UK Bloggers August 2021 Giveaway 

The last few months have been a tough time for one and all. We have all struggled in our own ways , some with job losses, some with stress, isolation and loss of loved ones. I have found my blog has been a saviour for me during these tough times. Its been a space where my readers have continued to support and motivate me by visiting and commenting and keeping the blog live.

In view of this continued support from my readers, I have teamed up with UK Bloggers to host a giveaway for £120 M&S E-Gift Card. Please do enter the giveaway below:

Meet the Bloggers

The following UK bloggers have all come together to contribute towards this giveaway, offering you a chance to win an M&S e-Gift Card worth £120. Kindly support us by visiting some of the websites below or following us on social media pages. 

 CatsKidsChaos | Spillinglifetea | Real Girls Wobble | Missljbeauty | Monethalia | Koody | Felifamily | Hannah and the Twiglets | A Life Of Lovely | At Home With Alice | Make Money Without A Job | Earn Money Do Good | So Nostalgic | Craft Multimedia | The Grumpy Olive | Cantwells Cabin | StressedMum | Alice in Sheffield | Dull to Desirable | It's Me Chrissy J | Best Things to do in Cambridge | Two Plus Dogs | Thrifty Chap | Jupiter & Dann | Miss Tilly And Me | Being Tilly’s Mummy | Internet Wages | Life With Ktkinnes | Christmas With Katie | Life in a Break Down | Simply Saving | A Suffolk Mum | A Life Less Plastic | Fresh Design Blog | Wotawoman Diary | StaceyLBlogs | Socially Rach | Best Things to do in York | Brunch or Breakfast? | Lodges with Hot Tubs | Fruit Picking Farms | Citrus Spice and Travels | A Life With Frills | Life Changing Side Hustle | Honest Mummy Reviews | Wander & Luxe | My Tunbridge Wells | Travel Bugs | Mind over Money Matters | Discover Kent

The Giveaway Prize

One lucky winner will win a £120 M&S e-Gift Card! An M&S eGift Card can be can be used online at marksandspencer.com or in over 700 M&S stores across the UK.

Terms and Conditions

1. There is only one prize of a £120 M&S e-Gift Card. 

2. There are no runner up prizes. 

3. This giveaway is open to UK residents aged 18 and over, excluding all bloggers involved with running the giveaway. 

4. The closing date for entries is midnight on 08.08.21. 

5. The same Rafflecopter widget appears on all the websites involved, but you only need to enter on one website. 

6. Entrants must log in to the Rafflecopter widget below and complete one or more of the tasks - each completed task earns one entry in the prize draw. 

7. Tweeting about the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget will earn five bonus entries into the prize draw, increasing your chances of winning. 

8. One winner will be chosen at random. 

9. The winner will be informed by email within 7 days of the closing date and will need to respond within 28 days with their email address, or a replacement winner will be chosen. 

10. The winners' names will be published in the Rafflecopter widget (unless the winner objects to this). 11. The prizes will be dispatched within 14 days of the winner confirming their address. 

12. By participating in this prize draw, entrants confirm they have read, understood and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. 

How to Enter:

To enter the giveaway, simply complete any or all of the Rafflecopter entries below:

 a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Good luck!

Summertime Renovations on a Budget

 

Photo by Pedro Monteiro on Unsplash

Summer is a good time to get your house in to ship shape. It's the perfect time to apply a fresh coat of paint, get those much needed renovations and repairs done. It's ideal time to get your boilers serviced, your carpets cleaned and curtains laundered.

Together with the home renovations, it's important to have that family time, book a holiday and make the most during the school holidays too.An economic holiday is to do a staycation in another city. House swapping is a great idea too, as is camping and chalets holidays  Sometimes just a weekend away is enough to relax and enjoy family time away from home and get a change in scenery..

