The post My Shit Day As a Mum – We All Have Them Right? appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>You know those days where by the end of it you are completely and utterly exhausted? Those days you can barely holding it together? Well this was me yesterday.
I am usually a very laid back person, it takes a lot to break me. But I can say with all honesty that I have never in my 9 years of being a parent ever had a day that shit! I was woken by fighting kids, breakfast everywhere, my kitchen resembled a holding cell for untamed animals.
I thought once I dropped the boys at school surely my day would improve. I was wrong. So unbelievably wrong! My 2 year old daughter seems to have embraced the terrible two’s with open arms. There was just no letting up. She is a very strong willed child which I’m hoping will be a benefit in her older years but for now, she is driving me to breaking point. I ask her to do something. No. Please do it. No.
I am not typically a parent who resorts to bribing my children to do things (toilet training excluded, they can have whatever they frigging want if it means they will crap in the toilet!) however yesterday I was at my wits end. I did not know what to do. I was stressed, time deprived with my husband and I cannot remember the last time I left the house to do something for myself or by myself.
I’m just tired of being tired.
As the afternoon went on it didn’t improve. Homework arguments, racing the clock for swimming lessons because their class times had changed. Rushing out the door with an extremely overtired 2 year old, 3 month old baby and the boys, only to get there and be told they changed our lesson time to the next half an hour slot which meant I had to entertain the devil child, I mean toddler, for an hour instead of 30 minutes in what can only be described as a sauna. *It is a heated indoor pool in a shed that is ONLY for lessons.
By this point I was barely holding it together. I made dinner and was counting down the hours until my husband came home. He walked inside and asked me how my day was – I couldn’t contain it any longer – “It was fucked!”. There was no other way to explain it. The tears started flooding my face and as my husband comforted me, I fell into a messy sobbing heap. He asked me what had happened to make it such an awful day and as I told him, the crying got worse. But as I talked and cried, I began to feel lighter, less stressed, less irritated (possibly less irrational).
My husband being the wonderful man he is reminded me that everyone has bad days. It is ok to not be on top of everything every single day. Not to bottle it up until breaking point and that tomorrow will be better! And like always….. He was right.
Have you experienced days like this too? How do you prevent it from happening?
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]]>The post Want To Work From Home? Here’s A Warts And All Reality Check! appeared first on All Mum Said.
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This is a contribution by Dana Flannery, who successfully established a work from home career in 2009. Her work from home venture grew into Talk About Creative a successful digital agency, with over thirty contractors, most of whom work from home.
I work from home. I have our spare room set up as an office and I spend my days in there, pounding away on my computer. Living the dream right? A cousin was looking for a work from home job and called me to pick my brain. This is what she was after:
“I want to find a job where I’m paid the industry standard to work part time out of my house so I can spend quality time with my young kids and still make enough to cover the mortgage.”
Sounds realistic right? Could be. Could be that everything falls lovingly into place and everyone lives happily ever after. In my experience (and I’m playing devil’s advocate and being a bit pessimistic here) this isn’t a realistic expectation. This is a warts and all view of why this is unrealistic. Warts. I am including ALL the warts.
This woman wanted a job. She didn’t want to be a contractor. She didn’t want to freelance. She wanted a job. Job security. Paid holidays. Sick leave. While the world is slowly heading in the direction of remote workforces, it’s not there yet. Finding an employer who will hire a stranger to work from home is near impossible.
For one, it’s a pain in the butt having work from home employees. It’s inconvenient. For 99% of businesses, that means that there’s nothing in it for them having you at home. If you were already employed, you might be able to negotiate flexible working for return to work but otherwise why would they give this high trust, high demand option to “the new girl”? Just about every woman in their office wants this option. Don’t you think they’d get “first dibs”?
