Last year, online sales on Black Friday skyrocketed, and an increase of 46 per cent in online sales was reported, as shoppers snapped up more bargains online than ever before.
Traditionally, retailers begin advertising and offering their products at reduced rates between the Monday and Thursday building up to Black Friday, but when is the huge shopping day in the UK this year?
When is Black Friday 2019 in the UK?
Black Friday in the UK falls on Friday 29 November this year.
Brands such as Argos, John Lewis and Currys have already started teasing their deals for this year and Amazon, who have just released their Christmas advert and certainly don’t hold back when it comes to Black Friday, have announced that 2019’s Black Friday promotion will now stretch to an incredible eight days of sales this year.
Traditionally, Black Friday discounts come to a close at 11.59pm on the day itself, or when the discounted stock runs out, but many big brands now extend their deals over the weekend and in most cases into the Monday of the following week.
The Monday after Black Friday is now known as Cyber Monday, which this year will fall on December 2. It was given the name Cyber Monday because originally it was the online shopping equivalent of Black Friday (although most people shop online on both days now).
Black Friday originated in America as the notorious shopping day after Thanksgiving when people would descend on stores at the end of November to start Christmas shopping.
Now a phenomenon over in the UK too, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are as much about bagging a bargain for yourself as they are about getting the Christmas shopping started.
Wrap up warm and use heating sparingly – the planet will thank you (Picture: Getty)
With November in full swing, the days are not only darker but colder, too – but turning the heating up not only costs your bank balance, it costs the planet, too.
So how can we make eco-friendly choices this winter without freezing our toes off?
There are a number of simple swaps and reductions which can add up to make a real difference – from using less heating to making sustainable clothes choices.
Here are some of the best ways to go green during the chillier months.
Recycle your old winter wardrobe
When winter comes around, many of us are guilty of splashing out on new pieces – be it a winter coat, cosy knitwear or new outfits for Christmas party season.
But one of the easiest ways to help the planet is to resist these urges.
The fashion industry – particularly fast fashion – has come under fire over recent years for the efforts that go into making a garment, such as the sourcing of raw materials, manufacturing, production, transport, washing and disposal. Many of these production methods are harmful to the planet.
Senior lecturer and environmental campaigner Dr Christian Dunn tells Metro.co.uk: ‘The simplest way to keep warm, dry and eco-friendly this winter is to use what you’ve got, borrow what you can and buy second-hand anything else.
‘Avoid the urge and modern compulsion to just buy everything you think you need brand new. The easiest way to be eco-friendly is simply not to waste, and this means clothes too.
‘Look again at your old jacket – can it be mended instead of being thrown away? Could you borrow a pair of wellies off your friend for an afternoon?’
Re-styling old pieces, taking part in clothes swaps and borrowing from friends are all simple yet effective ways of doing your bit for the environment.
Think twice about fashion choices
Think twice before updating your winter wardrobe (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Dr Christian says: ‘Many modern fabrics can release thousands of microplastic fragments. There can even be issues with the environmental impacts of natural materials; like cotton and wool.’
Tights are a staple for most women over the colder months but their disposable nature makes them a problematic piece when it comes to being environmentally-friendly.
Not only that, but they’re also made from nylon yarn – a petrol-based product – which is far from natural.
When nylon is produced it releases nitrous oxide into the atmosphere; a greenhouse gas more harmful than CO2.
What’s more, the synthetic makeup of tights means they cannot be recycled – so are likely to end up in a landfill.
Sadly, the bad news doesn’t stop there. When you put your tights into the washing machine they release microplastics into the water.
Brands such as Heist are working hard to create sustainable products. Their new fishnet tights are made of more than 86% of recycled waste, including a sustainable form of nylon. The production method also uses less water and produces less CO2.
Knitwear is another textile which has caused debate over recent years – primarily due to concerns surrounding the treatment of animals.
Dr Christian adds: ‘There are obviously some great ethical and environmentally-aware companies producing fantastic products, too.’
The best way to help the planet is to stay informed. Spend some time looking into where different materials come from and process behind them – rather than just buying products in the moment.
Also think about whether you really need a new piece.
Sustainability consultancy Eco Age say we should be considering the lifespan of clothes when we purchase them. So much so they’ve launched their own #30wears campaign, which encourages shoppers to think about whether they will wear an item 30 times or more.
Use your heating sparingly
Cutting down on heating will help reduce emissions (Picture: Getty)
According to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the average UK home’s carbon footprint has been reduced by 4.7 tonnes of CO2 since 1990.
Which is great news.
However, this needs to be reduced a further 3.6 tonnes by 2030, in order for the UK to stay on track to reach the 80% reduction of emissions by 2050 – which is urgently required to reach climate change targets.
The CCC claims 40% of UK emissions come from households and the biggest part of those come from burning gas for heating and hot water.
Dr Christian says: ‘When it comes to heating your house I’ve no idea how it has become the norm to have houses so hot in winter that you could walk around in shorts and t-shirt?
‘It’s winter – it’s cold; what’s wrong with putting another jumper on in the house? It means you can turn the heating down – saving money and crucially any emissions released producing the power you need.
‘Ultimately, we should all think about using less energy where we can and simply put an extra jumper on in winter.’
Turning the heating on isn’t the only way you can be warm in your own home. Layering up is of course an option, alongside investing in some decent thermals and toasty slippers.
Alternatively, for extra warmth, pop a hot water bottle into your bed before you get in for the night. That way the heat is kept in one place, rather than wasted on the rest of the room or house.
Blankets and throws can also offer warmth.
Make sure your house is reaching its potential
Of course, when bitter Baltic conditions hit the UK, there’s no point catching a chill.
Some colder weather conditions require heating – just make sure it’s as eco-friendly as possible.
Dr Christian adds: ‘There are lots of measures we can take to insulate our homes better, move to renewable sources of power – either through switching energy suppliers or microgeneration on our own properties – and if we’re fortunate enough to be able to act on these then we should.’
Green energy is better for the environment than fossil fuels. This is because it’s generated through renewable, natural energy sources like solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and tidal.
The good news is that despite most people thinking renewable energy suppliers are more expensive than their less eco-friendly counterparts – the truth is, they are not. This may have been the case in the past, but now several companies have brought their prices down to attract customers.
If you’re unable to switch suppliers, alternative household checks can make all the difference.
Seal any cracks or gaps in your house, where cold air cold could be getting in. Also, adding curtains or blinds to windows will add another layer of insulation, preventing any drafts coming in.
Try foraging
Sometimes we forget that nuts, fruit, berries and plants are all around us.
Foraging is a great sustainable way to source food – if it’s carried out responsibly.
Dr Christian says: ‘Once you’ve wrapped yourself-up enough to venture outside, then why not do something eco-friendly like foraging for wild foods? Even now there are plenty of plants, nuts and fungi you can pick to eat; such as sweet chestnuts, chickweed and oyster mushrooms.
‘Fewer things are more eco-friendly than picking your own food to eat – no pesticides, no artificial fertilisers and no food miles.’
However, it’s worth pointing out that foraging has come under criticism for its limitations.
While it’s a sustainable way for an individual for source food, people have been quick to point out that it’s less likely to work on a mass scale in terms of feeding a population.
Reuse and recycle Christmas decorations
Christmas comes but once a year – so there’s no need to buy all-new decorations every December.
Nadine before she lost her hair (Picture: Nadine Griffiths/ CATERS NEWS
When Nadine Griffiths, suffered a miscarriage, the pregnancy loss wasn’t the only thing she had to deal with.
As well as going through this already traumatic experience, the stress of the whole thing ended up having a number of side effects for the 29-year-old.
Nadine says her hair suddenly started falling out after she had a miscarriage in August 2012, which was also accompanied by seizures and and iron deficiency.
She says losing her hair has left her embarrassed and that she’s constantly asked by people if she has cancer.
The mum-of-two, of Abercynon, South Wales, said: ‘It’s been horrendous because for me I’ve always had long hair.
‘It’s taken my femininity away from me. I feel guilty feeling hard done by as I know there are people out there with cancer who’ve had chemotherapy and lost their hair.
