How to survive on £250 a Month? Tips For Family Claimants That Apply For Universal Credit

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November 14, 2022

how-to-write-a-great-oxbridge-personal-statement

If you want to get into a good college or university, you need a convincing personal statement. But if you want to get into prestigious universities like Eton, Oxford, or Cambridge you need an extraordinary personal statement.

In this guide, we will provide tips on how to write your Oxbridge personal statements perfectly.

Cover the main areas the universities want you to focus on.

1. Your reasons for applying

There are two things you must cover: your reason for applying to Oxford/Cambridge and the reason for applying to the specific course.

To make a case for the specific university, don’t just talk about the reputation of the course. You need to show that you have done your research. Write about the specific courses you are excited about or the professors you want to work with. You should also mention any journals or any other special facilities the college will provide you with. You can also talk about the vision/motto of the university.

But don’t just mention it. The key is to connect. Connect it with your personal academic vision. For example, the course in Islamic literature will give me an in-depth understanding of the culture in the 90s which will help me analyze the sentiments of the Islamic culture in my dissertation and help me make connections in the current political scenario.

To make a case for the course, demonstrate your understanding of the course and why you want to study it. Your reasons should ideally be academic in nature.

2. Your ability to present a coherent case in proficient English

This refers to the structuring of your personal statement. You can’t afford to have an ill-written Oxbridge personal statement.

Divide your statement into paragraphs and each paragraph should address a different part of the personal statement. Make sure that your ideas have a flow, and that you don’t jump from one thing to another. The easiest way to achieve this is by outlining first and going through at least 2 drafts before submitting your final statement.

Ask a professor, teacher, or peer to proofread your Oxbridge personal statement. This will remove any unnecessary fluff, typos, or incoherency.

3. Your commitment to the subject, beyond the requirements of the degree course

The course will require you to submit certain assignments, write a dissertation and attend a few conferences. But Oxford and Cambridge don’t have applicants who do the bare minimum.

They want you to go beyond. Show them how you can do it.

You can express the sentiment by mentioning events that you would like to attend outside the course, projects, or workshops that you are excited to take in the university and outside it.

4. Your preliminary knowledge of the subject area and research techniques

In this section, you can provide an outline of a research idea. Almost all courses expect you to write a dissertation, especially at a graduate level.

Having an outline of the dissertation will show that you know about the course and have the ability to come up with an original research idea.

You should make the best effort you can to demonstrate the extent of your research question, sources, and method at this moment.

5. Your capacity for sustained and intense work

Your Oxbridge personal statement needs to assure the committee that you are capable of an academically rigorous course.

You can draw on your undergraduate/school experience. Write about a challenging semester and how you balanced college work with an internship or how you kept up your grades even in academically challenging times.

You can also mention if you have taken extra projects, worked on any independent projects, or engaged in volunteering.

6. Your reasoning ability

To demonstrate your reasoning ability, you can draw on your undergraduate thesis/ school project.

You don’t have to go into detail about your research. Focus on your paper’s objective, procedure, and the learning or outcome of it. You can also mention if you have participated in any conferences or published your paper.

The most important thing to remember while writing an Oxbridge personal statement is to focus on your academic achievements and interests rather than personal achievements, interests, and aspirations unless mentioned otherwise. So, make the statement that will determine your future.

How to write a Personal Statement for Master’s Applications at UK Elite Universities?

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November 14, 2022

tips-for-writing-your-personal-statement

If you want to get into an elite university in the UK like Eton, Imperial, UCL, LSE or King’s, you must submit the perfect personal statement.

You can’t slack off and get away with general statements like ‘I am a suitable candidate because I graduated at the top of my class.’ Specificity is key.

There are four different parts of making a successful application:

Personal Statement – A necessary prerequisite for all applications.
Letter of Recommendation – Some colleges may only ask for one LOR.
CV – Optional in most cases.
Academic writing sample – Optional in some cases.

A good personal statement is what all the universities care about the most. In this article, we will provide you with personal statement help so that you can give universities what they are looking for.

Personal Statement for Masters Applications – Focus Sections

1. Why do you want to study the course at graduate level?

Generally, there are two reasons why students apply for a Master’s, either they are switching fields, for example, going for an MA in Education after a BA Econ. or they want to specialize in an area for example choosing MA in Ancient History after a BA in Humanities.

Mention the category you fall into and then specify why you want to switch fields or why you want to expand your knowledge.

Unlike a bachelor’s SOP, for a graduate course colleges expect you to already know about the field. So, it would be helpful to draw on your undergraduate dissertation or existing research in the field to express sincere academic interest.

Take inspiration from Oxford’s ‘Why Study Further’ section?

2. What you can bring to the programme

You will enter the program with a very specific skill set. You need to tell the university how those skills align with its motto.

For example, here are two principal themes of UCL.

Academic leadership grounded in intellectual excellence.
Addressing global challenges through our disciplinary excellence and distinctive cross-disciplinary approach

Tell UCL how you can contribute to these principles. Go into specifics of how your research can potentially address global challenges.

3. What particularly attracts you to this programme?

‘This program’ doesn’t just refer to the course but also the course in the college. Write about how specific modules and courses you are interested in and how they contribute to your bigger goals.

4. How does your academic or professional background meet the demands of this programme?

This is the section where you can prove to the academic committee that you can do well in the program.

Look at the specific demands of the program. Most programs expect you to write essays, and reports, design, create practical projects, do group work, and presentations.

