Lifestyle

With all this going out and meeting up with friends, it’s no surprise if you feel you might have overspent a bit this month. So keep the good times going by cutting back on other areas where you’re overspending. Or keep track of your cashflow with a handy smartphone app like Yolt or Emma. Read on for more savvy money-saving hacks . Wait until the end of the week for deals Online retailers roll out some of their best deals on Wednesday through Friday according to studies, so waiting to do your shopping during this period can be a great way to grab a bargain. Break the habit and cut costs People who give up smoking can save more than just the cost of cigarettes or other tobacco products — you could save thousands on life insurance premiums. According to an analysis of premiums by insurer Royal London , a smoker aged 50 would pay nearly three times as much as a non-smoker of the same age would have to pay for the same sum assured — £94.07 a month instead …

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Young adults are not prioritising their pensions when it comes to saving – which could be putting their futures at risk, according to a new report. Brits aged 18-40 are investing their hard-earned cash in dream holidays, material goods and property, rather than using it to save for a pension, according to the latest data from money.co.uk . The report, which analyses the different money priorities for each generation, has revealed that only Gen X savers (aged 41-56) view pension plans as one of their top three financial priorities. Despite being the biggest savers, Brits falling into the Gen Z category (18-24), say their biggest financial priority is saving for a home, followed by money to spend on material goods, and saving for a dream holiday. When it comes to Millennials, holidays are the single biggest priority, with almost 40% of 25-40-year-olds saying it was their primary financial focus, followed by money for material goods and saving for a home. According …

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The marriage of sweet and salty flavours is a beautiful thing. Just look at half and half popcorn, bacon and maple syrup and salted caramel. But now one London food festival is taking the union to a new level, with a drink that’s bound to turn heads. A French fry milkshake will be on offer at the E20 Street Food Market on Saturday 31 July, from 12pm to 6pm. The salty and sweet concoction will be made up of vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, cream, a dash of salt and potatoes – and is set to come with chocolate-coated French fries for dipping. Those unsure if they want to spend money on the unusual drink needn’t fret, as there will be 250 free milkshakes up for grabs throughout the day. Alternatively, if the creation simply isn’t your thing, there will be other treats to get stuck into. Elsewhere, 15 other stalls will offer a mix of Sri Lankan, Thai, Lebanese and Italian cuisine, alongside a truck with fast food favourites and sweet treats – including pizza, …

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Freedom Day may have been a damp squib for those who need to self isolate, but there is already evidence that those who are able to go out are willing to spend, spend, spend. Figures from Lloyds Bank show that recreational spending jumped by a fifth on July 19 – while analysis from Nationwide Building Society shows that even moving to Step Three of lockdown easing led to markedly higher spending. We spent 60% more last quarter than in January to March on ‘non-essential’ activities such as eating out, buying clothes and holidays. Mark Nalder, Nationwide’s head of payments, says he expects our purse strings to continue to loosen. ‘The feeling of a brighter future is perhaps acting as a catalyst for wider increased spending,’ he explains. But while many of us are enjoying using our lockdown savings to enhance our day-to-day lives, experts are urging us not to abandon the good saving and investing habits we have built up during lockdown. ‘While we all deserve to treat …

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Powders have been slowly taking a step back in the world of beauty as cream-based products have moved into the spotlight . These creamy consistencies blend beautifully into skin and often leave a more natural look than their drier counterparts – which can sometimes give a flat matte appearance. If you’re looking to dip your toe in the cream beauty trend, but don’t want to waste any of the products that are already sitting in your makeup bag, a viral TikTok hack has come to the rescue. A video posted by Stephanie Valentine, also known as Glamzilla , shows how you can make your own cream bronzer at home with a powder version. All you need is something that’s likely to be in your makeup collection already: a setting spray. In terms of technique, simply spritz the setting spray onto your bronzer, swirl your brush in it and then apply to the face. Stephanie first shared the hack in an ad for Urban Decay’s All Night Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray – but since …

