● Laura Thornberry ● Lifestyle Blogger ● London Based ●

AD| Have you begun planning your summer holiday? Do you ever consider renting a car to help you get the most out of your destination? If not, you could be seriously missing out.

If you're currently planning your summer holidays, whether you are opting for a UK staycation, or maybe a European getaway, you may want to consider car rentals as a way to explore your chosen destination to the fullest. Renting a car on holiday can be extremely easy to book, and gives you so much control and flexibility on the places you want to visit, and things you want to do whilst you're away. So if you're considering hiring a car for your next holiday, here are 5 reasons to rent a car whilst on holiday…

When researching and booking your next trip, many people are usually put off renting a car whilst on holiday as they think it’s too expensive and not something they budgeted for. However, renting a car on holiday can actually be an affordable way to explore your destination – here's how. Once your holiday plans are booked, you are then able to scan the internet to find a bunch of great deals and quotes for car hire. This in turn will be an easy way to save some money whilst on your holidays. Many car hire companies will offer exclusive deals and special offers, as well as airport pick-ups, making it so convenient whilst travelling, it's worth taking a look. If book your car rental early enough, you are then aware of the total costs for your transportation upfront, and can factor this in to your holiday budget or savings. Plus, you’ll then save a ton of money on buses, trains, and taxis whilst you’re away, as you'll have complete control of your journeys.

Renting a car whilst on holiday can ultimately save you time on your journeys, even before you have arrived. Beforehand, you can arrange for your car to be ready and collected at the airport – an extremely convenient factor, meaning no airport transfers for you! As well as this, you will be saving time on your daily trips and activities as you don't have to wait for public transport or taxis to arrive. You also don't have to keep stopping and starting when you reach bus stops or train stations, and if your rental car has a built-in sat-nav, you can find diversions from any long traffic queues.

Renting a car on your holiday gives you the freedom to explore wherever you want to go. You don’t need to waste time searching for the local bus and train timetables or schedules, or waiting for that taxi to, finally, turn up. Renting your own car on holiday gives you ultimate control of your travels, and means you can plan your daily schedule around your own times and routine. Whilst you're on the road, you can change your plans as you're travelling, allowing you to have a spontaneous, and fun-filled trip.

Renting a car whilst on holiday can be probably the most comfortable way of travelling. Using public transport whilst abroad can be hot, stressful, and uncomfortable, and a lot of the time, commuters are packed into buses and trains. By opting for car rentals, you can travel in style and enjoy your holiday that little-bit more. You'll also have access to all your personal belongings, making it extremely convenient, as well as having the opportunity to pull over for rest breaks, food and toilet stops, or even to capture a photograph.

Finally, car rentals give you the opportunity to hire a suitable vehicle, tailored for your needs. This could be depending on your budget, the amount of passengers or luggage you have, whether you require additional features or even the type of holiday you are on. All of these requirements can be factored in during the booking process, and can be the perfect way to begin your holiday, as the car will be ready for you, as soon as you get there.

Have you booked any holidays for this year? Have you ever rented a car whilst you are away?

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AD – GIFTED| Are you looking at ways you can begin to have a more sustainable period? Did you even know there are more eco-friendly period products on offer?

The term 'sustainable periods' simply means you're actively changing the products you are using and making a conscious effort to reduce the amount of waste that your periods produce, especially plastics and single-use items. For those who menstruate, and deal with regular periods, the products we choose to use during this time is completely individual, and ultimately, what works for some people, might not work for others. Sanitary pads, followed closely by the use of tampons, are probably the most frequently chosen period products that are used by consumers, but did you know there are other options too? Listed below are 4 sustainable and eco-friendly period products worth trying now.

— Reusable Sanitary Pads —

Reusable sanitary pads are a great way to begin your switch over to having a more sustainable and eco-friendly period. There are a number of reasons to make the switch to reusable pads;

Reusable pads decrease the amount of plastic waste that is created.
Reusable pads are a much cheaper, and more long-lasting period product compared to regular disposable sanitary pads.
Reusable pads are typically much safer to use than regular sanitary pads, as regular pads can sometimes cause skin irritation and contain chemicals.

I was recently sent a box of the Trade To Aid Reusable Sanitary Pads to try out and see if they could help me change up the products I use and to have a more sustainable period. The pack of reusable sanitary pads include a variety of different sized pads, depending on your period flow and the absorbancy that you require. You receive 2 light flow, 2 medium flow and 2 heavy flow reusable pads along with 1 waterproof wet bag to store them in after use. These sanitary pads are suitable for both day and nighttime use, leak-proof and are super comfortable to wear.

