There’s been a rise in people looking to move to the coast (Picture: Getty)
The pandemic has prompted many to think about their homes and whether they want to stay where they are long-term.
Whether it’s a bigger garden, a quieter neighbourhood or simply more space, the UK’s lockdown has made some people question the four walls they’ve occupied 24/7 for the past four months.
New statistics from RightMove show a rise in people looking to buy property by the sea.
The property site looked at the most popular seaside towns around the UK and compared the average prices of places on the market – and it seems there’s a £1 million price gap between the cheapest and most expensive seaside locations.
Whitby in North Yorkshire topped the list of most in-demand coastal towns and is one of the more affordable areas, too – with an average asking price in May 2020 of £213,053.
UK’s most in-demand seaside towns (and their average house prices in May 2020), according to RightMove
Whitby, North Yorkshire – £213,053
Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear – £263,078
Troon, Ayrshire – £165,386
Padstow, Cornwall – £497,051
Newquay, Cornwall – £275,101
Salcombe, Devon – £730,213
Ayr, Ayrshire – £149,746
Bude, Cornwall – £311,666
Caister-On-Sea, Norfolk – £217,827
Ilfracombe, Devon – £203,620
Another popular area is Whitley Bay in Tyne and Wear – but it’s a slightly more expensive option at £263,078. However, it’s still cheaper than the price this time last year.
Troon in Ayrshire ranked third on the list, with a £165,386 average asking price.
Being home to a plethora of beautiful beaches, it makes sense that three places in Cornwall made the top ten – Padstow, Newquay and Bude. But these spots have seen some of the biggest rises in house prices.
Whitby in North Yorkshire tops the list of most in-demand coastal towns and is one of the more affordable areas, too (Picture: Getty Images)
Two highly sought-after spots in Devon also made it onto the list. A property in Salcombe will set a buyer back £730,213, on average, whereas houses in Ilfracombe are considerably less at £203,620.
Research found the most expensive coastal town in the UK is Sandbanks in Poole – with average asking prices of over £1.2million.
Property expert Miles Shipside said: ‘Seaside towns in Great Britain have always had wildly different property prices, with some of the most expensive places to live outside London being in coastal areas like Sandbanks and Salcombe, while other coastal locations have prices of only £100,000.
‘Lockdown has changed what a number of home-hunters are now looking for from their next home, and while some are looking for more space or a bigger garden, others are now contemplating a move to the seaside.’
Fruit picking saw the highest increase during lockdown (Picture: Getty Images/Cultura RF)
The coronavirus pandemic has been devastating on employment, as many have faced redundancies, put on the government’s furlough scheme or been ineligible for it and left to apply for Universal Credit.
Data from careers website Debut Careers has revealed the jobs and companies which have seen the biggest increase in searches since the UK entered lockdown.
Among NHS roles and supermarket jobs, proofreading, fruit-picking, and postman jobs were also popular.
Top job searches during lockdown
Search Term
Fruit picking jobs – 843% increase
NHS volunteer jobs – 355% increase
Online tutoring jobs – 67% increase
Royal Mail jobs – 48% increase
Delivery jobs – 40% increase
Supermarket jobs – 30% increase
Proofreading jobs – 27% increase
Farm jobs – 21% increase
Pick packer – 20% increase
Freelance writing – 17% increase
The job that has seen the biggest increase in searches is fruit picking, with searches up over 800% compared to the weeks before the lockdown.
Those who have been furloughed were actively encouraged to take up fruit picking work on the UK’s farms, with many migrant workers who usually come over to the UK to carry out this work unable to do so.
Over three-quarters of a million people answered the Government’s call to join the volunteer army and help to deliver food and medicine, drive patients to appointments and phone those who are isolating earlier in the year.
With schools shut, online tutoring searches have also soared in lockdown.
As well as parents wanting help for their kids, some adults have also been taking the time in quarantine to try and pick up some new skills such as a language.
The postmen and women of the nation are another key group who are helping to keep the country going, with searches for Royal Mail jobs increasing by 48% since lockdown.
All search increases were calculated using Google Trends data by the Debut Careers team.
The team took an average for the search interest scores since lockdown (23 March to 15 May) and an average for the same period pre-lockdown (29 January to 22 March), before calculating the percentage increase.
The newly-dubbed ‘Private Detector’ filter does exactly what is says on the tin – keeps people’s private parts away.
Through AI, the tool identifies potentially offending photos, then automatically blurs them and gives app users a warning that the image may contain ‘inappropriate content.’
A recipient can then choose whether to view the image, block it, or report it to Badoo’s moderation team.
Natasha Briefel, UK marketing director at Badoo said: ‘The safety of our users is of the utmost importance to us and we continuously seek to be at the forefront of technological advances which enable us to help protect daters on our platform.
‘The private detector is one of many safety features we have implemented on Badoo, which also includes profile verification, photo moderation and chat limits.
‘We want to create a safe space for our users where they feel empowered to chat, meet, and date honestly while giving them the best chance of forming a real connection.’
The new feature has been launched with a spoof shopping channel-style infomercial, starring British rapper Big Narstie.
In the video, Big Narstie advises viewers to get consent before they attempt to send intimate pictures to ‘avoid being a weirdo.’
Badoo isn’t the first company to launch a feature of this kind. Fellow dating app Bumble – which is owned by the same holding company as Badoo – brought out a similar function last year.
The items returning to the menu (Picture: McDonald’s)
McDonald’s reopened back in May for delivery, drive-thru and later some takeaway.
But the menu was limited and you might still be craving your favourite fast-food treat.
Well, today the chain has announced six items will be added to the limited menu from 8 July – but the bad news is that they’ve also announced that the McDonald’s Monopoly promotion is cancelled for 2020.
McDonald’s said that they are continuing to adapt to social distancing and safety measures in their kitchen so will be constantly reviewing what they are able to sell but they hope to reintroduce more items later in the summer.
A statement from McDonald’s UK & Ireland CEO Paul Pomroy said: ‘From 11 am, on Wednesday 8th July, we will reintroduce some of the main menu items you’ve told us you’re missing, as we slowly seek to return to our full menu.’
The first limited menu included the Big Mac, Quarter Pounder, Chicken Sandwich, Vegetable Deluxe, hamburger, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger, chicken McNuggets, chicken selects, Filet-o-Fish, fries, mozzarella dippers, veggie dippers, fruit bag, McFlurries and some drinks.
Although fans will be excited to hear there will be more choice on the menu, the statement also said that the popular Monopoly promotion to win prizes with your food would be cancelled this year.
It had been due to start on 25 March, just as lockdown was introduced and stores were closed.
CEO Paul Pomroy said: ‘We took the decision to close our restaurants shortly before this year’s Monopoly promotion was due to launch. We know many of you enjoy this promotion, which has run since 2005 in the UK.
‘To enable safe working and social distancing inside our restaurants and to minimise the pressure on our employees, we have decided to cancel this year’s Monopoly VIP campaign.
‘It creates a great deal of excitement inside our restaurants and relies heavily upon menu items we cannot safely reintroduce yet.
‘Rest assured, we are already planning for Monopoly 2021 and hope to be able to bring this popular promotion back next Spring.’
Another announcement from McDonald’s today said that following a trial, 1,000 stores are also reopening for breakfast hours, serving McMuffins and pancakes.
Paul Pomroy added: ‘Following a successful first week of the pilot, I am delighted to announce that also on Wednesday 8th July we will extend breakfast service to over 1,000 restaurants.
‘This will still be a limited menu, for now – no bagels, wraps or porridge, but as with the main menu, we’re working on returning popular missing items later in the year. Hours will continue to vary and many restaurants will be opening slightly later than usual for now.’
Most restaurants are now reopen in some way but there are still restrictions on opening hours and the number of staff in the kitchens to allow for social distancing.
There’s also a £25 spend limit on orders so you can’t buy up lots of food at once.
Are you ready to go the distance? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Now lockdown measures are easing and the recommended distance to keep may be dropped from two metres to one metre plus (whatever that means), are you ready to overcome your FOMU and take your dates from Zoom chats to IRL meetups?
Once you decide to meet in real life, what should you do? Can dating be done without the usual settings of dimly lit bars and sticky-floored cinemas?
And what if you don’t fancy limiting your options by deciding early on that your chosen date should enter your social bubble?
The obvious answer is a socially distanced date – one done outside, with a minimum of one metre keeping you apart.
If you need further inspiration, worry not, as OkCupid surveyed their users to find out what socially distanced dates they most desire, so you can take your pick from the popular options.
Topping the list is the simplest option: 57% said they would prefer to go on an outdoor stroll with their date.
Not only is that easy to organise – just plan a route or pick a park and walk its perimeter – but it’s free, low pressure, and gives you the chance to chat without having to worry about finding an adequately distanced spot to set up.
Next up is on the best possible dates list is the classic picnic, with 22% of those surveyed saying they’d choose a picnic as their ideal lockdown date.
Again, this has the benefit of being outdoors and laidback enough to let you just sit and chat. Just make sure you chat beforehand to ensure all essential snacks are brought and there’s no doubling up on any items – having two bottles of Prosecco with nothing to eat may sound fun, but it’s tricky to get to know someone when you’re bleary-eyed and distracted by the rumblings of each other’s stomachs.
