Christmas is a magical time for children and adults alike, with a visit from Santa expected at the end of the month for those who believe in the tales of the festive Father Christmas character.
While Christmas grottos can be a great way to get kids excited for Christmas and engage them in the idea of Santa in the build up to December 25, another way for children to share their Christmas wishes (and for you to get a peek at their wish list) is to send a letter of card to Santa.
If you’re planning on helping your kids write to Santa, you better be quick, the deadline is at the end of this week. Here’s how to get a letter to the man in red in Lapland before Christmas.
How to send a letter to Santa via Royal Mail
To send a letter or card to Santa via Royal Mail, simply create your greeting, wish list or note and pop it in an envelope.
If you would like a personalised reply from Santa, make sure you include a full name and return address along with your letter, so they know who to address a response to.
The deadline for posting a letter to Santa at the address below is Friday December 6 if you would like to be in with a chance of getting a response.
What is Santa’s address?
To send a message to Santa at the North Pole and hopefully get a personalised reply, send any letters or cards to:
Don’t forget to stick a stamp on the envelope as you would with any normal card. You can post the stamped and addressed envelope into any Royal Mail letterbox.
While we marvel at tiny houses on Netflix shows and complain about London renting, in South Korea thousands of low-income workers and students are living in cubicles so small only one person can fit inside at a time.
Goshitels – also known as Goshiwans – are tiny housing units than measure less than five square metres, packed into towering apartment blocks.
Typically the kitchens and bathrooms are shared with other residents, so those who live in Goshiwans have only small box rooms as their own space. Many of the rooms don’t even have windows.
The mini homes were originally designed as temporary accommodation for students but rising housing prices have pushed those on lower incomes to settle for tiny living spaces.
In Goshitels rent is cheap (some are around £100 a month), there’s no need for a deposit, and there are no maintenance fees.
The reality of fitting life into a tiny box has been captured by photographer Sim Kyu-doing, who began to document the phenomenon of Goshitels after living in various miniature units for five years at the start of his career in Seoul.
He wanted to capture the true existence of the people living in overwhelmingly cramped and claustrophobic conditions in one of Seoul’s forgotten provinces.
Pictures show residents cramming themselves into tiny beds, taking showers in sinks next to where they sleep, and cooking meals in tiny kitchen spaces by their belongings, piled high on the floor.
This year’s blue isn’t light and airy, however. Instead, it’s Classic Blue, a more strong and stable shade chosen to provide a ‘dependable foundation’ for these anxiety-ridden times.
It’s the colour of the sky at dusk and blueberries, that works just as well on an item of clothing as it does on an accent wall in your kitchen.
This isn’t a blue that’s flimsy or weak. It’s strong and simple. A sort of reliable neutral rather than a blue that says anything too shocking about its wearer.
Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says: ‘We are living in a time that requires trust and faith. It is this kind of constancy and confidence that is expressed by Pantone 19-405 Classic Blue, a solid and dependable blue hue we can always rely on.’
So basically, in a time when politicians make stuff up, trust in the establishment is low, f***bois are rife and you can’t rely on anyone, Classic Blue is there for you.
Is Classic Blue the dependable father figure you never had? Maybe. But perhaps discuss this further with your therapist.
It also makes a great nail polish shade.
Leatrice adds that as well as being dependable, Classic Blue is also the deep thinking type: ‘A boundless blue evocative of the vast and infinite evening sky, Classic Blue encourages us to look beyond the obvious to expand our thinking; challenging us to think more deeply, increase our perspective and open the flow of communication’.
Pantone also reckons that surrounding yourself with Classic Blue in 2020 will bring a sense of ‘peace and tranquility’ while also ‘aiding concentration and bringing laser like clarity’.
They describe the colour as ‘honest’, ‘non-aggressive’, and protective.
All that for a colour that’s likely to be dismissed by fools as navy.
Don’t worry if you’re not quite ready to embrace this ‘universal favourite’ just yet. Remember that Classic Blue is the colour of 2020, so we still have a few weeks to remain in the chaos of 2019 and hang out in this year’s ‘playful’ colour, Living Coral.
All the previous colours of the year:
PANTONE 16-1546 Living Coral (2019)
PANTONE 18-3838 Ultra Violet (2018)
PANTONE 15-0343 Greenery (2017)
PANTONE 15-3919 Serenity and PANTONE 13-1520 Rose Quartz (2016)
The first time I was called loud was in primary school. I was around nine years old and it was written in my school report.
I’d been called ‘distracting’ and ‘boisterous’ before, but this one was different. This time I was ‘loud’ too.
There were definitely some positives in the report, but this was the word that stood out to me.
Being the only black girl in school can have a serious effect on you. And that’s without being deemed ‘loud.’
I immediately went into defense mode. I wasn’t loud, I knew I wasn’t louder than the other kids. At first I thought, ‘Loud? What does she even mean? Everyone spoke loudly in class.’
From that report onwards, every class and new school I went to I would have that label in the back of my mind. Many of my peers would jump on that label and deem me as aggressive or bullying because I was hyper or laughed ridiculously loudly.
This is the stigma that many black girls face. As soon as they raise their voice or make a facial expression that seems out of place, they are deemed as too loud or angry.
Many of these stereotypes come from the early 20th Century when white men would dress in blackface and perform on stage, mocking black women and portraying them as loud, masculine and unattractive.
White audiences not only found these acts amusing but they also accepted these representations as truth.
Serena Williams faced this same stigma during her US Open final. During the final, Williams received a code violation for coaching, a penalty point for breaking her racket and a game penalty for calling the umpire a ‘thief’. And later, a fine of $17,000 (£13,000).
Serena herself said she had seen other top players behave in similar ways before without punishment. The fact that she alone was punished certainly had an impact on the way people have gone on to regard her.
The black girl Bible, Slay In Your Lane by Yomi Adegoke and Elizabeth Uviebinené, highlighted the fact that many black women receive the label of ‘the angry black woman’ for simply expressing their mind or giving their opinion – at home or in the workplace.
All the way from primary school to the end of A-Levels, this stigma stuck with me. To this day, at 24 years old, girls from school still accuse me of bullying behaviour. But I know who I was in school and who I am now.
