When looking for a gift suitable for a special occasion we generally want our friend, relative or loved one to have something different, something they can keep and look back on and something that is practical, allowing them to keep it with them at all times. Birthstone jewellery is the ideal gift for all occasions. Unlike regular jewellery where you can spend hours wondering if you have selected the right piece, birthstone jewellery couldn't be easier to select. To purchase these beautiful gifts the only information you will need is the month the recipient was born.

Birthdays

For March birthdays you will require the amazing aquamarine birthstone. This gorgeous blue eye catching gem is available on a wide range of stunning jewellery pieces. Charm bracelets for example, can be worn casually in the day and will also compliment an evening outfit. Alternatively, for something a little more glamorous the choker styled aquamarine Swarovski crystal necklace is perfect for adding a sparkle to any outfit.

Christenings

To add a personal touch, birthstone jewellery can also be personalised with the name of a loved one. These can be either engraved onto a high quality silver or gold or can be spelled out using charm letters. Personalising your birthstone jewellery will add an extra special unique touch to your gift. Personalised birthstone jewellery is a popular christening gift as it provides a keep sake present and parents adore seeing their baby's name celebrated. For babies born in March, the D for Diamond Children's Birthstone Heart Bangle in aquamarine is the ideal christening present. This particular bangle also comes complete with a high quality pink gift box and has a sliding mechanism to easily fit babies and small children.

Anniversary

The aquamarine gemstone is also the 19th wedding anniversary gift. The majority of newlywed couples now believe the anniversary gift guide is too old fashioned for the gifts available. However, many of the gemstones on the traditional list can now be created into beautiful pieces of jewellery. To really celebrate your anniversary why not treat your loved one with a short break to compliment your gemstone gift. Aquamarine for instance is the colour of the sea. Therefore, perhaps a trip to your local beach or a short break to the South of France would be a perfect place to celebrate your 19th wedding anniversary.

Mother's Day

As March is also the month for the traditional Mother's Day celebration, aquamarine jewellery would also be an appropriate present for your Mum or Grandma. Birthstone charm necklaces can be specially made with the birthstones of your choice. This will allow you to select the birthstones of all your Mum's children or close family, symbolising that they will be close at all times.

Birthstone history

Birthstones are often thought of as lucky charms that will protect their owners. Years ago astrologers would often attribute different meanings to each gemstone that was discovered. Aquamarine was said to cure heart, liver and stomach diseases when one drank the water in which the gem had been soaking. Many sailors believed that the aquamarine gemstone was very similar to the Neptune Sea God, which was thought to protect them against any danger in the ocean.

Birthstone jewellery is the ideal gift for those wanting to give something unique and special. Simply select the appropriate gemstone and wait for you special stunning piece of jewellery to arrive. Many suppliers of birthstone jewellery will even gift wrap your chosen design eliminating all the hard work that often comes with gift shopping.

Nowadays people will spoil their pet rotten. No longer do dogs sleep in a cardboard box under the stairs. There are a wide variety of dog bed styles on the market, which can often make choosing one very difficult.

Dog Sofas

A popular choice for many pet owners is the new dog sofa. These can be used as either a large stylish bed or a comfy chill out area for lounging after a long walk. Ideal for small and medium sized dogs is the Trixie 'Charmel' Dog Sofa Bed. This small cosy sofa is both comfortable and stylish with a swish cosy design featuring a comfortable suede material. This dog sofa bed is available in a range of neutral colours and will also add a beautiful added piece of furniture to your home. To really spoil your dog, why not splash out and go for a Trixie 'Paolo' Dog Sofa. This has more of a sophisticated and classy style with leather arms and a large suede sofa cushion. The sleek dog bed design will look great in the home and is created form high quality foam padding, making nap time even more comfortable. All dog sofas come with machine washable cushion covers and are made with easy clean materials so you won't have to worry about muddy paw stains.

Blankets and Cushions

If dog sofas seem a little bit much or you simply don't have the room, why not get your pet a dog blanket or cushion. Blankets are perfect for adding extra warmth during the winter months. Dog blankets come in a wide range of colours and materials, featuring fleece and chenille for a stylish suede look. The dog blanket is ideal for furniture and cars to protect upholstery from shedding fur and dirty paws.

On the other hand, dog cushions are perfect for trips away with your dog, due to their light weight and ease of transport. Cushions are often considered as a bed for small dogs; however they can come in a wide range of sizes and colours suitable for any breed. The 'Scoopy' Dog Cushion for example, has thick 4cm padding and is available in nine different sizes.

