The Universe 5th August 2016

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u • FINANCE 04 FRIDAY 05.08.16 Summer holiday savings Raising a family leaves many parents struggling for cash – and the summer holidays are a particular pinch point. New research has shed light on exactly how much parents can expect to fork out for their little and not so little ones. Parents of children under the age of 25 estimate that, on average, just over a fifth (21 per cent) of their monthly household income is spent directly on items for their children, according to a study. And the average parent expects to be supporting their child financially well into their adulthood – until the age of 29. u finance By Vicky Shaw Mums typically think the cut-off point for financially supporting their child will be 30. Dads, rightly or wrongly, are a bit more optimistic – hoping their child will be fully fledged financially by the age of 27. Parents of boys may find themselves getting off a bit more lightly – Annie Plaskett, from specialist insurance broker Towergate, says: “It’s vital home owners are aware that homes left empty for an extended period of time can leave them exposed to a number of risks and threats – including burglary, theft, squatting, vandalism and water damage. “If your home is going to be left vacant for a longer period, it’s crucial you check your home insurance policy and contact your insurer if you are unsure – often standard policies are only valid for up to a month.” Here are some tips from Towergate for keeping your home safe while you're away: 1 2 Make sure your home is regularly inspected – perhaps ask family, friends or neighbours to check it. Make the property look occupied to minimise interest by thieves or vandals. Cancel existing deliveries such as milk or newspapers. Consider having lights on timers so they come on in the evening and perhaps park a car on the drive – maybe a friend’s or a neighbour’s. 3 How... can you protect your home during a long summer holiday? Protection against forcible entry through external doors and windows is essential. Insurers will often only insure against forcible entry. Poundnotes Financial fact We’re now using mobile banking apps around 7,610 times a minute, according to the British Bankers’ Association (BBA). Strongest June for mortgage lending since 2008 Mortgage lenders have recorded their strongest figures for the month of June for eight years. The Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said around £20.7 billion of mortgages were handed out in June, a 16 per cent increase compared with May’s total of £17.8 billion. The CML, which represents banks and building societies, said the latest lending total was the highest for June since the £22.6 billion reached in 2008. Margate is Britain’s top seaside property hotspot Margate has been named the top hotspot for property price increases among Britain’s seaside towns. The average property in the Kent seaside town now sits at £202,276 – a 12.5 per cent increase since July 2015, according to property website Zoopla. Lawrence Hall, a spokesman for Zoopla, says: “If you’re considering investing in a beach front property, you should consider those resorts receiving government investment – it does have a positive impact on property values.” Interest rate on bond will double if Manchester United win Savers are being offered a new bond where the returns could double – if Manchester United win the 2016/17 premiership title. Virgin Money has launched the one-year bond as part of a partnership with Manchester United. The new Manchester United Champions Bond offers savers an annual rate of 1.25 per cent, fixed for one year. But the interest rate will double to 2.5 per cent if the club wins the 2016/17 Premier League title. Savers can hold anything from £1 to £1 million in the account. as the findings, put together by Sainsbury’s Bank and website MoneyMag pie.com, also suggest that girls are more expensive to provide for. From birth until the age of five, girls are around £300 a year more expensive a year than boys, according to the study. The cost gap doubles during the teenage years, with parents of girls aged between 14 and 18 typically forking out nearly £600 a year more than parents of boys of the same age. The research suggests the gap may in part be due to girls’ clothing being more expensive. More than 2,000 people from across the UK took part in the survey and parents were asked to estimate the annual cost of raising their children. Meanwhile, another report has found that the summer holidays leave parents even more out of pocket than Christmas. A survey among parents of children aged between three and 13 years old found that, on average, parents expect to spend £1,445 per child on activities over the summer holidays – which is around £408 more per child than they would spend during the Christmas break. Those taking part in the survey for Epson EcoTank printers were asked how much they plan to spend on activities such as trips to the cinema, going on play dates with friends, meals out, food shopping and summer clubs. So how can you keep your day-to-day living costs down – particularly at this tricky time of year? Here are some suggestions from Sainsbury’s Bank and MoneyMagpie.com: 1 Have a “use it up month”. Start with the bathroom. How many unused and unfinished hair, cosmetic and skin products are in the cupboards? Don’t buy any new shampoos, conditioners, make-up or lotions until you’ve used them all up this month. Do the same with your cleaning products. 2 Let a student cut your hair. Get your haircuts at hairdressing colleges where students can gain experience – and you get a cheap, or free, new ’do. 3 Write a menu plan. A shopping list will prevent you buying items you don’t need. 4 Find free family entertainment locally. Look at your local council’s website to see what entertainment they’re offering during the school holidays. Also check out local libraries and museums as they often have free or cheap events in the holidays. 5 Throw a swap party. Have your friends and neighbours round for a swap party – where you all bring items you no longer want and swap them with each other. It can be a great way to get some new clothes or used baby items. 6 Don’t be shy – haggle. Even high street shops have great deals – perhaps start by asking what kind of discount you can get if you pay in cash or if you buy two items rather than one. 7 Consider buying big ticket items at auctions. There are hundreds of auctions happening around the country selling everything from cutlery to armchairs, beds and cars. Many home items – particularly furniture – can be cheaper if you buy second hand.
