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The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
How to end summer RICHER than you started it – from ‘loud budgeting' to the 50:30:20 rule
THE six-week school holidays aren't typically an easy time to try and save money - but imagine if you could end the summer richer than you started? Financial educator and author Bola Sol believes you can do just that - without missing out on memory-making fun with the family. Parents spend an average of £1,000 a week on their children during the summer holidays, according to new research. But Bola, 33, from London, is on a mission to help more women, especially mums, take control of their finances. "Money confidence isn't about having more, it's about making what you have work better for you and your family," she says, Bola started blogging about personal finance a decade ago. Since then, she's become a qualified financial adviser, grown her Instagram following to 37,200 and has published two best-selling books, Your Money Life and How to Save It: Fix Your Finances. Here's her top tips for the richest - in all sense of the word - summer of your life. Practise 'loud budgeting' Money is a huge taboo subject for many Brits, with many fearing it is impolite or inappropriate to discuss. In fact, nearly half of UK adults avoid financial conversations, according to one study. This summer is the time to change that, according to Bola. 'Letting family, friends and your children know where you are with your money (without showing them your bank statements) is crucial,' she says. Families can get FREE washing machines, fridges and kids' beds or £200 payments this summer – and you can apply now 'By practising 'loud budgeting' you can create boundaries by openly addressing the social pressures to spend.' Being vocal about your financial boundaries is vital at a time when friends suggest - and the kids are begging for - pricey trips to theme parks, the cinema and the zoo. 'Everyone is dealing with different money pressures and priorities,' she says. 'Being transparent makes it easier to say 'no'. Also, when you speak about money, you empower others to do the same.' Learn to say no But you can have fun and bag some new toys, books and clothes without spending a penny by hosting a 'swap circle day'. Bola says: 'This idea has grown traction in recent years. It's a great way to save money while building a community of fellow mums. 'Everyone brings something to swap that their kids have grown out of and exchange it for something else. 'This is a great way to prevent overconsumption and waste, while ensuring your child's arsenal of entertainment and learning materials gets a refresh.' Try a 'no spend' week It's the viral trend that involves cutting out unnecessary costs to build up savings. Many people aim for a frugal month but Bola says even a week of no spending can boost your bank balance this summer. She says: 'Having a no spend week, or even no spend weekends, can improve your finances. 'This trend allows you to reflect on your spending habits and highlight unnecessary outgoings. 4 "You can assess what worked, adjust your habits and then make a long-term plan.' Bola recommends making use of all the free activities in your area to keep the kids entertained. 'Eventbrite allows you to filter free classes, festivals and clubs near you,' she says. 'Also make use of everything free near you including the library, park, lido and community groups. 'Many local religious organisations offer free holiday clubs for kids - and in a lot of cases, you don't even have to be part of the religion to attend. 'They are run by volunteers to provide fun, educational and sometimes faith-based activities during school breaks.' 'We found treasure and the at-home movie night was a family hit' Fabulous Digital Editor Lydia Major had a 'no spend' weekend with her two sons, aged 8 and 4. Instead of throwing money at activities to keep my sons entertained, this weekend we attempted to have fun for free. The cinema, bowling and swimming went out of the window in favour of an at-home movie night, a picnic in our local park and a geocaching trail. The pressure on mums to spend, spend, spend this summer is relentless but if you get creative and ignore the Instagram noise you can have a great time. The highlight for us was the geocaching - basically a hunt where you use a mobile app to find 'treasure'. There was one in a park local to us, it killed two hours and then we found a cache with books and toy soldiers in. Result. Despite a bit of bickering, we also loved the at-home Friday film night and it was a good way to round of a busy week. I reckon we saved £100 by following Bola's advice and it's definitely something we'd try again. A friend also recommended looking up free events on Eventbrite so we will try that later in the summer. Use the 50:30:20 rule Start structuring your spending with the 50:30:20 budget rule. Bola says: '50% for needs (rent/mortgage, utilities, food), 30% for wants (dining out, entertainment, socialising) and 20% for savings, investments or debt repayment.' This allows you to clearly see the things you need to spend on, while also allowing yourself space for treats. Bola adds: 'Whether you're stuffing physical envelopes or assigning virtual categories, having a clear plan for your monthly pay packet ensures you stay on track without feeling restricted.' 