● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| When it comes to beauty, many people find the thought of having unwanted hair, hair regrowth and hair removal can be extremely annoying, uncomfortable and is often a very time consuming process. We spend many hours and a lot of money on our beauty regimes since it can help boost confidence, mental health and self-esteem. When it comes to hair removal, there are a number of different procedures and techniques to get rid of unwanted hair such as shaving, tweezing, threading and waxing.

Now, as we all may be aware of, these techniques can be time-consuming and you often find yourself repeating the procedures time and time again. Now, for those who are looking for ideal permanent results and the first procedure that comes in the mind is laser hair removal. Many find that this technique works so effectively and results can be seen from the very first session. However, many people who are going for consultations or their first laser appointment find themselves stuck with so many misconceptions and find themselves unsure if the procedure is right for them.

Is it quite painful?
The thought of having a laser used on your body sounds incredibly awful, but the process of laser hair removal shouldn't feel too painful. You may experience different types of sensations, varying in pain, but this will vary from person to person. Therefore, it is indeed tricky to find out how you are supposed to feel, as not everyone will experience the same feelings and have the same pain tolerance. Talking about the majority, they experience a slightly tingling sensation after having laser hair removal, but isn't anything too uncomfortable. Many individuals feel that it does not hurt any more than waxing, since the laser procedure is categorised into many different sessions over a period of time. It can be an extremely safe procedure compared to waxing, if carried out by a trained professional. You would not have to bother about any bleeding, ingrown hairs or rashes, and will begin your journey to being hair free!

Probably expensive procedure?
The price? This is another one of the most common misconceptions about laser hair removal. The reason behind this misconception is that this procedure revolves around advanced technology, and is carried out over a period of time. This beauty procedure is quite accessible for anyone and you can find treatments to fit any budget. The pricing for this can be extremely reasonable, especially if comparing the price you would pay for regular waxing/shaving for the rest of your life. You could be saving thousands of pounds over your lifetime through going ahead with laser removal. There are so many different price packages of laser hair removal that works is available to go with your price range, depending on the company or treatment you decide to go with.

Can cause more hair to grow?
Many people do not agree with laser hair removal for a number of reasons. One of these reasons is they are thinking that it will probably lead to more hair growth, but this is not 100% true. Experts say that our bodies are constantly changing, and keep changing as we age. Some people are supposed to lose body hair while some probably have more hair in a new places. This will obviously differ from person to person, so each individuals results will be different, so don't compare your own to someone else.

Laser does not work well on dark skin?
As per the advanced laser technology, this is nothing but a myth only. Over the last few years, laser hair removal has become quite advanced and has been developed further to work for many more people. Today, laser hair reduction can be done on individuals with all skin tones. However, the amount of time and number of sessions you will require for this may vary, solely based on your skin tone and hair texture.

Overall, laser hair removal is extremely helpful for those who want to get rid of unwanted hair for good. Instead of believing the misconceptions, it would be better to make sure to do your own research before you make any decisions. If you have any questions or further queries, you should consult with a health expert in case you have more doubts regarding this, or are looking at getting laser hair removal yourself.

Have you had laser hair removal? Is this procedure something you have been considering?

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AD| Traveling and going on holiday abroad can be extremely expensive if you fail to do enough research and come up with a detailed, planned itinerary. With many of us browsing online and looking to start booking summer holidays and trips away now some travel is allowed, you can already start saving some money before you've even left you're own home. There are so many decisions to make and things to consider when holiday searching, and sometimes you just don't need the added stress of everything happening all at once.

Before even thinking about going on holiday, the most important thing is to save up enough money to be able to afford the trip. You obviously want to make sure you are financially stable, and can actually afford to go on holiday. Make sure to set a budget for the total cost of the holiday, as well as for each day of your trip, will help you when it comes to planning and saving money. By having a set budget, this will help you when searching for your perfect getaway, as you have a price range to work with.

It's also really important to make sure to research your destination so you know what to expect when you get there. You will need to decide where you want to stay, the length of your trip and also find out what the weather conditions are like before you go. You can also look online to find recommendations and reviews of places to go and stay. This allows you to get real peoples thoughts and opinions, and you'll also be able to see where you should be spending your money.

A big way to save money when booking your holidays abroad is by being as flexible as possible with your travel dates. Traveling during off-peak times can be a lot cheaper than during the busiest times of the year, so if you have the time flexibility, it's worth looking at cheaper dates. You can also have a look at special offers and deals that travel companies offer that are scheduled for specific dates, so if you have full flexibility, this could be something to look out for.

