Julie Lankow, Author at Kidspot

Home Renovations On A Budget

Posted on 09/05/202116/05/2026 by Julie Lankow

Whether you have big renovation plans that will transform your home, or you want to do a small project for just one room, there are ways to keep the costs down.

Once you’ve assessed how much you have to spend and what you want to achieve, keep the budget under control with our tips.

Before you start renovations

If you have big plans, you will no doubt be keen to get your renovations underway as soon as possible. But there is a lot to be said for living in your home for at least a few months, preferably over the course of a year to experience your home in each season. This helps you to understand exactly which areas in your home are not meeting your family’s needs, which rooms are cooler or warmer than others, and how your home could be improved successfully.

Prioritise what you need, then what you want, what can be done later on, and what would be better to include now to minimise disruption or cost later on.
Talk to the experts – architects, engineers, builders, etc. While there will be an upfront expense, they could save you a lot of money in the long run by avoiding costly mistakes.
Consider whether you will live in your home during renovations or move out for a while. Work can usually be actioned on a faster timescale when occupants and their belongings aren’t “in the way”, but the cost of other accommodation may cancel out the saving (unless you can get a sweet deal staying with family!).

Plan to save

Plan, plan, plan! Renovations are usually a major expense so plan as much as you can to get it right first time.

Keeping the same footprint (ie, not extending your home) will keep renovation costs lower. So if you are able to rejig your layout and still achieve what you want, all the better.
Not having to make major changes to your plumbing layout will also save money so keeping the bathroom, laundry and kitchen facilities in a similar space is preferable.
Get right down into the details. Hunt down the fittings, fixtures, materials, and appliances that you want and ensure that your builder, plumber, and electrician are fully aware of your exact requirements, right down to where switches will go, what type of lights you want, what floor coverings you want, the height of your vanity, etc.
Consider low-cost alternatives to high-end finishes. For instance, you can get the look of a wood floor by using laminate flooring or a tiled floor using vinyl.
Standardising as much as you can will save on time-sucking workarounds. Cabinets, appliances, wall linings, curtains, etc, all have standard sizes which tend to be cheaper than having to pay for customisation.
Repurpose as much as you can – upcycling existing furniture will save you heaps. Buying second-hand online or from building recyclers or salvage yards is a great way to get something unique for a lower cost.
Reusing building materials like cladding and windows will be cheaper than buying new but remember that they often require some time to be cleaned up and prepared for reuse and may not always be suitable.

During renovations

You’ve planned everything out, now it’s time to get the work underway!

Ensure that you have your timing and purchases in order. Making sure that your tradies have what they need on site will save on delays or them having to make unnecessary return trips. Know the stages for any council inspections and keep everyone in the loop.
Call on your friends and family to help. You may have a few tradies in your friends group. While you will still need to pay them (unless you’re able to offer them your own expertise in return), they may be more willing to work with flexible timelines. For smaller jobs, getting a bunch of friends together for a painting session or a particular project may be something you can get everyone on board for in return for a few pizzas and refreshments!
Doing as much as you can yourself will save on labour costs. Hardware stores and YouTube are great resources for guides on how to do simple jobs like plastering, painting, installing floor coverings, etc. Even doing your own demo and cleanup can save you money. Do remember that some jobs must be done by qualified tradespeople, including electrical work – and the expertise that a good tradie can offer is a worthy investment.
Measure twice, cut once! Avoid costly mistakes by ensuring that your measurements are correct.
Avoid buying too much paint by measuring your room and checking with your local paint store as to how much you will need. Allow a little extra for touch-ups.
If you only need a small amount of paint to finish a job, or part of a roll of underlay, etc, check out what’s available in your local community on Facebook Marketplace or TradeMe. Often people sell off remnants from their own projects for a reduced price or even for free just to get rid of it.
Anything that you remove or have left over that’s still usable can be sold online to offset your costs too.

Renovations on a tight budget

When you want to revamp a room but your budget is severely limited, there are simple things that you can do to achieve a new look.