4 Bola recommends downloading Emma, a personal finance and budgeting platform, to manage your money, avoid overdrafts and save. She says: 'It does this by letting users see all of their bank accounts in one place and track their spending. 'The app, which has two million users, can be downloaded and used for free, though there are premium plans which can cost up to £14.99 a month. 'It's great if you want to see in real time what you're doing with your money. You can create categories - such as kids clothes, food shops and spending for the summer - and view your spending by week or month.' By following Bola's advice, you can end summer in a strong financial position. "From small swaps to smart boundaries, these changes could save you £100s by the end of summer and help you feel more in control come September," she says. Money saving challenges Here's some of our favourite money saving challenges to h Here's a rundown of some of the most popular schemes: Weather saving challenge - Save the amount equal to whatever the highest temperature was that week. £1 = 1C. 1p challenge - save 1p a day for everyday of the year, but it increase the amount by 1p each day. So day one you save 1p, 2p on day two and 3p on day three. When you reach 100 days you start adding a £1 coin each day too, while this increases to a £2 coin each day plus pennies at 200 days, and £3 each day on top of pennies at day 300. 20p a day challenge - Start by putting 20p in savings, then increase the amount by 20p every day. For example, the first week will look like this: 20p, 40p, 60p, 80p, £1, £1.20, £1.40. £5 a week challenge - Like the 20p challenge, put aside £5 a week and increase it by a fiver each week. Eg £5, £10, £15, £20 Round-up challenge - Every time you buy something, round up the purchase to the nearest £1 and put the difference in a savings account. Eg. You pay £2.60, so you put 40p in savings. You can use an app such as Monzo or Starling to do this. Bingo challenge - Here you have a bingo card with different numbers on it and you tick them off when you've put that amount in your savings account. It can be ad hoc but you have to tick them all off by the end of the month. Monday to Sunday challenge - With this challenge, you simply save £1 on Monday, £2 on Tuesday and so on until the weekend where you don't save on Saturday or Sunday. 365 day challenge - Every Sunday you put aside £1, followed by £2 on Monday, £3 on Wednesday and so on. On Saturday you'll put away £7, and then the process repeats and you'll put aside £1 on Sunday as the new week begins.
The Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mums share easy ways to ‘survive' the stressful summer holidays for those dreading the six-week stretch
WITH the school term winding down and the six-week holidays looming, panic is setting in for mums across the country. How on earth are mums supposed to entertain the kids for 42 solid days without losing our minds, our patience or half our bank balance? 2 2 That's exactly what one frazzled mum asked on TikTok, and boy, did other parents come through. In a now-viral video, @_ohcaroline put out a heartfelt plea: 'Mums, what do you do to survive the six-week school holiday? I want tried and tested, genius ideas.' And the TikTok tribe didn't disappoint. Mums from all over shared their best hacks, tips and tricks, from free days out to clever routines that keep things ticking over and stop everyone climbing the walls. We've pulled together the top ideas to help you actually enjoy the holidays this year. Free activities Don't assume you have to spend big to keep them happy. Loads of mums raved about the sheer amount of free activities available if you know where to look. One genius suggestion was to apply for a Blue Peter badge. Earning one is a fun project in itself, and once they've got it, kids get free entry to hundreds of UK attractions including zoos, theme parks and museums. It's also worth checking your local council or community centre, where there are often free summer schemes, drop-in sessions or local events for families. Three new family-friendly summer events that kids will love from Disney hunt to walking tour And if you want a ready-made list of freebies, check out the Sun Club's ultimate UK guide to everything you can do for free with the kids this summer. Wednesday's off One mum swears by getting dad, or any extra adult, to take a regular day off midweek. She explained: 'We got my partner to take every Wednesday off for a family day. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a park trip, pond-dipping, or a picnic. "It broke the week up and made a huge difference.' It doesn't have to be dad - grandparents, aunties, or another mum friend could do the trick. And teaming up with another family means the kids get playmates and you get backup. Everyone wins! Big spend day Another mum's golden rule was to only have one 'big spend' day a week. That means just one outing to a paid attraction like a zoo or soft play. The rest of the time it's walks, baking, movie days, maybe a cheeky coffee shop trip or a playdate if you're feeling social. Sdhe added: 'My kids are used to it and honestly they're really chilled. We've always done it this way.' Simple, low-cost days keep expectations, and budgets, in check and make that one treat day even more exciting. Movie marathon If screen time's a worry, turn it into a full-blown themed movie marathon. One mum shared how they started at Snow White and worked their way through every Disney film in order of release, with themed dinners and snacks to match. For Alice in Wonderland, they threw a tea party. For Princess and the Frog, they made jambalaya. And the best bit is the kids rated each film afterwards, turning it into a fun activity the whole family looked forward to. She planned the meals, so it wasn't pricey, just creative. She said: 'We did about three films a week and it lasted months." Themed days A few mums use themed days to give the week some structure and help avoid the dreaded 'what are we doing today?' chaos. Think Walking Wednesdays where you explore a new park or trail, Arty Fridays for crafts and painting, or Simple Sundays where you all crash out with a film or build a den in the living room. It gives the week rhythm without becoming rigid, and gives kids something to look forward to. Invite friends over Sometimes, the best entertainment is old school. 'My four love just having friends over to play or even just playing outside on the road,' said one mum. She keeps it manageable by only having a couple of friends over at a time, but says it makes a huge difference. And in summer, when there's no homework or packed lunches to stress over, it's the perfect time to let them socialise. Tips for keeping organised during the summer holidays IF you aren't sure how to keep organised during the summer holidays, then you've come to the right place. Senior Fabulous Writer, Sarah Bull, has shared her top tips... FOOD: One thing I find difficult is keeping on top of my kids' constant requests for snacks. Despite the fact they have one break time at school and then lunch, their demands for food during school holidays seem to be 24/7. To make things easier, I've decided to bring in snack baskets for them. They each have a certain amount of food (the same so that there's no arguments) and once it's gone, it's gone. Not only does it make my life easier, it teaches them that they have to spread things out - and to maybe see if the 'hunger signals' are actually ones of hunger or thirst. ACTIVITIES: It can be hard to keep your kids entertained - and six weeks can feel like an awfully long time. One thing to take advantage of is having an outside space. If you have a garden, you can put bikes or scooters in there, or even a trampoline. It keeps them entertained and also makes sure they're doing some kind of physical activity every day. If you don't have the space for a climbing frame or added activities, why not give the kids a bucket of chalk and get them to draw on the paving slabs? Or another one I did was to give the kids a 'magic solution' I needed painted on the wall (it was just water and washing up liquid) to protect it. They spent a good hour doing that! CLOTHES: One thing I've used from when my daughter, now six, started school is to use clothing drawers for her and my son, who's 10. On a Sunday, I put all of their clothes, underwear, socks etc in the corresponding drawer for the week. Usually it's uniform, but I still use the drawers during the holiday too. It just makes things easier, more organised and less stressful - for all of us. Rainy days Every good survival guide needs a Plan B for rainy days. Mums recommend prepping a few go-to indoor activities. Think baking, LEGO builds, movie afternoons, crafts, museum trips or indoor play centres. The key is to plan ahead. Having a few ideas ready means less panic when the heavens open and less temptation to fork out £30 for a soft play session out of desperation. Ultimately, the mums of TikTok agree, the summer holidays don't need to be perfect or packed with entertainment. With a little planning, some cheap or free ideas, and realistic expectations, you can survive the six weeks and maybe even enjoy them.
