The Latte Effect: How To Better Manage Your Day-To-Day Spending

The latte effect: How to better manage your day-to-day spending 

Another morning, another delicious cup of coffee. Only £3 and a great way to start your day. Perhaps a white chocolate mocha and a muffin tomorrow? It’s a little bit more, but hey, it’s a Friday.

You probably don’t think about it, but it really adds up.

Our everyday coffee shop stops have become the poster boy of Britain’s frivolous spending. Back in summer 2017, the Daily Mail suggested the average Brit was spending over £2,000 in coffee shops, equating to roughly 7.5% of today’s average yearly income spent in the likes of Starbucks, Costa and Café Nero.

The Best Ways To Achieve Financial Security

The best ways to achieve financial security

Have you considered your financial future? If not, then now is the time to start preparing. Whether you’re 18 or 60, it’s never too early or late to plan. It’s so important to do this, as you do not want to be relying simply on your pension, as this may not provide you with sufficient expenses.

To help you start planning, you should follow these top tips which will help you establish an effective financial plan, which will offer you reassurance for the future. 

Win A Bottle Of Verace Perfume

Today on the blog, we have a great little fragrance competition for you. Who doesn't love a bit of lovely perfume or aftershave? I spent 5 years working on a fragrance counter and the fragrance we have on offer today is one of the most asked for fragrances because it carries a brilliant designer label, yet it comes with an affordable price tag.

Perfume is such a luxury to buy and when you go to a perfume counter, they make you feel so special as you make your purchase but did you know that you should never buy a perfume as soon as you have sprayed it? You need to wait at least ten minutes for it to settle on your skin for it to give you the smell that's going to last all day for you. The perfume smell changes so much in those few minutes and when you first spray it, you will get the top notes of the perfume. These top notes disappear in the first few minutes and it leaves the middle notes and the base notes that are going to linger for you to enjoy. So never rush into buying perfume, always think about it for a few minutes and if the sales assistant is rushing you to make a purchase, then walk away and shop elsewhere, because they only want your money and they are not listening to you as a customer.

The perfume that we have today as a competition prize is Versace Red Jeans. The perfume comes in a tin and as you remove the bottle you will see it has the distinctive Versace logo all around the bottle and it is a transparent bottle with a pink perfume inside. It is an EDT and is a 75mls size, which is a great size in perfume standards because it's not going to run out too soon, yet it is still able to go in hand luggage if you travel by plane.

The light floral smell of the perfume comes from the notes of the fragrance and top notes are Freesia, Ylang-Ylang, Water-Lily, Lilac Stalks, Redcurrant, the middle notes are Gardenia, Red Peony, Jasmine, Violet whilst the base notes are Cashmere, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Musk.

So would you like to win a bottle? Here is how you do it. You click on the rafflecopter and it tells you to leave a blog comment. That is your entry and the rafflecopter will record it for me. Then there are other options to gain more entries, you don't have to do these but if you do enter with the other options, you will get more entries into the competition and it means more chances of winning.

Are you ready to enter? Just click the link below and you're on your way, there are some terms and conditions printed below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and conditions

You must be in the UK to enter
Blog comments must be 10 words or more.
The prize should arrive within 28 days of you accepting the prize
This competition is open to people over 13 years of age but winners will need parental consent if they are under 18 when they win.
This competition can be withdrawn at anytime
If the prize is unavailable at the time of winning an alternative will be sent out to the same value or more, but no cash alternative is offered.
Prize is not transferrable

How To Get A Loan In A Sensible Way

Criteria for Choosing a Lender

When it's time to get a loan, it's likely you're considering which lender to go with. You hear that some lenders have low rates while others will approve anyone regardless of credit history. While there are many factors at play, it pays to do your research when looking at potential loan providers so you can be assured you pick the best one to meet your individual needs

Ways To Stay Healthy On A Flight

Ways To Stay Healthy On A Flight

Going away on holiday is such a fun time and something that we all need to look forward to, but how many times do you get to your holiday destination and you are ill because of the germs that circulate in a plane? I am always falling victim to aeroplane germs! But there are ways that you can ensure you stay healthy on the journey and throughout your holiday if you follow some tips from us.

How to Be Sure You Are Buying the Right Tyres

How to Be Sure You Are Buying the Right Tyres

In summers we all plan for road trips with family - tyre care is crucial before you head out because only tyres which are a perfect match will help you stay safe. You need the right tyres fitted to your car in order to be able to travel safely in the south-east of England or in any area of UK. In London and nearby towns, such as Slough, St Albans and Guildford, plenty of drivers are unwittingly driving on tyres which are no good for their car. If they are found to be driving on incompatible or overly worn tyres, then they could face prosecution. On London's congested city streets, it is especially important to have the correct tyres. If not, then the extra wear and tear you get from speed bumps, debris and heavy traffic mean that you could end up in trouble. What should you be doing?