When you have finalised your travel dates and destination, you'll then want to go ahead and begin to book your flights and accommodation. During this stage of your booking process, you'll be able to research and find out if booking your holiday in a package or separately will be cheaper for you. I'd recommend using price comparison websites that can search the internet for flights and hotels, suiting your dates, time and budget.

If you're going to be exploring your destination by bus/tube/train etc, it may be more cost effective for you by buying travel passes for the duration of your stay. Depending on what you have planned for your trip, having a travel card already purchased can save you a lot of time and money, so you have more time to go sightseeing and and exploring. It can also be worth having if you decide upon some unexpected last-minute plans and venture out of the local area.

If your accommodation allows you to have access to a kitchen, that is an extremely easy way to save money once you're away. You can pick up your ingredients quite cheaply from local supermarkets and make your own food. However, if you are looking at eating out most of the time, why not get some recommendations from locals and enjoy local food and drinks. Many restaurants, pubs and bars are situated in very popular, tourist areas, and visiting these locations may be quite expensive. Many destinations will have places to eat and drink that are super popular with the locals and residents, so it may be worth asking around for some ideas of places to enjoy your meals.

If you're visiting somewhere where you want to take sightseeing at your own pace, looking at car rental services might be a good option to save you money on public transport and taxi fees. Many rental companies have special offers and discounts when booked in advance, and offer a variety of sized vehicles for your own personal needs. If you're looking at island holidays, for example, such as Santorini, Ibiza or even Cyprus, I'd highly recommend looking at hiring your own car to help you get about and explore your next holiday destination.

Exchange rates for currency are always changing and are in constant fluctuation everyday. Obviously as a buyer of currency, we want to get the best deals and prices when looking at getting foreign currency. Probably the easiest and cheapest way to buy your foreign currency is going online, and comparing banks and travel agents, to make sure you get a good exchange. By making sure to organise and collect currency before travel, you can save yourself some money by not purchasing at the airport, or at your final destination, as the conversion rates are usually not great.

Finally, when you're on holiday, you may want to look at finding some day trips or visiting attractions, as these can prove costly if not pre-planned and booked ahead. If you to fill up your travel itinerary, it might be worth researching some free excursions and activities that your travel destination has to offer. Many tourist destinations will have plenty of parks, museums and shops that you can visit for free. You could even ask in your hotel or accommodation centre if there are any activities going on during your stay that you might find interesting.

How do you save money whilst travelling? Have you got any holidays planned soon?

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AD| If you are starting to look at planning your next UK summer vacation but want something a little different, why not consider a caravan/motorhome-style holiday?

Caravan and motorhome travel can be extremely exciting and if planned well, can be so much less stressful than your typical holiday abroad. You can take your journey at your own pace, take more direct routes to your destinations, as well as making some super amazing memories and having an awesome adventure with your friends and family.

Obviously, one of the most important parts of planning your getaway for your first UK caravan holiday is to completely make sure that you’ve carried out all safety and security checks on your car/caravan/motorhome. By doing this, this ensures your vehicle is fit for purpose and you won't come across any breakdown issues on your trip. You'll want to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road, checking tyres, fuel and other fluid levels, and also making sure your have a safe and secure tow-bar for your caravan to attach to.

Before you set off on your trip, it would be very useful and informative to check any driving regulations for caravans/motorhomes, as suggested in The Highway Code. You’ll need to switch up your driving style when you are towing a caravan, as it will feel completely different to a normal car. You'll need to consider things like vehicle weight, conditions of your brakes, as well as considering your stopping distance, vehicle speed and room needed for manoeuvres. You may even opt for a special driving course for caravans or motorhomes to make sure you are fully confident ahead of your summer trip.

Making sure you go online and check that you have the correct insurance for your caravan/motorhome trip is extremely important. It's not ideal to be spending extra money on something that isn’t necessary, so finding a good deal on your insurance is extremely vital. If it's your first caravan/motorhome travel holiday, it’s probably a good idea to take out some insurance in case of any unplanned issues. This could include breakdowns, repairs or even theft. By researching ahead of your trip, the touring caravan insurance you need can be found at a lower price, allowing you to make sure you’re getting the best quotes and deal for what you require for your trip.

Obviously, journey planning is one of the biggest steps in researching for your caravan/motorhome holiday. You'll ideally want to make an itinerary of how long you wish to spend travelling, places you want to visit, and of course, the route you're going to take for your journeys. There are plenty of online resources that can help you to help plan your trip, giving you the best routes and letting you know the timeframes you will need. I would also recommend setting up a sat-nav, as well as bringing a map, just in case of emergencies. Doing all this planning beforehand will help you to feel less stressed and anxious, and allow you to also to come up with contingency plans if there are any issues on the road ahead.

