Let them eat cake! (Picture: Imogene Forte and Catherine Dineley)
Hands up who have at least once said ‘I’m going on a diet’. That’s everyone yes? We thought so.
With so many fads around and with body ideals flaunted in practically every newspaper, magazine and website, it’s fair to say we’re all under a bit of pressure to look a certain way.
Becky Young, founder of the Anti Diet Riot Club, however, is raising the middle finger to diet culture with a support group that educates instead of shames.
Becky told Metro: ‘After 15 years of dieting and losing and gaining weight countless times, I eventually found the body acceptance community on blogs and Instagram and it completely changed my outlook on what I had been doing to my body and mental health.
‘Through this I was able to find some peace with my body and with food, and I wanted to create my own little body positive network outside of social media.’
This January marks two years since the club was launched to try to combat society’s obsession with diet culture, thinness, beauty ideals and fatphobia – and to celebrate they’re throwing a festival.
The one-day event takes place in January and will be a day of inspiring and challenging talks along with several creative workshops that will takeover Shoreditch space Colours.
Becky hopes that with the ‘New Year, New You’ nonsense looming, the club will convince those thinking of ditching what they love for green juices, to think twice.
Making waves: Founder Becky Young hopes the festival will challenge a harmful diet culture. (Picture: Imogene Forte)
Described as a real-life body positive community, Anti Diet Riot Club is designed to be a support group and raise awareness for the anti-diet movement.
‘Our aim is to educate as many people as possible about the serious potential consequences of dieting on your body and your mental health and to inspire people to respect and love themselves no matter what they weigh,’ says Becky.
‘We want to influence government policy to help protect young people from the damaging messaging from diet culture, to reduce weight stigma, and to increase representation of bigger bodies’.
In addition, Becky hopes the club will teach people how damaging dieting can be and inspire people to accept their bodies no matter their weight.
‘Anti Diet Riot Fest is a small way of trying to rebel against all the messaging that tells us that the month of January needs to be spent changing our bodies.
‘The festival is dedicated to nourishing your soul and mind with workshops, talks with absolutely no diet chat or body shaming allowed.’
Talks at the festival will feature the likes of campaigner and naked beach presenter Molly J Forbes, award-winning writer and blogger Stephanie Yeboah, activist and Pink Protest co-founder Honey Kinney Ross take to the stage discussing everything from intuitive eating to male body image, disability, beauty, ugliness, race, sexuality and activism.
Workshops will include anti-diet life drawing classes, self-care explainers, feminist embroidery sessions, beginners yoga and creative writing and journaling, among others.
In terms of the future, Becky is extending her reach after her team managed to crowdfund over £16,000 to build a bus that will help spread the word of the club through sharing circles, creative classes and plus size clothing swaps up and down the country.
Though the cause is primarily to educate, the ethos is also to fight back.
Becky explains: ‘If you want to help improve people’s body image and rebel against diet culture, then first start looking at and questioning the language you use around bodies and food.
‘One small act of resistance is to stop labelling food as ‘good’ or ‘bad’, or saying things like ‘I’ve just worked out so now I’m allowed to eat this snack’, because that feeds the narrative that we only deserve to eat if we’re trying actively to shrink ourselves.
‘Unfollow any social media profiles that make you feel bad about your body and fill your social media feeds with a diverse range of people, who inspire you to live a life that’s right for you rather than conforming to look/be/eat like everyone else.’
The Anti Diet Club festival takes place on Sunday, January 19. Book tickets here.
I didn’t use the word ‘influencer’ at the time, although I was on the journey to becoming just that (Picture: Lissette Calverio)
I first moved to New York City in 2013 to pursue a dream internship, working as a press agent for Broadway shows and actors.
Every day, I found myself refreshing my social media news feeds to see what next trend was, where were the latest influencers eating and hanging out, and what were they wearing?
Little by little, these things I was consuming from other bloggers online started to become a part of a necessary lifestyle I wanted to chase. A lifestyle based on people I had never even met or spoken to.
I didn’t use the word ‘influencer’ at the time, although I was on the journey to becoming just that. At the time, I just wanted to keep up with the online personas I was trying to emulate.
This meant constant online shopping for a closet that enabled me to ‘never repeat an outfit’ for a picture, endless Açai bowls and brunches and a need to feed my newly acquired travel bug without consideration of the potential risks of being in debt – all to show off to my newfound followers.
Having a small but mighty presence on social media meant I could attend things for free and receive the occasional gifted experience but my entry-level salary was minimal, so I was paying for my rent and increasingly extravagant lifestyle using a small savings account, and a handful of plastic.
Without any sense of financial literacy, I was paying a minimum credit card payment on time but disproportionately continuing to spend while not catching up.
Within three years, I found myself in almost $10,000 of credit card debt.
My financial wake-up call came when I finally sat down and tallied up how much debt I’d accumulated. I was shocked, scared, and disappointed. With all that debt looming over my head, it all felt like I was living a lie.
I decided that I would have to start living well under my means to quickly eliminate the credit card bills that were haunting me.
I took the $600 apartment with an hour commute of my work, went out with friends only a handful of times and learned how to cook for myself.
At first, this behind-the-scenes lifestyle change made me feel sad. I had had this vision for my new life in the big city, which now felt nowhere near reality.
Nothing about my social media presence indicated any of these sacrifices, because as my audience grew, so did the free experiences and perks of being an ‘influencer’ – meaning I could spend less and still keep up with the story I was telling.
I was also asked to travel a lot for work, so I extended trips and used airline miles to get to the places I wanted to.
Somewhere along the way, I started to feel a ‘high’ of sorts about making payments back quickly. It felt like a huge achievement – getting out of debt became a game that I was winning.
I started sharing these hacks with my audience, and changed my voice online. The lifestyle I had been showing off now became a little more personal, and without explicitly talking about debt, I started to talk about the realities of being an influencer – including what is ‘real’, and what isn’t.
My audience numbers exploded but the growth I was more focused on was my change in perception.
By the start of 2018, I had cleared my credit card debt entirely, and also the dirty habits that got me there.
This was achieved by being transparent with myself about my finances, and prioritising my repayments over social experiences.
I also kicked my online shopping addiction and made use of the closet I’d already built, adding on services likeRent the Runway.
I was now travelling well under my budget with the hacks, miles, and airline credit I’d accumulated through jet-setting during the previous years.
These days a consistent flow of deals with brands, as well as monetising my platforms and expertise, net me an average of $10,000 per month – that’s more than the debt I was in because of social media.
But here’s the reality. While that debt might just have turned out to be a ‘business investment’ for me, many of us are not this lucky.
I had a wake-up call right in time before it was too late and I had the luxury of what I call ‘offline’ income while pursuing new ventures.
