Body hangups and confidence issues can affect men and women alike, though we aren’t necessarily concerned with the same issues. A recent study carried out on behalf of the Centre for Appearance by UWE Bristol found that over four in five men find themselves engaged in chat about body issues on a regular basis. This may mean more men choose to have surgery with the likes of MYA.CO.UK.

The research revealed that just like many women who would like to have a boob job, many men are unhappy with their chests. In fact, two-thirds of those polled did not feel like their arms or chests were muscly enough. Some males seem to put as much effort into their physiques as women who spend time in the gym and applying fake tan; one in three admitted using protein supplements to help boost their physique.

On term that seems to have made it into lad chat is ‘moobs’ with man boobs ranking as one of the top terms used by men when discussing their bods. Although some individuals find that weight loss and exercise can eradicate the problem of man boobs, there are also those who turn to surgery to rid themselves of stubborn areas of fat.

According to statistics from the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) the number of moob jobs carried out rose by over a quarter (28 per cent) between 2009 and 2010.

The spring/summer 2012 catwalks didn’t fail to offer an eclectic and inspirational range of footwear offerings. It’s true that some of our wallets can’t afford fashionable shoes from top-end designers, but a number of plus size fashion retailers like Marisota have come up with their own takes on the trend and, best of all, they’re affordable.

Here’s a brief lowdown of the latest footwear trends that you may want to check out:

Mules

Look out for mules in different colours and textures, especially gold, beaded, striped, pastel, velvet, satin and patent leather.

Cowgirl boots

Flower embroidered and black embroidered cowgirl boots were a huge part of the Marc Jacobs, Miu Miu and Balmain ranges and look great when teamed with a denim skirt.

Flatforms

The first thing that probably springs to mind when you hear the word “flatforms” are the monstrosities of the Spice Girls that were iconic of the 90s. Whether you love or hate them, chunky flatforms are back and have taken to the stage in both avant garde and simple designs.

Metallic-effect

Finally, silver and gold-detailed footwear in the form of stilettos, boots and toe-caps and shoes with wrap-around straps are a must-have this season.

Budding fashionistas and experts alike will be heading to Italy this month, as January 14th sees the start of Milan Fashion Show that will dictate exactly what stylish individuals will be buying from the likes of www.jacamo.co.uk and a range of high street stores in the coming months.

It will be premiering the autumn 2012 season, and organisers have been telling the press to expect in excess of 10,000 visitors from around the world during the four day event. Italian designers such as Gucci, Versace and Prada will present their finest threads and will form several of the 39 shows held over the four-day event.

British brands that are expected to attend include Burberry and Vivienne Westwood, who have capitulated on the catwalk in previous years and look to extend their finesse in January. Among the launch party shows are Dolce & Gabbana, Jil Sander and Roberto Cavalli; they are to be followed on Sunday by Salvatore Ferragamo, Bottega Veneta, Prada, Emporio Armani and Missoni.

Meanwhile, Monday has slated John Richmond, Versace, Gucci and Etro, while Tuesday is expecting the finest wares from Giorgio Armani. If you’re unable to keep track of what’s going on, never fear – Paris men’s fashion week starts just one day after Milan’s outing.

Pogs, Tamogotchi and scrunchie hair bands are just some of the things that made the 90s and if you missed any of the key fashion trends of the decade the first time around, now is the time to give them a second bash. While the shell suit is still best left in a fashion vacuum, there are some key pieces and trends from the decade that are making reappearance this year. One example of this is loud prints – preferably featuring bright colours set against a black background. Although this isn’t a look to wear from head-to-toe it is still wearable and surprisingly flattering when worn correctly. Go as loud as you dare when picking your print, looking online at offerings from those such as Simply Be.

Next up for fashion revival are dungaree, these come in both dress and trouser varieties. Admittedly a choice for the younger market, dungarees are comfortable and quirky. An item that is more likely to make its way into – or back out of – your wardrobe, is the bomber jacket. A conveniently lightweight and casual cover up it can be another tricky item to pull off. Get it right by teaming with good quality jeans and ditching the big boots they were paired with first time round.

More small firms are expected to shed staff in the New Year, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has claimed. New figures from the organisation show that 6.5 per cent of small enterprises will lay off workers during the first three months of 2012, the highest level seen since the survey began, indicating that businesses already paying for essential commitments, such as Staveley Head liability insurance, are struggling to find the funds to pay staff.

In response to the figures, the FSB has urged the government to put measures in place to ease conditions for small firms. These include exempting the smallest businesses from the extension of the right to request flexible working and from certain proposals on pay audits, and a reform of the maternity and paternity leave system in the future.

John Walker, national chairman of the FSB, said there is no need for firms to feel under pressure as long as the government responds adequately to their needs. “The government has a good chance to make a real difference to the livelihoods of small firms when it reports on the Modern Workplaces consultation,” he said. “Tinkering and increasing existing employment laws will only serve to worsen this situation.”

Bikers from around the country are expected to flock to the Manchester Motorcycle Show at the Central Convention Complex on January 14th and 15th. Visitors will get the chance to meet a number of stars from the motorcycle world, including former British Superbike Champion Steve Parrish, TT racers Guy Martin and Michael Dunlop, and the TT’s fastest female racer Jenny Tinmouth.

Guy Martin will be showing off his 500bhp turbo café racer, and its owner will be on hand to talk about his experiences building and customising the bike over the year. Meanwhile, Jenny Tinmouth will speak on being a female racer in a male-dominated environment, as well as describing her journey to becoming the fastest woman in TT.

People with bike cover, like the kind available from MCE Insurance, should not miss out on the show, which costs just £10 when booked in advance, with free entry for under-15s. Eight manufacturers will also be present at the event showcasing all the latest bikes for 2012, including Honda, Ducati, Triumph, Yamaha and Kawasaki.

Honda dealer Hunts Motorcycles will be bringing some of the new Honda range along, including the CBR1000RR Fireblade as the model celebrates its 20th anniversary, as well as the all-new NCX700X crossover machine.

If you have bought a new property or are renovating your current abode, the flooring you choose to use throughout is an important consideration, as it will help set the whole feel of your home. In terms of cost, carpets often come up trumps for homeowners, but increasingly many are choosing to opt for a more traditional look by purchasing and fitting wooden flooring available from the likes of Topps Tiles.