Tell them how you have done the same during your undergraduate or in your professional capacity. If there are any prerequisites for the course, cover your proficiency in the area.

5. What are your plans academically or professionally after this degree?

This question is very open-ended because let’s face it, most students only have a vague idea of what they want to do.

If you want to go for a Ph.D., saying that isn’t enough. Write about what you want to do a Ph.D. in, any thesis ideas that you might have, and if you want to apply to the same college for a Ph.D., mention that as well.

If you are planning to apply for a job, you can mention the designation and companies you want to apply to. Write about how getting your degree will open doors in the specific employment sector.

6. An initial outline of an area that you may want to focus on for your dissertation

Most graduate students are expected to write a dissertation and should outline this in their statement. This will set you apart from the other students and make the admission committee confident in your abilities.

Focus on the methodology and sources for your dissertation if you don’t have a thesis.

Hopefully, you have received the personal statement help that you needed. Keep these focus areas in mind while answering their questions and if you have the option, always upload a supplementary personal statement. The supplementary statement should be 1-2 pages of an A4 sheet paper in point 12 format. Happy writing!

Why Should Adults Embrace eLearning Courses For Personal & Professional Development?

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November 3, 2022

adult-elearning-courses-for-career-and-lifeskills

Online learning provides many advantages and opportunities to those who enthusiastically embrace them. Like real-world learning, people get as much out of these circumstances as they put into them.

Still, many adults can be skeptical and cautious of what they read online. After all, there’s a lot of misinformation out there. School pupils have also struggled with this mode of learning, dealing with other difficult circumstances where online learning has been framed as a last resort more than a golden opportunity.

Whatever the context, adults should embrace online learning and take full advantage of their fortunate position. Here’s why.

A Boost to Credibility

Workers can sometimes view online training as a mandatory chore. The things that they learn may not truly be valued or even remembered.

However, iHASCO provides over 150 eLearning courses that are fully approved and accredited. That means all their teachings around compliance, health, safety, and more can be fully trusted and have practical applications for a person’s business. The short-format courses can bring long-term benefits to the business environment, upskilling workers excitingly and credibly.

The wrong provider of eLearning courses can simply bombard people with hastily put-together content. More promising competitors of theirs will meet regulatory standards, set benchmarks for quality, and ensure only practical and reliable information is given. If stiff upper lip regulators can embrace eLearning courses, any other adult can too.

Constant Career Progression

While many people are content in their roles, others are hungry for further opportunities. The right eLearning course provider can be a gateway to those all-important prospects.

Many eLearning course providers offer specialist insights into different topics and industries. Some are also open to suggestions on what future course content their customers would like to see them provide. It’s important not to underestimate the potential of this approach. As workers are constantly underutilised and undervalued, engaging with a responsive course provider can help people finally gain traction in their careers.

After all, few things can be as demoralizing as stagnating in a dead-end position. Working adults can sense they are taking their future into their own hands here, even if their employer has orchestrated the opportunity. The courses can also be accessed via any device, so they have a constant connection to further learning opportunities that will help them thrive.

Fostering a Broader Mindset

eLearning courses can come from anywhere. Engaging with them gives people a broader range of teachings and considerations to mull over.

After all, some online courses may detail concerns that impact an international workforce. Health and safety eLearning courses might have been caringly curated by an expert in the field. Virtual collaboration components could also be included as well. If there’s a digital class, new connections might be made with fellow learners, expanding one’s professional network.

While superiors in the workplace should teach their workers a great deal, it’s vital to engage with the thoughts and opinions of those outside the business too. More than the start of an eLearning course can be enjoyed, but potentially, a new lease on one’s life too. It can all lead to further interests and enrichment, starting a process of enlightenment that never ends. And we all know how valuable soft skills these days are.

A Comprehensive Guide To The Pros & Cons Of Volunteering

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Shirley Owen

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November 2, 2022

Volunteering, whether locally, domestically, or internationally, can be incredibly rewarding.

Choosing to volunteer can help a person to achieve their aspirations to make a difference. It can also have practical applications by improving your CV and helping you to stand out when applying for job roles.

There are a lot of worthy causes, charitable organisations, and non-profits to volunteer for.

However, it is important to do your research on where to volunteer to ensure it’s a rewarding experience on both sides. Keep reading to learn more.

Always Do Your Research

Before you commit to any volunteer opportunities, it is paramount that you do your research, especially if you want to volunteer internationally. You need to take the time to investigate the issues at play that require the need for volunteers, as well as the expectations of the role, and the work carried out by the organisation and the community within which you will be volunteering. In addition, you need to understand the socio-economic and cultural factors at play in the community.

When it comes to researching the organisation, there are several things that you need to be looking out for. First, what are the ethics and morals of the organisation? Do they align with your moral stance? What work does the organisation do? You should follow the money; where do the donations go? Is everything all above board?

In some instances, you might be able to find reviews or testimonials from others that have volunteered. This can provide you with an insight into what it might be like to volunteer with that organisation.

Lastly, you need to think about where you can personally make the most impact. What volunteer roles do your skill set, experience, and knowledge base suit you for? Some people take volunteering incredibly seriously, even making a career out of it and gaining certificates in things like public policy analysis from renowned institutions like the London School of Economics and Political Science, which can provide you with the knowledge you need to really affect change.