With the costs of hiring professionals to create content and keeping up with a lifestyle that’s not realistic, it’s natural for up-and-coming influencers to run into debt quickly.
These days I try to be more mindful in my approach to social media. On top of reminding myself to continue to live responsibly, I have to stop myself from coveting the things I see online for the sake of ‘catching up’.
I ask myself: am I actually doing this for the pure joy of this moment? Or am I doing this because I want to show it off to my followers?
More than anything, I learned that there is no lifestyle worth the feeling of financial pressure. Being open and honest about my experiences is the biggest relief in a world where so much of what we see is fake.
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.
If you don’t like having too many vegetables on your Thanksgiving dinner plate then don’t worry, there’s a new kind of green for you.
An American company has decided to spice up the annual shindig by offering weed gravy.
The trippy sauce is being offered by Kiva Confections, who want you to take Thanksgiving to a ‘higher level’.
Instead of making small talk and avoiding awkward conversations with your family, you could be tripping out with them.
The new limited-edition, cannabis-infused Turkey Gravy is obviously only available in California where the recreational drug is legal.
Sorry Brits, it’s still not allowed here.
And what’s more, apparently this stuff gets you high quicker than normal edibles.
Kiva explains that the product is made with ‘cutting-edge’ technology that bypasses other edibles’ trip through the liver, instead absorbing into the soft tissue and stomach.
This allows the cannabinoids to take effect in a ‘groundbreaking two to 15 minutes’.
The groovy gravy, which is going for $5 (£3.88) a pop, comes in powder form and contains turkey stock, salt, onion, garlic and 10 milligrams of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
To prepare it and ensure a rad Thanksgiving dinner, mix the powder in a cup of boiled water, the company advises.
And then slather the stuff all over your turkey to get lit.
Perfect time to get the munchies (Picture: Getty)
Over on the Kiva website, it describes the stuff in more detail, saying: ‘This cheeky take on a normally mundane holiday staple features a groundbreaking, fast-acting technology that allows for faster THC absorption.
‘Awkward family dinner conversation? In just under 15 minutes you’ll start feeling the effects, so you can sit back, relax, and let the holiday cheer wash over you.’
Turkey Gravy packets can be found at all Sweet Flower (Los Angeles) and Grass Roots (San Francisco) locations, while limited supplies last.
If you don’t manage to get hold of it then fret not, the folks are working on cannabis hot chocolate for the Christmas season too.
Although some debt is seen as ‘good’ – such as mortgages and student loans – it’s unsecured debt that’s seen the biggest jump in the last decade or so.
The UK’s unsecured debt pile has grown at least three times faster than secured debt in each of the last five years, with credit cards and overdrafts seeing some of the biggest rises.
What does this mean for young people today and what will consumer debt look like in the future?
The ‘catastrophic consequences’ of this debt pile are widely predicted by experts.
Thinktank The Aspen Institute describes the situation as a crisis, and claim that unprecedented levels of debts (and defaults) in the US will ‘impact at every level: individual, family, community, and for the nation as a whole’.
It believes that the bubble will burst and, when it does, prison numbers will rise, healthcare will be unaffordable and governments will be ‘forced’ to bail out banks and individuals without the means to support themselves.
Remember the 2008 financial crisis? Some people do only too well (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
According to Howard Dvorkin, chairman of Debt.com, the future of debt is a ‘doomsday scenario’ future generations will have to deal with.
‘I have no clue when it will come crashing down. I just know it will,’ he tells Metro.co.uk.
He believes that, although finance industry tech advances will be significant, they won’t solve debt and we’ll ‘borrow more because we can’ rather than having long-term goals in mind.
‘Short-term thinking hasn’t yet been bred out of our evolutionary thinking,’ he says.
‘We’re a species still focused on our next meal, not dinner 20 years from now.
‘We borrow now for the same reason we don’t save for retirement – because it’s now.
‘The three deadliest letters in the English language are N-O-W.’
In the future, he expects to see what he calls ‘lifetime loans’ becoming normal.
‘Student loan programs already extend your payment terms out decades,’ Dvorkin says.
‘Auto loans are already at an all-time high of 65 months, and I wouldn’t surprised if that eventually approaches mortgage-like spans. I’ve seen 97-month auto loans out there.’
The only way he believes we can stop lifetimes of debt from blighting future generations is by ending demand:
‘When you sell 64-ounce sodas from a drive-through window, customers will buy them,’ he says.
‘Once you start, only one thing can stop it – and it isn’t government regulation or industry policing.
‘You need to cut off the demand, otherwise the supply will keep on chugging.’
When will the debt tipping point come? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Is this feasible, though, when people are often borrowing for necessities rather than just extras? And would an US-style solution suit a British market just as well?
Much like Dvorkin, Montgomerie sees a tipping point and a potential disaster, which she calls a ‘firestorm across global markets’.
The debt levels are seen as a catch-22: If people do pay back their debts quickly, the economy would crash and another depression would begin.
If they don’t, insolvencies will skyrocket and banks come under incredible pressure – or need to be bailed out – as they did in 2008.
It’s a fine balance to strike and the issues of 2008 have been exacerbated by advances in technology.
Financial technology (fintech) has made ‘immediate consumption’ more readily available.
Instead of visiting a bank in person for a loan, an algorithm can give instant decisions, allowing people to ‘borrow beyond their means’, a study found.
‘Low paid, gig economy jobs, in-work poverty and changes to the benefits system are also likely to be factors causing consumers to increase debt.’ (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Economist and sociologist Juliet Schor argues that we’re stuck in ‘work and spend cycles’, where advertising prompts us to prioritise spending over our own time (in that we’d work longer hours and have less free time just to afford more things).
In practice, for future generations, this means consequences from lower levels of disposable income (we’ve already seen lower levels of homeownership among young people as they don’t have enough for deposits), problems with saving for retirement, and even widespread health problems caused by the stress of unmanageable debt.
‘Low interest rates and longer mortgage durations are the two key factors that pushed consumer to borrow more,’ John Wilson, professor of banking and finance at the University of St Andrews, tells Metro.co.uk.
‘But low paid, gig economy jobs, in-work poverty and changes to the benefits system are also likely to be factors causing consumers to increase debt.’
The solution, Prof Wilson believes, is financial literacy and ‘transparency in the consumer credit market’.
From OBEs to CEOs, professors to futurologists, economists to social theorists, politicians to multi-award winning academics, we think we've got the future covered, away from the doom-mongering or easy Minority Report references.
Every week - new pieces every Wednesday morning - we're explaining what's likely (or not likely) to happen.