Oh, and don’t forget to pack a picnic blanket that’s large enough to let you sit a metre or more apart.
Ready to take things offline? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)
If you prefer an activity-focused date, going for something creative will mean you’re on to a winner, with shared creative endeavours such as painting the preferred date choice for 17% of those surveyed.
Exercise is a riskier option, with just 5% choosing this as their preferred socially distanced date.
We’d advise checking that your date buddy actually wants to get hot and sweaty before you start mapping out running routes.
We chatted to Michael Kaye, a dating expert at OkCupid, for his advice on trying socially distanced dating, and he said it’s all about relaxing, laughing, and embracing the strangeness of this whole finding-love-in-a-pandemic thing.
‘We know that over 82% of OkCupid respondents want to get back to in-person dates after the lockdown eases, but it’s important to follow social distancing guidelines, while they’re still in place,’ says Michael. ‘Socially distant dating might feel a little awkward to start with, but it’s no different a feeling to many first dates!
‘It’s all about having fun while remaining respectful of government advice.
‘It may be hard to think of ways you and your date can connect, without physically touching. But for those who are single and dating, or even those in relationships, there’s still plenty of socially distanced, al fresco dates you can go on! A popular option is having a picnic in a park or, if you’re fortunate to live by the coast, a stroll along the beach, especially now during the summer.
‘How about a walk or bike ride to explore an area of town or nature spot you’ve not been to before? And for those daters who are into their fitness, why not opt for going on a run together? It’ll get you both out of the house, and might help you blow off some steam from work!’
And remember, not being able to touch isn’t a terrible thing – it might save you from rushing into things.
Take some time to appreciate the old-fashioned enjoyment of courting without getting physically intimate, even if this is borne out of fear of spreading coronavirus rather than anything more romantic.
‘It’s important to remember that intimacy isn’t just a physical thing – it’s not only touch that can create deep and meaningful connections,’ says Michael. ‘Spending a bit of face to face, one on one time with your date will help you get to know one another better and build your relationship.
‘And, the social distancing restrictions will only make things even more exciting for when regulations ease further!’
The Next sale starts bright and early on Thursday (Picture: Rex/Facebook)
Next is offering customers huge discounts with a 50% off ‘at least’ sale starting early on Thursday morning.
Many shoppers will be setting their alarms for the crack of dawn, with most stores across the country opening at 5am.
Bargains are expected to be available online via the clearance tab from 6am tomorrow.
It is currently unknown how high discounts will go, but customers will likely feel hopeful as the retailer has been known to cut prices by 70% in the past.
Although the majority of sale stock will be available from Thursday, it is believed more will be added each day until the end of the week.
Queues are predicted to be lengthy, as all customers who visit stores will be expected to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
The retailer has offered up to 70% off in past big sales (Picture: Facebook)
Laura at Money Saving Expert has told customers to expect good deals, with sale items ‘at least 50% off rather than the more common up to 50%’.
She said: ‘Next also rarely offers other discounts and has just four main sales a year.
‘Based on what I’ve seen in previous Next sales, I’d expect to see womenswear, menswear, kidswear and homeware all included.
‘In previous sales, strong discounts included women’s tops for £5 (were £18) and men’s shorts for £8 (were £18), so I reckon we’ll see similar this time.’
The store had offered loyal customers VIP slots earlier this week so they could get first pick of the cheap products.
However, many customers claimed they had received error messages on the website, while others had their slots pushed back by hours.
Most stores open at 5am sharp (Picture: Maureen McLean/REX)
A Next spokesperson has ‘sincerely apologised’ to shoppers who’d had a poor experience, blaming technical problems.
They said: ‘By way of explanation (but not excuse) the initial demand for sale items was much higher than we planned and this volume crashed our website.
‘The VIP sale site is now up and running properly. We are currently in the process of writing to those customers who were the most affected.’
Handling new motherhood is challenging at the best of times. Making it work during a global pandemic is heroic.
If you are looking to gift something extra special to a new mum or dad, be warned that there’s an overwhelming amount of baby gear out there to choose from. But some products definitely rise to the top. We combined personal experience with reviews and recommendations from parents to put together a list of items that you either can’t do without, or won’t want to.
Here are Metro’s Best Baby Shower Gifts for 2020:
The Portable Pump
(Picture: Elvie Pump)
Pumping during a Zoom call has never been easier!
The Elvie Pump is the world’s first silent, wireless and wearable breast pump. It is also small and lightweight and easily fits into a bra. As mum pumps it even detects the amount of milk in the bottle and will automatically pause when the bottle is full.
It connects to a free smartphone app, letting her see real-time milk volume and tracking the pumping history for each breast. The app can also be used to control the pump remotely, so she doesn’t even have to touch the buttons on the pump inside her bra.
With both stimulation and expression modes, it also has seven different intensity settings, comes with two breast shield sizes and is fully recharged in two hours via micro-USB cable.
We have tested this on work calls and on the run to post-baby appointments and it can be worn undetected inside a bra and top. It really is so quiet and discreet you could pump all day and no one need know. A must-have.
Sassy animal print? Check! Organic cotton? Check! This reversible stylin’ play mat is a perfect perch for tummy time and playtime.
In soft organic cotton with a comfy padded fill, it’s designed specifically to support babies’ visual and cognitive development throughout their first year.
Use the dalmatian side when they are 0-4 months and see in black and white white then leopard print for 5+ months when their colour vision starts to develop.
The unique shape and sleek design of this baby chair lets baby recline in three different positions.
Suitable from newborn to toddler, you just give the seat a nudge and watch it sway gently from side-to-side. Super portable, it sets up in seconds, and has removable GOTS certified organic inserts, fabrics and dye which are machine washable.
The soft harness keeps baby firmly in place, and once outgrown, it can be removed to reveal a toddler seat.
The brand favoured by Royals and celebrities, aden + anais is the first place to go for style and function when it comes to swaddles.
Breathable, versatile and soft as mum’s skin, the do-it-all fabric helps to simplify and can be used as a pram cover, burp cloth, sun shade and nursing cover.
Pre-washed so they are soft from the start, the prints are chic and sweet.
Sweet and chic from Snüz, this new collection of versatile playmats are soft and comfy for tummy time, under a baby gym or matched with the Snüz range of Teepee Play Tents.
Super soft padded cotton surface Non-slip backing Includes cotton travel bag Machine washable
Cool, modern designs and double layered 100% soft cotton make these muslins perfect for swaddling, burping, feeding, wiping, a light blanket, a pram cover and anything else you can think of.
The award-winning set comes with 2 patterned cotton muslins and their new hummingbird & geometric heart design.
Muslin Swaddle and Muslin Squares bundle, £39, Mama Designs
Blue Almonds Baby Blanket
(Picture: Blue Almonds)
Iconic baby brand Blue Almonds just launched a new lovely collection, created for their 10-year anniversary.
This pretty and delicately soft receiving blanket is made from the finest Peruvian Pima cotton and delicately embroidered with the brand’s rocking horse logo and features pink scalloped trim around the borders.
Other items to match include a gorgeous little baby gro and bib, trimmed with the same scalloped edge and cute rocking horse. An ideal new baby present or baby shower gift.
This adorable bunny for children from 6 months will delight young and old with its interactive features!
Press the left foot to play an interactive game of peek-a-boo, and the right to hear the song Do Your Ears Hang Low in a cute child’s voice.
Her ears also move and flap. Made from a soft, huggable material, it features surface-washable construction for easy cleaning.
Gund Flora the Interactive Bunny, £29.99, Smyths Toys
Clean Eating
(Picture: Natural Baby Shower)
New mums may not know how much they need these brilliant bibs until their babies start to wean – but when that happens, they’ll be so grateful you gave them the heads up.
These cute silicone bibs are the cutest version we’ve seen and make a lovely gift.
By Danish brand Liewood, they come in a 2-pack and are super practical, BPA free, easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
Styled in beautifully muted colours with poppers at the neck to adjust the size, Liewood designs embrace pure shapes, delicate prints, using GOTS-certified, organic textiles.
Little Baby Bum nursery rhyme videos are must see TV for little ones – their videos have been watched over 23 billion times on YouTube alone and are available in 11 different languages all over the world. Partnering with Little Tikes, this singing storybook brings it to life at home.
The five colourful pages feature bright illustrations with songs and melodies and sounds including ABC, Old MacDonald and 5 Little Ducks.
Lightweight, mobile design with easy-to-turn pages for small hands.
Little Tikes Little Baby Bum Singing Storybook, £17, Argos
Baby Fashion
Babywear is about comfort AND style – here are some of the best.
Royally Good
(Picture: Rachel Riley)
Baby fashionistas know that Rachel Riley is the woman who made Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte style leaders, all before their fifth birthdays.
Built on timeless classic shapes in strong colours and archive style prints, this princess crown embroidered babysuit is the perfect gift for a little princess of your own.
Made of soft ivory cotton with crown embroidery on the front bodice, and pale pink piping at the collar, sleeves and legs, it has a round shape for ease of movement, and pearl effect buttons to fasten at the back and legs for easy changing.
Baby Mori is a brand has become synonymous with soft.
Beloved by the world’s A-list for its sustainably sourced, high quality cotton and pretty neutrals, their Starter Set is the perfect gift for an expectant mum. A beautifully curated collection of 10 essentials crafted in the softest and safest organic fabrics.
