If, like me, you struggle to stick to budgeting plans because you simply cannot turn down going out with friends, you might want to consider ‘loud budgeting’.
Yes, instead of quietly trying to stick to budgeting goals and making excuses for not socialising as much, loud budgeting is all about being honest about your financial plans and your need to stick to them.
Advertisement
HuffPost UK spoke with financial expert Adrian Murphy, CEO of Murphy Wealth to learn more about loud budgeting and how we can implement it in our everyday lives.
What loud budgeting is, and how to do it
Murphy explained: ” A big part of embarking on your savings journey is accountability. When you are thinking about your long term goals and objectives, it helps if there’s someone who keeps you accountable to your life plan – perhaps a partner or family member.
“If you don’t have that, there’s not someone to give you a nudge and you are relying on your own personal motivation – which is harder!”
This is where this budgeting trend comes in. Murphy said that if your intention is to save is out there, you’re more likely to stick to it.
Advertisement
However, Murphy admits that for some people, loud budgeting may be extreme and said for them: “A better way to look at it could be to find friends who will help you be accountable.
“You’ve already made a conscious choice not to spend or go out, so perhaps you should look at your reasons why? If you’re regularly defending your right to not spend in your social circles, it might be worth looking at your circle of friends. It might suggest you don’t have a supportive network.”
That being said, don’t feel that you need to stop socialising entirely.
Murphy urged: “With money there’s always a balance to be had. Money spent on socialising and experiences is important for mental health and wellness.
“We’re social animals, and not everything can be about tomorrow. Saving is important, but not if you’re watching the world go by to do so.”
How do you know if loud budgeting is right for you?
So, how do you know if it’s right for you?
Murphy answered: ”‘Loud budgeting’ highlights a cross generational issue. Money and relationships are, by far, the two most difficult topics to talk about. Everything in your life somehow tracks back to money and it can be such an emotive topic, one where tough decisions need to be made.
Advertisement
“We should encourage better conversations about money, especially if it can stop you making detrimental decisions. If saying ‘no, I’m not going for a coffee because my savings need to be prioritised’ helps you save and talk about money, I don’t see a problem.”
You’ve said your vows, celebrated with your loved ones and now all that’s left to do after your wedding is, uh, prepare for divorce?
According to a barrister at 4PB, Rhiannon Lloyd, this is exactly what you should be doing and, in fact, it’s the most romantic thing you could do for one another as a married couple.
Advertisement
Speaking exclusively with HuffPost UK, Lloyd said: “The reality of divorce, its brutality, cost and the damage it can inflict, if not handled correctly, on children and families is something any prospective spouses should seriously think about.
“The importance of planning for the eventuality of a split, and minimising it’s impact on you and any future children is underestimated.”
Lloyd wisely added: “What could be more romantic than trying to ensure that you have the best possible chance of remaining a positive presence in each other’s lives and the lives of your future children post any future divorce?”
Well, yes.
How to financially plan for a potential divorce
The barrister recommends that couple start a ‘divorce fund’ to financially see them through any divorce proceedings and ensure that neither party are left out of pocket.
Advertisement
Lloyd explained: “Whereas prenups plan for management of asset division, they don’t ordinarily address contribution to a fund to manage the cost of any eventual divorce process.
“This is now changing and many couples are opting to make joint (or sole) contributions into a divorce fund as well. A fund is set aside, earmarked for the costs ( or even settlement) of any future divorce often in line with the prenup’s provisions.”
As for how much you should put in a divorce fund? Well, Lloyd says that a ‘sensible’ starting point is £100k. Quite unfathomable to most of us, especially during a cost of living crisis.
However, while this sum may make you gulp, Lloyd warned: “It’s important to point out though that even in modest asset cases costs can spiral into the hundreds of thousands when people litigate unreasonably.”
Eye-watering.
As for the how, Lloyd said: “Any fund would have to be an Escrow or joint mandate account where neither party could withdraw without the consent of the other.
Advertisement
“It would also be sensible, either as part of a prenup, or by way of a separate written agreement, to set out the terms under which either party could utilise sums from the fund, how any excess was to be treated and the parties’ intentions in respect of the fund generally.”
You might not know that Scotland has over 420 words for snow. But you’re probably aware that English speakers have an awful, awful lot of different words for “money”.