‘It’s completely changed my life. I went from fun and easy going to uptight, emotional, nervy and anxious about everything.’
At some points, Nadine has been left completely bald (Picture: Nadine Griffiths/ CATERS NEWS)
The pregnancy was only discovered by Nadine after she went to the hospital for pain and bleeding.
‘I was at home and started bleeding. I was in a lot of pain and didn’t know what was going on,’ Nadine explains.
‘I went to the hospital and did a pregnancy test. They told me I was pregnant and I was quite surprised.
‘To start with I was quite pleased at the news. 48 hours later the medics told me that I had actually miscarried. It was horrendous.’
The trauma and stress affected Nadine dramatically. She became anaemic and began having seizures as a result of what she was going through.
It has retuend in recent months (Picture: Nadine Griffiths/ CATERS NEWS)
From there, her hair began falling out.
‘The hair loss was over a two week period starting with just a small patch at first… Six weeks later most of it was gone.
‘I remember coming home from work and my clothes were just absolutely covered in my malting hair, it was horrible.’
When a friend jokingly put a sticker on Nadine’s head, she was left mortified when it was taken off and took clumps of her hair with it.
The condition has come and gone since she was diagnosed in 2013, with it currently leaving Nadine with bald patches.
It’s been hard for her to explain to her six and four-year-old sons about what’s going on, and they both ask her where her hair’s gone, with Nadine saying, ‘the boys ask me what’s wrong and why I’ve lost my hair but it’s just so hard to explain it all to them.’
A wig has been a saving grace for Nadine, and she wears one every day to feel like her old self and boost her confidence.
‘The lowest point has been when I was getting into the shower one morning. As the water was hitting my head clumps of hair were just falling out,’ she says.
‘By the end of May I was struggling to cover up the patches and was pretty much completely bald. I went out in public with no hair or with headscarves.
‘I’ve been wearing a wig since August. Although it’s not ideal it makes me feel like people aren’t staring at me anymore. It makes me feel feminine again and gives me that bit of confidence I need to go out and face the world.’
Nadine is currently raising money on GoFundMe to pay for the cost of a new wig. You can donate here.
What is alopecia?
Alopecia itself simply refers to hair loss, which can be caused by a variety of factors (including age and chemotherapy).
However, Nadine’s specific form of alopecia would be called alopecia areata. This is defined by Alopecia UK:
‘Alopecia areata (AA) is understood to be an autoimmune condition. The immune system which normally protects the body from foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles. This is what leads to hair loss.’
‘Alopecia areata is not catching and no connection has been made with food or vitamin deficiencies. Stress occasionally appears to be a trigger for alopecia areata, but it is possible that this link may be coincidental as many of those affected have no significant stress.’
Kaylee in the robe (left), Mary and Tom’s wedding day (top right) and Kaylee and Tony’s wedding day (bottom right) (Picture: CJ Bryant/ Mandelette Photography )
On Kaylee’s wedding day, she thought she would just be wearing her late mum Mary’s veil.
But on the day, her mum’s best friend Debbie Lilly surprised her with a beautiful bridal robe, made from Mary’s wedding dress.
Kaylee, 22, was overcome with emotion at the beautiful gift and how her mum was part of her special day.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘They were friends for as long as I can remember and Debbie was always working on new art projects. She came up with the idea and got in contact with my father in order to get his permission and get the dress (I was under the impression she was just fixing up my mom’s veil for me to wear).
‘Opening that present, I was speechless. This was gift I didn’t even know I needed until she showed me what she had done.
‘Having my mom pass away at such a young age, it was tough to swallow that she wouldn’t see me graduate college, get married, get my first real job, or see her grandchildren.
‘But having her wedding dress gave me comfort on my wedding day. A sense that she was right there with me.’
Mary and Tom on their wedding day (Picture: Kaylee Taylor)
Kaylee’s mum Mary McNamara Hausier died a year ago today on 12 November 2018. She was aged just 55 and had been living with metastatic breast cancer for seven years.
Before she died, Mary had met Kaylee’s then boyfriend Tony Taylor, 23, but she didn’t know he was going to propose just over a month after she died.
Kaylee says: ‘She only knew him as my boyfriend, but we talked about how I wanted to marry him one day. He didn’t propose to me until 19 December last year.’
Debbie gave her the gift the day before the wedding (Picture: Kaylee Taylor)
After Kaylee and Taylor’s engagement, they started to plan their wedding – a small ceremony in Chicago, Illinois with some close family and friends.
Tony is in the Army and in the six months before the wedding, the couple were apart, making the big day on 16 June this year even more special.
Kaylee’s mum’s best friend made the robe (Picture: CJ Bryant)
But knowing that Kaylee would be thinking about her mum on her special day, Debbie created the special gift for her to wear, sewing together the dress Mary had worn to her own wedding to Kaylee’s dad Tom.
At the top, she added ribbons – one with Kaylee and Tony’s names and another with Mary and Tom’s names.
Kaylee in the robe (Picture: CJ Bryant)
The day before the wedding, Debbie presented the gift to Kaylee and she was in tears.
She posted on Twitter: ‘One of the hardest parts about losing my mom last year was realizing she wouldn’t be there for me on my wedding day.
‘Tomorrow I marry the man of my dreams (a man who my mom adored), and my mom’s best friend made me a robe to wear out of her wedding dress. IM IN TEARS.’
Women are still picking up the bulk of housekeeping (Picture: Erin Aniker/Metro.co.uk)
Domesticity isn’t so blissful for women.
Yes, even in 2019 the balance of chores still isn’t, well, balanced, as new research reveals that despite the number of female breadwinners increasing over the last five years, women are still doing the majority of household tasks.
Life insurance broker LifeSearch looked at domestic labour as part of its annual Health, Wealth, and Happiness study.
They found that compared to five years ago, the number of women earning the majority of their household’s income has increased by 30%, but the responsibility for household duties remains with women far more than with men.
45% of female breadwinners do the majority of household tasks, versus 12% of male breadwinners.
Male breadwinners are also twice as likely to do no household chores at all.
The average female breadwinner spends an extra 7.5 hours, the equivalent of a working day, a week looking after the house – and that’s on top of their full-time job.
All this backs up findings from earlier this year, which said that women do more housework than men in 93% of British households – even when both parties are working full-time.
Professor Anne McMunn, who led the University College London study, said: ‘These results matter because this is extra work which women are doing for free – as housework is unpaid.
‘We don’t think this is an active choice on the part of men to try to keep women down.
‘But even these days it still tends to be the case that if there is something which needs doing in the home, women just do it.
‘This has been described as a ‘second shift’ for women, who come home from work and start doing more in the form of household chores.
‘Men still earn more than women, on average, and that gives them a little more leverage in terms of negotiating housework.
‘Things are not changing as fast in the domestic sphere as we might have thought, so we need to raise awareness and think a bit more about it.’
60 years after her modelling career began, Lesley MacLennan, 85, has posed for a photoshoot with international photographer James Muller (Picture: SWNS)
Lesley MacLennan, 85, made her name in her twenties in Paris, working as a catwalk and print model for Yves Saint Laurent.
She now lives in a care home and is rarely asked about her modelling career, so Lesley was overjoyed when high-end fashion photographer James Muller asked her to do a photoshoot.
James had been visiting another resident when she spotted Lesley and was struck by her ‘beautiful hands and the way she carries herself’.
Lesley told James all about her career, inspiring him to create a photoshoot more than 60 years after her career began.
Carers at the home were all too happy for the shoot to go ahead, as it’s thought that finding ‘something that motivates’ reisdents can pose huge benefits for their mental wellbeing, especially if it’s something familiar or nostalgic.
James, whose work has been featured in Vogue, was visiting a friend at Huntington House in Hindhead, Surrey, when he met Lesley.
Lesley MacLennan pictured in her days as a model for Yves Saint Laurent and Dior (Picture: Lesley MacLennan/SWNS)
Lesley moved to Paris in her twenties to work as a print and catwalk model (Picture: Lesley MacLennan)
‘I met Lesley in passing and thought how amazing it would be to capture her beauty again,’ he said.
