Clare Macnaughton's Blog, page 33

Teaching Kids Good Money Management

It’s incredible how much kids learn at school. From the useful stuff like maths and science, to the stuff you maybe don’t want them to know that they learn from their friends! The general consensus amongst most parents and school leavers alike, however, is that more real life skills should be taught in schools. Many kids leave for university with no idea how to look after themselves or how to do all the life admin that comes with being an adult. Although maths is taught is school, it is rarely explained how this applies to real life situations. A shortcoming when you consider it will mostly be used for personal finance issues. So it seems that the responsibility rests with parents to ensure that kids learn how to manage their money with military precision!

 

Spending

It is important to teach kids from a young age about the value of money. One way to do this is to give them pocket money and show them what this can (and can’t!) afford. Don’t scare young children by making them worry about finances, but make them aware that things do cost money and that you have to work hard in order to be able to afford luxuries. Older kids should be taught in a little more detail, as they will soon need to understand borrowing for mortgages, financing further studies, and maybe as a helping hand when starting out in a career. Explain to them about credit ratings, as mistakes at 18 could stick with them well into their twenties, scuppering any plans for buying a house or similar. They can do their own credit check (http://www.creditexpert.co.uk/experian-credit-check.aspx) from the age of 18 to see where, if any, problems lie.

 

Saving

Learning to save for what you want is an important part of growing up, but for primary age kids and teenagers alike, this can go against their impulsive nature. Teach young children to save money they have earned doing chores or as pocket money for something they really want, rather than just buying it for them. There are also many board games that are based on currency and saving – why not try one of the versions of Monopoly to teach speculation for accumulation? There’s even a new chip and pin version complete with card machine.

Older teenagers should be taught about different types of savings, and how to get the best out of their nest eggs. Times are hard and the interest rates aren’t great, but there are still good tax options like ISAs to help counter this. Children’s saving accounts historically give good rates, so get your older children researching the best deals online.

 

Bills

While your kids are at home you can provide a roof over their heads, warmth, power and water. Once they leave they will be responsible for all these things, something that can take many by surprise when they first start living by themselves. Explaining to your kids that the things they take for granted do cost money could help in two ways. If kids are aware that the electric, water and gas that they use aren’t free they may use less and save you some money. They will also not be surprised when they move out and the first water bill arrives giving them a fighting chance of looking after themselves financially in the real world.

Encourage kids to take steps to conserve energy and resources, to save money and help towards saving the environment too.

School will equip your kids with all the education they need to get a job and become good contributing members of society. It is down to us as parents to educate them about the practical stuff and the ways of the world. By teaching your kids about militant money management when they are still living at home you can save yourself a lot of panicked phone calls about their finances, and might even prevent a withdrawal from the bank of mum and dad in a few years time. No promises though!

The post Teaching Kids Good Money Management appeared first on Modern Military Mother .

Why healthcare is no longer a question of NHS v private: pioneering scheme offers the best of both world

Guest Post:

None of us want to get ill. But millions of UK people who do face two major concerns. They worry not only about their condition, but also the length of time it will take to see the right medical specialist.

This is borne out in the latest patient surveys. A recent report shows that as many as 32% are worried about the time it takes to see a specialist consultant; 32% about the time it takes to get treatment; and 30% about the time it takes to get a condition diagnosed.

This is where as.one can help

Healthcare in the UK is often unfairly billed as “NHS versus private”.

But for millions of Britons this does not have to be the case any longer.

Imagine the best of both worlds: the available-for-all NHS but with the expertise of instantly-accessible specialist consultants.

 

Sounds like just a pipedream?

It is not only real, it is readily available already – thanks to a pioneering new approach to healthcare.

as.one offers both the NHS and private healthcare as possible options in a subscription service available to all.

 

Finding the right consultant has been a game of snakes and ladders.

