We found a while back that even joining a roadside assistance organisation can sometimes work against you if that organisation does not cover the car you actually drive. We found to our anger some years back that the AA does not cover certain Volvo’s…and we had such a one. Being able to read your own car is a skill you need to develop – and save yourself some time and trouble. Not to mention money!

I know it’s not proper finance to do things this way but I have a nice big jar set aside into which will go £50 a month over the year – and I am really going to make the effort. I think most of us are used to going without things these days so at least we can save a little money doing so.

It was nerve-racking to say the least and something I hope never happens to us again on holiday. But it did teach us a lesson – that having some car maintenance skills up our sleeves helped us avoid a lot of inconvenience which would have spoilt what had been a wonderful family holiday.

Seen strollers these days though…? things called a bob revolution or strollers that resemble 4X4′s – huge three-wheeler things, bulky, wide and only room for ONE baby in them! the rest is all storage space and fancy design. I reckon a steering wheel is all these things lack. Mums today – why do they choose them and spend so much money on them? they are a hassle in the supermarket aisle, impossible on public transport (just watch the bus driver’s face when he sees a mum with one of them…) and, I suggest, anti-social. Few young mums know how to handle them in public and shave half your ankles away as they pass you.

Nope – lets see a return to basic strollers, leave the fashion statements to the men and their fancy cars.

Grandads love celebrating though so what about those unique symbols of celebration – some Padron cigars for his special drawer…? I know Gran probably wont appreciate the thought but what the heck – let the old guy have a bit of fun, and maybe even Gran will have one as well!

If you decide to do this make sure you read the small print and that the admin costs are not going to eat away at your lump sum payout.

Anyway, I want to get him a really cool timepiece – he was looking at fob watches but they are not really practical for eighteen year old boys. Something like a nice michael kors watch would be perfect – though he wants digital and I want him to have one with hands…digital watches make you lazy.

Don’t forget to look out for the offer of free delivery – postage can add a considerable extra to your total in the end so free delivery on purchases is something that should guide you in your decisions.

I suggest to anyone out there looking for a challenge to sign up for a course of study in an area which has always interested you – do it now and you wont regret it. If you are like me and have always been interested in the medical side of things – but have better grades behind you but not good enough for doctor training – then how about medical assistant school…? this would be excellent for those of you who have wanted to break into the medical field but are not quite cut out for the long years of study required for becoming a fully-fledged doctor.

I urge you mums out there especially to have a good think about where you want your life to take you after the kids have left school – where will that leave you…? don’t be left behind – go back to school yourself – NOW!!!

You have to prepare of course; lots of moisturiser, SPF sun-cream, a good (stylish) hat and a light cotton shirt for when the sun got too strong. You have to look good too so a pair of sunglasses, smooth-skinned legs and even your nails need attention (dead sea nail care works great) as your feet are on display don’t forget. I could never read on the beach but took a little portable radio which I placed beside me – and a good sized beach towel too, there’s nothing worse than trying to lie on a bath towel with half your body on the sand.