Whilst planning your trip, it's also wise to make sure you have saved up enough money to last you the length of your trip, but also essential to budget for any additional costs. This could be for things such as food/drinks, parking charges, road tolls, just as a few examples. Having put aside some extra money can help you if anything unexpected comes up and catches you "out of the blue". This money can also cover costs if you want to take detours from your original journey plan and visit other places along the way that were not pre-planned before the trip.

Have you considered caravan or motorhome vacations before? Where would you like to visit?

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AD| Real estate can be one of the most profitable businesses to get into. Even if you're buying a home for the long term and are just curious about how much of a return you can eventually get, there are things everyone can do to increase their equity.

Make A Large Down Payment
The larger your down payment, the more equity you have in your home. Instead of making the minimum down payment, plan on paying off a significant portion earlier so that your monthly payments may be lower or your mortgage can be shorter. Every cent you put into your down payment turns into equity, so don't be shy about pouring a lot of money into it.

Increase Property Value
The simplest way to gain equity without paying off your home faster is to update your home itself. If you add value to your home, all of that value will be equity. The updates that increase value the most are kitchens, master bathrooms, and master bedrooms. When people look at Vancouver homes for sale, they’re considering how much work they will have to put into a property. Having updated spaces that are functional and pretty from the get-go has a lot of value in it.

Pay Higher Than Due Every Month
Following along the lines of making a sizable down payment, you'll be in a better financial position if you pay higher than your monthly set payment. Not only does paying off the debt faster lower your interest total, but it also ensures you start gaining equity faster. Do the math on how much you owe, what percentage above your monthly payments you can currently afford, and how much time that shaves off of your mortgage.

Have Patience Beyond Five Years
If you’re making the minimal house payment, the first five years of it are more than likely just covering the interest. Although it can be annoying to think of, this is the territory that comes with buying a home with a loan. After those first five years, all money you put into your property can be considered equity and make your home your own.

Spend One Partner’s Entire Salary
This tip is only for couples who don't have kids or significant financial obligations outside of their home: or who make enough that they can afford to do this easily. Many couples will earmark one of the partners' incomes solely for house payments. If both people in the pair are making around $50,000 a year, this could mean the couple pays off a $200,000 home in just under five years after interest.

This plan does have its fall-backs since it means that half of the income is gone, but if a couple is capable of living frugally, it's possible. After taxes take around 20% of their income, the couple would have to survive off around $3,350, which isn't impossible in most cities! This option should be thoroughly discussed and only used by couples who know and trust each other financially.

Have you considered real estate? What other ways can you grow equity?

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AD - GIFTED| Are you a major fan of the matching loungewear co-ord sets? Then this post is for you!

Now the warmer weather is definitely on its way, lockdown restrictions are constantly being lifted and we can finally go out and socialise with friends, everyone will be looking for outfit inspiration that would make a change from loungewear sets we've been wearing at home. However, loungewear is a must-have essential on spring days, as the weather can easily shift between cool and warm in such a short space of time, it's good to be prepared with wearing something that is suitable for both temperatures.

FemmeLuxe loungewear has definitely been some of my favourite matching sets to wear throughout lockdown, and on those days where I just want a simple, easy and effortless outfit to throw on and go. Loungewear is so versatile, dressed up or dressed down, there's so many ways to wear it, and still look stylish yet comfy. Loungewear is such a wardrobe staple, all year round. Hoodies, sweatshirts, crop tops, joggers and leggings are all perfect items for everyday wear when you're putting together a super casual outfit.

Chocolate brown was definitely the colour of the autumn/winter season, and it's definitely something that's here to stay throughout the springtime. This Oversized Chocolate Loungewear set* simply screams comfort! You can't go wrong with an oversized sweat and some joggers for the perfect casual everyday outfit. On this occasion, I've gone for something slightly different as I would never usually go for this colour, but I'm extremely glad that I did. I find browns super flattering for all skin tones and this tracksuit set is the perfect outfit when you want something easy to through on.

To add some neutral tones to my wardrobe, I picked up a Cream Oversized Hoodie & Jogger set*. This loungewear set has a relaxed fit, making it extremely comfortable and perfect for layering underneath or over the top. Cream is a great colour for those who love a neutral colour them in their clothing, as you can pair it with pretty much any colour and it will match perfectly.

To switch up my loungewear style, this Grey Ribbed Loungewear Set* is the perfect addition to my wardrobe. This loungewear set has more of a slim fit to it, helping to flatter the body, and is a change from wearing big, baggy lounge sets. Grey is an extremely versatile colour so you can pair this with so many things for a cute outfit. I would simply through on an oversized puffer jacket for an everyday outfit.

