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Financial Advice, what is it, do I need it?

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisers throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Today we have an article from one of our financial advisers.Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection.

 

When MyBump2Baby asked me to write an article on money matters for the ‘growing family’ they listed various headlines to spur my imagination. I chose two of these to concentrate on, and soon realised that rather than an article, perhaps I should write a book!

‘Financial Planning for Families’ and ‘Financial Protection For A Growing Family’ are both worthy chapter headings, but perhaps they’d appear nearer the middle of my book on financial advice than the beginning.

The following is my idea on where I’d begin my book

Hopefully it will start to introduce some of the building blocks we should consider in this all-encompassing area of our lives.

I suspect I’d begin with ‘What is financial Advice’ and follow it up with ‘Why do I need a Financial Adviser and what do I need to know?’’

First things first, let’s try to understand what we’re talking about and get some of the basics right:-

What is Financial Advice?

Money is one of those areas where everyone has a view. Everyone knows someone. It might be Uncle John who’s done rather well for himself, or it could be the bloke down the pub with the fancy car.

As a financial adviser I like it when my clients buy life insurance, start a regular savings plan or a pension because I get paid!

But, before I even consider which products might be appropriate to you, there’s a lot of information I need from you, the client, before I can honestly, hand on heart, say I have considered your circumstances, provided you with the best advice and presented the right bespoke solution for you, the individual.

Financial Advice is personal

Everyone’s different, the advice I give you is not going to be the same as the advice I’d give your parents. Your job and that of your partner might affect the order of the advice I give you in comparison to how I might advise a single parent even though your long-term goals may be broadly similar.

Advice will reflect the changes in your circumstances!

It sounds simple, but not always appreciated.

As you grow older and move from education to work, your financial requirements change. Your banking needs will probably increase as you go from an occasional saver to requiring monthly direct debits or standing orders, perhaps you’ll enter into your first overdraft arrangement and start building up student debt whilst at University.

When buying your first car, insurance is a legal requirement and is possibly your first experience of insurance as a product.

Simply put, when buying insurance, you are paying to protect the value of your possession should it be damaged, lost or stolen. Specifically, car Insurance might pay the cost of repairs to your vehicle if you’re in an accident or replace it if stolen. If you are deemed at fault, it would pay the cost of repairs to the other parties vehicle or property and compensation if injury or death occurred.

As you progress in your career, build your savings, buy a home and/or start to build your pension savings, the financial advice you receive is going to change, it will be different to the advice given to someone who is coming up to retirement having paid off the mortgage and already has an investment portfolio.

Do I need financial advice?

Some people will go through life never having had or sought financial advice.

But, will they be better off?

Well, there are a number of surveys that show those who have received financial advice use their tax allowances more effectively, they accumulate more in wealth in liquid financial assets and are more likely to have larger pension savings and income.

So whilst some people will feel that they can get through life without seeking financial advice, for the majority of us, it’s likely that at some point, an adviser will be able to point us in a slightly different direction.  This may ensure we arrange a more appropriate level of insurance cover, help us decide on the best mortgage deal for our circumstances and help identify the most tax efficient and the best way to save for our old age.

Financial Advice – the very basics

KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid.

Initially at least, financial advice should be simple. You don’t need anyone to tell you you‘re spending more than you’re earning.

Budget

By fully understanding your costs and monthly and annual expenses and comparing them to your income you will be in control and properly able to make spending decisions.

Rather than trying to fund an annual cost such as car insurance when it is due for renewal, set up a separate account and pay into it every month.  Try to make sure you are earning interest on this account. Every little helps!

We’re used to the idea of checking out the cheapest car insurance or mobile phone data deals on comparison websites, making sure we’re not overpaying for a particular service will help you budget your monthly expenses and maybe free up a little cash to pay off debt or start saving.

Pay off your high cost debt.

As a society we have got used to the concept of renting rather than owning.  Credit is more available now than ever, but debt is still a debt regardless of your credit score!

If you have a debt, a personal loan, an overdraft or a credit card, it’s likely that the interest you are paying every month is more than you could earn if you had the same amount in a savings account.

If you have a credit card that’s charging you 16, 17 or 18% a year on your borrowings, pay it off before you save anything, don’t keep utilising your overdraft to pay a standing order into a savings account paying you 0.5% on your balance, that’s what the banks want you to do !

Build up an emergency buffer.

Now that you’ve paid off your debt and have regained control of your money you can think about the next step. Building an emergency cash buffer to cover those unforeseen expenses.

Ideally, your cash buffer should be enough to pay all your bills and expenses, pay your mortgage or rent along with any other weekly or monthly payment commitments you may have for at least 3 months.

How much do I need? It’s a personal number, we’re all different and will all have different requirements.

How much would you need if you were unexpectedly made redundant? How long would your current employer pay you if you fell ill and couldn’t work for a year? How long could you maintain your current lifestyle and meet all your financial commitments if you couldn’t find a new job, or weren’t well enough to go back to work?

As a rough guide we’d normally suggest a minimum of enough savings to cover between 3 and 6 months expenses. However, ‘be realistic’ is good advice.

This emergency buffer should be money that is easily accessible, ideally in instant access deposits. Keep it separate from your normal bank account and definitely try to avoid the temptation of dipping into this emergency pot for ‘life’s little luxuries’!