This can help to make you a more effective volunteer as an international student. Still, it can also help to provide you with more opportunities should you want to work with the organisations in a professional capacity.

Ethical Implications

The ethical implications of your volunteering are also something that you might want to consider. Obviously, you will want to choose a volunteer position with an organisation, charity or non-profit that has the same ethical standpoint as you.

This is where your research will prove important. Some volunteer organisations allege that they are sustainable or ethical, but this is not always true. These organisations tend to be more centred on making a profit regardless of whether that means that they continue to harm communities, habitats, people, or animals.

You might also want to consider the ethical implications of your actions too. When volunteering overseas or with poor communities, your actions can come across as self-serving, patronising, and even damaging in some cases.

Think about the white saviour complex and the ensuing conundrum. Your intentions might be innocuous enough, but that doesn’t mean that the resulting actions will be. This is something that you might want to bear in mind. This isn’t meant to put you off from volunteering, but it is important to consider your actions in a wider cultural context.

Paying to Volunteer vs Paid Volunteers

Within volunteering, there are a couple of different types of volunteer work. Depending on when and where you choose to volunteer, you might encounter paid volunteer positions, or you might be asked to pay to volunteer. The phrase ‘paid volunteer’ is an oxymoron, it is essentially a job, and therefore, you aren’t volunteering.

Organisations that make you pay to volunteer should also be regarded with suspicion. If you want to volunteer overseas, then encountering fees is much more common, but it should still be approached with caution. Before you commit to paying anything, you should have already done some research into the organisation, but you need to look into how the money is used. Where do the donations go?

Does it all go straight into the project and the goal? If so, this might be why you are asked to pay a fee to volunteer. Most of the time, organisations prioritise transparency, and therefore they will outline the practices and why you are being asked to pay and what it will be used for.

Finding the Right Role

When it comes to volunteering, the role that you choose to fulfil can make or break your experience. Obviously, the roles themselves will vary depending on the organisation, but you should remember to consider your own skills and experience. Is the volunteer role that you are considering going to utilise them? Does it make the best use of your specific skills?

For example, if you have graphic design or photography experience, then would designing leaflets be the best fit for you? There are roles of all classifications available depending on the organisation, of course. If you can’t find a role that fits with what you had in mind, you can always get in touch with the organisation directly and outline what you would like to do to see if they can tailor a volunteer position to you.

In addition to thinking about how well you are going to fit the role, you also need to consider how well the role is going to fit you. There are a few ways to find volunteer work depending on what you’re looking for. You will first have to consider some questions. What sort of time commitment is the organisation looking for? If you are volunteering locally, this might be a couple of hours a week. Some volunteering involves manual labour, which some people might find difficult.

You need to think about what the role entails and whether that works with what you can give. Volunteer work is often unpaid, and so a lot of people must fit their volunteer work alongside their paying job and any other responsibilities that they might have. Some people also choose to volunteer on a more casual basis, there are roles out there that only need filling occasionally or when an event is on.

The Bottom Line

Volunteering is often incredibly rewarding and worthwhile for the volunteers. However, committing to a volunteer position or an organisation without doing your research beforehand can mean that the experience is not worth your time. The factors above should be taken into account and used when making your decisions regarding volunteering. A lot of people want to volunteer because, ultimately, they want to make a difference in the world, and volunteering can certainly help, but you need to manage your expectations. Remember that volunteering is about providing help in a meaningful way to create sustained changes in the world.

13 Most Inspiring Gifts For Students From Teachers

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October 31, 2022

some-students-and-teachers-are-in-class-room

Are you a teacher, tutor, instructor, or educator?

Then you may be seeking suggestions for presents for your precious students throughout the academic year for various occasions.

This is not always that easy and we all know that teachers and educators don’t have much time on their hands, so we have some unique student gift suggestions compiled for you right here. They can be used for end-of-year gifts, special rewards, or birthday pressies.

We focused on two factors when choosing these gifts: cost and purpose.

Educators want their presents to be thoughtful yet economical for their limited budgets (head to our teacher discounts post to discover savings).

We want our student gift ideas to be as helpful as they can be, ideally something that will boost the pupils with their love of learning.

Let’s dive right in.

Disclaimer: All prices quoted are subject to change.

1. Retractable Ballpoint Pens

Affordable, vibrant ballpoint or gel pens with cutting-edge ink technology always come in handy for any student, especially the creative ones that love to scribble and draw. With little palm pressure, InkJoy consistently produces sharp, clear lines.

This pen is incredibly comfortable to hold because of its expanded rubberized grip and comes in 8 different coloured pens per bundle. Given that its price is only $2.78, it is a great gift for numerous students.

Find more here.

2. Delicious Erasers

Food-themed erasers are always popular with youngsters, and these are especially cute! While having fun is the focus of these, they will also be functional for homework.

Creative Tip: Motivate students by including a “Mistakes Help Me Grow” postcard that is printable in several sizes in a bag with an eraser.

Find a wide variety here. Each eraser costs approx. $1.

3. Beachy Bookmarks

Bookmarks are a wonderful gift for students and promote reading. They are also quite economical.

These “Don’t forget to read this summer” printable gift tags include space for inspirational messages. Or print any of the many printable bookmarks available online on some lovely card stock. Total price: from $8 to $10 for each bookmark.

Find it here

4. Bubble Wands

Bubble wands are a favourite among all students all year round. They are a terrific last-minute present and the ideal way to appreciate the magic of science.