To help inject some colour into my spring wardrobe, I've opted for another loungewear set in this absolutely stunning pale blue colour. This Slogan Oversized Loungewear Set* is super relaxed and very comfortable. This set is really unique and different compared to the ones already featured in this post. The slogan back is a really cool added detail, and the bold text really makes it stand out and get noticed.

So whether you're looking for some spring outfit inspo, WFH clothing or are simply on the hunt for some comfy and super affordable loungewear, I hope this post has given you that much needed inspiration. I know I definitely want to fill my wardrobe with loads more loungewear sets. You can never have too many! FemmeLuxe is a great online place to shop. Super affordable, a huge variety of clothing, good quality and fast delivery, what more could you ask for?

Which outfit is your favourite? Have you shopped at FemmeLuxe?

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Is radiant, glowing skin something you dream of without the need for expensive holidays, luxury skincare products or facials? If the answer is yes, you may just want to keep reading!

Getting bright, glowing skin is definitely achievable for everyone regardless of your skin type and skin concerns. Getting to know your skin type is the first and most important thing you can do for your skin, in order to achieve your 'glow-up'. Using the wrong products with the wrong ingredients could ultimately lead to making your skin worse, and we obviously don't want that happening now. With a few simple lifestyle changes, skincare tips and the right products suitable for you, you can start your journey to get radiant, glowing skin all year round.

1. Increase Water Intake

Staying hydrated is vitally important to keep your skin looking fresh & healthy from the inside out, as well as helping to maintain your skin's elasticity. Your body is made up of over 70% water, so ensuring you're drinking enough water everyday can help you combat a variety of skin issues, keep you focused, aid concentration and generally keep your mood boosted.

2. Include Exfoliation In Your Skincare Routine

Aside from removing dry and dead skin from the surface, including regular exfoliation in your daily skincare routine increases the skin's radiance, texture and appearance. Exfoliation helps to both smooth and nourish the skin, which leads to promoting a healthier, more glowy complexion.

3. Consider Dermaplaning

Something fairly new to me, but something that has become a regular part of my skincare routine is dermaplaning. I briefly mentioned dermaplaning in my lockdown beauty hacks post. To keep it brief, dermaplaning is an effective and safe exfoliation treatment that promotes a number of skincare benefits including more radiant and smoother skin, as well as deeper product penetration. The removal of dead skin and soft facial hair that traps dirt and oils is beneficial in promoting glowing skin, evening skin tone and boosting radiance in the complexion.

4 - Central Heating

"This might not be very well known, but central heating can play havoc on your skin! Naturally, when it's so cold outside we want to make sure we're warm & cosy inside. Central heating can dry the air inside your home causing further dehydration & increase the amount of free radicals in your home. Try reducing the heat a little or wear an extra layer if you need to reduce the core temperature without relying on the central heating. As an extra little tip try opening the windows for 30 minutes per day to reduce any harmful pollutants in the household environment - but turn the heating off first!" - comment from Jenna Unwin, Founder of Million Dollar Facial

5. Include Vitamin C Products

Choosing the right skincare products for you skin type is extremely important and is definitely something worth researching before making the purchase. If you're suffering with dry, dull and tired skin, your skin may need some added hydration and radiance, to help change the appearance and texture of your complexion. For me, the addition of skincare products infused with vitamin c have helped me to get glowing skin all year round, leaving my skin looking bright, revitalises and detoxified. Vitamin C is one of the strongest antioxidants out there and can really help protect your skin from environmental damage.

6. Cleansing Is Your Best Friend

Making sure to cleanse your skin both day and night is one of the easiest and most simple steps to add into your daily routine. Cleansing is a skincare must, to help remove makeup, dirt, oil and to gently exfoliate the skin. Products like hot cloth cleansers are a must have, and can help achieve your glowing skin goals instantly. The muslin cloth that comes with most cleansers helps to maintain heat efficiently when run under warm water. This then helping to deeply cleanse and open pores more effectively, resulting in a fresh and dirt free appearance to the skin. By cleansing properly, you will be left with a thoroughly clean base for you to apply your skincare products and treatments.

7. Make Time For Weekly Face Masks

A face mask once or twice a week can do magic to your skin, especially if you're picking the right type of mask for your current skin needs. Regular use of face masks in your skincare routine help to keep your skin surface clean and pores unclogged from dirt and oil build up. The benefits of using face masks are usually seen with instant results from the first use, left with softer-feeling and smoother-looking skin, and you’ll also notice a radiant glow and more refreshed appearance.

8. Make Diet and Lifestyle Changes

This is crucial for your overall skin & health if you want to look and feel your best. The foods you eat and what you drink all play apart in how you skin looks and feels, so it's important to have everything in moderation. Having a well balanced and nutritious diet is key for supplying your body with vitamins and minerals, which are needed to help boost that beauty glow.