Can’t afford new carpet? Sanding and staining your floorboards can improve the look of a room. A big statement rug can bring in some personality and warmth or cover up the less ideal spots.
A new paint job can give any room an instant makeover. Consider the feeling that you want in the room and how colour can help you achieve that look.
If you really want some pattern on the walls but can’t afford to do the whole room, wallpapering a feature wall can have a big impact.
New lighting can make a massive difference to a room, giving you task lighting where needed, stylish decor, or added ambience. Even the lightbulb colour you choose can make a difference. Choose a “warm” white for lounges and bedrooms for added cosiness.
For a kitchen refresh, if your cabinets are structurally sound, you could just change or recoat the doors and drawers. Changing handles or lighting, a benchtop or adding shelves can also bring a new look.
Artwork is a simple way to revamp boring walls. Use a collection of interesting frames and fill them with favourite photos to create a focus point in a bland hallway.
Old furniture can be updated by repainting or covering in adhesive vinyl which comes in a range of colours and patterns.

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Written by Julie Scanlon

Julie is Editor for Kidspot NZ and our MVP. Her hobbies include laughing uncontrollably at her own jokes, annoying her family by asking questions about movie plots, and never taking anything too seriously. She speaks a little Spanish and a lot of Yorkshire.

Favourite motto to live by: “It ain’t nothing but a thing”

Why You Need To Future-proof Your Family’s Finances

Posted on 07/05/202116/05/2026 by Julie Lankow

Promotion for Cigna Life Insurance

According to a recent survey of Kidspot readers, a priority for parents was to find ways to save money and be better at budgeting. While there are lots of ways to achieve this, it’s important as you rethink your budget that you also consider protecting your family’s financial wellbeing, especially if something were to happen to you or your partner.

Life insurance offers some financial stability at a difficult time, but often it is thought of as a nice-to-have option rather than a budgeting priority.

Why you should include life insurance in your budget

We know it’s a topic that’s hard to talk about, but consider what would happen if you or your partner were no longer around to provide an income or support for the family? Some important questions to ask yourself and to talk about with your partner are:

How would you pay for your mortgage or rent, stay on top of bills, pay for day to day expenses, etc?
Would you need to go out to work and subsequently pay for childcare?
Would you have to move out of your home at a time when children may need stability?
Do you want to be thinking about bills during a stressful time for your family?
How will you pay for funeral expenses?
How important is your family’s financial stability for their future?

When you have children, protecting your loved ones (and yourself) is more important than ever. Life Insurance can be a financial safety net that provides for those who depend on you if you were to pass away.

Plan for the future

We often set aside money in our family budget to save up for things like a family holiday or new car. Regularly saving a small amount towards a goal is a great budget tip. You can do the same with life insurance to protect the future you are building with your family. With life insurance in place, it means you can plan confidently for the future and live life to the fullest, knowing that your loved ones will have some financial stability.

There are several options when choosing life insurance. You can choose ‘cover’ that pays out when the insured person passes away, or even when they are diagnosed with a terminal illness, dependant on the terms of the policy. The money paid out can be used towards the cost of the funeral, to help with housing expenses, or to support the family for the future.

You may want to keep things simple and just get life insurance that you can sort out yourself online, or you may want life insurance that’s more tailored to your family’s needs and prefer to speak to a qualified and trusted adviser. With Cigna Life Insurance, it’s simple to work out the cover that’s right for you.

Book a call with Cigna or an independent adviser

Is life insurance affordable?

Any mention of insurance premiums can send even the best budget planner into a tailspin! But the idea that life insurance premiums are sky high is a misconception. You choose the level of cover you need which helps to keep premiums at an affordable level. Basic cover could cost you as little as $15 a fortnight. That’s less than an extra-large family pizza or tickets to the movies. It’s a small price to pay for peace of mind and something that you can squeeze into that budget.

Don’t put it off

We understand that parenting is a full-time gig, and it can be hard to find the time to get finances and insurance sorted (let’s face it, it can be hard just getting through the mountain of washing!). Thankfully, getting your cover sussed with Cigna could take less time than you think. A quick call with the Cigna team or an independent adviser can steer you in the right direction and you can set it up at a time that suits you. Even more time-poor? Get an instant quote in the time it takes to microwave that cup of coffee for the third time!

Get an instant quote from Cigna

Written by Kidspot NZ for Cigna

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Bargain Box Choice

Posted on 06/05/202116/05/2026 by Julie Lankow

Tried and tested by Kidspot parents

4.6 out of 5: Kidspot parents were pleased with Bargain Box Choice and would purchase it again or recommend it to their friends and family.