The Starter Set includes their award-winning ‘Clever Sleeping Bag’ as well as sleepsuits, bodysuits, joggers, muslins and a blanket.
A brand that continues to push the boundaries – from 100% GOTS organic baby range to the use of recycled PET bottles & ghosted fishing nets to make technical outerwear, the babywear from Polarn O. Pyret has a high feel good factor for a lot of reasons.
This soft and sweet babywear comes with a magnetic twist. Made from 100% cotton, the babywear range uses handy and tiny magnetic fastenings which are hidden away, and lets you wrap up baby, in seconds.
With trendy styles, classic colours and sweet collars, they are beyond cute.
Babies can lie back, relax, play and explore with this super plush, musical play gym packed with toys to develop senses & coordination.
The cushioned play mat has padded sides and removable arches for easy cleaning. Suitable from 0 months plus. Available in a musical Little Fox design or a non-musical Penguin design.
Suitable from day one, newborns will be mesmerised by the five sensory toys that attach to the pretty arches.
The linkable toys can be repositioned on the gym or linked to strollers and car seats and the 3-in-1 Jumbo Activity Gym & Ball Pit also comes with a bolster pillow and large detachable mirror for tummy time.
Once the baby can hold their head up (at around 6 months) this inflatable seat helps to teach them to sit upright and keeps them safely cushioned with the padded arms and headrest.
It comes with a detachable tray with interactive toys and is perfect for travel as can easily be inflated or deflated.
Sleep is always a big focus for a new mum – trying to achieve enough to stay sane and healthy is a difficult ask for anyone with a new baby. Here are some things that might help.
Modern Moses Basket
(Picture: Shnuggle Moses Basket/Kiddies Kingdom)
This multi-award winning baby sleep system is designed to keep your baby close while also safe in their own cosy sleeping space.
Perfect for daytime naps, It is multifunctional as it can be used as a bedside crib for night time feeding and can be easily moved around the home during the day. It is lightweight, easy to clean and breathable.
Shnuggle Dreami Moses Basket & Stand, £118.99 (+ free next day delivery) Kiddies Kingdom
Sleeping Next 2 You
(Picture: Chicco)
New for 2020, Chicco has just expanded it’s Next2Me range with the launch of Next2Me Air.
The latest addition to the award-winning collection is a crib with enhanced airflow and breathability that lets little ones sleep comfortably next to their parents all night long.
The mesh panelling keeps them cool and allows parents to see baby at all times., and with a zip side panel that folds down, parents can safely share the bed.
With the side panel zipped up, it can also be used as a secure standalone cot and with six adjustable heights, it can tilted to help with reflux and congestion. It works with any size bed.
Chicco Next 2 Me Air Bedside Crib, Titanium Exclusive to John Lewis & Partners £170.10, John Lewis
The Sleep Sheep
(Picture: Ewan the Dream Sheep)
Ewan the Dream sheep really does work. It is a great gift to help encourage sleep and has intelligent features like MoonMode smartCRY, that ensures Ewan automatically activates when baby stirs in the night.
Sleepy parents (hopefully) won’t even need to get out of bed, as Ewan will already be playing sounds to soothe them.
Little Green Sheep’s natural, organic mattresses and bedding are perfect for a new baby’s nursery. They can be cut to fit any Moses basket – and offers parents the option to upgrade to an organic mattress.
Committed to sustainable and ethically sourced materials, each mattress the brand makes is made from just 4 components. It is available in a wide range of sizes to fit Moses baskets and cots and custom made ones are also available.
Encouraging babies to sleep in their natural ‘arms up’ position, the Swaddle Up provides ultimate comfort and security to settle little dreamers, supporting little ones to get the best night’s sleep from birth until 6 months. It’s a sweet, modern twist on the traditional swaddle.
Just press a button on the handle, and this sassy little stroller folds itself – perfect when mum’s got her hands full (which is always).
With just one movement it folds back on itself, and becomes so compact that it can be easily stored everywhere, including in some plane cabins.
Light, and weighing a mere 6.9kg, it is easy to carry when not in use. Suitable from birth, the seat comes with a reclining backrest and padded straps to keep little ones cosy and safe. A raincover is included.
Designed to make life as smooth as possible for parents, this push chair opens with one hand and is fitted with a one-hand recline for on-the-go relaxing, offers all wheel suspension and a one-touch brake system with front swivel wheel locks.
The retracting wheel allows it to squeeze it into the tightest of spaces, and the large, extendable canopy is water repellent and features a flip out eyeshade and ventilation panel. Compatible with Mixx carrycot and Pipa car seat (both available separately). Car Seat adapters and raincover included
An Instagram sensation, Amawrap baby slings are made from 100% natural cotton, allow for optimum positioning and are certified ‘Hip-Healthy’ by the IHDI. making them ideal for newborns. And for mum, the benefits of babywearing in a baby wrap are proven and include better breastfeeding success and less chance of baby blues.
The brand is eco-friendly, made in the UK and will provide wraps to children’s services and hospitals wherever you recommend.
New from Nuna, the Prym car seat deftly lets you switch between rear and forward facing modes, and has a full 360 degree rotation, making it a surefire winner.
A smarter car seat, it automatically deploys side impact shields for instant protection as soon as your little one is on board, has a magnetic buckle holder, a five point harness, seven reclining positions, a true lock base installation and tailor tech memory foam.
There are two machine washable seat covers – warm for winter and mesh for summer.
These sunglasses are made specifically for babies.
Designed to protect little eyes, the UV400 lenses offer 100% UVA and UVB protection. They are also made from a flexible rubber that are virtually indestructible – and the lenses are also impact and shatter-resistant.
Called ‘Babiators,’ makers guarantee that once registered, if they are lost or broken within 1 year of purchase, they will replace them free of charge.
This pretty and ergonomic baby carrier is the one everyone wants. Perfect for long summer walks, it’s crafted from cool and airy 3D mesh.
And no more worrying about tiring out your back – the waist belt and padded shoulder straps relieve pressure on back and shoulders and make babywearing a pleasure from newborn up to the age of three.
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier One Air, £163.99, Baby Bjorn
Travel Light
(Picture: Nuna Sena Aire)
This travel cot has an advanced air design that allows for unparalleled relaxation and offers 360° of ventilation for ultimate airflow and super-fresh, deep sleeps.
The mattress has two different levels of ventilation with triple layered mesh and easily pops open, thanks to its clever zig-zag leg design. It can be refolded with just one hand.
Suitable from birth to approximately 15kg. Travel bag included.
A cheeky little sister brand to Silver Cross, Micralite is relatively new, and has a range of modern, sleek looking baby gear for families on the move.
This travel cot and a playpen can be raised off the floor to about bed height, with mesh panels for optimum air-flow and a soft but firm mattress, letting you co-sleep with your newborn. It’s also great as a travel cot and playpen – perfect for baby’s first holiday, downstairs naps or to keep at Grandma’s house.
Suitable from birth, comes with a travel bag and newborn insert and even has a plastic coated bottom, so you can use it in the garden.
Recommended by midwives, this innovative shirt is designed to offer more skin to skin contact with baby.
Made in soft stretch fabric, the wrap ties provide great support, helping baby nestle in the optimal position and allowing mum to enjoy hands-free cuddle time while relaxing.
Suitable from birth, it’s proven to soothe, regulate baby’s body temp, stimulate oxytocin and boost milk supply.
Dubbed the ‘Freestyle Flex; this double electric breastpump let’s you pump both breasts simultaneously and is the brand favoured by hospitals and midwives every day.
It’s lightweight and simple to use, and includes smart technology which connects to the MyMedela app, to help mothers track their progress and patterns.
It charges via USB, and offers up to 2 hours on a single charge. It even comes with Medela’s revolutionary PersonalFit Flex, an oval-shaped breast shield that offers a personal fit for mums – clinically proven to get 11% more milk.
Possibly the best nursing bra ever, Bravado’s quickly become a celebrity sensation with new mums Angelina Jolie, Beyonce, Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Alba ordering one in every colour. And rumours are, Kate Middleton has one too…
They’re not expensive, uber comfortable and actually super cute. They even convert back to normal bras when you stop nursing. Definite must have.
You have to check out the rest of the Bravado maternity and nursing bra range too – they are a world away from the frumpy bras you imagine. We know mums who are still wearing theirs as their most comfortable bras years later.
All mums new to breastfeeding discover Lansinoh at one stage or another – start her off right with their “mums favourite” kit. One note: this is a great gift to take with her into hospital when she goes to deliver, as the first few days of breastfeeding can be challenging for everyone involved.
It covers all the essentials, including: HPA Lanolin Cream, Milk Storage Bags, Therapearl Breast Therapy Pads, Disposable Nursing Pads, and a Breastfeeding Pillow.
The pillow is ingenious – compact and convenient, it slips over the arm and supports baby in the ideal position to support successful breastfeeding.
The therapy pads can be chilled in the freezer to soothe painful or engorged breasts or warmed in the microwave to help with letdown and feeding through engorgement.
The Lansinoh lanolin is a must-have nipple balm that pretty much every single mum will tell you you need to help prevent against sore nipples (and it doubles up as a lipbalm) while the pads are going to be more useful than you can imagine ahead of time. Yes, boob leakage is a real thing.