Whenever people face me with that accusation, I just shut them down straight away and say, ‘That wasn’t who I am. I wasn’t a bully. It was someone else.’
As I have grown up, I have learnt to embrace my loudness and not dumb down my personality for anyone for the fear of being branded angry.
I now refuse to let loud be equated with being aggressive. It doesn’t mean I’m more dominant. It doesn’t mean I’m a bully.
Yes, my laugh can be heard all the way in France. I like to think that means I have a very vibrant presence.
I’m also funny and hardworking. I wish my school teacher had given me one of these labels instead.
Ultimately though, I am trying to learn to turn my label into a positive.
For me, being loud just means being heard. In a world where black people – black women in particular – are widely ignored or not given a voice, I want mine to be heard.
If I am loud, it does not mean I am angry. It does not mean I am aggressive. I am me and I will never feel ashamed of that.
To my old school friends and teachers I want to say this: No, I wasn’t angry or mean, I was just a black girl.
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.
Congratulations are in order for Luigi, the Beagle who’s been crowned the winning slimming champion PDSA’s Pet Fit Club.
Luigi once weighed nearly 5st thanks to a love of roast dinners (same, Luigi. Same.).
He took on the Fit Club challenge, changing his diet and upping his exercise to drop to a healthy weight of 3st 3lb. He managed to lose eight inches from his waist over the course of six months, which is very impressive.
Luigi’s weight loss journey wasn’t down to any special tricks, just the simple stuff – he spent more time outside for walks and cut his intake of extra food and treats.
His owner Perrie Eedy, 28, said: ‘His love of roast dinners was entirely my fault, I love them myself. As a treat I would give him a bit of carrot or some beef. I thought I was being kind.
‘He loves all food, especially human food and he will want it even more if we’re eating it, especially meat – pork is his favourite. On Sundays, he gets carrots with his biscuits and gravy on top while we have our Sunday roast.
‘Since overhauling Luigi’s diet and exercise regime, the change we’ve seen in him has been unbelievable, he’s a different dog now.
‘At first the weight came off slowly, but after a couple of months of being strict and really sticking to it, we noticed a big difference in him and his body shape.’
Losing weight isn’t easy, and Luigi’s journey wasn’t without its challenges.
When his owners got married earlier this year and had to put the dog in a home boarding kennel for a few nights, he broke into the locked utility room and was found ‘head-first in a bag of food’.
He also had a lapse in resolve and stole a birthday cake Perrie had left cooling on the kitchen counter.
But the dog made it through and is now in a far healthier place.
Luigi’s transformation has had the bonus of boosting Perrie’s health, too.
She said: ‘We spend more time outdoors exploring new places with him now, and it’s helped me with my exercise too as I go out on runs and long bike rides with him.
‘He has totally transformed from the dog we used to drag out on walks before, he’s often running well ahead of us now.’
Coming second to Luigi was Missi the Bulldog from Walsall, West Midlands, whose love of ice cream saw her reach 6st 13lb before losing 24% of her weight.
Owner Gemma Pittaway, from Walsall, said at the start of Missi’s challenge: ‘She gets very excited when she hears the ice cream van coming – it’s her favourite. She always gets given a free Mr. Whippy when we get there!
‘Missi is always on the look-out for food and will eat anything, which is difficult when my youngest girl feeds her leftovers. She constantly begs for our leftovers when we’re eating dinner.
‘Her arthritis makes increasing her exercise difficult as even just a five minute walk can affect her joints the next day. And her weight means she finds it hard to breathe and I’m worried about her longer term health. We urgently need to get her weight down and I’m excited to see the transformation over the coming months.’
Percy still has some pounds to shed, now weighing 1st 9lb.
Percy’s owner Chloe Morrison, from Ballieston, said: ‘I’m over the moon with the results so far, and my friends and family can’t believe how much thinner he is now.
‘I used to get comments from people in the street about him being the biggest Pug they’d ever seen, which thankfully I don’t get any more.
‘He can run around much easier now and he has more stamina on walks.
‘Before, he would refuse to go any further on walks, but he’s able to go much longer now.’
Vets at Cardiff PDSA Pet Hospital, who oversaw all the animals’ challenges, called on pet owners concerned about their pet’s weight to work with their vet.
PDSA vet nurse Nina Downing said: ‘Pet obesity is a growing issue that affects millions of UK pets. We believe up to 50% of dogs and cats in the UK are overweight or obese, which can lead to serious long-term health problems and a shortened life expectancy.’
An teenager dedicates hours to create a stunning Christmas lights show – across five houses – to raise vital funds for local air ambulances.
Ben Charles, 18, from Brentwood, Essex has been devising these complicated, computer-controlled festive displays since he was 13.
Each display consists of hundreds of individually controllable ‘smart’ pixels, all sequenced to a variety of music, from pop hits to Christmas classics.
‘I have always loved Christmas lights – since I was a toddler, according to my mum,’ Ben tells Metro.co.uk.
The teen was inspired to create the synchronised show after watching impressive videos on YouTube – he decided to ask for all the gear he needed to put the show together for Christmas.
‘I’ve always loved music, so setting the lights to a soundtrack of Christmas and non-Christmas music seemed obvious,’ he says.
Ben spent 2015 researching and learning how the different equipment worked. He discovered intelligent lights and Ethernet controllers which enable him to control each RGB bulb independently of the next.
Every light that in the display has a low-energy red, green and blue LED inside of it, and by adjusting the brightness of these, millions of colours can be created.
Ben said: ‘In 2015, my display was one of the first five domestic synchronised displays in the country, so getting pre-made parts has always been difficult.
‘So, I design and assemble all the props in the display myself – including the arches, icicles and pixel matrix. It has certainly been a learning curve.’
Ben says the most time-consuming part of the whole process is, by far, the programming.
He added: ‘I sequence the lights to the music throughout the year, sometimes spending a couple of hours per minute of music. This year’s playlist is nearly 20 minutes long and features a huge mix of songs.
‘I can control the brightness and colour of every light bulb individually, allowing for millions of possibilities.