‘When I asked her to look my way or turn her face, she did it with such grace – an absolute professional. She was very easy to direct.
‘I kept wanting to bring her beautiful hands into the frame and every time I asked her to, she did so with poise.
‘I feel very honoured to have photographed Lesley, she has lived such a colourful life and to be a small part of it is magical. She’s an absolute delight.’
60 years on, Lesley now has dementia (Picture: Lesley MacLennan)
James immediately spotted her poise while he was visiting a friend at the same care home (Picture: Lesley MacLennan/SWNS)
She told him about her former modelling career (Picture: Lesley MacLennan)
James looked to photos of Dame Helen Mirren and 88-year-old supermodel Carmen Dell’Orefice for inspiration for the photoshoot, giving Lesley a full makeover to take her back to her modelling days.
She loved the experience, saying: ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the photoshoot.
‘James made me feel perfectly at ease, he was the real McCoy. I would have said so if he wasn’t.
‘The red and black outfit was so vibrant, it was stunning. I just thought it was a dream.’
James hopes that the photos will challenge people’s ageism when it comes to their perception of beauty.
Lesley loved being in front of the camera again (Picture: James Muller / SWNS)
‘Age to me is just a number,’ he said. ‘During our shoot, Lesley was ‘that’ model again. Age made no difference.
‘I’m sure she has worked with many a top photographer so for me to get the opportunity at her age is simply incredible.
‘I think there aren’t enough older models out there in the media. In many ways, social media etc. is telling us that it’s wrong to age, but it’s such a natural thing.
‘There is so much beauty in ageing too – we’ve just been taught to look at it the wrong way.
James hopes the photos celebrate the beauty of ageing (Picture: James Muller / SWNS)
‘At the end of the shoot she held my hand and told me how much she enjoyed working with me.
‘I was truly touched and will never forget that moment. This is something that will stay with me forever, something I’ll treasure.’
Charlie Hoare, director of the Huntington and Langham Estate where Huntington House is based, said: ‘It’s been wonderful to hear Lesley’s memories of her modelling days.
‘To see her back in front of the camera was just incredible – she’s never lost her sparkle.
‘Finding a sense of purpose at any stage of life is incredibly powerful, and for those living in a care environment to find something that motivates them, as Lesley has, can have huge benefits for their wellbeing and state of mind.’
Rare birds books arrive at your door wrapped and with a nicely designed card
If you’ve just read a book you loved, it’s one of life’s pleasures to have a kindred spirit to discuss it with.
But not all of us have the sort of friends who will get behind the idea of a book club.
If you’re craving the camaraderie of a book club but your mates think it’s nerdy (it’s not you, it’s them), an online book club can fill the void.
One such virtual book club is Rare Birds Book Club, a unique online offering that sends out a surprise book each month (chosen from two available) then gathers members on a set day to get together and chat about it live.
The monthly book club is led by Rare Birds founder Rachel Wood, who first posts an in-depth review on the discussion board before taking members through a live, guided discussion and review, raising key themes, plot points and characters to dissect.
You can chat away about the book with other members, get notified when someone has answered your point and, when the discussion is done, leave your own review and rating.
‘It sits somewhere between an English Lit class and an in real life book club – in a fun way!),’ says Rachel.
Rare Birds book club hosts live discussions on the chosen books once a month that members can join
What sets Rare Birds apart is the live, guided discussion element. Rachel says: ‘We’re really focused on reading and the experience of reading – it seems small but we’re the only book subscription that actually has a book club and guides your reading.
‘Most of our competitors send out books and though one or two offer a “digital book club” it is in most cases, just a Facebook group.
‘The difference with us is we select the books, introduce them at the beginning of the month and then offer insight and context along with a space to review and share.’
Rare Birds has recently made a tweak to its book subscription – for the £12 monthly subscription, instead of the one curated book choice they used to offer, now each month they will send you the blurb for two books they have selected, without giving too much away about the title, author or plot.
You pick the one that you like the sound of most and it will arrive at your door, wrapped and accompanied by a nicely designed card (if you want both, you pay £8 for the second, totalling £20).
If you’re the type that likes beautifully wrapped things dropping through your letterbox, this may be enough bang for your buck.
But once you’re a member, you get access to the book club’s members’ area, where the monthly discussions take place.
They also have author interviews and IRL events for their members.
Rare Birds book club is a refreshing take on the subscription service that is usually a one way street – you get the book, you read it, the end – and one that promotes genuine interaction and thoughtful debate with like-minded people.
Anyone who’s spent any length of time in an internet chatroom will know, thoughtful debate is not that easy to come by. In a social climate where loneliness is becoming an epidemic, a positive place to connect that has roots both and offline – and that is particularly over shared reading experience – can have huge benefits.
Reading fiction has been proven to improve empathy while being part of a book club is known to have positive effects on mental health, sense of well-being and social inclusion, dubbed ‘Book Club Therapy’.
It’s a space where difficult topics inside novels can be discussed and dissected, where readers can better understand the psyche of characters within the book and can, conversely, feel better understood themselves.
Members are civil and reviews are insightful. Having received one month’s subscription as a gift, I’ll be joining for the long haul.
See you at the next book club.
MORE ABOUT RARE BIRDS BOOK CLUB
How do they choose the books?
All the authors are female, all the books are fiction. As Rachel Wood says, that’s where the similarities end. What the reads do have in common is that they are books you will want to tell your friends about.
Rachel says: ‘To convince someone else to read something, I think you really need to stand behind the books you’re choosing, so I’m only sending out what I love.
‘Our book club picks are all fiction, all in paperback, all by female authors, and tend to focus on stories about women, so that narrows the field quite a bit. I’m reading and researching all the time, publishers keep me informed about what they have coming up and every time I read a book or a proof I love it goes on to our shortlist of great reads.
‘How we pick month-by-month is usually selecting from that shortlist, trying to offer up a good rotating variety of styles, genres and perspectives so we can get readers outside of their comfort zones and discovering books they’d never otherwise come across.
‘At the end of the day what I’m looking for is a good story, period. The litmus test is always: am I turning the page? Do I want to know what happens?
‘Our motto is read for fun – to make that happen for our readers we stay really focused on making sure every title that goes into our book club will be interesting and entertaining.’
How do the book club discussion sessions work?
Rachel leads each discussion and it starts with a deep-dive review from her, which is usually between 2,000 – 4,000 words (and starting this month also in audio format) and goes through the plot and themes of the book.
They go live on the 20th of each month (usually around lunchtime) and then stay open forever. Members are prompted with a newsletter on the same day. Rachel reports that most members log in within 24 hours of that email to join the discussion and then people filter in as and when it suits them.
Members get a notification when someone replies to their post etc so they can jump back in and keep the conversation going.
You can now stay in a stunning treehouse with its very own hot tub in the middle of the woods.
Woodside Bay Treehouse is part of the Woodside Bay Lodge Retreat, located in the Isle of Wight.
The wooden treehouse is absolutely to die for.
It features a spiral staircase upon entry and is surrounded by trees.
The inside is stunning (Picture: Hoseasons)
The lodge is shaped like a circle and features arched windows, a wooden balcony with outside seating, a hot tub, and modern interiors including a flat-screen TV, and a kitchen.
Even the inside is gorgeous, with beams on the ceilings and a rustic feel.
The treehouse is located three miles from the beach, and onsite is also a bar and restaurant, a woodland trim trail and a gym.
It’s dreamy at night (Picture: Hoseasons)
It’s perfect for any couples looking for a break to just relax and enjoy nothing but quiet and nature.
Oh, and good news for animal lovers: You can even bring your pets for an additional fee, so they don’t have to miss out and you don’t have to worry about your furry friend in the kennels.
The treehouse is available from one night up to three weeks, with a week’s stay costing £879.
It’s super secluded (Picture: Hoseasons)
It’s had plenty of positive reviews from people who have stayed,
One couple who visited said: ‘Overall absolutely loved this holiday, you get the feeling of being out in the sticks without actually being too far away from civilisation. The sea is a stones throw away and the nature is amazing. We were regularly visited by a few red squirrels, robins, great tits and blue tits, saw rabbits and a tree-creeper.