She’s probably not going to get to salon anytime soon – so why not gift her with an at home celebrity facial?
UK based facialist Linda Meredith works on the most famous faces in the world, and she has now created an at home version of her red carpet staple, the Haute Couture Facial.
The products arrive with simple, easy to follow instructions to follow the salon facial protocol, and are enough for 6 treatments, with plenty left for top ups.
Benefits include deep cleansing, re-surfacing, firming, hydrating, anti-ageing and nourishing- and of course giving mum the glow that she deserves.
A luxe organic mother and baby skincare range, this pamper gift box is perfect for a brand new mum.
Beautifully presented in a stunning keepsake gift box, products included are ‘cocoon of bliss’ – stretch mark butter, ‘scent of seas’ – toning body serum and ‘fresh meadows ‘- cooling leg gel.
Applauded by dermatologists, Kit & Kin products are made without harsh chemicals or synthetic fragrances.
This mum bundle includes the brand’s body butter, (a blend of nourishing butters and oils), a breast balm which heals and protects sensitive nipples and a stretch mark oil to help skin stay supple and stretch mark free.
The oil comes in a handy spray bottle perfect for bedside and handbag and has a gorgeous aromatherapy fragrance. The balms are very natural and can be used while feeding.
Keeping things sanitised, safe and clean has never been more front of mind for mums than in recent months. Here are some things that help.
Dummy Saver
(Picture: Nuby UK)
Do you have any idea how many times a baby drops their dummy on the floor? The stuff of headaches at the best of times, and in today’s virus sensitive climate, it’s an extra bit of nightmare.
Recently awarded the ‘innovation of the year’ by baby gear experts, this mini portable UV steriliser uses electromagnetic radiation to kill microorganisms, zapping 99.99% of bacteria without water, microwaves or chemicals, and sterilises dummies in 3 minutes.
It fits in your bag or fastens to your pushchair. No chemicals, no cooling time, no drying required. Uses 3 x AA batteries or can be mains operated using the USB included.
Ergonomically designed to offer comfort and safety when bathing, this bath support from Nuby warms quickly for added comfort.
Hygienically designed to drain water easily and air dry fast, it’s lightweight, and easy to take on travels. You can place in your own bath or within a baby bath.
The practical gift, plant-based cleaning solutions that are free from all toxins but that actually work – the Laundry Lover is a must for the nesting period when all the baby clothes get their first wash!
You might think you need to wait a while to get these cups – but believe us when we say they will come in handy sooner than you think. As soon as baby can grip things, these light cups are easy to hold, fling about and bash together. They will get years of fun out of stacking them, making towers or playing with them in the bath.
These neutral-toned stacking cups are not only tasteful, they will be super useful as well (Picture: thebebehive.com)
This parenting app offers expert advice and one-to-one coaching, available 24/7.
A premium subscription provides access to their own coach, whether it’s weaning advice, meditation and mindset exercises to prepare for labour and beyond, or advice on how to return to exercise after childbirth.
Caled, ‘Biamother’, it offers bespoke, holistic content and real-time, data-driven insights that new parents can trust.
Biamother App, £16.99/mo, available on iTunes
First Aid Lessons
(Picture: Mini First Aid Course)
Being in charge of a little person is incredibly frightening at times and these mini first aid classes deliver truly engaging courses to parents and families to help them navigate a host of potential issues.
The two-hour online course runs just like their award-winning practical classes, and covers CPR, Choking, Bumps, Burns, Breaks, Bleeding, Febrile Seizures & Meningitis Awareness.
The kitchen looks so different after a lick of paint (Picture: Catherine Norris)
When Catherine Norris, 36, was quoted £32,000 to transform her kitchen, she decided to just do it herself.
The mum-of-one, from Leicester, ended up saving herself thousands, managing to complete the project on her own for just £2,000.
And the end result is pretty incredible.
Catherine, who runs her own business, Memory Thread Co, looked for inspiration on Pinterest then kept costs down by sourcing materials from Dunelm, Amazon, and Asda.
She gave the dreary wooden cabinets a lick of sage green paint, updated the handles and knobs with copper detailing, and created a tropical nook.
Catherine told money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk: ‘As a family, we all really love cooking and baking, but I hated spending time in my old kitchen!
The kitchen before its transformation (Picture: Catherine Norris)
‘It was dark and tired and sad. We got some eye-watering quotes at the end of 2019 for a new kitchen to be put in, so I started thinking about how we could refresh what we had instead.
‘I browsed through Pinterest to find inspiration and really liked the look of sage green cupboards and bright white walls with copper touches – and at the same time I wanted to create a cosy botanical boho seating area at the bottom end of the kitchen.’
The bulk of the money went towards having new flooring put down to replace the ‘horrendous’ brown carpet, which cost £1,150.
Along with updating the main area of the kitchen, the mum-of-one added in a botanical seating area (Picture: Catherine Norris)
The paint for the cupboards, tiles, and door handles cost £110 from Frenchic, with Catherine speedily buying all the materials she needed before lockdown came into place.
‘The lockdown restrictions did make purchasing what we needed difficult. Instead of popping to Homebase which is just up the road we had to order everything online and some things were running out of stock fast, especially in the larger chains,’ she explains.
‘It seemed like the whole country had decided now was the time to fix up their homes too!
‘White emulsion for the walls was impossible to find, but fortunately we just had enough leftover from a previous project which we found stashed in the loft.’
The creation of a botanical-themed seating area added on some extra costs, but it makes such an incredible difference.
Before… (Picture: Catherine Norris)
… And after. Pretty, right? (Picture: Catherine Norris)
Catherine says: ‘I took a punt on the wallpaper without seeing a sample, because everywhere was selling out. I finally found it online from an independent shop and bought it for £65!
‘We ordered the sofa from Dunelm for £299, and most of the decor from Amazon or ASDA, all online.
‘There were artificial plants, a copper vase, a copper lamp, and a copper lantern from ASDA which totalled around £100. The mirror was £60 and the rug was £25, both from Amazon.
‘In total for everything – for the new floor (which was the most expensive thing), the paint, wallpaper and decor – we have a new and modern kitchen for less than £2,000, less than 10% of the cheapest quotes we were given late last year.’
Catherine is delighted with how the DIY project turned out, and found all the hard work was a welcome distraction during lockdown.
The family love the end result (Picture: Catherine Norris)
‘It took around a month to prep and paint everything in between working and homeschooling my daughter,” she adds.
‘I was really very glad of the project keeping me busy in the midst of all the craziness and uncertainty of lockdown, it was a welcome distraction.
“‘nd it’s a kitchen that I want to spend time in! I love cooking in there now, or sitting with a glass of something and chatting to my husband as he sorts out tea.
‘My daughter has so far made an amazing chocolate cake and a delicious spaghetti bolognaise. Fingers crossed for more food produced by the smallest member of the household soon! It’s a bright and happy room now and it lifts my mood to go in.’
Have you completed an amazing DIY project that needs to be shared?
New research links moderate drinking to improve cognitive function (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
Looking for an excuse to justify that beer this evening?
Light to moderate drinking could pose health benefits, a new study from the University of Georgia suggests.
Researchers examined the link between alcohol consumption and cognitive function – how well your memory and thinking is sustained as you age – and found that drinking the occasional alcoholic beverage could help to maintain your brain function as you get older.
Researchers tracked 19,887 people over the course of ten years, asking them to complete regular surveys about their health, lifestyle, and drinking habits, and measuring their cognitive function in a series of tests analysing their overall mental status, their ability to recall words, and their vocabulary.
They found that participants who had an alcoholic drink or two a day tended to perform better on these cognitive tests as they got older, even when other factors such as age, smoke, or education level were taken into account.
The optimal level of alcohol consumption was between 10 and 14 drinks a week.
But before you rush to start downing pints every night, it’s important to note that this study does not prove a direct cause and effect relationship of alcohol equalling better brain function.
The ‘ideal’ amount of alcohol consumption was found to be between 10 and 14 drinks a week (Picture Getty Images/fStop)
It’s also possible that someone who drinks moderately may be more likely to engage in other healthy lifestyle behaviours, such as eating a balanced diet or having low levels of stress.
And, of course, it’s vital to note that this study only found potential benefits for light to moderate drinking, not getting hammered every night.
The researchers are keen to emphasise that they don’t want this study to encourage people to start hitting the bottle.
The study’s lead author Ruiyuan Zhang said: ‘It is hard to say this effect is causal. So, if some people don’t drink alcoholic beverages, this study does not encourage them to drink to prevent cognitive function decline.’
We should probably also mention that the NHS recommends a maximum of 14 units of alcohol a week – translating to a pint of beer or a standard glass of wine a night.
Average units in different types of booze:
A shot of spirit, 25ml: 1 unit
Alcopop, 275ml: 1.5 units
Small glass of wine, 125ml: 1.5 units
Bottle of lager, beer, or cider, 330ml: 1.7 units
Can of lager, beer, or cider, 440ml: 2 units
Pint of lower-strength lager, beer, or cider: 2 units
Standard glass of wine, 175ml: 2.1 units
Pint of higher-strength lager, beer, or cider: 3 units
Large glass of wine (250ml): 3 units
The NHS recommends:
men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis
spread your drinking over 3 or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week
if you want to cut down, try to have several drink-free days each week
This particular bit of research might point to cognitive benefits related to drinking booze, but other studies suggest even a daily drink isn’t the wisest choice.