If you are unsure of the avenue to head down, you should consider the pros and cons of both of these options. At first look carpets are certainly the cheaper option. That said, they will require regular professional cleaning to keep them in condition and will need replacing sooner than hard wearing wood flooring. Carpets also collect dirt and dust, which can be a problem to those who suffer with allergies. Of course, wood flooring can also collect dust and will most likely require daily cleaning if used in the home of a dust allergy sufferer, but it can be easier to spot grime on such surfaces.

Noise is another factor to take into consideration. Typically carpets will allow for a quiet surface and if you have young children running around the house this might be the winning formula for you. However, if all of the other factors point in favour of wooden flooring, there’s no harm in using rugs in busy and potentially loud areas such as a hallway.

After years in the fashion wilderness, curvy women were last year placed in the media spotlight, thanks to shows such as Mad Men highlighting the charms of Christina Hendricks et al. In addition, a host of models are now enjoying burgeoning careers on the catwalk. However, the celebration of curves is not new in all circles, with brands like SimplyBe UK having long used real women on their websites and in their model campaigns. That said, admiration for beautiful celebrities who possess body confidence continues to drive the plus-size sector and help inspire real women in their fashion choices. With this in mind, here are a few ideas on who you may want to take fashion tips from this year:

1)    Adele, the South London singer has been out of the limelight for a little while due to her high profile illness but she’s now back on form and looking fabulous. Adele is a real inspiration for glamorous going out looks and can work a jeans and jumper combo while out shopping just as well as a stunning shimmering frock on the red carpet.

2)    Josie Gibson has dropped a few pounds but still boasts a fabulously curvy frame and looked gorgeous in the naked photoshoot she did with Now magazine last year. A real girly-girl, she works casual maxi dresses really well.

The Time4Sleep Sleep Survey 2012

Not everyone has all the technical knowledge they need to service their own computer, but there are a few great ways to save a bit of cash on tuning your machine when you need to. PCs usually last quite a while before they start to wear out, but taking preventative measures regularly will make them last even longer.

One of the biggest enemies of a computer’s innards is dust. The louder the fans are running, the more dusty your machine is likely to be – meaning it will eventually get start getting hotter, causing parts to wear down more quickly. Once the whirring becomes noticeably louder, it’s time to take the case off and give your fans a spring clean. You can use tissue paper or cotton buds to do this, although specialist cleaning products can be found on sites like Misco.

Another low-cost way to keep your computer at optimum performance is to defragment the hard drive regularly. You can use the program that comes with Windows, or alternatively there are a number of free programs available. Defragmenting organises the data on your hard drive into neat blocks that your PC finds easier to access, and while it may take a while, the performance boost is well worth it.

If you are considering renting your cottage out as a holiday home, you need to put yourself in the minds of holidaymakers and then attempt to create the attractive and comfortable home that you think they will like. Letting out your property in this way can be a lucrative business when you do it well, but you need to have the perfect holiday cottage to attract customers in the first place.

You may be thinking “I want to let my house” and if so, you might want to take on board the assistance of a reputable letting agency, such as Rent My Cottage, to get a helping hand and generate as much interest as you can in your property. Do your research and be sure to compare other holiday homes that are similar to yours and are in the same area to make sure that you get offers that you deserve.

However, before you sign up to an agent, you may want to make undertake some home improvements. This doesn’t have to be costly and can actually help boost the revenue you can expect to receive on your holiday cottage.

Property repossessions will rise by around seven per cent in 2012 before beginning to fall back again in 2013, according to financial outsourcing firm HML. Drawn from an analysis of 800,000 mortgage accounts, the company predicted that Northern Ireland will see the highest rate of repossessions in the country, while the south-east of England will record the highest actual number at 4,226. Overall, some 37,709 properties are expected to be repossessed in the UK in 2012.

People facing repossession may consider alternative options, such as selling a home to property buyers like Gateway Homes. As well as securing a fast sale, this route means homeowners will be able to keep a clean credit record after the transaction.

Damian Riley, director of business intelligence at HML, said the rise in repossessions in 2012 will be the legacy of high levels of mortgage arrears in 2011, and while interest rates remain at historically low levels, the deteriorating economic situation has put pressure on household budgets.

“Some lenders may also choose to apply forbearance only when it is deemed fully appropriate to do so and a tougher approach may cause repossession rates to rise further. However, there is no evidence that this has yet started to happen,” he added.

Pet owners often consider their animals to be part of the family, which is why many of them choose to buy their furry friends presents to enjoy on Christmas day. However, this year many families have seen their Christmas budget reduced somewhat this year and they will be therefore looking to cut back on the amount they spend on presents for all of the family. If you are cat owner, may mean your kitty will be getting pampered a little less than usual. Make the money you spend on them count by picking them out a special treat they will love – whether it be something delicious for them to get their teeth into, or a toy to distract them from playing with the Christmas baubles.

For inspiration look online at large ranges from specialists such as petsathome.com. In terms of value for money, cat toys are likely to have a use that extends well beyond the festive season. That said, buying your kitty a chewy treat will help them to join in all of the proceedings of the day; when you took into your turkey and all the trimming they can have their own delicious dinner too.

The current EU Commission legislation on ensuring the safety of corded blinds – the wellbeing of young children in particular – named EN13120 is expected to be tightened, with the new guidelines implemented next year, a recent BBC report has stipulated.

If the revision progresses to the implementation stages, the changes will affect the operations of designers, manufacturers, installers and retailers of blinds such as DirectBlinds.co.uk, especially for children’s bedrooms and other spaces in the home – or indeed a public area – where children may be present.

The draw of window blinds is clear; they offer an attractive window dressing, increased privacy and some even have additional features such as being energy-efficient or solar-control, helping homeowners to make money savings on their utility bills over the winter months.

However, under the proposed new legislation, all corded blinds will require a built-in safety device and not simply a safety device that is supplied with the product, as the current standard states.

In an interview with the BBC earlier this year (October 12^th), Michael Corley, Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) representative, said of the developments: “It’s really important that we work with the industry, the government, and the people who make the standards in Europe, to make sure that everyone’s singing from the same hymn sheet.”