Not too much to ask is it? Generally, if an employer is actively seeking a work at home employee, it’s because they’re a start-up, or they are expanding into a new territory. If it’s the first, they probably won’t have much money. If it’s the second, your first work at home job will likely be to find office space to go work from! So say you do find a well-paid job you’d love through a site like Lifestyle Careers or School Hours, you can bet thousands of other people will be applying for that sucker too! You’ll need a kickass resume.
When you work from home, young kids see you as “being home”. They want you to play with playdough and do finger painting and have a Frozen concert in the lounge room. They don’t understand that you’re “working from home”. “Not now, mummy’s working” is a hard thing for a kid to accept and you’ll say it, a lot. Your boss will want to know that this work from home arrangement still gets him/her access to your time and that you’re not slacking off.
“Not now, Mummy’s working” becomes the sentence you say most to your little one. Suddenly your mummy guilt goes through the roof. If you’re out in the office all day, your young kids don’t lay the guilt on, you get the privilege of doing that to yourself. It’s not right. It’s not simple. It just is. Working from home doesn’t mean an end to mummy guilt. Not one little bit. If you work from home, you need childcare.
So you’re in a lucky situation. You have a partner who earns some cash. The bills are mostly covered, you just need a bit extra to live happily ever after. Contribute to the mortgage and pay for enough day care to get the job done. About $600 a week? That’s not much to ask is it?
Let’s say you’re going to do admin from home. The award rate, pro rata for permanent part time will be between $25 and $30 per hour depending on your experience. Let’s call it $30. So that’s 20 hours per week. But, that’s $600 in hand, so you’ll have to factor in about $3600 tax a year. Another 3 hours give or take a week for tax. So you’re doing 23 hours per week. Easy right, that’s like three days. You can totally do it! Those three days will be three days of childcare expenditure. That’s about $240 in most capital cities and the more you earn, the less you get back from the government on that. So, of your 23 hours a week, 8 will go straight to the childcare centre. Eek. Maybe you could work nights and weekends to save on childcare? That quality of life you were seeking isn’t looking so high quality is it?
When kids get sick (and lordy, how often these little blighters are sick!) you’re going to be the one that it falls on to care for them. You work from home – to everyone else, that means you have oodles of time on your hands. To you, a sick kid means paying for childcare you can’t use, while working your heart out to stay on top of workload. If you can’t manage all the balls you have in the air, you could find yourself unemployed and unable to make that mortgage.
Maybe I’m just jealous of women who get dream jobs that don’t have the stress I have! That’s entirely possible! Back to my cousin, I explained some of the challenges she would face and she seemed a bit annoyed that I wouldn’t just hire her and be done with it. I told her that most women in her situation set themselves up as a contractor/freelancer/consultant and go from there. I suggested that she get herself an ABN (that sounds hard) and register a business (oh, really, I wouldn’t even know where to start) to get some contract work.
She was right of course. If it sounds too hard to get an ABN (literally one form) then running a freelance business isn’t right for her. Working from home in your own business is hard. It’s lots of unbillable hours, and learning TONS of new skills (some are painful to learn too – hello GST) and making sales. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a viable way to work from home, make good money and live happily (but tired) ever after.
Some of the same problems apply, childcare is still a necessary evil, but if you can choose your own hours, you can plan your week to fit to childcare – and therefore do it all more efficiently. You might be able to squeeze your working week into two days of childcare instead of three if you commit to doing emails and admin in the evenings. Your work week will be as long or longer as it would with an employer but your time can be managed to best suit you, not the boss.
The biggest benefit to running your own work at home business is one that you might not expect. Working with young children is HARD – for full time working mothers, full time working fathers, part time working single mums, parents who study – young kids are just hard in general! When you run a work from home business though, the hard work hurts less because it pays off directly into your bank account. It’s not working your heart out to make your boss rich. It’s working your heart out to make your family comfortable.
That’s worth its weight in gold.
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]]>The post Get More Youthful Looking Skin With Serum7 Review + Giveaway appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>As we get older our skin doesn’t retain moisture like it used to. It is less plump and sadly this is when the wrinkles start to appear. It is a devastating time for most!