‘As well as the programming side of things, which I can do from the warm comfort of my laptop, I also spend hours putting the lights up.’
This year, Ben’s lights are spread across five houses, using several thousand RGB pixels connected by the best part of a kilometre of assorted types of wire. So it’s quite the job.
While the main display is for Christmas, Ben also does a reduced display for Halloween, which gives him an excuse to start getting the lights out in October.
Ben started using his display to raise money for charity in 2016.
‘I selected the Essex Air Ambulance, a lifesaving service that receives minimal funding from the government,’ says Ben. ‘I wanted to select a charity that anyone can benefit from.
‘The neighbours and their children have always loved the display, and surprisingly, we have never had a complaint about the music every day.
‘Families come year after year, sometimes from quite far away, each time bringing more people with them. It is such a nice atmosphere when there are crowds outside. This year we even plan on selling hot chocolate.
‘One very dedicated family even came to every single showing (twice per night) of the Halloween light show in October.’
Ben says that seeing the enjoyment in the crowd makes the hours of preparation and hard work in the cold feel completely worth it. And raising money for the Essex and Hertz Air Ambulance Trust makes it even better.
‘This year I am hoping to raise more than in previous years combined,’ says Ben. ‘As word of mouth spreads, more come each year, and I have put significantly more effort into the display this season, so I hope that it is recognised.’
The show lasts around 20 minutes, and is played twice each night at 6pm and 7pm.
If you’re looking to update your dating profile for 2020, pop in a mention of the climate crisis.
Following a year of increasing support for climate-related causes, with 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg leading the way, it should come as no surprise that young people want a partner who cares about the environment.
Tinder has just released its Year in Swipe report, which shows that the climate crisis is one of the most popular topics mentioned in bios, especially among Gen Z, who were born after 1997.
There’s some debate about where the age range ends, with some saying it ends with those who are currently 22, and others state it can include people up to the age of 25 in 2019. For the report, Tinder has focused on the bios of 18-25 year olds.
Lucy, 22, wouldn’t be put off if a man didn’t have an environmentally-focused bio, but it’s always a draw if he does.
‘I mean don’t want them to boast about it, like have “I heart earth” in their bio, but I’d say if there was someone whose bio had ‘studies environmental sciences’, that would definitely give them more of a chance in my eyes,’ she tells us.
‘It would be nice to find someone who cares about the environment and has a bit more to them than “I want money and a nice body”.
‘I want them to fulfill me in other ways.’
Generation Z don’t want to talk about that wild trip to Ibiza or the time you went snorkeling among sharks in Pacific, they would much rather bond with you over important causes that affect the globe like rising sea levels or politics.
If you also like Greta, you’ll get bonus points – she’s one of the most mentioned women on Tinder in 2019.
Sarah, 24, tells us that caring about climate change is definitely a desirable characteristic – but she worries about her partner being too invested in it.
‘If I see someone’s dating profile mentions the environment it’s definitely a turn-on as I do deeply care about climate change and making an impact,’ she says.
‘But if they’re militantly XR [Extinction Rebellion] or vegan, I worry that they will not be any fun, or that they will tell me off for doing something wrong rather than helping me learn and make the right choices.
‘I come from a farming family and while I don’t believe in mass-produced meats, sustainable farming could be a good thing for this country, so I don’t want to be bollocked for enjoying a ham and cheese sarnie.’
However, the way to a millennial’s heart isn’t necessarily through climate change.
Instead, they are three times more likely to focus on travelling and talking about exotic journeys to foreign lands (add a plane emoji to your bio, just in case).
Callum Wade, a 28-year-old millennial, isn’t bothered about dating someone who is overtly interested in environmental causes.
‘It wouldn’t bother me, because that’s not what relationships are based on,’ he tells us.
‘And who knows.. you could be the inside man who reforms them to actually care.
‘Climate change and the environment are high up there for a lot of people. If you enter a relationship and the other person doesn’t hold the same views, use that as an opportunity to educate them and possibly you could build a stronger relationship by doing so.
‘I’m currently single so I’m open to any views at the moment. I’ll leave the educational brainwashing until it’s too late for them to get away from me.’
So why is climate change so important to the younger generation?
While more awareness of environmental issues has certainly played its part, there’s a behavioural aspect to why we are attracted to people who share our values – it stems from our childhood.
‘Physical attraction aside, people who influenced us throughout our childhood play an instrumental role in ruling who we are attracted to throughout adulthood,’ said human behaviour specialist, Adele Walker.
‘For instance, study’s have shown that if you experience physical pain as a child (from falling over etc.) and you are comforted by someone who is tall and shows great empathy, then it is likely that you will find such traits attractive in further years.
‘The same logic applies to what we believe is right and wrong with regards to morals and integrity. If we find someone who mirrors the same belief system as us that stems from our childhood, then we are likely to be attracted to them.
‘If a person is passionate about climate change, then their beliefs are often integrated into their everyday living and governs many of their lifestyle choices. These lifestyle choices can go from minor acts such as basic recycling to major life decisions such as opting to not have children.
‘For this reason, for those who are passionate about climate change, finding a partner who shares a similar view is not a ‘nice to have’ in order to tick the box of “shared interests” but a “must have” required to future proof a relationship.’
However, that doesn’t mean you can’t swipe right on someone hot who is bad at recycling or that all meat-eaters are evil.
The important thing is to figure out what you will and won’t compromise on.
And like Callum said, you could always be the one to convert them to more climate-friendly ways.
It’s hard to escape Tinder if you are single these days.
From casual one-night-stands to the love of your life, dating apps are the place to meet.
If you want to know what everyone is talking about and what are the most popular things to include in your bio, you’re in luck.
Whether you want to fit in with everyone else, or just avoid the trends to stand out, the Tinder Year in Swipe report reveals everything you need.
This was the year that saw Gen Z taking over and it’s now the generation that represents the majority of the Tinder community. There’s a lot of debate about where Gen Z ends and Millenials begin but Tinder has defined it as 18 (the minimum age to join the app) to 25-year-olds.
Emojis
Tinder users have been facepalming a lot this year. The emoji representing thrusting your hand into your face saw a 41% increase in Tinder bios this year.