All these extra things do eat into our set monthly budget and we often find that our finances start to suffer during the summer months.This is when cashasap.co.uk come in handy. They are the perfect way to access payday loans without any hidden costs. Short term loans are a form of unsecured credit offered at higher interest rates. It can be a solution for times when you don't have the money and need a small amount to tie you up for those extra expenses.The loans can be accessed online at any time, which makes it simple and convenient for you.  

Photo by Pedro Monteiro on Unsplash

These are the minimum criteria you need to meet to apply for a cashasap.co.uk loan. You must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be in full or part-time employment
• Be a UK resident with a UK bank account and a linked debit card
• Fully and honestly fill out our application form
• Have a working mobile phone and email address
• Be able to afford the repayments over the term of the loan.

There is no queuing, to get the loan you are required to fill in an online form.Once approved the money is directly transferred to your account. First time customers are limited to a £400 loan although this limit can grow to £750 pending successful repayments and continued qualification for a cashasap.co.uk loan. The loans can be for 35 days or you can opt for a multi month instalment loan for up to 6 months.

Of course renovations are important but do be mindful that you only take out a loan if you can afford to pay it back. You can always find other inexpensive ways to spruce your home 

• Move furniture, dust and clean under it. Air your soft furnishing in the sun and deep cleaning them to give them a new lease of life.
• Upscale furnishing that you have, a fresh coat of paint or vanish gives old furniture a new dated look
• You can get fabrics purchased in charity shops that you can make cushions and throws with
• Swap labour with friends who can come and help out to save labour costs, and payback by returning the favour.
• I have found that buying a large pot of white paint and a smaller pot of coloured paint and mixing the two to get your desired paint colour is cheaper than buying premixed coloured paint

Photo by David Pisnoy on Unsplash

I hope that you take inspiration from this post and spruce your home and make it ready for the winter These are just a few ideas for home renovations, do you have any ideas that you have? Please do share them in the comments section below.

**collaborative post.

How to brighten up a dark room in your house.

If your home is an old build or has high ceilings and dark wood it can make the room look dark and dingy. Have you experienced this? There are several ways that you can brighten the room and open it up. 

Some ideas to help to brighten a dark room:

• Paint the walls and in a light colour 
• Paint the doors and skirting boards in a light colour

 Image from Pixabay

• Replace the floors with wooden floors or fit a pale coloured carpet if you are carpeting the room
• Light coloured or pastel curtains and bed linen will help to keep the room bright and airy. Avoid dark colours except to add a pop of colour in the form of throw cushions and rugs

Photo by Beazy on Unsplash

• Keep the room clutter free and minimalistic as to create space.
• Pine or white furniture will add openness to a room, avoid dark furniture.
• Invest in good lighting and lamps dotted around the room to give more lightening.

Photo by wu yi on Unsplash

Lastly if you own the property and you have scope to renovate you can add aluminium framed flat fixed roof lights. These will instantly add natural light into a dark room and they are the perfect solution to make the room brighter and lighter.

What are framed flat fixed roof lights?

Framed Flat flat fixes Roof lights are set in the roof to help to increase the flow of natural light into indoor spaces. They also offer good thermal insulation and light transmission.  The glass that the roof lights are made from is energy efficient and designed to prevent heat escaping out through your roof light. 

 Image supplied by Tuffx Glass

The Aluminium Frame has a thermal break  which helps to create an insulated barrier and reduces the transfer of heat and cold through the frame decreasing condensation and improving energy efficiency.

The roof lights are made by Tuffx, in the UK; all their products are manufactured to the highest industry standards and are tested vigorously to ensure that they provide the best quality in materials.Tuffx are well experienced as they work on both domestic and commercial projects.

 Image supplied by Tuffx Glass

The roof lights are available in double glazed or triple glazed safety and are available in clear, solar and privacy glass too.The roof lights are custom made to your room size requirements and ready for delivery within 3-4 days.These flat fixed roof lights are the perfect way to add extra light to a dark and gloomy room so why not choose fixed rooflights to let natural light into your home

*collaborative post

Reclaim Your Life (and your space) with Effective Storage

Photo by Nathan Van Egmond on Unsplash

It’s surprising just how easily possessions start taking over your space. Before you know it, the cupboards are full, the surfaces are crowded and there’s nowhere to put anything.Sometimes you definitely need more space, other times you need a new way of using the space you already have. These expert tips will help you make the best of both solutions.

