B&M slashes price of ‘stylish' garden ornament to just £1.50 – and it'll turn your privacy fence into summer oasis
IF you've set up a privacy fence in your garden only to be left looking at ugly panelling, don't worry.
You can add a "stylish" touch to your outdoor walls this summer with a budget buy from B&M.
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Now is the time to be transforming your outdoor space into a relaxing summer oasis.
And if you've already stocked up on string lights and hanging baskets, why not find a way to level up your walls or fences?
Add a splash of life to your panelling with an affordable item, now 50% off.
The Palm House Leaf Embossed Wall Plaque is available for just £1.50 from B&M.
According to manufacturers, this decor buy helps to "bring style into your garden."
The plaques have been described as "a stylish garden ornament that adds character to any outdoor space".
They are available in three assorted designs and are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Decor experts at Ideal Home recommended adding wall plaques "for a super-easy way of brightening up a dreary outdoor space".
"Metal plaques, oversized wall clocks, mirrors and outdoor signs make a lovely addition to an exterior wall or fence panel, either alone or in a group arrangement," they explained.
When adding wall art to your outdoor space, make sure to look for items that are pre-coated with a weather-resistant finish.
Lighter weight items can be fixed onto brick walls using brick clips, with no need for drilling.
So you don't have to worry about consulting your landlord when adding this handy item.
And one Home Bargains buy is said to add a touch of glamour to your garden.
Another item from the bargain retailer is perfect for attracting birds to your space.
You can also pick up a B&Q buy that creates a "tranquil atmosphere" in your garden.
A £3 garden decoration from Aldi that turns your outdoor space into a "lush oasis".
And the Aldi outdoor patio furniture, including a rattan effect corner sofa.
Home Bargains also has a £5 decor buy that turns your patio into an "outdoor living room".
Plus, a 79p Home Bargains item that will instantly level up your outdoor space.
A £10 B&M product adds inches to your fence, elevating your garden's privacy.
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The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
Cost of ‘minimum retirement lifestyle' has fallen amid lower energy prices
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Research discussion groups for the minimum standard reported some small changes in what they need for a minimum standard of living, clothing, hairdressing, technology purchases, taxi use, and charitable giving, although participants agreed that the budget for rail travel would need to rise, the PLSA said. The amounts needed for moderate and comfortable standards have increased slightly, reflecting the impact of inflation across many spending categories being offset by decreases in energy costs, the report said. For a moderate lifestyle, a single person would need £31,700, up by £400 from £31,300 previously, while two people would need £43,900, up by £800 from £43,100 previously. For a comfortable retirement, a single person would need £43,900, up by £800 from £43,100 previously, and a two-person household would need £60,600 – a £1,600 annual increase from £59,000. The retirement living standard amounts for 2024/25 were calculated by the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University on behalf of the PLSA. Across all retirement living standards, weekly domestic fuel budgets had fallen significantly since the previous 2023/2024 update. The standards are a guide to the costs of living in retirement and not fixed savings targets. Zoe Alexander, director of policy and advocacy at the PLSA, said: 'For many, retirement is about maintaining the life they already have, not living more extravagantly or cutting back to the bare essentials. 'The standards are designed to help people picture that future and plan in a way that works for them.' She said that for many people, saving more than the minimum contributions required in their workplace pension could help to give them a better chance of the kind of retirement they want. The PLSA said the role of the state pension also remains vital, particularly for those at the minimum level. With many people carrying mortgages into later life, the research also underlined the tension between paying off a mortgage and retirement for some households. More than half (58%) of people said they expect to be mortgage-free homeowners by the time they retire, but 17% expect to be homeowners with a mortgage or loan and 8% expect to be renting from a private landlord. Meanwhile, 7% expect to be renting from the council and 8% anticipate that they will be renting from a housing association. And 1% expect to be living 'rent free' in retirement – meaning they anticipate they will be living in someone else's home and not paying formal rent. Professor Matt Padley, co-director of the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University, said: 'The consequences of the cost-of-living challenges over the past few years are still being felt, and we've seen some subtle changes in public consensus about minimum living standards in retirement, resulting in a small fall in the expenditure needed to reach this standard. 'In these uncertain times, planning in concrete ways for the future is ever more important, and the RLS (retirement living standards) help people to think in more concrete ways about what they want their retirement to look like, and how much they will need to live at this level.' More than 1,500 people were surveyed across the UK by Yonder in May for the consumer research. Here are the percentages of people who expect to own their home outright when they retire, without a mortgage, according to the PLSA: Scotland, 61% North East, 58% North West, 60% Yorkshire and the Humber, 54% West Midlands, 61% East Midlands, 58% Wales, 56% Eastern England, 66% London, 53% South East, 56% South West, 56% Northern Ireland, 68% And here are some examples of what the PLSA's different retirement living standards entail: Minimum lifestyle (Enough for a feeling of financial security and to be able to take part in daily life): Single person – A budget of £200 to spend on DIY per year; around £55 a week to spend on groceries, £30 a month to spend on food out of the home, £12 per month for takeaways; no car, but a bus pass and £30 per month for two taxi trips and £180 per year to cover three rail journeys. Enough money for a week-long UK holiday annually, a TV licence and broadband plus a streaming service with ads and £20 per week to spend on activities. Up to £450 for clothing and footwear and £20 for each birthday and Christmas present. Two people – A £200-a-year budget to decorate and maintain the condition of your property. Around £109 a week to spend on groceries, £60 a month per couple on food out of the