It’s choice for kids!

The team at My Food Bag have just launched Bargain Box Choice, giving Kiwi families more choice in their meal-kit options.

Bargain Box Choice delivers family favourite recipes at bargain prices, with everything you need delivered to your door by New Zealand’s cheapest meal-kit – and now with added choice for those fussier family members.

What type of food can I typically expect in a Bargain Box Choice delivery?

Every week you can choose from eight recipes packed with goodness that will make you go WHOA! The amazing Bargain Box chefs and taste testers create meals the whole fam will love. They’re packed with plenty of veggies (perfect for growing bodies!), have easy-to-follow instructions, and are super tasty, too!

There will be a selection of proteins to choose from each week i.e. some chicken dinners, some beef etc. as well as two vegetarian meals.

Bargain Box chicken and eggs are free-range, they use sustainably caught fish, and source as many veggies and other ingredients as possible from local suppliers.

Bargain Box Choice options

Bargain Box Choice is available for three, four, or five nights per week and comes in three sizes:

Serves 2: Great for a couple, or 2 adults with a young child
Serves 4: Feeds 4 adults/teens, or 2 adults and 3 kids
Serves 6: Feeds 6 adults/teens, or great for big families

Find out more at BargainBox.co.nz.

Read the reviews below!

We’ve given 25 families the opportunity to trial and review the new Bargain Box Choice.

If you have received product for review, please scroll to the bottom of the page and add your feedback as a new comment. Upload your review photos to this Dropbox folder.
Each selected reviewer will receive Bargain Box Choice meals for 3, 4, or 5 nights (your choice).
In order to arrange delivery of your trial pack, you will need to register with bargainbox.co.nz. Details will be sent to you if you are selected for the trial.
JOIN the Kidspot NZ Product Trials Facebook page and keep an eye out for review updates
PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to post photos of the product/meals as part of your review.

Please note

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address in your Bargain Box registration.
Not registered for Kidspot Product Trials yet? Then sign up now.
Kidspot Terms and Conditions: Open to Kidspot members 18+ only. Only available for NZ residents. If you are selected, you will be required to use the product as soon as possible plus supply a review, as set out in our review instructions. Your name and email address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the product and/or order code.
Click here for full Terms and Conditions.

See photos from our reviewers below

Modibodi RED Period Underwear for Tweens & Teens

Posted on 16/04/202116/05/2026 by Julie Lankow

Tried and tested by Kidspot parents

4.8 out of 5: Kidspot parents/teens were pleased with Modibodi RED period underwear and would recommend them to their friends and family.

Modibodi RED’s signature Hipster Boyshort style, with MAX absorbency for very heavy periods, overnight, or up to 24 hour* wear, provides full protection from the front-to-back waistband, which means zero fear of leaks to clothes, PJs or sheets!

Designed to completely replace pads and tampons, the Hipster Boyshort in Maxi-24hrs absorbency is your new best friend!

* Patent pending Maxi-24hrs tech has been tested to hold up to 50ml per day, the average woman loses 2 to 3 tablespoons or 30-50ml of blood over 5 days.

FAQ’s

What does it feel like wearing them?

Just like regular underwear! The tech-enabled absorbent gusset was designed to be comfy and discreet, never bulky or heavy. Just pop a pair on and go!

Do I wear these with a tampon, cup or pad?

Modibodi are a complete replacement for other leak management products. There is no need to use anything else in conjunction with them, even on your heaviest days. With absorbency options ranging from super light through to maxi-24hrs, you can feel confident every day, flow or no flow!

What size am I?

We recommend referring to the Size Guide here to find your fit.

Do I need to wash them before wear?

Yes, we recommend putting them through the wash before the first time you wear them to help to activate the technology in the gusset.

Care guide

Step 1. Wash before wear! We recommend popping them in the wash before the first wear to activate the tech in the gusset.
Step 2. Rinse in cold water after use <30° Do not soak, just rinse until the water runs clear!
Step 3. Cold wash (now or later). In a delicates bag is even better!
Step 4. Hang dry. Reuse. Repeat! Go you eco warrior!
Step 5. Hold the fabric softener. This reduces the product’s function!

Find out more at modibodi.co.nz.

Read the reviews for Modibodi RED below!

