed list of all expenses the self-employed are allowed to claim.

 

I hope you find these finance tips useful. If you have any finance tips for the self-employed, please share in the comments section below.

 

*Collaborative post.

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