 

Why do I need a Financial Adviser and what do I need to know?

 

So, you’ve read all the above. You cannot understand what all the fuss is about, it seems easy, common sense really.

You’re happy in your job, maybe going for promotion, and your work contract says if you’re ill you can still get full pay for 3 months and half pay for another 3 months. Between you and your employer, you’ve even got a pension started.

What do I need you for I hear you say.

 

Financial advice -What’s important and what do I need to know?

Regulation

All financial advisers must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, (FCA).

The FCA are the financial industry’s policeman. We all have to be registered by them, as an individual or as a company, if we are not registered, we are not allowed to conduct business or advise clients.

Make sure you check your potential adviser is ALLOWED to give you advice.

Anyone can go online and check any individual adviser or their company and see if they appear on the FCA register. Against my own registration number and name there is also a list of what I am allowed to advise you on as well as my previous employment history.

Restricted or Independent?

If a company or adviser is an independent financial adviser, an IFA, or you are offered independent advice, then this means that the advice you receive and the products you can buy could come from ANY provider in the market.

The alternative is restricted advice, and as the name suggests a restricted adviser can only recommend products from certain providers.

Whilst this may sound like you are limiting your choice, it is very unlikely that a restricted adviser will offer you just one product provider to choose from. Most likely they have a selection of companies that they trust and are happy to promote to their clients. Do ask them which companies they work with and why.

How much will Financial advice cost me?

If you purchase an insurance product such as life, critical illness or income protection insurance policy via a financial adviser, there will be no fees to pay. This is because the company providing the product pays the financial adviser directly from the premiums that they charge you.

If, however, you are seeking advice on savings or pension products, then fees can be charged in a number of ways.

You can pay a flat fee for the advice, based on the time it takes the financial adviser to consider and make a recommendation. If you are paying fee based advice on a product then it is most likely that you will be charged VAT in addition to the agreed amount. Always check with your adviser.

Alternatively, and the most common way an adviser will charge you is a percentage fee based on the amount of money you invest or you wish to be managed. You will pay an initial fee and, most likely an ongoing percentage charge all the time they are continuing to manage your money.

You should always be told, prior to seeking or accepting any advice exactly how you will be charged for the service you seek and it should be agreed with you before any advice is given.

How do I find a Financial Adviser?

MyBump2Baby is proud to have launched their Family Protection directory to help families find trusted financial advisers.

You could also speak to family and friends, find out if they’ve used an adviser before, do they know or would they recommend anyone in the local area?

Ring the adviser up and have a chat. Find out what sort of advice they offer and which products areas, if any, that they specialise in.

Most advisers will offer a free introductory meeting so you can get to meet them and understand if you could trust them.

You will be spending money, (possibly a lot of it over time), with this person, so don’t be embarrassed about asking pointed questions and getting comfortable with them.

 

Remember, this is someone who you are going to have a very open and honest relationship with. You will be discussing very personal subjects with a financial adviser, including money, family and health.

This is someone who you are asking to help you make informed investment and protection decisions for you and your family, so take the time to make the right choice for you.

What will a Financial adviser do for me?

An adviser will help ensure you are using your annual allowances as effectively as possible. Everyone, taxpayer or not, has annual allowances available to them and they should always be considered when making savings and investment decisions.

For instance, did you know:-

-You can earn £1000 a year Interest on your savings tax free if you are a basic rate taxpayer or £500 as a higher rate taxpayer?

-As a basic rate taxpayer, for every £80 you save in your pension the government puts in £20 making it £100 in total, if you’re a 40% taxpayer the government will pay you £40 towards your £100 pension investment!

-You can start saving into a private pension for your child or Grandchild and the government will add 20% a year to your contributions up to a total maximum £3600 ?

-The first £2000 a year dividend income is tax free for a normal rate taxpayer?

-ISA income and gains are tax free.

-Parents, family or friends can save up to £4,368 a year in the Junior ISA, (JISA).

If you are self-employed or you own your own business, your financial adviser should be able to work with your accountant or legal advisers and suggest ways for you to save tax efficiently.

So why do I enjoy being a financial adviser?

Simply put, because I like helping people make a positive choice.

I enjoy working with my client’s, getting to understand their needs, helping them protect their families against the worst, helping them save and grow their assets whilst assisting them to plan for the future and their financial independence.

What do I hope to get from my client? I’d hope they consider me to be one of their ‘hubs’. Someone they refer to when they have a financial query or are considering taking a financial decision so I can help them avoid costly tax mistakes. I’d hope they consider me to be someone they can trust and recommend to others.

 

Who knows, if there’s sufficient interest, I might just get around to writing another chapter or two?

 

PERSONAL PROTECTION: Can you afford NOT to have it? 

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisors throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Today we have an article from our financial adviser in Edinburgh. Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection.

SHOCKING FACTS ABOUT PROTECTION!!!

Only 51% of parents with children under 4 have any kind of life insurance in place*

 

Of these, only 16% have critical illness insurance*

 

Only 14% of the above have any form of insurance to protect their income*

 

PERSONAL  PROTECTION  Can you afford NOT to have it

Most people know what life insurance is and what it does.  But the statistics above show that the UK population, especially younger people, are grossly underinsured.