Other popular emojis included the shrug with over 50% of Gen Zers including it and the ok hand sign emoji, with almost a fifth of 18-25-year-olds adding it to their bio.
Who run the world?
UK swipers were here for female stars in 2019. The most mentioned women in bios in 2019 included JLo, after THAT dress, and Jennifer Aniston, probably after she joined Instagram.
Other popular ladies included Ariana Grande, Fleabag, climate activist Greta Thunberg and former PM Theresa May.
With Lizzo climbing charts, she also ranked as one of the top artists Gen Z users included in their bio using the Spotify feature.
Foodie trends
Greggs vegan sausage rolls were a third more popular with Gen Z swipers than Millenials. Millennials preferred to mention avo on toast and stick to that stereotype.
Tinder terminology
Real was the most used term in Gen Z Tinder bios but other popular ones included lit, woke and stan.
2019 Tinder terminology in bios
Real
Lit
Cause/Mission
Stan
Tea
Travel
Woke
Connection
Explore
Snack
Trending topics
Gen Zs were more likely to mention causes or missions than travel in their bios, compared to Millenials who loved to talk about places they had visited. They were three times more likely to mention holidays in their bios.
Some other big topics included veganism, Glastonbury, Harry and Meghan having a baby and even Brexit was up there. We guess it’s best to make sure your political views align before the first date.
Top trending topics in bios on Tinder in 2019
Vegan
Brexit
Meghan and Harry
Keto
Climate Crisis
Glastonbury
Marathon
Boris Johnson
More LGBTQ users
30% more people used the More Genders feature this year and usage of the rainbow emoji in bios was up 15% globally.
Let me entertain you
Chatting with your matches about the latest big TV show is always a popular way to build a connection. This year, Game of Thrones, Love Island and Fleabag were the most mentioned in bios. When it came to music, the top artists were Lewis Capaldi, JLo and Ariana Grande.
Don’t be afraid to mention politics
Gen Z swipers were much more likely to mention politics than Millenials. The slightly older generation mentioned the gym and marathons more.
Our weekly series How I Save challenges people to get honest about their money situation. Really honest.
We want to take a realistic look at how we’re spending and saving our money, to get a better sense of what our budgets should actually look like.
So each week we ask someone to track their spending for a week and recap their saving habits, then we give them some expertise they (and we) can learn from.
This time we’re chatting to Lily*, a 30-year-old charity fundraiser living in London.
How Lily saves:
I earn £29,000 a year and in my savings account right now I have £13,200 – £11,400 of which is in a two-year fixed ISA.
The ISA is a mixture of money that was put aside by my mum when I was a kid (when you could get actual interest) and money I saved through working full time while at university – I worked evenings and weekends so I had quite a boring life which kept my outgoings really low. In hindsight I wish I’d worked less and had more fun.
I currently save about £1,500 a year.
I’m saving for a house deposit (eventually) and holidays (I have family abroad and a long list of places I’d like to travel to.
Most of my savings are in an ISA I can’t withdraw from which keeps it safe from the ‘borrowing’ habit I had when I was a bit younger.
I put £100 a month into a savings account I can only withdraw from in person in the bank and £50 into one I can access at any time, which I treat a bit more like a piggy bank.
These come out along with my rent when I get paid so I never really see the money, which helps me budget. When I first started working full time on a living wage I saved £50 a month. I’ve gradually increased this as I earned more.
I also use the Chip app on my phone to save small amounts at a time as an extra contingency fund.
I worry too much about money, given that I am in a pretty stable situation. I think it’s because I’ve lost jobs suddenly before and been unemployed for many months and I want to make the most of being in a good position.
I check my bank account most days and work out how much I have left to spend per day until I get paid and that helps me mentally plan spending.
I put expensive items on an interest-free credit card and am sensible about paying it off in installments – I never buy anything if I haven’t worked out I can afford it and how much I’ll pay off each month.
I don’t really leave myself enough wiggle room for emergencies and sometimes I need to pause my standing orders, like with Christmas coming up. Sometimes I get fed up with being sensible and buy something expensive I don’t need.
How Lily spends:
Monthly expenses:
Rent & bills – £640
Therapy – £140
Savings – £150
A week of spending:
Monday: I make a charity donation of £10, buy a bag of oranges for £1.95, and spend £3 on bus fares.
Tuesday: My bus and Tube journey come to £6.30, but I’ll get £4.80 of this back in expenses.
A drink after work comes to £5.65.
Wednesday: My contactless is blocked so I have to buy something before I can use the Tube – I buy a croissant for £1.40.
£12 goes towards a staff social activity, then £7 goes on Tube and bus travel.
Thursday: £3 on bus fares. I buy lunch at a food market for £4.50, then pick up some eggs and veg on the way home for £3.30.
Friday: £12 goes on a bus and Tube journey, but £10.80 of this counts as expenses.
A train to visit a friend costs £20. I send £5 to a crowdfunder while I’m on the journey.
Saturday: I stay in with my friend so I don’t spend anything!
Sunday: £2.40 on a Tube journey, £8.24 on groceries.
Total spent this week: £97.94
How Lily could 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:
There are people who start thinking they’re rich on a night out and wake up with money ‘missing’. There are also people who don’t seem to go out at all but have a ‘mysterious’ hole in their budget at the end of the month (this is you).
Main vice:
You said you sometimes get fed up with being sensible and buy expensive things you don’t need. Unless you’re talking about the eggs and veg on the way home, we’re struggling to see where you’re spending anything on yourself at all.
We think your monthly income is about £1,900. We deducted your monthly expenses (£930) and weekly outgoings (around £350 a month). This left us with £620… Where’s it all going?!
You’re either not spending enough on yourself for fun things or you are, and you’re just not telling us about it. Either way, something needs to change.
For anyone reading: Cleo has a dedicated Roast Mode that helps you confront all the spending you wish you never committed. Just say ‘roast me’ and she’ll do the rest.
Where you’re going right:
We really can’t fault any of your weekly spending (that you’ve told us about). Your most expensive purchase was the £20 train ticket to see your friend, and we think stuff like this is super important.