Talk to us using the hashtag #futureofeverything If you think you can predict the future better than we can or you think there's something we should cover we might have missed, get in touch: hey@metro.co.uk or Alex.Hudson@metro.co.uk
A pilot scheme from the Money Advice Service found that parents and children who attended financial courses were more open about money, and there was a 15% reduction in debt among the families who took part.
But this would battle against the constant advertising asking us to consume more, whatever the cost.
And young people are facing a number of issues, with home ownership falling and – as Dvorkin notes – huge numbers of people with few plans for retirement contingency.
The real change for them will depend on how seriously policymakers take the debt crisis.
That could mean regulation so that how lenders use your credit file to decide to let you borrow will change.
And it’s difficult to apportion blame to a situation that The Aspen Institute describes as ‘systemic’.
The solution, the Institute claims, is through widespread education and social change, with The Aspen Institute suggesting that lower education costs and lower interest rates for borrowing would be a key part of the solution.
But do people have a personal responsibility for debt?
‘Life isn’t a Western movie, where a cattle baron puts a six-shooter to your head and forces you to sign over the deed to your homestead,’ Howard Dvorkin says.
‘[People] are responsible for their own debts.
‘Sure, bad things happen to good people. And those folks should have a way out. But you can’t tell me otherwise intelligent adults have anyone else to blame when they run up $15,000 on their credit cards, take out six-year auto loans, and buy way more houses than they can afford.
‘If society is to blame for anything, it’s not educating these adults when they were children, and telling them the dangers down the road.’
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.
Some women prefer vibrators to sex (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Vibrators are great. They’re easy to use, easy to clean, and perfect for when you want some one-on-one time without the help of anyone else.
Often, people enjoy both vibrators and sex – and some people even incorporate vibrators into their sex lives for added fun.
But for others, vibrators beat sex hands down.
And we’ve spoken to some women who actually prefer using vibrators to having sex. Here’s what they said.
I can do it again and again
‘I have control over the pace of my orgasm. And I can do it again and again and again without having to wait for a “man” to recharge’.
Sometimes I’m impatient
‘While I don’t always prefer a vibrator, sometimes I’m impatient and want a quick orgasm. Sex is great, but there’s a lot involved when you have a partner, and sometimes I’m just not in the mood for foreplay.’
I can stop when I like with no guilt
‘I can stop it when I like with no guilt if I just can’t get off. It’s a bit difficult to do that during sex without an understanding partner. And it can actually make me come unlike most partners I’ve had.’
There’s less pressure when you do it yourself (Picture: Ella Byworth/metro.co.uk)
You don’t need to cook a meal
‘I prefer it because you don’t need to cook a meal or get dressed for it and think about setting the mood. It’s very time-efficient.’
Men don’t make me come
‘Vibrators make me come. Men don’t.
‘The vibrator works every time but I am not guaranteed a climax when I’m with a man.
‘The vibrator works at different frequencies for long periods of time. If my man is eating me out, sometimes the pace slows down and I can’t blame him, his jaw is probably hurting.’
They don’t talk
‘They don’t talk, they last longer than four seconds and you can get rid of them straight after.’
I love being in control of my own pleasure
‘As much as I love the connection of another person, I love being able to control my own pleasure more.
‘Sometimes I just need to be selfish and get off to go to sleep, and I don’t want to have to worry about my partner’s needs.’
Everyone likes a bit of alone time (Picture: Ella Byworth)
Sex might disappoint
‘A vibrator will always give me an orgasm, whereas sex may disappoint especially with somebody new. There’s no guarantee that it’ll be good so I’d rather just masturbate.’
I can take my time to climax
‘I prefer vibrators because I can take my time to climax. With sex I always feel so bad for the time I take!’
There’s no pressure with a vibrator
‘Vibrators are a must for me if I want to get off quickly. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t come from sex. I think it’s because I’m mentally pressuring myself to do so to please the other person, and therefore my body doesn’t respond.
‘But with a vibrator, I don’t owe anyone anything and therefore I can come quite quickly. It takes the pressure off’.
I don’t have to worry about my safety
‘It means I actually come and I don’t have to worry about my own safety… Tinder guys are mad.
If you want something done right you’ve got to do it yourself
‘Sometimes in sex I find myself sort of … waiting… like waiting to feel comfortable enough to really enjoy it. But on my own there’s no pressure. Sometimes if you want something doing right you just got to do it yourself!’
‘I never feel self-conscious or embarrassed’ (Picture: @metaphysicalmeagan)
A woman’s Instagram post went viral after she shared a photo of herself, completely naked, sunning her anus.
Meagan, from California, says her daily morning ritual of perineum sunning is the key to better sleep, increased energy and a higher sex drive.
In the pic, Meagan is totally naked, lying on her back, holding on to her feet and presenting her bum directly towards the sun. It looks like it might feel nice… but we had some questions for Meagan about her unorthodox morning routine.
‘I never feel self-conscious or embarrassed when I’m doing it because I prefer to be nude when I can,’ Meagan tells Metro.co.uk.
‘As a woman, it has connected me more to my womb space’ (Picture: @metaphysicalmeagan)
‘It’s our natural state. I’ve done a lot of work around eliminating the emotions of fear, shame and embarrassment from my life and reality.’
Meagan says she started perineum sunning after reading about it in her studies of Mantak Chia – a healing Taoist practice – and being inspired by her friends who were also doing it.
‘As a woman, it has connected me more to my womb space,’ Meagan adds. ‘It has also helped heal my relationship to my own sexuality and womb. It’s very empowering.
‘It feels so amazing, warm and life-giving.’
‘It’s very empowering’ (Picture: @metaphysicalmeagan)
Writing on her viral post, Meagan said she had noticed she had ‘surges of energy almost immediately’ after the sunning.
Meagan also said she had better sleep, better connection with her ‘sexual energy’ and control of her ‘life force’.
She added that she now had more ‘creativity flowing through my life’.
In a follow-up post she added that ’30 seconds of sunlight on the perineum is equivalent to being in the sun all day with your clothes on.’
Sex and relationship coach Alila Grace agrees that perenium sunning and ‘yoni’ sunning (yoni means vagina), can have a wealth of benefits.
‘One of my favorite ways to connect with my yoni is yoni sunbathing,’ she explains. ‘This is one of the most ancient and potent tools for awakening dormant energies. Be prepared to shine light into the darkness, and love any hidden shadows.
‘Ancient Taoists called this “sunning” where you simply open your legs and have your yoni drink in the sunshine.
‘By exposing the darkest or most yin part of our bodies to yang sunlight, we bring harmony and balance to our energy system. It is also very invigorating and stimulating for our sexual energy.
‘I love to go nude in my backyard and bare my bottom to the sun for 10-15 minutes (gauge your time depending on how much sun exposure you are used to).