While I am not against aging, I would definitely love to fight the signs for as long as I can. Botox or surgery are nowhere on my radar thanks to my needle phobia, so instead I search for skincare that actually works.
Over the past 8 weeks I have been trialing a scientifically proven anti-aging skincare line, Serum7 by Boots Laboratories. I am always sceptical when trying new ‘phenomenon’ creams that claim to give miracle results so I go into each purchase expecting it not to work. Serum7 has done exactly what it claims to – younger looking skin in 28 days.
I have been using a combination of the Serum7 Protecting Day Cream, Serum7 Regenerating Night Cream, Serum7 Protecting Body Serum (I’ve been using this on my hands when I remember) and the Serum7 Fine Lines Eye Cream.
This was the first cream I used from the range. I applied it straight after my shower and I could immediately feel more moisture in my skin. You don’t need a lot as a little bit goes a long way. The cream is a little bit heavier than the day cream but night creams usually are. When I rinsed my face in the morning it felt softer and less dry around the chin area.
The more I used it, the softer my skin began to look and feel.
I don’t wear much make up, BB cream and blush is as good as it gets, maybe some lippy if I want to dress it up a little. Each day I use this under my BB cream and it has been light weight but still adding a refreshed appearance and feel to my skin. This is now my go to moisturiser!
I have never used eye cream before but I have recently began to notice some fine lines around my eyes so thought what the hey. It is a lot lighter than I expected eye cream to be but have since learnt that it is lighter because it is a softer, more delicate area of skin. Once the eye cream is soaked in it doesn’t feel as though you have anything on as it is so lightweight.
This ‘serum’ is more of a cream but there is no denying that it works! I have only used this about half the amount I have used the other products because I keep forgetting but when I do use it my hands are soft and moisturised for ages. My poor hands get neglected and are often dry and scaly but this body serum steps up and does exactly what needs to be done.
Overall I was quite impressed with the Serum7 range. It moisturisers, brightens and rejuvenates the skin without being heavy. You can wear it every day without feeling weighed down by it.
I love that all the creams soak in and doesn’t leave your skin oily or wet. It absorbs fairly quickly, the night cream takes a little longer but for the most part soaks in fast. I would definitely buy this product range again.
Excuse the weird angle, I cannot take a good selfie to save myself!
• It is affordable
• There are 3 Boots categories designed for different stages of aging skin: Serum7 (age 28-40), Serum7 LIFT (age 40-55), Serum7 RENEW (age 55+).
• Helps to prevent new lines forming on your skin prematurely.
• Best results when used as part of an anti-aging regime.
2x WINNERS
Each Prize Includes: 1x Rejuvenating Day Cream, 1x Nourishing Night Cream, 1x Fine Lines Eye Cream. *Product may vary slightly those pictured above.
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Disclosure: I received the above items for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
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]]>The post How To Leave A Domestic Violence Relationship In Six (Not So) Easy Steps appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>Escaping an abusive relationship is hard, particularly if children are involved. It is however essential for both you and your children!
Deciding to leave a violent relationship is difficult and not a decision that is easy to make. You want to leave but there are many obstacles that make this choice seem near impossible.
The most common hurdle is fear, for you and your child’s safety! You are scared about taking the next steps and the ramifications that may follow; this is completely understandable given your current situation. This is why knowing how to leave a domestic violence relationship safely is crucial.
You have reached the point where you cannot take the abuse anymore but don’t know what to do next. This step by step guide will help you take the first of many steps to your reclaiming independence.
Before you do anything, seek legal advice. They will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do in order to protect yourself. This is particularly important if children are involved. It isn’t uncommon for the abuser to use your children as leverage to get you to return. If you take the advised steps from your legal team and/or local police, you will not have this concern. They will also be able to put you in touch with emergency accommodation and DV groups. For Legal Aid advice click here for further information.