home, £24 a month per couple on car, but a bus pass, £30 per month to cover two taxi trips, £180 per year per person to cover three rail fares. Enough money for a week-long UK holiday. TV licence and broadband plus a streaming service with ads. £20 a week per person for activities. Up to £450 for clothing and shoes per person. A budget of £20 per birthday and the same amount for Christmas presents. Moderate lifestyle (More financial security and flexibility): Single person – A budget of £500 a year to maintain condition of a property and a £300 contingency. Around £56 a week to spend on groceries, £32 a week on food out of the home, £11 a week on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. A three-year-old small car replaced every seven years, £22 a month for taxis, £104 per year on rail fares. Enough money for a two-week three star all-inclusive holiday in the Mediterranean and a long weekend off peak break in the UK. TV licence and broadband plus two streaming services and £43 per week for activities. Up to £1,548 for clothing and footwear and £30 for each birthday and Christmas present, £200 a year to donate to charity, and £1,000 for supporting family members. Two people – A £500 a year budget to maintain condition of your property, with a £300 contingency. Around £103 a week to spend on groceries, £63 a week per couple on food out of the home, £21 a week per couple on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. A three-year-old small car replaced every seven years, £22 a month on taxis per household, £104 a year on rail fares per person. A two-week three star all-inclusive holiday in the Mediterranean and a long weekend off-peak break in the UK with £321 spending money. TV licence and broadband plus two streaming services and £43 a week per person for activities. Up to £1,548 for clothing and shoes per person. Gifts of £30 for each birthday and the same amount for Christmas presents, plus £200 per household a year for charity donations. £1,000 for supporting family members. Comfortable lifestyle (More financial freedom and some luxuries): Single person – A budget of £600 a year to maintain condition of your property, with a £300 contingency. Around £75 a week to spend on food, £42 a week on food out of the home, £21 a week on takeaways, £106 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. A three-year-old small car replaced every five years, £22 a month to spend on taxis, £208 per year on rail fares. A two-week four star half board holiday in the Mediterranean with around £100 per person per day spending money and three long weekend breaks in the UK with £400 spending money per break. Extensive bundled broadband, streaming and TV entertainment subscription plus £54 a week for to £1,548 for clothing and footwear each year. A budget of £50 for each birthday and Christmas gift, a £300 per year charity donation, £1,000 for family support. Two people – A budget of £600 a year to maintain the condition of the property, with a £300 contingency. Around £134 a week to spend on food, £85 a week per couple on food out of the home, £32 a week per couple on takeaways, £105 a month to take others out for a monthly meal. A three-year-old small car replaced every five years, £22 a month on taxis per household, £208 a year on rail fares per person. A two-week four star half board holiday in the Mediterranean with around £100 per person per day spending money and three long weekend breaks in the UK with £400 spending money per break. Extensive bundled broadband, movie streaming and TV entertainment subscription and £54 a week per person for activities. Up to £1,548 per person for clothing and shoes each year. A budget of £50 for each birthday and the same amount for Christmas presents, £300 per person per month for charity donations. £1,000 for supporting family members.
The Independent
39 minutes ago
- The Independent
Maintaining hopeful attitude ‘could prevent heart attacks and early death'
Maintaining a hopeful attitude when diagnosed with stroke or heart disease could prevent heart attacks and early death, research suggests. Scientists found that keeping the faith and using it as a 'self-prescription' could ward off future health problems. The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and presented at the British Cardiovascular Society conference in Manchester, reviewed data from 12 existing studies involving 5,540 patients with coronary heart disease, stroke or heart valve problems. The typical age of people in the study was 60 and 63% were men. One of the research papers on 2,482 men found hopelessness was associated with a six-fold higher death risk from heart disease in those with pre-existing heart conditions, and a 2.3-fold higher risk in those without any problems. Meanwhile, a separate study on women found higher levels of hope were protective against angina, which is chest pain caused by heart disease. Elsewhere, in stroke patients, higher hope was linked to a much lower risk of post-stroke fatigue. And in six studies reporting psychological outcomes, higher hope was linked to lower depression and anxiety levels, enhanced resilience and improved quality of life. The research further indicated that people with higher hope scores tended to have greater levels of self-care and were less likely to skip taking their medication. Dr Alexander Montasem, senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Liverpool and author on the study, said: 'For many people, living with cardiovascular disease can be a difficult experience. ' Patients often struggle with debilitating symptoms as well as anxiety about the future. This study aimed to reveal more about how people's outlook on their situation can influence their health. 'Our systematic review suggests that hopelessness could increase people's risk of death, but also their symptoms and how well they stick to treatment plans. 'Mental health support could be very beneficial for a wide range of people with heart problems.' Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, clinical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'This research is a good reminder of how staying hopeful wherever possible can be helpful when it comes to living with cardiovascular disease. 'It could be an important self-prescription for maintaining your wellbeing and quality of life, alongside your current medical care.' Ruth Goss, senior cardiac Nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'The review showed that people with hope followed their treatment plans more closely, and it's important to remember that the best thing you can do for your health is to follow the advice recommended by your doctor. 'Looking after your physical and emotional wellbeing is important for people living with cardiovascular disease, and if anyone is struggling, they should speak to their medical team.'
Sky News
2 hours ago
- Sky News
'I might not make it': Sarah Jessica Parker on the stress of reading two books a day
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