He was delighted with his winnings (Picture: Facebook)
There are many touching videos online of people generously tipping food delivery drivers.
It’s usually the sincere emotion of the key workers that hits us in the feels and makes these videos go viral.
The latest one that has warmed our hearts is Domino’s Pizza driver Bob who was invited in to play a game with the people who ordered the grub.
Bob was told his payment was hidden under a cup and to pick a cup six times.
To his surprise, each time he selected a cup, a bit of money was hidden underneath, for him to keep.
The first was a $20 (£16) bill, then a dollar, then five. After a few cups, Bob surpassed the bill for the meal.
The kind folks who organised the trick encouraged Bob to pick up the cup containing the largest sum, $100 (£80), at which point Bob couldn’t believe the tip he had just made.
Breaking into tears, he then walked away with his winnings and thanked everyone for their kindness.
But the host, moved by Bob – who has done this job for 11 years – wanted to reward him some more.
Geplaatst door Justin Flom op Zaterdag 27 juni 2020
She grabbed the remaining money under the rest of the cups and handed it over.
The emotional video has been liked one million times on Facebook after it was shared by magician Justin Flom.
‘The second gift got to me,’ he wrote, echoing a lot of the viewers’ feelings.
Others were also left emotional, commenting: ‘That was such a precious moment! Especially during these trying times,’ and ‘my eyes got teary’.
One person wrote: ‘If everyone in the world can do a good gesture to another one, this world will be a better place to live for you and for me. This good gesture to the delivery man made me cry with joy.’
Get that romantic getaway vibe without leaving home (Picture: Getty)
Weddings in the age of Covid-19 look a little different. There are limits on the number of guests, a ban on singing and instruments, and strict rules about washing hands before exchanging rings.
It’s probably not what most people imagine when they think about their big day. And it’s not only the wedding ceremony that has been impacted – your once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon is probably off the table too.
Foreign travel is not currently allowed, and even when restrictions ease you will be limited on where you can go and what you can do. Romantic spa days and massages by the pool are probably out.
But weddings and honeymoons aren’t all about the big show – they’re about declaring your love and commitment to your partner and being together. And many couples have been having low-key celebrations at home on what would have been their wedding day.
And you can take that a step further. Why not take a few days to have a home honeymoon?
A honeymoon doesn’t have to be golden sands and glorious sunshine (although that’s obviously a bonus), a honeymoon can be about sepnding quality time with the person you love, celebrating the start of your life together.
And who says you can’t do that in your own garden and front room?
And don’t worry if you’re not feeling too creative, honeymoon specialists Honeymoon Dreams have put together an itinerary for a Honeymoon at Home.
The five-day honeymoon includes a garden safari, a bathroom spa day, and virtual sightseeing from your own sofa.
Cocktails by the pool
The first day of your honeymoon at home is all about relaxation and romance. Forget the pool or beach, set a deck chair up in your own garden, blow up a paddling pool, and lie back and enjoy the sun. If it’s not sunny, no worries, set up your deck chair in the living room, open a beach read and get swept away to sunnier climes.
In the afternoon it’s time to shake up a cocktail or two. Then in the evening, top off the day with a delicious dinner using the tasty recipe that will be sent to you. If the weather obliges, then dine al fresco.
Garden safari and candlelit dinner
Dig out the candles and the fairy lights (Picture: Getty)
Today starts off with a safari in your own garden – or the local park – before another first class dinner followed by an evening dance class.
Get the binoculars out and the camera at the ready as you head outside for a spot of wildlife watching to see how many different animals you can find from the supplied list.
Enjoy one of the provided recipes in the evening for a romantic candlelit dinner, and then grab your partner and your dancing shoes as you learn how to waltz.
Spa day followed by BBQ dinner for two
A blissful spa day is on the cards today. Turn your bathtub into your own private hot tub, pop on a face mask and take it in turns to indulge your partner in a relaxing massage.
Afterwards, head outside for a BBQ dinner grilling up all of your favourite grub.
As the night turns darker, lay down a blanket and stare up at the stars alongside your new spouse. If you fancy it, you can even camp outside overnight.
Virtual sightseeing and champagne picnic
Now it’s time for a spot of sightseeing. Explore wherever you want in the world from museums to famous landmarks, zoos and theme parks right from your sofa with a whole host of virtual tours online. To help inspire you, Honeymoon Dreams have put together a guide to some of the best online tours.
After all that sightseeing it’s time to refuel and relax with a romantic champagne picnic – outdoors or indoors, weather dependent.
In the evening it’s off to the theatre as you cosy up to enjoy a musical straight from your own living room.
Fun activities followed by wine and cheese
Getting active together can be a great way to have fun (Picture: Getty)
The last day of your honeymoon at home is action packed. Choose from a host of leisure activities including a HIIT workout, a yoga session and a scavenger hunt – or do all three if you like.
For your final evening indulge in a spot of wine and cheese tasting with their guide to the perfect pairings.
For every couple who signs up for the Honeymoon at Home, which is completely free, Honeymoon Dreams will donate £2 to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Couples will be emailed a Honeymoon Pack to help them make the most of the experience including food and drinks recipes, a dance lesson, and tips to make their bedroom look like a hotel. They will also get a voucher towards a future booking with Honeymoon Dreams.
Have you had your wedding or honeymoon at home? We want to hear from you.
Sal, pictured left weighing an estimated 700lbs, and right, weighing 215lbs following several years of weight loss. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
A morbidly obese man who weighed 700lbs (50st) has shed an astonishing 70% of his body weight after slashing his 10,000 calories a day diet. After being warned his bulk could kill him, Sal Paradiso, 39, from Tampa, Florida, ditched drastically reduced his eating to lose 485lbs (34.6st) and achieve his lowest ever weight of 200lbs.
Sal said that by the time he was 31 he was so overweight he was ‘barely able to move’ after getting hooked on fast food, with doctors warning him he was unlikely to live to 40. The stark warning served as an effective wake-up call, with Sal losing an incredible 280lbs (20st) entirely though diet and exercise. He was able to slim down by another 195lb (14st) following bariatric surgery.
Sal now weighs 225lbs (16st) following skin removal surgery, said: ‘When I was at my biggest I sat at home all day and I could not do any physical activity. I started having health issues and I was a prisoner in my own body.
Aged 31 Sal was too heavy for even industrial scales to measure his weight. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
Sal estimates he used to eat between 5,000 and 10,000 calories a day. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
‘I was probably just over 700lbs, but I knew if I wanted to live beyond 40 I needed to completely change my lifestyle. My diet was horrendous, I’d eat things like burgers and fries with a soda for every meal and I worked out that I used to eat 8,000 calories just at lunch sometimes, it was bad.
‘I felt my best chance at long term success was with surgery and I was eager to get my life back. But I had to lose a lot of weight on my own before surgery was even possible.
‘I was tired of just existing, but now I feel like I’ve been giving a second chance at life and I do not intend to waste it. I have lost too many years to obesity and I am not willing to lose anymore.’
Growing up Sal said he was a stocky child and began to pile on the weight in his twenties, thanks to his love of high-calorie snacks and mammoth meals. Rather than eat constantly all day, Sal said he used to binge eat and gorge on massive portions at meal times.
Sal, pictured right as a teenager, with his dad Biagio Paradiso, left. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
He averaged between 5,000 and 10,000 calories everyday, up to four times the daily recommended 2,500 calorie intake for a man and did no exercise whatsoever.
‘I’d skip breakfast, but lunch was always massive,’ said Sal.
‘It’d be fast-food, something like a Big Mac meal, a cheeseburger meal, pasta, steak and chicken, and then I’d have something similar for dinner too. I knew I ate a lot but I just kind of ignored it for a long time.’
The death of his father Biagio Paradiso at the age of 42 from a heart attack in 1998, when Sal was 17 and weighed around 350lbs (25st), almost prompted Sal to slim down over fears his weight could lead him to suffer a similar fate.
Sal decided to start losing weight fearing his weight may lead to life-threatening health problems. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
But over the next decade Sal’s eating spiraled even more out of control and by the time Sal was aged 31, in 2013, he was too heavy for even industrial scales. His highest official weight was logged as 688lbs, but Sal said doctors predict he weighed more than 700lbs at his heaviest.
Sal said: ‘The first thing I did when I decided I had to change was meet with a surgeon, in 2014, to talk about weight loss surgery. He told me that I had to lose a lot of weight on my own first.
‘I went from eating around 8,000 or 10,000 calories a day to between 1,200 and 1,500 a day. It was a low carb, high protein diet with no bread and no soda.
‘The first few weeks were real tough because it was a complete lifestyle change, but I was committed to it and knew it had to be done.’
By following a strict diet and swimming daily, Sal’s weight began to plummet. By summer 2015 he weighed in at 550lb (39st), and by summer 2016 he had lost an impressive 254lbs.
Through dieting and by taking part in regular exercise Sal’s weight declined steadily. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
After losing around half his bodyweight Sal was left with huge amounts of excess skin. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
Weighing around 430lb (30st), Sal returned to South Florida Baptist Hospital in Plant City, Florida, where doctors agreed he was a suitable size for bariatric surgery. The 90 minute procedure involved stapling his stomach, called a gastric sleeve, and reducing its size by 75 percent.