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In a bid to cash in on the success of its food halls, Marks & Spencer has launched an online shopping service that allows customers to order food and have it delivered to their home within an hour. For now, the store has launched trials in London and Woodley, near Reading. The first is based at its Camden store in north London and offers home delivery within one and two-hour slots within a three mile radius. With a minimum order of £10, shoppers can purchase a range of ready meals including Thai green curry and pizzas to be delivered within an hour, but if they wish to add groceries to their baskets, the delivery time extends to two hours. Recommended UberEATS app will not be affected by the Uber London taxi ban Currently, the Reading store offers a collection-only service with a two-hour turnaround. While Marks & Spencer has been resisting calls to launch a delivery service for some time, the fact that the UK’s online food market is expected …

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An Amazon delivery driver’s reaction to a customer’s gift has gone viral after his excitement was captured on camera. Each year, Kathy Ouma, from Middletown, Delaware, leaves snacks and water outside of her home during the holiday season for the workers who deliver packages with a note that reads: “Please take some goodies to enjoy on your route. Thank you for making holiday shopping easy.” This year, Ouma’s doorbell camera captured the moment when an Amazon employee later identified as Karim Earl Reed III arrived to find the treats and couldn’t contain his joy. In the video, which Ouma shared to Facebook with the caption: "This made my day," Reed walks up to the doorstep and exclaims: “Oh, this is nice! Ah, they got some goodies! Wow! Oh, this is sweet! Oh, wow, get out of here! This is sweet, this is so nice!” After stocking up on snacks, Reed goes to leave, but not before doing a short dance out of happiness. The video of Reed’s response to the …

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Since being placed under lockdown on Monday 23 March, many people in the UK have had to acclimatise to spending the majority of their days cooped up in their homes. Adapting to this temporary way of life has meant having to give up most of our everyday activities, such as going to the pub, hanging out with friends and going shopping. While online shopping is already a significant aspect of our lives, it has gained increasing importance during the coronavirus pandemic, with many people relying on online deliveries for their groceries, household essentials and luxury items such as new clothes. But, considering how much we have yet to learn about Covid-19 , some have questioned whether it is safe to receive packages at your home. So is it safe to accept deliveries at your front door? Recommended When can we really expect coronavirus to end? Everything you need to know on supermarket delivery slots The dirty truth about …

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Royal Mail postal worker s can now collect parcel s from your doorstep for the first time. From Wednesday 21 October, people will be able to send parcels without the need to leave the house as part of a new service called Parcel Collect. Customers will be asked to pay a fee of 72p on top of standard postage costs for every parcel they send, while pre-paid return items will cost 60p each. Recommended Zoe Sugg and Maisie Williams launch period bags to help tackle stigma Postal workers can collect up to five items per customer per day, every day apart from Sundays. Package s must be no bigger than 61cm x 46cm x 46cm in volume and 20kg in weight. In order to use the service, customers will need to visit the Royal Mail website here or use the Royal Mail app and opt for 'Parcel Collect'. They will then be able to work out the correct cost of postage for their item and print out a pre-paid label. Items will be collected from the door or a safe …

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One last paddle stroke and we let the current carry our canoe around a leafy bend and down the River Tay. Gnawed willow trees, stripped of their bark, hint at the local residents. We’re on a beaver canoe safari in Aberfeldy, in Highland Perthshire, and our guide Danièle has told us to be particularly quiet on the next section of river. Beaver-spotting is a silent sport. We had actually seen our first beavers of the trip the day before, 35 miles east at Bamff Wildland , where we’re staying in a cosy yurt – log-stove, fairy lights and all – on the grounds of the estate, which is still home to a 16th-century castle (from £72pn). When the owners, Paul and Louise Ramsay, first brought beavers over from Europe to Bamff 20 years ago, their pioneering rewilding project was the first of its kind in the UK. Beavers were hunted to extinction in Scotland around 400 years ago. They have since been widely reintroduced across Europe, considered keystone species by ecologists …

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