‘We were only there for the weekend but it was a lovely break.’
It sounds great, right? We know where we’ll be holidaying next.
Now the family read together instead (Picture: Molly DeFrank)
Screens have become a huge part of our lives and kids are no different.
Most kids love watching things on the TV, tablet or their parents’ phones.
But one mum says that imposing a total screen ban on her kids has transformed their family.
Blogger Molly DeFrank, from California, said that she used to let her kids use screens just one hour a day.
But when she was met at the door by her youngest child asking to play on her phone, Molly and her husband decided to take action.
She says they told their four children at dinner time that screens were banned, which initially led to tears but soon the children moved on.
On her blog, she said: ‘What started as a thirty-day screen detox has become a lifestyle overhaul in our home of five children under the age of ten.
Molly DeFrank is a blogger (Picture: Molly DeFrank)
‘Quitting was shockingly easy, surprisingly sustainable, and my nine-year-old daughter has told me on several occasions that she’s glad we’ve cut them out.’
Molly says that her children started reading more and being more creative.
The turning point came a few weekends into the detox when they saw their parents reading in bed and decided to join in.
Now they bring books to restaurants instead of iPads and their daughter had grown five reading levels in seven months.
She added: ‘I watched my kids go from screen-dependent to cooperatively playing, creating and even making their own “school.” I couldn’t believe how easy it was.’
Although Molly said she understood why some parents use technology but it’s about having a balance.
She said: ‘Certainly, technology can be useful in its right place…but after a quick assessment of my babies’ behavior, I knew we needed a technology overhaul.’
From the festive fix-ups to the seasonal decorations, get the whole home ready for Christmas, with B&Q (Picture: B&Q)
There’s snow place like home during the festive season.
And with visitors incoming from all angles – even down the chimney – it’s never too soon to start prepping for some very special guests.
Along with a tree to decorate and the mistletoe to hang, there are some essential pre-Christmas quick-fixes that are sure to get the home looking better than ever.
With everything you need to sleigh the big day, B&Q is the perfect place to get ahead of the festive prep this season, until all that’s left to do is to get jolly-well excited!
So, make your list of ho-ho-home improvements, check it twice, then get cracking with the 12-best fix-ups for Christmas.
1. May your walls be merry and bright
While the weather outside is frightful, bring some brightness into your home with some energetic, mood-boosting shades that make up for the lack of natural light. Give walls and ceilings some much-needed festive cheer with the GoodHome Durable Matt Emulsion (£16), available in a rainbow of colours.
Make your walls merry and bright with the GoodHome collection of durable coloured paints (Picture: B&Q)
2. Add extra sparkle to your bathroom
From the temperamental toilet seat to the drippy taps, those niggling DIY jobs that have been staring in you the face for 365 days can be fixed up just in time for the in-laws’ arrival because B&Q is here to help. Replace the washbasin with a GoodHome Cavally Basin & Pedestal (£60) and leave your limescale nightmares behind with a sparkling new 8.5kwMira Décor Electric Shower (£190). To finish the job, pick up a Diani Toilet Seat in store for just £25 and it will feel like a complete bathroom refit for under £300.
Refresh your bathroom in a jiffy by fitting a brand new washbasin in your bathroom (Picture: B&Q)
Impress your guests with a brand new shower in the bathroom (picture; B&Q)
3. Wrap up your home this winter
There’s nothing better than locking the cold out and sealing in the warmth. With indoor solutions like the Eko Roll Loft Insulation (buy 3 for £16.50 each) at B&Q, you won’t even need the novelty Christmas jumpers to feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Upgrading to the Google Nest Learning Thermostat (£197) will ensure that cosy indoor feeling lasts all winter as it allows you to remotely set your water and heating temperatures – while helping you be more energy efficient. Or you could fit B&Q’s Cottage Woodgrain Internal Doors (£50), a clever solution for a warmer, cosier home that come pre-painted, making them an easy way to get a few compliments come Christmas time!
Smart solutions for heating your home will ensure you keep warm all winter (Picture: B&Q)
Lock the warmth inside with stylish and well-insulated cottage-style doors (Picture: B&Q)
4. Make your kitchen glisten
All good hosts know that the party congregates in the kitchen – especially if food is at the centre of your celebrations. Small tweaks such as updating your taps can make a big difference – something stylish like the Cooke & Lewis Zanthe Chrome Effect Kitchen Side Lever Mixer Tap (£70 at B&Q) will instantly boost any space. And to make entertaining the masses easier, make sure your snacks are up to scratch with a Cooke & Lewis Freestanding Microwave (£54), because ‘tis the seasoning… and all that!
5. Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow
Nothing says Christmas like a bit of twinkle. To achieve that cosy feeling in any room, finding the right lighting for your favourite spaces can make your home shine brighter than ever. Switch out harsh bulbs for the subtle glow of Diall E27 Warm White LEDs (£8) and make a statement with the Endor Modern Chrome Effect Ceiling light (£65)that makes an elegant upgrade to any room.
Softer lighting solutions will give your home a warm and cosy feel (Picture: B&Q)
6. Perfect the finishing touches
When peeling wallpaper or discoloured walls need a little TLC, there are some quick, easy and seriously stylish solutions to be found at B&Q. Refresh tired patterns and outdated feature walls with GoodHome Laleu Blue Tile Effect Wallpaper (from £20) or change the curtains to the easy-to-hang Digga Grey Diamond Eyelets (from £20) that will not only create an inviting space, but be one less fix-up for the new year!
Easy to hang eyelet curtains will freshen up any window (Picture: B&Q)
7. Get organised before the big day
Whilst you’re busy making room for all the VIPs, a few clever storage solutions can help make space for the extra decorations. Tidy and declutter with a little help from the Konnect White Storage Cube range (from £14), that double as great hiding places for your most important presents. The Really Useful storage solutions from B&Q also make no-fuss tidying options for the Christmas tree, baubles and wrapping paper.
Deck your home this Christmas for less
Of course, the best thing about prepping the home for Christmas is decking the halls. This year, B&Q has dreamt up the perfect Christmas with everything to create a winter wonderland, from the inside out. From trees to decorations and lights, get the whole family involved in setting a magical scene.
8. Choosing your tree
You can make small tweaks to your seasonal scene with more contemporary options, like a stunning real Nordman Fir Tree (from £22, available in-store), comes in four sizes, or consider a faux-yet-fabulous version like the Eiger Artificial Tree to achieve the ultimate centre-piece for the annual festivities.
9. Style it like a pro
With the winter holidays stretching ahead, it’s a good time to get your little elves involved with transforming the home. Give your tree the festive makeover it deserves with traditional Nordic decorations, strings of lights and playful, candy-inspired ornaments – and definitely don’t skimp on the bauble count!
Part of the excitement of getting the whole home ready is making way for the VIPs (the very important presents) (Picture: B&Q)
10. Deck your whole home
Transform bedrooms and guest rooms into holiday hideaways with twinkling lights, or miniature Christmas trees. And when it comes to the other rooms, Christmas plants and candles will sprinkle some festive magic all around the home.
Get the whole family involved with some stress-free DIY activities, like picking out sweet festive touches (Picture: B&Q)
Make some quick, easy and contemporary updates to your living spaces, like a fresh splash of colour on the walls (Picture: B&Q)
11. A dressed-to-impress entrance
First impressions count when it comes to welcoming guests for drinks and festive snacks, so give the entrance a little refresh with the Valspar Exterior Wood & Metal Paint (£29), then dress it all up with a Seasonal Doormat (£5) and a Traditional Wreath (£15), from B&Q, to make sure Santa knows you’re home. Light-trimmed windows and a Festive Sausage Dog on the doorstep are also guaranteed to win a few smiles from your guests.
The festive finishing touches are sure to get a smile from your guests on arrival (Picture: B&Q)
Make sure Santa knows where to stop with some traditional decorations for the front entrance (Picture: B&Q)
12. Say it with a gift from B&Q
When all that’s left to do is pick the gifts, treat a friend, colleague or family member to a B&Q Gift Card, so they can create their dream home in 2020. From smart home devices such as hubs and security cameras to power tools, there’s everything they need to get the resolutions off to the right start.
