This week my Word of the Week is: Highlights. #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

The last week has flown over. It doesn't seem that long since I wrote my last word of the week blog post and I felt that there wasn't much to write about this week until I started writing this blog post. It is the most normal week we've had in a long time. We've had no drama or stress, it's been quite nice. I struggled for a word so I thought I'd go with highlights and just share the main things which happened over the past week.

Last Thursday night I stayed up to see if there was any Black Friday deals and there was. I got Ellie's Nintendo Switch that she wanted for Christmas and 3 games for £339 which was only a little more than what I was going to pay for the Switch and one game a couple of weeks ago. I got it from Very and they said it wouldn't be delivered until the 9th but it turned up on Monday which was a nice surprise. 

I am waiting for one more parcel then all the presents that I need to buy online are here and I will have to have a trip into town to get a few bits which I am not looking forward to but I am sure the thought of it is worse than actually doing it.

The advent calendars have been a huge hit. Becky is loving her Friends one and so far has got an eraser, fridge magnet and a roll of tape and Ellie is loving her Smiggle one. She's so far got a fancy pen, a mini notebook and an eraser. It certainly adds a bit of fun to our mornings. I am loving my candle one too. I get a different scented tea light to burn every day. 

The national lockdown ended and we moved into tier 3 which doesn't make much difference to our lives. Stu went back to work yesterday and was ready to go back. During the first lockdown it was fun, we had decorating to do and the sun was shining but during the 2nd lockdown there wasn't much for Stu to do around the house and he was getting rather bored.

Mid week marked a month since my dad started with Covid symptoms and I am glad to say he is just about back to his normal self. It hasn't stopped me worrying about Coronavirus though. Ellie's friends at school are dropping like flies. One is self isolating because her mum has Covid and the other went home with a sore throat midweek. So far Ellie is fit and well and we are counting down the days until the end of term. The kids are counting down for Christmas, I am counting down so we can have a couple of weeks staying safe without seeing or mixing with anyone.

How has your week been? I hope you've had a good one.

How to raise some extra money for Christmas!

This year has been hard on everyone and one way it has hit many is in their finances. Now with Christmas approaching it can be daunting about how we can afford the usual presents, treats and things we usually buy every year. Even if it this year hasn't affected you financially it might be nice to have a little extra bit of money to make this Christmas extra special. I think we all deserve it. 

There are plenty of ways to raise a bit of extra money in the run up to Christmas.

Sell old computer games, DVD's, CD's and electronics.

Several sites let you trade in old computer games, DVD's, CD's and electronics for cash. There are plenty of websites and shops where you can sell your old computer games, DVD's, CD's and books. Music Magpie, CEX, as well as Facebook selling groups and eBay.

Raid your wardrobe.

Raid your wardrobe for clothes that you haven’t worn in a while or one's that don't fit.  You can list these on sites like eBay or Depop.

Get crafting.

If you’re into arts and crafts, you could turn that hobby into an additional income and put your talents to use. People love home made decorations and gifts at this time of year and it is great to support small businesses. 

Sell your story.

If you’ve lived through some unusual experiences you may be able to make money from your story. Magazines and websites will pay for everything from extreme weight loss through to family drama. 

Clear out the toys.

Have a clear out of toys that your children have outgrown or have fell out of love with. Now is a great time to sell on local Facebook groups when people are looking for bargains for their children. It also gives you chance to declutter.

Join Cashback sites.

Check cashback sites before you buy something online, click through from those sites instead of going directly to the retailer’s site and then you get free cash back into your account. You might not get it the money before Christmas but if you're shopping online it is a great way to boost your finances for the new year. 

Switch bank accounts

Switching bank accounts can be a pain but a lot of high street banks offer switching bonuses for people who move and for people who recommend banks to their friends.

Do online surveys.

Surveys are one of the most popular ways to make money online and for good reason! You can do them any place, any time. There are lots of different one's online: YouGov, Pinecone, PopulusLive to name a few but my favourite is Prolific. I get a few surveys a day. I leave it open when I'm on the laptop and take a survey when one comes up. Payment per survey varies but the minimum pay out is only £5 into PayPal. I have earned over £200 since the end of February.

Doing odd jobs.

If there an odd job that you know people hate doing you could offer it as a service and charge for it. Things like gardening, dog walking, car washing, rubbish clearing or weeding.

Rent out your driveway.

If you have some driveway space and live in a busy area or city, you may be able to make an income from renting out that space. Websites like Just Park or Your Parking Space make it easy to find people who are looking for parking spots.

Have you got any suggestions on how to earn some extra money?

(Ad - Gifted) A couple of great games for Christmas from Interplay UK!

Every year in the run up to Christmas I buy a couple of new games to play and enjoy over the festive season. This year is no different and luckily I have been sent a couple to have a look at from Interplay UK. 

