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[reflective-parenting]

As I’ve been reflecting a lot on my spending habits recently, I’ve realised a way of thinking about money which is really simple and makes perfect sense to me. I hope it might help somebody else out there too. Instead of just thinking about the cost of something in monetary value, I also think about the time it would take to earn the amount that thing costs. For example, £30 is easy to spend without too much thought, isn’t it? A take away, a trip to the local shop, or a day out somewhere. £30 can be blown in a matter of minutes. But how long does it take to earn? Let’s say you’re lucky enough earn £15 per hour. When you spend that £30, you’re effectively trading 2 hours of your time for that product or thing. Is it worth it? All of a sudden, some of those little purchases seem much less worth the trade off of hours at work. It works equally as well for big purchases too! Of course, a lot of the time it WILL be worth it. I find I’m more willing to spend my hard earned time (money) on ‘experiences’ than ‘stuff’, as that’s what I find adds value to my life. People will find their own value in what’s important to them, and that’s what makes this work in such a range of ways. Some people will enjoy working more than others. Some people will earn more per hour than others. You have to decide what’s worth your time and effort. Just try it: What was the last transaction you made and how much time did it take you to pay for it? Using the time method, does it feel worth it? Does it make you think differently? #spendinghabits #spendingawareness #timeawareness #financialawareness #spendingtime #thinkaboutmoney #thinkingdifferentlyaboutmoney #moneymentality #savingmoneytips #valuetime #familyfinances (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZElJMJhG7o/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

STAR GAZING ⭐️ 🌟 💫 Finally, the sky is clear enough for using the telescope my son got for Christmas. Such great fun and family bonding. Educational too! I can’t believe I literally just saw the craters of the moon 🌙 make me feel quite small! #stargazing #educational #familyastronomynight #astronomy #lowbudgetactivities #lowbudgetfamilyfun #funathome #moon #mooncraters #newbieastronomers (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYcSLuuBMeT/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

HOMEMADE PIZZA, delicious 🤤 🍕 Made by my 12 year old, for a fraction of the price of a take away pizza. He used a bag of pizza base mix, some passata, herbs, and mozzarella. A fun cooking activity which gave him a sense of pride and independence, without breaking the bank! Perfect 😍 #moneysavingfood #spendless #homemadefood #homemadepizza #kidscooking #frugalactivities #yummy #cheapfoods #tasty #foodforless #delicious (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYRP5xnBzye/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

Happy new year everyone 🎉 Are you making any New Years resolutions this year? Like many people, I’ve made many promises to myself over the years, that I’ve broken a short while later… especially when it comes to cutting out sweet treats 🧁🍫🍬 But this year, I’m determined to invest in myself, and my future. I’m feeling the focus! I’m not cutting anything out or thinking about negative traits I want to change. I’m not concerned about my appearance, nor am I worried about depriving myself of things I enjoy. Instead, I’m thinking about what I can add to my life. I want to enhance what I already have, and bring more value into my world. So this year, one of the ways I’ve decided to do this is by completing my masters… eek! 📚🏫 Although very costly upfront, I’m hoping that this qualification will pay off over the years to come, in increased income and opportunities! Is anyone else out there investing in themselves this year? What ways are you securing the future you want? Wishing positivity to everyone out there who’s trying to accomplish something good for themselves 👊🦾 #mastersdegree #investinyourself #newyearsresolution #goals #speculatetoaccumulate #spendmoneytomakemoney #education #addingvaluetolife #planningforsuccess #planningforthefuture (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYMuEWHBzJU/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

Easy ways to teach your child number recognition

Easy ways to teach your child number recognition

Want your child to start learning to recognising numbers? Well, it can be as easy as 1, 2, 3 with these top tips. (more…)

[reflective-parenting]

PANCAKES... With a TWIST 🥞🍫 Today’s super cheap and filling breakfast was pancakes once again. Yummy, they cost pennies to make, and for some reason the excitement never wears off for my boys! I’ve previously written about how I make my pancakes, so I won’t bore you with the details (you can search my previous posts if you want my failsafe recipe!). Today, I used that same recipe. BUT, I decided to try adding just a tiny bit less flour, and a little bit of cocoa powder. The results went down A TREAT! I mean, who doesn’t like a chocolate treat for breakfast every now and again?! 🍫 Chocolate crepes with chocolate spread. Double the chocolate = doubly delicious! 😋 #chocolate #chocolatepancakes #pancakes #crepes #doublechocolate #cheapandeasy #breakfast #brunch #kidsbreakfastideas (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CU2jd9iIsuU/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