Fresh out of gift inspiration? Pick up a B&Q gift card in-store and give someone special a headstart on their ho-ho-home improvements (Picture: B&Q)
To explore the full B&Q range, head to your local store or visit diy.com
Stacey and Jay with some of their cheeky cards (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)
After being made redundant just before maternity leave and with her partner unable to work due to a back injury, Stacey Dennis had just £30 in the bank.
Desperate to make some cash to feed them and their daughter Layla, Stacey drew up a quick doodle at the dining room table for some Valentine’s Day greetings cards.
Now, four years on, that doodle has turned into a business called Love Layla Designs, which turns over £1.5m and even has celebrity fans.
The 33-year-old, from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, who has also created a poignant range of cards aimed at people battling cancer and mental health issues, said: ‘My first cards had cheeky slogans like ‘Happy Valentine’s Day – Fancy a threesome?’ and they clearly hit the spot, as they did brilliantly.
‘I started out by selling on sites like eBay at Etsy. I designed the cards all myself on an ancient computer in our dining room, then would print them out and walk with Layla down to the Post Office.
‘Jay, 38, is really good with numbers, so he offered to help out with that side of things. We also set about teaching ourselves all about social media, and Facebook advertising.
Stacey while she was pregnant with Layla (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)
‘Things grew really quickly. We went from two orders a day, to 10, to 30, to 50.
‘We eventually had to get my brother to help with all the orders. He came round and saw these boxes and cards everywhere, and wondered what on earth had happened.
‘My mum had bailed us out with a £1,000 loan when Jay couldn’t work and I even managed to pay her back in just two weeks.’
Mother’s Day came soon after and Stacey designed more cards for the occasion.
‘We sold about 10,000 cards in total,’ said Stacey, proudly. ‘It was at that point that I realised we needed our own website.
‘So, I sat myself down and got up a YouTube video on how to build a website. Looking back, it was the most basic website ever, but within a year of having it, we’d turned over £1m.’
Now they run the business full-time and even employ Stacey’s best friend Vikki and a fourth person, Ross, so they can meet demand.
Back in January 2015, the family were almost penniless after Jay’s injury meant he could no longer work as a self-employed renderer.
Stacey worked as a freelance graphic designer after she was made redundant just before taking maternity leave.
She explained: ‘When I was made redundant, the company dealt with it really well, and did everything legally, making sure I had enough support.
‘But it was still really quite hard. I’d been settled in that job and was just about to become a mum for the first time.
Picture: Stacey and Layla (Picture: PA Real Life/Collect)
‘Once Layla was born, I looked at trying to find a job that could fit in with childcare, but I also didn’t want to rush back to work given that I had a new baby.’
After taking time off to spend with her baby, she looked for assignments she could fit around Layla but the work was not reliable. so when Jay had to stop working, they had no solid income.
But the doodle at her dining room table changed everything.
Reflecting on her success she said: ‘We never meant to build a business. It started out as a way of making some extra cash to put food in our bellies and put the heating on.’
As well as cards, Love Layla Designs now sells banners, balloons, badges, gift wrap, notebooks, diaries, and even hen party packs.
But Stacey admits that, while plenty of people find her irreverent humour hilarious, not everybody is a fan of her crude cards – the latest Christmas range of which include slogans like, ‘Mary just needs to admit she slept with someone else’ and ‘It’s not Christmas unless you’re getting fat and sh*tfaced.’
She continued: ‘We do get some people who think they’re too rude and don’t like them. Everyone is entitled to their own voice and opinion, but sometimes people assume that because they’re offended by something, everyone must be.
‘Actually, people all have their own boundaries of what’s offensive. Obviously, there are some topics we’d never touch, as it would be wrong to poke fun at them, but something like swearing may really bother one person, and not remotely affect another.
‘Sadly, there are a lot of keyboard warriors out there, but you can’t take everything to heart. Still, sometimes I do think, “With all the awful stuff going on in the world, is someone really that angry about a card?”‘
They also have cards for cancer patients and for mental health awareness as Stacey wants the business to make a difference.
‘We all have issues going on. You could be sat on a bench in a park next to someone and have no idea of the things they are facing unless you talk to them,” she said, adding that Love Layla also regularly donate to charity.
‘That’s why we decided to do some cards for the trickier issues, like mental health and illness.
‘It’s not to poke fun, but to use our platform to raise awareness. Humour can break the ice in difficult situations, and people shouldn’t feel like they have to tread on eggshells with topics like these.
‘If we can give someone going through a really awful time a little laugh, and take their mind off things for a few minutes, then why not?
‘I am a big believer in karma and giving back, so will always try to help someone struggling if I can.’
It’s best to wait until 16 weeks (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
There are many exciting milestones when it comes to pregnancy.
Getting through the anxiety of the first trimester, hearing your baby’s heartbeat for the first time, seeing your little one on an ultrasound, feeling your baby move and, of course, finding out the sex of your baby.
How soon can you actually find out the sex of your baby?
Typically people find out the sex of their baby at the 20-week scan.
Seeing the baby’s sex is not always possible, because it depends on the position your baby is in.
The 20-week scan isn’t just for checking the baby’s sex. It’s a scan for any anomalies, for the purpose of checking the health of your baby.
Finding out the sex of the baby is just an added bonus, because it’s generally clear after 16 weeks what you’re having but the sonographer is under no obligation to tell you as they are there to check the wellbeing of the baby and may not have time to check the sex.
It is also unlikely you will find out the sex with an NHS scan at 16 weeks, as generally, the only scans you are given in the first and second trimester is the 12-week dating scan, where telling the sex is not possible, and the 20 week anomaly scan.
However, gender scans are generally available privately from 16 weeks.
Prices vary, but often you will find deals on sites such as Groupon, and you can get standard deals for as little as £60 for a half an hour session.
Some private scanning places have deals which often include 4D peeks, teddy bears and photos, and even a little video of your bub moving around.
The heart rate theory is a myth (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
And, if you want to make the sex a surprise, you can always ask the sonographer to keep it private, and write it down in an envelope for you so that you can have a reveal later on, with both private and NHS scans.
Though most places will not perform a gender scan on you until 16 weeks, sometimes you can see what you are having sooner.
If the baby is in the correct position – with their legs open with a clear view from underneath – it may be obvious to the sonographer as early as 14 weeks, as by then the differentiation of male and female sex characteristics are complete.
However, to tell the sex accurately, it is best to wait until between 16 to 20 weeks. This is because the genitals are clearer, the baby is bigger and therefore they are easier to see, and you’re less likely to get an inaccurate answer.
Can you tell your baby’s sex by heartbeat?
Lots of people believe you can tell your baby’s sex based on their heartbeat but this is a myth.
Due to an old wives’ tale, it’s believed that if the heartbeat is over 140 bpm, you’re having a baby girl, and below 140 bpm, you’re having a boy.
However, in a study published by Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy, researchers studied 966 sonograms from women who were all under 14 weeks pregnant.
They repeated the study when they were in the second trimester between weeks 18 and 24, when the sex can be determined by ultrasound.
By this point, only 477 women still met their study criteria, and 244 were having girls, and 233 were having boys.
You can sometimes tell by the nub theory (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
And no – the heart rate didn’t help predict the gender.
The average heart rate for boys in the first trimester was 154.9 bpm, while for baby girls it was 151.7 bpm.
So, the myth was busted.
What is the nub theory?
The nub theory is based on the fact that all embryos have a small bud or swelling called the genital nub, which is fixed at conception.
If you’re having a boy, testosterone starts being produced at seven weeks and prompts the bud to grow into a penis and scrotum. In a girl, the genital nub will become the clitoris and labia.
You can see the genital nub on a scan image – but during the first trimester, the sex is really hard to see, and it can often be identified incorrectly.
The nub development is a gradual process, and it’s hard to see which way the nub is developing so early.
If a baby has a nub that’s at an angle greater than 30 degrees, he’s most likely a boy, while if the baby has a nub that’s more horizontal to the baby’s body, parallel with the spine, she’s probably a girl.
