Latest news with #Mancunians
Daily Mirror
18-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Half of adults have ‘break-up fund' as couples admit money secrets
More than a third also didn't tell their partners about bonuses A surprising number of British households might be hiding some skeletons in their closet. A new poll has uncovered the staggering amount of people keeping financial secrets from their spouse. From hidden bonuses to break-up preparations and overspending, the number of people quietly building their 'just in case' finances have been growing. In all, 27 million people, roughly half of UK adults, have an 'independence fund', according to research by Novuna Personal Finance. This is a secret savings stash people have been putting money into throughout their relationship, planning to use it if their romance falls apart. On average, people are holding around £4,739 in this covert account. While this seems like a jaw-dropping sum, breaking up isn't cheap. Research from Experian in 2023 revealed the average break-up costs over £1,000, with the cost of splitting forcing some couples to stay together. Aside from savings, the most common secrets lovers are keeping from each other include hidden salaries or bonuses, 39%; 33% also have secret splurges, spending cash on self-indulgent treats without telling their partner. Theresa Lindsay, chief marketing officer at Novuna Personal Finance, said: 'There's a quiet shift happening in relationships today – financial independence is becoming just as important as emotional connection. 'While many couples are still working together to build their future, more people are also putting individual safeguards in place, just in case. 'The positive takeaway here is that Brits are becoming more financially empowered – but transparency and trust still matter. Open conversations about money are the foundation for any long-term relationship.' It could be the sheer level of importance people are placing on finances when looking for and sticking to a partner that's driving this money concern. 44% of people in the poll said they would completely reconsider their relationship if their partner tried to control their finances. The average couple in the UK also talks about money around seven times a month, despite all the secrecy. And 89% reported feeling 'financially compatible' with their partner. In all, 61% of Londoners said they have an independence fund, while 57% of Glaswegians and 53% of Mancunians do too. In Birmingham, 53% of people have this secret stash while Edinburgh is the first city to drop below the halfway mark at 48%. However, 42% of people are doing more than saving secretly, they admitted to making major purchases without telling their partner. Despite these results, 86% of people also said financial honesty was vital for a healthy relationship. The vast majority, around 79%, of Gen Z and Millennials have an independence fund and 67% have also made large purchases in secret. But there's a hidden twist in these numbers, too. More young adults have fully merged finances with their partner than over-55s have. The experts noted this suggests young lovers are more focused on financial teamwork than their parents, while still having their own autonomy.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
VE Day 2025 - All the street parties in Manchester
Manchester will host at least 20 street parties to mark Victory in Europe (VE) Day on 5 May. The gatherings will be held to mark 80 years since the day Allied forces accepted Germany's surrender in World War Two on 8 May 1945. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, the Labour MP for Wigan, said this year's anniversary offered "important opportunities for communities to come together".In Manchester, the city council received 27 applications to close roads for a VE Day street party, with full details now confirmed for 20. Two areas — Didsbury and Gorton — are set to host four parties, with Mancunians celebrating right across the city from Wythenshawe in the south to Charlestown in the national celebrations will start with a military procession in central London from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace on the 5 May bank landmarks will be illuminated to mark the occasion, and the Cenotaph will be draped in Union flags for the first time since it was unveiled by King George IV in installation of 30,000 ceramic poppies will be displayed in the Tower of London, which was bombed during the roads in Manchester set to be closed on 6 May are:Woodford Gardens cul-de-sac, DidsburyBampton Road, Wythenshawe2-22 Morville Road, Whalley Range12 Victoria Road, Northenden39-50 Lavister Avenue, Burnage10-15 Mayville Drive, DidsburyDartmouth Road, ChorltonBeaumont Road, Chorlton21 Houseman Crescent, DidsburyCrombie Avenue, Wythenshawe10 Gawsworth Avenue, DidsburyJessop Street, GortonOld Hall Lane, FallowfieldKeeping It Real 24/7, 105 Princess Road, Moss SideViolet Street, Abbey HeySir Gerald Kaufman Close, GortonAcomb Street, RusholmeWillow Grove, GortonParkstead Drive, HarpurheyWhitecar Avenue, Charlestown Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
Morgan Gibbs-White Proves Why Manchester City Transfer Must Happen