Listening to music in bed is something people regularly do as a means of getting to sleep in their beds from time4sleep.co.uk and other providers, and a new invention is only happy to build on this idea with a fantastic new creation.

Bedphones, the new offering, were conceived by product developer Eric Dubs, who is based just outside of New York City. Using his degree in mechanical engineering and passion for music, Eric set out to create a pair of headphones that were comfortable to wear in bed. After developing just short of 100 prototypes, Eric finally found the perfect combination of fit, comfort and sound.

The invention makes its mark through its lightweight and comfortable-to-wear design, which hinges around a less than quarter-inch thickness that’s cushioned with foam to maximise relaxation for the wearer. This innovative idea also comes with an extra-long cable to avoid tangles while rolling around in bed.

Those using an iPhone or Android phone may want to make use of the Bedphones Music Controller app, a free service that allows individuals to switch off music from their device by touching their mobile phone’s screen. A Smart Mode function turns the music off automatically when the user falls asleep, too.

Professor Graeme Clark, the man behind the bionic ear, has been given a new challenge in leading a pioneering project designed to develop new kinds of hearing implants. The research could lead to new and more cost-effective treatments for people who use hearing aids, such as those available from www.amplifon.co.uk.

Next month, Professor Clark will join Australia’s National Information and Communications Technology Research Centre of Excellence (NICTA) to study the neuroanatomy of Rod Saunders, the first bionic ear patient, reports IT Wire.

The project will help to progress scientists’ understanding of the human auditory system, paving the way for new and better treatments that could allow people to retain their hearing for longer.

“In many ways, we are just at the beginning of our understanding of how hearing works,” Professor Clark told the website.

“I am really excited by the potential of this project, with the support of the incredible expertise here at NICTA, to help the hearing-impaired to perceive many more sounds than are currently possible.”

The first successful cochlear implant, or bionic ear, was implanted into a patient called Rod Saunders in 1978. Mr Saunders left his body to medical science when he passed away in 2007.

More and more Brits could be in search of specialist house insurance in line with new research that has revealed that the number of new buy-to-let loans has increased by an encouraging 16 per cent in the third quarter of this year.

The figures released by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) showed that the value of mortgages increased by 19 per cent across the sector in the same period, suggesting that homeowners who have recently purchased a property may be looking to protect their investment with insurance. Indeed, a suitable house insurance policy could save you a great deal of money in the long run should an accident occur or your property is damaged.

On the other hand, it is important to bear in mind that an insufficient house insurance policy – in other words, one that fails to cover you in all the areas you require – is as good as having no insurance policy at all. It is also important to regularly review the policy you take out, especially if you have recently undergone a loft conversion or added a conservatory, as your cover will need to be amended accordingly.

Paul Smee, CML director general, said of the latest findings: “With tenant demand remaining strong in the rental sector, some existing buy-to-let landlords have been expanding their portfolios and the growth that returned to the sector in the preceding quarter has continued. The recovery of buy-to-let from its low point in 2009 has helped improve supply and choice in the rental market. Despite recent improvements, however, buy-to-let lending volumes are still only around one-third of their former peaks.”

The recession has had a huge impact on all aspects of business, from employee issues such as pay and recruitment, right through to bread and butter factors such as marketing. If you are struggling to maximise the impact of a reduced marketing budget, here are a few ideas to keep you going:

1)Distribute some branded goods

Distributing branded goods is a tried-and-tested way of getting the name and services of a business known, and can help potential customers make contact with you should you choose to feature your contact details on them. The most obvious options for this type of marketing are items such as pens and mugs but you may want your selection to stand out by ordering from professionals such as Ideas by Net. Promotional products by IdeasByNet include more modern and quirky offerings such as branded torches and mobile phone holders.

2)Engage with your customers

The age of social media has provided customers with a great opportunity to engage customers cheaply and easily. Use platforms such as Twitter and Facebook to keep your client base up to date on your offering and any discounts, sales or promotions.

3)Use word of mouth to your advantage

Prioritising excellent customer service is a cost-free way to promote your business and the power of word-of-mouth in the world of business should never be underestimated.  To maximise the impact of happy customers you may want to consider introducing a You a refer-a-friend scheme, offering a reward to customers who introduce friends to your business.

Property investors in the UK may find it’s best to turn to apartments such as those from Morgans City Living in the near future, as the cost of housing continues to fall without any sign that it will slow for quite some time.

This seems to be the natural conclusion drawn by September data presented by the Land Registry and its flagship House Price Index, which showed there to be an annual price decrease of 2.6 per cent. This concluded that the average property value in England and Wales was £162,109, and looked to fall further as people snubbed long-term investment in housing.

A monthly change of -0.3 per cent was recorded between August and September, continuing to result in negative monthly price changes. The only region in with of the aforementioned countries to experience an average property value increase over the last 12 months was London, which rose 2.7 per cent. The north-east, meanwhile, experienced an annual price fall with a decrease of 8.2 per cent; meanwhile, its monthly drop was a whopping 3.9 per cent.

On top of this, the number of completed house sales in England and Wales fell by 11 per cent to 59,919 – a long fall from the 67,475 in July 2010.

With the development of state-of-the-art procedures, cosmetic surgery is now commonplace in the UK and more and more individuals are choosing to alter their looks via this method in a bid to improve their self-confidence or quality of life. Breast uplift surgery available at http://www.mya.co.uk/cosmetic-surgery/breast-uplift.php, for example, offers an option to women suffering from drooping breasts and who may find it difficult to find clothing that fits them properly and looks good or simply suffer discomfort because of it. It works by removing excess breast tissue and tightens the skin to reshape the new breast contour.

The number of breast uplift procedures carried out in the UK along with the cosmetic surgery industry as a whole has grown significantly, and procedures tend to be cheaper making them more accessible to a wider range of people. This also means that it has never been more important for patients to do thorough research into available providers to ensure they receive the high quality service they deserve.

Some providers such as MYA even offer a free consultation and payment options for patients who are worried about their finances. If you are thinking of having the surgery, it may be useful to consult a guide to breast lift surgery before your consultation so you can ask your surgeon informed questions.