Just some kids casually toasting a baguette over a candle, as you do 🤣 They had great fun though! 🥖 #simplethings #whyisfiresocool #toastingfood #familyfun #fire #candlelight #familymealtime #funfood #funfoodforkids #familymeal #baguette #cheapfood #kidsfun (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUA1zHSrJyb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

HOMEGROWN FOOD 🍅 A few years ago, I had no idea how easy it was to grow your own food at home. I’m still certainly no expert! 🤷‍♀️ But now I understand there’s a certain satisfaction which comes when you eat something that you have nurtured from a tiny seed (or a tiny plant, as some of mine were!). I’ve never tasted a sweeter tomato than one you’ve grown yourself 🍅 It’s really easy to get started, and I’m always suprised how much you can grow in a small space. You will also need some soil, a pot or the ground, and some seeds. But that’s it! People always give away plant pots, or sell cheaply second hand, so I save costs that way. Plus, in my local area there are many people who sell plants outside their homes, which you can buy cheaply whilst also supporting your neighbours. Another frugal tip is to buy reduced stock at the end of the season and store it for the following year. Or, you can even recycle old pots and pans, tyres, boots, or other household items that would otherwise be thrown away. My favourite things to grow are tomatoes, raspberries, herbs, potatoes, and peas, and these are also the ones I’ve had most luck with. They’re also the foods we all love! Do you grow anything? Which things work the best for you? #homegrown #fruitandveg #frugalliving #growyourownfood #moneysaving #tasty (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CT9Sb6IroNJ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

PHOTOGRAPHY 📷🤳📸 My family and I have recently discovered the joy of photography. None of us actually has any photography skills 🤣 but that doesn’t stop us enjoying trying! We all have smart phones with decent enough cameras, so that’s all we use to take our pictures. We are lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world with nature and greenery on our doorstep, so I think it was always going to be inevitable that nature was going to become our focus. Plus, there’s just so many cool natural things to look at out there! When we want to take some photographs, we just pick a nice place to walk, make sure all our phones are charged, and we’re away! It’s honestly the easiest hobby ever. Then, when we get home, we look at each other’s pictures, and see who got some interesting ones and celebrate each other’s successes (and fails!). Our photos are far from ‘picture perfect’, but it truly doesn’t matter to us. What matters is that moment you spot something fascinating, and you get carried away with wanting to take a snap of it. I would describe it as a form of mindfulness! The beauty of photography is that you can take pictures of absolutely anything, anywhere. The possibilities are endless, and can suit your individual interests and landscape. You could even make it competitive if you’re that way inclined, ie who can find the most interesting purple thing to photograph, or who can get the clearest butterfly shot. If we ever end up wanting to become more skilled, I know there are LOADS of free tutorials on YouTube we could use to upskill ourselves. But for now, it’s enough just to lose ourself in the moment 🌲🌷🐛🦆🦢🦋 Cheap, easy, and relaxing - my favourite things 💚 #photography #naturephotography #familyhobbies #cheapandeasy #mindfulness #frugalliving (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTznohSsKwP/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

The WOODS 🌳🌲🏡 There is something about a visit to the woods that is good for the soul 🥰 I’m not sure it’s the sounds of nature all around, the fresh air, the feeling of freedom, or the sense of adventure, but we always have a great time exploring in the woods. We can even go to same woods every day and it’s still exciting. There’s always a new path to be walked, a new tree to be climbed, or a new creature to be discovered. My children always make me smile in wonder too. I watch them turn from civilised creatures (well, civilised - ish 🤣) to wild boys, exploring each stick they find and jumping each puddle or stream they come across. Nature is a powerful source of joy for us 🌷 What was the last woods you visited? #nature #familytime #forest #woods #puddles #streams #thrifty #moneysavingideas #savingmoneyuk #trees #joy #peaceful #outside #outdoors #adventures #adventureswithchildren #dogwalking #walking #exerciseoutdoors #mentalhealth #wellbeing #wellbeinginnature #happiness #frugalliving #frugallivinguk #livinglife #walkinthewoods #wildlife (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTuOrYaAN7Q/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