It’s wonderful to leave children with a motivational message. The attached gift tags will let them know that they “blew you away this year.”

A pack of 5 costs you $20, find it here.

5. Gift Bag with S’mores

This is a fun and simple student-present idea, regardless of whether they’re taking a camping trip or just camped out over the kitchen stove. They’ll miss you, S’more. ** Just this printable template is included in this product.

Buy chocolate, crackers, marshmallows or any other of your student’s favourite treats at the grocery store. If you don’t have access to a printer, just use the catchphrase on a homemade card. They will cost you $25 each.

Find it here.

6. Popsicles

How does a cabin get on the internet? It LOGS in! 😆⁰Let us know in the comments how many Popsicles can you find 👇https://t.co/HXRODHeHmF pic.twitter.com/nPYBiDBz7q

— Popsicle® (@Popsicle) January 20, 2023

Want to keep costs low by keeping things straightforward? The student present every kid will love is a freezer pop! Kids, in all honesty, are so easily satisfied.

Creative Tip: Add a gift tag to make them into a present. You may either write your own or use one of these “have a cool summer” printable tags.

Find it here for $5 each.

7. Decorative Succulents

Make your weekday shine with #succulents! pic.twitter.com/BYFaYQCxTZ

— succulentmarket (@succulentmarket) July 29, 2020

If you care for the environment and it is on your agenda, then these vibrant succulent pots are the ideal student gift. You can plant the succulents together and decorate the pots to make it a unique student-teacher experience.

These bulk cuttings and some planting soil are available here at $10 each.

8. Frisbees

The young active crowd will go crazy over these fantastic frisbees that are perfect for any class party. You could even take them outdoors and play a team frisbee game.

Attach a gift tag that is appropriate for a frisbee, such as these free printable “the year just flew by” tags.

Price ranges from $23–$28 per pack, find it here.

9. A Personalised Gift Tags

These unique and personalised gift tags make a fantastic addition to mail-order presents for distance-learning students or handovers at the final day.

Overall cost: $30, find it here.

10. Customized Pencils

This festive assortment of red, white, and green pencils features fun holiday-themed imprints like “Rebel Without a Claus”, “”You’re Sleigh-In it,” and more! Available exclusively on https://t.co/zOnJYEE6rL for orders of $20+ through 12/16. pic.twitter.com/V0mZ75wH99

— Pencils.com (@pencilscom) December 13, 2022

You may buy branded pencils from a variety of sellers like eBay and Etsy. Every child’s stationery case must have a pencil, so receiving one with their name on it from their teacher would be memorable. Every pencil could say something like “Thank you for being excellent (student name). With love, Miss Smith.”

You can also purchase them separately from some retailers, although the cost will probably be higher. One of the nicest farewell gifts from teachers to their kids might be this. Every time they use their unique pencil, they’ll think of you!

Find it here for $2 each.

11. Dough-lightful Activities

Consider additional pursuits that might provide the parents with a brief period of tranquillity. They will enjoy doing some fun activities their teacher has provided them with play dough.

They have pleasure in using their imagination. Put the things in a goodie bag and design a sticker or tag for added excitement.

Find it here for $5 each.

12. Customized Chocolate

If you teach older students, they might be chocolate lovers who would appreciate bars of chocolate with custom wrappers. Sending them sweet goodies with a note showing your appreciation would be a great combination.

Most sellers also let you select a vibrant background, so you may pick the one you like and add a little bit of your flair.

Find it here for $10 per pack.

13. Wildflower Seeds

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Nothing compares to scattering wildflower seeds and seeing them sprout. Throughout the pandemic, many kids have drawn rainbows; this might provide the world with some more much-needed colour. It’s one of the ways they make rainbows appear everywhere.

You can even add personalized stickers. Ask the students to keep you informed on their plant’s height growth!

Find it here where a pack costs $5.

Give a student a gift to remember

The above student gift ideas should provide you with inspiration on personalised student gifts that are suitable for learners you work with in education and your budget. Many of these gifts can also be sent by mail to the kids at home where necessary and they are sure to leave a lasting memory of the time you had with them.

If you want to get in touch with us about this post or related queries, please use the form below:

14 Top Student Finance Blogs in the UK

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October 26, 2022

Make Money Online ClickDo Guide

When it comes to sorting out your finances, the best time to start is yesterday, or better yet today.

And we’re not the only ones who believe in this mantra, which is why we have listed the best personal finance blogs in the UK in this article so that you can benefit too.

The earlier you start saving money and sorting out your finances, the earlier you can stay out of debt or even invest your money. Therefore we encourage you to check out some of these frugal blogs partly run by students or by bloggers that offer advice for students in the UK.

Learn how to be clever with your cash from the smart money blogs featured below. Understand what steps you can take to ensure that in the next 5 years, you’re reaping the rewards of your financial knowledge from these prominent finance blogs in the UK.

Disclaimer: all blogger details listed are based on the latest information available at the time this post was published

Check out our list of the top 14 Finance Blogs in the UK by and for students to find ideas, techniques, and tools to help you look after your finances:

1. Saving Scotts

Saving Scotts is a great blog designed to offer practical, spot-on insights for students.

Here you’ll find tips and articles about how to get out of debt, student job opportunities, how to run a profitable blog, and make money from your hobbies or interests.