Get a Domestic Violence Order (commonly known as DVO). While this may aggravate the situation, it is essential. This allows police to keep an eye out and it will also help you should you be required to go to court. For more information on how to obtain a DVO click here.
This is the question that scares most victims into staying. You may have been alienated from your family and friends and feel you have no one to lean on. This is a time of need and you don’t have to do it alone. If you have a good friend or family close by; stay with them until you can sort out alternative accommodation.
If you are living away from relatives; contact your local Salvation Army or other emergency accommodation provider. The Salvos help more than 2000 women escape violent relationships each year by providing them with refuge accommodation and on-going support. The Salvation Army details can be found here: http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/find-help/domestic-violence/.
Victims of domestic violence do not always have the luxury of having time to plan when and how they will leave. If you can, make a plan of where you will go and how you will respond to your partner’s calls and persistence.
If you feel your life is in imminent danger, get out now! Don’t leave it until it is too late.
• If possible, start saving little bits of money when you can. This is easier said than done as most abusers know where every dollar is being spent. This is another way they maintain control and make it difficult for you to leave. For those fleeing and saving isn’t possible, the government offers crisis payments to those who are planning to or have left violent relationships. See more information here.
• Open up a bank account in your name only, with another bank you don’t use together. This eliminates any chance of your partner getting your personal details, including address or money.
• Call your bank and put a hold on all home loan redraws. While this is not something you would think of doing in the moment of leaving, it is smart for long term.
• Cancel your childcare and change schools if possible. This is to ensure your partner does not come and take the children out of school as a way to regain control.
• Change passwords and privacy settings on everything!
Far too many people suffer from domestic violence and the number of sufferers is only rising. The stats shown below from the Australian Bureau of Statistics are just terrifying.
Fleeing a domestic violence relationship takes strength, bravery and patience. This is why good support is essential. Please remember that regardless what you are told; it is not your fault and you are not to blame!
For support and domestic violence helplines see the numbers below.
If your life in immediate danger call – 000
National Domestic Violence (24 hours): 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 131 114
• QLD – Domestic Violence Telephone Service – 1800 811 811
• NSW – Domestic Violence Line – 1800 65 64 63
• VIC – safe steps Family Violence Response Centre – 1800 015 188
• ACT – Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 02 6280 0900
• SA – Domestic Violence Helpline – 1300 782 200
• WA – Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline – 1800007 339 & Crisis Care – 1800 199 00808
• NT – Domestic Violence Crisis Line – 1800 019 116
• TAS – Family Violence Counselling and Support Service – 1800 608 122 or Family Violence Response & Referral – 1800 633 937
For more helplines visit http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/finding-help.
*Disclaimer: I am not qualified to advise you on what to do or give legal assistance in your situation, I can only comment on my own personal experience and those close to me. Please call one of the helplines or seek legal advice before taking action.
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]]>The post How To Prepare For Baby When You Don’t Know The Gender appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>So you’ve decided you’re going to wait until bubs arrives so you can have that traditional ‘It’s a [insert gender here]!’ moment. Maybe you’re happy about it or maybe you just lost the argument with your partner over the issue. Either way, you have yourself a dilemma – how on earth do you prepare for a baby when you don’t know the gender?
A quick scan of any of baby stores awash with pink and blue will tell you that manufacturers are assuming you asked that all-important question at your 20-week ultrasound!
Don’t panic, you can still make sure you’re prepared without buying double of everything, just in case.
There are some really gorgeous gender-neutral prints out there – jungle scenes with impossibly sweet giraffes and monkeys; circus clowns with brightly-coloured beach balls balancing on the nose of happy seals.
The beauty of this approach is you’ll be able to use the same sheets and sleeping bags for any future little brothers or sisters!
It can be as simple as a delaying the purchase of a throw rug to draper over the chair and keep you warm during the midnight feeds; or leaving a space on the wall for a beautiful pink butterfly picture or a montage of dump trucks.
