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I commute 10+ hours a week - these are the Amazon accessories I use to help time go quicker

I commute 10+ hours a week - these are the Amazon accessories I use to help time go quicker

Daily Mail​a day ago
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London is a big place – and it takes an hour to commute from the east to the west.
And that's a journey I have to do every day to get from home to the office.
With train delays and cancellations happening extremely often – especially on the Circle line – it can often take up to an hour and a half each way.
But I've got a range of accessories I take with me for the train ride, to make it just that bit more bearable.
From the backpack I swear by, to the neck fan that keeps me cool when there's no air conditioning, this is everything I pack for my long commute.
And it's all available on Amazon…
MATEIN Laptop Backpack
I always make sure I bring a backpack with me to work.
This one is the perfect size and has so many compartments, including elasticated ones on the side, for my water bottle and umbrella (just in case!), and a hidden zip pocket at the front for the important stuff.
There's also a section specifically for my laptop, and enough space to fit to fit my gym clothes and lunch box.
Plus, it has a built-in charging cable, making it easier to charge my phone while walking.
Was £29.99.
Now £25.49 Shop
Klearlook 4 in 1 Adjustable Phone Stand
I'm always watching TV on my phones in the morning on the way to work - usually catching up with Love Island or EastEnders.
And this phone stand - which works with all phones - can sit on tray tables in front of me when I'm on the overground.
Was £11.49.
Now £8.48 Shop
LYMYBETY Portable Neck Fan
It can get really hot and stuffy on the Tube - especially in the summer.
But this hands-free neck fan is a lifesaver, keeping me cool.
Plus, it's so cheap!
Was £8.99.
Now £5.99 Shop
YETI Rambler Cup
I can't leave my house without a coffee in the morning - and this insulated YETI cup is what I carry it in.
It keeps my drink warm throughout my journey, and it's still hot by the time I reach the office!
£25 Shop
Amazon Kindle
I was always a paperback book purist until I got my Kindle.
It really is a game-changer for reading, purely for the amount of space it saves in your bag, rather than having to carry around heavy books, which often end up getting soggy and damaged.
£94.99 Shop
Apple Airtag (4-pack)
Throughout my life I've been told I'd 'lose my head if it weren't screwed on' – and I've been known to leave my suitcase on the train more than once if I'm going straight from work to the airport.
For that reason, I never travel without Apple AirTags.
Placed inside AirTag Holders, I've got one attached to my keys, and always attach one to my suitcase – so there's no chance of me losing anything again.
Was £119.
Now £89 Shop
Bottle Bottle Stainless Steel Water Bottle 700ml
I take a water bottle wherever I'm going - and I need it to keep cool on the tube.
This one keeps my water cold all day - especially when I add some ice to it when I leave the house.
It also comes in a range of colours.
Was £21.99.
Now £18.69 Shop
Anker Nano Power Bank
Power banks are a must for long journeys, as there's never a plug socket on any of the trains or Tubes I take.
I love Anker's Nano Power Bank, as it's so small, and doesn't have a need for wires.
Was £29.99.
Now £18.99 Shop
SOUNDPEATS PearlClip Pro Earbuds
These Bluetooth earbuds have great sound quality, and provide six hours of playtime, with an additional 18 from the charging case - plenty enough for my commute.
The ear-cuff design is so unusual - and really comfortable.
Was £59.99.
Now £39.98 Shop
BIBURY Lunch Box
No work bag is complete without a lunch box - and this one has several different compartments, so my protein bar and eggs can be separated from my salad.
It even comes with a plastic fork and spoon.
Was £15.99.
Now £12.99 Shop
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I'm 27 with £120k in savings – but I don't work 9-5 and I'll even retire at 40… anyone can do it
I'm 27 with £120k in savings – but I don't work 9-5 and I'll even retire at 40… anyone can do it

The Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Sun

I'm 27 with £120k in savings – but I don't work 9-5 and I'll even retire at 40… anyone can do it