 Make Furniture Work Harder

Furnishings should absolutely be decorative, stylish, and attractive. But it makes sense to see that it's also practical and functional.Storage furnishings can make any room feel bigger and brighter because it gives you a space to put the annoying little things that clutter up surfaces.

Photo by Douglas Sheppard on Unsplash

We’ve all got TV remotes, games controllers, mobile phones and their accessories, cables, and chargers, not to mention tablets, laptops, notebooks, pens and spare batteries. A drawer or shelf in an occasional table means you can keep the surface clear. The same goes for a coffee table with a lift-up lid or a shelf underneath for magazines or books.

 

Photo from Pixabay

You could also make use of footstools with storage, trunks, or fancy chests, or even just a decorative basket or tub as somewhere to pop in the corner and hold toys - either for children or pets.

Upstairs, take the same approach with bedroom furnishings. If you have a divan or ottoman bed, make use of their storage spaces, and if you use a frame bed, invest in some under-bed storage tubs. The ones on wheels are handy and easily retrieved when you want to clean or get something out.

The wardrobe too, can probably hold more than you think. Add a second rail under the first for short garments or use a couple of tension rods at the bottom to keep shoes neat and in pairs. One of those plastic drawer towers is also a nifty addition. It may not look pretty, but inside the wardrobe no-one will see, and you’ll get lots of space for folded items, undies or accessories

Rethink Storage Options

Sometimes you need to clear some space, which goes a bit further than reorganising the things you own. This gets tricky because possessions are often precious. Maybe inherited items, treasured photos, collectibles, souvenirs or just stuff you love but don’t use much.

Instead of making heart wrenching decisions to get rid of things you love but have no room for, self storage rooms give you the best of both worlds.

Some people like to take a seasonal approach. During winter, they store stuff they only use in the summer months, and vice versa. Everything from garden machinery and furnishings to winter coats, motoring accessories or just somewhere to store luggage between holidays, we’ve all got lots of possessions that have a seasonal cycle of use.

The cool thing about self storage, apart from handy locations you can get to in a flash, is the way you can customise the room. As long as you don’t hammer or drill into the walls, you can install shelves or drawer units to keep your room organised.

  

 Image by Pixby

 A Few Décor Ideas

Like it or not, we're all products of the society we live in, and we tend to do what society dictates is the 'norm'. This applies as much to arranging furniture as to social behaviour. But if you haven't got room for a big sofa, there's no rule that says you can't have three chairs instead. They're easier to move around and group together, and a footstool lets you put your feet up as well as giving a bit of extra seating when it's needed.

Other space saving decor tips include:

Taking off your traditional swinging doors and installing sliding doors instead. You'll lose a little wall space where the door slides but gain a lot of floor space because the door won't take up as much room.

• Use wall lights instead of floor lamps.
• Have one big rug instead of a couple of smaller ones. Small rugs tend to break up the floor area, creating a more closed-in feeling.
• Choose sofas and armchairs with legs. Even short legs let light circulate while throwing less dense shadows.
• Pale colours on the walls. If you like strong, bold, shades, have an accent wall and echo the stronger colours in cushions, pillows or throws.

Photo by Darren Richardson on Unsplash

    

These all help create a unified look that makes a room appear ordered and organised. The odd bit of clutter is more easily forgiven when the overall atmosphere is spacious and calming.

The biggest benefit of sorting out your things, whether with home storage or self storage, is the mental freedom it creates. You can get on with anything without having to clear space first, and when you want something, you'll know exactly where to look to find it.·   

**collaborative post

Five things to avoid doing before buying a house

Photo by Aubrey Odom on Unsplash

 

Buying a home can feel a lot like going into a well-decorated battlefield: but there are some issues that we often aren't warned about. For example, is it okay to buy the first house you see?  Should you aim for the top of your budget?  Be careful; these five things could make your first home-buying exercise a mistake.