9. Vitamin D

"This hero vitamin can only be made with moderate exposure to daylight & with our exposure to daylight being at an all time low this will lead to a decrease in mood, an acceleration in skin ageing & more pigmented skin. Daily supplements can help this." - comment from Jenna Unwin, Founder of Million Dollar Facial

What ways do you achieve glowing skin?

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Lifestyle blogs are probably one of the most popular types of blogs you will find on the internet these days, and many bloggers/influencers are expanding their niches and building content on a more lifestyle-based theme, in order to grow their websites. The content featured on lifestyle blogs can be extremely versatile, as you can choose from a wide range of topics to feature and post articles on, which can help attract a large amount of readers.

With my own lifestyle based blog, I like to create content on a variety of topics, and I regularly post on topics such as beauty, home, fashion, business and finance, and travel, to name a few. I feel that with having such a broad amount of topics, it can help you gain a wider audience, as well as keep your site up-to-date with current affairs, and keep it relevant and engaging for your audience. Throughout 2020 and so far in 2021, I have been putting a lot more time and effort into growing my lifestyle blog. I was placed on furlough from my regular job on and off until April this year, so this left me with much more time on my hands and I decided that it would be a good decision to go more full-time into my blog and expand my content further.

Probably one of the main factors that has helped me to grow my lifestyle blog throughout lockdown has been increasing/expanding my content and starting to write about a number of newer topics to feature on my website. For example, I have now begun to include articles themed with subjects such as relationships, business and finance, and home and interiors. Not only have I focused on my written content, but I have also focused on the visual content of my website. To help improve my website further, I have also been working extremely hard on the overall appearance of my blog, including changing the theme and design, format and layout of my blog posts. I've opted for quite a bold and eye-catching theme, with quite a minimalist layout, to keep my website looking as clean as possible.

Over the last year and a half, I've been extremely lucky to form and maintain some great relationships with agencies, PR's and brands, which has helped me to expand the success of my lifestyle blog. I've recently worked on an increased amount of sponsored posts and collaborations, which has allowed me to begin to monetise my website and start to earn a second income alongside my main job. There are so may different ways you can start making money with your blog, from affiliate links, link insertions, campaigns, and sponsored/collaborative posts, you just need to find which works best for you. I've also signed up to a number of blogger/influencer websites that can help you seek paid work and assignments, which has also allowed me to work on a number of campaigns and collaborations on a number of different topics, that I may not have written about and published previously.

Social media plays a huge role in the growth of your blog, from gaining increased page views to getting new followers and readers. Throughout the lockdown period, I've been lucky to interact and converse with a number of bloggers and influencers, that have also helped me to develop and grow my lifestyle blog. By sharing blog posts and articles online, this allows you to target and reach a larger audience from all over the world, getting your content seen by people you may not even know. This is something that makes sharing your work online is absolutely incredible.

From my own personal experience, the social media sites that helped me to generate the most readers/traffic to blogs include Facebook, Twitter, Bloglovin', Pinterest and LinkedIn. Once you start getting views from social media sites/organic searching, you’ll be able to analyse the traffic, I use Google Analytics to determine what your readers like, where your site is getting viewed from and what type of content is the most popular on your lifestyle blog. This helps you to plan ahead and schedule new content for the future, as well as produce articles that you know are going to be suited and popular with your audience.

What are your favourite lifestyle blogs? What are your favourite topics to read about?

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AD| When you're already on a low income and a tight budget, it's extremely hard to find additional ways to save money for the future. Sometimes we need to take a step back and make notes of all our incoming and outcoming expenses to see where our money is really going and to see if there is anything we can cut out.

Firstly, in order to be aware of the money going in and out of your account, it's important that you manage your household budget to see exactly where you money is going. At the beginning of every month, you can write out your total income, with a list of all your expenses for the month, including things like food, travel and bills. By doing this you can easily see where your money is going and will be able to see if there are certain areas you can reduce the amount of money you're spending, to help put some extra cash into your savings.

Making sure to write your weekly shopping lists is an essential routine that will help you stick to what you need and you won't be tempted to pick things up that are unnecessary. By being strict on your purchases, you will only be spending money on things that are necessary to be purchased, and you will be less likely to impulse buy when out and about. Before going out to the shops, I would recommend looking through your cupboards, fridge and freezer so you are aware of items that you already have, and you will be able to make into meals throughout the week, only adding any additional products you may require to your list. Within your shopping list, you could also make it into a weekly meal plan so you know what you'll be eating for each meal. By doing this, not only do you follow a strict plan, but it will also stop you from over-buying and picking up items that you definitely don't need.