We gave 15 members with a tween or teen the opportunity to trial and review Modibodi RED Period Underwear. See their photos below and scroll down to read more reviews.

Wow what a game changer!! My 13 year old daughter loves her Modibodi Red period underwear! She experiences very heavy periods and usually changes her pads up to 4 x a day and has sadly had to deal with leaks before. Since using the 24 hr Modibodi Red underwear she has not had to change underwear during the day and pads are a thing of the past! She also feels 100% confident when playing netball now.

AshleyPaigeM

Complete game changer. [Our teen] used to wear both a tampon with a pad for security! She said she slept all night and was surprised to see there was no leakage in the morning. She decided to try with her school uniform and has since asked we purchase more so she never has to use a pad again. We are very happy and are looking forward to spending way less on sanitary items. The security of not leaking on heavy days gives her peace of mind she won’t be subject to any embarrassing moments.

Purpleducks1

These have been a game changer. So much stress and anxiety has been removed from our daily lives so thank you so much for the opportunity to trial these As a mum, I am super impressed with how easy they are to clean and how quickly they dry and to see my daughter smiling on period days and watch her confidence return has been an emotional experience.

Mary110370

Reviewer notes

If you have received product for review, please scroll to the bottom of the page and add your feedback as a new comment. Upload your review photos to this Dropbox folder.
Each selected reviewer will receive 1 x Black Hipster Boyshort (Maxi-24hrs absorbency) in the size of their choice (subject to availability).
JOIN the Kidspot NZ Product Trials Facebook page and keep an eye out for review updates
PLEASE NOTE: You will be required to post photos of the products as part of your review however we do not expect tweens/teens to be photographed wearing the product.

Please note

If you are selected to trial, the product will be sent to the address on your profile.
Please check your address now to ensure that it is up to date.
Not registered yet? Then sign up now.
Kidspot Terms and Conditions: Open to Kidspot members 18+ only. Only available for NZ residents. If you are selected, you will be required to use the product as soon as possible plus supply a review, as set out in our review instructions. Your name and postal address will be given to the supplier for the purpose of delivery of the voucher only.
Click here for full Terms and Conditions.

Meet The Author & Illustrator Of The Rainbow In My Heart

Posted on 15/04/202116/05/2026 by Julie Lankow

Sponsored content

Experiencing emotions and learning what they mean can be a challenge for kids. That’s why author Jessica Urlichs and illustrator Rebekah Ballagh created The Rainbow In My Heart, an accessible and engaging rhyming picture book that illuminates the rainbow of feelings that live in our heart.

We all have lots of feelings, it’s OK to let them show.
They all live in our heart, as our very own rainbow.

What does your body do when you’re sad or angry? How do you show someone you’re proud? For children, experiencing new emotions and understanding them are two vastly different things. In The Rainbow In My Heart Jessica and Rebekah explore emotions through the use of wonderous rhyme and evocative illustrations to help little ones express their feelings. Also a qualified counsellor, Rebekah has provided notes for parents and teachers at the back of the book to help caregivers start conversations around understanding, identifying and navigating emotions.

To understand more, Kidspot talked to Jessica and Rebekah about the creation of the book.

Meet the author: Jessica Urlichs

Jessica Urlichs shot to stardom on social media with her honest and heartfelt poetry centering around her family and motherhood. Jessica met her husband in Australia where they lived together for many years and are now raising their children in New Zealand. She continues to connect with the world with her writing via Instagram. Follow her @jessurlichs_writer.

Kidspot: Was there a particular moment or experience that inspired you to write this book?

Jessica: I was inspired to write this book because of my three year old son and his big feelings. He is a deep thinker and we get so much enjoyment out of reading together so I wanted something that was going to be accessible, poetic, fun, colourful and would help him unpack his feelings. I also wanted something that was engaging for us both, it can be so hard to express feelings! Even as adults! That’s why there’s also a parent section at the back of the book, by Rebekah which really provides a space to keep the discussion going after the story has ended.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by J E S S I C A U R L I C H S (@jessurlichs_writer)

Kidspot: How did you select the colours that represent the different emotions?