WE'VE all fantasized about retiring from work early - but for most of us it's more of a dream than a possibility. But you don't need a high-flying job or rich parents to make it happen. Maria Psarkis, 27, explains how she has built up £120,000 in saving and plans to retire at just 40. 6 6 6 Maria is just one of a new breed of SHINERs - Side Hustlers Habitually Investing - nurturing income and retiring early. It might not sound catchy - but this group of savvy savers use side hustles and multiple income streams to build their wealth - and avoid the traditional nine to five. In their case, it's their forties when they plan to stop working, or cut their workload to just a few hours a week. Maria explains: "I've upcycled, grafted, and used SEVEN side hustles to build £150k in savings, businesses and investments. "I don't and won't do nine to five. I'm creating my own 'side hustle retirement fund' and building investments by multitasking. "It's not about quitting forever. It's about freedom and being able to choose how and when I work." Maria is not alone. Around 14% of Gen Z - those born after 1996 - want to soft retire in their 40s and stop full-time work before they hit 50, according to a 2024 YouGov survey. But rather than dreaming of sitting on the beach or enjoying a round of golf, many younger people like Maria see soft retiring as a flexible lifestyle shift – not a full stop. They want to be their own bosses and do fewer hours, work remotely and use side hustles to give them financial freedom. Psychic's path to manifesting money and getting rich | Talking Money For Maria this means being a landlord, running a fashion business and working in hospitality, consultancy and content creation. Side hustle empire Maria started to build up her side hustle empire while she was in school and still lived with her parents. "I don't come from a rich family," she said. "When I was 17, I started working on Saturdays doing admin tasks. I tried to save 60% of my wages." When she turned 18, her gran also gave her £2,000, which, when added to her Saturday job and holiday work, brought her savings up to £7,000. After leaving school, Maria worked for twelve months as a waitress, doing event management, part-time modelling and social media marketing. "I am not the typical blonde-haired model," Maria explains. "Agents liked my dark hair, nose and what they called 'Arabic looks'. "I was living at home, so I could save almost 70% of what I earned. I used that year to develop multiple skills at entry-level positions." In 2017, Maria began her hospitality management and marketing degree at the University of Chester. On top of her classes, she also worked four or five shifts a week as a waitress or at hospitality events. "I budgeted £100 a week for travel and food and saved what I could," she said. "I was modelling for fashion students, did catalogue modelling, swimwear and clubwear for fashion companies, and was helping people market themselves on social media." As part of her degree, Maria won the Entrepreneurship in action competition with her business plan for a sustainable clubwear and Gen Z fashion brand. "The judges told me my idea could be launched on a budget and would work," she said. "It was the first time anyone had really praised my business nous and money-making ideas." During that time, Maria became obsessed with side hustles, spreading investment risk and saving. She explains: "I did go out, but limited my spending. "I had fun, but on a budget. I moved in with relatives in the second year to save even more money and cut my student loan liability." By this point, Maria's savings had reached £40,000, so she decided to start investing. But she ended up learning the hard way that investments can go wrong. She chose to try bitcoin trading and invested £7,000 - but soon lost it all. "I ended up being scammed. I was gutted," she said. "Meanwhile, two friends I'd loaned money to could not pay back the £300 I lent them. "Losing £7,300 was my financial rock bottom. I was furious with myself and that anger fuelled my plan to take control and aim to soft retire at 40. "It made me hungry to make sure I was financially protected, never suffered stupid exposure levels, and was always making, not losing, money." The situation made Maria even more focused on her finances. She decided to pay £4,500 upfront for her Master of Science in Management and Marketing to avoid having to pay interest on a student loan. She made extra cash to cover the costs by working as a waitress, events manager, model, travel agent and in social media marketing and advertising. Saved thousands She says: "I made back what I lost and added to my savings. "I had money in a savings account and was using an investment Isa. "I also regularly switched current accounts when offers came up on interest rates or cash bonuses." Maria also took out a credit card with a £2,000 limit to build up her credit score, but made sure to always pay off the balance in full. By 2022, she had amassed £70,000 in savings, including earnings from part-time work, interest from her Isa and side hustles. "I worked and saved hard for the money," she admits. "My financial rock bottom inspired me. I had the savings, but I still was not investment smart." Maria decided to move in with her grandmother in Manchester to save thousands of pounds in rent payments. She used £5,000 of her savings to launch her fashion brand, XX-Attire. The company initially offered clubwear and swimwear, but now sells work-friendly fashion to customers who want sustainable but edgy fashion. Maria said: "I did pop-up shops and catwalk shows in Manchester, London, Greece and Thailand. "I worked on the clothes myself, and the business is now making a profit. "I keep an eye on costs daily, develop only ranges I know will sell out using social media algorithms and client feedback. "I also make customised outfits which can earn me more than £500 per outfit." Property portfolio Maria also realised that the way to really put her money to work was to develop a property portfolio. Two years ago, she bought a two-bedroom house in Manchester for £89,000 and rented it out. She put down a deposit of £29,000 and took out a £60,000 mortgage over 20 years at a five-year fixed rate of 2.2%. Her monthly repayments were £309.25 and she earns £850 a month in rent. "I put that rent money into the mortgage each month and was always paying extra," she said. "I added a spare tenner or fiver weekly and it's cutting years and interest repayments off my mortgage." In total, Maria is able to overpay her mortgage by £61 a month. "This means I can pay off the mortgage four years early, save £3,789 in interest, and gain 48 months of financial freedom," she explains. "Each month, I try to add even more money. The snowball effect of doing this will have a real impact on soft retirement." Maria is also looking to buy a two-bedroom flat in Manchester this year, and plans to live in one of the bedrooms and rent out the other. She plans to put down a £30,000 deposit and take out a £40,000 mortgage. She explains: "Property is a solid investment, and not buying in London means I can get into the property market early, especially as my credit rating is excellent." Clutter into cash She also sells at least £3,000 of old clothes on Vinted or eBay each year, maximises club card points and swaps credit cards or utility suppliers when there's cash to be made or a cashback incentive. "I've made £2,000 doing that. I love charity shop buying and decorating. "I have a budget and stick to it, but if I can make money, even selling old books to a book-buying site, I'll do it. "People don't understand, Gen Z are not about one job, we're about multiple jobs or side hustles. "I earn money from my social media platforms, monetising them so instead of freebies, I get paid from the creators' fund or sponsored posts. "This can pull in £2,000 to £3,000 a month. I also earn a percentage from clients I've built social media content for, through their creators' fund payments." Maria has continued to run specialist hospitality events and says the skills she's learnt since she was 17 now help her to turn a profit. "I've also developed a new side hustle with my partner, who is a chef. "I help people to plan unusual date nights, hire someone to cook for them at home or use simple recipes to recreate restaurant-style food themselves. "It's a unique idea that adds another side hustle to my businesses." She also earns £200 a month by working as a travel agent. Meanwhile, she makes £400 a month from a photo studio that she leases and uses for photo shoots, makeovers and social media marketing. Maria saves a minimum of £1,000 or more a month. "I learnt to do my own accounting at university and have an accountant sign off on it," she said. "I also pay £200 a month into a self invested personal pension and top it up when I can." Maria's now on track to build an investment portfolio, including multiple side hustle businesses, Isas and her fashion brand, and expects to be worth more than half a million within five years. "I have fun. I go out. But I never miss an opportunity or let an idea slip away," she said. "Many people want to be different. They want a side hustle but are scared because the last generation told them nine to five jobs. 'I don't want a rocking chair in my forties. I plan to be soft retired, bossing it on a beach with a laptop." 6 6 Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@