‘If you are in a cold winter zone, turn up the heat and catch the rays through a clear glass window.’
But is it safe to expose such a sensitive area of skin to full sunlight? For most of us, those areas rarely see the light of day – so it could be a shock to the system.
We asked the British Association of Dermatologists about this unusual practice and, perhaps unsurprisingly, they didn’t have much to say on the matter. But a spokesperson did reveal they were skeptical about any alleged benefits:
‘We are not aware of any health or medical benefits from this practice. Sunburn on any part of the skin can increase the risk of skin cancer.’
So definitely think about the dangers of UV rays before you start opening up your most intimate areas to be blessed by the sun.
And if you’re really desperate for some vitamin D, a walk in the afternoon sun will do the trick too – and might be less risky.
Get 20% off Pandora from tonight (Picture: Pandora)
If you are a Pandora fan, you can get 20% off all products from tonight.
The jewellery brand’s Black Friday deals start at 7 pm on 27 November, running until Monday 2 December.
You can pick up bracelets, charms, necklaces and rings, all with 20% off, both online and in store.
The only catch is that the new Harry Potter collection (which launches on Friday) isn’t included and the Pandora Me collection, in collaboration with Millie Bobby Brown, is exempt too.
But it’s a great chance to pick up gifts at a lower price, or just treat yourself to something.
There’s a while range of festive charms so you can update your bracelet for December or pick up something that will be more fitting for the entire year.
If you or the person you’re buying for are new to Pandora, you can pick up the base bracelet of your choice and a few charms to start the collection.
if you’re starting out your collection, you can get a base bracelet at a cheaper price. This one has a heart clasp, which is a change from the traditional round clasp, making it just a little different. Pick one up for yourself and tell your family and friends to get some charms for Christmas, or buy it as a gift for someone else.
Pandora Moments Black Double Woven Leather Bracelet (Picture: Pandora)
If you aren’t a fan of the original silver bracelet, this one is an interesting twist. It comes in black leather with two strands and the usual Pandora clasp. You can slide charms on in the same way.
Pandora has teamed up with Disney to create a range of charms based on lots of their most popular characters. We love this cute Eeyore in a Christmas hat.
Labrador Puppy Dog Dangle Charm (Picture: Pandora)
Perfect for the dog lover in your life, this is a charm that hangs off the bracelet rather than sliding onto it like other charms, giving another dimension to your bracelet.
Another dangler charm, this one is great for the whimsical daydreamer you are buying for this year. The top slides onto the bracelet, while the feathers hang below.
Add some colour to your bracelet with the rainbow hearts charm. The silver charm is in a shape of a heart, filled with lots of tiny hearts in different colours.
Emerson with some of the gifts (Picture: Kristina Watts)
Kristina Watts says that she has a simple way to stop her kids having a meltdown over toys they want in the build-up to Christmas.
The mum, from Belfair, Washington, said her shopping trips used to be painful because her kids would want everything they saw.
Trying to manage their expectations as well as simply just getting around a shop without it taking hours.
Instead of letting Emerson get attached to a toy and then get upset about getting it for Christmas, Kristina tells her to pose and take a picture with it to send to Santa.
Posting on Facebook she explains: ‘Once again my camera roll is FULL of pictures of Emerson with every single thing she wants for Christmas. Why…because it’s the most amazing parenting hack ever and has stopped MANY meltdowns! If you aren’t using this hack…listen up friends.
‘Our trips to the store used to be a lot more painful this time of year. Toys are out in full force…and of course my kids WANT IT ALL. Obviously I would love to have sweet, well mannered, non-greedy, chill kids, that don’t ask for all the things…but I don’t.
‘So drop your judgement Karen, and stop reading if you have kids like that.
Once again my camera roll is FULL of pictures of Emerson with every single thing she wants for Christmas. Why…because…
‘Now…if you have kids like mine…that want the shiny amazing things that fill Target, the grocery store, Office Depot, the gas station, and pretty much everywhere you go this time of year, this is for you.
‘What is it?!
‘Take a picture. It’s that simple.
‘Pause for a second, comment on the thing they’re pointing out, and say, “Let’s take a picture with it and send it to Santa so he knows you want it!” Note: you can send it to Santa, grandma, TeeTee Stephanie or whoever it is you can pawn it off on. Totally up to you and can be different every time.’
She says that once she takes the snap, Emmie puts the toy down and walks away.
Her mum adds: ‘It’s magical. No tears. No tantrums (by either of us). And she forgets about all of them within minutes.
‘Maybe you’ve been doing this for ages, and you selfishly didn’t share this tip with me…or maybe you’re like me and this is about to rock your world. For real, try it friends.
‘You’re welcome.’
Lots of parents commented on the post and said that it was a great idea.
Nicole said: ‘Amazing!! Wish I thought of that when mine was little.’
Andrea added: ‘I’ve been doing this for at least 5 years now. My daughter takes my phone and takes pictures of everything she wants. Super helpful for me when I go shopping and try to remember everything she told me she wanted.’
Others said that having them all on one place helps them manage expectations too.
Linda said: ‘Some people can’t afford all everything I agree but you tell them when they go threw the phone pick one special you want Santa to really bring they it’s up to you if you can afford more.’
And Sherree said it was a big help for her son who has dyspraxia and autism.
She added: ‘I used to do this with my youngest son, he has dyspraxia and autism so writing a Christmas list is a challenge.
‘It keeps them focused on the photo taking rather than getting the gift helping to prevent melt downs.’
Gifts for teens, anyone? (Picture: PrezzyBox/Not On The High Street)
December 25th is just around the corner, and if you’re still doing your Christmas gift shopping (don’t worry, we are too), you might be struggling over what to buy for your teen who already has everything.
But don’t worry, we’re here to help, with a gift guide on presents your teen will absolutely love – and they won’t break the bank for you, either.
Whether your teen is into music, photography or fashion, we’ve got something for each.
This speaker is rechargeable and fits most phones, and features a Bluetooth connection and a remote – so you don’t have to take your phone out of the jar to change a song.
It has a 6+ hour battery life, a built-in mic so that you can answer calls froma cross the room, and a 360 degree high quality speaker with bass booster.
Every teen wants to work on their selfie game (Picture: PrezzyBox)
Let’s face it, Instagram is a teen’s best friend. And so, this selfie light is perfect for getting the perfect picture.
The clip-on selfie light features 12 small LED lights, to illuminate the face in a Hollywood style. It makes red eyes disappear and can also be used for wider angled shots.
It’s compatible with all smart phones and can be charged with a USB.
Your teen could become an iPhone photographer (Picture: Firebox)
This lens kit is great for anyone who wants to perfect their phone photography.
