My Sunday Photo 09/10/2022

We make a cornflake tray bake this Weekend! 

Things I would like to change.

Hey readers,

I love my blog as it is a place where I can track my thoughts and a way to express any worries I may have. So as this is the case I am going to share some of the things I want to change to help make my life a little easier.

Recently I have been struggling with tiredness. It normally occurs around the end of the week and thinks that it is just because is a knock-effect of all the week has on me. I get tired anyway because of how much energy it takes to deal with my autism difficulties.

I think just being kind of and not so demanding on myself. Taking it slower is better for me and my health and that is what I want to achieve. I am a firm believer in taking small steps or else it can be risky to lose motivation if I push myself too hard.

I also want to try to be more experimental in the kitchen and try new recipes to help with getting more confident or at least give my husband a break from the wonderful cooking he does. However, I do love trying new recipes, even if it is just once a week, it does help with my confidence and esteem when I achieve good results.

Because of my tiredness and anxiety, I dip in motivation to go out and about. I am hoping to get out more now that children are back at school I aim to get in 10,000 steps at least five days out of the seven. 

I know I can achieve this when I am out I feel good but my downfall is getting past the first walk step.

I know so cliché but for someone with an anxiety condition, it has to be to try not to worry so much. I panic about my parenting and how good I am. Sometimes, just accepting a situation can reduce that great big weight on my shoulders.

Cheers for reading X

GreenJinn app review

Hey readers, 

With the cost of living rising, we are all looking for ways to help reduce the cost of our good bills. There are a few good apps that can help by giving you free or a percentage off food items.

 

I have done a review of two good ones you can check out called Shopmium and CheckoutSmart. Today I am focused on Greenjinn it is not the most popular money-saving app but every little helps as they say especially in this day and age.

What is the Grennjin app?

 
Greenjinn is a cashback app that either gives you free food or gives you food at a discounted rate. You can get the cash back after you have bought the item from the specific store and the item it says on the app. 

The money can be transferred to PayPal. All you have to do is look at the app and check the supermarket s offers. Buy the specific product as if I was going to Sainsbury's I would click on the top tab that says Sainsbury's.

 Search the offers that I want so currently there is a tribe protein flapjack caramel, 50g. It is important to get the exact product such as the flavour and size.

 Then buy the product and get a receipt. Next, you need to upload the receipt. It is really important that the receipt is not wrinkled and the photo of the receipt has good lighting as you don't want to get it rejected. There you have it, it is that simple to use the Grinnjinn app.

You can download the free Grennjinn app from the Play store and Apple app store. You can sign up using your email, Facebook or apple account. 

The shops that are covered in the app are as follows:

* Sainsbury's
* Waitrose 
* Tesco
* Morrisons 
* Asda 
* Coop
* Boots 
* Plant Organic
* Booths
* Ocando 
* MFG

The type of items that Greenjinn offer at a reduced cost or as a freebie are oat milk, lemons, toothpaste, washing up liquid that sort of thing. 

How do you get paid?

Once you have scanned your receipt and it has been confirmed, you can opt to be paid either by Paypal or directly into your account.

Is GreenJinn worth it?

On the plus side, GreenJinn has the most offers available out of all the receipt apps I have downloaded on my phone. But sadly, it’s also the weakest when it comes to how much money you can save, with the discounts lacking compared to its rivals.

With that said, it doesn’t cost you to be a member, so there’s no harm in having it downloaded onto your phone. It will save you some money, just not as much as I would like.

Take a look at the offers and then tap the ones you plan on buying to add them to your cart. Once purchased, take photographs of your receipt via the app, clearly showing the time, date, products and supermarket name. You can take several if you need to.

Once uploaded and processed the cashback will be added to your account. You will then need to request to withdraw this to your Paypal account. You will either be refunded the full amount or a part of the purchase price, depending on the offer. 

The minimum withdrawal amount is £1.50. There is no limit to cash out and there is no charge as well which is good compared to the likes of CheckoutSmart where they would charge you 5% if you want to cash out under £20.00. 

Here are a few tips for using the Greenjinn app.

Always check the app before you go shopping to see if there are any offers you can take advantage of. 

Greenjinn typically releases new offers on a Monday Morning.

Write down the size and name of products in case you can’t get a signal while shopping to check them while shopping.

Make sure you get a receipt, even when using the self-service checkouts.

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday Photo 02/10/2022

Positivive benefits of video games for kids

Hey readers, 

Playing video games for kids gets a bad press but did you know that actually there are positive benefits to playing video games. Here are 10 benefits of video games for kids. 

  1. Teach them problem-solving. 

Traditionally video games train problem-solving and strategy development skills by getting the player to solve increasingly complicated problems. In many cases, there is time pressure which develops speed and decision-making skills.  

2. Sparks creativity. 

Ample research has shown that video games can stimulate creative thinking and problem-solving. And they help to keep your cognitive abilities sharp as well. Gaming can also have other big benefits when it comes to creative problems and works. Video games can also help to set up perfect challenges that help gamers to expend energy. Engaging in an activity that is either stimulating or engaging leads to an increase in dopamine levels in the brain. 

3 Visual-spatial awareness.  

When we are talking about spatial awareness in games it refers to the spatial skills that we have and our ability to rotate and conceptualise 3-D objects and decipher maps, graphs and diagrams can help with spital awareness.