 

Is this due to the cost? – Life insurance is as cheap as chips!! 

 

The sooner you take out insurance cover, the cheaper it is! If you sat down and thought about what this means financially to those who would be left behind, life insurance would be a no brainer.

 

Where there is an even bigger gap in the insurance market, is the lack of people who have NO cover in place, should they be unable to work due to accident or illness.  Younger people should really think about this as, statistically speaking, they are more likely to suffer a serious illness than die in the foreseeable future. The uptake on life insurance, all be it low, is larger than critical illness insurance.  This should be reversed.  Younger people should consider the implications of not being able to work due to a serious illness.

 

Here is an example of a situation one young couple found themselves in due to lack of insurance:

 

Jake, 34 and Chloe, 32 had both worked full time until the birth of their daughter, Alice, 18 months earlier.  Chloe had opted to take 6 months’ maternity leave from her job as a marketing assistant in a small electronics company as she earned less than Jake, a software engineer. They lived in a two bedroomed flat near to Chloe’s mum who lived on her own and worked part time, which meant she was able to spend time with the baby, which she loved.

 

Alice was now attending a private nursery near to home 5 days a week which was expensive but it was the nursery that Jake and Chloe liked and thought best suited to Alice, who seemed happy and settled there.

So when Jake had an accident and was diagnosed with a severe back problem, he was signed off sick and couldn’t continue with his job. As a result, he was entitled to 3 months’ full pay and following on from that, Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) for the next 3 months, currently, £94.25 per week.  As Jake was the main breadwinner, they soon began to feel the pinch.  They fell behind on their mortgage payments which in turn affected their credit rating; their ability to remortgage in the future was affected and nursery costs became a huge problem and they reluctantly had to give up Alice’s place.

 

This was a terrible situation for Chloe and Jake.  How could they have avoided this situation?   Jake, in the knowledge that he would only ever receive 3 months’ full sick pay, could have set up an Income Protection Policy to pay him 65% of his full salary, payable after 3 months, until he was able to go back to work or retire. This policy would have cost Jake £32.64 per month.  To put this cost into context, Jake and Chloe paid £110 per month for their TV and sports package.

It’s all about priorities!!!

 

The scenario above is unfortunately very common across the UK.  According to the Financial Conduct Authority, only 6% of 18-34 year olds took financial advice in 2017** and only 16% of mothers with children under 16 and 24% of fathers with children of the same age had critical illness cover in place.  If you’ve been thinking about getting some advice, don’t ignore it or put off until another day.  Go ahead and contact a professional, impartial financial adviser who will normally offer you an initial, complimentary financial review to provide you with sound advice.  Your financial adviser will be able to make sure that you and your family have the right protection in place at the right cost, should the worst happen.

 

Contact us NOW for your complimentary financial review:

email:  James.durey@charlesderby.com

Tel:  07730 403745

 

 

* Source:  Mintel Report Term Assurance – UK

**Source:  Financial Conduct Authority

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Four ways to provide your child with a more secure financial future

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisers throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign.  Our financial advisors offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection.

Everybody wants their child to be able to do what they want when they grow up. To follow the career that suits them best.

Unfortunately, achieving this costs money, in some cases, a lot of money. If you want your child to be able to go on to further education, it is very important to start saving for that eventuality now. Below are several ways that you could go about doing so.

Open junior ISAs for each of your children

One of the best options is to open a junior ISA for each child. For most people, they are still a tax-efficient way to save money for their children.

Plus, there is no limit to how little you can save, which means they can work for virtually any family. You can start them with as little as £100. Often, you will receive at least that as gifts, when your child is born. So, if you can, open an ISA for them using that money.

Close family members can contribute to their ISA accounts too. Some grandparents put a percentage of the cash they would normally gift for birthdays and other special celebrations into these savings accounts. Even if it is just 10%, with interest payments, across 18 years, that can add up to a lot of extra money for your child to use as an adult.

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Teach them about managing money

Being able to manage money well is an important skill. Teaching your children how to handle their finances will save them a lot of money throughout their lifetime. They are less likely to make the mistake of stretching themselves financially and getting into debt.

Prepare them for the world of work

An important part of teaching your children about money is providing them with an allowance. Handling even a small one can still teach them a lot.

When they are old enough, give them the chance to get more by doing work around the home. Doing this helps to prepare them for the world of work.

It will also help them to learn new skills and help to boost their confidence. Manual jobs like gardening will help to keep them fit and help their mental health too.

If they show an interest in learning a skill like hairdressing or cooking, do everything you can to encourage them. Many regard this work as menial and forget that even in a deflated job market there is usually still a strong demand for these skills. Hairdressing is a particularly good skill to learn because you can always work for yourself. It is also a job you can be fitted in around other things. Encourage them to learn things that will make it easier for them to secure work on the side, for example, while they are studying at university or raising their own kids.

Encourage your kids to be entrepreneurial

Helping your child to set up a small business is another good idea. They will learn a lot by selling online or making cookies and selling them locally. Even selling their old stuff can teach them a lot about the world of commerce. Knowing how to do these things will also help them how to make money during those times in their life where they cannot find steady employment. If this idea interests you, click here to learn more.