But again, everything during the first trimester is so tiny that it’s super difficult to see, and when your baby is bouncing around at all angles, making an assumption on an early scan is pretty difficult.
Of course, when finding out the sex of your baby, you want to be absolutely sure of it before you tell everyone. Nobody wants to get their huge gender reveal wrong.
If you’re impatient, it can be difficult, especially when you just want to know whether you have a little boy or girl inside you – but after finding out, you have the rest of your pregnancy to bond and get to know them – so it’s best to get it right, instead of focusing on myths and predictions.
Bobby choked on the lollipop (Picture: Brett Cole /SWNS.COM)
A dad is urging for lollipops to be banned after his five-year-old son nearly died when he was given one during trick-or-treating.
Brett Cole said his son Bobby ‘went floppy’ and passed out when he started choking on a lolly he’d received on Halloween, that had come off its stick.
Brett has now issued a warning to other parents about the hidden dangers of lollipops.
He said he does not usually allow his two children to have lollipops but after being given them in their trick-or-treat haul, he decided to let them have one.
Bobby was then sat with his mother, who is a senior health-care assistant, when he began to make choking noises’ and she called Brett in for help.
Bobby’s mum saved him (Picture: Brett Cole /SWNS.COM)
The sweet had detached from the stick and had got stuck in Bobby’s throat.
Brett, from Plymouth, Devon, said the incident was ‘easily the worst experience’ of his life.
He said: ‘We’ve seen a couple of things before about lollies, so we don’t normally give them to our children.
‘But they had been given a few in their Halloween sweets and they had been good and asked to have them, so we let them.
‘My wife was sat next to Bobby on the sofa and he just started choking on it.
‘Deanna shouted for me and I hit him hard on the back, to no effect.
‘He passed out and he went floppy. My wife gave him the Heimlich manoeuvre and after several thrusts it came out with sick and blood.’
Brett said his son was ‘in a bit of shock’ at first, but after a check-up at hospital and a sleep, he returned to his normal self.
He added: ‘I just want to make people aware of the dangers. We all burst out crying, we were so worried.
‘We’re going to ban the lollies.’
Brett shared the warning on Facebook and so far, more than 35,000 people have shared the post.
He said that he and his wife have read through some of the comments and other parents have said their children have also choked on similar lollipops.
The aftermath of the choking (Picture: Brett Cole /SWNS.COM)
Taking to Facebook, Brett said: ‘So today it happened, we don’t usually buy the kids lolly’s but after trick or treating they had some in there pots. The end came off and bobby started choking, this was easily the worst experience of my life.
‘I hit him so hard on the back to no effect. Deanna Cole this morning has saved Bobby’s life. She gave him the Heimlich manoeuvre and after several thrusts it came out with sick and blood.
‘Please guys take this from me ban these lollies. I never post on Facebook but please take my advice. We have all cried our eyes out but Bobby is ok, he may not have been.
‘Bobby is five and I stupidly thought this was old enough. I won’t make that mistake again, make sure you don’t!’
Little Mix wearing the pieces that are described as ‘oriental’ (Picture: PrettyLittleThing)
PrettyLittleThing’s Little Mix collection has come under fire because some of the pieces are described as ‘oriental’.
Shoppers have described the top, skirt, dresses, shoes and bags as ‘cultural appropriation’ and accused the brand of ‘fetishising Asian women’.
The range is loosely based on a traditional qipao that originated in China.
It includes a red crop top and skirt and dresses in pink, green and black and in the promotional material, each of the band members from Little Mix models each of the colours.
The collection also includes bags, wrap sandals and boots in matching fabrics.
Some of the pieces have already sold out but not everyone on social media has been impressed.
The range includes dresses based on traditional qipao (Picture: PrettyLittleThing)
Lauren said: ‘I’m sorry but what?? first of all your “oriental” clothing is nothing like that of actual traditional Qi paos, but the fact that you’re actively contributing to the fetishization and cultural appropriation of Chinese culture is just… not ok.’
Leah added: ‘Is no one going to talk about how this is cultural appropriation???? again and again, asian traditional wear is being sexualized and people are supporting it. disgusting.’
Another Little Mix fan added: ‘I love you all so much, but as an Asian in a white country, I kind of wish the word “oriental” wasn’t in your collection.’
Emma Kent said: ‘The @LittleMix and @OfficialPLTcollab includes egregious and tone deaf cultural appropriation of the Chinese qipao. Don’t sex up my culture because you want to “stand out” or make it “trendy”. Not to mention its a clapped waste of textiles, disgusting.’
@LittleMix@OfficialPLT these outfits are incredibly disrespectful to Chinese culture. The design+calling it “Oriential” is reducing Chinese culture down to “EXOTICISM” & enforcing the media’s “EROTISM” view on East Asian Women. This goes against your brand of “empowering” women pic.twitter.com/5HB1g9sLJv
I feel like many people don’t really understand why outfits like these are wrong. First of all, not only is this cultural appropriation but the hyper-sexualization of “asian-inspired” clothing is rooted in the fetishization of Asian women. (1/3)
If you think getting a new look for your kitchen costs a fortune, think again.
This mum managed to change almost everything about hers for under £200.
Charlotte Greedy, 26 from Pontyclun, Wales, used stick on tiles, worktop paint and new cupboard handles to transform the room.
The stay-at-home mum-of-two regularly posts about her home renovations on her Instagram but this was an ambitious project.
She came up with the idea because she wanted a new look but couldn’t afford the thousands it usually costs to replace a kitchen.
Charlotte told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘I then had the idea of painting it all to mimic a new kitchen. I bought stick-on tiles from a company called Tic Tac Tiles on Amazon to cover my existing tiles and bought Good Home North pole paint from B&Q and painted my worktops.
The kitchen before (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
After the transformation (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
She used paint and stick on tiles to change the look (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
‘They were a horrible shiny black before and now they’re a matte white colour.
‘I then painted my cupboards using Good Home Durable Delware Satin Multi-Surface paint. I used a mini gloss roller from Poundstretcher to apply both the worktop and cupboard paint and only used a little brush for the hard to get to parts.
She added accessories to give the room some personality (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
It all cost under £200 (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
‘I changed all my cupboard handles, again purchased from B&Q, and I changed my own plug sockets from white to chrome.
‘I bought my flooring off eBay and used a pen knife and spray glue to fit it, and changed my light fitting to brighter light.’
Charlotte posts about home renovation on Instagram (Picture: @missgreedyshome)
Charlotte loves her transformation and it’s been very popular on social media.
The post had over 7,000 likes on Instagram.
She said: ‘I am absolutely in love with the transformation and it’s made my kitchen look brand new.
‘Once the kitchen was complete I felt like I could be proud of my kitchen, something I never was. Whenever I go in there now I absolutely love it instead of loathing to go and make dinner.’
The Sainsbury’s Christmas ad features a young boy being gifted clementines (Picture: Sainsbury’s)
The Sainsbury’s Christmas ad about Nick the chimney sweep has had viewers in tears since it launched earlier this week and one touching moment, involving clementines being placed in stockings at the end of the advert, has left people particularly choked.
Laura Boothby, head of broadcast marketing at Sainsbury’s, said of the advert: ‘It has been a special year for Sainsbury’s and we felt it was fitting for our Christmas advert to look back and celebrate the role we’ve played in making Christmas Christmas for the nation for the past 150 years.
But where did the tradition of putting oranges in stockings at Christmas come from and is it linked to Sainsbury’s?
Why do we put oranges in stockings at Christmas?
Although Nick the sweep is gifted a sack of clementines after being wrongly accused of stealing them in the Sainsbury’s Christmas advert, the popular supermarket chain is not historically involved in the origin of the tradition.
Some believe the festive tradition of putting oranges or clementines in Christmas stockings started in America during the Great Depression in the 1930s when families struggled to afford gifts so left the small piece of fruit in their children’s stocking instead.
However, Smithsonian.com links the tradition all the way back to as early as 1823 when a story called A Visit From Saint Nicholas was written. In the story, it described St. Nick filling stockings by the fireplace before disappearing up the chimney.
