Hello! It is another week, and held out writing my blog, as wasn't sure what to post this week.

I did write a draft out this morning and was going to talk about the England match, but now the urge to write about that has worn off. I know there will be many who blog about football, ranting probably about the #Euro2016 #EnglandFC match, how badly played against Iceland. I have to say Iceland, were impressive when I first saw them play against Portugal, and I did think they would be the surprising team of the tournament. 

Looking ahead, I bet there are some people out there glad to get their TV's back, as like my mum does, once England are out of a tournament doesn't watch the rest of the tournament. I don't blame some, sometimes it is just best to just forget and move on. 

I, moving away from the focus of the #Euro2016 this week have begun to be into investing and saving my money again. I have started to concentrate on budgeting myself and really become strict with myself again with money. I used to be such a super saver and was told that "You should spend some of your money", but I wish I had never listened. As a kid I would always hide money and be so good at keeping the pocket money I had, and I know if I had kept with being so disciplined with my money I would most definitely be in a better situation. 

I am not saying that I spend money everyday, but have stopped being so reckless with money, doing those instant splurges which I know I will regret 5 minutes after, knowing I have now over stepped my budget and yikes I have still got bills to pay this month. I think it is so easy to splurge and think "Oh I want to treat myself", but if you do it everyday or week, then it isn't a treat. 

I am in the search of that little girl again who was so obsessed with saving and investing in the items I really want. My husband and I are desperate for a good proper family escape to an exotic country again, either by cruise or flying business class again. We talk about having our own home, but that won't happen if those instant splurges keep happening.

I think it is a lot easier to get into debt because of the amount of choice we have now. It's all there, and buying something is just a click away on your android phone, tablet or computer. 

So my focus at the moment is saving and investing. Only buying what I need. 

Now we are going to be leaving the EU and none of us really knows what is due to happen next, it is good to hold on to what you have before buying or spending money on anything else, that you don't truly need yet. 

The one thing my husband and I are very focused on is our son's future and already we have a savings account set up just for him for his future. We want him to be able to pay his way when he gets old enough to go to college, university, invest in a car or a home of his own one day. It is our kids that we need to plan for after all. They are our responsibility and so it is only right that we secure their future financially as the price of money and things go up.
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So lets see how well I do this week, and how good I feel by the end. 

Many thanks for reading, 


​Carrie X 

When we look after our money and secure the financial future of our kids, we are setting them up on a good steady road to financial freedom. It also teaches them about the value of money, that it doesn't grow on trees and that if they want something they must in invest first and spend later. 


The other lesson I have learned is, if you don't have the money to spend, then don't. 

Hello everyone, and I hope you had a good Tuesday. I didn't get around to writing on my Monday Check-in Blog page yesterday. Henry had another Audiology appointment, which went well and then he had his nap, and ok so some may think this is not a good excuse, but I had some TV programmes in my planner to watch and it's the fact that sometimes I know if I don't watch them when I have that gap of free time, I won't get round to. 

Plus of course, being a football fan, which I know there are other ladies who are fans too, I was watching the football. 
Well done Wales and England. Not going to say any more about the football, as I will rant on about England, let's just say I am not getting my hopes up about the next round. Going to see what happens. 

I then wanted to publish my Spring Clean up So far video, and then get another video ready for edit and up on Youtube ready to publish. Then clean my kitchen which I do every Monday and Friday's, and started cleaning inside of some kitchen cupboards and draws. So I wasn't watching TV all day, just making the most of the time to get bits done on my list including catching up on TV that I had from the week before, to start the new set of things to do this week. 

It was really good to celebrate father's day on Sunday and I did post a picture of the card I made and gift I put together for my husband. I wanted to give people some ideas about what to buy for the men in our lives, as it can be tricky. 

One piece of advice never ask them what they want, you ask my husband it is "I don't mind, I am happy with just a card". 
YEAH RIGHT! 

Translation: "I would at least like a card, but a gift would be very welcomed"
When I think back when my own dad, my biological father, as I do now also have a Step dad. It makes me laugh thinking about the gifts I used to buy for my dad. It always ended being the old fashion gift, of a pair of socks, maybe a new album (meaning a LP, a CD or a new tape) but my dad had loads of records and tapes, so worried in case he already some of the albums as he would top up his record, tape and CD collection often, or a new video tape but then he may already have that, to a box of quality street or a box of roses. There was a chance he would get the same, come birthdays and Christmas. Then my dad, who has never been one to mix his words said "I'm not fussed about father's day this year so don't worry about a gift, but if you do please don't get me any more quality street..", oh so a box of roses, it is, until he added "No more boxes of Roses". 
Yikes, and I suppose he was also hinting, no more socks. 
I think my dad soon learned that when I asked what he would like, he knew to tell me straight if he had seen an album, book or a video tape he would like. 
Until one year when it came to Christmas and it was Christmas Eve, and I was going to get him the Gloria Estefan's new album originally, but had left it too late I had to think of something quick, as it was coming to the evening so only had a certain amount of time. Searching round couldn't find anything that I thought would be a good substitute, but I knew my dad liked to use Handkerchiefs, so saw a nice set of these in John Lewis and got him them. I knew my dad did use these so thought that will do.
Not a good move as he wasn't exactly grateful for these, teach me to leave it to last minute. 
 
Highlight moment: Looking back, really makes me feel my age.

 For my husband this Father's Day I used a photo frame, which was originally for Valentine's Day and was from Poundland, so inexpensive.

At the end of the day it isn't about the price, it is about what it means. Father's Day to me is celebrating dads for how they contribute to us as children and they do get a lot of grief at times, as I know from my own experience that I know I drive my husband mad at times, but I do secretly think he is a terrific dad and husband. He is a massive support to me and there is no way I could have had Henry my son without him. No disrespect to those who are single mums who have or are bringing up their children on their own. I truly think you are amazing too, as it can be hard at times. It is just great to have that second person to help.

My husband, my son's father, is in our household the main breadwinner which I totally respect and so it about giving back to father's. I took a photo on my phone and then printed this off using my home printer, to go into the frame. It looks so natural, he and I were so pleased with how it looks. It looks as if it was meant to be in there. I did photo edit, using the Photo Edit APP on my phone to give it an antique look, and it is so lovely that it is something for not just, Elv (my son's dad and my husband), but for our son to treasure aswell. 

Another great idea is to make your own Hamper for your dad, and is really good fun as you can get the kids involved in this too. Using a collection of things you know he loves. Example, if they love football and you know they will be fixated by the Euro's why not do a hamper, with a can or bottle of beer they love, a bottle opener, with a personalised glass, a football shirt of the team they support (if they don't already have one) of the new strip and a set of different sweet foods for them to eat whilst watching the matches.

I do think that the inexpensive, more thought about gifts are the best. Or treat him to an experience. For example at the London Aquarium, they do Snorkeling with Sharks, experience. you can book a Champagne Experience around the UK or a 3 course meal in some of the top UK Restaurants. If you live North of the UK, then you take your man in your life on a tour around Old Trafford, if they love Manchester United, Afternoon tea experience at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, or what we did is go for a coffee and some cake, then had a roast dinner later on. 

Anyway got to finish, my dinner is ready, but I hope this will inspire some of you, of what to buy those men in our lives for their special days, such as father's day or for other special occasions. 

So to those who enjoy football, I hope there are more great games to come. Those who are sick of it, remember there is always the soaps and plenty of dramas to watch. We still got Game of Thrones to see. We're on series 4 now at home.

Anyway have a great week everyone. I will blog again on Friday. 

Many thanks for reading, 


​Carrie X