The pocket-sized kit comes with five clip-on lenses, including a fish eye lens for abstract portraits and panoramas, and a macro lens for an amazing close up.
Is your teen bad at keeping track of what they’ve got to do? Buy them this planner, and they can fill the personalised pages with important dates, lists and appointments to keep everything on track.
Each pad comes with 48 identical tear-off pages, and every pag is printed with the design and personalisation.
If your teen wants to have some friends over for the evening but you don’t want them in the living room, buy them one of these so they can stream netflix from their phones and watch it on a big screen – AKA, the wall!
Oscar when he was born and now, at 20 weeks old (Picture: SWNS)
When Sara Morris and Joshua Jones went to see a scan of their baby, they were shocked that he already had 1cm of hair.
The sonographer spotted his locks on the scan – and by the time he was born, he had 5cm of thick, jet black hair, when he was born on July 10.
The baby, who they named Oscar, needed his first hair cut at eight weeks old because it grew so quickly.
Mum Sara, from Helsworth, Devon, said his unique look has earned him the nickname Mowgli after the Jungle Book character and she says strangers stop her in the street to admire it.
Sara, who runs a baby shop in the village, said: ‘People on the street come over to us and comment on Oscar’s lovely thick hair.
‘We really couldn’t believe just how much hair he had when he was born! It’s not something you see very often!
Josh and partner Sara with Oscar (Picture: SWNS)
‘His hair was, and is, very thick, and very black. Joshua and I have brown hair, though he’s closer to his dad than to me for that.
‘Oscar’s aware that he has so much hair, I think. When we lie him down, he’ll put his arms over his head and play with it.
‘But he’ll start crying when he accidentally pulls it, because his fingers get tangled up.’
There is a myth that having heartburn during pregnancy means the baby willl have more hair and Sara says that was something she struggled with.
Oscar now, aged three months (Picture: SWNS)
She explains: ‘I struggled with pregnancy diabetes, and there was a whole week in May where I suffered with this intense heartburn.
‘We went for a regular checkup, and learned that Oscar had 1cm of hair already.
‘So we were expecting him to have some head hair when he was born. But we didn’t expect quite as much as we we got!’
The couple watched the Jungle Book while she was pregnant and she says that maybe that influenced their choice of nickname.
‘I took one look at him and said – “he looks just like Mowgli!”‘ she said.
Sara and her son Oscar after his birth (Picture: Sara Morris /SWNS)
‘Everyone else then looked and said – “yeah, you’re right! He’s Mowgli!”.
‘Joshua’s parents have taken to calling him little Mowgli ever since. It started because of his hair, but he’s also very cheeky, so I think it will stick.’
Her friends have told Sara Oscar should model – because his striking mane makes him look ‘more like a little man than a baby’.
Taking to Facebook, Sara’s pictures of newborn Oscar were inundated with praise from friends – many astounded by his hair.
Oscar is yet to watch the classic movie – although Disney fan Joshua, a warehouse assistant, plans to sit with him in the near future.
An online pharmacy has reduced the price of the morning-after pill to £3 – compared to around £26 elsewhere.
The British Pregnancy Advisory Service (bpas) says that this shows how women are being ‘ripped off’ when it comes to emergency contraception.
Dr Fox, an online pharmacy, reduced the price of the 1.5mg Levonorgestrel tablet this week. They also sell the branded version Levonelle, for £9, and ellaOne for £23.50.
As the £3 pill can only be bought online, they recommend seeing a GP, sexual health clinic or local pharmacy if you have recently had unprotected sex because it takes 24 hours to arrive – but they said that it could be ordered to have as a ‘standby’ supply, as bpas recommends.
Anyone ordering the pill will have a short assessment online before it is released.
The Levonorgestrel 1.5mg is effective up to 72 hours after intercourse but works better the sooner it is taken after unprotected sex.
Bpas campaigned for a reduction in the cost of emergency contraception in 2017, but said that women are still paying up to £26.
They said that this reduction in price by Dr Fox shows that the medication can be sold at a lower price.
They want to see progestogen-based emergency contraception reclassified as a General Sales List medication, so it can be sold directly from the shelf without a consultation at a more affordable price.
A poll conducted by bpas showed 64% of women would like to see it made available without a consultation.
Clare Murphy, Director of External Affairs at bpas, said: ‘The sale of the morning after pill for £3 illustrates just how cheap this medication is, but women are still having to pay vastly over the odds for this pill at their time of need.
‘We believe emergency contraception belongs on the shelf of the pharmacy, not hidden away at the back, accessible only after a consultation.
‘The progestogen pill is extremely safe, can be used as often as needed, and gives women a second chance of avoiding an unwanted pregnancy that may risk their physical and mental health.
‘There is simply no reason why we should restrict access in the way we do when the stakes for women are so high – women know when they need it and should be trusted to use it.’
Dr Tony Steele, Medical Director at Dr Fox added: ‘We would like women to have the best possible outcomes. If we can encourage women to think ahead, they can now obtain the morning after pill to keep at home, ready if they need it, at this highly competitive price.’
But southerners (for once) might have been a little upset to find that all the parties were based in the North.
The good news is that the company behind the events Homage2Fromage is now expanding and from 2020, you can experience a night of unlimited cheese in London.
The idea started in Leeds in 2011 and it’s slowly expanded into Sheffield, Manchester, York, Harrogate and now London.
The club will meet monthly at The Bullin Westfield White City, London.
The full selection at the launch event (Picture: Elliot Davies)
Each event features eight cheeses, chosen around a different theme. They are all presented on numbered boards and in whole wheels.
When ‘cheese’ is called, guests can tuck in and enjoy them all with crackers, breads, chutney, fruit and wine.
And when everyone has filled up on creamy goodies, the types of cheeses are revealed and organisers Nick Copland and Vickie Rogerson reveal each of their stories.
There’s crackers, chutney, bread and fruit to enjoy too (Picture: Elliot Davies)
After a launch party this week, the hosts announced the next event would be on 28 January, centred around Scottish cheeses.
Tickets cost £25, with discounts for tables of four, six and eight people. Early bird tickets are on sale for £18 but be quick.
Vickie Rogerson, co-founder of Homage2Fromage said: ‘We’re excited to have finally made the journey down the M1 to bring our cheese parties to London, and we’re sure they’ll be just as popular here as they are across the North.’
If you need a reminder to be skeptical of the bargains you spot online, take note from Mikala, 23.
Mikala was scrolling through Instagram when she spotted a promoted post for a delightful coat.
The coat she ordered was meant to be long, made of thick and cosy pink (faux, we hope) fur, and printed with red hearts – all for the bargain price of just $50.25 (£39).