The snakes come in the shape of red tape, misdiagnoses and being sent to the wrong specialist, which can push you back to the bottom of the board.

as.one deals only in ladders, making it easy to get in touch with the right consultants as quickly as possible. They will give you the best possible advice without the need for medical insurance or health plans.

They can advise you whether to use the NHS or go private from a clinical and financial viewpoint.

as.one removes the fuss and hassle by bypassing the middleman of the GP referral stage.

 

How soon can this be done? 

as.one specialist Bruce Braithwaite said: “An elderly lady noticed she’d lost part of her ability to see.

“She went to her GP, who booked her an appointment on the NHS. But it was going to be six weeks before she was seen. As a member of as.one, she was able to call an ophthalmologist, who moved her into his NHS clinic two days later to have her condition fixed.

“She was seen quickly, treated on the NHS and had quite a lot of her sight saved.”

Your consultant will assess you and make a diagnosis. If treatment or tests are needed, they will talk you through all the options, recommending the best doctors and hospitals for your needs.

They will normally recommend the NHS, but if you are not eligible or if you want to pay for private treatment, this can be discussed too.

If you need treatments that are no longer available on the NHS, you can be confident of receiving the best possible private treatment.

Bruce added: “Members will come to me to ask who is the best doctor to go to for their condition and maybe where the best hospital is, whether it’s a private hospital or an NHS one.”

Membership costs just £25 a month or 5% less if you pay yearly (£285).

 

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Messed Up World by Ben Macnaughton produced by 80s music impresario Anthony Clark

My 10 yr old, The Grenade aka Ben Macnaughton is about to release a single called Messed Up World – which he wrote and performed himself. It’s produced by 80s music producer Anthony Clark, who has toured with T’Pau, Haircut 100, Rick Astley, Bay City Rollers, Joan Armatrading to name but a few.

 

This awesome track was written and performed by 10 year old Ben Macnaughton #BenUKXmasNo1 #MessedUpWorld

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4h0p1EgxLk&feature=youtu.be

 

#BenUKXmasNo1 #MessedUpWorld

 

It would be funny if we could get it to the Christmas No 1 but of course, we need people to rally behind it. Please share the love.

He has never been to stage school so it’s very homemade, keeping it real, as you will see not some Disney or Sylvia Young, manufactured bullshit. Howvever, he has lived his whole life in the shadow of war. We are currently talking to SSAFA and will be donating a percentage of the royalties to military charity.

Let me know what you think. I think the video is hilarious because it’s a one take special. I hope you like.

The post Messed Up World by Ben Macnaughton produced by 80s music impresario Anthony Clark appeared first on Modern Military Mother .

Guest Post: Five easy teatime tummy-fillers

Parenthood is a full-time job and whether you’ve got a hectic work schedule or you’re a busy single parent, it’s tough finding the time to tick everything off your ever-growing to-do list.

Prepping and cooking meals is a time consuming business – and there are three of them to organise every day! Throw in bath time, helping with homework and making sure the brood gets to bed on time and your evening leaves little time for much else.

 

 

 

 

 

But don’t despair – there are tips and tricks for kicking back for some well-deserved ‘me time’. Here are a few easy meals for the kids you can whip up in no time, giving you at least some of the evening that you can enjoy soaking in a hot bubble bath or sprawled out in front of the TV.

1.     Chicken and chips

Tender chicken baked to perfection in the oven served with a helping of French fries will go down a treat with the kids and yourself! Wrap a slice of bacon round the chicken to give it some extra flavour and throw some vegetables into the mix to round off the five-a-day. On days where time is on your side, you could make chips from scratch; otherwise McCain is a trusted family brand for golden, crispy and delicious fries.

2.     Jacket potato and baked beans

Jackets potatoes are really easy to make. Pop them in the oven or microwave until done and then serve up with the all-time favourite topping – baked beans. Jackets are incredibly versatile and go well with an assortment of toppings such as tuna, cheese and chilli.