These final touches can easily be added in the days or weeks following the birth of your precious bundle.
Let’s face it, nobody likes lemon. It makes babies look jaundiced even if they’re not. Unless you’ve found a lovely pattern which combines lemon with other colours (crimson or navy make great contrasts), steer clear of pale yellow onesies!
White, green and red are great options, and good for staples like onesies and singlets, but they’re not particularly exciting on their own.
If you’re really looking for something that will really brighten up your baby preparations, consider opting for patterned clothing. The availability of gender-neutral patterned clothing is limited, but you’re certain to find a few lovely items that you can feel proud to bring baby home in.
Obviously you need to make sure you’ve got something to pop bubs in when he or she is first born, and the last thing you want to be doing is hitting the shops when you get home from hospital!
However, there’s nothing wrong with waiting a little while to buy some really pretty pink or handsome blue outfits. What you may not realise is those first few weeks are often such a blur of highs and lows you probably won’t much care what baby is wearing – as long as they don’t cover them in poo and let you get some sleep!
And remember – there’s always online shopping, which you can do from home… on your phone… during the 3am feed if you like!
Baby showers are great fun, but if your friends and family don’t know the gender of the baby, you may end up with piles and piles of grey and white clothing and wraps that they didn’t really want to buy. You’ll be miserable and so will they.
Consider gently suggesting to your guests that they spend the baby shower having fun with you and celebrating your pregnancy. Point out to them how much more fun they’ll have shopping for your baby when he or she is born – they’ll be able to happily fling their way through racks of frilly pink dresses or robot-encrusted rompers!
Rebecca Bowyer is a Melbourne mum of two preschool boys. You can find her writing about all things parenting at Seeing the Lighter Side.
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]]>The post How To Save Money On Furniture And Homewares appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>It is time to get organised. Clean up, clear out and start fresh this festive season.
The holidays have rolled around again and guests are spending the weekend. You don’t want to be embarrassed by your old worn out homewares, so it is the perfect time to change your décor. Get that outdated and shabby furniture off your property and spruce it up with something new or new to you.
You know the old saying. This is absolutely true when it comes to furniture and homewares. Unlike 10 years ago, today there are so many options to find a bargain and you are crazy to not try. Consider the following before you go out and pay full price:
Stores and warehouses around Australia have fantastic Christmas and Boxing Day sales. Sometimes you may have to hunt a little to find them but they are definitely there. You can save up to 50% on some items, which is nothing to be laughed at for brand new pieces of furniture!
These websites are full of fantastic bargains. On Gumtree you will even find free homewares, electricals and outdoor furniture. A lot of the time there is absolutely nothing wrong with the items; people just upgrade and want to pass them onto someone else. Keep your eyes peeled for these bargains because they don’t last long!
TIP: For even better deals, check after Christmas when people replace their furniture or are selling their unwanted gifts!
Similar to Gumtree, you can find mountains of free and cheap household goods and furniture in your local area. Social media has opened up opportunities for sellers to get rid of their unwanted goods and buyers to score themselves a bargain. Sometimes all the furniture needs is a little TLC to bring it back to its former glory.
Look around your local garage sales, businesses, the above mentioned avenues and even friends places for scraps that can be turned into fun items. Wooden pallets are fantastic for creating practical but unique outdoor lounges and garden beds. Create feature pieces by turning old doors and cable reels into tables. For the festive season, extra esky’s and ice buckets are required which is where old bath tubs make the perfect addition to an outdoor area.
For more ideas on how you can create your own home decor with a little DIY, CLICK THE LINK!
Style and comfort doesn’t have to be expensive. You can stay well within your budget by doing a little bit of research and bartering to get a better price.
Everyone wants something new but new isn’t always better. Sometimes older products are built to a higher standard and will last longer than many new pieces. Consider your needs, wants and budget before making your purchases.
This is an S1 POST.