Decided it's time you had a clear out? Selling your unwanted items will not only free up some storage space in your home, but it can also earn you a bit of money that you can use towards your savings or any outstanding bills. If you're a clothes hoarder, there's most likely going to be at least one item that you don't like anymore stored away in your wardrobe that someone else will love. You can put unwanted items up for sale on websites like eBay, Depop and Facebook Marketplace, in hope of attracting attention of buyers for your goods.

Another way to cut costs and to make big savings on things like insurance is by using price comparison websites. Protect Your Family is a one-stop-shop for your insurance needs, covering everything from breakdown cover, to funeral planning and home emergency insurance. Comparison websites are extremely useful when browsing online for the best quotes and pricing of everyday insurance categories, as they essentially do all the hard work for you. You simply fill in a short questionnaire with your details, and all the best deals are sent your way.

As well as price comparison for insurance purposes, there are also these kinds of websites for energy suppliers. You can start saving money by switching to a cheaper energy supplier when your current contract or tariff is about to expire. There are over 50 energy suppliers in the UK to choose from, so switching suppliers can be extremely overwhelming if you aren't familiar with the companies. Many websites offer electricity and gas supplier reviews which will help you consider your best options for your home, allows you to see the pros and cons of each company, and give you everything you need to quickly assess if an energy supplier is right for you before you switch.

Finally, something worth looking into is cancelling any unnecessary direct debits or subscriptions. Things like TV extras, gym, meal delivery services, music or software – there’s a growing list of things you can access via subscription services. Whether you're paying for that monthly beauty box or Netflix, as a few examples, sometimes they aren't worth the money, especially if you aren't using or watching them. If you’re looking to cut back on your money spending and trying to start saving extra cash, managing your subscriptions can be the best place to start. Do you really need the subscription? Can I begin using a cheaper alternative? There are so many different ways to cut costs with these types of services that it's definitely worth looking into.

How do you save money? Do you have any other tips or tricks?

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AD| Throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, many individuals have begun creating their own small businesses and opportunities to help them financially whilst struggling to survive due to job loss, reduced wages or being put on furlough. Running a small business might seem extremely easy, but did you know it can have a surprisingly big impact on the environment? Whether these businesses include selling homemade food, jewellery making, selling artwork or even offering online assistance, there are many ways to help your small business be more eco-friendly and sustainable for the future.

For those small businesses selling physical products, using eco-friendly packaging is a great way to begin making your brand more sustainable. Packaging is an important visual part of your brand experience and it's how your customers first come into contact with your products. Having sustainable packaging is important as it helps to reduce the footprint in the product's life-cycle. By making it from biodegradable or sustainable materials, you’ll leave an even better impression on those consumers who choose to shop sustainably and want to make a positive impact on the environment. Companies such as Tyler Packaging are specialist suppliers of paper and plastic flexible packaging for items such as food, pet food, garden & leisure and industrial products. They also have a 100% recyclable packaging range and a compostable packaging range, with an overall strong focus on waste manage and encouraging a circular economy.

Another way to make your small business more sustainable is to aim to go paperless when it comes to invoices, delivery notes and receipts. By having everything online, with things such as billing and paperwork, it drastically cuts down on paper waste and keeps everything virtual, meaning important documents are less likely to get lost. However, there is definitely times where we need to physically write or type things onto paper, and for this, supplying your home or office with some sustainably sourced recycled paper helps keep your business eco-friendly.

For those who's businesses are ran from home or small offices, your working environment can also be made sustainable with a few easier steps. Firstly, by reducing the amount of electricity you use is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for your bank account. Making sure to switch off any lights or equipment whilst they’re not being used, use laptops as they use less energy instead of desktops, and make sure the temperature of the room is suitable for the time of the year. Another way to make your office more sustainable is by adding some plants and greenery to help brighten up your office, as well as helping to make the air cleaner and healthier to breathe.

Finally, making sure to research suppliers for your products, whether that's cooking ingredients, clothing fabrics or other materials, you should always be on the lookout for a more sustainable option. By making sure to keep your products as ethically and sustainably sources as possible, this will help to reduce your carbon footprint and make sure you're being as environmentally friendly as possible. Consumers of products are much more aware of the items they are purchasing, and many are opting to choose brands that do their best to protect and save the environment from unnecessary harm.

What other ways can small businesses become more sustainable?

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AD| Money saving is a brilliant habit to get in to and is definitely something to consider when planning for the future, whatever your age. One important thing should look at when begin your money saving journey is building an emergency fund. An emergency fund aims to give you some financial support if you are ever faced with any unexpected expenses that come out of nowhere, or that you haven't budgeted for.