3.     Easy chicken casserole

Many people associate the word ‘casserole’ with spending hours slaving over a hot stove, but nothing could be further from the truth! One pot casseroles take around 20 minutes to prepare then all you have to do is leave it sizzling on the hob for half an hour. Casseroles are filling and warming – perfect for a chilly winter’s day.

4.     Baked salmon

 If your kids are happy with fish dishes, baked salmon is a great way to provide them with a quick, tasty and healthy meal. Salmon is a great source of omega-3 which has been shown to improve cognitive function in children, so wrap it up in foil and leave in the oven for 20 minutes while you boil potatoes and vegetables to go with it.5.     

5.      Fajitas

Clean-up time may take longer than usual, but when fajitas are so quick and easy to make you will probably find you can spare an extra couple of minutes to wipe grubby hands and chins! Grab a fajita pack from the local supermarket along with onions, peppers and chicken. Whip up in about 20 minutes and voila – a tasty meal for the whole family. Encourage the kids to add salad to their wrap to tick off those final five-a-day.

 

 

 

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Real Life – This Morning’s #AttachmentParenting feature – Is Katie Hopkins a misogynist?

I have written extensively over the years about how women get pulled into debates that divide us. The latest one which received a lot of attention yesterday, 12th November, was on This Morning when Peaches Geldof was pitched against Katy Hopkins on a discussion on #AttachmentParenting.

This Morning debate on #AttachmentParenting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On watching this debate, and in real life, I discover that I am in fact an ‘Attachement Parent’. I had no idea. It wasn’t a conscious choice. I haven’t read any books on it and I don’t follow the seven ‘B’s, whatever they are, by choice but somehow in-advertently it would appear I follow them because instinctively to me that feels right. I did carry my babies but in a Baby Bjorn, not an Indian tie dyed wrap around. I don’t even own a pair of Birkenstocks, let alone know how to knit a pair. To be honest I couldn’t even knit a scarf. I did breast feed on demand, and sometimes in Costa coffee, until my son was about four months old and with my daughter until she was 8 months old. I co-slept with my son until he was 7 years old and he chose not to sleep in my bed anymore and my 5 year old tends to come in most nights at some point.

Last night, at around 2am, my 5 year old crawled into bed with me. She said she wasn’t feeling very well. Within about 10 minutes the bed had turned into a furnace and she was little a boiler heater next to me. She had a fever and I was able to lie with her, keep her regularly dosed with paracetamol and fluid. This morning I knew for sure that she was ill and should not go to school. I felt blessed that I could stay at home with her and I didn’t have to go to an office, where I could be judged by fellow colleagues for not being there and that I have the luxury of the flexibility to work from home. In real life, when you are a 5 year old child and you are sick, you want to be at home being nursed by someone who loves you unconditionally.

My mum died when I was 2 years old so I wasn’t the child of attachment parenting by default and to a great extent my disrupted childhood and the lack of security of not having a mother led to many great obstacles and challenges that I wouldn’t wish upon my own children if I can at all avoid it. I can remember being sent to school sick because there was no childcare, or being sick in my dad’s car because he still had to go to work. Being ill was an inconvenience because with two working adults, there was no-one in place to accommodate a poorly little girl.

For me, the most important facet that a child can feel is to know, without exception, is that they are loved and their parents are on their side. Now how that love is manifested or demonstrated to the child is down to the individual but both my children know that I have their back, that they can come to me, and that I will listen to them, help them if I can, or at least equip them to help themselves.

My children are a little spoilt, if I am honest, but they are not brats. They have good manners and they, on the whole, do as they are told. Of course, they test the boundaries and we battle and discuss, negotiate, agree, sometimes there is shouting. It’s normal like most households with growing children trying to assert their independence.

Katie Hopkin’s misogyny upsets me because she has influence, which she chooses to use against women. In my opinion, I can only assume she wants to be a man because she courts their favour as she holds her own gender in complete disregard. Perhaps she suffers from Freud’s ‘Penis Envy’. Of course, the media give her a platform to spout her misogyny which she revels in and adores. It’s as if she is a real life, pantomime villain. In the debate with Peaches Geldof, Katie Hopkins didn’t actually offer any perspective on her own parenting strategy at all.