The Importance of Life Insurance – A True Story

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisers throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection. Here is an article from Lauren who runs MyBump2Baby Newcastle Upon Tyne . Lauren sadly lost her much loved mother in 2019 and shares her experience on the importance of life insurance and how it can help families at such a traumatic time.

Life insurance seems to be one of those things that you don’t really think about until it’s too late, but that shouldn’t be the case.  Everyone seems to know why it is so important to us all, BUT a lot of us choose to ignore what would happen if we were to die suddenly without having any life insurance in place.  If this was to happen without us having life insurance in place, it could potentially have devastating effects for your family which could result in being left with a large bill to pay for your final expenses, or even worse, losing their family home because they can’t afford to repay the mortgage.

Unfortunately, I lost my mum last year on 9th December and honestly life insurance was not something I had ever thought about until this day.  You don’t realise how important life insurance really is until you’re on the other side of it.  On top of dealing with the sudden loss of my mum, we had to plan the funeral and all of the expenses that came with it.  I never realised how expensive it was to organise and pay for a funeral!  My mum and dad have always been good with money and savings, so whilst we didn’t rely on the money to pay for the funeral, it was still a worry to think about how expensive a funeral could be.

I have two children myself who are nearly 3, and one and a half, and at the time of my mum passing I still lived in the family home with them, my partner, my mum, my dad and my sister, and whilst the house is like Mary Poppins’ handbag, it was definitely a squeeze for us all to be living there.  I’ve always wanted a house of my own to raise the girls and make our own memories but with the cost of houses these days it never seemed to be a possibility.  Whilst losing my mum was the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life, I will always be thankful that something good came out of it – in a weird kind of way.  So, my dad decided that once we had everything sorted he was happy to split the money between myself and my sister because he wanted us to get on the property ladder.  Thanks to my mum we now have our first family home, mortgage free, so there is no stress and worrying about paying the mortgage, which with two kids can be so stressful to worry about! It makes me sad that mum isn’t here to pop round for a coffee and see the house and make more memories with us but I will be forever grateful that because my mum had her life insurance we were able to use it to get our first family home.

That’s just my own personal story, and I know that everyone’s stories differ but the importance of life insurance really is paramount to your family.  Life insurance can help your family to pay off your debts, provide for your children, give peace of mind to your family financially, even if your life insurance is for a small amount it will mean more to your family than you could ever possibly imagine.

To get in touch with your local MyBump2Baby financial adviser please fill in our contact form with your name, telelphone number and town name and we will pass your details on to your nearest financial adviser.

Beckie’s Story – Why I Love Working for Mini First Aid

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Beckie’s Story – why I love working for Mini First Aid

At Mini First Aid, we have a team of 60 fantastic franchisees across the UK who train around 1000 parents every week in life-saving first aid skills.

We spoke to Beckie who runs Mini First Aid Wrexham, Flintshire and Chester about why she joined and what she loves about her job.

How did you first hear about Mini First Aid?

I was feeding my baby in the early hours of the morning, when I saw a Mini First Aid post pop up on Mummy Social!  I am a trained nurse but was on maternity leave at the time, so it sounded like a fantastic opportunity to try something different whilst still using my nursing skills.

Why did you decide to buy a Mini First Aid franchise?

I’ve been a qualified nurse since I was 21 and have always worked in healthcare.  I loved my job but I wanted something that was more flexible to fit around family life – my boys are still young and there’s only 17 months between them, so I wanted to spend more time with them but still earn a living. Mini First Aid enables me to do this.

What do you enjoy most about working for Mini First Aid?

The flexibility it gives you is amazing – I feel very lucky to have found a job that I can fit around my family, but that is also very rewarding and fulfilling; seeing parents, grandparents and guardians going away from a class with confidence they didn’t have at the beginning is really great to see.

The support from head office and the other franchisees is incredible – it feels like a big family. We all have different backgrounds, but we use these different skills and experiences to help each other out

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Have you faced any challenges with your new career?

There will always be challenges when you have young children!

I’m often answering calls and emails whilst entertaining my boys. However, you wouldn’t be able to do that with another job, so that’s what makes Mini First Aid such a family friendly job!

How many days do you work?

I currently run on average 1-2 classes per week although this does vary greatly. I still work on a more flexible basis as a nurse to keep my skills up to date. As Mini First Aid is so flexible – you can choose how many hours you want to work and when – I can fit this around my nursing shifts and childcare really easily.

Finally, what would you say to someone who was thinking about joining Mini First Aid?

Just do it, you won’t regret it!

If you’re looking for a flexible job that you can fit around your family, with great support, then I really don’t think you can beat Mini First Aid.

 

Click here to find out more about becoming a Mini First Aid franchisee or trainer

Click here to find your local Mini First Aid class

 

Why Setting up A Pension in your 20/30’s could be the best decision you make.

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At MyBump2Baby we are proud to be connecting families with trusted financial advisors throughout the UK with our new family protection campaign. Our financial advisers offer advice on pensions, savings and investments and family protection.

What do you picture you retirement to look like? Is it filled with endless holidays? Wining and dining in fancy resturants? Taking your grandchildren out on fun days out? or just enjoying your partners company and doing whatever you both want to do.

