From a young age I remember popping to the shops for my mum to post her weekly competition entry for Take a Break. She completed them every week without fail and though she never won I was used to reading her copies of take a break that were laying around the house. So when I moved out and got my own home it's no real surprise that my magazine of choice has always been take a break.

Each magazine consists of real life stories that are interesting and sometimes unbelievable. I think that's what draws in people to read the stories, most the time you cannot believe what goes on behind closed door and that things that actually happen to normal people. Most the time Take a break covers stories such as adulterous partners and vicious attacks on innocent people.

But I have noticed over recent months that the magazine has latched onto stories of child abuse and foreign men using unsuspecting women for visa. Though I completely respect the stories of abuse and what the magazine does to highlight this atrocity and the help that take a break offers to other victims, I don't fully agree with the way it tells lots of stories regarding how women are being used by foreign men. A close friend of mine has been married to a Turkish man for ten years. He is a lovely man and they have a wonderful family. Not all men from aboard use women and it would be nice if the magazine wrote from the other point of view a little more often.

Take a break is one of the best magazines in regards to competitions. It usually gives away prizes each week totalling from £50,000 -£70,000. Holiday's, cars and money are just some of the brilliant prizes that are up for grabs and all you have to do is a little problem solving. I personally enjoy doing all of the crosswords and my partner usually pinches the suduko puzzle before I even get chance to look at it.

The magazine also does a small section each week of about 4-5 recipes that are simple to do and tasty to eat. I have a recipe in my cupboard from a magazine from 5 years ago. Toad in the whole and it is the best version of this recipe that I have ever tired. Take a break usually tends to stick to recipes that are seasonal based on what produce is available at that time of year.

Take a break is a brilliant all round magazine, though it doesn't have any stories regarding the latest celebrity gossip it is still a brilliant read. It is filled with interesting stories that you have to read to believe, the opportunity to win a selection of prizes and so much more. It is also one of the cheapest magazines out on the shelves. At 80p a week this is a much cheaper option compared to the celebrity glossy magazines out there.