In fact, all she did was make snide comments with sweeping statements:

“It’s all a bit “knit your own Birkenstocks” for me. AP is just one step away from CR-AP parenting.”

On the subject of baby wearing, where mothers hold their children close to them via a sling,

Katie said: ‘I wear a handbag, I don’t wear a baby.‘You see these women with 15 metres worth of Indian print fabric, it’s always Indian print, wrapped around their body and somewhere in there there’s a mewling baby.’

‘It’s all a bit knit your own yoghurt.’

She also was very disdainful about breastfeeding on a day when the Government was talking about incentivising women to breastfeed.

I am left wondering if attachment parenting is so wrong then is detachment parenting better? I think ultimately children are individuals and their needs should be met in response to their bespoke requirements. I don’t believe in a one-fits-all solution and I tailor my parenting accordingly. This parenting is not directed by books by my instincts, observations and dialogues with both my children. In my experience of being a child that has grown into an adult, my peers who were loved and supported by their parents into adulthood are the ones that are happier. Not more successful but instead who laugh more freely.

I wish we would stop pitching women against each other. I don’t see any debates on ‘fathers who are not there for their children versus dedicated dads’. It’s as if the whole onus on parenting falls down to women and not to men. Men don’t have to be answerable for dedicating their lives to their careers. A friend of mine, who is climbing the military ladder met a General who told him honestly, I got to this rank ‘by completely neglecting my family’. Well done to that man. What a sterling effort.

Where are the debates on male responsibility to their children. Instead we are in the perpetual motion of women, who the majority are under paid, under appreciated and disrespected have to be castigated and vilified in pantomime style debates with ‘rent-a-female-misogynist’ Katie Hopkins, while the men rub their hands with glee, laughing at the bitchfest in the bull pit, sitting pretty on the higher ground.

Come on women in the media – you can do better than this!! Use your influence to create debates that help the female gender not this petty girl on girl mud fighting which continually divides us. It’s time we worked together!!

See these posts on the great female divide:

The Battle of the bottle and the boob

Girls v Girls

All of these and more are available in my book:

A Modern Military Mother – Tales from the Domestic Frontline

Available now from
- Amazon worldwide
- Audible.co.uk

Audio Book

Clare Macnaughton is a modern military mother; a feminist British military spouse and lifestyle journalist writing about real life adventures.

I’d love to hear from you so please feel free to get in touch.

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Family Vacations: Get The Most Of It With Car Rentals

Family Vacations: Get The Most Of It With Car Rentals

Family vacations come in many different varieties, but the one thing they all have in common is no one wants to feel stressed when they actually planned to unwind and just have a great time. That’s why it’s worth looking into car rental as an alternative way to travel with ease whilst on vacation. Because it’s often possible to get good discounts on car rentals, the idea is likely to be more affordable than you think. Here are five reasons a car rental can help you make the most of your family vacation:

1. You can arrive and drive, then travel at your own pace and take as little, or as much, time as you like at each tourist attraction, instead of having to ‘follow the crowd’. Also, you won’t have to squash into a bus, coach or train with them afterwards – giving your family extra privacy and space.

2. You get to choose the most suitable car for your vacation. This might mean, for example, hiring a Motorhome to go touring, a 4 x 4 for discovering rough terrain, or an Estate model for extra luggage space and comfort.

3. You won’t have to depend on public transport, and you won’t be limited to organised tours. So, you gain the freedom to set your own itinerary and explore places off the beaten track.

4. Extras such as child seats for safety, breakdown cover for emergencies, and a satnav for easy navigation, all help to make your rental car more comfortable, and you won’t have to worry about overspending because many car rental companies charge very affordable rates. In fact, if you can track down some special deals and discounts on car rentals, that would reduce the cost even more.