It has a clean layout, making it easy to find the information you seek. Other blog posts include £5 dinners, saving money hacks, and tips on how to invest your money now. If you’re studying in the UK and trying to make savings and start earning more online, you should certainly gain some knowledge from these clever Scotts.

Website: http://www.savingscotts.com/

2. Thrifty Londoner

Jennifer, the thrifty London writer, targets millennials in her blog. She shares experiences and tips on how to live a thrifty life in London.

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A post shared by Laura- Money Blogger (@thriftylondoner)

She moved to London in 2016 and with the high cost of rental and living expenses, realized she would need to figure out how to manage her finances to avoid spiraling into debt.

Her tips include how to earn an extra income, how to save money, and information about budgeting schemes she learned about to keep herself on track. She also gives handy student finance advice.

Website: https://thriftylondoner.com/

3. Bee Money Savvy

The Bee Money Savvy blog, with its fun play on words, is the brainchild of Emma who writes for millennials just like herself.

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A post shared by Emma Jackson | Bee Money Savvy (@beemoneysavvy)

She posts tips on how to work from home to earn an extra income, how to improve at living on a budget, how to be a savvy shopper and more.

She gives great updated student finance tips too. In addition to information and finance/savings-related topics, she gives you a chance to win freebies!

Website: https://www.beemoneysavvy.com/

4. The Frugal Cottage

The frugal cottage is a blog that aims to inspire others with tips on how to save, budget, save more money, and how to choose investment options.

The tips shared are practical, real-life experiences and students can benefit from this blog. This is one of the most highly rated British student finance blogs and should be your go-to blog for everything finance related.

Website: https://www.thefrugalcottage.com/

5. Be Clever with your Cash

The award-winning Clever with your Cash student finance UK blog shares great tips, hacks, and deals for students and young working professionals.

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A post shared by Andy Webb | Be Clever With Your Cash (@andyclevercash)

It offers tips and practical guides on how to make the most of your money. It also has a few topics on ways you can earn extra cash, however, if you keep spending and not saving, the vicious cycle continues, no matter how hard you work or how much money you make.

It shows you how to be smart with your finances to guide you in making your money work for you.

Website: https://becleverwithyourcash.com/

6. The Money Whisperer

The Money Whisperer is written by Emma and she shares tips on how to take full control of your finances to be able to make the most out of life and enjoy it to the fullest.

Website: https://themoneywhisperer.co.uk/

7. Looking After Your Pennies

Charlotte from the Looking after your Pennies blog writes about ways to earn an additional income and she shares great tips on how to save money while adding a touch of eco-friendly living.

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A post shared by Charlotte | Financial Educator (@lookingafteryourpennies)

Website: https://lookingafteryourpennies.com/

8. Money shed

The Money Shed began as a platform for students to exchange personal finance advice and strategies for earning money. Over time, it has evolved into a blog featuring various articles on topics, including ways to earn additional income from home, cost-saving measures, and examining different career options.

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A post shared by The money shed 💸 (@themoneyshed)

It gives sound financial guidance, accountability, and encouragement regardless of where you are in your financial journey.

Website: https://blog.themoneyshed.co.uk/

9. Mind over money matters

The Mind Over Money Matters is a financial blog to assist young professionals and college students in beginning their financial lives.

To maximise the benefit and fun of the money you spend each day, it focuses on teaching readers how to spend smarter and travel smarter.

This blog assists you in managing your own financial decisions so you can get out of debt, make more money, know how to start investing, and much more.

Website: https://mindovermoneymatters.co.uk/

10. Money Bulldog

Adam, the creator of Money Bulldog, aims to educate students on financial matters, including debt elimination, investment, and saving techniques. His expertise in finance motivates him to share the valuable knowledge and experience that he gained during the financial crisis.

The blog covers a wide range of personal finance issues, from the major ones like investments, ISAs, pensions, and mortgages to simple strategies for students to save money each week.

Every month, the blog will walk you through one step of the process and provide you with some helpful suggestions for putting it into action.

Students can use this website as motivation to get a great start on making wise financial decisions ahead in life. It’s time to stop daydreaming about making profits on investments and start living it.

Website: https://moneybulldog.co.uk/

11. Savvy In Somerset

Fiona from Savvy In Somerset shares her expertise in “extreme cost-cutting methods” to provide advice on saving money. She tries to demonstrate areas where students and individuals can reduce their spending without giving up all the things they value and provides some ideas for extra income generation.

The blog shows how everyday financial behaviours can add up to significant savings for students and individuals. Savvy in Somerset is an excellent resource for finding ideas on how to save money on things like food, household expenses, clothes, and accessories, as well as how to take advantage of loyalty cards and deals.

Website: https://savvyinsomerset.com/

12. Mouthy Money

Mouthy Money is a financial website established in the UK that provides several resources for millennials wishing to improve their finances and invest their money. The website offers a variety of content, including articles that cover a wide range of financial topics.

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A post shared by Mouthy Money (@mouthymoney)

The Mouthy Money provides advice and resources for students wishing to make investment plans, such as information on various investment accounts and methods for building a great portfolio.

Website: https://www.mouthymoney.co.uk/

13. This is Money

This is Money is a personal finance website that provides tips, news, and advice on various financial topics. They are known for offering knowledgeable, in-depth research and practical advice, making them the perfect resource for students trying to get their financial condition under control.

This is Money offers analysis and up-to-date news on various financial topics, including interest rates, government policies, and the stock market. The website offers online calculators to assist students and individuals in calculating their mortgage payments, determining how much they require to save for retirement, and more.