CATERPILLAR 🐛 On a recent camping trip, we found that a huge, sticky caterpillar had attached itself to the side of our tent. Cue complete fascination from my kids (and me!) 🔍 After a while of looking at it closely, we searched the internet to try to find out what type of caterpillar it was. We found out that it was a type of moth called a hawk moth. My boys debated where they thought the best place to put it would be, and eventually decided on a big bush. Such a simple thing gave us so much joy! We were completely engrossed in watching how it moved, it’s colours, and the small details on its body. It honestly never ceases to amaze me how much there is to do outside in nature, and how much there is to see if you’re open to noticing it 🌳🐛 #nature #kidsinnature #caterpillar #moth #wildlife #creepycrawlies #outdoors #outside #outdoorliving #outdooractivities #naturespotting #bugs #familytime #exploreoutdoors #youneverknowwhatyoullfind #countryliving #natureisbeautiful #coolnature #timeinnatureisfree #timewellspent #learningaboutnature #hawkmoth #outsidefun #naturelover #savingmoneyuk #funoutdoors #children #livingamongstnature (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTsfOf1rkxf/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

MINDSET is EVERYTHING! 🤯 This quote really struck a cord with me, for some reason. I waste SO MUCH time watching tv, or messing around on my phone. Please tell me I’m not alone 🤦🏼‍♀️ This quote is not about the Lamborghini for me. I do not want a Lamborghini! 🏎 What I do want, however, is the mindset to get up and take action to better myself, instead of wasting valuable time. I want to spend time learning new skills and all about my deepest likes and dislikes, not about my favourite programmes on Netflix. I want to be able to leave this planet knowing I lived my best life, not wasted it on the sofa. I vow that from this moment on, I’m going to put more effort into doing, rather than watching! I made myself a little motivational list of what I could be working on instead of watching TV: *reading *painting or crafting *a side hustle *spending quality time with my family * exercising And that list doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of what I could achieve! Just 30 minutes less TV watching per day would give me an extra 3.5 hours per week to nurture my interests. 1 hour less would give me 7 whole hours! ⏰ What would you do with 7 extra hours in a week?! #mindsetmatters #mindsetiseverything #hobbies #money #positiveattitude #investinyourself #spendtimewisely #lesstv #lesstvmorecreativity #lesstvmoreadventures #lesstvmorereading #lesstv #reevaluateyourlife #wellbeing #mentalhealth #selfcare #domore #moretimeliving #lesslaziness #time #selfnurture #positivemindset #moretimeforme #moretimeforhobbies (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTpntOgrsYs/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

HOT TUB RELAXING 😎 🛁 One of my favourite recent purchases is my hot tub 😍 It was not a cheap purchase, but it gives me and my family lots of value - it is relaxing, fun, and a good space to spend quality time together free from distractions (although we do sometimes have to shout at each other the noise of the bubbles 🤣) Sometimes, I think it’s important to consider the ‘wants’, as well as the ‘needs’ when you think about money. I’m all for saving and living frugally, but what’s life without a little enjoyment every now and again? As long as it isn’t going to destroy your budget or mean you can’t put food on the table, then the occasional treat can make the more tight budgeting times all the more bearable. What’s the last ‘want not need’ item you bought? #frugallife #familytime #familyfinance #savingmoneyuk #budgetliving #budget #joy #happiness #treats #thriftymom #littletreats #wantnotneed #enjoyyourlife #enjoylife #children #relaxing #hottubfun #jacuzzi #diyspaday #selfcare #spendwisely #wants (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTh7gyWDIbb/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

CANDLE MAKING 🕯 I bought my kids a cheap and cheerful candle making kit, which went down a treat! They had a great time layering all the different colours in the little pots, and enjoyed watching them melt as the wick burned down. The kit cost £3 to buy from The Works, which I thought was a really great price 💰 For such a pocket friendly cost, my children got to have a go at a new skill together, and learn more about their creative side. They spent quality time together, talking about what they were doing, and proudly showed off their handiwork after. They enjoyed it so much that they want to make more! I love watching my boys working together to create something beautiful 😍 but seeing how calm and focused they were really made me understand how important the small joys in life are to a child’s sense of wellbeing. Sometimes a small cost brings huge joy! It’s always the little moments which tug on my heart strings the most ♥️ #candlemaking #candles #familyhobby #trysomethingnew #trysomethingdifferent #moneywellspent #cheaphobbies #wax #mindfulness #kidsmentalhealth #wellbeing #enjoythelittlethings #lowcost #inexpensiveactivities #spendwisely #frugalliving #familybonding #kidshobbies #enjoyeverymoment #joy #thriftyfun #spendless #creative #homemade #homemadecandles #craft #diycrafts #diycandles #wellbeing (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTc7wvdr6SX/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