3 Easter Crafts Using Duck Tape

With Easter right around the corner and the kids off school what better time to get creative!? From baking to making there are Easter themed activities that you can have fun with the family with. We have teamed up with a craft tape company Duck Tape Colours to come up with 3 seasonal crafts you can create this weekend using only Duck Tape and a few other supplies.

Top Travel Tips for New Mums

When you have little ones, booking a break can feel like a tricky task. It’s no longer just about finding the best locations for sun, sea and sand, there’s a lot of different things to consider. Is accommodation child-friendly? Will the food be appropriate? Is the location safe? Will there be entertainment for kids? If booking your break is sending you into a panic, then take a look at our top travel tips for new mums.

Choose Child-Friendly Accommodation

There’s nothing worse than arriving at a destination, only to realise there are NO other children anywhere to be seen. You then face the inevitable dread of the other travellers rolling their eyes and tutting as your child runs riot around the pool as well as your child having nobody to play with.  Avoid this by choosing the accommodation that is truly child-friendly. There are loads of kids holidays with dedicated children’s entertainment, pools, splash parks and other activities to ensure they (and you!) have a great time. When we went to Turkey last year, the hotel had German and Russian guests, luckily the English language is learnt by kids at school so Tilly could chat with them and play with them. 

Why Homeowners Prefer Wood Flooring?

Many homeowners want to make their house look as chic as possible. When it comes to stylish floors, you always think of solid and stylish hardwood flooring. Wooden floors have gained generous popularity and are mostly preferred over the carpet and tiled flooring. The wood that is used is very rich in history and provides an elegant look for your rooms. Along with elegance, it is also safer, easy to maintain and easy to clean. Wooden flooring is a bit expensive, but it is a one time investment with the benefits of less maintenance and adding substantial resale value to your house. Here are some reasons why homeowners prefer wooden flooring.



Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/tj4kNiNBcFU

1. Provides Elegance
Elegance is the key feature the wooden floors provide. Its unique look is very satisfying to see. It is also believed that it makes the room look more spacious. Wooden floors are a natural choice for your house, and they have been around for a long time.

2. Low Maintenance

Hardwood flooring has a very long lifespan. They are easy to maintain and hence they are durable. They are more stain resistant than any other type of flooring. A simple mop can do the trick for any type of stains. You can also vacuum, steam clean, scrub and sweep the whole floor to clean it without damaging it. Preventive measures should also be exercised like placing rugs around the house because they can be scratched and dented but not that easy. That's why they require low maintenance,

3. Promotes a Safe Environment

Carpet and tile floors usually get dirty and dented easily. The dust and germs get absorbed in the carpet and it causes air pollution. Same with tiled flooring the dirt and much sticks to the tiles and the stains are usually hard to get rid of. Hardwood floors are the best natural sanitary options for flooring you can get. They are free from all sorts of dust as they don't harbor dust, pollens, animal dander, and other allergens, hence no mold and a clean, fresh and safe airflow around the house.



Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/GmRiN7tVW1w

4. A Variety to Choose From

There are so many types of woods to choose from. Each one with different grains, patterns, designs, and colors to suit your needs. Wood quality and origin are important to be aware of.

5. It Provides Versatility

No matter what kind of interior design or theme you have in your house, the versatility of wooden floors adapts it. Even if you decide to change the décor of your house, the wooden floor will blend itself into the change. The natural pattern of the floors provides a wide range of colors which helps in all the versatility.


Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/7SPCoR1wWqc

6. They Can Be Refinished

If your wooden floor has received the required maintenance procedures, it will not have any problem. They don’t lose their color, but it can change with constant use. The good news is that wooden flooring can be repaired and made as good as new. This is much less expensive than having to install a new wooden floor.

Tips For Doing Up Your Kitchen

How to make sure your kitchen isn’t neglected

I think we’d all agree that the heart of a home is the kitchen. Its where countless breakfasts are eaten before school, lunchboxes are created, and conversations and endless laughs are had. From the grand kitchens with islands and wine fridges to the small quaint ones with quirky features and creative storage ideas, each one is different and unique and it’s super important that it’s never neglected.
Refreshing and revamping the heart of your home doesn’t have to be expensive. From a fresh lick of paint to the addition of plants, there are so many ways to give your kitchen a new lease of life.