Don't simply accept the asking price.

This rule applies in buying cars, going to car boot sales, and of course: buying houses.  If you see a home you adore, and the market is suitable for it: barter!  Try to get the price lower, and pay attention to details like repairs that are needed or past flooding to use it to your advantage. This is one of the most important steps to buy a house. If you’re unsure about being able to negotiate, work with an appointee or estate agent who has some practice in this skill.  Although they might not be able to get you the house for 90% off, these are trained negotiators who will do anything to get the sale so they can to earn their commission from you.

Don't wait to get approved for your loan.

The worst feeling you can have when house hunting is to find your dream home and then have someone swipe in at the last minute while you're waiting for your loan to be approved.  It's okay to window shop a little, but when you're ready to buy a house, make sure you start the loan application process.

Don't underestimate the size of a project.

The most significant mistake many first-time homebuyers make is thinking they can handle any project that comes their way. Taking out a wall might look easy and fun on HGTV, but if you don't know how to check if a wall is load-bearing or if it's got electrical or pipes in it: don't do it on your own!  Many home buyers get their homes and then procrastinate the projects long enough to become the next homeowner's projects.  Don't let that happen to you.  If you see a project you're unsure about hire a professional who can do the job properly and safely. 

Photo by Tierra Mallorca on Unsplash

Don't fall for the first house.

This happens a lot for younger first-time home buyers. They'll find a beautiful Victorian home or fall for a classic ranch-style, and just because it's the first house they've seen, they'll think it's the perfect place for them.  Although this can happen, and it's okay to buy that first house, it is equally important to check a few properties to compare. 

Don’t buy more than you can afford.

Although lenders are careful not to lend out more than they think someone can afford because it's a hassle to get that money back: they also don't know every part of your financial circumstances.  If you know that things are tight right now while you're paying 1500 a month on your apartment, don't try to make yourself think a 1450 a month house payment is much better. Check your finances well and make sure you have budgeted for bills, mortgage, repairs and have money to live on each month that include maintenance and groceries.

Carefully comb through your finances, and ensure that you don’t commit to more than you can  comfortably afford. That means avoiding going too big and considering moving further out from metropolitan areas to get the house of your dreams.

There are many things you need to consider when house hunting, do check out my other posts in the series Buying your own property:

• Somethings to consider when buying your own home.
• To rent or to buy
• 10 top packing tips when moving your home
• Home renovations -Laminate Floors

Are there are tips you can share with me about purchasing your property. Please do share in the comments below.

*collaborative post

Giveaway Jute Selfie Bag

I am really excited to have been gifted The Jute Selfie Bag which is perfect for a travel blogger. You can read all about it in my recent blog post about Ruislip Lido.

The Selfie Bag is really useful and contains:

• Bluetooth tripod selfie stick: get the perfect angle with a Bluetooth selfie stick to connect to your phone. This selfie stick is perfect for group photos, holiday snaps and for when you want to get your whole outfit in the pic.
• Pocket for Selfie Stick: a handy pocket for that vital bit of kit….the selfie stick.
• Zip top: the whole bag has a zip across the top for added security and so that you can be rest assured that nothing will come tumbling out.
• Pop up reflector: to get the perfect lighting for your selfies we’ve included a pop-up reflector which comes tucked up in its own mini bag.
• LED ring light: if the reflector doesn’t quite cut it, then give the LED ring light a go. This ring light handily attaches to the top of your phone, plus it comes with a lead to charge and has 3 settings so you’re sure to get just the perfect lighting.
•  a selfie stick that has its own little pocket inside the bag, a mobile ring light and a set of miniature reflectors in a  zipped bag that clips inside the bag. 