One thing that makes retirement enjoyable is having the time and funds to do whatever you want… but how do you get there? Currently, in 2019 a state pension £168.60. Could you jet set and travel the world on £168.60 a week whilst paying your bills? Sadly not!!!

You still have time!!

You still have time to change this and we would love to help you. MyBump2Baby Protection Services as a number of dedicated advisers throuhout the UK ready to help you get started with your pension based on what you can afford, to find you nearest financial adviser fill in this form.

 

Today we have special guest Andrew Sutcliffe, our advisor from Preston, Lancashire who shares answers to some commonly asked questions and why setting up a pension in your 20’s and 30’s could be the best decision you make.

What age can I access my pension?

Under current regulation you can access a private pension at the age of 55, however there are talks that this could change.  Some workplace pensions can differ and have different ages when funds can be accessed depending on the individual scheme rules.

 

What are the benefits of setting up a pension plan?

There are many benefits to setting up a pension…..

  • The funds in a pension grow free of Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax
  • The benefit of tax relief on contributions to a pension plan, essentially free money from the government.  For example, if you paid £240 into a pension, there would actually be £300 going in to it.  That £60 is in the form of tax relief at 20%.  You can pay up to £40,000 in to a pension each year and benefit from tax relief.  This is called the annual allowance.
  • The flexibility when it comes to accessing your pension
  • It provides you with an income in retirement.
  • The potential for better growth than you would see if you held your funds in a typical savings account for example
  • Beneficial for business owners to reduce the amount of corporation tax they pay

There are many more!

What age can I set up a pension from?

You can set up a pension for yourself at the age of 18.  However, you can set up a pension for your children to support them in future life.  Essentially, you can set up a pension for a child on the day that they are born but there is a maximum you can pay into it each year.

Can I have 2 pension plans?

You can have as many pension as you like, and many people do as a result of changing jobs over the course of their working life.  It would be very beneficial to have these reviewed as many providers do not provide advice and it is very prudent to make sure that your funds are in the right place.  Having multiple plans can also be challenging from an administrative point of view.

How does a pension plan work?

A pension is an investment with different tax treatment.  In simple terms, you ( and potentially your employer) make contributions in to a plan and the funds within it grow over a period of time.  When the time comes to access your funds, there are different ways you can do so to provide you with an income in retirement.

 

Can I move pension from another provider?

Yes you can move providers and can often be beneficial to do so for several reasons, one of which is performance.  Many people have past pensions that they are not receiving regular advice on which can be detrimental to the individual.  You should also seek professional financial advice before undertaking a pension transfer.

What happens if I die before I can access my pension?

Pensions can be passed to a beneficiary in the event of death.

 

My partner and I are self-employed and don’t have a pension, do we need one?

Absolutely! With the State Pension Age continuing to increase the need for private provisions as never been higher.  If you are self-employed, you don’t have contributions from an employer so therefore you are responsible for funding your own pot. Without a private pension arrangement you would be reliant on state pension income which is currently a little over £160 per week and the age at which you become entitled to this is under review.  For me it is 68!

 

Is a pension plan flexible?

Previously, pensions used to be very inflexible and for this reason they were viewed quite negatively.  This is no longer the case and pensions are now very flexible and in my view, are fantastic.  You have a variety of options once you are able to access the funds there are different methods to produce an income but getting the right advice at this stage of your life is very important.

 

You still have time to change this and we would love to help you. MyBump2Baby Protection Services as a number of dedicated financial advisers throughout the UK ready to help you get started with your pension based on what you can afford, to find you nearest advisor fill in this form.

Safe Exercise During Pregnancy

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Today we have a guest post from our expert Sarah Hunter BSc. Sarah shares her expertise on Safe Exercise During Pregnancy. Sarah owns Chorley Pilates in Lancashire.

 

First of all, let’s just take a look at what’s happening to your body.

Some really incredible things happen to your body during pregnancy. It has to adapt, not only to accommodate the baby growing inside you, but also has to prepare for the birth. So, we’re going to have a little look here at what your body has to cope with, and why, so that you can really understand the importance of exercising safely and adapting what you do as your pregnancy progresses.

During the first trimester, us mums experience a whole variety of different symptoms. Maybe you have/had morning sickness and exhaustion? One of the first hormones to start flooding your system causes the blood vessel walls to relax and become more elastic. This is to prepare the body for the extra blood volume it will need later on. But in the early days, you don’t have that increased blood volume, it hasn’t caught up yet, so you might feel faint, exhausted or dizzy and your blood pressure usually drops. You also start to develop a resistance to insulin. This makes your body store more fat, so that bit of weight gain, (7-11lbs) is perfectly normal in the first few months.

Safe Exercise During Pregnancy

What does this mean for exercising in the early days? If exhaustion is really causing you problems, (and I hold my hand up, I absolutely needed that nap when I got in from work!) then maybe look to exercising at a time of the day when you have more energy. Listen to your body and rest when you need to. Aerobic activity is fine, if you feel up to it, so aim for around 15-30 minutes of activity up to three times a week. Muscular conditioning will help to keep your posture in check and prevent back pain. Just be mindful of changing position quickly and making yourself feel dizzy.