Dosh. Moolah. Paper. We’ve gotten so good at referencing cash without actually naming it that we’ve got slang for specific sums ― a rack, a grand, a Benjamin (in the US), and of course the humble ‘quid’.
Advertisement
But how did the latter get its “odd-when-I-think-about-it” name to begin with?
We’re not definite, but there are some interesting theories
The word is really, really old ― it’s been in use since the 1600s, Dictionary.com says.
In all that time, it’s never taken on a different plural form. £1 is “a quid,” and £20 is “20 quid.”
According to Investopedia, “Some scholars believe that Italian immigrants extracted the term from ‘scudo,’ the name for gold and silver coins of various denominations used in Italy from the 16th century through the 19th century.”
Other people think it refers to “quid pro quo,” a Latin phrase that Merriam-Webster defines as “a giving or taking of one thing of value in return for another.”
Irish speakers use the word “cuid” to mean a “share” or “part” of everything from time to prizes to pay.
Advertisement
When following “mo” (meaning “my”), it turns into “mo chuid” (said “moh quid” meaning “my part,” “my pay” by extension), which some think English people adapted from Irish soldiers in an older British army.
Ultimately, “although there are many popular theories about how the word quid came to be used in relation to money, the origin of the term is uncertain,” Dictionary.com says.
Some words like “quid” have changed definition
Though most of us understand a “quid” to mean a pound, you might not know that a “bob” wasn’t just a vague term for “a sum of money” when it came out ― it actually meant a shilling.
“It’s because of this latter nickname that we now refer to getting drunk as ‘going on a bender’ – sixpence used to be enough money to get quite drunk,” they add.
And that’s a steal in comparison to other sales ― Steven Spielberg purchased Bette Davis’s 1938 Best Actress Oscar for $578,000, for instance, and in 2014, Joseph Wright’s 1943 Best Colour Art Direction Oscar for My Gal Sal sold for $79,200.
Anyone who wins an Oscar has to sign an agreement that includes a 1951 no-resale rule introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
In 2015, a court ruling changed a rule that meant anyone selling an Oscars statue should offer it to the Academy for $10 first, and lowered it to one measly dollar.
“Award winners shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1.00,” says the Academy’s site.
“This provision shall apply also to the heirs and assigns of Academy Award winners who may acquire a statuette by gift or bequest.“
To take just one stunning example, the British Heart Foundation explains that women 50% more likely to be misdiagnosed when suffering from a heart attack than men.
Advertisement
Twice as many women as men die from the underlying cause of heart attacks too – coronary heart disease.
Meanwhile, erectile dysfunction (which affects 19% of men) is studied in research five times more often than PMS, (which affects 90% of women), according to ResearchGate.
And endometriosis – where tissue like those which line the womb are found outside of the organ – can cause fertility issues, pain, fatigue and heavy bleeding as well as wellbeing issues. It takes an average eight years to be diagnosed.
Much of the issues come down to a lack of research and funding into women’s health.
The first ever plan to reduce these inequalities was only introduced last year in the government’s Women’s Health Strategy. It’s a start, but the examples mentioned above show we are still a long way off gender health equality.
Advertisement
So, what would life look like if women had the same healthcare as men? Women’s intimate health brand INTIMA has produced a report imagining just that – and its findings are extraordinary.
1. Equal health would shrink the gender pay gap
The gender pay gap is an issue women still struggle with around the world. From November 22, the average woman in the UK is effectively working for free until the end of the year – that’s how large the discrepancy between women’s salaries and men’s salaries is.
The charity calls for more flexible working in an effort to improve women’s pay.
But it’s also worth recognising that health plays a large role, too. A whopping 89% of people experienced stress or anxiety in the workplace because of their period.
INTIMINA points to research dating back to 2015, which claimed women in the UK take 17 million sick days a year because of PMS. A third of women also take at least four sick days a year.
Advertisement
More than a third reported heavy menstrual bleeding too, which has been connected to higher unemployment and workplace absences.
Research from BUPA found a million women dropped out of work because of unmanaged menopause symptoms.
If these conditions were better researched, addressed earlier and talked about more openly, it could reduce absenteeism in the workplace, INTIMINA suggested. Flexible working would help deal with these conditions, too.
Advertisement
2. Economic boost
If there was no gender health gap, It could save £18 billion a year, according to INTIMINA.
That’s because endometriosis costs the economy £8.2 billon a year through treatment, loss of work and healthcare costs.