If you are a bargain shopper, chances are you have perfected your high street sales shopping technique and can spot a good deal at one hundred paces, but do your skills transfer online? Online shopping has gone through the roof in recent years, with many consumers now choosing to shop online when they are on the move. This is reflected in massive growth in mobile internet access.

So, if you are a savvy shopper making the move to ecommerce? What bargain-hunting tips should you be aware of? Tip number one is to do your research and find out about best brands and specialist retailers. For example, if you are looking for plus-size items, you may want to check out the offerings of established retailers such as http://www.jacamo.co.uk/. Your next step is to compare prices for any item you are looking for across your favourite sites.

When you’ve chosen an item you will want to carry out a few tasks before you head for checkout. Firstly, if you are a new customer check if there are any introductory offers such as a free gift, percentage off your order, or free delivery. If you are a returning shopper or there is no offer, take time to Google the brand name and words such as ‘discount’ or ‘voucher’ and you may just be rewarded with a code to gain some money point. For more shopping tips, see: here.

When it comes to bagging some of the best savings, shopping online is perhaps your best bet as it allows you to compare product features and prices. This means that it is much easier to track down specific items you have in mind, browse at your own leisure, or simply check out some of the best deals out there. In addition, there is now a number of women’s fashion websites that cater to gals of all shapes and sizes, such as http://www.simplyyours.co.uk/.

Online shopping is a fantastic option for people who struggle to find time to hit the high street to buy their clothes and instead prefer t shop from the comfort of their own home. Some women are put-off by the fact that they can’t ‘try before they buy’ however most online fashion retailers provide their own size guides so you can compare your measurements and find the correct size before you make the purchase. In addition, most sites – though, not all – allow you to return the purchased product if you are dissatisfied; therefore it is important to check the return policy before buying.

Finally, why not use an online guide to plus-size clothing before you go ahead with your online shop and make yourself a list of flattering items for you to bear in mind as you go.

Bank holiday weekends are the time for celebration – to let go and enjoy yourself, making the most of your extended time off work. Of course it makes sense to make the most of the occasion and dress to impress. Even those who are tightening their belts can invest in a bank holiday party outfit on a budget. Shopping online – at women’s retailers http://www.simplybe.co.uk, for example – is one of the best ways to find an affordable outfit that is exactly what you’re looking for. This method gives you the tools to compare product features and prices, which makes the whole process much easier.

Before you start looking for your bank holiday party outfit, think carefully about the items you can realistically buy given your budget and stick to these guidelines. In addition, this will also help you plan your general spending over the bank holiday weekend – remember that the less you spend on affordable yet attractive outfit, the more cash you will have left to spend on enjoying yourself. Also, it is important to establish simple things such as your correct size and body shape as failure to do so will act as a barrier to you finding clothing that fits well and makes you look and feel great.

A dramatic head-turning dress and a pair of killer heels, for example, are great investments and can be worn time and time again. Match them with this season’s colourful denim jacket for an effortlessly stylish look which will keep you warm if you are attending an outdoor party and it gets chilly.

People who want to buy a quality photo printer from Misco in the next few months will undoubtedly desire a solid investment that can deliver plenty of savings. Luckily, a number of offerings have been built by Kodak with this exact criterion in mind. Following years of research, the company released its first-ever models – the ESP 3250 and ESP 5250 – in 2009, following an upsurge in demand for cheaper ink costs.

Many people have asserted that the cost of printer ink is nearly equal to that of liquid gold (even in the current market), and it has led many people to buy printers for the ink before discarding the entire piece of kit when ink runs out. Kodak, nonetheless, introduced two all-in-one inkjet printers that yield lab-quality photos and avoid guzzling printer ink. Kodak believes that, if used as much as needed, these models can save up to £80 a year on ink when compared with contemporaries’ offerings.

The ESP 3250 and 5250 are all-in-one printer models and they are able to print, copy, and scan. Designed for home users that want photo printing in lightweight amounts, the ESP 3250 has a 1.5-inch colour LCD screen while the ESP 5250 delivers Wi-Fi connectivity and a much bigger 2.4-inch colour LCD. People who want print-offs without the use of a PC can also rest easy – there are slots for memory cards to give pictures at the touch of a button.

Ready-made blinds are generally regarded as the cheaper options when it comes to window dressing, although buying them off-the-shelf can mean you have to make significant sacrifices on fabric, print or size. For the ambitious DIY enthusiast, it maybe be possible to customise ready-made blinds if you are confident, but if this goes wrong you will forgo any savings you made my choosing this option in the first place.

Made-to-measure blinds are traditionally more expensive, as having something tailor-made to your preferences naturally costs more when it comes to production costs. However, if you head online with your window measurements you can get some good deals from the likes of Direct Blinds and have them delivered to your door, making it an even more convenient option than heading to the shops. With a large range of fabrics and colours to choose from you won’t have to compromise and you should be able to find blinds quickly that meet all of your requirements.

As well as looking more professional, blinds that are made to fit your window could have extra benefits too such as preventing drafts and netting you potential energy-savings. For details on how to install your own blinds, see: http://www.addicted2decorating.com/how-to-install-a-blind-or-curtain-pole.html

A number of us aspire to the fame and fortune of Hollywood celebrities – and the impressive homes that go hand-in-hand with the lifestyles of these stars. This may seem like a world away to many homeowners; however with some simple tricks, you can bring A-List chic to your own bathroom. With the help of affordable and stylish design from bathroom specialists, such as Best Bathrooms, this can even be achieved on a budget.

Despite recent reports revealing that there is an abundance of celebrity homes on the market, most of us don’t have the riches to bag ourselves one of these ‘hot’ properties. But all is not lost – there are some fantastic ways to create a luxury bathroom on a budget. All you need is enthusiasm, a practical approach and creativity.

Before beginning any work on your wet room, take a step back and identify any features of the room that could potentially be left as they are with a bit of tweaking. For example, rather than replacing the entire bath, shower or sink, why not just add a new shower head and faucets to existing ones – you will be amazed at the difference this can make. Carefully-chosen lighting also adds perceived value and gloss to a bathroom – think dimmer lights to create ambience and targeted lighting for specific areas of use (the sink, for example).

Most importantly, set yourself a realistic budget and stick to it, making improvements to your bathroom within these guidelines.