Obviously, building up your emergency fund won't happen overnight, and honestly, that's okay! As long as your prepared and understand that it might take several months, even a couple of years to get to a stable amount financially, it's amazing progress and you shouldn't feel disheartened that you're not seeing hundreds or thousands of pounds add up. Financial stress can negatively affect your health and personal life, making you live your life with worry and anxiety for the future. By continually adding to your emergency fund every so often, you're setting yourself up a financial safety net in case of any problems in the future.

Car Repairs and Maintenance

Road collisions and accidents happen everyday, and is something we all genuinely try to avoid, but sometimes they can happen out of nowhere. Car repairs can be very expensive, especially if your insurance doesn't cover everything. Whether you need new tyres, replace a dead battery, get a new windscreen fitted or even maintenance factors like MOT, tax and insurance, all these things can prove costly, especially when you haven't thought about them whilst budgeting your monthly expenses.

Medical Issues

From unexpected illnesses to major accidents, one of the many reasons people begin saving up for an emergency fund is so you don't end up with large medical treatments and expenses, and no money saved up to pay for them. Even if you have already taking on some form of medical or dental insurance, it might not always guarantee all the costs are covered, so it's important to have some money to fall back in case you need to cover some of the expenses.

Funeral Care

Something that we don't really talk or think about is funeral care and funeral planning. Funerals can be extremely expensive and very hard to deal with if you aren't prepared for them. Having some money saved up and set aside to help cover the costs of funerals after losing a loved one can really help keep your stress levels down and make the grieving process easier, as the financial costs is something you don't need to worry about. Heart of England Funeral care might be a great place to look if you are unsure as they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week offering help and guidance on all things funeral based.

Job Loss

Every day, many people find themselves being made redundant or losing their job unexpectedly, and find this process extremely stressful and worrying as they won't have a steady and stable income. Having an emergency fund in this situation can be extremely helpful as you have money to pay your bills and expenses whilst you begin the search for another job in your career path.

Home Repairs

Another reason emergency funds can be extremely useful in the event of an unexpected issues in the home. Sometimes housing problems can happen out of the blue, whether your fridge stops working, a burst pipe or cracked windows, but by saving some money aside, you are able to have some spare cash to cover the damage in an emergency. For example, broken glass in your home windows can devalue your home, and can lead to serious injury if left unrepaired. It can also leave your home exposed to bad weather and leaving you with home safety security problems like burglaries and break ins, so it's best to get things like this repaired ASAP for your own safety.

Self Employment

For those self employed, with contractor or freelancer style jobs, sudden disruptions or lack of job availability can affect your income, and you may find yourself living with a limited amount of money. Working in self-employment, you can never guarantee your total months wages as some months you'll be having a constant stream of work and some months are lacking with jobs. By having an emergency savings fund, this may help you financially over a period of time until your next job or next client comes along.

Have you begun building your emergency fund? What type of things are you currently saving for?

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AD| If you're looking to upgrade the lighting in your home in a more eco-friendly way, whilst saving money on your energy bills, and having full control over the design of your home, LED lighting might be the best solution for you.

LEDs or light emitting diodes are a perfect lighting option for a number of reasons, as they have such great benefits. Not only can they help to improve the look and ambience of any room, they are also incredibly environmentally friendly, long-lasting and extremely energy efficient when it comes to lighting options.

The number one benefit of using LED lights in your home is for their energy efficiency. "In fact, according to a 2016 Goldman Sachs report, “the rapid adoption of LEDs in lighting marks one of the fastest technology shifts in human history.” LED lighting emits very little heat in comparison to a traditional light bulb, resulting in far less energy to produce the same amount of light. Making sure to purchase good quality LED lights use around 90% less energy, and last around 20 times longer than traditional light bulbs, making them one of the smartest options to choose when it comes to indoor or outdoor lighting!

Another huge benefit of opting for LED lighting in your home is that there are a wide variety of different styles to choose from, to suit your own personal interior design preferences. Most electrical stores have everything from LED bulbs and strip lights to LED panels, as well as neon lighting if you're looking to inject some serious colour into your home. As well as indoor LED lights, outdoor lighting is also available with many products being both weather and water-resistant. So for those upgrading their gardens with the use of fairy lights or festoon bulbs, LEDs are definitely something to consider.

LED light sources are a sustainable and eco-friendly option due to their durability, longevity and low-maintenance. LEDs last much longer than older types of lighting, with the average lightbulb lasting anywhere from 25,000 - 50,000 hours. The longer lifespan of LED lighting options has a positive impact on the environment, resulting in less waste and preventing electrical items being thrown away due to poor quality. A longer lifetime of these lighting options means less time wasted on continuously purchasing and changing bulbs.