The 6 pack of reusable sanitary pads are retailing at £29.97 for 6 – this may seem like a lot of money, but by using them time and time again. These seem to be a more affordable option as you are not constantly buying disposable period pads. As a bonus, for every pack of reusable pads that are purchased from Trade To Aid, they then donate a pack to a refugee or those in desperate need of sanitary. This campaign is in place with the aim to end period poverty to eliminate the taboos surrounding periods.

— Menstrual Cups —

In recent years, the menstrual cup has quickly become a popular sustainable period product to use as an alternative to regular tampons and sanitary pads. The majority of menstrual cups produced now are made from either silicone or rubber, making them reusable, durable and long-lasting. Menstrual cups typically give you longer lasting protection on your period's heavier days, and can usually hold 2-3 times more than a regular tampon or pad. Reusable menstrual cups are a great option for those looking for affordable, safe and effective period products, as they can typically last for between 6 months to a number of years with proper care and use.

— Washable and Reusable Period Pants —

Another sustainable option includes washable and reusable period pants. Over the last few years, many well-known menstrual care brands have been launching period-proof underwear for sale – including online brands like WUKA and Flux Undies, as well as high street brands, Primark and M&S. Most brands have incorporated a variety of styles of period underwear into their production line, including high-waisted briefs to boxer style shorts and even thongs. By having a range of different styles, this allows you to pick styles according to your preferences, and to test and try out multiple products, in order for you to find what is most comfortable and most effective for you. Typically, period pants are manufactured to be leak-proof – perfect for those suffering with heavy flows, as they are designed by using a super-absorbent fabric which is often odour-eliminating too.

— Reusable Tampon Applicators —

Reusable tampon applicators are something I only discovered towards the end of 2021. A reusable tampon applicator is a great alternative to single-use applicator tampons, and are perfect for those who are looking to reduce their use of plastics. Reusable tampon applications are extremely easy to clean and sterilize – you simply rinse with warm water and soap during your period, and sterilize them with boiling water for 5 minutes between your periods. They are also typically made from medical grade material, making them extremely durable and long-lasting, allowing them to be used again and again. They take a little while to get use to, but once you are confident with using them, it's incredible quick and easy.

Last year, Lil-Lets made the decision to cease production of all their plastic applicator tampons – saving over 11 tonnes of period waste from landfill or the oceans each year. The new Lil-Lets reusable tampon applicator comes with a money-back guarantee – and will be sold at the introductory price of £12.99 until March 31st, 2022. From then on, they will retail at £17.99. So that's another good reason to make the sustainable switch for a more planet-friendly period.

What period products are you currently using? Would you begin to use a more sustainable option?

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AD – GIFTED| The thought of getting married is considered to be one of the “best days of your life”, but it can also be one of the most expensive times too. Saving enough money for your wedding day can take months, even, years to finally have the financial stability to fund your big day. But everything you want for your wedding doesn't have to be extremely expensive, as there are many more affordable options for those on a lower or tighter budget.

Many people opt for more affordable, low-cost ways when planning their weddings for options such as decorations, food and drink, flowers and photo booths. This allows you to be more creative, more money-conscious, and can really help you decide on exactly what you want, whilst helping to cut the costs of your dream wedding. Listed below are 7 creative, low-cost ways you can personalize your wedding day, and make it one to remember.

Send Personalised Save the Date Cards

When it comes to weddings, there’s an awful lot of planning to do, but one aspect of this that may actually be the most exciting and creative part – designing your own Save the Date invitation cards. Sending these out to your friends and family to formally announce that you’ve finally set a date for your big day is extremely exciting. It can also give your guests something to look forwards to and ensure they have enough time to plan their outfits, get the time off from work etc. Creating your own personalised wedding Save the Date Cards allows you to have complete control of the design, by letting you to fully personalize your invitations by choosing your own colour theme, layout, and fonts etc.

If you're looking to get some inspiration, Aura Print offer a number of printing options for those looking for creative ways to personalise their wedding day. The website offers a wide selection of designs for products such as Save the Date cards, invitations, RSVP cards, as well as wedding sample packs to help you get select which options you like the best and get organised for the big day ahead. Aura Print offers a fast turnaround for deliveries, which is perfect for those who have either forgotten to order something, or those who are extremely last-minute and in a rush. As well as this, the quality of the products you will receive are 10/10. So professional and luxury, without the heavy price tag.