Having been the center of attention for most of the second half, it was only right that Morgan Gibbs-White faced the cameras in the wake of Nottingham Forest's 0-2 defeat to Manchester City. Dominated in the first 45 minutes by the resurgent Mancunians, the Red masses who'd descended on Wembley for this first showpiece event in a generation had precious little to shout about. But Anthony Elanga's introduction at halftime changed the game's dynamic; suddenly, there was real danger on the counter-attack. As is often the case when Forest is at its dynamic best, Morgan Gibbs-White was constantly on the ball and pulling the strings. His first touch and passing range were as sublime as ever, but what caught the eye was his ability to get himself into goalscoring positions. First, he rattled the crossbar with a jaw-dropping left-footed strike and then hit the post, having seized a loose pass from Josko Gvardiol. 'When the first one hit the crossbar, I had a feeling it wasn't our day,' he told the media afterward, 'the second one, I round the keeper; it's a tight angle but I think I should score and that then would've given us energy, everyone in the stadium energy to go again. The boys kept fighting, we showed resilience, we can take that away. 'If we get one, I feel like we'd have got another one. It was just the flow of the game in that moment. We had a few good chances we could've scored from but all I can put it down to is that it just wasn't our day. We had a game plan everyone believed in. I thought we executed it well in the first half, apart from their goal.' 'Anthony [Elanga] is a massive threat for us, and he showed that in the second half. We have to put it behind us now. We enjoyed it while it lasted, but now we have to focus on getting into the Champions League. We have five big finals - we'll give it everything and hope for the best.' A lesser player might have shied away from the cameras after such disappointment, especially when they felt personally responsible. But it was a sign of the leader the 25-year-old has become that he was the one to send a message to the thousands of Nottingham Forest supporters who'd traveled to London. 'It's devastating,' Gibbs-White told the broadcaster ITV. "I feel sorry for the fans. I hold my hands up and apologize - I should've scored at least one of them. I think as a team we didn't start well, what we were hoping to do. In the second half, we came out fighting, and we gave it everything, and the support never stopped until the last second. 'We thank them a lot for that; they've been consistent throughout the season. I'm just lost for words. We gave everything. It's sad to go out like that, but we keep going and we still have the Premier League to focus on.' The former Wolverhampton Wanderers man is right. There is plenty to keep the Forest faithful enthused until the end of the season. The unexpected push for a spot in the Champions League is reaching the final crucial stages. Just a handful of winnable games stand between a return to Europe's elite competition. However, whether Gibbs-White tastes Champions League soccer in the red of Forest next season is another matter. His exceptional performances have caught the attention of last season's champions, and Manchester City is reportedly interested in hiring him to replace the exiting Kevin De Bruyne. Earlier this month, ex-Man United and Blackburn chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider he was expecting contact between the two clubs over a deal. 'He's not a like-for-like replacement for Kevin De Bruyne if that's what Man City are looking for,' Brown said. 'He's a different type of player, he's a worker and a runner and he can change a game, but he's not necessarily a creative player. 'Of course, they will know what he can bring to their team and I hear Pep Guardiola has been impressed. A lot of it will depend on whether there is a deal to be done. 'City will get in contact with Forest to establish what it would take to sign him this summer, and if they tell them he's not for sale, I expect they'll look at other options. 'Gibbs-White is a perfect fit in that Forest team, so I don't expect they'll let him go that easily.' Financial Fair Play regulations might force Forest to sell a significant asset in the summer, as has depressingly been the case for the league's ambitious and upwardly mobile teams. But the Reds will be expected to strike a hard bargain for one of their best players. As was the case when Brennan Johnson was sold to Tottenham Hotspur last year, a high fee would be demanded for one of England's most exciting midfielders. Based on his performance at Wembley and post-match leadership, Manchester City is eager to have him in its ranks.
The Guardian
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘I hate it': Manchester commuters back ban out-loud music on public transport
'Dread' might not be the first word Mancunians reach for to describe their daily commute, but for Ross Kenyon, 45, reluctantly waiting at a tram stop on a cloudy morning in central Manchester, it's the feeling clawing at his body. Why? He hates the tram. So much so, he refuses to take it to work, preferring a half-hour walk to his office instead. He says the the buses are even worse. He avoids them completely. The reason, he says, is antisocial behaviour. He's become increasingly bothered by people playing music out loud or vaping on public transport. 'You get on the trains or trams, especially on a Friday or Saturday night, and there are people with the speakers and music and it's just impolite … It just aggravates me,' said Kenyon, who works in trading. 'I go to Dubai quite a lot and everything's all nice. But here, it's like there's no rules any more. It's not that I'm the fun police. I just find it annoying.' Music to his ears, however, was the news that the Liberal Democrats are proposing to ban playing music and TV shows out loud on public transport. Under the plans announced on Wednesday, people booming out their favourite tunes or shows from their phone on public transport, or while at stations or bus stops, could face a maximum fine of £1,000. Reena, 41, a journalist sitting on a tram heading out of the centre towards the city's media hub, shared Kenyon's disdain for loudspeakers. 'I hate it. I think it's really unsociable,' she said. 'I have less tolerance for it now that I've got kids … I do understand when you're young and you want to listen to music together, but I just don't think it should be when there's lots of other people, especially if I'm with my kids and they're having a nap or something. It's unnecessarily loud.' For Sarah Hastings, a music teacher in her 50s, it was not playing music out loud that was the problem but the lyrics. 