Dog Beds

Nowadays dog beds come in a wide range of shapes, sizes and materials. For something more traditional, opt for the bucketed styled dog bed with fleecy styles. This style of dog bed is available in a wide range of colours and patterns, including the Trixie 'Charly' Dog Bed with cute paw prints for a fun and appropriate style. On the other hand the Trixie 'Tamayo' Dog Bed, is perfect for dogs with a crazy and wacky personality, as it features a unique circle shape and multi coloured stripes. This particular bed can be purchased in three different sizes, suiting a wide range of breeds.

For those who have a large amount of space for their dog bed, why not spoil your pet with extra comfort and opt for a memory foam dog bed. Very similar to the memory foam we use to help with joint and back problems, the memory foam dog bed is useful for older dogs who may struggle to sleep in the traditional dog bed.

Dog mats

Nylon and fleece mats are ideal to put in the put in the boot of your car to protect upholstery from hair and dirt. The dog matt can be fitted and removed easily and can be used either on car journeys or in the home. The non slip material is ideal for car boots and hard floors to stop dogs from skidding around on the matt. A real treat for your dog and a current trend on the dog bed market is veterinary thermal bedding. This thermal mat will make your pet's sleeping area warm and comfortable even on cold kitchen floors.

Whatever your dog's size, be sure to purchase a good quality dog bed to ensure your pet is warm and comfortable.

What is Payment Protection Insurance (PPI)?

Payment Protection Insurance, sometimes called PPI, is Accident, Sickness and Unemployment Cover (ASU), which is sold with loans, credit cards, hire purchase agreements and mortgages. PPI is a form of insurance which will make repayments on a debt if your circumstances change leaving you unable to repay them yourself. Credit protection insurance and loan repayment insurance are different names which lenders might use for PPI.

Payment Protection Insurance will often cover repayments if you are left unable to work through illness or an accident, made unemployed, become incapacitated or die. Banks and loan providers will often sell PPI as an add-on with the loan, overdraft or mortgage which it is protecting. Payment Protection Insurance will cover minimum loan, credit or overdraft payments for a set period, such as 12 months.

PPI is generally very expensive however, and many policies have exemptions which make it difficult for a policyholder to make a valid claim. Millions of people have been mis sold unnecessary or unwanted Payment Protection Insurance in the past.

Why has Payment Protection Insurance been mis sold?

Lenders have been adding Payment Protection Insurance to borrower's policies without their knowledge. This means that many people have taken out credit cards or loans and paying for PPI policies which they do not know exists and therefore will never claim on, even if they needed to.

Other PPI policyholders were misled into believing that PPI was not optional, or that a loan was more likely to be approved if they took PPI out with the loan.

Some companies, such as telesales operations, led customers into PPI policies by offering a credit card or loan and mentioning that it was 'protected' without fully explaining that the PPI protection was optional or explaining the plan in detail.

All of these are examples of mis sold Payment Protection Insurance and this happened on an industrial scale, affecting millions of people in the UK. By May 2008 20 million PPI policies existed in the UK, with an additional 7 million policies being purchased every year since then. Some figures show that 40% of PPI customers are completely unaware that they even have the policy.

PPI was mis sold for decades, and one major high street bank sold almost A?400m worth of PPI, making around an 80% profit, much of which is suspected to be from unknowing customers. Payment Protection Insurance made lenders more money than the interest from the loans themselves.

In April 2011 the UK courts ruled in favour of consumers, preventing the mis-selling of Payment Protection Insurance in the future. Customers should now find that a PPI plan is explained to them, and that they are given time to shop around and make a thought-out decision.

What can I do if I have been mis sold payment protection insurance?

If you have taken out a loan, credit card or mortgage in the last 30 years with payment protection it is likely that you will be able to claim back the premiums paid and the interest paid. You have been mis sold payment protection insurance if you didn't ask for PPI but it was added to your policy anyway, you were told that insurance was compulsory, you were told that your loan was more likely to be approved with PPI, you were not told that PPI was optional, or you were unemployed, retired or self-employed when you took out the cover. You are still entitled to claim even if the loan which your PPI covered has been paid off.

The first step to claiming is to contact an insurance claims company which specialise in PPI. They will explain whether or not you have a case, and guide you through the process.