‘I couldn’t manage big meals after that and in the seven months that followed after the surgery I lost another 100lbs or so.’ said Sal.
‘I’d lost half of my body weight and and so much excess skin that was just really uncomfortable. Even after losing so much weight I still wasn’t happy with what I saw in the mirror because of the baggy skin, so I knew I’d have to try for surgery again.’
However, the cost of surgery to remove huge folds of excess skin stood at an estimated $100,000 which Sal was unable to pay for, even after a fundraising drive. Sal then had a lightbulb moment in 2017 and decided to apply for a weight-loss reality TV show called Skin Tight.
Sal, pictured weighing at his target weight of around 225lbs. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
The show follows the stories of people who have lost massive amounts of weight and are about to undergo skin removal surgery at no cost to them. Sal was accepted and subsequently underwent three separate operations in early 2018. Those saw surgeons remove 37lbs of excess skin from Sal’s torso, arms and legs.
Sal’s episode of Skin Tight aired in April 2018, and he said the surgery has given him a ‘new lease of life.
In the 18 months that have followed Sal’s weight dropped even lower, to 215lb (15.3st), and currently stands at roughly 225lb (16st). He said he feels happy at his current weight and aims to remain here while enjoying activities and experiences he was unable to do for years when he was much heavier.
Sal has had around 35lbs worth of excess skin removed from his legs, arms and torso. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
Sal has described his weight loss journey as being given a ‘second chance at life’. (Picture: Sal Paradiso/Metro.co.uk)
Sal, who lives with his 27-year-old partner, added: ‘I am happy maintaining the weight I am at now. Since losing the weight I have been able to do things like go to sporting events and Walt Disney World.
‘I love to go cycling and on long walks, I am back to living my life and it feels amazing.’
Do you have a feel-good news story to share?
If you have overcome adversity to achieve something great or perhaps experienced something amazing, then we’d love to hear from you.
Phil is saving money thanks to skipping pub trips (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
In our weekly series, How I Save, we’re taking an honest look at how people spend and save their hard-earned money.
Each week we ask someone to track their spending for a week, chat with us about how they manage their money, and then we get them some expert advice on how they could boost their saving.
This time around we’re nosing around the finances of Phil*, 34, a journalist living and working in London.
How Phil saves:
I earn £32,000 a year and in my saving acount right now I have £750.
I’ve saved this much money by having an automatic payment thing that shoves in £50 a savings account each month on payday, and topping it up when I can (also having the savings account be really hard to get into, I don’t have a bank card with it so everything has to be online).
I’m saving for my car inevitably exploding and needing replacement, again.
The main way I save is slowly but by automating it so the money never existed, as far as I know.
I try to cut back on things and bung extra money in when I can which is sometimes successful but more often not.
I struggle with saving because London is expensive! More than a third of my income after tax goes on rent and the rest goes on stuff like car maintenance, because I buy cheap ones that need fixing all the time. I live the Sam Vimes Boots Theory but for cars – my savings took a hammering last year when my old one broke down in France as I was heading off on holiday, and I had to buy a new one in a hurry, and that’s turned out to need new bits put on it (tyres are expensive).
Lockdown has affected my spending and saving because I’m not travelling to work and eating expensive food from the shops and the office canteen anymore.
Also I’m not going to the pub. Before the lockdown I was spending around £600 a month on food, travel and going out and now I’m not doing anywhere near that. It’s good I’ve been able to pay off debt, partly because my monthly spending is down and although the festival season being canceled is a bummer I’m not spending loads booking travel and doing all that business.
How Phil spends:
Monthly expenses:
£700 rent
£120 on bills for phone, internet, gas, electric, council tax
A week of spending:
Monday: £41 spent in Lidl, where I bought hopefully enough food to last me the month! Or at least most of the month.
Tuesday: £9 spent in the off license because I forgot to get beers at Lidl. £15 on video games after I’d drunk some of the beers and decided it would be a good idea to get myself some more entertainment.
Wednesday: Spent nothing.
Thursday: Spent nothing.
Friday: Spent nothing.
Saturday: £5 on more beers
Sunday: £10 spent at the corner shop because I have run out of bread and eggs, and I forgot to buy coffee at Lidl.
Total spent this week: £80
How Phil could save
We spoke to the experts over at Plum, the smart app for managing your money to find out how Phil can save better (and what we can learn from his spending).
Here’s what they said:
Hi, Phil! Thanks for sharing your week with us, now let’s dive into your spending diary and see what’s going on…
Spending
You’ve shown some admirable self-restraint when it comes to spending during lockdown – three days in a row without spending a penny is impressive!
It helps that not going out has reduced your spending costs massively down to the bare necessities, allowing you to develop some good spending habits.
And you’re not alone – in the Plum community, we’ve seen an increase of 5x in saving since the start of January, with the biggest increase during lockdown.
We suspect it will be a lot less easy to do this when things return to normal. One thing you might want to think about is how you can continue to keep spending costs low. That way, you won’t go straight back to splashing the cash on food, travel and going out in the same way as before.
Creating a monthly budget would be a helpful way to organise your spending, so you can keep an eye on exactly where your money goes.
Another way to easily cut down on spending is to see if you can switch to any cheaper bills. Plum can help you with this, telling you automatically if you’re overpaying for things like energy.
Saving
You’ve made a good start with £750 in the kitty but you’re still some way off having a comfortable amount stashed away. Having an emergency savings fund for things like car issues is really important and will stop you from getting into problem debt – you’re already getting on top of this, which is great.
That being said, there are definitely a few things you could do to increase your savings, and, let’s face it, save for something a bit more appealing than an emergency! Even with £600 a month going on food and going out, you should be able to set quite a bit aside.
Plum’s algorithm could do the job for you and help boost your savings without you having to think about it. You say you regularly set aside money to save on payday, as well as ‘bunging in’ extra cash when you can.
Plum would do this automatically, using AI to calculate how much you can afford to save, squirreling away small amounts here and there without you having to lift a finger. You can even switch on the Pay Days boost, so a chunk of your money will automatically be put aside when you get paid! Hopefully that will mean even more festivals in 2021 (we’re crossing all our fingers for you).
Fun savings aside, you also might want to think about investing as a more long-term savings strategy. Having an emergency fund in a savings account is great, but with interest rates being so low at the moment your money isn’t going to grow much just sitting in a bank. Check out automated investing, which is designed to make it super easy and accessible for people who are investing for the first time.
Please note that, as with all investments, your capital is at risk if you use Plum’s investment platform.
*Name has been changed.
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 want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.
The joy of peeling those stickers will have to wait for another year (Picture: Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Whether it’s a free McFlurry or a flat screen TV, the prizes won on McDonald’s Monopoly are always a nice added extra to your meal.
The annual competition feels like part of the furniture from the fast food chain, having taken place ever Spring for the last 15 years.
However, as with many of the fun parts of 2020, it’s now been cancelled.
The competition was due to begin on 25 March, but the pandemic quickly put paid to those plans.
While fanatics of the game were hopeful that it’d simply be postponed, McDonald’s have now taken the decision to skip this year altogether.
A statement from McDonald’s UK & Ireland CEO Paul Pomroy said: ‘We took the decision to close our restaurants shortly before this year’s Monopoly promotion was due to launch. We know many of you enjoy this promotion, which has run since 2005 in the UK.
Go to McDonald’s Monopoly jail for one year (Picture: Getty)
‘To enable safe working and social distancing inside our restaurants and to minimise the pressure on our employees, we have decided to cancel this year’s Monopoly VIP campaign.
‘It creates a great deal of excitement inside our restaurants and relies heavily upon menu items we cannot safely reintroduce yet.
‘Rest assured, we are already planning for Monopoly 2021 and hope to be able to bring this popular promotion back next Spring.’
The reaction on Twitter was as you’d probably expect, with one person calling the decision an ‘absolute joke’.
Another tweeted ‘McDonald’s monopoly has been cancelled for 2020 entirely and now I truly know that this year is utter crap.’
Someone went as far as to say: ‘As if 2020 couldn’t get any worse… McDonald’s monopoly has been cancelled… May aswell put up the Christmas tree and act as if this year never happened.’
Although it may seem like a small thing given the many sacrifices we’ve had to deal with this year, there’s a lot of hype around the McDonald’s Monopoly promotion, and it does appear to bring people excitement and happy little surprises.
The game also hit the headlines after a HBO documentary called McMillions was released this year, detailing the case of a fraud syndicate who cheated the promotion to make large sums of money.
Looks like there will be no McMillions or McFlurries (or even cursory fruit bags) for us this year.
Thankfully, a number of restaurants are running delivery services, so customers can enjoy top quality food from the comfort of their own homes.
Hawksmoor is the latest restaurant to offer delivery to the whole of the UK.
It seems the move has come at the right time, as a recent poll by Hot Dinners saw Hawksmoor top the list of places Londoners wanted to dine out at when restaurants reopen.
The steakhouse is selling boxes containing dinner and drinks for two, priced at £120 – which is roughly the same as a sit-down dinner at the restaurant.
While it might seem a little steep for a delivery box, there’s plenty of indulgent treats inside which justify the price.