FRIDAY 05.08.16 u • FAMILY 05 Think before leaving kids home alone The school holidays can be a childcare nightmare for parents, particularly those who work, and it can sometimes be tempting to leave children home alone. But the NSPCC is urging parents to think carefully before leaving their children at home without supervision during the summer holidays, as it could leave them at risk of accident or injury. The charity’s helpline received 453 calls and emails between July and September last year from adults concerned about youngsters being left unattended. Of these, more than three quarters (366) were so serious they were passed to police or social services. Throughout last year, the helpline received 1,729 calls and emails from adults concerned about children being left to fend for themselves, with more than half of those referred to police or social services being calls about children aged under 10 years. The NSPCC’s ChildLine service also delivered 273 counselling sessions to children and young people last year who were worried about being left home alone. Peter Wanless, the NSPCC’s chief executive, explains that the law doesn’t give a minimum age for leaving children alone at home, but it’s against the law if it puts them at risk. He says: “Summer holidays can be fun for children but it’s also when they are more likely to be left home alone as parents face increasing childcare pressures. “Leaving your child home alone can be a difficult decision as children mature at different ages – there’s no ‘one size fits all’ answer. But it could put them at greater risk of accident or injury. So I would urge parents to use their common sense when deciding if their child could cope.” He suggests parents ask children how they feel about being left alone and talk to them about what to do in an emergency, and adds: “Parents are best placed to know what’s right for their child, so it’s vital there’s flexibility for them to decide.” NSPCC advice on leaving a child home alone: 1 2 Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone. Children under the age of 12 are rarely mature enough to cope in an emergency and shouldn’t be left at home alone for long periods. 3 4 u family By Lisa Salmon Children under the age of 16 shouldn’t be left alone overnight. Parents and carers can be prosecuted for neglect if it’s judged that they placed a child at risk by leaving them at home alone. 5 A child should never be left at home alone if they don’t feel comfortable with this, regardless of their age. 6 If a child has additional needs, these should be considered when leaving them at home alone or with an older sibling. 7 When leaving a younger child with an older sibling, think about what may happen if they were to have a falling out – would they both be safe? The NSPCC suggests parents should consider the following questions before deciding to leave a child unattended: 1 Does your child seem to be responsible and mature for their age and always do what you t ell them? 2 Would they be able to make themselves something to eat and drink and would you be happy with them using the cooker or microwave? 3 Can you imagine how they’d cope in an emergency like a power cut or a flooded bathroom? 4 Would they know what to do if the phone rang or someone came to the door? 5 Would they know how to contact you or another family member or friend if they needed to? Do they have these contact numbers to hand? 6 How would they feel about being left alone – pleased to be given the responsibility or scared at the thought of it? For more information about leaving children home alone, visit tiny.cc/NSPCChomealone Adults can contact the NSPCC helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000, and children can contact ChildLine on 0800 1111, or visit www.childline.org.uk Ask the expert Q: “My three-year-old daughter is terrified of dogs, and runs away screaming when she sees one, which sometimes attracts the dog’s attention, making her even more scared. What can I do to reduce her fear?” A: Hollie Sevenoaks (left), head of education at the Dogs Trust, says: “Although we’re a nation of dog lovers, a recent survey by Dogs Trust found 37 per cent of UK parents think their children are fearful of dogs. Children may not always know how to react when they see a dog, so we’ve worked with a psychologist to develop some tips on how to manage a fear of dogs as part of our Be Dog Smart education programme. “Our top tips would be to sit down and talk to your child to help them think through their worries about what might happen if they were to encounter a dog. Children can pick up on fear from those around them so talk positively about dogs and the many helpful roles they play. “Develop a stepped approach to engaging with dogs – for example select books with pictures of dogs in them for book time and watch films where the leading star is a dog. “Move on to spending time with a friendly dog which is quiet and calm. Explain to your child that not all dogs are the same. Just because one dog might have misbehaved, it doesn’t mean all dogs will. “Understand that dogs see the world differently to humans and that running away or screaming can be seen as an invitation to play. Of course, dog owners need to do their bit too and make sure their dogs are under control at all times.” For more information visit www.bedogsmart.org.uk
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The Universe 5th August 2016

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