5. As a welcome bonus, fuel costs in many overseas countries are cheaper than the UK. This is true in the USA, for example, and in several European countries such as France, Spain, Portugal and Austria.

When you have checked the top family vacation spots and have chosen your destination, a vacation car rental is easy to arrange. Then, once it’s done, all you and your family have to do is turn up at the airport.

Bon voyage!

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Women explode ‘sports car driver’ myth

Male drivers of green cars such as the Honda Insight are seen as desirable by many women

Men thinking about investing in an expensive, high-powered sports car to impress the ladies may wish to reconsider and opt for a more eco-friendly vehicle instead.

A new survey has found that while 48% of men believe an expensive motor helps to make them more attractive to women, over half (53%) of female drivers think such motorists are arrogant and irresponsible.

Meanwhile, the poll by Motors.co.uk found that drivers of ‘green’ cars, like the Nissan Leaf, Toyota Prius or Honda Insight are seen as conscientious, safe and intelligent by both men and women alike.

More than a third of the women among the 2,000 UK adults quizzed for the survey said they think the drivers of pricey sports cars are a danger on the roads, with nearly half (44%) perceiving them to be self-centred.

The female motorists consider, in general, the owners of saloon cars such as the Ford Mondeo, Renault Megane or Honda Accord to be safe and hard-working, while viewing hatchback drivers as modest.

Meanwhile, among the motorists surveyed, black was found to be the most popular colour for a car.

Phil Jones, commercial director of Motors.co.uk, said the survey provides an “interesting snapshot” of how car drivers are perceived by their fellow motorists.

He said it shows the “bad-boy sports car stereotype” is still held by many.

Mr Jones added: “The disparity between men and women suggests that the yummy mummy ‘Chelsea tractor’ stereotype might be having a similar effect on men as sports cars appear to be having on women.”

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Reasons to Play Bingo

Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapitol.com

Bingo is a game that has enjoyed a massive surge in popularity since it went online – and now there are more than 100 million online bingo players around the world. Bingo has always been popular but it used to appeal more to a niche sector of the population – namely older ladies who could spend the afternoon or evening down at the local bingo hall two or three times a week. Online bingo, on the other hand, appeals to anyone and everyone and there are plenty of reasons why.

Convenience

You can play online bingo whenever you feel like it. If you are an insomniac and login to your favourite site in the middle of the night, there’ll be a game about to start in the next few minutes. When you’re bored with the usual fodder that British TV channels have on offer and you can’t go out because you’ve got kids asleep upstairs in bed, click onto a bingo site and you’ll be getting value entertainment in moments. You can even play online bingo as you travel – on the bus or train on the way to and from work – as many bingo sites now have mobile apps so you can play on your smartphone.

Value

Bingo has always been a cheap game to play, but now it’s better value than ever. For tiny stakes – many games only start out at 5p – you can stand to win amazing, life-changing amounts of money. Moreover, you can now play real games without putting any of your own money down. Online casinos have a lot of option on offer. For example, play no deposit bingo at costabingo.com simply by signing up and registering a debit or credit card. You’ll be given £5 to play with for free. And if you decide to put your own money into a bingo account, a small amount will buy you a lot of games (and therefore entertainment) so there’s no need to feel guilty about spending a bit of money on bingo now and then. Also, once you’re a player who’s made a deposit, you’ll be entitled to join in the free bingo games that have real cash jackpots to play for.

Fun

Staying at home with the kids all the time isn’t always fun. Sometimes you long for another adult to have a conversation with. Online bingo is great for this! As the game plays itself once you’ve bought a ticket, you don’t need to sit concentrating on the number calls – the software marks any matching numbers on your ticket for you. This leaves you free to enter the bingo chat rooms and see which other players are online and ready for a natter. And when you’re in the chat rooms, there are lots of other things to keep you busy – like the chat games that the chat moderator runs. Some people win more in the chat games than they do on the tickets they’ve bought for the scheduled bingo games, so it’s always worth joining in whatever’s going on.