The coat she received was… well, not like the one in the picture.
Oh no (Picture: @kardashoon/Twitter)
Describing it as ‘a piece of paper with sleeves’, Mikala tells Metro.co.uk that rather than a snuggly faux fur design, the coat she received was made of 95% polyester and 5% spandex. Cosy.
‘It’s so thin you can see through it,’ Mikala said. ‘It’s so sh*t. It feels so flammable.
‘I don’t know why I thought it would be okay.’
Mikala tried to get in touch with the brand Soleila to complain, using the customer service email she found on the website. She received an email saying her message couldn’t be delivered as the address was not found.
The fabric is made of 95% polyester (Picture: @kardashoon/Twitter)
Mikala says the coat was so thin it was like a piece of paper with sleeves (Picture: @kardashoon/Twitter)
We tried to get in touch with Soleila for comment, and received the same automated email.
Unsurprisingly, there was no guide to returning the items and getting a refund in the packaging, so Mikala plans to wear the coat at least once so she doesn’t feel so bad about buying it.
‘It’s so cheap oh lord save me,’ she told us. ‘I’ll attempt to wear it once just to make it worth it, for my sanity.’
It turns out the image used to advertise the coat isn’t of a design by Soleila, but is from the autumn 2018 runway show of designer Simonetta Ravizza.
The actual, real-life coat is by designer Simonetta Ravizza (Picture: Getty Images Europe)
An image search reveals that dupes of this coat are sold by a load of different cheap fashion sites, including Bessyou for $75 and Kikimc, also for $75.
The original coat doesn’t appear to be available online right now, but looking at the prices of similar Simonetta Ravizza coats, the authentic heart print design would have cost in the thousands.
The fluffy Ginny coat, for example, costs £3,584.
So yes, that $50 price tag was a bit of a giveaway that the coat Mikala received wouldn’t quite be up to the standard of the one in the picture.
While the 23-year-old may be a few quid poorer, at least this experience has taught her (and all of us) a lesson: be wary of those dreamy bits of promoted content selling you incredible clothing at a super low price.
It’s always worth having a search of the brand to see if there are any customer reviews or if people have shared their experiences on social media, then doing an image search to see where else an item pops up.
And if your gut is telling you something’s off, trust it.
Mikala says she won’t be ordering clothes or anything else from Instagram-promoted brands again.
‘I’m so frightened of insta brands,’ she said. ‘And now I have every reason.
There’s a lot of pressure to spend money over the festive period.
First you have to buy everyone you know the perfect present. Then you need to get decorations. Then a Christmas jumper. Then a fresh outfit for each Christmas party. Then a turkey and all the trimmings for a festive feast.
By the time you reach Christmas Day, it’s no surprise your wallet feels a little worse for wear.
Some people end up in debt as a result, suggests new research.
A survey of 2,000 people conducted by Yelp and commissioned by OnePoll found that 28% had gone into debt during the festive season.
The average American planned to spend $972 (£750) on Christmas, but many overspent, with the average person exceeding their budget by $489 (£377).
Unsurprisingly, presents for friends and family is the area where people are most likely to overspend, followed by food and drinks – both for home and when eating out. Just think of all those Christmas curries or drinks and dinner with your coworkers. It adds up.
The research found that all the overspending and resulting debt causes people quite a bit of stress. Half of those surveyed said Christmas is the most stressful part of the year, and four in ten said they plan to have a smaller celebration because they’re worried about money.
Other bits of Christmas are stressful – making the food, arranging travel, trying to untangle the lights for the tree – but to reduce the money-related worry, Rob Sowerby, the director of professional courses at London School of Business and Finance, has some tips to control your finances over the festive period.
‘As an accountancy tutor, I am often asked by friends on how best to save money, never more so than during the Christmas holidays,’ says Rob. ‘Many people feel the pressure of finances at this time of year. So, I have created a list of my top tips to control your finances this Christmas.’
1. Remember January
Don’t forget that once Christmas is over, you do have all those financial obligations of the month ahead – rent, bills, debt payments, etc.
Rob recommends that before you start shopping, you write a list of your total essential expenses for December and January (bills, transport, insurance) and deduct these from your monthly earnings.
‘Whatever is left, on top of your savings, is your budget,’ Rob explains. ‘Stick to it.
‘Consider going over your budget as unacceptable and remember that with January comes the regular bills and expenses of the year – they won’t be pleased to be forgotten.’
2. Make a list
Rob says: ‘Make a list of the things you will need this Christmas – along the lines of food, presents and decorations – and then the cost of each item. Again, stick to it. If it’s not on your list, you don’t need it and you should presume you can’t afford it.
‘Sticking to your list will keep your expenses low as it will offcut spur-of-the-moment spending and you’ll be able to know how much money you’ve allocated to each thing.
‘So, rather than writing “presents for husband – £25”; you can be precise and write “small present for husband – £5; large present for husband – £20)”.
‘Food and gift shopping around London for Christmas can be an expensive affair, particularly considering the seasonal spiking of prices, but adhering to your allocated budget per item will ensure your finances are under control.’
3. Preparation is key
It’s a bit late for this, but for next year, try to start planning your Christmas spending well in advance.
Spread your Christmas shopping throughout the year and keep an eye on gifts you know someone will love – they may go on sale long before Christmas, at which point you’ll want to snap them up sharpish.
It’s also handy to save into a dedicated account just for Christmas spending, so you can safely spend without dipping into money you need for other bits.
4. Spend your time, not your money
Rob says: ‘Many people this Christmas will be under pressure to provide for their families, but not just for the typical Xmas items, but for the fundamentals such as bills and home payments.
‘The point of the season has never been to spend, spend, spend your hard-earned money.
‘The point of the season is to invest your extremely valuable time in those you wish to spend it with. Not only is this heartwarming but it is also completely cost-effective. Bargain!’
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.
Joel wants to save enough money to start his own confectionery business and buy a house abroad Getty)
Our series How I Save takes an honest look at how different people spend and save their money.
Sometimes their spending diaries are a cautionary tale of what not to do, other times you’ll be impressed with their budgeting skills.
But either way, after we’ve satisfied your nosiness for tracking everything they spend for a week, we’ll always end with some expert advice that everyone can learn from.
This time we’re looking at the finances of Joel*, a 24-year-old logistics porter living in Romford.
How Joel Saves:
I earn around £24,000 a year and in my savings account I have £11,016.
I’ve saved this much money by living within my means and budgeting week to week.
Before starting my current job, I spent almost two years living in my overdraft. I was on a very low wage and my expenses were much more than my income.
I know how it feels to be dead broke. So, I guess that feeling alone has contributed to how I’m able to discipline myself into saving as much as I do.