Checking your bank balance most days and mentally planning your spending is very admirable, but we also suspect this takes a lot of time and effort. There are heaps of budgeting apps out there that can help you with this kind of stuff.
Spending plan:
We’ve bumped up the amount you’re moving to savings each month (so you have a bit more wiggle room for emergencies) and given you a dedicated budget category to record any spending on yourself.
Monthly expenses: £1,030. This includes £250 towards your savings.
Weekly spending: £400 for your groceries, transport and ad hoc croissants.
Fun(d): We’re giving you £400 this month. Once Christmas is up, we think you should start moving some of this into a dedicated holiday fund, given there are so many places you want to go!
Bottom line:
Be the fun you want to see in the world. Don’t be afraid to spend a bit more on yourself (or to own up to it afterwards).
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.
If you’ve ever joined a dating app and matched someone, but dithered so hard over your initial message you just… never talk, then don’t worry, you’re not alone.
Humans, with our affinity for endless swiping, often forget to actually get the ball rolling and respond to some of the people we’re matching with.
So one app, aimed at Muslims looking for suitors, is putting an end to it by deleting the match after 48 hours if you fail to respond (Bumble has a similar idea, giving women a 24-hour deadline to get in touch, but Muzproposal is aimed specifically at Muslims).
Muzproposal is the work of Faisal Qureshi, who wanted to create a service where users are pushed to converse within a time limit.
He tells Metro.co.uk that there have already been some success stories – by which we mean engagement and marriage.
The app, free to users on the App Store and Google Play store, lets women start the chat but if you buy the premium version, the ball is in anyone’s court.
Faisal is hopeful the app will be used for all the right reasons.
Faisal tells Metro.co.uk: ‘We know timing is everything in the Desi community. One has to finish education at a certain age, one has to marry at a certain age and so on. As a result, this is a new cool concept for the Muslim community.’
Faisal tested other dating apps and found that a major problem was the lack of a sense of urgency.
He added: ‘A lot of people are on these apps just to sit around and swipe right or left for hours and once they match with someone, no one talks.
‘And unlike other apps where girls get bombarded with guys’ messages, on our app we empower women to be in control.’
It works similar to other apps where you swipe right for those you fancy, the user will then have 48 hours to match.
And once the match has been made, a further 48-hour countdown will begin, for the woman to start up a conversation. If she doesn’t, the match shall be forever lost.
Unless you bump into them at a Tesco.
Muzproposal also has real-life events at venues across British Colombia, Canada, where they’ve had four marriages.
In the States, they’ve had more than 60 proposals. UK users are now able to download the app and get mingling.
Well, now she’s got more human lookalike pals. The kitty’s owner, Tatyana Rastorgueva, is a cat breeder who’s been doing the job since 2002.
All her adorable kittens are the result of painstaking selective breeding. As a result, they all have oddly human faces.
Tatyana, a 44-year-old felinologist and animal lover from Russia, has been documenting her pets on her Instagram.
Valkyrie is just one of the cats to be a social media star. The other unusual Maine Coons are the result of breeding father cat Vatican and mother cat Lucien.
All of the kittens in Tatyana’s care have a recognisable face and piercing eyes.
Tatyana, from Moscow, says: ‘I really love animals, cats have always been a part of my life.
‘But I began to professionally breed cats in 2002, I have been working directly with Maine Coons since 2004. I like what I do, I can say that cats are my calling.
‘Each breeder has his own vision of the breed and selects individuals for further selection according to those traits that are important to him.
‘I can say that while working with the breed, I focused on the type of Maine Coon that I like, that’s why I now have a recognisable “face” type of kittens in my nursery.
‘This is just a long painstaking work of the breeder. I love all animals, especially cats. Maine Coons captured my heart completely.’
If you thought that the only exciting thing coming from Yeezy in the coming months is their Crocs-style Foam Runner, you’d definitely be wrong.
It’s a real Christmas of treats for lovers of Kanye’s footwear, as there are multiple drops set to take place over the month ahead.
You can expect new colourways for old favourites, as well as some long-awaited brand new styles.
Those who enjoy a high top or basketball shoe will get a welcome (Yeezy) boost, as there’s plenty in that arena, too.
Here are the upcoming drops this December.
Yeezy Boost 380 ‘Alien’
Expect a re-release of a favourite colourway from the ever-popular Yeezy Boost 380 style.
The perforated upper is in a camo style, and the rubber bottoms are glow in the dark, so you’ll definitely stand out.
The sneakers, which cost $230, will be released on election day, so some choices may need to be made.
Drop date: 12 December
Yeezy Boost 350 v2 ‘Yeezreel’ and ‘Yecheil’
The Yeezy 350 Boost is arguably one of the more iconic styles to come from the house of Kanye.
Get ready for two new colourways, including Yeezreel, which is as bright as can be, and Yecheil, which are much smokier.
The Yeezreels will have two drops – one for reflective and one for non-reflective – and Yecheil will come later in the month. They’ll all retail for $220.
Yeezreel non-reflective drop date: 14 December
Yeezreel refective drop date: 17 December
Yecheil drop date: 19 December
Yeezy 500 High
500s are getting an upgrade with these sleek high tops, that come in navy blue with a bone white sole.
The signature adiPrene inside the cut-outs on the upper shows that even a bulky shoe like this can be super streamlined.
Drop date: 16 December
Yeezy Boost 700 ‘Carbon Blue’
For those who rate the less heavy outsoles of the 700s, these are a real treat.
The Carbon Blue colourway is mostly neutral tones, with teal and powder blues dominating. The pops of yellow on the outsole really bring them all together though.
One of the pricier releases this year, these will set you back $300.
Drop date: 18 December
Yeezy Boost 700 v3
This release was a long time coming, and you may have spotted the v3s when Kanye gifted a pair of them to DJ Khaled.
Both stars private jetted to a runway for the exchange of goods, which wasn’t remotely environmentally friendly, but was pretty cool.
The drop is right before Christmas, so you might want to pop them on your list. They’ll retail for $180.
Drop date: 23 December
Yeezy Basketball
Kanye himself debuted these in 2018, and they’ve been banned by the NBA before they’re even out due to the design.
