● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●: lifestyle

Energy efficiency and sustainable living are one of the greatest areas of concern for homeowners. They are constantly looking out for innovative ways to reduce their carbon footprint and maintain a comfortable living environment. Air source heat pumps are an efficient system that helps one to get the desired heating in an eco-friendly way. These pumps have both heating and cooling capabilities. They provide multiple benefits to homeowners. In this blog, we are going to discuss and explore the top five advantages of installing an air-to-air heat pump in your home.

Energy Efficiency

One of the greatest advantages of air-to-air heat pumps is the energy efficiency feature. These systems operate by transferring heat between the indoor and outdoor environments. They do not generate heat through combustion or electrical resistance. Thus, by harnessing renewable energy in the air, the heat pumps meet the heat requirement while saving energy impressively. With one unit of electricity consumed an air-to-air heat pump can produce nearly three units of heat.

Cost Savings

You can save big time on your energy bills with air-source heat pumps. The air source heat pump does not consume much electricity as compared to traditional heating systems. The free heat energy in the air is used to generate heat. Thus, homeowners can experience substantial cost savings in their heating and cooling expenses throughout the year.

Versatility and Convenience

The air source heat pump is versatile. These systems have both heating and cooling features. During the colder months, the heat pump extracts heat from the outside air and transfers it indoors. The system operates in reverse during hot days by removing heat from the indoor air and expelling it outside. This dual functionality eliminates the need for separate heating and cooling systems. Thus, air-to-air pumps offer convenience to homeowners.

Environmentally Friendly

Air-to-air heat pumps are environmentally friendly heating and cooling solutions. They help you to significantly lower your carbon footprint. These pumps encourage the use of renewable energy to meet our daily needs. Hence,

by opting for an air-source heat pump you can actively contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Government Incentives and Rebates

To encourage the adoption of energy-efficient technologies, many governments and utility companies offer incentives and rebates for installing air-to-air heat pumps. These incentives act as a great motivator and help you to offset the initial cost of installation. By taking advantage of incentives and rebates you can make the most of your air source heat pumps cost-effectively.

The Key Takeaway

Installing an air-to-air heat pump in your home provides you with numerous benefits. These systems are not only advanced and offer optimum results, but they are also eco-friendly. As the world embraces sustainable solutions, air-source heat pumps are an effective way to reduce energy consumption and minimise environmental impact. By investing in this technology, homeowners can enjoy year-round comfort while minimising their utility bills. Consider installing an air-to-air heat pump in your home and reap the rewards of a more sustainable and efficient heating and cooling system.

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In Collaboration With Chums | Do you know someone who has gone above and beyond in their local community? Or someone who has done incredible things for their family or friends? Why not nominate a senior in their life who deserves to be rewarded for all they’ve done and celebrate this with them.

Chums believe the older generation deserves to be celebrated for all that they have done, and recently they have launched an impressive competition to vote for someone who deserves to win some impressive prizes. For this exact reason, Chums have created a Community Hero Competition.

The competition is very straight forward and simple. The team over at Chumps are inviting everyone across the UK to nominate a special senior in their life who deserves to be rewarded for all they’ve done. Whether that be someone special to you, an armed force or military veteran, or an outstanding senior in their local community.

The part that you've all been waiting for… What are the prizes, you may wonder. The three lucky winners selected at random from all the eligible votes, and will each receive a special “Reward Package”, featuring a whole host of amazing prizes, including:

A £100 Chums voucher

Theatre tickets for two

A £100 Ryanair voucher

A jigsaw puzzle

A box of chocolates

A five-year diary

Entry Details

To nominate your winner, entering this competition is super simple. To be in with a chance of winning this amazing care package for your loved one, simply fill out this form, telling us why you think your nominee deserves to win (in no less than 300 words).

Please include as much information as possible to give your special someone the best chance of scooping this fantastic prize. To complement your entry, please include a photo of your nominee.

The competition timeframe is open from 1st June to 15th June and the winners' announcement date 27th July. You can enter the competition via Facebook, Instagram and this submission form.

For more information, please visit the Chums website.

Who gets your vote?

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AD – GIFTED| Looking for special and unique gift ideas this Mother's Day? Why not opt for something a little more personalised and choose from some stunning wall art, posters, or prints to bring a smile to their face all year round.

The Poster Store offer a wide variety of sizes for all posters, prints, and frames online – from 13×18 to 70×100, allowing you to pick the best pieces for your Mother's Day gifts or for the size space in your home you have to decorate. The online collection of unique prints will help you create the perfect gallery wall, tailor-made for any home. All the posters are printed on sustainably produced high-quality paper, helping to minimise any damage to the environment.

Lasts Longer Than Real Flowers

Many people often by real flowers for the mums on Mother's Day. We all know that they look great, smell nice, add some vibrancy to any room and will always go down a treat. However, at some point they will begin to wilt and die, and soon enough will need to be thrown away. A printed version will last a lifetime – perfect for those who want pleasant memories to look back on, or just want to be more sustainable with their gift choices.