Each one contains a 35-day dry-aged porterhouse steak, bone marrow and madeira jus (for the steak sauce), tenderstem broccoli with gentleman’s relish, Maldon sea salt, Koffman potatoes with Hawksmoor beef dripping for those all-important roasties or chunky chips.
They’ve got things covered on the drinks side of things, too. Each package includes a Hawksmoor lager, a bottle of red and a pre-made Hawksmoor Ultimate Dry Martini. There’s a Hawksmoor cookery book to enjoy as well.
There will be 500 boxes available for delivery every week and they can be ordered via the website.
But Hawksmoor isn’t the only restaurant catering for those staying at home.
The cinemas have been closed for months and we’re itching for that fresh popcorn and big screen experience.
One man has decided to bring the cinema to him.
Company director Sam Creed who works in film and television as a prop man decided to use the things he’d picked up from set and bought in the past and put it all together to make a home cinema.
The 33-year-old from Surrey created a stunning home theatre, complete with a mini-bar and drinks fridge just like the ones we see at the cinema.
Sam spent £120 on all the trinkets that make up his home cinema, using cool leftover set pieces.
His biggest spend for the makeover was for the 75″ flat-screen TV which cost him £800.
It was all worth it as he can now enjoy his favourite films and the proper cinema experience, all from the comfort of his own home.
Before (Picture: Sam Creed)
After (Picture: Sam Creed)
Like many people, Sam has been unable to work during the pandemic.
So he used his downtime to get to work.
The stunning transformation, complete with new wallpaper, snazzy lights, film posters and DVD cases on display, took Sam a week to complete.
Snazzy (Picture: Sam Creed)
He tells Metro.co.uk: ‘I’m a film and tv prop man so I had a few bits from past jobs and I love a good movie.
‘The 1920 theatre seats were of a show last year that I had in storage. The floor was from a hotel set that I saved from last year.
‘I saved the seats from a movie set from the start of the year. The bar top was from Dad’s Army and a few other parts are from other TV shows.
Want (Picture: Sam Creed)
Can you tell what his favourite film is? (Picture: Sam Creed)
‘I spent £800 on the 75” tv. And the drinks fridge was £90 off Facebook Market Place as were the copper lights for £10 and the grey under counter units were £20 from someone doing a new kitchen so I spent £920 total and the rest is saved from the skip from other jobs.’
Sam is a film buff so you’ll see odes to his favourite movies around the house.
You can even find a replica of the DeLorean time machine from Back to the Future in his house that he’s working on.
He’s even working on a DeLorean time machine to honour his fave movie (Picture: Sam Creed)
Sam adds: ‘I decided to do this to keep busy and the room was not used.
‘So now I have a place to come and sit and watch my favourite movies.
‘I also have a full-size DeLorean time machine that I’m building so it’s a nice place to watch my favourite movie Back to the Future with a beer and popcorn.
‘I’m happy with how it turned out. And even the dog (Harvey) has a seat. He’s loved it as well.
‘I’m using the cinema a lot to catch up on some of the films and shows I’ve worked on that I’ve not had time to see.
‘All in all, very happy with it. My wife Emma helped every step of the way with ideas and to use what props and bits we had in storage.’
Kimmy went into labour when she was just 25 weeks pregnant (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
When teenager Kimmy Simper welcomed her first child Lucas on 11 February, her tiny baby was just one week and two days past the point of the pregnancy being considered ‘viable’.
Weighing just 2lbs 2oz, Kimmy’s son had to rely on breathing equipment to help him survive as he spent the next four months in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. If that wasn’t enough, the little boy has already spent most of his life living in lockdown.
Today Lucas is doing well – but it’s been a tough ride and a devastating time for Kimmy and her family.
At just 16, her pregnancy was unplanned. Kimmy wasn’t in a relationship with the baby’s father and admits she felt thankful for her family’s support after breaking the news to them.
Even so, when she went into early labour, the teenager couldn’t help but feel terrified.
After three days of experiencing stomach pain, Kimmy had decided to get checked out at the hospital.
Initially she was told she was just experiencing braxton hicks, normal contractions of the uterus that can happen during pregnancy.
But the next day, Kimmy couldn’t feel her baby boy moving.
She tells Metro.co.uk: ‘They checked his heartbeat and said that everything was fine, so went to send me home.
Lucas had to spend four months in hospital (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
‘The pains got worse, so I went to the toilet in the hospital and saw fresh blood and what was my mucus plug. I told the midwife that had just seen me, and she popped me into the bed to see that I was actually fully dilated.’
Knowing they had to act fast as Kimmy was still so early on in her pregnancy, the midwife hooked Kimmy up to a steroid drip in a bid to help mature Lucas’ frail lungs and began his delivery.
‘Within 30 minutes he was out,’ she remembers.
‘I was so petrified because I knew this wasn’t normal and I had no idea what the outcome would be.’
Kimmy says giving birth at just 25 weeks pregnant was incredibly upsetting and scary, as she knew there was a chance her son wouldn’t make it.
Lucas arrived weighing just 2lbs 2oz (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
‘I was really overwhelmed and didn’t know what to feel,’ she says. ‘They took him straight away, and I didn’t see him for seven hours after the birth.’
Things became even harder when Boris Johnson announced lockdown to slow the spread of coronavirus on 23 March, while Lucas was still in hospital.
Luckily, Kimmy was still able to visit Lucas during the day – but she had to go home without him each night.
She explained: ‘I came at 9am and went at 8pm. The hardest part was going home without him.
‘The lockdown makes this so much harder as the restrictions mean only the mums could visit. This meant that I had to put up with all of the bad days as well as the good on my own.
Being unable to take Lucas home each night was incredibly painful for the new mum (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
‘It’s very emotionally draining, and I’m lucky I have support in the hospital as well as at home because of my mental health problems.
‘My family are trying the best they can to support me but they said that they will never understand how I feel because they haven’t been through what I have.’
As restrictions were put into place in hospitals, the new mum had to wear a mask, gloves and an apron to visit her son.
It also meant Lucas wasn’t allowed out for any cuddles and she was rarely allowed to touch him. Kimmy says even the nurses found this difficult, as before lockdown they would encourage physical contact as often as possible.
No visitors were allowed (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
Kimmy continues: ‘The hygiene at the hospital was always the same because of the environment that we were in, however the tension and the new rules brought in due to Covid-19 made it a lot harder to enjoy spending time with my baby.
‘It’s made my emotions sky high and I’ve found it much more difficult to stay positive, however I’ve tried my hardest for my baby boy.’
Since his birth, Lucas has experienced many health problems. At week one, his bowel split and he needed an emergency operation to have a stoma (an opening on the front of your abdomen to allow faeces or urine to be collected in a pouch) created, and at two weeks he required a heart operation for his PDA ligation (when oxygen-rich blood that should circulate around the body returns to the lungs).
He then had another operation to have his stoma closed at two-and-a-half months old, and then had an operation on his eyes for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), which left untreated can result in blindness.
Lucas had to undergo multiple surgeries (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
Kimmy says: ‘He’s recovered very well from all his surgeries. He’s got problems with his blood pressure, kidneys and liver, so will be having regular check ups for that. We will also come back to hospital every week for his eyes too.’
On 2 June, Lucas was able to leave the hospital for the first time since he was born 16 weeks before.
Kimmy was finally able to bring Lucas home today, 2 June (Picture: CC Pugh Photography)
Kimmy says the challenges she and Lucas faced have made her feel even luckier to finally have her son at home.
She says: ‘It’s made me appreciate every little thing so much more. I’ve had to fight for my baby, and it’s made me so much stronger.
‘Each day is a new day, one step at a time.
‘I’m so, so, so happy and excited to finally take my baby boy home.
‘I’ll be able to get into my own routine and finally do things the way I want. I’m scared because of lockdown, but it just means I can spend more time with him.
He’s recovering well and Kimmy is lowing spending time with her son (Picture: Kimmy Simper)
‘Only my household will be holding him as I need to shield him because he’s coming home on oxygen.’
As advice for any other new mums going through a similar time during lockdown, Kimmy says: ‘Each day will be a challenge, and you’ll feel like you’re never making any progress, but these babies are much stronger than you think.
‘You just being there to hold their hand will give them the strength you need. Even if you can’t be there for them because of lockdown, there’s little things you can do, and they won’t remember or hold it against you.
‘You stay strong for them, they will stay strong for you.
I learnt from a very young age that my willingness and transparency to explain why I was a wheelchair user meant that I would be accepted, the glares would stop and, for the most part, the awkwardness would subside (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
‘Why are you in a wheelchair?’ My first experience of someone asking me this was at primary school. Children are notoriously inquisitive, even abrupt, and telling them about my disability broke the ice on the playground.
But kids aren’t the only ones who are intrigued. Adults are equally interested and, honestly, it’s just darn rude to ask personal questions about someone’s impairment straight off the cuff – before even asking their name.
To avoid these situations, I have become an open book.
I learnt from a very young age that my willingness and transparency to explain why I am a wheelchair user meant that I would be accepted, the glares would stop and, for the most part, the awkwardness would subside.
Once the elephant in the room was addressed, I would just be me.
I almost find it empowering to be be able to express my needs and share my way of life with all its quirks and long medical diagnoses. Ultimately, it gives me autonomy.
Yet this openness can come at a price and I’m often met with a response I’m not looking for – that of misplaced sympathy.
