Published on: 29 April 2019
Last Updated on: 15 September 2022
Emigrating to Australia can be exciting and daunting at the same time. There are a lot of horror stories about emigrating out there, but if you know the right steps to take you could avoid some of the major issues. Of course, if you are nervous about your move, it is recommended that you hire a solicitor or registered migration agent to help you.
Determine The Visa You Need:
When emigrating from the UK, you need to determine the visa you are going to need. Emigration to Australia is run on a score-based system with various factors influencing your score.
If you are moving without a job offer from an Australian company, you will need to get an independent immigrating visa. To qualify for this visa you will need to be under the age of 45, have an education that matches the list of skilled occupations, provide the professional experience of this and have a firm knowledge of the English language. Preference is given to people with Australian education or those in occupations that are in demand in the country.
If you have family in Australia, you can emigrate through the sponsorship program. When this program is used, the score you need to emigrate will be lowered. Sponsorship will not provide you with a permanent right to live in the country. You will need to get a temporary visa for 3 years followed by a permanent visa for 2 years.
If you have a job offer from an Australian company, you will be emigrating through company sponsorship. You will need to meet many of the same criteria as an independent visa applicant, but it will generally be easier to get this visa. If the company is based outside of the major cities, requirements will generally be less stringent.
Allow Enough Time For The Visa Application:
Emigration visas take time to be processed and it is recommended that you apply for this at least 18 months before your planned moving date. There are some visas that can take up to 2 years to be granted and you need to be aware of this.
Prepare Everything For The Move:
While you wait for your visa, you should prepare everything for the move. Clear out everything in your house that you will not want to take with you. Shipping your possessions to Australia can be expensive and will have to be done by ship. The less you have to send, the easier and cheaper it will be.
If you have children, you need to tell their school about your planned move. This is important because you will need transcripts. Additionally, the school year in Australia runs from January to December and the 6-month difference will need to be planned for.
Something that you might want to consider doing before you leave the UK is opening an Australian bank account. This is something that you can take care of once you are in the country but doing this beforehand can make life a bit easier. There are a number of banks that allow you to do this and they each have their own requirements.
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If you have kids, you know how expensive it can be to buy them new clothes, toys, books, and other items. Kids grow fast, and their tastes and preferences change often. Buying everything new can put a strain on your budget and create a lot of waste.
That's why many parents opt for hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for their kids. Hand-me-downs are items that are passed down from older siblings, relatives, or friends. Second-hand finds are items that are bought or acquired from thrift stores, garage sales, online platforms, or other sources.
Keep on reading to learn more…
How to Make the Most Out of Hand-Me-Downs?
In the era of fast fashion and quickly outgrown children's clothes, buying everything new can get very expensive. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for savvy parents to cut costs by making use of hand-me-downs and second-hand items. Read on for tips on how to source, care for, and refresh these gems for your little ones.
Here are some of the tips that you can use to make the most of the hand-me-downs:
Sort and Store
One of the first things you must do is sort and store your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds properly. This will help you keep track of what you have, what you need, and what you can pass on to others.
Sort your items by size, season, and category. For example, you can have separate bins or boxes for winter clothes, summer clothes, shoes, accessories, toys, books, etc. Label them clearly and keep them in a dry and clean place.
Store your items in a way that preserves their quality and prevents damage. For example, you can use vacuum-sealed bags, plastic containers, or cedar chests to protect your items from dust, moisture, insects, and mold. You can also use hangers, dividers, or organizers to keep your items neat and tidy.
Check your items regularly and get rid of anything that is stained, torn, worn out, or outdated. You can donate, sell, or recycle your unwanted items or use them for crafts or other purposes.
Mix and Match
Another thing you need to do is to mix and match your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds with your kids' existing wardrobe and preferences. This will help you create some fun and stylish outfits for your kids and make them feel comfortable and confident in their clothes. You should try to mix and match:
Colors, patterns, and textures. For instance, you can pair a solid-colored shirt with a floral dress or a plaid skirt with a denim jacket. You can also mix and match different fabrics, such as cotton, wool, silk, or leather. This will add some variety and interest to your kids' outfits.