A picture dating back to the 1880s shows Santa filling stockings hung by the fireplace (Picture: Classicstock/Getty Images)
St. Nicholas was thought to have been a real life man at one point in history, who inherited a large sum of money and, instead of keeping it for himself, used it to help others.
One such receiver of his good will was a poor man who couldn’t find suitors for his daughters because he was unable to offer a dowry. The legend goes that Nicholas dropped some of his gold coins down the chimney as a gift to help the family, the individual coins falling into stockings that were hanging to dry by the fire as he did so.
An American lithograph cartoon by W. A. Rogers from 1907 shows gold being put into a stocking. (Picture: Getty)
The tradition of putting oranges or clementines into stockings is alleged to have come from this story, with the round, orange fruit symbolising the gold coins that were said to have originally been left as a gift in the stockings by St. Nick.
He’s so popular! (Picture: Michael Scott/Caters News)
A sausage dog who found viral fame providing therapy to stressed out students has become a fashion celeb, appearing in Vogue magazine.
Popular pup Jimmy Chipolata works as the UK’s first in-house student therapy sausage dog with his owner Debra Easter, 45.
The impeccably dressed rescue dog was once twice his size and unable to walk without getting blisters due to rolls of fat on his legs, but now he spends his time soothing students who are struggling with stress.
Head of student employability and mum-of-two Debra, originally from London but now living in Nottingham, said: ‘Jimmy absolutely loves the limelight and he actually gets down if people don’t take notice of him or give him a fuss.
‘His appearance in Vogue went to his head and we have now launched a dapper dachshund clothing range, specially designed for the dachshund body shape.
Jimmy is a little model (Picture: Michael Scott/Caters News)
‘It’s difficult to find dog clothes that fit dachshunds because even the ‘small’ sizes don’t fit their unique body shape, so that’s why we’ve set up his clothing line.
‘Jimmy absolutely loves meeting people and the hats that he wears always grab people’s attention first!’
After Jimmy proved a success in his therapy work, Debra decided to branch out and set up the dog clothing line, which launched on 27 October.
The luxury collection includes tweed jackets, cashmere jumpers, scarves, velvet collars and little hats.
Everything is locally produced and a percentage of the profit goes to mental health charity Student Minds.
Debra said: ‘I wanted to pick a charity that was close to my heart because it’s where Jimmy started and he’s had such a huge impact on the university, I think he’s really important for student struggles.
‘There is lots of research to demonstrate the impact of pets on mental health and well being.
‘When I first started bringing him onto campus the impact on our students and staff was clearly demonstrated so I decided to register him with ‘Pets as therapy’.
Isn’t he cute? (Picture: Michael Scott/Caters News)
‘Since Jimmy has been here, I’ve seen people come forward, who normally wouldn’t come and talk, such as those less engaged and shyer students.
‘We get quite a lot of students who miss their pets at home and are having a stressful time with workload and exams and Jimmy soothes them.’
Jimmy dresses up in outfits and spends a few days a week working in the office with Debra and attending student events.
Debra now hopes to stretch Jimmy’s fame further, by making a children’s book based on him.
Debra added: ‘He is not on the payroll, just payment in cheese, but I’m sure he would love to job share with me.
‘He will do anything for cheese and his current favourite is cheddar – his party trick is the meerkat pose which we are making into a sausage dog challenge.
‘He knows how to work a room and strut up and down the office!’
A mortgage means owing the bank hundreds of thousands of pounds – but we all want to do it (Picture: Ella Byworth/Getty/Mylo)
In a society that is geared towards getting on the property ladder at any cost, it can be easy to forget that a mortgage is another form of debt.
So many of us have been taught that owning property is the be-all and end-all, the thing to aspire to, an undeniable marker of adulthood, progression, success. But people don’t always consider the risks of taking on such a huge financial commitment. Or the fact that it actually means you will owe the bank hundreds of thousands of pounds.
‘Getting into a mortgage agreement may well be the most important financial decision of your life,’ explains Jon Ostler, CEO of personal finance comparison site finder.com.
‘It is a financial commitment that will last for many years, so don’t be overly ambitious with what you can afford.
‘Set realistic goals based on what is realistic for you and make sure you really like the property you’re buying.’
Jon knows how important it is to take a mortgage loan seriously and not rush in to something, because the consequences could be significant. The most obvious major drawback of a mortgage is that you are carrying a seriously enormous debt over a long time – and you’ll always pay back a lot more than you borrowed.
Although the monthly amount you’re paying may feel completely reasonable, the total amount you pay back over the years is huge.
‘For example, someone who borrowed £160,000 over a 25-year term would repay £280,600 in total once interest is added on,’ reads the Money Supermarket website.
On top of this, you’ll also be charged fees whenever you take out a new mortgage, or remortgage a property, and you’ll be charged conveyancing costs for legal work required with your mortgage.
If you don’t keep up with your monthly payments and additional costs, you could lose your home. The bank or building society will repossess the property and then sell it to recover their money.
It’s important to remember that even the best debt can go bad (Picture: Ella Byworth)
But not all debt is created equal, and some say that a mortgage would always be considered ‘good debt’.
‘It’s an investment that typically leaves you better off in the long-term,’ explains Jon.
‘Generally speaking, you are likely to save more money with a mortgage over renting, and when you combine this with the strong possibility that house prices will continue to rise over a standard 30-year term, it’s a sensible investment for your future.’
So, if debt exists on a hierarchy of good to bad, how do we cut through the societal stigmas to find out which kind of debt is genuinely better than the others?
As we have written about this month already, there is a lot of shame and judgement attached to being in debt, but these attitudes are normally reserved for credit card debt, pay day loans, or buying items on finance – never mortgages.
Is this simply classism rearing its ugly head? A snobbish aversion to certain forms of debt that largely impact the working classes? Or is there some truth in this hierarchy of owing money?
‘”Good debt” is money borrowed to purchase an asset that, over time grows in value. This, opposed to “bad debt” which is money borrowed to purchase something that decreases in value,’ explains Paul Flavin, managing director of Mortgages Online.
‘Lets take a look at this in more practical terms.
‘Bad debt would be a loan to fund a new car.
‘On average a new car depreciates 50-60 per cent over the first three years so, you get a loan to purchase a new car for £30,000 and three years later that car is worth only £12,000, yet the loan to purchase it over three years has cost you circa £34,000 with interest.
‘Sell the car at the end of year three and ownership has cost you £19,000-£22,000 without running costs.
‘Now compare, this to the purchase of a new home.
‘In October 2016 the average house price was £228,850, yet in June 2019 this had risen to £242,664, and that’s over a relatively flat period in house price growth.
‘If we look over the longer term, say 20 years, the average house price was £146200, 20 years later and it’s nearly £100,000 increase in value.
‘Yes, you’ve got to factor in mortgage payments but, you’d be renting if you weren’t paying a mortgage.’
But what about the fact that we are living in a period of economic uncertainty with no foreseeable end in sight? Paul thinks that even taking into account the detrimental impact that political turmoil is having on the economy, mortgages are still a safe bet.
‘Viewed over the long-term, I honestly believe that mortgage will remain to be a great debt to have as that asset will always increase over the long term,’ he explains.
‘There’s a Chinese proverb that goes; the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now – I always think that this applies to the housing market so, go sign up for some “good debt”.’
But, before you go rushing in to sign up for this wonderful debt, it’s important to remember that even the best debt can go bad.
How many people have their homes repossessed?
In August, the Ministry of Justice reported mortgage possessions claims (the first step in the legal process of taking ownership of a home after mortgage arrears reach a critical point) are up by 39 per cent in the three months to June this year compared with the same quarter last year.
Around 6,180 households had mortgage possessions claims made against them between May and July this year.
It’s the fourth consecutive increase in the number of claims made after a three-year period of stability, despite the fact that repossession is the last-resort action taken by lenders.
The Money Charity has calculated that a property is now repossessed in the UK every 94 minutes.
Just because a mortgage is ‘good’ debt, that doesn’t mean things can’t go wrong, and defaulting on your payments could have major implications for your credit and financial outlook.
