Family Life

Financial planning adjustments when expecting

Bringing a child into the world is a joyous occasion, but it also comes with significant financial responsibilities. As you prepare to welcome your bundle of joy, it's essential to reassess your financial situation and make necessary adjustments to ensure stability and security for your growing family. This article outlines key steps for adapting your financial planning when expecting a baby.

Assess current financial situation

Before making any changes, take stock of your current financial status. Evaluate your income, expenses, savings, investments, and debts. Understanding your...

Liv Butler

Liv Butler

Posted:

Is Divorce Day caused by Christmas – or is there more to it?

Authored by Sue Cade
Posted: Wed, 01/04/2017 - 1:53pm

While some start the New Year armed with resolutions to be more active or eat a healthier diet, others are contemplating more substantial changes in the form of a separation from their spouse, says family law specialist, The Family Law Company.

It is commonly reported that family lawyers receive a higher than usual number of enquiries in early January on ‘Divorce Day’, the first Monday back at work. The Christmas break is often held responsible for this increase for various reasons including finances and spending more time together leading to family rows.

Associate...

Divorce survival guide launched as break ups set to peak post-Christmas

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 01/04/2017 - 11:49am

As divorce enquiries are set to spike after the festive period, a South West law firm has produced a guide to surviving divorce, including advice from divorcees on hope to cope. The period straight after the Christmas holidays can be one of the peak times for couples to start divorce proceedings – so much so that the media has dubbed the first working day after the festive break “divorce day”. Liz Allen, partner and head of the family team at leading law firm Stephens Scown LLP explains: “The reasons for this spike in break ups are hard to pin point, but perhaps the financial stresses of...

Samaritans volunteers on duty over festive period

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 12/25/2016 - 8:01pm

In a typical month the Exeter, Mid and East Devon branch of the Samaritans charity receives 1,800 telephone calls from people in distress - and that figure increases in December and especially around Christmas time.

Those calls - along with SMS text messages, emails and face-to-face meetings - are dealt with by some 100 volunteers who work at the central Exeter base of the charity.

This Christmas and New Year - as always - they will be on duty around the clock.

“Many people love Christmas and New Year with their families and friends, but it’s not the same for...

Family squabbles over Christmas?

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sun, 12/25/2016 - 12:27pm

The British way of dealing with family quarrels may be to sweep them under the carpet. Yet re-playing upsetting or annoying events like an argument in your head and recalling what happened in detail can in fact be therapeutic and prevent you getting quarrels out of proportion, or becoming depressed and anxious as a result.

Psychologists at the University of Exeter have found that recalling the detail of shouting matches and disagreements, including exactly who said what to whom and how, may not be destructive and prolong the tension, but could help people keep incidents in...

Police urge public to report domestic abuse

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Sat, 12/24/2016 - 10:17am

Devon and Cornwall Police is launching a campaign designed to raise awareness of how domestic abuse can affect anyone and takes many forms.

The campaign will highlight the fact that domestic abuse can happen to anyone, at any age, in any kind of relationship. This phase will be highlighting the fact that domestic abuse can happen among groups such as the elderly, the disabled and same sex couples.

Domestic abuse isn’t just physical and can take many forms, such as intimidation, financial control, psychological abuse and others.

Domestic abuse survivor, James,...

Do you know someone bereaved by suicide?

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 12/20/2016 - 3:45pm

A local Samaritans branch is linking with another charity to provide free support sessions for people who have lost a friend, relative or colleague to suicide.

The Exeter, Mid & East Devon Samaritans and the Devon branch of Cruse Bereavement Care are jointly arranging the groups, each of which is open to up to eight people who can share their experiences and offer each other support.

The aim is to attract those bereaved three months or longer ago, who are then encouraged to attend sessions on six consecutive weeks in central Exeter. The next course begins in the New...

Local celebrities in the mix at Darts Farm

The festive season kicked off slightly early this year for local charity Families for Children Adoption. Over 30 adopted children were invited to stir up some Christmas puddings with charity Patrons, Michael Caines MBE, Judi Spiers and David Lawrence-Jones.

Stir up Sunday is traditionally the day for everyone in the family to take a turn at stirring the Christmas pudding, whilst making a wish. Earlier this month at Darts Farms, Michael, Judi and David rolled up their sleeves to help adopted children from across the region do just that and create their own Christmas puddings....

Top family law firm backs “no fault divorce” calls

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 11/30/2016 - 10:06am

One hundred and fifty family lawyers are gathering in Parliament today (30 November) to call for the Government to allow a “no fault” divorce. The organisation of family lawyers, Resolution, is spearheading the campaign to change the law and enable couples to proceed with a divorce without having to attribute blame for it to one of them. Devon and Cornwall’s leading family law firm Stephens Scown LLP is lending its support to the campaign. At present, it is not possible for a couple to divorce without blame being apportioned unless they have separated for at least two years. They are...

What does Christmas look like in 2050? New graphic gives us a glimpse into the future

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Tue, 11/29/2016 - 6:05am

Last year we spent an average of £596 on Christmas presents, consumed around 10 million turkeys and munched our way through 10,000 mince pies! We are obsessed with the festive period, but how has Christmas changed over the years?

Photobox has created an interactive journey that shares festive facts from the past, present and future - giving us Christmas-loving Brits some interesting insights into our favourite day! What’s been the top selling toy throughout the years or the average cost of a Christmas dinner? Find out here…

Festive facts include:

  • 880 million
  • ...

Exeter Sands Lights of Love service

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Mon, 11/28/2016 - 6:02pm

With the festive season nearly upon us, Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, is organising a series of thirteen ‘Lights of Love’ remembrance services across the UK for parents, family and friends of those whose baby has died.

In Exeter, the non-denominational, family friendly evening of traditional carols, inspirational readings and beautiful musical performances will be hosted at St Thomas’ Methodist Church,110-111 Cowick Street, Exeter, Devon, EX4 1JE, on Friday 9th December at 7.30pm.

Dr Clea Harmer, Chief Executive of Sands, said: “The death of a baby or...

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