I am really pleased to share that The Cotton Bag Company has agreed to giveaway two bags to two lucky winners. (I per winner)

 

How to Enter:

·         Simply complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries

·         Entries can be via blog comment, Facebook, Twitter etc

·         Please read the rules they form the terms and conditions of this Giveaway

·         Closing date – 3oth May 2021 12.00 am

How Rafflecopter works:

1. You will need to complete the mandatory entry first usually making a blog comment. You can do this by clicking on leave a comment at the bottom of the post and leaving your reply in the comment box. Please note your comment will not show immediately as it needs to be moderated however rest assured it will appear on the site, so carry on with rest of entries.
2. Login to Rafflecopter click to see what the question is. Make a comment answering the question on the blog.
3. Go back to Rafflecopter and click the green button to tell me you have made a comment, this will unlock all the other options. All entries are checked to see that the mandatory question is answered, if its not all bonus entries will become void. 
4. Rafflecopter will tweet, like and follow on your behalf.
5. For bonus entries you can return to this page and enter the daily bonus entries. 

      Rules:

• This giveaway is open to all readers over 18 who live in the UK.
• The winner will be chosen via Rafflecopter (which uses random.org) and announced on this page.
• Prize:  2 x Giveaway Jute Selfie Bag (1 per winner)
• citrusspiceuk is hosting this giveaway in collaboration with Cotton bag Co . Their decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. They reserve the right to withdraw the competition at any time should any unforeseen circumstances arise, in case that the prize is not available a similar prize of same value will be substituted.  No monetary compensation will be given.
• Cotton bag Co will be responsible for sending out the prize to the winner, by entering you are **consenting** to share your address for the prize to be sent and be contacted by email to notify you if you have won the prize. 
•  Please note to be compliant with the new GDPR rules by entering the giveaway you are consenting to allow citrusspiceuk to contact you if you win the prize. Your data will NOT be used for any other marketing purposes.
• All entries will be verified, failure to follow instructions correctly will result in participants being disqualified. Please do not cheat.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post is in collaboration with Cotton bag Co

Visit to Ruislip Lido

Times have been tough during the last year with the Covid situation. With so many lockdowns and restrictions taking care of your body and mind became even more important. Working from home, homeschooling and spending so many hours indoors can make us fatigued and depressed. 

During this time my family and I took to walking, exercising in an open space which was permitted within the covid restrictions. It meant that we could get some fresh air and also get our daily exercise whilst enjoying the beautiful scenery. 

Our regular visits to Ruislip Lido has kept us fit and healthy and helped us remain sane during the lockdown. Ruislip Lido is a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruislip, within the London Borough of Hillingdon, England. The Lido and woods span over 726 acres is is the perfect place for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. 

There is a play area set on the beach with climbing frames and a pirates ship, swings and slides. There's also a children's splash pad with water jets, masses of playground equipment and toilets with changing rooms. 

There is a area with gym equipment for adults and a small railway that goes around the 60 acre lake that is home to swans, ducks and geese.

The lake is surrounded by ruislip woods and there are many walking trails through the woods. The walk around the lake takes approximately 45 minutes if done leisurely and is really beautiful and picturesque. We really enjoy the walks around the lido and always take pictures as the scenery is always changing with the seasons.

On my walks, I always take my Selfie bag with me, which is really useful. The Jute Selfie Bag from Cotton Bag Co is large enough to carry my water bottle and a snack together with all the products it comes with.

The Selfie Bag contains:

• Bluetooth tripod selfie stick: get the perfect angle with a Bluetooth selfie stick to connect to your phone. This selfie stick is perfect for group photos, holiday snaps and for when you want to get your whole outfit in the pic.
• Pocket for Selfie Stick: a handy pocket for that vital bit of kit….the selfie stick.
• Zip top: the whole bag has a zip across the top for added security and so that you can be rest assured that nothing will come tumbling out.
• Pop up reflector: to get the perfect lighting for your selfies we’ve included a pop-up reflector which comes tucked up in its own mini bag.
• LED ring light: if the reflector doesn’t quite cut it, then give the LED ring light a go. This ring light handily attaches to the top of your phone, plus it comes with a lead to charge and has 3 settings so you’re sure to get just the perfect lighting.
•  a selfie stick that has its own little pocket inside the bag, a mobile ring light and a set of miniature reflectors in a  zipped bag that clips inside the bag. 

