Money matters when it comes to travelling – not just being able to afford to explore the world but also the you’re away from home. Finances have the ability to make or break a holiday. From budget breaks to holidays of a lifetime – we’ve done them all. These are my top five money tips when travelling…

Cash Isn’t Always King

Some of my funnest memories from going on holiday as a child was totting up what spending money I had before we set off. Nowadays cash isn’t necessarily king – yes it’s great to have some of the local currency with you as it’s perfect for small purchases and for tipping as per your host country’s customs. However it’s wise not to take all of your holiday money in cash; firstly it makes you an easy target for pick pockets and the like plus it’s not the best way to keep track of your holiday spending. Yes to taking some (I always aim for around 20% of my total holiday budget in cash) – remember you can always draw out more if needed.

Research Local Prices

This is one of the best tips I’ve picked up on the way. Whenever I head to a new destination I always take some time out beforehand to research living costs. From the price of coffee and cake to how much a taxi costs from the airport to the city centre (or resort). It’s a great way to set a realistic budget whilst you’re away and to make sure you don’t fall foul to unofficial tourist taxes levied by people looking to make extra money.

Track Currency Exchange Rates

Once you know how much of your holiday money you want to take as cash it’s time to start tracking the currency exchange rate. Rates fluctuate on a day to day basis with incentives sometimes offered if you change up a certain amount. Remember when looking at currency exchange rates online that many companies charge for delivery, so factor that in to your comparison. Like pretty much everything in life, it really does pay to shop around.

Carry Some Plastic

I’m not talking about bottles – credit cards are one of the savvy pieces of kit you can take away with you. Duty free electrical purchases come with  added protection when you pay with your credit card and that even before you’ve jetted off. Credit cards come in all shapes and sizes and as with all financial decisions that involve credit, it’s one you shouldn’t take lightly and I would recommend you seek independent financial advice if needed. There are so many credit card companies, one being Vanquis – that can offer a credit limit that is sensible and tailored to your circumstances. Credit cards are a great back up while away.

Money On Holiday is Still Money

Would you ordinarily spend £500 (or equivalent) on art? If the answer is no, then what suddenly possess you to not think twice about spending that amount while on holiday.  I’m amazed at how many people seem to leave their financial know how at the departure gate; yes holidays are about treating yourself, I love a little splurge as part of my travels but you still need to keep a handle on your spending.

What are your top money tips when travelling? Let me know in the comments below!

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Heading to the shops for a bag of penny sweets (that’s when they were actually a penny each!), getting your teeth stuck together because you ate too many fruit salads at once, whatever your memory, sweets are a massive part of our childhood memories.

I attended a golden ticket evening last week with Barratt to celebrate their 170th birthday and the brand behind so many iconic sweets. Founded in 1848 in east London by 21 year old entrepreneur George Osborne Barrett, the brand grew to produce some of the most iconic sweets around that so many of us have fond memories of; from Black Jacks to Fruit Salads oh and Refreshers! After a brief absence from for shelves since 2013, Barratt are back. To celebrate their return Barratt have reinvented one classics including a brand new sour apple flavour DipDab.

For many of us there is great nostalgia attached to a particular memory we have from our childhoods that involves sweets. For me it’s just before my fourth birthday: it was a hot summer’s day and my Mum was heavily pregnant with my sister – she was having an ultrasound at the hospital and I was sat on a chair swinging my legs eating a bag of Dolly Mixture. I can remember the lilac packaging and even how they tasted. Fast forward nearly 26 years later and just one Dolly Mixture is enough to transport me back. Sweets do really make sweet memories.

We were treated (see what I did there!) to sweetie inspired cocktails before kicking off the evening with a sneak peak on how Dolly Mixture sweets are made – did you know that all the flavourings and colours are 100% natural? A transition that Barratt’s say has been gradual and hasn’t affected on taste, which is great.

Now it was out turn to have a go at making our very own doll mixture. I paired up with the lovely Emma from The Joy of Five. We set to making these gorgeous marbled/ombre dolly mixture with a subtle raspberry flavouring.

Whilst dubious at the beginning as to how they would turn out, I have to admit to being pretty proud of our efforts…

Next up was a brilliantly fascinating talk by food historian, Seren Charrington-Hollins. I really enjoyed learning about our relationship with sweets. Take a look at this timeline that Barratt’s shared with me – it’s so interesting to see people’s relationship with sweet tastes which dates back to 8000BC

Whether you’re a Dip Dabber or a Refresher lover, it’s great to see Barratt sweets back on the shelves.

