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In MoneySaving, Reviews / Sponsored

Don’t Plan, Do (and make money)

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on

*A sponsored post that could help you make money from your clutter!

As most of you know I don’t hold with New Year resolutions. I start out with good intentions and by the end of January have abandoned my list altogether. Instead nowadays I set my mind on what I want to do and just go for it.

We moved in October last year and this meant having a huge clear out of DVDs, CDs and games which of course helped with the pre-move declutter and also made us some money. My goal for the first quarter of 2013 is continue in much the same way, making money from my clutter (there is still plenty of it lurking in cupboards and the Man Den / workshop that needs sorting).

In our house I am a keen declutter bug. If it hasn’t been used for six months or seen for longer then the chances are that it will be sold, recycled or put on Freecycle so that others might benefit from it. Roy however, while not quite what you would consider a hoarder is less likely to get rid on the basis of “it might come in handy later”. Personally I’m not sure we need 36 assorted cables, many of them duplicates “just in case” but I might be missing the point.

The way we have got past our difference of opinion on decluttering boils down to the fact that we can make money on it. When we moved Roy inherited a 16ft x 14ft workshop and has big plans for it, these plans cost money of course. I also have my eye on a new suite so a few extra pounds coming in here and there with the minimum of effort works well for us both.

I haven’t time for Ebay (or their fees), it is the wrong time of year for car boot sales and other alternatives are either costly, which makes the whole money making exercise pointless, or a pain to organise. We still have games, CDs and what not to get rid of and having done very well with Music Magpie in the past will be looking to them again. We want to sell a mobile phone, get rid of games that Roy and the boys have got bored with and I see from the site that I can even send them clothing (I have plenty of clothing which is too big now I’m slimming down that I have no intention of ever fitting into again) so it appears we can get rid of all our our unwanteds all at once.

Music Magpie
One of our previous declutter sessions with MusicMagpie earned us £58.16.

We are on a mission to get this new home the way we want it, fill it with beautiful things and are determined to do it without spending a fortune and to declutter and cash in along the way to give us more spending money to play with. Having used Music Magpie several times I wouldn’t hesitate to to recommend them.

 

In Reviews / Sponsored

To Butlins or Not to Butlins?

Author Nicki CawoodPosted on 2 Comments

Forgetting for a moment that it is actually closer to Christmas than it is to anything else, I want to talk about our next holiday which hopefully will be February half term. Our last holiday was in Staffordshire and included a Travelodge, Thomasland / Drayton Manor and assorted day trips. It was great fun however I’m looking for something a little more this time around.

Camping is a no go. I have done my stint and anything that involves hand sized spiders in the shower block, mud in my bed or having to walk a mile to go to the loo during the night (which post-children could mean at least twice) is not my idea of a fun or relaxing holiday. In fact, camping with kids is right up there on my list of horrors next to hosting a birthday party in a soft play centre.

Clearly we need an alternative. We’ve considered going abroad however to be completely honest as Taylor is only two we’d rather wait another year or so and take them both when they are old enough to appreciate it. We considered getting a holiday cottage by the sea, an idea that is still a contender, however there is then the worry about the weather and what day trips and what not you can enjoy whether it is throwing it down or not.

We are now considering Butlins. There are a lot of bloggers who have been to Butlins, have tweeted or posted about their experiences and I’m intrigued. These are not reviews from random people on a holiday website but real experiences from people whom I have got to know via their blogs as they have with me through mine.

I love the historical aspect of Butlins too. Clearly the fact that they have been offering family holidays for so many years (and continue to do so) has to be a testament to them getting something right? The apartments look fabulous, and we could get away with a two bed (brothers can share!) and that gives us a lounge and what not to relax in. There are loads of sport and activities on every day and by February I should be able to get into a swimming costume without a shoe horn so the indoor  Waterworld sound fantastic. There are also live shows that we’ll all love and of course won’t get rained off, and simply loads for the boys (including Pingu and Mike the Knight. Who doesn’t love Pingu?!).

On paper it sounds absolutely perfect. Something for everyone, long hot showers with no beasties and no extra driving for Roy searching for museums, parks and what not. What I want is your opinion… to Butlins or not to Butlins? (And please, do not try and convince me that I should give camping another go! *shudders*).

 

 

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