Styles and trends. For example, you can combine a vintage sweater with a modern pair of jeans, or a classic dress with a trendy pair of sneakers. You can also mix and match different genres, such as casual, formal, sporty, or bohemian. This will give your kids some personality and flair in their outfits.
Accessories and details. For example, you can add a belt, a scarf, a hat, or a necklace to your kids' outfits. You can also add some buttons, patches, stickers, or pins to your kids' clothes. This will give your kids some fun and creative touches in their outfits.
Customize and Personalize
The last thing you must do is customize and personalize your hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for your kids. This will help you make your items fit better, look better, and feel better for your kids. It will also help you express your kids' individuality and uniqueness.
Customize your items to fit your kids' size and shape. For example, you can hem, alter, or resize your items to make them fit your kids better. You can also add some elastic, buttons, or snaps to your items to make them more adjustable and comfortable.
Customize your items to suit your kids' style and taste. For example, you can dye, bleach, or paint your items to change their color or pattern. You can also cut, rip, or distress your items to give them some edge or character.
Personalize your items to reflect your kids' interests and hobbies. For example, you can embroider, applique, or print your items with your kids' names, initials, or monograms. You can also decorate your items with your kids' favorite characters, animals, or symbols.
Sourcing Quality Second-hand Pieces
You can uncover great used pieces from friends and family, charity shops, and online marketplaces. When accepting offers of hand-me-downs, don't feel you need to take everything you're given. Politely decline items that are overly worn or stained, and only keep pieces that are still in good condition.
For second-hand shopping, hit up charity shops in more affluent neighbourhoods where higher quality kit is often donated. Check items thoroughly for flaws and be selective in your purchases. Online, sites like eBay, Depop and Vinted offer everything from babygrows to bikes being sold on by other parents, helping you make the most of your budget or fostering allowance.
Caring for Hand-Me-Downs
To maximise the longevity of hand-me-downs and second-hand items, properly launder and care for them before passing them on to your little one. Check clothing labels and wash items according to fabric type. Mend any small holes, broken zippers or loose buttons.
For items like bikes or baby gear, inspect them thoroughly and replace any worn parts. Give everything a thorough cleaning to remove grime and make sure pieces are fresh for their new owner.
Refreshing & Repurposing Finds
Sometimes second-hand stuff just looks, well, second-hand. Luckily there are inexpensive ways to give things new life. For clothes, accessories and soft toys, a spot clean followed by a wash in Oxiclean or similar can freshen up fabrics.
Embellish with ribbons, embroidered patches or appliqués to add decorative flair. Turn that dull vest into a one-of-a-kind piece your child will love. Repurpose old pieces too - vintage babygrows make adorable doll clothes, and adult t-shirts can be made into dresses.
Making Second-hand Finds Feel Special
Hand-me-downs and pre-loved items often come with a history. Share what you know about an item’s origins with your little one - they’ll love having their own “special story” attached to their clothes and toys.
Help them personalize pieces by adding custom touches like initials or fun fabric paint designs. And display their second-hand treasures proudly by letting them select special books or toys for their rooms. Soon these pre-used gems will hold pride of place in your child’s heart.
Additional Tips
Check items’ safety before passing to little ones - no small broken parts, frayed edges etc.
Store off-season clothing rotated with your child’s growth
Mix second-hand pieces with new ones in your child’s wardrobe
Pass pieces along to younger friends/family members when outgrown
Sourcing and caring for pre-loved items takes a bit more effort than just popping out for new gear. But with some time and creative vision, you can kit out your kids in great finds without breaking the bank. And by giving their clothes and toys a history, you’ll add an extra layer of love.
Bottom Line
Hand-me-downs and second-hand finds can be a great way to save money, reduce waste, and give your kids some unique and quality items. However, they can also pose some challenges, such as finding the right size, style, and condition for your kids. By following these tips and tricks, you can make the most of hand-me-downs and second-hand finds for your kids.
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Summer is a popular time to put together a family reunion. Most people book their holiday's during the warm months and the kids are out of school. it's a lot of work trying to sync up everyone's schedules.