The handie selfie stick works using bluetooth and also has three foldaway legs in the handle that converts it to a tripod if needed.

I captured some lovely photos using my selfie stick and managed to get a couple of clicks by using it as a tripod too. The selfie bag is my favorite item to take on my days outs so that I always have everything I need to capture amazing photos and I can add extra in the bag saving me having to take multiple bags out.

The woods have lots of  are picnic benches dotted around so you can stop and have a rest, enjoy the birds, wildlife and recharge your mind with a cup of coffee and snack. There are many clearing in the woods,which are perfect place to take a yoga mat and practice some outdoor yoga too.

There are lovely wildflowers and bluebells dotted around and plenty of other flowers to enjoy.

There is a coffee shop with outside sitting where you can purchase food and drinks and refreshments. The trails in the woods are all signposted and of different lengths to suit every walker. A mini railway runs through the woods and is a nice ride especially for kids.

You can just pop to the Lido for your morning walk but can easily spend half a day at Ruislip Lido. There is also a restaurant at the lake called Waters Edge, which has both outdoor and indoor seating areas, where you can enjoy a lunch or dinner or just drinks whilst enjoying the beautiful views.

What have you been doing to keep fit and healthy during lockdown? Do share your experiences in the comments below.

#gifted I was sent the selfie bag to use, all views and opinions are my own.

Polar Credit an easier money borrowing option.

Photo by Gabby K from Pexels

We all get that moment or time in life when we are strapped for cash. It might be due to an emergency, home repairs or an unexpected car expense. This is when we dive into our savings or an emergency pot. However we don’t all have that emergency pots or savings to dive into so what do we do? We might be lucky to have family that help out, but again we might not all be that fortunate. So what is our option?

Photo by Ksenia Chernaya from Pexels

There are many borrowing options such as bank overdraft, using credit card, securing bank loans, taking out payday loans, using a pawn broker or other money lending vendors. All these types of borrowing incur lots of interest and it is important to check the interest rate and payment terms as they can build up to make the repayment very expensive and you could get in to debt very easily. You can also consider the option of option of Polar credit.

What is Polar Credit?

Polar credit is a new, simple way to get fast, accessible credit. They are a direct lender who makes their own lending decisions and you are not required to have a guarantor to borrow money. They also reward customer loyalty by reducing the interest after one year of opening the account, then again after another 6 months.

How does Polar credit work?

1. Apply online -You can do this using an online form which is easy to fill.

2. Choose a credit limit- You can apply for a credit limit that works for you and, if approved, use it as and when you need to. The good thing about polar credit is that you only pay for the amount you use not for the amount you ask to borrow.

 Photo by Cup of Couple from Pexels

3. Transfer- You can request to transfer money to your nominated bank account whenever you need the funds. You can transfer as much money from your agreed amount as you need, the minimum amount starting from £25

4. Repay- The repayments are flexible, you can pay the agreed minimum payment each month. However if you wish to and can afford it you can pay more than the minimum requirement whenever you want to. There are no early settlement fees and you can continue to make further transfers into your bank account at any time as long as you comply with the terms of your credit agreement.

We all get sudden emergencies or occasions when we need to borrow money. It is important to research and do this with caution and only borrow what you can payback to avoid getting into debt.

**collaborative post.

Different types of allergies you can suffer from.

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Image Credit Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

10-30% of the world’s population suffers from some form of allergy. There are many types of allergies, some are seasonal and others are all year round. An allergy happens when the body’s immune system thinks a certain substance is harmful and reacts to it.   