Whatever your reason for playing online bingo, you’re bound to have fun while you’re doing it!

 

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Framing the Perfect Sleep

 

Modern romantic Scandinavian design Sleep Therapy woodland fairy tale

Bed frames don’t get the respect they deserve. Mattresses and bed linens attract endless attention with things like sleep numbers, scientifically advanced coils and thread counts in the thousands, but the frame is the structure upon which all the other elements rest. The frame of your bed plays a pivotal role in quality of sleep and the aesthetic style of your bedroom.

 

Bedrooms are often considered places of sanctuary; that private space in which to retreat, rest and snuggle up. But bed frames should also should be a reflection of your tastes and personal style, so that it remains somewhere that feels like your own. Here are a few frame options for your bed that consider materiality, storage needs and style.

 

 

 

M aterials

 

Minimalist and contemporary decor schemes would likely accommodate metal frames for their clean lines and simple elegance. Whether vintage or modern, the detailing of many metal bed frames make them appear sleek and light, lifting the bed off the ground and creating space underneath for additional storage.

 

Timber has long been a popular material choice for all sorts of bedrooms. Wood frames are traditional and somewhat neutral meaning they can fit in easily with a range of styles. Timber frames can be strong and sturdy or sleek and simple depending on the design. One of the best things about wooden frames is that they can incorporate storage into the design via under-bed drawers, which makes it easier to maintain a spacious and uncluttered look in the bedroom.

 

 

 

Storage Styles

 

One step beyond storage frames are Ottoman frames in which the mattress rests on a hinge that swings up creating an entire storage area beneath the bed. This is a great frame solution for small rooms and people in need of economical and efficient storage options in the home.

 

For a frame that provides even more storage, consider a loft frame. This design lifts the actual bed well above the ground creating open space underneath which is ideal for a work or play area depending on specific needs. Many children’s bedroom benefit from the extra room a loft bed allows.

 

 

 

Get inspired

 

The latest trends in bed frame design are not all inspired by the modern world. Get creative with your bedroom style and take your cue from traditional Mexican fabrics and carved wooden inlays, or escape to your own fairytale with a romantic four poster design and sheer drapes. Or, for a general vintage feel, think distressed wooden bed frames, accessorised with things like patchwork quilts or sepia photographs.

 

As beds are typically the largest piece of furniture in a bedroom, they naturally become the focal point of a design scheme. Materiality and functionality are of the utmost importance in conjuring the perfect bedroom style so try to balance the two to get the most relaxing, uncluttered and aesthetically pleasing experience.

 

Image by Wicker Paradise, used under Creative Comms license

 

 

 

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Safe Sex in Cougar Town

I read an article recently about the increase in HIV in the 50 plus generation. With divorce rates on the rise and a cultural sense of sexual liberation once the shackles of fidelity and marriage are unleashed then it’s the highway to Humpville.

When I was a young adult and sexually active the advertising was everywhere; use condoms and play safe. As well as prevention against sexually transmitted diseases they were also there to prevent against unwanted pregnancy.  It’s one thing being a young adult, sexually trepidacious and wearing your welly boots to prevent the clap it’s definitely another being a sterile, sexually experienced, middle aged person putting yourself back out there.

Sexually transmitted diseases are not ageist and they’ll infect the young and old. Yet, advertising and awareness hasn’t quite caught up with the older divorcees, infidels and the sexually promiscuous, instead we are still teaching the young to protect themselves and forgetting about the older generation.

 

Play safe

I think it’s easier as an adult to think that it wouldn’t happen to me and to jump into bed with a stranger without using a condom; especially if they have had a vasectomy, or tubes tied, or even post menopausal and pregnancy is no longer a risk. With sexually experienced adults condoms are never the first choice of contraception; but really if you are out there in Humpville then it’s time to wise up and get your welly boots on before you go wading in, or you could find yourself with a nasty itch that a dose of anti-biotics can’t clear up. Remember folks Herpes is not just for Christmas, it’s for life.

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