Create DIY Wedding Centrepieces/Name Cards for Tables

Something that might be forgotten when it comes to decorating your wedding venue is table decorations. DIY Wedding decorations can help you save time and save money – you just need to be creative. Table decor ideas such as filling old jars with candles, flowers, rocks, marbles etc, is a simple and effective way to put a finishing touch on your wedding guests tables. You can also design your own name cards and seating plans for your guests, by selecting matching colours, fonts, and designs, that co-ordinate with your decor theme.

Make Your Own Wedding Favours

The traditional idea of distributing small wedding favours to your wedding guests is hundreds of years old, and many couples still make something special to help guests remember your wedding day and why you got married. Putting together your own wedding favours can be a quick and easy task, which can save you money, as well as allowing you to give a small gift as a gesture of appreciation to those who attended. Things such as chocolates and sweets, homemade baked items, thank you notes, wooden plaques and name tags, are all great examples of low-cost wedding favours.

Have Your Guests Create the Music Playlist
Hiring a DJ for your wedding can be extremely expensive, and it can be a hard task to track someone down who plays your favourite styles of music. Why not consider allowing your family and guests to pick songs for your wedding playlist? You can simply ask your guests to submit their song requests to a group playlist. Once all the music has then been added, you will end up with a wide selection of music for your wedding day, and you know that all your guests will enjoy what's being played.

Use Fake Flowers for Bouquets
By opting for fake flowers, not only do they last much longer than fresh flowers and are a much more affordable way to create your floral bouquets, but you can probably find them in any colour that you want. You can personally pick exactly what types of flower you like, e.g., roses, tulips, lilies, and as they are fake, you can pick any colour to match your wedding theme and decor. Another benefit of using fake flowers is that they are unlikely to get damaged during transportation to your wedding venue, meaning you can buy them early and store them easily, without any problems. You can also make small bouquets for table decor using fake flowers to add some colour and vibrancy to your guests tables.

Decorate The Wedding Venue Yourself
Instead of looking at hiring an interior decorator for your wedding venue, you can opt for being creative and decorating the venue yourself, with help from friends and family, in a way that suits your personal tastes. This allows you to have 100% creativity as you can decorate however you like – with items such as balloons, lights, signs, banners, photographs etc.

Make Your Own Fun Photo Booth with Props
Finally, no wedding is complete without a photo booth – but these can be costly. If you have the budget for this, why not consider Photo booth rental Las Vegas. A company aiming to provide top-of-the-class service for all clients’ parties, weddings, and all types of events. Otherwise, why not set up your own photo booth in a corner of the venue, so yourself and your guests can take photographs to remember your big day. You can simply grab a digital camera or a smartphone and place on a tripod. Make sure to create an area in your venue with a simple backdrop or create your own flower wall.

To add a fun factor to this, you can put together a collection of props to use, that you may have in your home. Opt for items that might be fun to use – e.g., coloured sunglasses, fancy dress accessories, hats, inflatables, or you can buy things cheaply in pound shops or discount stores.

Are you getting married soon? What other creative ways can you personalise your wedding day?

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GUEST POST| The romantics amongst you will undoubtedly say the only reason to get married is luuuuurve, baby. And you’re probably right. After all, getting married without being in love with each other is probably asking for trouble. And when I say ‘probably’, I mean, ‘definitely’. But there are many reasons to get married other than love. Reasons that aren’t good enough to be the only reason to get married, but reasons that are simply the icing on your wedding cake.

Some reasons in this article won’t apply to you if you’re already living together – which you probably are, seeing as it’s not 1950 and ‘living over t’brush’ is no longer frowned upon. But if you’re not living together yet, a couple of these reasons might edge you nearer the living together stage of a relationship.

You Get A Day Out At A Beautiful Venue

This is possibly a shallow reason to get married, but who doesn’t love a day out at a beautiful venue? You can of course simply have a quickie marriage at a registry office, then go home for a cup of tea and a Rich Tea biscuit in front of Emmerdale if that’s your idea of a perfect day. For those of you who like a bit of pomp and ceremony, though, you’ll need to get married. You could get married at a castle, a safari park, a field full of sunflowers or a beautiful wedding venue in Essex.

You Automatically Inherit Their Assets

People like to think they get married for love, not money, but inheritance is an important issue. For example, you could live with someone for thirty years but, if you’re not married and something happens to your partner, you’ll receive nothing. There’s been a long-held myth that common-law marriage kicks in after a certain amount of time, but there’s not actually any such thing as common-law marriage in the UK. (You can draw up a cohabitation agreement, but that’s something for another post.)

