Articles by Gemma Johnson on ArticleSnatch.com

Half term on a Budget

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:57:49 -0400

How do you balance the budget when it is nearly the end of the month and Christmas is approaching too? In this article you can get some tips for low cost and no cost activities which will keep all the family happy. Start by making a plan. Write down the days of the week, and make a list of things that the kids have asked to do, appointments you have to attend and ideas that you have. Free activities include: • Dressing up. • A walk to the park. • Exploring the local woods. • Visiting local attractions with no entry fee. Look in the local paper, local parenting magazine and on the local council website for ideas. • Visiting the library: ask in advance about free half term activities. • Getting the children to put on a play. This could be based on their own ideas or a book from the library visit. Low cost activities: • Giving each child £1 and exploring the local charity shops to see who can get the best toy, book or game • Baking. Offer the kids the chance to make their own sandwiches, create an indoor picnic or even bake a cake. **End Summary** Topics: Half term]]> kids]]> budget]]> save money]]> activites]]> family]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Gemma Johnson | Co Founder of BaBeeCard.com | Winner of Mumpreneur of the year 2009 sponsored WBMN | BaBeeCard Winner of Best Gift Card Award 2009 at Prepaid365 | www.babeecard.com | www.mumsmoneytips.com

Moving Home? Cut the Costs

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 12:39:08 -0400

1. Clear out before you move. Removal companies are expensive enough, so don"��t pay to move things you no longer need. Well before the moving date start clearing out. Go through each room in turn. Take in three boxes, and divide your junk into "��rubbish bin"��, "��give away"�� and "��sell"��. Sell the best things on eBay or at a car boot and you will help your moving budget go even further. 2. Shop around for your solicitor Conveyancing is another big expense, so shop around. Use the internet to get quotes for the cost. Do ask for personal recommendations too as sometimes speed and reliability is more important than cost. Look for discounts too: you might get a reduction in fees if you join a discount club like Babeecard that can give you a discount on your Conveyancing fees. 3. Book your removal company as far in advance as you can Prices for house removals vary widely. Ask around for recommendations and get at least three quotes. Again, the internet can help you shop round for the best value. Check the removal company"��s insurance policy and what it covers. **End Summary** Topics: babeecard]]> discounts]]> family finances]]> legal]]> Moving hou]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Gemma Johnson Co-founder of www.BaBeeCard.com Winner of Mumpreneur of the year 2009 sponsored by WBMN BaBeeCard - Winner of Best Gift Card Award 2009 at Prepaid365.com

Top ten money saving tips for mums

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:48:24 -0400

1. Check your benefits and claim all you are entitled to: It is so easy to overlook the range of benefits available to you that you may be eligible for as time constraints at home can seem likely to increase as you settle into your new role as a mum or running your family unit. A good website to check out is called EntitledTo, this will give you a form to fill in to see what you can claim. Other helpful sites out there include Childcare Voucher Schemes, Healthy Start Vouchers which give you £3 per child each week to redeem against fresh milk, fruit & vegetables and the £190 Money4Mum2be government grant available for you to spend on whatever you like. 2. Make your own cleaning products straight from the pantry White vinegar Dissolves: dirt , soap scum, Hard water deposits Cleans everything from floors to countertops, gentle enough for hard floors and the smell disappears when dry so your home won't smell like a salad. **End Summary** Topics: money saving tips]]> credit crunch]]> plan]]> save money]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Gemma Johnson, winner of Mum-Entrepreneur of the year 2009 sponsored by the Womens Business Mastermind Network and co-founder of BaBeeCard the Prepaid Mastercard that helps mums-to-be and mums save money on their everyday living essentials such as groceries, petrol & baby items has put together a list of her top ten money saving tips during pregnancy and whilst supporting your growing family. http://www.babeecard.com

Save Money in the Run Up to Christmas

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:44:01 -0400

Planning ahead Make a list. Spend some time in the next few days noting down what you will need to buy for Christmas. It may seem strange making a list in advance but this can really help you avoid too many impulse purchases. Divide your list by topics: food, sticking presents, family gifts, decorations etc. Why not make a few purchases each week to put in your Christmas box? This works well for everything from cards and wrapping paper to non-perishable foods like stuffing mix and even Christmas crackers. Making your own cake and pudding can help you spread the cost too: buy a few ingredients each week then have a fabulous family 'stir up Sunday' at the beginning of December. Preload BaBeeCard and you can make even bigger savings on Christmas food at your favourite supermarkets including Sainsburys and Asda. There are discounts of up to 25% on wine too. Reuse and decorate What can you reuse? Resist the temptation to buy new decorations every year and check on last year's decs first. Get crafty and set the kids to make some decorations too. **End Summary** Topics: Christmas]]> Xmas]]> money saving]]> budget]]> gifts]]> credit crunch]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Gemma Johnson Co-founder of http://www.babeecard.com Winner of Mumpreneur of the year 2009 sponsored by WBMN

How to Budget - A Guide For Families

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:04:32 -0400

If you always find too much month left at the end of your money, read BaBeeCard's quick guide to budgeting. Get Started Do you like to write things down or prefer to use a computer? If you like the feel of a pen find a notebook that you can keep for budgeting. I'd also suggest you get a calculator. If you like to use a computer, set up your budgets on there. I like Excel, but a table in Word will work fine too and both programmes have the 'SUM' facility which you will find under 'Table, Formula' to help you add up. Income and Outgoings Do you know your income and outgoings? Look up your latest payslips, check how much child tax credit or other benefits you get and note down any other income. Choose whether you want to budget by the week or on a monthly basis. This will depend on how often you get paid and when your bills come in. I've written a list of ideas below to help you work out your outgoings. **End Summary** Topics: Money saving]]> budgeting]]> save money]]> family finances]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Gemma Johnson Co-Founder of http://www.babeecard.com Winner of Mumpreneur of the year 2009 sponsored by WBMN