Website: https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/index.html

14. Foxy Monkey

Foxy Monkey offers a variety of personal finance subjects, with an emphasis on investments. Foxy Monkey’s founder, Michael, wants to demonstrate how people can manage their finances more wisely, particularly by using investments that generate passive income.

The attainment of financial independence is a central topic on his blog, as the author aspires individuals to accumulate sufficient wealth to reach their goals. He shares his knowledge on several strategies that students and individuals can invest their money to increase their income. Foxy Monkey offers advice and knowledge he has learned along the way, including simple money-saving strategies and ways students can make extra money through investments.

Website: https://www.foxymonkey.com/

Ready to stash that cash?

The internet can provide a lot of valuable information to students via amazing blogs as listed here, providing useful tips for saving, frugal living, making some extra cash, and starting to invest. Be sure to only read and follow bloggers that are established, like the ones mentioned here, as they truly provide valuable advice tested and approved by many of their readers and other bloggers.

If you want to learn more about how to make or save money as a student then read some of our other guides on this topic:

How to finance being a student in England

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How To Talk To Your Kids And Teenagers About Death?

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October 6, 2022

The demise of Her Majesty the Queen has made every Briton stare in the eye of the eventual reality: that of death. That’s how every life is destined to end, whether a pauper’s or of royalty.

Processing emotions is hard, even for adults.

Scenes like these weren’t uncommon in the 11 days that followed, from the demise of the Queen to her funeral.

Possibly, this is the time your children or teenagers are processing so many thoughts about death.

They might not even have the vocabulary to fully express how they’re feeling. For younger children, this is even more stifling.

Because it’s not easy to talk to your kids and teenagers about death, we have put together some background information, suggestions, and ideas that may help you deal with such difficult and emotional situations and boost everyone’s mental health.

Let’s look at how children process grief in different stages of development first.

How do Kids perceive Death?

How do children understand death at different stages of their development? Depending on the age of your child/student, death is processed in different ways. Find out more below.

Infants (birth to 2 years)

Talking to kids about death can be tricky, especially if they’re infants. Infants have no understanding or concept of death yet.
Even if the topic invokes some sort of fear in them, they might express it by crying.
This stage is all about carefully explaining terms related to death when this is appropriate as this will help the child to make the right associations.

Preschool-age children (3-6 years)

Preschoolers think that death is reversible and/or temporary due to their limited concept of time.
They may also believe that it is limited. As in, death is like sleeping. So, the person may continue to carry out regular activities after death.
They may even feel they’re responsible for the death of someone, even if they did not personally know the person.

School-age children (6-12 years)

At this stage, they realize that death is final; not limited, like sleeping.
They may even think that death is a spirit, a ghost, or an angel.
Around the time when they’re 10, they understand that everyone dies. And it’s something that can’t be avoided.
You can expect questions revolving around what happens to the body after death.
It is at this stage that they may question their own mortality too. In fact, they may wonder how they’ll die so much that they may withdraw from friends and family too. This is why talking to kids about death must be handled with caution and sensitivity.

Teenagers (13-18 years)

Talking to teens about death might seem easier since they’ve mostly grasped the concept of death. But it could also be difficult since they do tend to respond rashly.
Since teenagers are already at that stage in life where they’re more vulnerable and on edge, they’re more susceptible to depression too.
That’s why it’s best to tread lightly when you talk to them about complex topics like death.
Because they’re not as emotionally mature as a healthy adult, they may shut down.
The event might cause them to question their understanding of the world and their faith.

5 reflected Ways to explain Death to your Children

Don’t confuse your child by saying the person has gone to sleep or has gone away. Use the actual word “died”. Don’t give them false hope of the person returning. Psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour says that being honest in this way, without using euphemisms, is the best way to talk about death with kids.

2. Do encourage them to ask you questions if they have any. No matter how it sounds, don’t neglect them.

3. You could use books, role-play games, or drawings to further explain the concept to them. Here’s a list of books that can assist in explaining death to children, as compiled by the Huffington Post and you can also find children’s books about philosophical topics such as “Philosocats“.

Philosocats author Judith Millecker has this exclusive tip:

“Adults tend to avoid the subject of death based on the assumption that it’s too scary for children or too morbid to talk about. A major reason why death is scary is that it’s largely a taboo in our society. But once the ice is broken, most children are very susceptible to this subject. Talking about death, be it in an abstract way or by telling one’s own experience, can be liberating and a good opportunity for bonding.”

“At the beginning of a philosophy session with a class, a 7-year-old boy asked me recently if they could now take off the badges they had gotten for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. His argument was that the Queen had died and wasn’t around anymore, so that badge should go as well. It was a great opportunity for me and the class to talk about what the end of life means, about the concepts of legacy and the value of memory.”

4. Express freely how you yourself feel about death, so your child feels free to express themself too.

5. If you or your family shares any religious or spiritual beliefs about death, share them with your child and explain why.

Whether it’s about talking to kids about death or talking to teens about death, it’s always best that you’re honest with them.

Note: Child Bereavement UK has helpful resources for you.

How to talk to Kids about Death?

The recent death of Queen Elizabeth might be the best time to talk to kids about death. This is an opportunity to explain ‘death’ to them when their sense of personal loss isn’t as massive as it would be when a dear pet or an ailing grandparent dies.