Some people (that can be friends, relatives and partners) may worry that exercise may be too demanding for you or could even harm the baby and cause a miscarriage. The best thing to do is to talk to your doctor or midwife. If you have had previous miscarriages, or a family history of them, then it shouldn’t stop you from exercising full stop, but you should definitely get advice and reassurance from a health care professional before continuing or taking up something new. Many studies have proved the benefits of safe exercise during pregnancy for both mum and baby, and none so far have found any detrimental effects on a healthy person.

As your pregnancy progresses past 12 weeks, you start to enter the second trimester and a host of new things are happening. It’s very exciting and you might begin to feel that pregnancy glow. Your blood volume has finally caught up and your energy levels rise again.

To adapt to the increasing weight of the growing baby, your lower back starts to arch and the pelvis tips forwards. Back ache is common but corrective postural exercises can help to counteract any discomfort. It does, however, mean that your centre of gravity has changed. The hormone, relaxin, is also surging around your body making all your joints more flexible and less stable. Now is the time to think about reducing the risk of falling. Contact sports, high intensity exercises or high impact exercises are not advisable now. The placenta is placing a high demand for oxygenated blood and nutrients on your body. Over training could, potentially, reduce the necessary amounts being carried to your baby.

Switching to lower impact activities such as cycling, walking, cross-training, Pilates, Yoga and swimming will give you all the aerobic exercise you need without putting undue stress on your joints. Now is also the time to work with lighter weights and to stop exercising on your back. When we lie down, all that weight from the bump presses down on important blood vessels which could reduce the flow of oxygen to your baby.

Taking a bit longer to warm up and cool down from your session will be very beneficial and prevent any unwanted hikes in blood pressure.

At 27 weeks you’re on the home straight! The third trimester is here, and your bump is coming along nicely. So much is happening now. As baby grows, you have to make room. Your ribcage is pushing outwards, your internal organs have miraculously rearranged themselves, your tummy muscles have stretched so far that they have stopped being able to contract and you have the best cleavage ever!

This does mean that now you might start struggling for breath again. Breathing exercises are so important. I strongly encourage all my clients to practice their breathing exercises at home. Not only will it help to keep your energy levels higher, but it’s also great practice for the delivery room and calming down those nerves.

You were probably wondering when I was going to get around to mentioning the pelvic floor. Well that is going to be a whole topic in itself. The sooner you start learning how to do them the better. There is so much weight and strain on them during pregnancy. Keeping them toned could help to an easier birth and a quicker recovery with less risk of damage.

Postural strengthening exercises are really important now too. Only use light weights and avoid working from overhead or lying down. Stretching the hip flexors can assist in reducing tension in the lower back but as your ligaments are very elastic, only gentle, maintenance stretches are advised.

What happens if my pregnancy isn’t all plain sailing?

I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t have some kind of issue develop during their pregnancy. For myself, I discovered that I have a gene which gives me thick blood and had to wear delightful thigh high, white support stockings through the entire third trimester. Not much fun in a June heatwave or when you can’t even reach your feet!

A qualified antenatal exercise instructor will be able to make any necessary adaptations to minor ailments (although they might not seem minor to you at the time) like carpel tunnel syndrome, pelvic girdle pain etc.

There are some conditions which would rule out exercising altogether, ruptured membranes, persistent bleeding, incompetent cervix to name but a few. But if you are unsure about anything, speak to your midwife. They are there to support and assist you through this whole process and they are absolutely amazing.

Any instructor taking you on as a client should have you complete a health screening form specifically designed for antenatal clients. And they should keep checking in with you as the pregnancy progresses. Communication between you, your instructor and midwife is key to a happy, healthy pregnancy.

Pregnancy is not a barrier to exercise, so enjoy it.

Sarah x

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10 Things to Consider When Choosing your Next Professional Photographer

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In this day and age, the photography industry is over saturated with photographers from all levels and specialities, from doing it as a hobby to offering a luxury, high end photography experience. This can make it quite daunting finding your next photographer. I just Googled ‘Northampton photographers’ and there are 170 results that came up!! That’s just insane as I’m sure some aren’t even on Google!

So while sifting through all these photographers, what should you be looking for? What should you consider when choosing your next professional photographer?

 

10 things to consider when choosing your next professional photographer

*Credit to Missy Mwac for the image.

Human nature automatically makes us compare price first, especially in such a competitive market. However, when searching for your next photographer, you shouldn’t be choosing based on price alone. There’s a lot of photographers out there but not everyone is a ‘professional photographer’ and we’re not all the same! Comparing based on price alone is like comparing apples to oranges. Your price point/budget is definitely important, but here are 10 things to look out for to make sure you choose the right professional photographer for your family:

 

1 – You’re not buying the same fridge from Tesco’s or Curry’s. Photography is an art form and every photographer has their own style and level of artwork and expertise. Make sure you love their style and editing as it’s not something they’ll change!

2- Compare the quality of the images with other photographers. Make sure you choose someone who will create artwork you’ll be proud to hang on your walls. Too often I have clients who tell me they have wall art still sat in their garage from another photographer from years ago because they just don’t love the images! If you’re investing in family portraits you want to make sure you’ll love them forever.