I swapped homes with a total stranger from Instagram to save money while traveling
I swapped homes with a total stranger from Instagram to save money while traveling

Daily Mail​

time6 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

I swapped homes with a total stranger from Instagram to save money while traveling

A woman who swapped homes with a total stranger on Instagram to save money on hotel costs while she was traveling has shared the highs and lows of the experience. Sara Holt, 27, from Copenhagen, was planning a trip to Paris, France, and got fed up with the eye-watering prices of hotels and Airbnbs. Inspired by the Cameron Diaz-lead movie The Holiday, she decided to turn to social media to try to find someone living in the European city who might exchange abodes with her. She shared a video of her studio apartment on Instagram and received offers from people all over the world. And she ultimately switched with a girl living in the heart of Paris. She flew out on July 16 and stayed for a week – enjoying everything the city of lights had to offer for a fraction of the price. 'Travelling is expensive but a lot of the time, it is the accommodation that really breaks the bank,' she told Luxury Travel Daily recently. 'With home swapping, you really only have to pay for the transportation, which is a big perk when trying to save some money. 'Since watching The Holiday for the first time, I've always wanted to try it.' The 2006 flick - which also starred Jude Law, Kate Winslet, and Jack Black - followed two strangers, one from a quiet English village and the other from star-studded Hollywood, who decided to trade homes in an attempt to spice up their lives. In addition to saving money, there were a load of other benefits that came with living in someone's home rather than staying at a hotel. 'I was so happy arriving in her flat in Paris. It looked amazing, very homey and she had cleaned and laid out a list with local recommendations as well as a welcome gift of wine, soaps and chocolate,' Sara recalled. 'It was a bit strange to live in someone else's space but it quickly felt very homey.' The content creator estimates she saved $800 on accommodation fees – and all in all, she only paid $650 for the entire trip, including flights, food, drinks and shopping. She loved the experience so much that she now can't imagine travelling any other way. Sara said: 'It was great to have your own kitchen and everything you need on hand, which is not the case in a hotel. Sara flew out on July 16 and stayed for a week – enjoying everything the city of lights had to offer for a fraction of the price 'Living in her area had a very local feel as well, which was great. It was more like trying "everyday life" in Paris instead of a holiday. 'It was just perfect. We were keeping in touch all week, asking questions and sending each other recommendations. 'It was like having a guide ready in your pocket the whole time. The whole thing felt very wholesome.' Sara added that the girl living in her apartment left it 'spotless,' in fact, it was 'almost better than when she left.' But there were some downsides. Particularly, she admitted that she was worried knowing there was no second party involved to help if something went wrong in her temporary home. 'I was a bit more worried than usual about keeping her space in order – as there is not second party involved, I really didn't want to break anything or lose her keys – stuff like that,' she explained. 'I was a bit nervous the months leading up to it, that one of us would have to cancel after the other person had already booked flights. 'There's no refund policy when you just swap with someone outside of the platforms. Luckily that didn't happen!' In addition to saving money, there were a load of other benefits that came with living in someone's home rather than staying at a hotel. The apartment she stayed in is pictured Despite some initial nerves about swapping her $950-a-month studio flat in Denmark with a stranger, the whole week went off without a hitch. Sara concluded: 'The money saved was definitely a bonus but the real win was feeling like a local and having that insider experience. 'I'd encourage anyone curious about home swapping to just take the leap. It's such a unique way to travel and connect with people. 'It's not just about saving money – it's about the stories you collect and the memories you make in a home that isn't your own.'

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