On the shelf

The younger wife by Sally Hepworth

Tully and Rachel are murderous when they discover their father has a new girlfriend. The fact that Heather is half his age isn’t even the most shocking part. Stephen is still married to their mother, who is stricken with Alzheimer’s. Heather knows she has an uphill battle to win Tully and Rachel over - particularly while carrying the shameful secrets of her past. But, as it turns out, her soon-to-be stepdaughters have secrets of their own. The announcement of Stephen and Heather’s engagement threatens to set off a family implosion, with old wounds and dark secrets finally being forced to the surface. A garage full of stolen goods. An old hot water bottle, stuffed with cash. A blood-soaked wedding. And that’s only the beginning... Published by Macmillan Australia. October 26th. RRP $32.99.

Feast: 100 generous dishes to share by Miguel Maestre

In Feast, Miguel shares his absolute favourite recipes to enjoy with family and friends. There are big, satisfying dinners as well as lots of smaller dishes to mix and match in classic share-plate style. Miguel’s food is a loving nod to the dishes of his Spanish heritage, but is also very firmly based in the modern Australian kitchen. Whether you’re getting together for brunch, looking for something fast on a weeknight or to try some new dishes for a family celebration, there are so many bold and exciting flavours here to discover. These are generous meals from a big-hearted chef who knows that simple, good food makes everyone smile. Published by Plum. RRP $39.99

Broken by Camilla Nelson and Catharine Lumby

A devastating account of how Australia’s family courts fail children, families and victims of domestic abuse. Broken explores the complexities and failures of Australia’s family courts through the stories of children and parents whose lives have been shattered by them. Camilla Nelson and Catharine Lumby take the reader into the back rooms of the system to show us what it feels like to be caught up in spirals of abusive litigation. They reveal how the courts have been politicised by Pauline Hanson and men’s rights groups, and how those they are meant to protect most – children – are silenced or treated as property. Published by Black Inc Books. RRP $32.99

The Sex Ed You Never Had by Chantelle Otten

From award-winning psychosexologist Chantelle Otten comes the welloverdue, inclusive and meticulous guide to all things sex, bodies and relationships. For too long, talking about our anatomies and our experiences has been taboo. Normal functions have been deemed embarrassing and even shameful, impacting people’s mental and physical health. In this amazing and comprehensive guide, filled with accurate facts and helpful illustrations, Chantelle refuses to leave these conversations languishing any longer. Published by Allen and Unwin. RRP $34.99

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7 TIPS FOR HOLIDAYS ON A BUDGET

1. Plan ahead

It’s always a good idea to plan ahead. But in COVID times, planning takes on new importance. As we’ve seen, the situation can change quickly with restrictions and border closures.

Consider:

• Not just where do you want to go, but where can you go? • Which places are most popular? (You can stretch your budget further and support local businesses by going somewhere quieter) • Do you need to quarantine at your destination or on your return? Or both?

Or get stuck in a “bubble” change? (If so, that adds to your costs and the amount of leave you will need) • Do you have a back-up destination in mind? Planning ahead could save you a small fortune and help avoid your relaxing getaway becoming a stressful nightmare.

If you’re like me, you’ll be itching to travel again once borders reopen! But don’t let your next holiday break the bank…Holidays are meant to be fun and relaxing. However, if you blow your budget, you end up more stressed than before you left. What a waste! Follow these tips for holidays on a budget to avoid coming home to a nasty debt pile: 2. Book in advance

This is another reason planning is so valuable – you can book ahead and lock in cheaper rates. Even a 5% discount saves you $250 on a $5,000 holiday! Can a travel manager assist you with itinerary savings? Comparison sites are useful but try contacting operators too – they may offer better prices or free upgrades for booking with them directly. Also, booking ahead means you should miss out on disappointments – for example, campervans and caravans are hugely popular right now, but demand is outstripping supply.

3. Protect yourself

Explore what you can do to safeguard your travel budget in case things go wrong, including COVID outbreaks, general sickness, accidents, and natural disasters.

Ensure that you can cancel or alter bookings without incurring extra charges. This goes for any flights, accommodation, vehicle rentals, equipment hire, tours and so on.

Also consider getting travel insurance. But read the fine print carefully – is COVID/public health restrictions covered by the policy? What costs are and are not insured? Is every member of your family covered? Is there a cap on how much can be claimed?

Hopefully you won’t need to use these, but you’ll be really thankful for having them if you do!

All that shopping online while in lockdown and paying with cards instead of cash means those credit card points will have accumulated quickly! You could redeem those points to pay for part or all of your trip. The same goes with any unused frequent flyer points from previous trips. Use them where you can get the most value. For instance, many schemes offer better value if you spend points on goods or services instead of redeeming them for cash. Does a family member, colleague or friend have travel bank credits that are about to expire that they are not going to use? Can you do a deal to use them at a discount rather than they lose the credit completely?

5. Claim COVID incentives

This year, most state and territory governments are offering incentives to support local hospitality and tourism businesses. Why not take advantage of these and holiday close to home! It’s essentially free money, and every little bit that doesn’t come out of your pocket is a welcome relief, especially at Christmas time. Check the eligibility criteria to see where they are valid. And don’t forget to claim for everyone – some incentives are available to each adult within your household.

6. Take what you need

It may be quite a while since you last got to enjoy a holiday away, so don’t forget that everything is more expensive in holiday destinations!

Wherever possible, take everything you need with you to minimise your spending while you’re away. That includes clothes for all occasions, toiletries, incidentals like sunscreen and insect repellent, as well as any sporting gear you may need. If you have space, consider taking food too for picnic lunches and breakfasts on the go.

7. Have your kids earn their spending money

Let’s face it – you’ll be paying for your kids’ holiday adventures anyway. But you can teach them the value of money by having them earn their spending money beforehand. Weight the value of jobs against their degree of difficulty. Have them start now to save those dollars over time, rather than a mad dash days before you leave. Not only does it help you spread the cost of your holiday over several months, but you also get some odd jobs around the house done for you! By Helen Baker, licensed Australian financial adviser and author of the new book, On Your Own Two Feet: The Essential Guide to Financial Independence for all Women (Ventura Press, $32.99). Helen is among the 1% of financial planners who hold a master’s degree in the field. Proceeds from book sales are donated to charities supporting disadvantaged women and children. www.onyourowntwofeet.com.au

Note any advice or information in this article is of a general nature only and has not taken into account your personal objectives, financial situation, and needs. Because of that, before acting on the advice, you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your personal objectives, financial situation, and needs. Opinions constitute judgement at the time of issue and are subject to change.

Mama’s favourite Victorian family destinations:

1. Best Friend Holiday Retreat, Tarra Valley Rainforest, Gippsland.

Designed for people holidaying with their four-legged friend, a more dog friendly caravan park you won’t find. Pitch a tent of pick one of their fully fenced cabins.

2. Phillip Island.

There is so much to see and do as a family at Phillip Island. Penguins, seals, beaches and more. We love to base ourselves in Cowes so we can walk to all the great food options!

3. The Macedon Ranges.

An easy drive from Melbourne, pick from a caravan park in Macedon, a guesthouse in the heart of Kyneton, a luxury farmstay in the hills of the Cobaw Ranges, to a secluded mountain retreat with views to Hanging Rock. Then get out and explore!!

4. Farmstays

Get the kids off their devices and back out in nature. Spend time on the land, interact with animals and feast on farm fresh produce, at the source.