3 – Are you looking for an indoor session in front of a white screen or an outdoor session with beautiful backdrops? You should also consider if you’re looking for more of a posed photographer or someone who captures candid, natural and relaxed portraits. Same thing goes for newborn photography, are you looking for a posed session (baby wrapped, in a bucket/bowl, props, etc) or more of a lifestyle, relaxed in home session?

4 – Make sure to look at the experience a professional photographer holds. You want to feel confident and at ease with your photographer and this comes with experience. Also have a read through their reviews. Reputation is everything and great reviews can put you at ease, especially when looking for a newborn session!

5– How far are you happy to travel for your session? I’ve been humbled with clients driving 2+ hours to come see me for their newborn sessions! Another question to ask yourself is if you’re happy travelling to a studio or if you want the photographer to come to your home (whether that’s for a family sessions, maternity and/or newborn session).

6- Ask if they’re insured… especially if it’s a newborn session you’re looking for!

7- Ask if they have newborn safety training. This is an important one, please don’t hesitate to ask this question!! You don’t want to do a newborn session with a photographer who does it ‘for fun’ or ‘on the side’ and who’s not properly trained. Your baby’s wellbeing is in a strangers hands for a few hours… make sure they know what they’re doing and that your baby is safe at all times! I’ve heard far too many horror stories that have made my heart stop.

Take a straw for example. If you bend the straw completely downwards it’s very hard to drink, bend it completely upwards and again, it’s difficult to drink. This is the same with babies airways. If they’re positioned in a basket and their chin is touching their chest, they will have a hard time breathing. If placed in a bucket and their head is tilted completely upwards, they can’t breathe! Another example is how a 4 week old baby won’t bend and curl the same way as a 6 day old because his/her bones have started fusing together.

Newborn photography is a specialist skill requiring patience, creativity, sensitivity, the right safety measures and the technical know-how. This is why it’s so important to use a reliable and experienced photographer who specialises in newborn portraiture.

10 things to consider when choosing your next professional photographer

 

8- What kind of session are you’re after? Just some quick snaps on a CD and pictures for Facebook? Or a luxury, full service photography experience where you’ll be taken care of, create timeless artwork of your family and showcase them on heirloom products like stunning wall art, custom-made albums and fine art prints. With my premium photography experience, I even include a professional company who will hang your new artwork for you, completely free of charge!

There is a photographer for everyone and for every need, but if you want to be pampered and not lift a finger, I’m the photographer for you!

9- Are you happy printing your own images at Tesco’s or online somewhere and them yellowing and fading in a few years? Or are you looking to invest in high quality, luxury and exclusive heirloom products that will last 100+ years and be passed on for generations to come? Many professional labs will only cater to professional photographers so if you’re looking for the highest quality prints and products, it’s best to commission a professional photographer that specialises in heirloom products and purchase it directly from them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 – Of course as discussed, price point is important as well! How much are you looking to invest in your family portraits? There are photographers at every price point but what’s important to remember is that with everything in life, you get what you pay for! If you’re looking to invest in high quality heirloom products that will last a lifetime [like stunning wall art, custom-made albums and fine art archival prints] it will be higher priced, but you can always ask if they do payment plans as most of us who are product based will offer this service.

This industry is absolutely saturated so you’re spoiled for choice! There are photographers for every need, but these are some things to think about when looking for your next professional photographer as we’re not all the same and we don’t all offer the same thing. I saw this quote and loved it because it’s true, the photographer you use depends very much on how important the photographs are to you!

*Credit to Missy Mwac for the image.

If you’re still looking for your next professional photographer and you’d like to discuss what your luxury photography experience with Fritz Photography would entail, please don’t hesitate to contact us on info@fritzphotography.co.uk or +44 (0) 7393997427.

 

How do I Keep My Child Cool in Hot Weather?

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So it is that time of year and we are finally enjoying some well-deserved sunshine. Queue the usual summer comments “Not prepared for this weather are we?” “It’s too hot” and I can understand it. We aren’t used to the sun so when summer comes by we are often unprepared and promise ourselves that next year will be different but we still struggle.

I think one of the biggest worries in the hotter months is ‘how do I keep my child cool in hot weather?’ Many parents ask for different ways to keep their child cool especially when travelling in the car or going on holiday. In the hot weather we tend to experience daily ‘head sweats’ – I like to call them, when my lovely boy has been in the car seat and it’s a lovely day, we will travel somewhere (sometimes only a short journey) and I get him out with the back of his head and neck dripping and a lovely sweat stain on the car seat. It really can’t be comfy and he can’t just tell me ‘mother I’m sweating cobs back here….. cool me off woman!’ and instead he has the toddler hot head tantrums which tend to happen a lot in the hot weather.

how to keep a baby and toddler cool in hot weather 3

Keeping your child cool on Holiday

I remember taking him on holiday and we had bought a cheap second hand buggy (thank god we did) a lovely blue one. It was just covered in sweat stains from him at the end, and we had only put him in it to walk around the local shops or out and about for half an hour or so. He just must have gotten so hot with no air circulating behind his head and neck that he just broke out in the sweats. Safe to say we had to throw the buggy away before travelling home as it was completely ruined. It sounds ridiculous throwing something away because of sweat stains but we had no choice. It is a real worry for parents in this summer heat because they have to go in car seats and prams and sometimes the journey is a little longer than we would hope.