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]]>The post What To Check Before Buying A House appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>Don’t rush in and make an offer on the first house you view. There are potential perils that you need to be aware of!
You have saved your hard-earned money and it is finally time to break into the property market. Don’t let excitement cloud your judgement, take your time and get to know the house well before taking the next step. Here are some things you should know before buying a new house:
It isn’t uncommon for your heart to rule over your head when making this emotional purchase. That is a rookie error that could have catastrophic effects, resulting in the purchase of a lemon aka money pit. This can be easily avoided by considering the following:
The surrounding environment and area can have the potential to turn your dream home into a nightmare. Do your research into the neighbourhood and see how the crime rate compares to surrounding areas. You don’t want your family home to be vandalised or broken into, not to mention the higher cost of insurances.
Contact the local council to see the flood maps and get information on past floods in the area. For a quick guide of the risk in Brisbane areas, CLICK HERE. Flooding can cause more costs and damage than you realise.
Building and pest inspections are essential prior to buying a house. The qualified inspectors know exactly what to look for. They will see hidden concerns that you will not know about without an inspection. They will notice cracked beams, water damage and much more.
If the real estate agent offers to arrange the pre-purchase inspections for you, get your own evaluation done as well, the team at Action Property Inspections are reliable and trustworthy. The possibility of the agents report being biased is a risk that should not be taken when making this purchase, as they do not want anything to hinder the potential sale.
Before you step foot into the house take a look at the exterior. There are potential issues that can be seen before the pre-purchase inspection is done that could give you an indication on how well the property has been looked after.
• Fences – do fences look to be in good condition? These are quite expensive to replace and you don’t want to have this additional cost shortly after purchasing a house.
• Roof tiles – can you see any broken or cracked tiles? If you answered yes, this could be a sign that there is water damage in the roof.
• Gutters – are the gutters in good condition? Rust means they will require replacing before too long. Also check to make sure they are attached correctly and not hanging loosely.
• Drainage – does the yard contain drains? If it doesn’t, will it need drainage installed? Check the slope of the block and check for obvious signs of water build up throughout the yard.
A new coat of paint will spruce up the house but look beyond the crisp, clean walls and fancy décor. Open the cupboards in the kitchen and bathrooms so you can check for obvious signs of mould, mildew and water damage.
Take notice of cracks in the walls, if the cracks are large this is cause for concern however fine cracks are often acceptable. Your building inspector will pick up on this if it is a problem. Check the condition of power points and appliances, if they appear to be in poor form, it could mean the electricals need replacing and this is not cheap.
While most issues and damage can be repaired, they could also be the reason you struggle to sell your house down the track or contribute to unforeseen maintenance costs.
By checking the above before signing anything, you could save yourself a lot of heartache and money.
This is an S1 POST.
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]]>The post Protecting Your Family’s Financial Future appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>You probably already look to insure your car, home and maybe your health but what about your family’s financial future? Many people overlook the idea of having life insurance or are not fully aware of the benefits but it can give all-important peace of mind if the main earner in the household dies or cannot work. Here are some of the reasons why you should think about having life insurance.
How would you cope financially if you lost the income of the main earner in the household? For most people, this would be a devastating scenario, especially if you have little or no savings to help you.
There are several different options when it comes to buying life insurance and a lot will depend on the type(s) of scenario that you want to cover yourself for. Most people are at least vaguely aware of general life insurance (also known as Death insurance), which provides a lump sum payment for beneficiaries if the policyholder dies or becomes terminally ill.
Besides this, there is also the option to buy Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance, Trauma insurance (also known as Critical Illness insurance) and Income Protection insurance. These life insurance products can protect against being unable to work due to permanent disability, certain medical traumas and illness, injury or an accident.
If you have a superannuation fund, you may already have at least some degree of life insurance attached to this. This has the benefit of being cost effective as premiums are deducted from your super balance but it does have some drawbacks.