A Gift That Can Always Be On Show

Prints are the perfect gift for the home or office, and would always make a great addition to the walls or shelving units in the living room or bedroom. By selecting wall art as your gift, the recipient can display it in their home to help add some interest, and will remember you each time they see it during the day. It will be a long-lasting gift that can be cherished for years and years.

Personalised Gifts for Everyone's Preferences

Art makes a great gift because it can be so personal to the recipient, and there are a wide selection of art styles to select from the Poster Store. You'll definitely be spoilt for choice. In my opinion, florals, nature and botanical themed artwork is the perfect choice for Mother's Day – think scenic landscapes, soft and delicate florals and beautiful photography. If nature isn't your thing, they have other poster categories such as animals, typography, fashion and vintage, to name a few. With the vast selection of different themes & categories for all tastes, and new poster collections released all the time, there is undoubtedly something for everyone, so you'll never be stuck for choice.

To complete your posters and prints, there are a variety of high quality frames to purchase in different colours and sizes. I opted for the stylish copper frame, as I felt this really compliments the pinks that are used in the floral image, and offers a beautiful contrast to the poster. It also brings a sense of luxury and class, making it a great gift for someone special.

If you're interested, you can use code LTHORNBERRY for 40% on all posters (except Selection Posters and frames). Not combinable with other discount campaigns. Valid from 14th to 16th March.

What gifts for Mother's Day will you be purchasing? Would you consider buying prints and posters?

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AD| Getting a car on finance can be a really exciting time. You can usually get a newer, better car than you could afford with cash and pay for it in monthly instalments. It’s worth remembering that car finance is never guaranteed to anyone, and there can be a number of reasons why your car finance application may be rejected. If you’ve already been refused, it can be disheartening. However, it doesn’t have to be the end of the road. It can be worth taking some time to save for a deposit and increase your credit score before you start making car finance applications again. The guide below looks at the top 5 factors that could help you get the car finance approval you need.

Why have you been refused car finance?

Most applicants will already have an idea of why they can’t get a car on finance. Whether that’s due to a bad credit score or inability to meet the repayment schedule, it’s important to know where you’re going wrong. If a lender has rejected you, you can ask the lender on what basis your application was declined, so you know what you need to do to increase the likelihood of an approval. Below are the top 5 reasons why you may be refused car finance:

1. A bad credit score

2. Don’t meet the income criteria

3. Can’t afford the repayments

4. No current employment

5. Applied with the wrong lender

How can you get approved for car finance?

If you’ve already been refused or if you’ve been declined in the past, there are a few factors that you can consider before you apply to get a car on finance again.

Increase your credit score If you’ve been declined due to bad credit, you may be looking to get a car on finance without a credit check being performed, however it can be hard to come across. Instead, you should take the time to increase your low score to help get you a better deal and also increase the likelihood of approval. Lenders tend to favour applications who have a strong history of meeting payments on time and in full, as you’re less likely to default on your car loan. You should try to pay all your current debts on time, reduce as much debt as you can, or build credit if you’ve had no previous borrowing history.

Save for a Deposit

There are many no deposit options available, which can be attractive. However, it can actually be more beneficial to have some money to put towards your car finance deal. A car finance deposit means you put money down at the start of the agreement. The deposit contribution then offsets the value of your finance, which helps to lower the loan amount and make it more affordable. From a lenders point of view, it can be a positive step and helps shows that you have good financial management and can help you secure the deal.

Get a Guarantor

If you’ve made credit mistakes in the past, it can be hard to get someone to be your guarantor. However, if you can find a friend or family member to support your applications, it can massively increase your chances of approval. Car finance with a guarantor is when someone you know agrees to pay your finance if you fail to do so. It can be beneficial as the lender then gets two chances for the loan to be paid back, which helps to reduce the risk. However, if both you and your guarantor fail to repay, it can have serious financial implications on both of your credit files and affect your ability to get credit in the future.

Choose Hire-purchase

There are a number of UK car finance agreements you can choose from, but you may have the highest chances of approval with hire-purchase. Hire-purchase is a secured loan, which means the lender buys the vehicle, and you make monthly payments that equal the car's value till the end of the agreed term. Interest is usually included within your monthly payments, and having a bad credit score can impact the interest rate you are offered. However, the lender owns the car throughout the agreement, so if you fail to repay, they have the right to take the car off you. If you make all payments on time and in full, there’s a small option to purchase fee to pay at the end, but after that the car is yours to own.

Get a Cheaper Car

If you’re getting a car on finance with bad credit, it can be a good idea to be realistic about the car you want. The more the lender loans out, the higher the risk they take, and brand-new cars may not be possible with bad credit. Instead, you could consider getting a used car on finance, as the loan amount tends to be lower. Not only could it increase your chances of approval, but it also makes your deal more manageable and can help to reduce your monthly payments.

Are you looking to get a new car? Would you consider car finance?