Apparently, the reflective elements could be bad for the game when flash photography and lights him them.
There’s no official drop date yet, but they’ve been in the works for some time, and word on the street is that it might be this winter. Stay tuned.
Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN
You may have seen these billed as the Yeezy Boost 700 VX in earlier leaks, but it was recently confirmed they’ll be the adidas Yeezy Boost 700 MNVN.
The retail price tag is set at $220, which is lower than the $300 price tag of the previous Yeezy 700s.
They don’t skimp on the flashy, though, with a triple black option, and one with an orange and reflective upper.
No official release date is set yet, but word on the street is that it’ll be this winter, so keep your eyes pealed.
People don’t say ‘friendship goals’ as often these days (that was more of a 2017 thing, right?), but Olive Woodward and Kathleen Saville are worthy of bringing the phrase back.
Olive and Kathleen have been friends for nearly 80 years, and are such great pals they moved into the same care home just so they could spend more time together.
The pair, both 89, met at school when they were 11, sitting next to each other in class at Ravenshead School, Nottingham, in 1941.
It turned out they lived down the road from each other, too.
They quickly became mates and – perhaps unlike the person you swapped friendship bracelets with when you were 10 – stayed in touch throughout the years.
Their husbands both worked at the Coal Board and they lived on the same road in Mansfield all their lives, so it’s been pretty easy to keep close.
Kathleen, whose husband Leonard died in 1989 after a 35-year marriage, moved into Berry Hill Park care home in Mansfield last year.
Olive, who has two grown-up daughters, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, lost her husband Roy in 2004.
She lived on her own in Mansfield following Roy’s death but has now joined Kathleen in the care home with a room down the hall.
The pair, who are two of the oldest residents at the home, now spend all their time together and say the secret to their long friendship is never arguing.
Kathleen said: ‘We are 89 but we look 63. We have been good friends and never fallen out.
‘We are still good looking. We have never argued over anything. She’s a good friend.
‘If I needed her she would always be there. We used to get dates and not turn up.
‘I also used to give them the wrong address, just in case I didn’t like them or want them anymore.
‘We don’t cause any trouble in the home, but we sometimes have to knock the staff into shape.
‘I just raced one of the managers down the hallway for a laugh.
‘I’m so glad Olive is here now, we’re like giggling school girls and we still put on our
lippy and get dressed up.
‘We always say to each other ‘if you’ve got it, flaunt it.’
Once again, let me say: goals.
Kathleen, who worked as a supervisor at Mansfield Telephone Exchange, added: ‘I just knew we would always be friends when I met Olive. She means a lot to me.
‘We’ve stayed friends by telling each other what we think and never arguing.
‘If Olive goes first she’ll come back to fetch me. We’re going to be friends in heaven.’
Olive moved into a room opposite Kathleen in the 66-room complex last month.
Olive, who worked as a typist, said: ‘She is jolly and a good laugh and we don’t argue.
‘We are still capable of looking after ourselves and each other.
‘We lived around the corner from each other all our lives so living down the hall seemed an obvious thing to do.
‘I feel very lucky to have my best friend down the hall. We’ve built many memories together and we’re making more every day.
‘When Kathleen moved into the home I missed her and I used to go and see her every Saturday for lunch. Then I thought, why don’t I move in too?
‘If I’m unhappy or in trouble I only have to go to Kathleen and we’ll always end up laughing.’
Kathleen married Leonard in 1954 while Olive got hitched to Roy two years later.
Both men worked at the Coal Board in Mansfield together before Leonard died aged 60 in 1989 and Roy passed away in 2004.
Care home manager Sally Tebbett said: ‘The sparkle is still there. They are full of mischief.
‘Kathleen is a proper flirt and has her lippy on every day. She says ‘if you have got it, flaunt it.’
‘Olive is a bit more reserved but they egg each other on.
‘We always love to see friendships blossoming amongst residents, so it was even more special that our care home reunited such dear friends.
‘They never stop chatting and giggling. It’s so endearing, they genuinely love each other and you can see that.
‘Since they have been reunited, Kathleen and Olive have been inseparable, causing just as much mischief in the home as they used to when they became friends 78 years ago.’
Kids grow up fast but when you’re a busy parent, sometimes it’s easy to forget what your kids were like this time last year.
One woman has shared a lovely way to remember how much taller kids have got each year with a new tradition.
Chynna Quinn, from Brisbane, Australia, posted about using a length of ribbon to measure their height and then winding it up and placing it inside a glass bauble.
The bauble is finished off with a label, which says: ‘This ribbon is very special indeed because if you take it out and measure it, you will remember how little I was in 2018.’
She shared it on the Kmart Home & Hacks Facebook page but said that she had spotted the idea elsewhere.
It wasn’t something she had done yet but she hopes to do it in years to come.
Her post said: ‘Just seen this on another page and thought I’d share. It’s a very thoughtful ornament something I’ll be doing in years to come.
‘Imagine how cool it would look, accumulating many baubles, different colour ribbon over years!’
Other parents loved the idea of commemorating their child’s height each year.
One said: ‘This is awesome my daughter’s kindy did this last year and we measured her and she has actually grown 3 inches taller.’
Another added: ‘This is so sweet. I almost had a little cry.’
Some said they had used clear baubles filled with meaningful items like their child’s first Christmas bibs or Christmas socks.
Hardened charity shoppers will have a few weird ones in their list of finds over the years, whether it’s a coat someone died in or a signed book that wasn’t signed by the author.
This one might just be the best yet, and has gone viral on Reddit for its strangeness.
A Redditor who goes by the name of Kuxiaobude shared their find, which on first inspection looked like any old notebook.
The diary – which was spotted at a Goodwill store in the US – had something very interesting in the first five pages however; a child’s diary of their bowel movements over the course of a few months.
Each day was written out in the book with ‘poop’ or ‘no poop’ next to it, indicating whether it was a fruitful 24 hours for their digestion.
The Redditor posted images of the discovery this week, explaining: ‘My sister found this little nugget at the Goodwill the other day.’
The original diarist had clearly taken some care over the whole thing, using colourful markers to decorate the whole thing.