Many people are content to rely solely on this (especially if they would struggle to find room in their budget for premiums) but the default minimum cover will rarely be enough to provide an adequate level of protection unless you choose to upgrade from this. Not all types of life insurance are available through your super fund; Trauma/Critical Illness insurance cannot be bought in this way, for example.
You can choose to buy more life insurance cover through your super fund or shop around for additional cover through an insurer.
Underinsurance is a big problem in Australia, especially for life insurance. This means that many people do not have enough life insurance in place to provide adequate protection if the worst happens. This is largely to do with an over reliance on life insurance offered through superannuation but is also due to not recognising how much life insurance is needed to give genuine financial peace of mind.
Firstly, you’ll need to think about your anticipated current and future expenses, including bills, rent or mortgage payment and debts over the next few decades. As a general rule of thumb, most families will benefit from having something in the region of $500 000 or more of Death insurance but a lot depends on your outgoings and how long you may need the payment to last for.
This is an S2 POST.
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]]>The post Is It Safe To Clean When Pregnant? + GIVEAWAY appeared first on All Mum Said.
]]>Are you pregnant? Constantly cleaning, scrubbing and tidying? Is it safe to clean when pregnant?
As every woman who has ever been pregnant knows, you have the urge to scrub, tidy and generally have everything spotless. This is most commonly known as nesting and unfortunately (or fortunately for others in the home) we all suffer from it.
I hate to tell you but most cleaning jobs are safe to do while pregnant. In moderation of course, so you don’t overdo it. There are some things that should be avoided (aka left to someone else) or kept in mind while on your cleaning spree. These include:
• Cleaning the oven – Due to majority of kitchens being a smaller, more enclosed areas; fumes from oven cleaners are cause for concern. Especially when pregnant. In addition to toxic fumes there is also the bending and crouching to consider. It is best to hand this chore over to someone else.
• Clean only in well ventilated areas. Most chemicals and domestic cleaning products are safe to use when pregnant however the fumes and smell may cause you to feel light headed and sick if the room is not ventilated enough. Open doors and windows to allow good air-flow!
• Use protection – I’m not talking to prevent pregnancy. I mean rubber gloves and a mask to protect yourself from touching and inhaling chemicals. You can never be too safe.
During the later stages of pregnancy, you will find it harder to get up and down to clean showers, bath tubs, etc. on a daily basis. I know all too well and as a result of me being 37 weeks pregnant and not being able to maintain the level of cleanliness I like in my bathrooms; I hired a cleaner for the first time in my life. My bathrooms have never shined so much, or maybe that was the euphoria I felt because I didn’t have to clean them and yet they were spotless!
I typically live by my 5 minutes a day rule for cleaning the bathroom << check it out! It will save you a lot of hard work but as I am now heavily pregnant, I just cannot keep it up. For more information on staying healthy and safe during pregnancy, click the link.
This is not my cleaner. I cleaned other parts of the house while my bathrooms were being scrubbed.
I never saw the value in a cleaner until that life changing day last week. My eyes have been opened. To be honest the bathrooms are my most hated household chores! I know I am not alone in this which is why I have a great opportunity for one of All Mum Said’s amazing readers.
HomeHello have offered their services to help a mum (or dad) get on top of their cleaning. Or just so you can have a day off! Both of those options sounds great.
HomeHello is a team of experienced and insured local professional cleaners that provide high quality cleaning services at a seriously affordable rate to thousands of homes across metro regions of Sydney and Melbourne.
By clicking on their website, you are given a 3 simple steps to book your next clean. Select the details about your home, how many hours you want them (or you can use their suggestions based on the details you provide) and any additional chores you want done. You then select the date and time you’d like your cleaner to arrive.
You also don’t have to set a regular appointment if you don’t want, you can hire for a one-off, weekly or fortnightly home cleaning with their instant booking confirmation.
Prize Includes: 1x 3.5 hour HomeHello voucher (valued at $92).
This prize is only available to metro regions of Sydney and Melbourne!