‘There are a number of things that people need to think about and consider before they dive into a large and long term debt like a mortgage,’ warns Alastair McKee, managing director at One 77 Mortgages.
‘Failure to keep up the repayments, for example, means you’ll end up getting repossessed by the bank and potentially end up homeless, so you need to ensure you have the staying power financially to see it through.
‘You also need to ensure that your credit rating is as good as it can be, lenders place a huge amount of emphasis on an applicants credit score these days so missing a payment or being late for other credit commitments you have will end up getting you declined with the best lender and you’ll end up paying more via another lender.’
Alastair also points out a really pertinent issue when it comes to mortgages – the deposit. The requirement of a huge cash deposit is, for loads of people, an insurmountable barrier to getting on the property ladder.
‘Deposits are a huge commitment,’ he says. ‘Five per cent is the minimum these days, which is still a large amount of cash in relation to the average property price and will take time to save-sacrifices need to be made in order to get there.’
In fact, a typical 20% deposit in London is more than £80,000. The kind of money that normal people don’t just have stuffed under their mattresses, and would take years to save on an average salary.
The deposit cost is one of the major things that ensures mortgages remain a kind of debt that is much more common among the middle and upper classes, which may explain why it has come to be seen as aspirational, rather than vilified like other forms of debt.
Like any financial decision, a mortgage should only be entered into after careful consideration, planning and weighing up the pros and cons.
The benefits of mortgage debt can vary vastly depending on how much you’re borrowing, your personal financial situation and where in the country you’re planning to buy a property.
And, while the benefits of a good mortgage are likely to pay off in the long run, it’s important to remember that any loan comes with risks and responsibilities and a mortgage is no different.
Don’t let the pressure to get on the property ladder stop you from critically weighing up your options. Buying a home would be great, but it isn’t worth getting yourself into financial difficulty over.
Debt Month
This article is part of a month-long focus in November all about debt.
Scary word, we know, but we're hoping if we tackle this head on we'll be able to reduce the shame around money struggles and help everyone improve their understanding of their finances.
You can set up a debt management plan by yourself or through a company approved by the FCA (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Debt can come at you hard and fast and take forever to pay off.
Of course, there are ways to manage it. There are charities and organisations dedicated to help those struggling to find a way to make repayments.
While some are free of charge, others may come with a fee.
One way to deal with it may be through a debt management plan (DMP). A DMP allows you to manage your debts and pay them off at a more affordable rate.
It’s done via a debt management company that has to be authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
You need to declare your financial situation to the managing company and they work on a monthly payment you can afford.
The company then contacts your creditors and asks them to agree to the plan, though they don’t have to do. If the creditors reject the plan, you’ll have to continue paying them back separately.
So every month, you’ll make the payment to the company and they then share the money out between your creditors.
This method might be ideal for those in non-priority debts – where debts will not cause you to lose your home – such as credit cards, overdrafts or personal loan debts.
If you fail to make the DMP payments, you may get a have a court order – a County Court Judge (CCJ) served against you.
Pros and cons of a DMP
Pros:
Can set it up for free
You only pay what you can afford
Don’t need to deal directly with creditors
DMPs are reviewed to make sure you’re paying what you can afford
Most creditors reduce interest rates and eliminate late fees
All debts are managed by the same DMP
Cons:
Some creditors may still contact you
You can’t take on any new debt while under a DMP
Can’t miss payments (otherwise risk CJJ)
Andy Shaw, the debt advice coordinator at the StepChange Debt Charity explained to Metro.co.uk the nature of a DMP in more detail.
‘A debt management plan is one of a range of debt solutions that can be provided to people in problem debt.
‘A DMP allows you to manage your debts and pay them off at a more affordable rate. This is done by making reduced monthly payments.
‘These payments will be based on whatever disposable income you have after your monthly budget. You can set up a DMP by yourself, although many people find it easier to go through a professional debt adviser.’
DMPs from StepChange Debt Charity are without a fee, although this is not necessarily the case with other providers who may charge for the administration of the plan.
If you are in financial difficulty, you may prefer a fee-free DMP provider as any money saved on fees can then be put towards debts.
But you should really consider whether a DMP is for you, adds Andy.
He says: ‘Debt Management Plans are not for everyone – particularly if it would take you a long time to repay your debts or, even after budgeting, your outgoings are still higher than your income.
‘In these cases, it is important to see if other solutions, such as insolvency, would serve you better. Your advice provider should be able to help you with this or refer you to someone who can.’
One woman who has set up two DMPs at different times says paying the latter off was no easy feat.
In 2000, 55-year-old bookkeeper Nikki Robinson was left in a debt to the tune of £45,000 which arose after a troubled marriage. After nearly a decade, she was able to pay that off.
Then after a horrible road accident, Nikki from Kent found herself in financial trouble again so she acquired another DMP, this time paying for it.
Her first DMP didn’t charge but the second incurred an administration fee which was offset by her bookkeeping services for the company.
She explains to Metro.co.uk: ‘I was an emotional wreck, I suffered from PTSD but was never diagnosed.
‘I was struggling financially and so as a freelance bookkeeper, I was able to get one of my clients who was registered to set up a Debt Management Plan for me, to deal with my debts which was now about £27k.
‘I paid a minimum of £100pm but I was suffering from issues after the car accident and as I was self-employed I worked until I got better. I always seemed to be tired.
‘My credit was very poor and at the time I had to use same day loans and twice I took out a secured loan against the flat.’
Nikki has now sold her flat and is saving money by living frugally. She is now renting and is working to improve her credit score.
She added: ‘I look for bargains, I have a network travel card, I collect points from my favourite stores and last but not least I occasionally get a free Nando’s meal.’
Each DMP looks different for each individual. StepChange Debt Charity has a rough template of what one DMP might look like.
Consult with a financial advisor before deciding what is best for you.
Debt Month
This article is part of a month-long focus in November all about debt.
Scary word, we know, but we're hoping if we tackle this head on we'll be able to reduce the shame around money struggles and help everyone improve their understanding of their finances.
Samie was able to craft the playhouse without spending a penny (Picture: Samie Jayne Wood)
Here’s proof that you don’t have to spend a load of money to get festive.
And you can do your bit to save the environment, too. Great stuff.
Samie Jayne Wood saw the Hobbycraft colour-in igloo online and knew she wanted something similar for her daughter, but couldn’t justify spending £7.50 on ‘what is purely a cardboard box’.
So she decided to make her daughter her very own playhouse, made entirely of things she could pick up for free.
Writing in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, Samie explained that she crafted a gingerbread playhouse using cardboard boxes she got from work, using leftover toilet roll tubes, cellophane, paper plates, and ribbons that were lying around the house for decoration.
The playhouse was made only from materials Samie could pick up from work or that she had in the house already (Picture: Samie Jayne Wood)
So that means the playhouse was not only free to build, but also didn’t contribute to the production of single-use materials.
The end result is pretty magical.
Samie says her daughter has decided the playhouse is now a café to sell Christmas treats from, hence the creation of a ‘Joyful Treats’ sign.
The inside is covered with wrapping paper and has a fake fireplace (Picture: Samie Jayne Wood)
Samie wrote in the Facebook group: ‘We’ve got a fireplace, removable candy canes, hot chocolate cups and cupcakes, and salt dough gingerbread men.
‘It was FREE as it didn’t cost me anything directly, as I already had the bits at home (toilet roll tubes, cellophane, paper plates, ribbon).
Samie’s daughter decided the playhouse would serve as a café to give out festive treats (Picture: Samie Jayne Wood)
‘Loads more ideas of things to make for it, and she’s adding a cushion and a blanket, but she loves it, and I’ve saved £7.50, so one happy Mumma!’
The inside of the playhouse is covered in wrapping paper to make it a cosy Christmas hangout, and has a fake fireplace to snuggle up in front of.
Anyone else seriously making their own adult-size version and holing up there for the winter?
Do you have a DIY project or money saving hack you’d like to share? Get involved in our Money Pot Facebook group, where we chat about all things budgeting, discounts, and bargains, or email us at MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.