Love hearts and other little doodles were scrawled over the front, denoting that it may have been a labour of love for them.
The diary covers around two and a half months, starting in mid-August and ending on 31 October. It’s not clear whether it was this year, or the account dates back further still.
One thing that did stand out, though, was the fact that two days were missed out in the end of October, and the 31st has no record of poop or no poop, instead just saying ‘Halloween’.
Not sure whether that means they did go to the loo or not, but the diary then stops there.
Reddit commenters saw the funny side of the whole thing, with one saying it was a ‘poop log’ and another saying ‘what a s*** diary.’
Poop diaries aren’t totally crazy, and can be used as a tool for kids with bowel issues to keep track of things so they can speak to their doctor about them later.
That said, in most cases they don’t give the diary off to the charity shop. But share the wealth, we guess?
A young mother who had to leave school when she fell pregnant at just 14, has graduated from university with her daughter by her side.
Rachel Campey, from Cross Gates, Leeds, fulfilled a dream that she thought had been lost when she crossed the stage at Leeds Trinity University to collect her counselling psychology degree on Wednesday.
The 21-year-old said she found herself on a ‘very dark path’ in her younger years, so she was overwhelmed with happiness to be able to collect her degree with her daughter, Lily-Rose Campey by her side.
‘I saw Lily-Rose’s face as I put my gown and my cap on when I was getting ready for the ceremony, and it just made it all feel so worthwhile,’ she says.
‘I just felt a lot of completion throughout the day. I felt overwhelming love and pride from my family, and from myself, as well as my daughter.’
Rachel says she has struggled with anxiety and the stress of balancing a degree, job and the responsibilities of being a single mother for three years – but her daughter has been her inspiration.
‘When I was writing my dissertation, she was doing homework at the side of me, so she gets how long a process it has been,’ she explains.
‘They accidentally pronounced my surname wrong when I went onto the stage to collect my degree, and I heard her correct them and say, “that’s my mummy”.’
The new graduate said she had had to leave her school months after she became pregnant at the age of 14, as they could not support her.
Eventually she worked her way up to going to York College and on to university from there. She wanted to get a degree in order to give her little girl the best possible future.
‘If I hadn’t had Lily-Rose, because I was struggling with my mental health, I don’t think I would be here now,’ says Rachel. ‘She changed my whole perception. I was on a very dark path before I had her, and she brightened it all up.’
Rachel faced bullying in the years before starting her degree, and at one stage she nearly dropped out of university entirely.
‘I had so many moments in first year where I didn’t think I could do it, I was walking down the hall crying my eyes out going to drop out of university, thinking, “this is such a mess, why have I put myself in this situation?”,’ she says.
‘But the whole environment at Leeds Trinity was amazing – it was the first time I really felt supported in what I wanted to do.’
Now, Rachel wants to encourage other single parents to chase their dreams and push their own expectations for themselves.
‘If you’re a young parent and you’ve suffered with mental health issues, it doesn’t mean the end of your goals. You can still work towards them whenever you’re ready,’ she says.
‘Just because somebody says you can’t do it doesn’t mean you can’t actually do it, because you can if you really want to.’
Rachel has been nominated for the inspirational individual award at the 2020 Yorkshire Choice awards, and hopes to continue studying or become a public speaker, having earned third-class honours in her degree.
Nine-year-old She’riq Elliiot has albinism but her twin brother Te’riq was born without the condition.
Albinism is a congenital disorder that causes pale skin, sensitivity to the sun and eyesight issues.
While She’riq and Te’riq from Florida look totally different, they have an older sister Sheterria, 20, who also has albinism and has therefore helped She’riq deal with it.
Sheterria explained what it was like when the twins were first born: ‘I was in elementary school and I was so excited because I wanted one to come out looking like me.
‘My brother picked me up from school and we went to the hospital and everybody was quiet. They took me to the NICU because they said one of the babies was in there.
‘My sister was there and she had a head full of blonde hair like me. She looked just like me. I started crying. That was the best moment ever.’
While there’s no history of albinism in parents Sherria or Terry’s family, the combination of their genes appears to have a significantly increased chance of resulting in a child with the disorder.
The twins are inseparable but She’riq has to deal with comments that her brother doesn’t.
She explained:’People sometimes don’t believe we are twins. We’re totally different. He’s funnier than me and I’m just kind of calm.
‘Everybody comes up to me and they’re like “why are you lighter than your brother?” So I tell them.’
Though older sister Sheterria was glad to have someone who looks like her in the family, she hopes her younger sister will have an easier time in childhood than she did.
‘Kids [used to throw] food at me,’ she added.
‘I was the lightest person in the school because it was an African American school. I was crying, bawling. I was like “mummy, I don’t understand why these kids are treating me like this”.’
Experiences like this allowed Sheterria to understand how people reacted to albinism out in the world, so she ensured She’riq met any questions or judgement head-on.
It’s an effort that’s been appreciated by the youngster.
She’riq said: ‘My sister helped me with my Albinism because she comforts me. She helped me with talking to more people, because I used to be kind of shy. But now I just like to make friends.’
Sheterria has now learned to overcome the negativity and embrace herself – modelling and launching her own eyelash extension company.
‘When I look in the mirror, I see somebody who has come a long way,’ she said.
‘Looking in the mirror now is totally different from how I used to look in the mirror because when I wake up, I don’t have my makeup done and everything is blonde.
‘My eyebrows are blonde, my eyelashes are blonde, everything is blonde, and I used to hate that. I used to not be proud of who I used to see when I looked at the mirror. But now I look in the mirror and I’m like “yes, you cute”.’
Recently the twins and Sheterria were chosen to be part of an uplifting photo series called the ‘Skin I’m In’ project, which was exhibited in Houston.
The beloved pig-shaped gummy sweets, created by Marks & Spencer, have an intensely dedicated following – and when it was announced the retailer was changing the recipe to make all the sweets vegetarian, it really divided opinion.
Now, Percy fans are upset again. This time over the contents of the Percy Pig advent calendar.
You would think it reasonable to assume that a Percy Pig advent calendar would reveal individual Percy Pigs behind every daily window – in fact, that’s probably why you would buy the thing in the first place.