When I tell people I have a condition whereby my bones break easily, they can become somewhat uncomfortable or sad for me, even pitying me.
‘Gosh that must be awful, poor you, I couldn’t cope if I had that,’ someone once told me. It felt like they were telling me that disabled lives aren’t worth living. As if an impairment is something to be avoided at all costs.
I don’t need sympathy. But even more than that, I don’t need empathy.
I’ve had countless people tell me about their time in a wheelchair after breaking their leg, or those who sprained their ankle and struggled with the Underground and lifts that were out of service.
Our experiences are not the same. By telling me how ‘frustrating’ it was to use a chair, you are telling me that this is what you reduce my experience down to as a disabled person.
What may have been a traumatic experience for you, having to spend a month in a wheelchair with all its annoyances and inconveniences is soomething I have learnt to adapt to. Although I still face challenges, my life isn’t a constant battle against horrible situations.
Having a disability doesn’t make someone any less miserable with their life or equally any more content. It’s just their norm, particularly if they’ve been born with an impairment – they know nothing else. Many people assume that I would love to walk, when in actual fact I have no desire to and it’s never really crossed my mind.
Most of my barriers and struggles come from lack of accessibility and education towards disabled people and just regular life stuff; ‘can I afford those new shoes’, ‘does that guy like me’ or ‘crap, my credit card bill just came’.
This isn’t my attempt to police language or to make sure people tiptoe on eggshells out of fear of insulting or upsetting a disabled person, but I want you to reflect more on the words you choose
This misplaced empathy is shrouded in unconscious bias.
I have no doubt in my mind that this comes from a place with good intentions, that it is a way of finding commonality and maybe providing comfort, but I find it can lead to people exhibiting ableist attitudes.
This isn’t my attempt to police language or to make sure others tiptoe on eggshells out of fear of insulting or upsetting a disabled person, but I want people to reflect more on the words they choose.
For example, consider whether yourexperience is actually related to the person talking’s at all, or if you’re just centring an experience around yourself instead of really listening.
Awareness is the first step. So before you go ahead and say, ‘Yes I know exactly how you feel, I broke my leg once and used a wheelchair for a month, or, ‘I have OCD too, I have to have my bookcase in alphabetic order’, take a beat, and ask yourself if your situation really is exactly the same.
When this happens to me, I often speak up. I should be able to tell someone that it’s not the same thing without making them embarrassed, but in that moment, and especially in a social situation, this is easier said than done.
This is something I personally need to work on to better communicate what I need from others.
I understand that you might just be trying to relate or spark a conversation, but know that there is a whole host of other things we could talk about rather than you breaking your big toe years ago. I’m normally with my cat so let’s talk about that, I also love fashion and you can find me getting my über-geek on watching Buffy The Vampire Slayer regularly.
As lockdown eases and people start to go back to their ‘normal routine’, I can only imagine that the disabled community will be subjected to many ‘empathetic’ stories.
Having experienced the effect of isolation and lack of access first-hand, I want you to consider how, going forward, you can become a better ally to those who face isolation all year round.
Don’t say that you know what someone who can’t leave their house is going through – whether that be due to a weakened immune system or lack of accessibility – just because you also went through lockdown. It’s not the same.
What we are really looking for is respect and acknowledgement that our lived experiences are valid.
I’m a true believer in the notion that ignorance breeds ignorance and if someone has a genuine desire to learn and to become an ally to those with a disability I’m happy to tell them my truth.
But speak to me as a human, not as someone who is defined by my disability.
Do you have a story that you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
Stats by Sport England show that 95% of Black adults and 80% of Black children in England do not swim.
One in four Black children leave primary school not knowing how to swim.
Research also shows that the risk of drowning is higher in Black and ethnic minority communities.
It was these sobering stats that lead Ed Accura to learn how to swim as an adult – and to document his journey in a powerful new film.
‘A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim’ tells the story of Ed’s phobia of water, which developed after he read reports about flooding.
The film – which is partially documentary and partially drama – aims to tackle and eradicate the negative views and stereotypes associated with Black people and swimming by encouraging more people in the community to learn to swim and reduce the number of deaths by drowning.
Ed wanted to be able to help his daughter if she ever got into difficulty in the water (Picture: Ed Accura)
‘I never learnt how to swim as a child,’ Ed tells Metro.co.uk.
‘My first encounter with swimming was probably aged 9, when I asked my parents to teach me, but it was never a priority and hence it never happened. As I grew older it became easier to just hide behind the stereotypes.
‘”I’m Black, so I have heavy bones and can’t float”, I would say. I’m sure at some point I started believing it.
‘I have a 9-year-old daughter and she was the trigger for me learning how to swim. If she was ever in difficulty in water on holiday or even in the pool, and I couldn’t save her, I would never forgive myself.’
Ed only started learning how to swim last year, so he is still not wholly comfortable in the water. But he is relieved that the intense phobia he has carried all of his life has now been lifted.
‘I also no longer have to be the person looking after the towels and bags on the beach whilst everyone else is in the water having fun,’ he says.
A Film Called Blacks Can’t Swim is about the anxieties that many Black Brits feel about not being able to swim, and the struggle with the fact that these spaces are often inaccessible or unwelcoming for ethnic minorities.
The film tackles the stereotypes around Black people and swimming (Picture: Ed Accura)
‘The film depicts the effects of the stigma, stereotypes and myths and includes personal views and experiences of various people within the BAME community,’ says Ed. ‘The film highlights why there is such a cultural divide when it comes to aquatics.’
Ed says he was shocked at the disproportionate number of Black people who do not swim, and scared by the stat that Black children are at least three times more likely to drown.
‘I need to highlight the issue on a wider scale,’ he says. ‘It is easier now to have these conversations as the elephant is out of the room.’
As well as creating this film, Ed is also the co-founder of the Black Swimming Association (BSA), alongside Danielle Obe – the first organisation of its kind that aims to highlight the importance of swimming as an essential life skill and prevent drowning in Black and minority ethnic communities.
‘The benefits of engaging in aquatics for health, well-being, social and economic empowerment are truly endless,’ Danielle tells Metro.co.uk.
‘The film highlights why there is such a cultural divide when it comes to aquatics’ (Picture: Ed Accura)
‘Swim England’s 2019 Value of Swimming report highlights how invaluable swimming is to our society, saving the NHS £365M, improving community cohesion and being a big part of the solution to many socioeconomic issues.
‘The turn of a new decade heralds a great opportunity to drive forward more participation, inclusion and strategic engagements with underrepresented communities in the UK. Communities who would not normally engage in aquatics and all the great benefits it has to offer.’
After the launch of the film, the BSA aims to carry out substantive research to better understand the impact of these issues on the community.
‘Data from this research programme will go a long way to inform how educational resources and learning programmes can be designed to make swimming more inclusive and accessible for BMEs in the UK,’ Danielle adds.
Ed wants the film to help Black people confront their fears, address the stereotypes, and dispel the myths.
‘The last recorded data from 2018 shows that less than 1% of registered competitive swimmers with Swim England identify as Black or mixed-race,’ says Ed. ‘It’s now my duty to make this film available by officially releasing it and sharing my personal swimming journey to all.’
The film is available to watch online now, after the successful release of the pilot last year.
Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.
Little lady growing in our womb is not (from what we know) accurate (Picture: Bodyform)
Most ads for menstrual products feature someone wearing white trousers while riding a horse or playing tennis. Then some blue liquid drops onto a pad to show absorbency and that’s that.
And they company has now gone one step further with their new Womb Stories campaign, which shows periods for what they are; messy, painful, a sense of relief, and all the rest.
The three-minute video was designed to depict the emotional accounts of periods, including endometriosis, miscarriage, infertility, IVF, menopause and even the simple decision to not want to have children.
It comes on the back of a study by Bodyform which found that two thirds of women (68%) who experienced miscarriage, endometriosis, fertility issues and menopause said that being open with family and friends helped them cope.
The same research found that 21% of women feel society wants them to keep silent about their experiences and that nearly half of women felt staying silent about their issues damaged their mental health (44%).
Along with the campaign, they’re looking for people who experience periods to share their own #wombstories and break the silence around the often-uncomfortable parts of having a womb.
Nicola Coronado UK and Ireland consumer marketing director at Bodyform, comments – ‘With #wombstories we are starting a movement. We want to boldly go where no other brand has been before; inside women’s bodies and emotions to truly represent their sensations and feelings that we believe are not only invisible but ignored, overlooked or denied.
‘#wombstories reveals the narrative inside and out and we hope to put these topics on the table for all to talk about.
‘We believe that only once we understand women’s bodies and everything they go through; can we care for them with our period and daily intimate care products.’
The response from the public since the ad’s release yesterday has been largely positive.
‘This should be shown during sex ed about periods,’ said one person, while another said, ‘Amazing video. Amazing stories. Made me feel like I’m not alone.’
Another person wrote on social media: ‘Blown away – sharing our stories, our experiences, our LIVES. The good, the bad, and the sometimes ugly. Our wombs are amazing.’
It’s certainly a huge change from the sprightly menstruation scenes we’re so often fed, and should help those who are dealing with period issues feel less alone.
Not only that, but it shows those who don’t menstruate just how difficult it can be, and can hopefully open the channels of conversation with the people they care for.