When you’re saving up for something important like a new leather bed from Time4Sleep, you often think that food is the last thing that you’d cut back on. However, the amount of money you could save on this basic human necessity may be particularly surprising – have a look at these tips to save money!

1) Cut down on food waste
Consider buying foods with a longer shelf life – sometimes, you can find yourself throwing the same things out. Buy smaller loaves of bread, cartons of milk and other perishables you don’t usually get all the way through. You’ll save money in the process.

2) Shop at a market, not a supermarket
While a supermarket can deliver real savings on certain products, a lot of its value comes from convenience – not cost savings. Support your local community by shopping at a local market; the cost of meat, vegetables and fruit is much lower and the products you get can be of a much higher standard.

3) Make a shopping list
Write down what you need – this way you can stop just buying what you want. It gives you a strong set of guidelines to follow.

4) Never shop on an empty stomach
The best thing a person can do before shopping is eat. Even if it’s just a snack, it could stop you buying a lot of impulse purchases to quell your hunger there and then.

To find other ways to save money, look at these top tips: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1591904/50-ways-save-money-.html You may realise just how much you can save!

It is easy to get the ‘festival look’ for less when you know how. We see a number of celebrities who frequent these events across the world who simply ooze festival chic, such as style icon Kate Moss and festival queen Sienna Miller. However, with some simple tips you too can achieve this effortlessly stylish look with clothing from fashion websites such as Accent Clothing.

The key to a good festival wardrobe is to invest in essential items that are both practical and bang-on-trend. Furthermore, clothing that you can mix-and-match will make you significant money savings and keep the contents of your festival backpack to a minimum. This clothing should include water-proof pieces and garments that can be layered if the weather gets wet and cold. The weather for UK festivals especially is incredibly unpredictable so it is important to equip yourself with a wardrobe suitable for all the elements.

Wellies, knits and jackets are a must, while key accessories such as oversized hats and vintage bags are great for putting your own stamp on the look. Acid brights and jewel-inspired hues are huge this season, including juicy tangerines and oranges and vibrant purples, blues and greens. Seventies retro pieces were also popular on the catwalks – think cut-off denim shorts, bohemian dresses and florals. Don’t be afraid to go wild with these trends and wear them with attitude.

The credit crunch has led to many Brits with debt tightening their belts in an attempt to get back on top of their finances, but some have struggled to do so and have found themselves falling further and further into debt. You may be one of these people or alternatively you may have lost your job or taken a cut in your income, which has left you in a difficult and stressful predicament. If you are looking for solutions to your debt, although not always desirable, selling your home could release your equity and help you get your finances in order.

Recent figures have shown that demand for housing during these times of austerity remains low and as a result, so have property prices. Meanwhile, a tighter mortgage criteria for prospective buyers fuels this low demand for property and means that securing that all-important sale on the open market is increasingly difficult.

If you are in need of a swift property sale, you may decide not to sell on the open market and instead turn to a property buyer to take your home off your hands. Property buyers, such as Gateway Homes, allow you to sell your house quickly, to suit your timescale. Meanwhile, they can offer you a guaranteed sale no matter what state or location your property is in.

If you are facing financial hardship, property buyers can help you release the equity tied up in your home quickly. In addition, some property buyers don’t charge any fees whatsoever, including valuation or legal costs. As a result you get much-needed cash, fast, which can be used to get yourself back on your feet.

Many modern men and sartorialists believe it is important to look good by the pool or at the beach. A huge part of looking great is feeling great, so you must make sure that the swimwear you choose is not only comfortable but also stylish enough to make you feel like a Greek God.

If you are addicted to designer menswear but worried about having to tighten your belt to stretch your money further over the expensive summer months, there is an answer. Here are our simple tips to help you find great swimwear from designer labels without breaking the bank:

Shop online 

Surfing the world wide web to make your summer purchases is not only an increasingly convenient way to do your shopping, but you can also make some huge savings on designer swimwear. Online shopping is particularly handy if need to target specific designer menswear and allows you to compare products and prices – ensuring that you get the best for your money. Websites such as Accent Clothing offer a range of designer menswear, designer womenswear and designer children’s clothing at affordable prices. They boast designer clothing from brands such as Belstaff, Lyle & Scott, Nudie, Luke 1977, G-Star and Replay.

Buy long-lasting, quality swimwear

Before you begin your search, be sure to have a good idea of the type of swimwear you prefer but also what is likely to suit your figure. Men’s swimwear comes in a range of styles such as fitted shorts, long shorts and swim trunks, and they continue to range in quality and price. Though it might seem sensible to buy cheap swimwear if you are trying to keep your shopping spree on the cheap, this can be false economy. Investing slightly more money in better quality designer swimwear can mean that you save money on replacement swimwear in the long-run.

Use and abuse the sales

Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for end-of-season sales to grab yourself a designer bargain. It is also useful to follow your favourite designer brands on Twitter and Facebook as some labels announce flash sales on these social networking sites to encourage social media interaction from their devoted customers. 

A much smaller amount of the public payroll is spent on interim management in the UK, according to the latest research. A recent study into figures presented by the government was carried out by Ipsos MORI. The organisation, which investigated the figures in its trademark unbiased way on behalf of the Interim Management Association, revealed that these short-term executives cost the public sector less than £290 million a year, forming a tiny part of the £20.5 billion currently dedicated to the government’s payroll.

The recruitment of such senior managers and executives underline how the government, while criticised for this solution, spends much more money on consultants. For example, Whitehall currently invests £997 million into consultancy roles each and every year, equating to around five per cent of the public sector payroll. This, in effect, is a 247 per cent mark-up on interim costs.

While interim managers may occasionally get overpaid by the government, who may feel forced into the solution in a clutch situation that requires quick action, this problem could yet be fixed by benchmarking pay rates with greater care prior to hiring interim management experts. Daily rates of interims in the public sector continue to be two per cent lower than in the private sector, standing at £743 a day.

These posts are usually created in the public sector as interim managers can quickly become familiar with their temporary employer, while displaying high levels of management skills and a proven track record of problem solving and the implementation of targeted solutions. Whether it’s saving money, managing a project or ensuring that a transition between an old system to a new one runs smoothly, interim positions have been particularly helpful in certain situations regarding public sector performance in light of the new government’s restructuring initiative.