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AD| Car finance is one of the most popular ways to fund your next car purchase. Drivers like car finance because it gives them more flexibility and the ability to get a car but pay for it over a set period of time. When compared to buying with cash, this can usually mean that you can get a better car than you first thought, too! Before you start applying for car finance, it’s worth remembering that it’s never guaranteed you will get offered a car finance approval. So, the guide below has been designed to make your life a bit easier and looks at the top 5 things you should do even before you start making applications for finance.

1. Calculate your loan

When it comes to getting a car, your monthly payments are really important. Your budget for car finance should be realistic and affordable, as it’s crucial that you can meet each payment every month until the agreed end date. Failing to stick to the terms of your credit agreement can lead to the car being takes off you if it’s a secured loan, which can lead to more serious financial implications. Usually, car finance deals are spread over 3–5 years and your loan term can affect how much you pay back each month. If you’re not sure how much you can afford to borrow, you can use a free car finance payment calculator to see how much your monthly payments could be before you even start applying.

2. Save money for a deposit

When it comes to car finance deposits, there are some agreements which require you to put down some money to help secure the deal. It’s worth knowing before you start applying, so you can either have time to save or know how much you’ll need to fork out. Whilst there are any car finance deals with no deposit, it can be better to have something to put down at the start of your agreement. Not only can it increase the likelihood of getting an approval, but it also means you aren’t borrowing as much from the lender. A deposit contribution reduces the loan amount, which can make your monthly payments cheaper and save you money as a driver.

3. Check your credit

Before you make any application for finance or credit, it’s always best to check your credit first. You’d be surprised how many drivers look for finance without know where their current credit score stands. It can be a good idea to check your credit for car finance before you even start applying. Credit score is important to car finance as it helps the lenders to assess the level of risk. If you have a low credit score due to missed or late payments, lenders may think you are more likely to default on their loans, too. This can make it harder to get accepted or means you may be offered a higher interest rate to secure the deal. In this instance, it can be worth taking some time to work on your credit score before you start annoying to help make your deal more affordable.

4. Research different lenders

There are so many car finance lenders who can offer you a finance deal, and it can be hard to know which one to choose. Lenders may also be suited to some drivers over others. If you’re struggling to get approved due to bad credit, it may not be worth applying with mainstream or prime lenders, and instead you could find a lender who specialises in no credit or bad credit finance. You could also consider using a car finance broker to help find the best deal for you. Car finance brokers have access to multiple finance lenders at once and means you can save time but letting them do the leg work for you!

5. Take your time and ask questions

When it comes to getting a car on finance, it’s important that you don’t rush into the first deal that you are different. Car finance agreements last for a number of years, so it’s significant that you get eh right deal with affordable payments. If you’re ready to apply, it can be a good idea to think about the sort of car you need and want, how much you want to pay and how you’re going to afford it. Don’t be scared to take your time when making a decision, researching car finance and asking as many questions as you need to in order to make an informed decision.

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GUEST POST | Lifestyles of the rich and famous have always appeared glamorous and out of reach, but just because you might not have a million-dollar fortune, that doesn’t mean you still can’t get a slice of the action. OK, so working on a super yacht isn’t the same as sipping champagne and soaking up the sun on the deck, but this can be a very exciting career all the same. If you are someone who doesn’t mind the idea of spending your days out on the open water, here are some other highlights this kind of job could offer you.

A Sense of Adventure

Perhaps the most obvious benefit to working on a super yacht is the opportunity for great adventures. This kind of career can be particularly attractive to those who would like to travel as they work, and as long as you don’t get seasick, this could be the perfect way to do it. You will also meet a variety of people who are using the yacht for their vacations and the other staff aboard. You could forge life-long friendships with your fellow crew members, which can be a fantastic reason to try this type of career.

The Opportunity to Indulge You will be working on the yacht, and these glamorous facilities will be for paying guests, but that doesn’t mean you will never have the chance to enjoy these yourselves. When the yacht is vacant, the captain or the owner might allow you to use the facilities on board as a reward for your hard work. This might not happen on every yacht you work on, but it is certainly a possibility that it can be a wonderful additional perk.

A Good Income

Another benefit to working on a super yacht is the salary you could make – not to mention the tips! As there will be a lot of wealthier and more influential people on board, this often means very generous tips for the crew members. It can be a great bonus to add to your bank account, allowing you to enjoy your days off at these beautiful ports and other destinations. You could even choose to put this cash into savings for a future home, travel plans, or whatever else you want. You might also be entitled to tax breaks for crew members that are away frequently. Learn more about it from this tax service for UK seafarers. You will also save on living expenses, as food and accommodation are covered on board.

An Opportunity to Develop New Skills

When you are working in an environment like this, you will need specialist training to help keep yourself, your fellow crew, and the guests safe at sea. It can be a fascinating experience; these aren’t skills everyone will have. In addition to this, you will also develop a lot of transferrable skills like great communication and customer service, as a few examples.

Life at sea might not be the right choice for everyone, but working on a super yacht can be an amazing experience and a wonderful job worth looking into.

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