You also need to plan activities. Kids need to be entertained and teenagers need to be engaged, as well. it's not an easy undertaking, but here are some steps to make it easier.
Help Planning Your Family Reunion
Planning ahead and getting help from your family will make your reunion the event of the summer.
Get a HeadCount:
You need to know how many people to expect. Make sure you begin early. Leave a bit of wiggle room for new boyfriends, deaths and last minute cancelations.
This is important for booking a space, be it a hall, a campground or hotel rooms. It's also important regarding food.
Location:
Not everyone will live close and count on someone being upset they have to travel. Plan around the elderly folks, new moms or those who may have trouble getting there due to cost or a lot of people to transport.
Food:
This will depend on location and the final count of people. Potluck is often a great way to make sure everyone gets fed and there is enough food. Get it down in writing who will bring what to keep the repeats to a minimum and make sure everyone gets fed.
Keep in mind people's allergies and special diets, like vegetarians. If you are meeting in a park or campground, you can cook outside and use the park tabes. If it's indoors, you can consider having it catered.
Who's Who:
If it's a large affair, there will people who have grown, changed and there will be new kids and partners. Having name tags made up will help with the awkwardness of not knowing certain members.
You can have tags made up to explain who people are, to help sort out everyone. Make an ID card that says who each person is, "Wendy's Husband" or "Kevin's daughter" This will help to identify those people you haven't seen in a long time or newer members.
Entertainment:
The little ones will need to be entertained. You can have a variety of games for them to play, outdoor games are the best. If there is a park, then bring your own outdoor games to keep them from getting bored.
Teenagers will just spend their time staring at their phones and Uncle Mike will get out his banjo and sing all those colorful songs that embarrass Aunt Julie.
RSVP
Family reunions are a great chance to see everyone and catch up. Take advantage of the time to repair relationships, talk to your elders and learn about your history. Take lots of pictures, reconnect with old family and make friends with the new ones.
If you plan on having the reunion at your home, good luck and keep reading for some tips for getting your home and yard ready for company.
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Fundaments of Happy Family.
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Planning a Family Vacation as the Kids Grow Up.
Every parent must want to give the best name for their children. But sometimes, it is quite difficult to determine. Moreover, you must want the name to not only be beautiful to hear but also have a good meaning. Some parents also prefer giving unique names in which not many people have used it. Meanwhile, some others choose the give names that have been used before by their grandparents or favorite figures. No matter what name you want to give to your baby, make sure to consider some matters below.
How to Get the Best Names:
There should be the first and middle names
If referring to the given name of western people, the name of children must at least consist of three words. They are the first name, middle name, and surname. Unfortunately, many parents tend to not give the middle name. The main reason is that the middle name is rarely used when they are popular. Of course, although it is a choice, this perception is not necessarily true. You should still give the kid a middle name to make the whole name, in general, feels more beautiful and meaningful.
Check the Meaning
There are some beautiful words that are good for given names. The meaning has been good in a particular language. But still, you need to check the name in other languages. In many cases, a name has a bad or even silly meaning in other countries. In this modern-day, it is not difficult to check the name meaning. So, when you have found a unique name for the kid, you must check it immediately. Make sure that the meaning is still good in many languages.
Easy to Read and Spell
There is a habit very common to be done by many modern parents. To make their kids’ names look unique, they tend to use words that are very difficult to read and spell. They may adopt traditional names from other areas or countries. Although the intention is good, it can give problems to your children in the future. For example, there is a name Elizabeth. But in order to make it look unique or different, there is double z in it. It becomes Elizzabeth. Sure, it often causes misspelling on documents and other data. So, you must avoid it.
Not too long
Yes, you are not allowed to give a too short name to your children. Meanwhile, the name should not be too long as well. The maximum words of a given name consist of 4 words. It has been included the first name and surname. Again, a too-long name can also cause problems mainly in terms of submitting personal data. There is a possibility that the column is not enough to load all the letters or words.
Visit Name Analysis
Well, after finding a full or complete name for your kid, the next thing to do is visiting a website for the name analysis. It is basically to know the general meanings of them in various languages. Besides, you can also know the percentage of people who have used them.
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