A great example of an interim management company can be found at http://www.interimpartners.com/.

We are set for a year of art appreciation, or so the rising number of British art investors are hoping. According to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Rics), the price of contemporary art rose in the first three months of the year, boosted by individuals looking for alternative forms of investment.

A recent arts and antiques survey undertaken by the group indicates that prices of all forms of art have seen a rise over the last quarter, the ninth successive quarter in a row when this has occurred. Surveyors now anticipate this trend will continue alongside low interest rates – which are shifting savers to explore other ways of growing their cash. The silver and jewellery markets performed particularly well, with 64 per cent and 46 per cent of respondents indicating they had seen increases in prices within these categories.

John Anderson of Rics said: “With sale prices increasing for works of all value brackets, it would appear that buyers are looking to contemporary works both for their investment potential and their aesthetic appeal.

“This positivity is reflected right across the art and antiques sector, with all areas experiencing rising sales prices. The more traditional items, such as precious metals and jewellery, are still the preferred lots but the growing demand for quality pieces is particularly noticeable in the salesrooms and this looks set to continue.”

Modern underfloor heating systems are fantastic additions to any bathroom in the home. With low operating costs, a fractional impact on the environment as well as the ability to maintain a pleasant home temperature, these systems are a huge success with many homeowners.

In ways similar to Roman architecture at the turn of the millennium, underfloor heating exists from a network of small pipes that run hot air or water from a central source and transfer heat from the central boiler directly into the floor. Many are also electric, such as those from http://www.bestbathrooms.com, avoiding costly gas bills and making installation much easier.

They keep the floor warm and ensure even distribution of heat. On top of this, it has been confirmed that the body is much more comfortable with hot feet and cooler air at face height instead of radiated heat from a concentrated point, such as a traditional radiator. You could find yourself with a much more relaxed bathroom as a result.

The aforementioned bonus of the reduced energy requirement of underfloor heating systems means that you will save on heating bills, as well as dreaded CO2 emissions, given that the hot water used in the system does not need to be too warm to really get a room comfortable – around 25 to 28 degrees C tends to do the trick.

As a result, a good plumber and great system should result in bill savings of between 15 and 40 per cent on heating bills for the bathroom, or the whole house if you roll it out in every area of your home. For the best and most eco-friendly offering, underfloor heating systems work well with ground source heat pumps, which are well-known for their environmental credentials.

Of course, the visual benefit is a great point too – no more radiators and a little more floor space! You won’t believe how good they can be, so be sure to have a look into underfloor heating soon.

While things aren’t looking too rosy for the beer industry, better things are sure to follow, analysts believe. During April, it was discovered that beer sales fell by 3.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010. This is according to the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), which explained in its latest UK Quarterly Beer Barometer that pub and retail beer sales both experienced falls.

However, it was keen to point out that a decline of sales in pubs has slowed down and effectively showed the lowest first-quarter decline since 2005; back in 2010, there had been a near-nine per cent fall during the same period.

Better news is likely ahead for the industry, however. Although the BBPA noted that the Budget’s tax hike of 7.2 per cent was yet to filter through, a good bout of weather over Easter combined with an extended bank holiday season could aid the second quarter as people look to get outdoors and go to the pub, even raising a glass to the royals as the wedding gives many a cause (or excuse) to celebrate.

BBPA chief executive Brigid Simmonds said: “Taken together, the fall in sales, and the impact of the Budget shows sales in the sector are still fragile. However, the on-trade’s performance relative to the off-trade has improved – and quarter two will be helped by the bank holiday bonanza and the good weather. While it’s a pity that any recovery will be undermined by the huge tax hike, we still must make the most of the bank holiday season and enjoy a celebratory beer or two in the nation’s pubs in the coming days.”

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/royal-wedding/article-23944646-cheers-kate-royal-wedding-boom-for-beer-sales.do

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iROVyWJm4LswoPIPWneyYfHOqUJQ?docId=N0123651303819409131A

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-26/britons-bought-60-2-million-fewer-beer-pints-in-first-quarter.html

Consumers could be facing further rises to their gas bills if investment is slashed by the government for Britain’s natural gas fields. The Independent explained that an “increasingly bitter dispute” between gas producers and the Treasury regarding a tax rise has caused a problematic situation that could hit businesses and their customers hard.

Speaking to the newspaper, Oil & Gas UK noted there to be a 12 per cent rise in duty paid on oil and gas production. This was recently imposed by chancellor George Osborne in his Budget during March, though this has had a “chilling effect on the willingness of the industry to invest”. Centrica, the owner of British Gas, revealed that it might even shut down its gas production at one of its largest fields because the tax rise meant that 81 per cent of any profits would go straight to the Treasury, meaning its profitability would simply become “marginal”. It added that it was starting to realise that buying imported gas on the open market could be even cheaper than running a UK facility.

Economics director of UK Oil & Gas Mike Tholen said: “Gas produced in Britain is one of the cheapest supply sources for the UK by virtue of its proximity. If those sources are going to be less productive and there is less investment to renew those supplies then it makes this cheaper gas less available. Consumers will then pay more.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/osbornes-tax-on-gas-fields-will-mean-price-rises-for-consumers-2278059.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/8486826/Tax-hike-may-mean-Centrica-gas-field-stays-shut.html

If the Duchess of Cambridge’s strikingly stylish appearance on her wedding day didn’t confirm that us Brits excel in the style stakes, the results of a new survey will.

Glamour’s ninth annual best-dressed woman list has not only named a young Brit as the best-dressed woman in the world, but also features two other Brits in the top five. Right at the top is 21 year-old Emma Watson, famed for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films has firmly established herself as an icon in the making. Following a stint modelling for British designer brand Burberry, the young starlet is now rumoured to have signed to become the new face of cosmetics brand Lancome.

Ms Watson pushed last year’s winner Cheryl Cole into the number two slot, an impressive position nonetheless considering the Geordie singer’s traumatic year. Other members of the top five include American actress Kristen Stewart, Cheryl Cole’s fellow X Factor judge Danni Minogue, and Brit model and TV presenter Alexa Chung.