What this means is, if you’re not married and one of you dies, the assets will go to the next of kin. Whether that’s a very much-loved parent, a needy niece, or a greedy sibling you haven’t spoken to for decades. However, when you’re married, if one of you dies, the other automatically inherits everything. Yay.

Someone On Hand To Fix Stuff

Perhaps you don’t need anyone to fix stuff, and can fix a leaky tap or build a fitted wardrobe by yourself perfectly well, thank you very much. If you live on your own though and your DIY skills are lacking, marrying someone who’s good at that kind of thing will save you a fortune. As well as this, it's by far more convenient than waiting in for tradespeople to turn up (or not turn up, as the case may be). Even if you are good at fixing and building stuff, having someone around to help move the furniture out of the way when you’re decorating or putting a new floor down always comes in handy.

It’s Cheaper

Another financial reason, and another reason that won’t apply if you’re already living together, is that it’s cheaper. You may have heard the saying ‘two can live as cheaply as one’ and to a certain extent, it’s true. You’ll save money by sharing the utility bills and, although you’d think feeding two people would cost twice as much as one person, it doesn’t seem to work out like that and your weekly shopping bill will go down.

Help With Pets

I’ve left the best reason until last. Anyone who has ever lived alone with a cat will know what I’m saying here. An extra pair of hands to help get a cat into a basket when it’s time to visit the vet is always welcome. Trying to get a cat in a basket by yourself usually only ends up in tears – yours and the cat’s. What is also welcome is someone to help out with the feeding, exercising and cleaning up of your pet’s various bodily functions.

Reasons to get married other than love – As I said at the beginning, getting married purely for reasons other than love is just asking for an unhappy marriage that will probably end in divorce. But there’s nothing wrong with taking other factors into consideration when deciding whether to tie the knot.

Are you considering getting married in the future?

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GUEST POST| New figures suggest that one in three property sales will fall through before completion. That’s a scarily high figure for anyone in the process of buying a property, or hoping to do so in the near future. Danny Luke from Quick Move Now explains: “The UK property market is under a lot of pressure at the moment. The stamp duty measures put in place to stop the market stalling during the national lockdowns led to a stampede of people looking to move. This resulted in property prices rising at unexpected levels.

“A shortage of properties coming to the market has kept prices high and continuing to rise, with properties often selling at above asking price. There is also high competition for each property that becomes available. Some buyers are offering sky-high prices in an attempt to secure a property but then getting cold feet and pulling out of the sale, whilst others are not offering enough and then getting pushed out when a higher offer comes in. It’s a challenging market for all involved.” If you’re keen to keep your sale on track, these are our 5 top tips to stop your house sale falling through...

1. Make sure the offer you make is a ‘head’ decision, rather than a ‘heart’ decision. You want to ensure you offer a high enough price to avoid being gazumped by another buyer, but you also need to be happy with the price you’ve agreed when the initial buzz of having your offer accepted wears off. It’s important that you discuss any offer you want to make with the estate agent, and ask them what level of offer would take the property off the market and prevent any further viewings.

2. Make sure you choose the right solicitor (and estate agent if you’re selling a property). This will make a huge difference to the speed and success of your move. A good solicitor will be very responsive to any queries that come in and make sure all paperwork is completed in a timely manner. A good estate agent will keep everyone informed about how the sale is going and ensure everyone stays engaged in the process. Spotting any warning signs that someone may be considering pulling out of the sale and hopefully being able to address any issues to keep them on-board.

3. Prepare as best you can before putting your property on the market or making an offer. This will make a big difference to your move, avoiding any delays and helping the transaction to go smoothly. This means getting your finances in place, including getting an agreement in principle for any mortgage required, and ensuring you collate any paperwork relating to your current property.

4. Be flexible and keep lines of communication open. Moving house is a collaborative process which requires flexibility from all parties. When frustrations arise, it’s important that you are proactive in seeking solutions. Keep all parties informed of any challenges or set-backs, and you will be more likely to keep them on board with the sale.

5. Be resilient. Unfortunately, challenges and disappointments are often part of the house moving process. In England and Wales, a property sale or purchase is not binding until contracts have been exchanged, which typically happens just a week or two before the sale completes. That leaves a large amount of room for things to go wrong. When something does go wrong and a sale falls through, or a chain breaks down, it is hugely disappointing, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that your move won’t happen at all. Communication will be key in this situation. Appeal to your buyer or seller’s understanding and get another sale or purchase lined up as quickly as you can.

Are you currently looking to sell your home?

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