Jessica: It was a little difficult at first because some colours to emotions may be more obvious than others so I went back and forth a bit with my ideas. But in the end I closed my eyes and just wrote down what I visualised. So when I imagined being angry and clenching fists and stomping feet I thought of frustration and fire and lava, so I built on that scenario with orange. With calm I imagined a bubble bath, fluffy clouds, deep breaths and lavender, so that scene unfolded and calm became purple. And obviously there are many more!

Kidspot: The book deals with the full spectrum of emotions – did you find any of them to be hard to put into words that children will understand?

Jessica: It was something I worried about initially, but I just thought of my children, I knew that they were having trouble understanding their big feelings and I realised simply having words to attach to those emotions would be a huge breakthrough, and it was. So this is the key theme throughout, but I wanted to incorporate metaphors to explore their imagination, because feelings are complicated sometimes and it can be nice to look at them in a more engaging way. I think between the words and the pictures they tell a story that every child will be able to see themselves in while they learn.

Kidspot: What outcomes do you hope will come about from parents/caregivers sharing this book with their child?

Jessica: Ultimately I hope this helps with their child’s emotional regulation by simply telling an engaging story. There are so many emotions and some young children only know how to express a few, like happy, sad or mad, so I hope this expands their vocabulary and they feel less frustration around their feelings. I hope it it becomes a great resource for further discussions and that it makes for an enjoyable and fun read for both.

Meet the illustrator: Rebekah Ballagh

Rebekah Ballagh is a talented illustrator as well as being passionate and dynamic mental health counsellor. She created the hugely popular Instagram community Journey to Wellness as a platform for wellbeing, mental health advocacy and self-care. Join her @journey_to_wellness_.

Kidspot: Tell us about how your background as a counsellor helped with the illustrations?

Rebekah: My aim with my illustrations is make mental health tools and information accessible and digestible. So the characters I draw are all meant to be approachable, non-threatening and clearly show emotions to help build emotional literacy. I sort of “fell into” illustration really … I started off illustrating therapuetic concepts and tools and posting them on my Instagram page @journey_to_wellness_ to help my clients, and it sort of exploded from there. So I guess people do find the illustrations help make the information easier to understand. Most people are visual learners, so illustration is a great way to connect and learn.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Journey to Wellness (@journey_to_wellness_)

Kidspot: Did you find it difficult to illustrate any particular emotion?

Rebekah: Not really! I’ve spent a lot of time developing emotional resources, feelings charts etc and have a resource where I illustrated 72 different characters each expressing different emotions, so I’ve had a bit of practice. Emotions can be shown through eyebrows, eyes, mouth, body language and posture etc, so there are many ways to show different emotions to help people understand and identify the feelings the characters (and themselves) may be experiencing.

Kidspot: Do you see this as a book that kids will pick up and read for themselves as well as sharing with a parent or caregiver?

Rebekah: Absolutely! I often find my own wee girl flicking through the pages or through emotional literacy resources I’ve made, and she’s not quite two yet! She will proudly exclaim “happy!” or “angry!” And I can see her showing empathy for the sad looking characters.

It’s an easy book for kids to read or look at the pictures themselves and then of course its always lovely to read with a parent/caregiver. Reading it with a parent also offers the opportunity to use the questions in the parent section I included in the back. It opens up more discussions and helps little ones explore their own emotions. Mikah, my daughter, and I act out different emotions and have a lot of fun with it.

Kidspot: What advice do you have for parents/caregivers who may find it difficult to talk about particular emotions?

Rebekah: Our children learn about emotions and how to handle them through watching us model both how we deal with our own emotions and how we respond to theirs. Though it may feel difficult to manage certain emotions, like anger, shame or sadness, the more we practice it the easier it gets. Allowing space for all emotions to ‘just be’ helps not only our kids, but ourselves to process these things.

Remember, you don’t have to ‘fix’ anything when your child is having big emotions. You can help them by simply naming and acknowledging an emotion; “you’re feeling really sad”, “you’re angry because I won’t let you stay up late tonight” etc. This validates and shows empathy. You can ask older children “what do you need?” Or say things like “when I feel sad I like to snuggle up with a warm blanket and a hot cholcolate, would you like to try that?”. You can model strategies like deep breathing or you can talk to them about your own experience such as, “mummy got really angry then and yelled, I’m sorry about that, next time I’ll work on taking big breaths and helping myself to calm down before I talk to you.”

To find out more about The Rainbow In My Heart or to purchase, visit Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand.

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