Disclosure: A fee was received for this post.

Disney’s brand new film A Wrinkle in Time is set for release next week and today we were invited by Disney to an exclusive screening – both Boo and I had already seen the trailer and were pretty excited, but did it live up to the hype?

Wrinkle in Time tells the story of Meg Murry (Storm Reid) and her little brother, Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), who have been without their scientist father, Dr. Alex Murry (Chris Pine), for five years, ever since he travelled across time and dimension using the concept known as a tesseract to travel there. Joined by Meg’s classmate Calvin O’Keefe (Levi Miller) and guided by the three mysterious astral travelers known as Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon), Mrs. Who (Mindy Paling) and Mrs. Which (Oprah Winfrey), the children brave a dangerous journey to a planet that possesses all of the evil in the universe. 

Boo was transfixed and didn’t move a muscle throughout the movie, I on the other hand was teary eyed within a few minutes (to give you context I bawl my eyes out each and every time I watch Inside Out) thanks to Dr. Murry (Pine) with the line ‘Love is always there, even if you don’t feel it’. The tears continued – in a good way. Whilst the journey itself is full of adventure, the story is more about the journey that Meg, Charles Wallace and Calvin make within themselves and how they discover their own way to be a warrior.

The diversity of both cast and production team is beautifully obvious and is great to see coming from Disney. Most prominently is the films’ director Ava DuVernay who became the first black woman to direct a live-action film with a budget of over $100 million; it’s these way over due milestones that will help change the social narrative for our children.

It was wonderful to see Boo so inspired by women in film and this snap of her as we came out the cinema reminds me just how much of a warrior she is.

Both Boo and I absolutely loved A Wrinkle In Time – it’s a modern Disney classic and more, it’s a film that I would honestly sit and watch both with Boo and without and as we sat and had lunch afterwards, it was great to sit and talk about the topics that the film had raised – like how all the amazing flaws within each and every one of us allows us to be a warrior.

If you need any more convincing check out our first reaction after we watched the A Wrinkle In Time…

Wrinkle In Time is in cinemas nationwide 23rd March.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity. A fee has been received for this post.

Children and fashion don’t often go hand-in-hand, mostly because they end up growing out of their wardrobes so often it can be hard to keep up. Helping your child express themselves and look good, however, can be a crucial step towards building up their self-confidence and self-expression. Following fashion trends might seem like a waste of time for children, but the children’s trends are not like their adult counterparts. Rather than staple styles, children’s styles are more enduring, and are there to help your child grow and become an independent adult. That is why these fashion trends for children are here to stay:

1. Androgynous Clothing

Gone are the days when girls must wear pink and dresses, and boys must wear jeans. Now we are moving towards a more gender-fluid wardrobe, and it’s for the better. This doesn’t mean your daughter cannot be girly or your son look cute in a button-down shirt and a tie. It simply places emphasis on durability and comfort so that children can do what they do best: play. Androgynous clothing further promises to help your children play as they want to, rather than in the gender roles they see in society.

2. Comfort and Durability

If you can teach your children to value their clothes for as long as possible, you’ve taught them a good lesson. Compulsive shopping is a problem that many adults have, and their budget suffers as a result. That’s why you should always choose comfortable, durable items that will last well beyond your child. Donate them after your children grow out of their clothes and another family can have the opportunity to dress their children in great quality pieces.

3. Flexibility

Children love to play around and have fun. Wearing clothes that do not allow them to run around is just begging for trouble. That’s why choosing dresses that have shorts incorporated into them (also known as playsuits) can be great for girls and especially during special occasions. Similarly, choosing flexible and breathable fabrics can help playtime be more fun.

4. Healthy Living

Not every material will be appropriate for your children. Nickel in particular (a common metal found in most costume jewellery) causes skin irritation in many people around the world. Just because your daughter is allergic to nickel, however, doesn’t mean she cannot get her ears pierced. You can instead opt for earrings made of medical-grade plastic like these cute options offered at Blomdahl USA. Be open and communicate with your daughter why she has to have “special” jewellery, and she’ll be more conscious of the material and be safer as a result.

The shifting ideology towards children’s fashion is to not dress to impress, but to dress them so that they can play, have fun, learn and grow. Little girls shouldn’t have to be frustrated at their tights falling down and about being inappropriate, and little boys shouldn’t have to worry about being “too girly.” Instead, they should be allowed to express themselves, but more importantly, they should be dressed for what they want to do. The more comfortable they are in their clothes, the more comfortable they can be in their own skin.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.