See if you are in the serviceable area by entering you postcode here.
**As the winners are chosen based on skill and not chance; you will be sharing for 0 extra entries however I’d love you to share the giveaway with friends and family. Sharing is caring and karma loves kind people. **
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Terms & Conditions:
1. Australian residents only.
2. Judges decisions is final.
3. Winners must make contact within 72 hours.
4. This is a game of skill. Chance plays no part!
Therefore no extra points are given for sharing however it is good karma!!
5. All Mum Said is not responsible for delivery of prize.
NOT endorsed by or have anything to do with facebook.
If you want to enter more giveaways click over here.
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]]>It’s time to put your future first. Don’t retire with nothing to back you up financially, get ahead now!
Investing in your prospective years can make all the difference to how you live when you give up work. By setting yourself up financially in your younger years, you can get a head start on achieving your goals. Find the right investment property and you will be well on your way!
Property investment is not for everyone. Some people prefer to invest their hard earned dollars in shares and stocks. But for those interested in investment property; it is typically considered one of the safer options to invest in.
If this is a route you are considering, you must first be aware of the pros and cons that are associated with investing in property.
There are so many factors to consider but the main ones consist of:
PROS
• Insurance – You can insure your investment against a wide variety of risks; natural disasters, fires, tenant damage/tenants leaving, etc.
• Capital growth – If you have chosen your investment well, you will see a rise in property value over the years to come in addition to regular rental returns.
• Tax benefits – If your property is negatively geared it could provide potential tax benefits. This is not always the case and should not be a deciding factor but is often a benefit to investing in property.
CONS
• Problematic tenants – While this doesn’t happen regularly, you could end up with the tenants from hell. They could damage your property, refuse to leave, not pay rent and cause several other headaches that could take months to resolve.
• No tenants – There is occasional periods where you will have no tenant occupying your property and you will be required to pay the mortgage repayments.
• Ongoing costs – In addition to the initial cost of the property, you will also find that there are ongoing costs associated with property investment. These include: rates, body corporate (if applicable), repairs, insurances, water, maintenance and more.
Similarly to when you are purchasing or renting a house for yourself and your family, the property must consist of certain features to make it an enjoyable and desirable place to live. Investments are no different.
• Location – You have heard it before and you will hear it again. A good location is important for attracting the right tenants. A good location is safe, offers peace of mind and is close to public transport, schools, shops, etc.
• Storage – From ample linen space to bedroom closets; storage is a crucial decision-making factor.
• Parking – Surprising to some, not every property comes with parking. By adding the option of a garage, carport, undercover or off street parking; you will increase tenant interest dramatically.
• Maintenance – It is in your best interest to find a property that requires minimal yard maintenance. Tenants don’t want to pay for upkeep of pools, gardens, etc. so unless you are willing to pay a professional to maintain the grounds, stick with simple!
Buying property can be an emotional experience; however when making the decision, use your head and not your heart!
Research must be done into not just the property but also the area before taking the plunge.
• Infrastructure – What is happening in the area? Are future buildings, businesses or projects planned? This can have both devastating and beneficial effects on the value of your property, so ensure you know what is going on.
• Return potential – The expected return of a property is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing property. Do research and compare the property with those similar in the area on rental sites.
• Investment strategy – Do you plan on negatively gearing the property or receiving a positive cash follow? What is the loan rate? Suburb growth? Do you want a unit, house, etc? By comparing your answers to the above questions on the Homesales.com.au Investment Property Search, you will be shown options around Australia that are expected to produce the results you want.
Don’t just jump in and buy a property. Make sure you take the appropriate steps to ensure it is what is best for you financially and that your purchase will indeed be an investment. Don’t risk buying a bottomless money pit. For more information on property investment, click the link.
Investing in your future doesn’t have to be stressful. By considering the above points and doing your research, you will find the right investment property for you!
Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor and this article should not be used as such. For financial advice, consult your financial advisor.
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