PAINTING 🧑‍🎨 🎨 🖼 My son has developed a fascination with watching Bob Ross paint! Like every sane 9 year old does 🤣 So, to nurture this interest a little bit, I invested in some canvas, paint brushes, and acrylic paint so he could have a go himself. He was SO pleased with himself, and it occupied him for such a long time. He was peaceful, calm, and focused as he delicately applied the paint to his canvas. I bought the resources from The Works, as they were all reasonably priced. This canvas was in a pack of 3 for £10, and I also bought some smaller ones which were 3 for £3. 12 small bottles of acrylic paints were £3, and the paint brushes were a couple of pounds. So I could’ve just given him paper to paint on, which would have been much cheaper, and he would have enjoyed it. But the feeling he got from painting a ‘real’ painting was one of pure joy and pride. Which for me is totally priceless 😍💵 Sometimes the beauty in being frugal is not just buying cheaply or being careful with money, but seeing the value in spending money wisely on things which will truly make a difference in life 🎨♥️ #painting #art #landscape #cheaphobby #canvaspainting #canvasart #inspired #budgetliving #frugalhobby #mindfulness #mountains #peacefulactivities #bobross #artistintraining #acrylicpainting #beginnerartwork #thriftyhobbies #paints #firstcanvaspainting #nurtureyoursoul #nurtureyourinterests #savingmoneyuk #kidsmentalhealth #wellbeing (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTX8sv8j1EG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

SELF CARE 💕😘 I think how we take care of ourselves has been something all of us have had to consider in one way or another recently. But when you’re a parent, this becomes even more important. Your children count on you to be the best version of yourself, which is very difficult to manage when you’re not actually feeling like the best version of yourself! I haven’t got a huge budget to spend on looking after myself, but it’s still a massive consideration for me. So, I have to find thrifty ways to help myself feel mentally and physically well, without breaking the bank. I often try to recreate the ‘spa experience’ at home. A few lit candles, some relaxing scents, calming music, and a cooling eye mask (which I picked up from Primark for £3) are enough to take me from stressed out to feeling chilled. I just close the blinds and the door, and spend 5 minutes to myself (or sometimes 30!). But there are loads of little ways to look after yourself, which cost little to nothing. Here are some of my personal favourites: *drawing, painting and colouring *cooking a nutritious and tasty meal *talking a walk in nature *reflecting on 3 things which make you feel happy each day *wrapping up in a blanket and watching a film Being a parent doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice your own needs, it just means you might have to get a little bit more creative with your time, effort, and resources! What are the things that you do for yourself to feel good? #mentalhealth #parenting #parentsmentalhealthmatters #parentsmentalhealth #selfcare #metime #lookafteryourself #frugalselfcare #homespa #relaxing #lessstress #cheapselfcare #diyspa #loveyourself #savemoney #moneysavingideas #selfcareonabudget #bathtime #wellbeing #wellness #budgetliving #budgetrelaxation #selflove #bekindtoyourself #begoodtoyourself (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTVDtVpj_OZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[reflective-parenting]

🛶 BOATING FUN 🚣‍♂️ It’s crazy how much joy the simple things in life can bring you! 💕 We bought a couple of cheap dingys for the kids (they were just over £30 each for a 2 man), and headed to a local river. Money well spent!!!! 💵💰🤑 I’ve spent more than that on a couple of hours boat hire before, and it felt like total peace and freedom 😍 I’m always amazed by what being in nature can make you feel 💧🌳 What outdoor activities bring you a sense of joy? #boat #river #peaceandtranquility #boating #dingy #sailing #nature #outdoors #wildwater #rafting #familyactivities #kidsinnature #noviceboating #familyadventures #cheaphobbies #relaxing #outdooradventure #simplethings #enjoylife #enjoythelittlethings #mentalhealth #joy #familybonding #healthyhobbies #healthyliving #healthyhobbies #mentallyhealthy #happykids #cheapfun #frugalliving #liveeachday (at Norfolk) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTRjYw0rBuY/?utm_medium=tumblr