Initially, I began saving just to have money for a rainy day. But now I am saving for a confectionery business and to buy a house abroad in the near future with my older brother.
The main way I save is by being strict with my spending. I get paid weekly and my pay varies depending on how many hours I do. However, most weeks I get around £430 after tax. I try to spend only a third of what I get paid each week. Though, some weeks I save more and some weeks I save a bit less.
I also do most of my food shopping in Aldi, Lidl and other discount stores. I tend to buy my food in bulk too. I buy most of my clothes from Primark and shop online at BoohooMAN or mandmdirect.
I don’t really buy new clothes that often, nor am I a big fan of designer wear.
I sometimes struggle with saving because I love going abroad. Already, I have been on four holidays this year and still have another four before the end of the year. Also, going out in London is expensive.
Joel spends quite a bit on travel (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
How Joel spends:
Monthly expenses:
Marie Curie (charity) – £7
Amazon prime – £7.99
Phone bill – £30
Travel – £106
Gym – £20
Xbox membership – £6
Spotify – £10
Bank fee – £5
Standing order to savings account – £200
Help to buy ISA – £200
Apple storage – £2.49
Haircut – £10
Studio membership – £5
A week of spending:
Wednesday: As the weather is getting cold, I decide to buy long johns for £4.99 and a hoodie for £11.20 both from BoohooMAN – absolute bargain.
Thursday: Had a bit of a long day at work so I decide to get a Japanese takeaway for me and my mum so none of us have to cook. This cost £12 in total. I also go to Asda to buy some cooking sauce and rice which cost £2.84
Friday: I’m bored at work so I decide to do what I usually do when I’m bored – go on Tinder. I notice they’re doing a deal for 79p so I buy it (sad, I know).
I also spend £9.81 on an in-game purchase on my Xbox.
I get a call from my friend begging me to go clubbing with him, so I spend a further £6 on a small bottle of rum for pre-drinks. After clubbing, I buy a small portion of chips for £1.
Saturday: I stay at home and recover from the night before and spend £0.
Sunday: I book a return flight to Vienna for £62.
Monday: Before I go to work, I buy my weekly travelcard that costs me £26.50. Work is going a bit slow so I decide to do some online shopping. I spend £12 on a jacket and £3 on a vest on BoohooMAN. After work I go to Aldi and get some mackerel and calamari for £6.05.
Tuesday: I fly to Ibiza on Thursday morning and I currently look like a werewolf, so I get a haircut for £10.
Total spent this week: £168.18
How Joel can save:
We spoke to the experts over at money tracking app Cleo to find out how Joel can save better (and what we can learn from his spending).
Note: the advice featured is specific to one individual and doesn’t constitute financial advice, especially for a London budget.
Here’s what Cleo said:
Eight holidays and 208 BoohooMAN items a year… We feel like you should be some kind of BoohooMAN influencer by now.
Where you’re going right:
Bulk buying is a great way to reduce random food spends. Nice.
It’s a lot easier to save money if you never see it in the first place, so we’re fans of the standing order. Cleo actually has a really handy saving feature that helps you hide money from yourself.
For anyone reading: It’s your last chance to set up a Help to Buy ISA – they’re shutting down for good on Friday 30 November.
Where you’re going wrong:
You spent £31.19 on BoohooMAN this week. That’s over £1,600 a year.
For anyone reading: Just because an item of clothing is cheap doesn’t necessarily mean you should buy it. Planning ahead to work out what you really need can reduce impulse spending.
We’re not sure how much you’re spending per holiday but cutting down to six trips per year so you can get that house abroad more quickly feels like a good move.
Spending plan:
Let’s try to cut your online shopping spend in half. Boredom buying is a thing, and frictionless online shopping experiences make it easier to indulge.
Here are three things you can do to try to curb it:
Remove all your card details from your favourite online shopping sites.
Start bookmarking or wishlisting items instead of buying them at first sight. If you leave an item in a shopping basket for longer than 24 hours, it usually starts looking like another thing you definitely don’t need in your life.
Beat the boredom itself. While you’re saving for the confectionary business, maybe swap the swiping for some market research.
Bottom line: Time for a BoohooBAN?
How I Save is a weekly series about how people spend and save, out every Thursday. If you’d like to anonymously share how you spend and save – and get some expert advice on how to sort out your finances – get in touch by emailing ellen.scott@metro.co.uk.
One quarter of homeless young people in the UK are LGBT. Three quarters of them are homeless because their families have kicked them out or they’ve had to run away before something worse happens to them.
My story is part of that statistic.
I became homeless three years ago when I was 24.
Coming out to my relatives as queer led to a family breakdown, creating a very difficult situation for me. My mental health was deteriorating and I would constantly wake up with migraines that would last for days on end. I was scared for my life and didn’t know what to do.
I’d been sofa surfing for a while and was beginning to feel extremely lost. Being homeless took away my sense of belonging.
As I was trying to accept myself, I felt as though no one around me was (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
I felt displaced in the world and in my own social circle; it felt like there was nowhere I was meant to be and that I was constantly stepping on friends and my family’s toes.
This led to a massive dip in my mental health, after which I developed anxiety and depression.
I didn’t know when my next meal was. I felt like nobody had my back and trying to find work became even more difficult. I had graduated with a degree in media studies and wanted to pursue a career in the industry. However, my mental health was really bad and going to interviews became very difficult as I was trying to navigate my identity. It was also hard explaining to employers that I was queer.
Being queer presents enough challenges, particularly in the current political climate.And as I was trying to accept myself, I felt as though no one around me was.
People experiencing homelessness are so misrepresented in society; there’s a misconception that all of us are drug addicts, have no ambition and don’t want to do anything with our lives.
No one talks about redundancies, being disowned or thrown out of home by your family – or having to leave them before something worse happens (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
There’s a real taboo and stigma that can be almost impossible to overcome – not least because of the trauma and negative experiences people who are experiencing homelessness have had before becoming homeless.
No one talks about redundancies, being disowned or thrown out of home by your family – or having to leave them before something worse happens.
Being homeless doesn’t mean you’re a bum; it just means you’ve been dealt certain cards in your life that have led you to where you are.
People don’t understand how isolated you begin to feel, especially when they walk past you, either ignoring or judging you. I was fortunate enough not to be in this situation, but every time I walked past someone who was rough sleeping it made me realise how close I was to this and how it could have been me.
It’s rare to even see a smile – which costs nothing – from people passing by.
You have no food, no finances, your mental health deteriorates and you’re not sure where to seek help (Picture: Jerry Syder for Metro.co.uk)
Being LGBT and homeless is even tougher and comes with additional complexities and trauma.
