I have been trying really hard to be more frugal but to be honest it doesn't come easily. I love shopping and that isn't solely for my shoe habit but I also love to buy for my girls and am always searching to find the "perfect" present for friends.

I see so many fabulous money saving blogs online, such as Mums Savvy Savings and every week I get reminded that there are things that I can do to make life a little less costly. So in an attempt to monitor my spending habits, I am joining in the Five Fabulously Frugal Things linky again this week. 

1. Making a phone call really can save you money! My husbands car insurance came through and we were checking it against the current policy and despite 9 years no claims, we were disappointed to learn that it had increased. So after making a few phone calls to get some other quotes, we went back to our existing insurer and they matched the best price which was actually a saving on last years policy!

2. My Taste Card still continues to make us savings as a familiy and not only can we save 40% on cinema tickets but we save on the drinks and popcorn too! You can imagine that we are suddenly visiting the cinema a little more so not entirely sure this is saving me money in the long run!

3. We visited our local water park at the weekend. It costs £4.50 to enter the park and you can be there until it closes at dusk. We took a picnic and popped into the supermarket on the way to get a reduced loaf of bread to feed the ducks. So for the grand total of £5.00 and some things from the fridge we had a fabulous day out in the sunshine. 

4. Encouraging the children to save! I save for the girls but I have been trying to get them to take ownership of their own money more and more. This seems to be helping them to understand and realise how much they want something. They both want hamsters at the moment and we have a chart on the wall with how much money is needed to buy the hamsters and cage. You wouldn't believe the offers I have had for doing chores in exchange for pennies for the pot. 

5. We have enjoyed PJ days at home, it is amazing how much money you DON'T spend when you just stay in the house and enjoy being at home. 

How about you?

Have you been money savvy this week? Do you have any words of wisdom or useful tips?

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Quality time with grandparents is important for families. Both children and grandparents benefit in numerous ways from spending time together. I read an article last week about how grandparents spending time with their grandchildren are apparently less likely to develop Dementia And Alzheimer’s. (!!)

As a grandparent, life is less hectic so here are some ideas to enhance your quality time with fun activities that help you stay connected. 

Bake Something Sweet

If you enjoy baking, you can share your love of this pastime with your grandkids and also teach them some important cooking and baking skills. Even toddlers can help in the baking process by pouring dry ingredients in a bowl and helping to mix batter. Think about the types of desserts your grandchildren enjoy and be sure to keep the ingredients on hand for the next time they come for a visit.

Colouring

Colouring is a quiet and relaxing activity that appeals to kids as well as adults. With the mandala coloring app, you can color a veritable masterpiece with your grandkids. To learn more about this easy-to-use app, just click the link. Coloring is a perfect pastime for grandparents and kids because it doesn't require 100% mental focus; families can still enjoy interesting conversations while creating their work of art.

Read

A great way to enjoy quality time is to read together. Take your grandchildren to the local library or your favorite bookstore to stock up on picture books or paperbacks. You can read a novel together or you can read to the kids if they prefer. Reading builds skills that kids need to perform well in school so it's definitely a great way to spend a morning or afternoon.

Memory Lane

Pull out all of your old pictures to acquaint your grandkids with your past and relatives they may not have met. Photographs can lead to fun storytelling and help kids get to know you better. As a special project, consider helping your grandchildren make a family tree that they can display in their bedroom.

Visit an Orchard

From strawberry picking to apple harvesting, local farmstands and orchards often feature opportunities for people to pick their own produce. You and your grandchildren can enjoy some fun in the sunshine while picking out yummies to bring home. With so many youngsters spending time with their video games, it's important to give them balance by ensuring that they stay connected to Mother Nature too.

Play Games

From cards to dominoes, non-electronic games might be a refreshing change for kids and certainly provide plenty of fun for grandparents too. Board games that grandparents played as kids are still exciting for kids today. Break out the Monopoly or Risk board and spend an afternoon gaming with a bowl of popcorn or chips to share.

Keep these activities in mind for when your grandkids come for a visit. They certainly don't require much money but they can provide your family with priceless quality time. With all the fun you'll have, don't be surprised when the kids beg to come again soon!

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Baby Annabell is not just a baby doll. Baby Annabell is part of our family, she has been here since my eldest daughter was young and is still a firm family favourite with our youngest daughter.  So it is no surprise that she is the UK’s number one nurturing doll and Baby Annabell has several exciting new additions to its popular range of dolls and accessories this spring. 

We were therefore very excited to get the chance to review My First Baby Annabell Bathing Doll. We wanted to know what makes her fully bathable as we have had dolls in the past that you could use in the bath and they ended up mouldy and full of water. But this new edition to the My First Baby Annabell range has a smooth touch body and comes with her very own bathtub.

Without sounding too strange, the body on My First Baby Annabell Bathing Doll is really soft, without joints to get water into (and ultimately go mouldy)  and when she isn't wet and splashing around in the bath, you can dress her and she is lovely to cuddle. 

At a recommended retail price of £23.99, it is well priced (especially considering you get the bath too) and my daughter can't wait to take it in the pool with her on holiday! She is smaller and lighter than a "standard" Baby Annabell doll, so will fit better in the suitcase too. 

My First Baby Annabell Bathing Doll is a big hit in our house and we are delighted to tell you that the kind folk at Zapf are giving you the chance to win one of your very own!  

All you need to do is enter below! Good luck!

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions

The Prize: My First Baby Annabell Bathing Doll - RRP £23.99
The winners will be chosen at random by the random winner generator on Rafflecopter and notified within 7 working days by email
By entering this competition, you understand that your details may be retained for future mailings. You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time.
There is no monetary equivalent.
Little Lilypad Co take no /responsibility for loss or damage in the despatch of prizes
If the prize is unclaimed within 7 days we reserve the right to redraw the winner.
End Date 22/04/2017 at 12am

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Half term has already started for many schools but how do you keep a pre-teen occupied when all they really want to do is sit on YouTube and watch videos of people making slime! (I kid you not).

So having consulted our resident pre-teen, here are the top things that are on this holiday's to do list.

1. Sleepover

Grab 2-3 friends, get some popcorn, snacks and non alcoholic cocktails and it can be a relatively cheap way to entertain a group of girls. Even better if you have Netflix or Now TV and you can let them watch a movie or their favourite box set.

2. Get active.

There are so many trampoline parks or climbing walls, that this is a great alternative to sitting in front of a computer and great exercise too. It is a lovely way to bond ..... because who said that climbing walls had to be for the kids.

3. Go shopping.

Both of my girls love to shop (neither of them inherited my nose thankfully but they do seem to have developed my love of shopping). My pre-teen daughter is becoming more and more conscious of brand names, such as Converse, Nike and Adidas but I always find it is best to check out sites such as Lovethesales for the best deals. 

4. Let them lie in

After relentlessly dragging them out of bed every morning of the school term, there will be nothing that gives you brownie points more than allowing them to lie in till whatever time they want.

5. Give in to the power of YouTube

If all else fails, you could buy all the relevant "ingredients", pop on YouTube and make a batch of slime!

Do you have any other tips? 

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