The Sun
12-07-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
You need to be hanging your wet sheets & towels from windows to beat the heat this weekend
SAVVY homeowners are turning to a clever laundry hack that's perfect for cooling you down in the scorching summer heat. This simple trick not only helps keep you cool, but also makes your clothes dry faster and smell fresher - and it won't cost you a penny. 3 3 It might sound wild, but hanging your washing inside your windows could be the genius summer hack you never knew you needed. If you're bunging towels or bed sheets in the wash today, try pegging them over your windows - not only will they dry quicker in the scorching heat, but they'll also help block out the blazing sun and keep your home cooler. That's right - dry your laundry and beat the heat in one go. Two birds, one washing line! How this works Hanging a wet sheet in front of an open window can help cool a room by using evaporative cooling. As the breeze blows through the wet sheet, the water evaporates, drawing heat away from the air and making it cooler. This is a simple, cost-effective way to lower the temperature inside a room, especially during warmer days when there's a breeze. Muslin Clothes Parents also offered their tips, and made the most out of the hundreds of muslin clothes they had lying around. One mum said: "I give the kids a damp, very well wrung out muslin when it's horrible and hot. "They are magic for cooling you off, and if they warm up you just need to flap them about a bit and they cool down again! "Perfect for getting to sleep with." Hot Water Bottle Another hack that people are sharing on Mumsnet is to use a hot water bottle, yes, even in the summer. You simply fill the water bottle with a small amount of cold water and stick it in the freezer until frozen. I beat the heat with free 'ice trick' that works with any home fan Then you want to place it at the bottom of your bed to keep you cool all night long. However, you shouldn't use the same hot water bottle for hot water in winter and freezing in summer, as it can weaken the rubber. If you can, buy two hot water bottles and change them for each task. Many agreed that the hack was vital to staying cool in the summer. One wrote: "In praise of the cold water bottle. "It's just a hot water bottle filled with cold water, but it's so helpful when it's really hot." 3 Free summer holiday activites You don't need to spend a penny to keep your kids entertained this summer... Museums - Some museums offer free entry to some exhibits, and also host events for kids. Parks - Head to your local park to enjoy the playgrounds, games areas, courts and splash pads. Some even have trails for kids to enjoy. Beach - It doesn't have to be sunny to enjoy the beach, you can go rock pooling, crabbing, make sandcastles, or enjoy a walk along the headland. Library - If the weather is awful, head indoors and borrow books, audiobooks, dvds. Cooking - Have your own mini bake-off, or Come Dine With Me challenge. Playdates - Invite friends over for an afternoon of socialising. Boardgames - Enjoy a little sibling rivalry with rounds of Monopoly or stretch your brain with Scrabble.
The Guardian
06-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Walking my dog, I feel free to wear the most unhinged outfits
A school friend of mine once told me she wouldn't go as far as the letterbox outside her home without wearing mascara, lipstick and foundation. My mum used to blow-dry her hair to go grocery shopping. Recently, I've seen more than one glamorous woman on TikTok warn her followers never to go to the gym without wearing makeup and a cute outfit, in case they have to interact with their weights room crush. Any time I see a friend who's recently given birth, she apologises so profusely for her dark circles and old T-shirt that you'd think she'd committed a minor commonwealth offence. I've heard about someone who puts on a full corporate outfit, including high heels, to sit at the kitchen table in her own home to work. I despair. Where are our opportunities to look an absolute mess? Grooming standards are a personal thing. Mine have always been minimal enough to appal every member of my immediate family: unbrushed hair, bare face, no bra. I enjoy dressing up sometimes, but my everyday vibe is more Adam Sandler going for a stroll. Lucky for me, I've found a loophole in the social expectation of put-togetherness: dog walking fashion. Sign up for the fun stuff with our rundown of must-reads, pop culture and tips for the weekend, every Saturday morning When I have my handsome shih tzu trotting by my side, I can go out in the most unhinged ensembles and nobody seems bothered. I am invisible, I am untouchable, I am immune to the judgment of others because I am out with my dog. Let me paint you a picture. In the summer months, I might step out in a pair of fuchsia linen harem pants that my mum bought in Greece (that have a hole in the crotch), paired with a 2017 Britney Spears concert memorabilia T-shirt and knee-high, shark-print compression socks tucked into faded blue Birkenstocks that have been worn so many times they bear the dark imprint of my foot sweat. Another day, it might be striped boxer shorts, a tank top that's hanging on for dear life, and no shoes; it is my right, as an Australian, to feel the warmth of the pavement on my footsies. When it's cold, I'll slip into something like this: pants that are, technically speaking, pyjamas, tucked into lilac ankle gumboots, an old jumper of my dad's, finished with a thigh-length raincoat buttoned in a hurry, inaccurately. Or fleece-lined track pants, a jumper with an otter on it, socks and thongs. I work from home, so often it's a case of chucking my favourite item of clothing – a second-hand coat my sister bought in 2009 that looks like a picnic rug with sleeves and has become mine by squatter's rights – over the top of whatever cosy outfit I've cobbled together that morning. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion It's a grab what's near and what's comfortable situation; the less thought put into it, the better. And it's a precious chance for me to take the clothes I am not yet prepared to retire for a spin in the outside world. Stained? No problem. Threadbare? Get it on. When I am with my dog, anything goes. Nobody blinks an eye. Nobody raises their phone ominously to film me for an Instagram round up of worst dressed strangers. I am free. I am a mess. I am just a girl walking her dog. And I am not alone. I see you, my chaotically dressed dog-walking brethren: in pyjamas and ugg boots, in animal onesies, in long socks and sandals, short shorts, disintegrating T-shirts, charity shop jumpers. Baseball caps over unwashed hair. Muddy paw prints on your trackpants from the last wet walk. We're in this together and hey, we might not be catwalk ready, but we do have our dogs.
The Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mums need to stop wearing leggings, there is nothing sexy about them and they are ruining your confidence, stylist says
IT'S an outfit donned by mums worldwide on a daily basis. But according to one stylist, there's "nothing sexy" about leggings and a jumper - and "nothing about the look that makes you feel good about yourself" either. 4 4 4 4 Clodagh is a personal stylist, who helps "empower" women through their wardrobe choices, and documents the journey in videos on her YouTube and TikTok pages. In a recent episode of The Clo's Show, she met up with mum-of-three Lesley, to help her get out of her style rut, and express herself with her outfits. "I'm a stylist and I work with women every single day that suffer with their style confidence because they have been wearing this uniform of leggings," she began. "Are you over 40, feeling meh and still stuck in leggings?" Clo wrote over the top of a TikTok clip of the installment. "Watch Lesley ditch her leggings and get her confidence back!" Lesley admitted she was "so stuck in the mindset of the leggings" that she just stuck them on in the morning before the school run. But when Clo started to show her some other wardrobe options, she began to realise that she would be a lot more confident wearing something else. And as an added bonus, Lesley already had all the clothes she needed in her wardrobe. In the first outfit, she wore a pair of wide-legged black trousers and white slogan T-shirt, as she said: "I feel great. I feel very comfortable. "It's actually nice to be out of the leggings!" "So what would stop you in the morning from not wearing this to drop the kids off or go to work in?" Clo asked Lesley. "Look how happy Lesley was by just getting out of those leggings and putting on a plain pair of black wide leg pants that she bought in Tesco," she added. "Look at the difference they make for her confidence!" "The beauty of this is not only did Lesley not spend a penny, but her confidence has been elevated through the roof and she now understands how easy it is to put fab outfits together and how easy it is to mix and match her stuff," Clo added in the description for the YouTube video. People were quick to comment on the video, with many agreeing with Clo's fashion analysis. "I refuse to have leggings, tracksuits, baggy tops in my wardrobe," one wrote. Styling tips for women 50+ Our Fabulous Fashion Editor Clemmie Fieldsend shares her top tips... GET A BRA FIT: Underwear is the foundation to every single outfit, so make sure your bra is the correct fit. If you're off to a good start you'll finish with a great outfits. EMBRACE COLOUR: Bright colours will lift your skin tone and will give you glowing skin. INVEST IN GOOD BASICS: You'll need your essentials like a good pair of straight leg jeans, white shirt, white t-shirt, black blazer and well made black shoe. You can't go wrong with rotating them when you don't know what to wear. AVOID SHAPELESS: Hiding your figure under shapeless silhouettes is doing to date you and make you look frumpy. Try fitted clothes that aren't figure hugging - you need to be able to breathe. EXPERIMENT: Try different items you wouldn't usually go for and mix them with what you already have. The results can mean a better dressed and more confident you. "I love to wear nice clothes daily - and it's cheaper than people think." "Yes!!!" another said. "It's all about how you feel and being in an outfit that makes your feel put together regardless of what you're doing." "I'm 43 and I stopped wearing leggings a few weeks now," a third commented. "I've a bit of a belly and skinny legs so I looked like Mr Tayto, so stopped wearing them as I felt leggings made my stomach look bigger."