Something we all strive for is saving more money, and LED lighting is a great alternative lighting option for those wanting to cut costs of their energy bills. Although LEDs are probably one of the most expensive type of lighting you'll find in the shops, over a long-term period, they'll definitely be a more of an investment, as well as a more sustainable and budget friendly option due to their power saving properties. LED lights require much less electricity than both traditional incandescent or halogen light bulbs, helping to keep your energy bills down over a long period of time. LED lights are super easy to install into existing sockets in your home and you will notice significant savings straight away from the first use.

Are you looking to upgrade your homes lighting? Have you considered switching to LED lights?

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AD - GIFTED | If you’re looking to switch up and expand the products in your skin care routine but are unsure of what exactly you need, incorporating a facial oil or serum may be the answer you're looking for. It's always important to make sure the products you are using on a daily basis are suitable for your skin type and are giving the results that you want.

Many people struggle to find their perfect skincare routine and are often worried that adding too many products may complicate their routine and ruin their skin. However, both skin oils and serums have some amazing skin benefits, and I would definitely recommend doing some research into them before adding them to your own routine.

Benefits Of Oils

Skin oils are a product that many people shy away from, as they think they will be too heavy for their skin, clog up their pores, and even make your skin more oily. However, facial oils have some amazing benefits that definitely shouldn't be overlooked as they could be the product you are needing in your routine.

First of all, they're extremely good for dry skin. Oils are usually extremely rich and hydrating, providing your skin with extra moisture and hydration - perfect for the colder months of the year. Oils help to really protect your skin by being able to penetrate deeper into the skin due to the lipophilic properties. Also, oils are very calming on the skin and can be used for a number of skin concerns, including rashes, acne and blemishes, helping to cure and prevent future breakouts.

Benefits Of Serums

Designed to nourish, protect, and hydrate your skin, a facial serum is a product worth looking into and adding into your skincare routine as another step after cleansing and before moisturizing. Serums are usually extremely lightweight, allowing them to absorb quickly into your skin and help lock in hydration.

Also, serums are usually formulated with some great natural oils and ingredients that help improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, making serums great for those looking into anti-ageing skincare.

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Introducing Velvet Bio

Recently I was kindly gifted a duo of skincare products from Velvet Bio, a company who's goal is to "to help you live a healthier and stress-free life", through the use of 100% natural and organic products and promote how beneficial essential oils can be to your health.

I was sent two skincare products that come together in a skincare bundle set, packed with essential oils that are perfect to encourage healthy, happy skin. The packaging of both Velvet Bio products is simply stunning. I really love the minimalistic yet luxury feel to the glass bottles, and the simplicity of the gold text design on a white background really helps the products stand out.

SKIN CARE BODY OIL*- SCARS & STRETCH MARKS, VITAMIN C & E

The first skincare product I received is the body oil*, which is formulated with both Vitamin C and E. Vitamin C is used for helping to thicken the dermis and to diminish fine lines. Whilst Vitamin E helps improve the appearance of uneven skin tone and helps reduce hyper-pigmentation. It also helps retain moisture to skin and nourishes your skin - adding a glow and smooth feel to your skin.

This skincare body oil is simply luxurious. The texture is non-greasy, but feels so rich and hydrating on the skin, and absorbs within seconds - you don't need to wait around for hours for the product to sink into the skin before getting dressed! It's perfect for those suffering with scars and stretch marks, but also those who have extremely dry skin, as the nourishing oil really helps add extra moisture to the skin. Also, the oil has such a light, subtle lavender scent, which isn't too overpowering and smells very 'spa-like', which would be perfect for those who aren't keen on strong fragranced products.

FACIAL SERUM - ANTI AGEING, VITAMIN C & E

The facial serum* is another product that I have been testing out, and is a product I currently use in my skincare routine once a week, as some oils can be too heavy for certain skin types. This serum is targeted towards having anti-ageing benefits, which helps naturally ease fine lines, smooth and wrinkled skin on the face.

Again, this serum is enriched with both Vitamin C and E, which are essential for firm, youthful skin improving wrinkles on the skin, and helps reduce wrinkled skin. The fragrance of this product is extremely similar to the body oil, a light and fresh lavender scent, which isn't too strong. I like to use a few drops of this oil before bed, as the lavender scent really helps you relax and feel calm. After application, my skin is left looking extremely glowy and radiant, and I know the ingredients will work overnight leaving me with fresh, plump skin in the morning.

Do you currently use skin oils or serums in your daily routine? What products would you recommend? Have you heard of Velvet Bio?

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