So imagine people’s dismay when it turned out the calendar only contained chocolate. Yes, boring old milk chocolate behind every square.
People were livid.
‘FURIOUS!!’ raged one disappointed customer, Tracey, on Twitter. ‘I bought this Percy Pig advent calendar for a dear friend who doesn’t like chocolate!! DOESN’T LIKE CHOCOLATE!
‘Why would you put chocolate in a Percy Pig product! She’s very embarrassed by not eating it and I’m furious.’
Another added: ‘Actually fuming that my Percy Pig advent calendar is just s***ty advent calendar chocolate and not Percy Pigs every day! @marksandspencer whats that all about??’
Responding to Tracey’s tweet, the Marks and Spencer social team explained that the contents of the calendar is actually printed on the front of the product.
‘I’m sorry we have let you down, Tracy but we have mentioned on the front of the packaging that the advent calendar does contain chocolate. I will make sure our Food Teams are aware of your comments for next year.’
But it looks like quite a few people didn’t get the memo.
‘The reason we bought Percy pigadvent calendar was for Percy pigs not tiny rubbish chocolate,’ said one Twitter user.
‘First day of winter and my children are disappointed that the Percy Pig advent calendar from @marksandspencer doesn’t contain pig shaped chocolate. Nothing ‘Percy’ about it at all,’ added another.
Consider yourselves warned.
If anything has made you really angry this Christmas period – we want to hear from you. Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.
Millennials believe traditional manners are ‘outdated’ – according to a new study.
Researchers found that four in 10 refuse to give up their seats on public transport to pensioners or pregnant women.
The research found nearly a third (28%) of young adults would ignore ‘queue etiquette’ by cutting in line, and 53% don’t say ‘bless you’ when someone sneezes.
84% say traditional British politeness, such as saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ or holding a door open, is simply old fashioned.
The research by insurance firm Privilege, suggests that millennials actually have a new code of conduct that matters to them more.
Ghosting someone on social media is identified as a modern faux pas, with a third of 18 to 34-year-olds (34 per cent) saying suddenly breaking off all communication like this should be avoided as it is rude.
For 54%, announcing someone else’s news on social media before them is also impolite.
In contrast, just 16% think putting elbows on the dinner table – a traditional faux pas – is rude.
Perhaps the most striking finding is that, 42% of millennials admit they aren’t willing to give up their seat on public transport for pregnant women or the elderly.
Top 10 modern faux pas
1. Littering – 72%
2. Playing music too loudly – 56%
3. Talking too loudly on public transport – 53%
4. Using phone at meal table – 52%
5. Reading someone’s phone messages – 50%
6. Taking up too much room on crowded public transport – 49%
7. Talking while looking at their phone instead of making eye contact – 47%
8. Keeping ear phones in / headphones on while talking to you – 42%
9. Making a tea and not offering to others – 36%
10. Scrolling through someone’s social media photo album without asking – 33%
And it isn’t only millennials who think like this about traditional manners.
One in five British adults no longer hold doors open for passers-by, 18% don’t observe ‘queue etiquette’ and 13% don’t say ‘please or thank you’.
36% of all adults wouldn’t give up their seat on public transport, 27% talk with their mouths full, while 38% now believe pulling a chair out for people is outdated.
The study of more than 2,000 UK adults shows it is largely tech and social media which is redefining our perception of good and bad manners.
Modern bad manners now include reading someone’s phone or social media messages, and scrolling through someone’s photo album without permission.
Littering, playing music too loudly from our phones, and talking too loudly on public transport, are also viewed as modern-day inconsiderate behaviours.
‘It’s really interesting to see how the definition of what is thought to be rude is changing, with airs and graces that were once considered important now becoming a thing of the past,’ says Charlotte Fielding, head of Privilege Motor Insurance.
‘It appears that a new, modern etiquette has taken hold, with TV spoilers and social media must-nots overtaking things like not offering to take someone’s coat, or holding doors open for people when it comes to what’s rude.’
This week, we told you about Booking.com’s Candy Cane House, which is full to the brim of edible decorations for guests.
Now, though, dogs can get in on the action too, thanks to Wilko and the kind volunteers at Manchester Dogs Home in Cheshire.
The dogs were made a special Christmas grotto, which was composed of dog biscuits and treats, and as you can imagine they ate the lot.
The snow-covered space giant gingerbread house was made from 2,000 dog biscuits, 1,600 chewy treats, 12 kilos of melted dog drops for ‘cement’ and 24 pup-friendly stockings, and the reactions from the pups was priceless.
Anna Stansfield, speaking on behalf of the dogs’ home, said of the event by Wilko: ‘We were blown away when we got the surprise opportunity to welcome the grotto to our site for a festive celebration.
‘We have more than 60 dogs here that are looking for loving homes – many won’t be adopted before Christmas, so this is a brilliant second-best.
‘The pets have all had a brilliant day, and to be honest I think we have as well, seeing how much joy it’s brought them.’
The pooches were adorned with their own reindeer headbands as they sniffed their way around the grotto made especially for them.
It came as Wilko revealed research about pets and Christmas that found an average of £27 pounds is spent per-pooch on gifts over the festive season.
The survey of 2,000 dog owners also found that more than one in 20 will shell out upwards of £100 on their beloved hound, with an average of three gifts bought per dog.
And a quarter even confess to spending more on their pet than they have on some friends or family members.
When it comes to Christmas dinner, one in five pampered pooches are treated to their own specially-made plate, while 20% of owners allow their dog to have a seat at the table.
Basically, we really love man’s best friend, and want them to feel as included as possible.
Daniel Bingham, senior buyer for pets for wilko said: ‘A major portion of the nation will be purchasing presents for their pets. But we also know that won’t be the case for a lot of less fortunate pets in rescue shelters and homes.
‘Our survey results found Brits are willing to go the extra mile to really spoil their pets at Christmas, be it via gifts or even sitting at the dinner table, but there are still so many that deserve love.
‘We were happy to do our bit to bring some festive cheer to Manchester and Cheshire Dogs Home, and hopefully some of these beautiful dogs will soon enjoy a Christmas with a loving family.’