Model Kate Moss also featured in the top ten at position seven, although in former years she would of course have been expected to be further up the chain. Her lower position is perhaps more of a credit to the excellent dressing of emerging fashionistas such as Watson and Chung than it is a comment on her own ever-stylish appearance.

It wasn’t all good news for the British ladies however, somewhat predictably reality TV star and former Glamour model was named worst-dressed woman.

Never shy of expressing himself through the clothes he wears as well as the music he sings, outspoken rapper Kanye West, 33, is set to launch his own line of neck wear. The scarf collection which is set to be released on Monday is a collaborative venture with French design partnership M/M (Paris).

The five limited-edition designs are based on artwork created by George Condo for the cover of Kanye’s album ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantast’. The original cover design which featured a nude portrait of the rapper with a female beast was apparently deemed too racy for the shelves but is now to feature on a silk scarf instead. The other images created by the same team are titled Power, Phoenix, Face, Priest and Ballerina. Only one hundred of each design will be produced and sold exclusively online.

A press release discussing the project states: “During the creative process, M/M (Paris) created a series of hand drawn ornamented frames to adorn the Condo paintings.

“The design team decided to use the most striking combinations of the paintings and the frames, and transform them into silk scarves.”

The M/M (Paris) team has worked with many other musicians in the past, including whacky Icelander Bjork and Madonna. This is not the first time they have dipped their creative toes into fashion waters either having created a line of trainers for Louis Vuitton in the past and worked on the Air Yeezy sports shoe with Nike.

The average spending power of families in the UK has decreased by £10 per week compared to the same month last year according to supermarket Asda’s income tracker.

Although this sounds like depressing news, this marks an improvement on the falling spending power of household budgets over the past 14 months. According to the figures the average UK household had £172 a week of discretionary income in March 2011, 5.6 per cent lower than a year earlier.

This figure is estimated by measuring incomes against food inflation. Gross income in Match was largely unchanged from the previous month at 2.2 per cent, whereas inflation in the same month fell from 4.4 per cent to four per cent. One factor which contributed to this fall was the lower price of food – which has gone some way to making the weekly budget stretch further. Fruit, bread and cereal prices fell by 4.7 per cent and 2.6 per cent respectively. However, transport costs remained high in March and are likely to continue to squeeze family budgets throughout the year.

Charles Davis, managing economist, Cebr said: “Falling food prices took away some of the pressure on household finances in March – though the rising cost of petrol and transport continues to place downward pressure on discretionary income.

“The latest labour market data shows a fall in unemployment. However, annual earnings growth remains subdued, standing at about half the rate of consumer price inflation. Unless household pay packets grow more strongly over the coming months, the Asda Income Tracker is likely to remain weak throughout much of 2011”

Alcohol has always been associated with a number of negative health issues, but it has recently been conclusively linked to another. A study, co-funded by Cancer Research UK, discovered that it causes around 13,000 cases of cancer a year in Britain. The European study was published in the British Medical Journal and backs past research projects on the topic.

It was found to cause around 9,000 deaths with men and nearly 4,000 with women. The researchers concluded that most cases were caused by people drinking much more than daily limits for alcohol. However, it was warned that even drinking small amounts was seen as a risk for some cancers developing.

The study looked at incidences of cancer in over 350,000 Europeans between 1992 and 2000; people from the UK, France, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Spain, Germany and Denmark were surveyed about their alcohol consumption. In cases of cancer linked to the drug, around 6,000 affected the mouth, food pipe and voice box, while 3,000 bowel cancers and 2,500 breast cancers were also directly paired with drinking alcohol.

Cancer Research UK epidemiologist Naomi Allen, who is based at Oxford University, said: “This research supports existing evidence that alcohol causes cancer and that the risk increases even with drinking moderate amounts. The results from this study reflect the impact of people’s drinking habits about ten years ago. People are drinking even more now than then and this could lead to more people developing cancer because of alcohol in the future.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8435026/Alcohol-causes-13000-cancer-cases-a-year.html

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/apr/08/alcohol-cancer-uk

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1374672/Alcohol-causes-cancer-drink-safe-amount.html

A new study has shown that an artificial pancreas can help prevent hypoglycaemia happening when glucose levels fall too low for people facing type 1 diabetes. Researchers at the University of Cambridge were funded by Diabetes UK to monitor how well artificial pancreases worked for a men and women between the ages of 18 and 65 who used the contraption for at least three months.

The artificial pancreas works by providing a closed-loop insulin delivery system automatically, regulate levels of blood glucose in the body and therefore manage diabetes. Insulin is released when there are high levels of glucose, stopping it if things are fine. It was found that maintaining blood glucose levels in a safe range led to a 22 per cent improvement and effectively halving time spent with low blood glucose levels.

Researcher Roman Hovorka, who led the study, said that hypoglycaemia remains to be a major challenge – particularly at night – so it is “encouraging to see such promising results” when using simple, commercially-available devices.

Director of research at Diabetes UK Iain Frame said: “The improvements in glucose control overnight using this new technology are impressive and it is good to see this work develop with the addition of testing the effects following a meal with some wine. We now need to see an extension of this study, one which tests larger numbers of people, and then take it out of the hospital and in to the home setting.”

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/news/2011/Apr/artificial-pancreas-to-help-diabetics-prevent-hypoglycaemia-98240735.html

http://www.webmd.boots.com/diabetes/news/20110414/artificial-pancreas-for-adults-with-type-1-diabetes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/apr/14/diabetics-artificial-pancreas-home-trial

Style is not just limited to colours when it comes to a summer; you must consider the ambience, smells, warmth and associated emotions if you are going to reflect the happiness of the season to pervade the home through a well thought-out interior design. Luckily, it may not cost that much money to pull off.

Firstly, it is always advisable to use fresh cut flowers to brighten the room. The likes of daisies are always well-placed in a summery room, and a simple vase in the kitchen or living room could easily bring the sunshine indoors. Underneath the likes of vases, people should consider opting for tablecloths that reflect cooler pastel shades. The flowery centrepiece can be matched with decorative candle lanterns.

Rooms reflecting this design style should be stripped down to the bare essentials; get in the mindset that less is better in the summer. To carry over this more minimalist look, people may want to buy inexpensive white slipcovers for the living room’s soft furnishings; the brightness equates to a more open and relaxing feel, particularly in the lighter late nights.