Explain it briefly, and simply

The best way to approach this topic with kids is to explain it briefly, and in simple terms. For instance, you can tell them how death is the absence of familiar life functions.

Here’s what you could tell them:

“When we’re alive, we breathe, eat, sleep, talk, and feel. But, when we’re dead, we can’t do any of these things.”

“For instance, when a dog dies, it doesn’t run or bark anymore. And when flowers die, they don’t bloom anymore.”

Repeat it

Young ones may have to go over this concept several times before fully understanding it. That’s why talking to kids about death can be tough. You may have to revisit the concept at an appropriate time to check their understanding.

Explain others’ reactions

The emotional implications of death may be hard to grasp for kids. They ask why people are crying. You, then, will have to be patient with them and say “they are crying because they are sad that the person has died. We feel sad when someone dies.”

Prepare for and answer their Questions

You mentioning the death of someone to your child might make your child ask you questions like “when will you die?”. They ask this, probably assuming that death is temporary or is something that you’re in control of.

Even though they might not understand it clearly, they may think that it means separation. They may fear being ‘abandoned’ by you, or not being cared for. The best way to address this worry is to reassure them that you don’t expect to die any time soon. And that they’ll still have many people to take care of them even if you do.

Before you explain, know this…

Choose your words carefully while talking to kids about death.

We’ve heard of cases where people have died in their sleep. This may confuse your child and make them fear sleeping! They might think that they’ll die if they go to sleep.

Another instance would be ailments. Often, people die due to severe sickness. This might invoke fear in your child and make them worry if they’re dying. Let them know that only very severe illnesses may cause death.

When you explain to your child that someone has died due to old age like the Queen, make sure they know that young people can die too. They may think that everyone dies only at a specific age, or a specific stage. However, as real as you’re being with them, be gentle as well.

Reassure them that you expect yourself and them to live for a long time.

Balancing Religion and Science with Tact

You may tell your child that the person who died is now with God. This statement may comfort you but could actually scare your child. Your child may think that God will take them away as well. So, before you decide to use religious references, check if they are well attuned to these references.

Another example could be a statement where you say the person who died is now happy with the angels. This could confuse your child. They will wonder why everyone is sad when the person who died is happy.

Ensure your kids know the realities of death without making confusing statements. Only then can they clearly understand your expressions of religious faith. Only then can talking to kids about death become less daunting for you too.

How to talk to Teens about Death?

Teenagers can get very emotional and may find themselves confused. That’s not only the general perception but also supported by research published by The American Psychological Association.

talking-to-children-and-teens-about-death — Source: https://www.developmentalscience.com/blog/2019/5/7/our-teens-are-more-stressed-than-ever

So, naturally, they may experience more complex emotions after learning about someone’s death. These could be:

Numbness
Anger
Depression

Your teenage child would hate to be treated like a kid. They’re at this stage where they fully understand what death means. So, you can talk to them the same way you would talk to an adult about death. Be honest with them, and don’t try to sugarcoat anything.

However, a teenager’s emotions are far more volatile. So, cognitively, they may process death the same way as adults do. But emotionally, they respond like adolescents. They may link the death of the person to the death of another person that happened in the past. This may awaken some repressed emotions. If they resurface, acknowledge them, but help your child not dwell on them.

How to help Kids and Teenagers get mentally stronger?

Grief is a strong emotion and needs to be expressed fully.

It’s healthy to feel every emotion and express it, but it’s unhealthy for the mind if these feelings stay for a prolonged period of time. These can come in the way of your child’s day-to-day activities and exhaust them mentally.

When you strengthen your child mentally, you prepare them for every unanticipated challenge.

The first step to raising mentally strong kids is to teach them to control their emotions. This way, they don’t let their emotions control them.

The next step is to teach them how to replace those negative thoughts with realistic, practical ones. This way, they can take positive action to move forward in life.

Grief will be more intense after the loss of a loved one…

Coping with the loss of a loved one is far more difficult. This is someone you’ve known personally; someone with whom you’ve shared an emotional connection.

So, how can you help your child cope with the death of a loved one?

1. Mourn

Mourning helps your child accept what has happened. When you mourn, you’re telling your child that you’re celebrating the life of the person who died and saying goodbye to them while dealing with missing them.

2. Listen and comfort them

Talking to kids about death comes with reassuring and comforting them. Whether they need lots of affection or simply need to sit with you in silence, do what you feel they need. The goal is to check in on them regularly.

3. Label feelings

If your child is finding some difficulty expressing their emotions, ensure they don’t keep them bottled up. First, label your emotion to them, so they can do the same. Once they label it, they can express themselves fully. Make sure to validate their emotions too.

4. Help your child remember the person

Shutting down is a common response to a loved one’s death. But make sure you yourself don’t shut down, so your child doesn’t do the same. Encourage your child to write stories about them or draw pictures of them so that their memories are fresh. When happy memories are shared, the grief is shared too. This helps heal grief and makes the heart less heavy.

5. Help your child connect with other bereaved children

This would let them know that they’re not alone. It could be a support group, an online group, or a camp for kids dealing with grief.

Talking to kids about death might lead to feelings of anxiety, confusion, and melancholy; both, in yourself, and your children. But with some patience, honesty, and sensitivity, it should be less daunting.

And remember, the key is to reassure them, especially the little ones and to just be there for them.