My girls are 18 and 13 years old now so playing board games with them is so much more fun than they used to be. There is no just letting them win so they don't get bored. With some games the girls are better than Stu and I and give us quite the challenge.

Silly Sounds.

Silly Sounds is the new family fun party game where everyone gets to make and guess the silly sound stuck on your headband! Making silly sounds is only half the fun, guessing them is the other half! Silly Sounds, the game you play with your ears!

Included in the box is:

4 x Headbands with Ears

80 x Silly Sounds Cards

12 x Blank Cards

1 x Spinner

1 x Timer

1 x Rules

This was a game I had not heard of before but it did sound like a lot of silly fun which is perfect for over Christmas.

To play the guesser wear a headband with a card on that others can see but they can’t. Fellow players can only make “silly sounds” to hint at what’s on your head for you to guess. Get it right and you keep the card, get it wrong and play passes to the next player. 

For 2 to 4 players this game is suitable for ages 8 years and above and is not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts that may represent a choking hazard. 

Silly sounds is available to buy from: Smyths Toys, Amazon and other toy retailers for around £12.99.

5 Second Rule Spintensity.

An all-new, spinfully intense electronic version of 5 Second Rule! You’re racing to name 3 things in 5 seconds and press the timer to see what the spinner wants you to do next: name 3 more, 2 more, draw a new card or move on to the next player or will the timer turn red and sound you out!

We love the original 5 Second Rule game and this one adds a little something else. This electronic version is even more frantic and fun and you can also combine this with the original and Junior game for even more fun. 

Included in the box is:

An Electronic unit

Start and finish markers

200 x question cards (400 questions)

I think the girls are going to be good at this game. There is the normal type of cards. Name 5 types of yoghurt, dog, city and so on but then I think there is some Stu and I will struggle with, things like Snapchat filters and YouTube Stars. Eek! This is not just a game for kids, I think it would be great for adults too!

5 Second Rule Spintensity is recommended for ages 12 year and above and is not suitable for children under 36 months due to small parts that may represent a choking hazard.

It is available to buy from: John Lewis, Argos, Very, Amazon UK and other toy retailers for around £19.99.

I think when lockdown is over and we're all back to our normalish lives these will be games the kids will play with their friends too! They are a lot of fun!

We were sent these two games free of charge in exchange for this blog post.

What I loved in November 2020!

November wasn't the greatest month with my dad testing positive for Coronavirus and us having to self isolate but it made it even more important to find little things that make me happy! By the end of the months things had turned themselves around, my dad is on the mend and now we're getting excited for Christmas.

A great support network.

With my dad being ill and us having to self isolate I have realised how many people we have here that care about my family. There was offers to go to the shop for us, people picked up my dad's prescriptions and helped out wherever they could. It was so nice to know we are not alone and we have people that we can rely on.

The US election.

What a drama. I followed the news and took great interest in the US election. I went to bed the night the votes were started to be counted and expected a result when I woke up. hahaha How foolish of me. It dragged on for days and I discovered the news channel CNN which was a completely different view of the news from Sky. I was so glad to see Joe Biden win and what a refreshing change he is already! 

Stranger Things.

I have seen the 1st and 2nd series before but never the 3rd. I decided to watch the whole lot again and I'm glad I did. I had forgotten so much! I wasn't impressed with the 3rd series at first, it was a bit slow to get going but after the 4th episode it was action all of the way. One of the most surreal moments happened in the last episode, Dustin singing Neverending Story. It really did make me smile.

My birthday!

In April I did laugh when it was my dad's partners birthday and she had to have it in a lockdown. There was no way I thought we would be in the same position this far into the year. I had a lovely day despite not going anywhere or seeing anyone. I got some lovely cards and presents and of course had cake. hehehe

Preparing for Christmas.

The Christmas present buying is all done, I say that but will probably buy the kids more because I do like to spoil them. I just have the wrapping to do. I did make a start over the weekend but there's still plenty to do. Eek! I have 2 grocery shop deliveries booked. I booked Tesco to be delivered on the 22nd and then realised I could only order 95 items which would be no good when at least 10 of those items will be parsnips. lol I prefer to buy loose one's as they're always bigger. So I managed to get one with Asda where I'll get the cupboard and freezer stuff.

The Crown.

I was late getting into The Crown and I've watched it all this year. What a show! I know it's based on fact and part exaggerated and I found myself pausing it lots and Googling things. Did Diana dance on stage, did Camilla and Di meet up for lunch and did that man really break into the Queens bedroom. Wow! I wanted to hate Camilla but couldn't, I still can't stand Prince Charles and Princess Diana wasn't an angle but she was treated awfully.

How was November for you? Did you find many things to love?