Finally, if you want to get new blinds, ensure they are less formal and combine with breezy curtains to give that wonderful relaxed feel to the room. If you have windows that get the lion’s share of morning sunshine, get UV blinds to help retain colour in carpets and furnishings, avoiding the possibility of bleaching.

http://EzineArticles.com/6249740

If your little one is an outdoors sort who struggles over winter when they are trapped indoors, why not bring a little of the outside inside for them to enjoy? Creating a garden themed bedroom is cheap and easy and will give them a fun and attractive space to play in all year round.

A garden or meadow themed bedroom is a particularly good theme for a little girl’s room  as there are so many sets of floral bedding available. Dressing your child’s bed in a pretty flower print duvet and pillows will make their sleeping area look like a flower bed if you set it against a green carpet and light blue walls. You may want to paint a mural on one of the walls with clouds and a sunshine and birds and flowers, but you can also bring these into the room physically. Look out for mobiles featuring birds, bees and butterflies and invest in large pots with fake plants and flowers (ensuring they are suitable for the age of the child of course).

To allow plenty of light into the room opt for a colourful blind or bright nets and consider installing a window box, again painted with plants and flowers. Storage boxes can also be decorated to look like part of the scenery with flowers, grass and rocks on the side. Finish off the room with a fun play area featuring an empty paddling pool which you can fill with pretty coloured paper fishes.

Selling a home can be a drawn-out and stressful experience, but here is a simple guide to the selling process to ensure that yours runs as smoothly as possible:

Choose your estate agent or property buyer

An estate agent will work on your behalf to secure the sale of your home. They work on commission, which means you share a mutually beneficial relationship, and it is their best interest to achieve the highest price for your property within a reasonable time frame, as it is you. However, these perks come at a fee, which can be between 1.5 per cent and 4 per cent of the sale price. An alternative to the estate agent route is using a property buyer, which involves a fee but can guarantee a swift and hassle-free sale.

Finding an offer you are happy with

When you have been made an offer on your property that you’re happy with, a draft contract is drawn up and your property will be surveyed to check for any additional work that needs to be done before the contract is finalised and confirmed.

Finalising the sale

If the survey is returned with work to be done, the buyer may want to renegotiate the offer – if this isn’t successfully renegotiated, you are legally permitted to withdraw from the offer and start the process again. On the other hand, if the survey returns with no work to be done, and both you and buyer are happy with the offer, you will be in a position to complete the sale where contracts are exchanged and a deposit is paid.

If you choose to sell your home, property buyers offer a good alternative to the common estate agent route. Buyers can guarantee a swift, hassle-free sale and are particularly useful in the event of:

• a death or divorce

• property inheritance

• needing to generate cash to prevent repossession

• struggling to repay your debts

• needing to relocate for a new job

• spotting that perfect home-of-a-lifetime, where you need to make an offer, fast

The main draw to using a property buyer is that it can guarantee and simple and fast sale, however another attraction is that you can save money on estate agent fees. These fees usually range from 1.5 per cent of the sale price to four per cent, which means you can make a substantial saving.

Buyers do however charge a fee – most pay between 70 to 75 per cent of the sale price. In addition, depending on the buyer, there might be additional costs. For example, many of the large, national homebuyers insist you pay for a surveyor’s valuation, which can range from £200 to £600. However, others will offer a free valuation and boast no fees or hidden costs for you to pay at any stage. When a value for your property has been established, a property buyer usually makes you an offer 24 hours later.

It is important to remember that not all property buyers are reputable and trustworthy, so it is wise to research different ones to ensure you find the best for you.

Holidaymakers will be looking to overcome the recession by cutting back on spending during the summer, as a new study has discovered that many will turn into so-called “Tupperware tourists”. The new poll from Experian discovered that one-quarter of Middle British households will take packed lunches on holiday trips instead of visiting restaurants or buying ready-made sandwiches.

However, there are other similar routes of cutting costs and corners in the warmer months, the organisation explained. Many plan, for example, to ­take fewer excursions; fewer souvenirs will be invested in by travellers; also, camping will become a mainstay for many, avoiding the potential expense of staying in a hotel.

Experian spoke to 2,000 people and the company classed the new groups as “Tupperware tourists, memento misers and tented travellers”, pushing out a whole new raft of buzzwords for people to class themselves as. Nonetheless, many won’t even be able to call themselves anything; a large proportion of people said they were not going on holiday at all, while 28 per cent of those going will stay in Britain. Brighton, Devon and Blackpool were named as the top destinations.

Experian UK and Ireland marketing infor­mation services managing director Nigel Wilson said of the analysis: “Our latest analysis sends a clear message to the travel industry, and brands as a whole, that Middle Britain’s modern consumers will be more demanding than ever before and want more for their hard-earned cash.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1375683/Why-turning-Tupperware-tourists-Holidaymakers-packing-lunches-save-costs.html

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/239967/Lunch-on-a-budget-for-the-Tupperware-touristsLunch-on-a-budget-for-the-Tupperware-tourists#ixzz1JIwcF9XQ

Easter Island is like no other in the Pacific Ocean. The Polynesian island, off the coast of Chile and found at the south-eastern most point of the Polynesian triangle, has been a special territory of Chile since 1888 and is most famous for its 887 monumental statues known as moai. These were created by early Rapanui people and, rather unsurprisingly, this led to UNESCO naming it a World Heritage Site.

Mostly sitting in the Rapa Nui National Park, the monolithic statues are based on humans. While many people often identify the shapes as “Easter Island heads”, statues are actually complete torsos and display the figures kneeling on bent knees with hands over their stomachs. However, many people may not know this, as many photos show moai that have been buried up to their necks by shifting soil.

Many are placed on stone platforms, known as ahu, and these statues mostly look inland. On top of that, they can look pretty menacing; the inhabitants of the island fitted them with eyes made from coral, with obsidian or red scoria irises. Some are even fitted with hats, called pukao, in a process that must have been an amazing feat of skill.

However, the heads are not the only thing that continues to open the eyes of visitors to Easter Island. Inhabitants of the island have gone through civil war, famines, various epidemics, slave raids, deforestation and colonialism, forcing the numbers of people living there to drop many times.

For more information on Easter Island, click here: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/715

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