When I tried to seek help and support from a local authority, nobody understood my identity and I was sent in all sorts of wrong directions. There’s a real lack of training and awareness within local authorities that needs addressing.
You’re already in a situation because your family has rejected you and you’re coming to terms with your own identity. On top of that, being a homeless person means having people look at you as though you’re nothing.
Being homeless also presents so many other challenges.
You have no food, no finances, your mental health deteriorates and you’re not sure where to seek help.
Charity akt supported me when I was homeless and after a few days I moved into their purple door safe house. They understood who I was and the support I needed.
If this kind of support had been available earlier, I’d have triumphed sooner.
After I moved out, I moved into private rented accommodation with one of the other people who’d been living there with me. We lived together as flatmates for around two years and became like family to one another.
I then went on to work for a housing association, where I am now a service development officer. Alongside my day job, I’m working to help create a hostel for homeless young trans men and I’m writing a book about my identity and experiences.
Looking back on my experience of homelessness makes me just want to help create positive change.
I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did.
At the end of the day, it’s just about being seen as human and being offered a smile and some support.
You can find out more about akt and their purple door safe house here.
Labels
Labels is an exclusive series that hears from individuals who have been labelled – whether that be by society, a job title, or a diagnosis. Throughout the project, writers will share how having these words ascribed to them shaped their identity — positively or negatively — and what the label means to them.
Parents are loving this reflective coat (Picture: Next)
You’ve probably noticed this, but it’s pretty dark in the evening these days.
Kids doing the walk to school will likely leave and return home to a dark sky.
There are risks greater than feeling a bit glum and wintery. When it’s dark out, it can be tricky for motorists to spot children crossing the road, leading to accidents.
As well as being super cosy thanks to a fleece lining and padded fabric, the coat is reflective, making the wearer more visible to those in cars.
One woman shared photos of her 12-year-old grandson wearing the coat in the Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK Facebook group, writing: ‘Got to share this… This is a pic my 12 year old Grandson in his new coat from next. I think it’s great for kids on these dark nights would be good for cyclists too.’
One grandmother shared a photo of what the coat looks like when light is shined on it in the dark (Picture: Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK)
That post has received more than 1,000 comments from other parents just as enthused about the coat, writing that it’s the perfect option for children whose schools ask that they wear black coats along with their uniforms.
Parents have also commented to mention that Asda and Primark sell similar styles – so if you’re not keen on the coat from Next, you have other options.
One mum wrote in the comments: ‘Such a simple idea, why aren’t all kids jackets made like this for the winter, it would save so many lives!’
Some people have suggested the reflective coats make kids look a tad ghostly, but we reckon that’s no bad thing.
If you were driving and thought you spotted a ghost, you’d probably slow down to take a better look, right?
The average woman spends almost £5,000 on period products (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
Contraception, sanitary products, hair cuts. Life just seems to be more expensive for women.
When it comes to period products such as pads and tampons, women have to fork out hundreds of pounds every year.
Menstrual cup brand Intimina commissioned research conducted by OnePoll to see exactly how much the average person spends on non-reusable products.
Results revealed the average woman spends $13.25 (£10.24) a month on menstrual products.
That adds up to $6,360 (£4,916) in an average woman’s reproductive lifetime – between the ages of 12 and 52.
In a family of two women, that figure goes up to £9,952, a little shy of £10,000, all of which comes out of peoples’ own pockets.
It’s no surprise then that in the survey of 2,000 women (aged 18-55), half reported having experienced period poverty.
60% of respondents admitted to budgeting in order to afford sanitary items and 79% have made sacrifices or gone with less in order to afford their necessities.
The majority of participants in the study also felt that the government should mandate free menstrual products for everyone (in Scotland, for example, period products are free to students).
‘As studies have shown, many women find feminine hygiene products overpriced, which of course only proves that the image of period poverty is real,’ said Danela Žagar of Intimina.
‘Moreover, it not only brings financial issues to the table but also drags behind strong feelings of stress, which can lead to health problems and lower self-esteem.’
If women had easy access to necessities then they would be less likely to skip out on commitments due to their periods.
46% of respondents admitted to skipping a class because of menstruation, while 45% canceled a date or left work early.
The women surveyed also agreed that menstruation products should be stocked for free in schools, colleges and universities and in the workplace.
‘Period poverty is strongly tied to finances, but its accessibility is the other as important issue,’ added Danela.
‘Still, in this so-called modern century, there are hundreds of thousands of women that have limited access to the menstrual hygiene products.
‘Therefore, we need to make sure that by educating and donating these products to schools and organisations, we reach as many women all around the world as possible.
‘Raising awareness is the crucial point in the period movement to fight period poverty and increase the accessibility of feminine hygiene products.’
Insects are a more sustainable source of protein (Picture: Roberts Bakery)
A bakery has become the first in the UK to launch insect bread, made with hundreds of crickets that have been ground into flour.
The batch of limited-edition Crunchy Cricket Loaves has been whipped up in The Exploratory – Roberts’ concept kitchen
The bread is made using cricket flour, which is supplied by Eat Grub – the UK’s leading insect food brand – and sourced from the world’s only farm with Grade A BRC food safety certification.
Each loaf contains around 336 crickets, which are dried, ground, mixed with wheat flour and grains and then baked to become a tremendously tasty loaf with a crunchy finish.
Roberts’ Crunchy Cricket Loaf contains more protein than standard bread and is also a more sustainable source of it.
More than 1,900 species of insect are used for food (Picture: Roberts Bakery)
A recent study shows that crickets have antioxidant power five times higher than fresh orange juice.
They are also said to be good for the gut, to the high levels of chitinous fibre found in their exoskeleton. This helps to increase levels of a metabolic enzyme associated with gut health.
‘As well as having very strong sustainability and environmental credentials, insects are also seriously tasty and shouldn’t be overlooked as a great recipe ingredient,’ says Alison Ordonez, Head of Innovation at the bakery firm.
‘Our Cricket Loaf provides consumers with a good source of protein and an easy way to familiarise themselves with insect-based food.
‘We’re passionate about boosting growth in the bread category with relevant, sustainable and interesting bakes. The first-in-the-UK Roberts Cricket Loaf is yet another example of this.’
Insect eating, or entomophagy, is common in much of the world. The UN estimated last year that at least two billion people eat insects – and more than 1,900 species are used for food.
They’re also a popular choice among those who want to protect the environment, because farming insects uses less land, water and feed than conventional livestock farming.
Roberts’ first batch of Crunchy Cricket Loaf is limited to 100 loaves, and ten of these are up for grabs for lucky competition winners.
To be in with a chance of getting your hands on one, visit @RobertsBakeryUK on Facebook from 28 November to 5 December. The 10 winners will be announced later that day.