'If it's just background music, mood music, whatever, that's not going to offend anybody. It's not the music. It's the words. Sometimes there are young kids around and it's loud and it's language that they could do without hearing,' she said. To implement the ban, the Liberal Democrats are proposing amendments to the bus services bill, which is going through parliament. As transport policy is devolved, the move would only apply to England. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Jessie Were, 28, who works for the local council, described his commute into the centre as relatively quiet. On the occasion he does hear music on a tram or a bus, it doesn't bother him. 'Sometimes I like music. If it's a song I like, I vibe with it,' he said. 'I think they [the Liberal Democrats] should have other things to focus on. Music on buses and trams. It's really a non-issue.' He was not the only one who felt at odds with the proposal. Kayes Syed, 48, a lawyer, said: 'I don't have a problem with it. It's not rude. It's quite nice, actually. I'm a bit grumpy in the morning, so things like that just cheer me up. I'd rather them [the Liberal Democrats] focus on homelessness, drug abuse or crime rather than playing music.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Our six favourite ways to enjoy the sunshine in Greater Manchester
It's no secret that the sun is rather rare in rainy Manchester, which can only mean one thing - when the sun does shows its face, you've got to make the most of it. Fortunately there's no shortage of ways to enjoy the sunny weather around Greater Manchester. Whether it's family fun, heading out on the town, or days out further afield there are plenty of options to choose from. As the days lengthen and the seasonal depression starts to melt away many Mancunians will be looking forward to more sunshine. READ MORE: Grand National horse Broadway Boy suffers nasty fall as 18 horses don't finish READ MORE: 'Arson' horror as Bentley and house torched in early hours attack And with plenty more on the way, the Manchester Evening News has assembled a list of some of our favourite things to do in that rare Mancunian sunshine. Here are our suggestions... Manchester is blessed with a large amount of parks, including the largest municipal park in Europe - Heaton Park. If you do fancy visiting Heaton Park there's plenty of grass to stretch out on, not to mention animals including donkeys, peacocks, and tortoises, and lots of corners to explore. For those who fancy literally splashing out you can also rent rowing boats and swan peddle boats at the boating lake, just be sure to take a book of poetry to read wistfully as your partner sweats away at the oars. Heaton Park is far from the only option, with there also being Whitworth Park in the south of the city, right next to Whitworth Art Gallery. There's also Fletcher Moss, a firm favourite in Didsbury which backs down onto the Mersey, as well as Chorlton Water Park and Sale Water Park. If you fancy something a little more adventurous than the park you could go for a longer walk, and with the Peak District to the south of Manchester there's a lot to choose from. Kinder Scout is a more challenging route, the highest mountain in the Peak District at 2,087ft and with several routes heading up to the summit. You could also take on the Roaches, which is a slightly longer journey heading out towards Leek. For something with a touch of the mystical you could hike to Lud's Church. This is a chasm used by Lollard Christians in the 1400s, and is thought to potentially be the inspiration for the magical Green Chapel in Gawain and the Green Knight. There are many stunning National Trust properties not far from Manchester. Tatton Park is just half an hour from the south of the city, and has the house, gardens, and farm to explore. And if you're on a budget you can also explore the park itself including a beautiful lake and the population of deer. For those who fancy a spot of industrial history can visit Quarry Bank Mill, not far from Manchester Airport. If you're up for a slightly longer drive, there's also Little Moreton Hall and Biddulph Grange Gardens, located just under an hour's drive from Manchester. Little Moreton Hall is a stunning Tudor mansion famous for its long gallery while Biddulph Grange shows off amazing Victorian landscaping, and both are within a short distance of each other meaning you can both in one day. Sunny weather and beer gardens go together like Mr Whippy and flakes. Whether you fancy somewhere with a nice view, or want to enjoy the sunshine in the bustle of the city centre streets there are plenty of options. Stevenson Square and Edge Street in the Northern Quarter have both become hot spots for outdoor table, with the streets packed out with table on sunny days. Nearby you can also head over to Ancoats Marina and enjoy a cold drink while watching the swans, or to Rain Bar for a canal-side beer garden. And of course there are some lovely rooftop bars around the city centre, such as Terrace NQ or Atlas Bar, or if you really want to push the boat out you could head to 20 Stories. If you're planning a long afternoon and evening sipping drinks in the sunshine it's probably a good idea to have something nice to eat first, or afterwards. There are plenty of options, with many restaurants now having the option for outdoor seating too. It could be a pizza at Rudy's or heading to Altrincham Market or Mackie Mayor for a food hall. There's also El Gato Negro's terrace on King Street, perfect to take in the sunshine. Cutting Room Square in Ancoats is also replete with al fresco options.. Whether you regularly swim for exercise or just enjoy a splash about every so often, a dip on a hot day can be wonderfully refreshing. Manchester has a lot to choose from. There's the Aquatics Centre, with a large pool and areas for families as well. If you like both beer gardens and swimming and don't mind spending a bit more, then why not do both? The Manor House Spa in Alsager is less than an hour's drive from Manchester, and boasts a swim up bar. But if a simple swim is more your style, you could scarcely do better than Withington Baths. The recently refurbished Edwardian pool is stunning on sunny days, and you can admire the stained glass windows while taking a dip.