A few types of allergies that people can suffer from are:

Image credit Allef Vinicius on Unsplash

Pollen allergy – this is commonly referred to as hay fever which presents with itching and running of the eyes or nose. It is particularly worse in the spring and summer months where more pollen is released from plants.

Mold and mildew – This can result from damp conditions in the home and surroundings.There is no easy way to avoid these, if your property has damp and mold it is better to fix and repair these to avoid ill health.

Latex allergies- Many items made from rubber such as balloons, shoes, clothing, bandages and toys have latex in them. If you are experiencing irritation when using these products, do check what they are made from so that you can avoid them.

Image credit Kote Puerto on Unsplash

Pets  allergies- Pet hairs and fur are what most people are allergic to. People who are allergic to pets react with sneezing, wheezing and breathing difficulties. If you experience from these type of allergies, it is best to vacuum the hairs and furs frequently are and sanitise them frequently.

 

Image Credit Tom Hermans on Unsplash

Food allergies – Examples of these foods are seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Some allergies are mild and others can be life threatening. Some ingredients such as gluten or lactose can also cause allergies in many people.

Drug allergies - Certain medications and drugs such as antibiotics and creams can cause harmful side effects and allergies. If you are allergic to any of these medications, it is important to keep note of these medications.

Image Credut Erik Karits on Unsplash

Insect allergies - Bees, wasps and certain insect bites can cause allergies in many people. Dust mites are very common and many asthma sufferers react to them badly.If you get an insert bite make sure you have an antidote for it and for mild allergies take antihistamines. Keep mattresses, furnishing and floors and carpets free from dust by vacuuming.

If you are interested to find out if you are allergic to anything, it is possible to take an allergy test.  Allergy tests can pinpoint  hundreds of allergies, so you can take advice from a specialist  on how to avoid these and tackle them with expert advice.

Image credit courtesy from klarify

Taking an allergy test could not be made simpler with the klarify.me home allergy test. Everything you need to carry out for the test is included in the box. Once you get the test, all that is required is a small blood sample which you send to the klarify lab. The next step is for klarify to analyse the sample for over 296 allergens and send you a detailed personalised report within two weeks. If you are interested in taking an allergy test you can order a klarify.me home allergy test from their website. It retails at £149.00

Top Tips for Protecting Your Home Against Cracks & Leaks

Qusai Akoud on Unsplash

Maintaining a property can seem like a full-time job at times. We fix one problem, only for three more to arise. While we may be inclined to put off these jobs in favour of something more enjoyable, doing so may lead to more serious issues later down the line. Protecting your property against damage such as cracks and leaks should be a priority if you want to avoid any expensive repair work later down the line. I have teamed up with a flood defence foundations company to offer you some advice.

 

Brina Blum on Unsplash

Often, cracks and leaks are caused by issues with the foundations of your property, which is frustrating because you can’t see what’s going on, so it’s easy to miss. If the soil surrounding your home becomes too dry during the summer months, it will shrink, which might cause the foundations to move slightly to fill the new gap. Use a sprinkler during hot weather to keep the soil moist, and refrain from planting trees too near to the property, as they will soak up the moisture.

 

Viktor Mogilat on Unsplash

Likewise, if the soil becomes too moist, it will expand and put pressure on the foundations. With this in mind, ensure your drainage system is working properly during rainier seasons and sweep away any pooling water. Check your gutters on a regular basis to ensure they haven’t become blocked with leaves and other debris.

 

Юлия Заковеря on Unsplash

Leaks can also occur when there are damaged or missing roof tiles, so be sure to monitor this too. It would also be wise to fill in any cracks around your windows and replace the sealant if it has decomposed. These are fairly quick fixes that will help your prevent more serious damage in the future. If you’re not comfortable completing these maintenance tasks yourself, don’t hesitate to contact a professional to help. 

Sometimes outdoor task like these are best left to professionals to tackle. Do you have any tips on home maintenance that you follow? Please do share your tips in the comments below.

**collaborative post