The solution to keeping your little ones cool in hot weather

MyBump2Baby has found an amazing solution to this problem. Introducing Nowa Baby an innovative company that strives to create products to make everyday life easier for parents. Their product is ‘Cool Breeze Seat Liner’, this Seat liner is both a car seat or pram liner that is universally compatible with most prams & car seats. It is a seat liner that you can attach to your pram, buggy and car seat. It’s special innovative design uses 3d breathable mesh that allows hot air to escape and cool air to reach your child and Tencel fibers that help to keep your little one cool.

‘What on earth?’ I hear you ask, not to worry here’s the sciency bit – Tencel fibers are produced from sustainably sourced wood. Unique properties of Tencel fibers, lead to efficient moisture absorption and gentleness on skin. Tencel is softer and more breathable than cotton & polyester, making it ideal to keep your little one cool and comfortable.

All sounds very fab but a bit over my head, what I want to know is does it work does it keep my hot head son cooler and how does it look?

Is the Product as Good as it sounds?

The answer is yes!

The lovely people at Nowa Baby sent me a Cool Breeze Liner to try and it is amazing. I would definitely purchase one.

I really liked the colour they sent (but of course, this awesome brand has you covered with four different colour choices, blue, pink, mint or beige).

It is lightweight and looks lovely and comfy. It is easy to use the liner is compatible with all 5-point harness’ and it fits perfectly in my car seat and buggy and there was absolutely no need for me to spend an hour stressing trying to get it in and secure it, it really does just slot right in. And, most importantly it kept my son cooler.

I have now used this several times splitting its use between the car seat and the buggy and I really have to say I can’t believe how well it works and how easy it is to use. I purposely picked he hottest days with temperatures of 22 degrees and more and his head sweats were massively reduced. I’m not going to say that there was no sweating there still was a little of course but what it didn’t do was soak onto the liner like it does the car seat or the buggy and his hot head stresses were actually (pleasantly) much, much less.  There was also less hot headed tantrums which of course was an added bonus.

What I love about Nowa Baby

What I really like about Nowa Baby is that the team largely comprises of young families who are going through the same issues that you are facing. So their products are designed with parent’s convenience and children’s comfort and safety in mind. For me having a company that designs their products with their own children in mind means that they truly believe in what they are selling.

They have free shipping worldwide and so we really do think for those parents who know a thing or two about toddler hot head tantrums or worry about how they can keep their baby cool in the car seat or prams for long periods of time that this product and this company is for you. Go and visit their website now you will not regret it – I can promise you that.

how to keep a baby and toddler cool in hot weather

 

Based on our own experience, we awarded Nowa Baby with our recommended on badge

 

Please note that although we have tried and tested the product ourselves, we are not responsible for safety checks. For any questions regarding this please contact the company directly.

Deciding on the Perfect Rug

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We have recently just moved house, well back in December to be a little more precise and the thought of decorating somewhere new filled me with such excitement, not so much the stripping of wallpaper, sanding walls and painting but more so the thought of accessorising the rooms with furniture and fabrics, pictures, pots and not forgetting one of my favourite things; rugs.

 Rugs Transform Rooms – FACT!

I take after my Mum when it comes to rugs.  She loves them.  Always has done for as long as I can remember.  She is forever swapping old rugs for new rugs, rotating them from room to room, reviving them and so on.  Whenever we go out shopping she always ends up coming back with a new rug to add to her already large collection and now she is even ordering them online too.  I guess I’ve learnt from my Mum how a rug has such an impact on a room. It can bring to life an area or space quite considerably and add a very homely and welcoming feel.  You can bring to life carpets with a rug, warm up laminate floors, adorn a hallway, and they are also incredibly practical for porches and doorsteps in catching the dirt before it gets walked around the house.

 

Six months on….  

So, we are now six months down the line from moving and the house is taking shape.  We have redecorated and put our own stamp on it.  I am now in the process of accessorising my little girl’s room.  We have added a feature wall with some wall paper that she chose and painted the other walls.  We have upcycled some furniture to go with the colour scheme of the room and we have created a comfortable, fun space where she can play with her toys but also relax.  The flooring is laminate and we have gone back and forth as to whether we should carpet it or not.  We have actually decided against it at the moment and have opted for a rug instead.  We came across the Rugs and Rooms website and couldn’t believe the vast choice of rugs in all colours, styles, textures etc.  We finally came to a decision (we could have picked about 5 but narrowed it down to 1) and we chose the “Smoky” rug.   We love it, so does my little girl.  It adds something to the room which was definitely lacking. It radiates warmth and comfort.  The rug itself has a short pile, just what we were after as it complements the laminate flooring and wallpaper very nicely. The greys in the rug work well with the dusky pink shades that are also present in the paper and cushions.

rugs and rooms

I was incredibly happy with my purchase and everyone who comes over always comments on how lovely the room looks, always picking out the rug.  My daughter loves the texture and feel of it – soft against her feet without being too high or over textured.  She calls it he grey sea rug as she thinks the pattern on it is like waves in the sea.

Rugs and Rooms

I cannot wait to start browsing through the Rugs and Rooms website again to find a few more rugs – in particular – one for the lounge – as my Mum proudly states; “You can never have too many rugs”….my sentiments entirely.

 

 

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