4 Habits to Adopt to Become the most Organised Teacher

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September 27, 2022

UK Education News Publisher

Whether you’ve dedicated your life to molding children’s minds in primary or secondary education, being a teacher is no easy feat.

What individuals in this profession tackle daily is enough to make anyone’s head spin, from planning homework tasks to devising lesson plans, classroom presentations, and marking exercise books to keeping the classroom tidy – a lot of time management and organisational skills go into being a successful educator.

However, if you regularly find yourself rooting through your desk, the filing cabinet, the storage compartments, the bookcase, and anywhere else you might stash items in your classroom to find that one piece of paper – it might be time to rethink your organisational strategy.

It’s only natural that your classroom will also be cluttered if you’re a messier individual – as it’s a reflection of yourself. Yet, our brains are hardwired to like order, and without it, you can find yourself in a more troublesome situation than you were to begin with.

Therefore, it’s essential that you analyse how you can bring a degree of order to the chaos of your classroom to have a more satisfying teaching experience and increase your professionalism. Yet if you’re not a naturally organised person, it can be tricky knowing where to begin, which is why we’ve created this article outlining a few pointers.

From keeping digital files and records orderly with the help of a PDF converter or Google Forms to sorting out your desk – here are several habits to adopt if you want to become a super organised teacher.

1. Declutter Your Desk

Instead of wasting energy fretting over which corner of the classroom to tackle first, your own workstation is an excellent place to start. As a teacher, your desk is the mission control center, as this is where you will carry out most of your daily duties, so it needs to be organised in a way that will allow you to carry out these tasks as efficiently as possible.

Start by looking at the positioning of your desk and determining whether it’s in the most optimal place. Can you see the whole classroom from where you’re sitting? Even in the very back of the classroom, where the most opportunist of students likes to sneak their phones out under the shelter of their desks?

If this is not the case, reposition your desk so you can see the entirety of your classroom and keep the visual clutter to a minimum, so it doesn’t infringe on your view. Once you’ve done this, you can move on to the contents of your desk and shift through what you need and don’t need so that you have adequate space to sit with students, grade papers, or just a place to rest your tea or coffee.

2. Keep PC Files Organised

Although teaching is traditionally done face-to-face, your computer or laptop is one of the essential tools in your teaching arsenal as many teachers now also teach online. Whether you’re creating presentations for your next lesson or sending emails to other colleagues, your computer is in constant use; therefore, it is essential that you extend your organisational skills towards the digital aspects of teaching as well as the physical.

Navigating a laptop with a swarm of documents, presentations, and downloads on the desktop can become tedious since it makes it much more challenging to refer to items when required. Time is of the utmost importance when you are limited to sixty minutes per lesson, and the last thing you want to do is search for worksheets and waste valuable learning time.

Avoid this by organising your files into folders and sub-folders; you could even go one step further and arrange them by date, making them easier to find under time constraints. Better yet, if you are working with a laptop that has limited storage space, you could consider using an online PDF converter tool that will enable you to convert your digital files into different formats.

As well as offering better security and organisational options, PDF conversion tools boast many advantages, one of the most significant is that they can reduce the size of a file, giving you more space on your PC or laptop. You could consider switching to Word, an Excel spreadsheet, or any other choice of format available online.

Whether you want to convert from PDF, convert to PDF, edit a PDF, or sign and protect a PDF, they have a range of online office tools designed to help you with every task imaginable. Learn more about their online office tools by visiting their website, reading customer testimonials, how-to guides, and much more to see how they could help you become more organised today.

3. Don’t Forget To Delegate

If you happen to lead a team of teachers or have support staff working alongside you in your classroom, it’s vital that you make the most out of their abilities by delegating tasks to them. Not only does this take a load off your plate, but it also allows your colleagues to put their best foot forward and produce some of their best work.

Ultimately, your colleagues will all possess a diverse set of abilities and skills that you can use to your advantage to get tasks done quicker and more efficiently. Whether you have a colleague who is good with computers, so you delegate all technology-related functions to them, or a colleague who can communicate well with struggling children, all members of your team can help in one way or another. Yet, it’s up to you to delegate skill-specific tasks so that you can reap the benefits them.

We understand that, at times, it can be hard to relinquish control or even admit to your colleagues that you are struggling with your workload, especially if you’re in a management position, as we often have a mentality that we can do everything by ourselves. Yet there is no shame in asking for help, as that is what your colleagues are there for and will ultimately help you become more organised and less prone to burnout.

4. Jog Your Memory

It’s not surprising, given the sheer workload teachers must juggle daily if you occasionally let a task or two slip between the cracks. But if this is a regular occurrence, it can reap havoc on your organisational skills. Fortunately, there are many ways that teachers can give their brains a nudge to ensure that tasks don’t get forgotten.

From printing out a to-do list, using a calendar to organise your day, using Siri to set reminders, or even a simple post-It note can serve as a gentle nudge when it feels like time is running away from you. As well as helping you organise your day a little better and reminding you of small tasks, you can also use these reminders to communicate with your fellow teachers via Outlook or Microsoft Teams with note taking and sharing in OneNote for example.

Whether you nominate a student to run a post-it note to another teacher’s classroom or use Siri to send messages at a scheduled time, these little ways of jogging your memory will soon become your best friend and help you out in those times of need. Ultimately, these will make it easier to plan your day so that the risk of forgetting tasks is minimised.

Newly released Children’s Book “The PhilosoCats” invites you to discuss Philosophy daily with Children

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September 27, 2022