 Studies have found evidence that video games can increase processing speed, cognitive flexibility, working memory, social skills, and problem-solving skills. The bottom line: it's absolutely possible to develop important spatial awareness skills while playing games such as Minecraft, Roblox and The Sims.  

4. Social connections. 

Studies have found that playing video games, especially those that are social and collaborative, can lead to more prosocial behaviours (behaviour that is positive, helpful, and aimed toward social acceptance and friendship) among children. 

Video games have created a fun and engaging way of connecting with people and can act as an essential teaching tool in developing social skills. Video games can help build cooperation skills and supporting skills as players have the option to work together to form alliances and create teams working cooperatively.

5 Improve concentration.  

Video games help improve children's concentration. And it was the kids who played action video games which showed the biggest improvements. Not only did they perform better on attention tests. They also improved their reading speed without any loss of reading comprehension. 

6. Improve coordination.  

Managing a controller with their hands while watching a screen with their eyes improves kids' hand-eye coordination. In fact, research from the medical journal PLOS One found that surgeons who played video games improved their hand-eye coordination and precise muscle movement. 

7. Enhance memory. 

According to some research studies, video games improve problem-solving skills. These research studies reveal that some parts of our brains may grow as a consequence of playing. These parts are associated with strategic planning, memory and spatial navigation.

8. Reduces stress.

Specifically, video game play has been found to lead to improved mood, reduced emotional disturbance, improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and stress reduction. Importantly, the moderate play has been associated with better outcomes than either excessive play or a lack of play.

9. Improve self-esteem.  

Specifically, video game play has been found to lead to improved mood, reduced emotional disturbance, improved emotion regulation, relaxation, and stress reduction. Importantly, the moderate play has been associated with better outcomes than either excessive play or a lack of play.

10. Good learning tool. 

 Many modern education institutions incorporate video games as a teaching methodology. This helps these children improve their academic skills by providing video games that are specifically aimed at enhancing their cognitive and creative skills.

What do you think about kids' video games? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X  

How to save money on your clothes

Hey readers,

Times are tough and we are looking for ways to cut down our costs of spending one way we can do that is by reducing the amount we spend on clothing. I have 5 tips on how to save money on your clothes. 

 1. Recycle old clothes for vouchers

These schemes all reward you for recycling old clothes:

• H&M - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 shop) if you recycle a bag of unwanted clothes or textiles from any store in any condition at a branch of H&M.
• Marks and Spencer - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £35 shop) if you donate items to Oxfam (either clothing or soft furnishings). They must not be damaged or soiled as clothes will be resold. You can also donate items in M&S stores under the retailer's 'Shwop' scheme - you won't get a voucher but Sparks members will get a free treat if they scan the QR code on the donation box.
• New Look - take good-quality, pre-loved fashion to a Hospice charity shop (find them here), scan the QR code on the counter and receive 15% off your next shop at New Look.
• Schuh - receive a £5 voucher (to be redeemed against a £25 spend) when you bring an old pair of shoes (any brand).
• Sweaty Betty - receive a £10 voucher (to be redeemed against a £50 spend) when you recycle an old pair of leggings (any brand) to the store, which can also be done online.

2. Shop out of season.

We know, it’s exciting to buy things pre-season. When it’s icy outside, that lightweight sundress makes you feel like spring is right around the corner. But if you’re buying in anticipation of what’s next, you’re paying the maximum retail price. If you shop for what’s not happening, you’ll get a much better price. Sure, it might feel weird to buy a sweater when it’s nearly triple digits outside, but it’ll save you some cool cash.

3. Where to buy second-hand clothes

There are many places where you can buy second-hand clothes, either in-store or online. 

For stores try local charity shops, or antique shops if you like vintage clothing. Many such shops have now reopened with all the necessary Covid-related measures in place. You will need to be prepared to browse as obviously everything is a one-off item and you can’t guarantee what will or will not be there. But there are many bargains to be had and you will be helping to support either a charity or a local business

There are also many online auctions and selling sites, for example:

* eBay

* Facebook Marketplace

* Depop

*  Preloved 

As well as searching for specific items that you want, it can also be worth including the word “bundle” or “job lot” in your search. You can often find a listing that includes several items which a seller does not have time to list individually, so can work out at incredible value. And if there are some of the items that either don’t fit or you don’t like, you can always pass them on to friends or your local charity shop: you will still bag a bargain.

5. Try 'swishing'

 'Swishing' is the term for swapping items of clothing or footwear with other people. Instead of shopping for new garments, it’s worth getting a group of friends or colleagues together to swap unwanted clothes.

6. Upcycle existing garments

Changing your existing clothes is one way to freshen up your wardrobe without throwing out and replacing the whole lot.

Merion Willis, the Craft Editor at Lovecraft's, said embroidering flowers, geometric patterns or fun lettering to clothing can give a personal finish.“Adding embroidery to tired knitwear is a super-fast way to brighten it up.”

What do you think of my tips on how to save money on clothes? Have I missed a good way to save money that you use that has helped you? Love to hear your thoughts in the comment section down below. 

Cheers for reading X

My Sunday photo 5/09/2022

 

They can be nice together now and again 😉