So it makes sense to invest in services to help treat these conditions.
And, according to the NHS Confederation, every pound invested in the NHS ends up giving £4 back to the economy by boosting productivity and workforce participation – truly, a win-win.
3. Boost for perinatal care
Healthcare professionals too often miss new mothers’ mental health struggles, the report revealed.
NHS England’s website also explains: “Perinatal mental health problems that are not treated effectively cost society £8.1 billion every year, with the annual cost to the NHS estimated at £1.2 billion.”
Suicide is the leading cause of maternal death during pregnancy and up to one year after it ends in the UK.
But as INTIMINA pointed out, many of the physical issues like incontinence or prolapse can be treated with early intervention and physiotherapy – which can help make new mothers’ lives a little easier.
Advertisement
Ariel Skelley via Getty Images
4. Orgasm gap? Eradicated
Research from 2018 suggests women in lesbian relationships orgasm 86% of the time, and women in straight relationships 65% of the time.
For men, it’s 95% of the time in straight relationships and 89% of the time for gay men – meaning there is an orgasm gap.
But, if women felt more comfortable getting to know their own bodies and speak to their doctors, INTIMINA suggested this would change.
Advertisement
Reduced pain, better mental health and better sex would all have knock-on effects for women’s relationships, too.
5. Women’s mental health improves
More research into conditions impacted by women – like PMS and Endometriosis – could offer a substantial boost to women’s mental health.
If endometriosis could be diagnosed after the first GP appointment – instead of after the average eight years – it would help relieve the 95% of patients who reported it had a negative impact on their wellbeing.
INTIMA claimed: “Earlier diagnosis and more effective treatments would help to reduce the mental health toll of menstrual and reproductive health issues. Symptoms would no longer be a barrier to living a full and well-rounded life.”
Advertisement
The brand suggested that, in turn, this would help reduce depression and anxiety among those who suffer.
We’ve written before about how much Japanese knotweed can affect the value of your property.
The invasive plant is notoriously hard to kill and can damage the foundations of your home.
In fact, Japanese knotweed can be so devastating that you can be fined thousands for knowingly spreading the plant throughout your neighbourhood or into the wild (you can even be jailed for up to two years).
So, it’s a good idea to work out how at-risk your postcode is. Luckily, Environet has taken the data from its Japanese knotweed heat map (which documents over 58,000 known infestations throughout the UK) to find the biggest hotspots for the weed in 2023.
Advertisement
Here are the top ten affected locations, and some advice on what to do if you do spot the plant:
The top ten Japanese knotweed hotspots in the UK are, in order:
First of all, Nic Seal, CEO of Environet, says that vigilance is key. “Make sure you know what knotweed looks like and how it differs from other common garden weeds like ivy and bindweed, so you can keep an eye out for it in your garden and neighbourhood,” he warns.
You can email a photo of the plant to Environet’s free ID service at expert@environetuk.com if you’re not sure what you’re looking at.
Advertisement
“Knotweed is easily identifiable during summer, but as we head through the autumn and into winter, the above-ground growth dies back and it becomes much harder to spot. It’s also easier to conceal, so anyone viewing a property to buy should be extra careful,” Seal adds.
Simply lifting the plant out of your soil won’t stop growth, as Japanese knotweed “can grow from a tiny fragment of root or rhizome in the soil”.
To treat the issue properly, you need to use chemical weed killers which are best administered by pros.
And because Japanese knotweed is classed as ‘controlled waste’ under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, you can’t just bury or burn it after you’ve tackled the issue.
You’ll have to “use a registered waste carrier and an authorised landfill site or suitable disposal site,” according to Gov.uk.
Advertisement
You must also “notify the Environment Agency at least one month before you bury knotweed” (it’ll have to be at least five metres deep), make sure you only burn knotweed on the site it came from, and check with your local council to make sure it’s permitted in the first place.
When it comes to quintessential British family holidays, Center Parcs is up there – between the cute log cabins, wealth of things to do and picturesque settings, it’s got a lot going for it, especially as far as parents are concerned.
But one thing that can put some families off – especially given the current financial climate – is the price tag that comes with a week-long break.
Advertisement
Consumer champion Which? recently found that, on average, the cost of a UK Center Parcs stay is roughly £1,274. And that’s for a family of four to stay at a site for four nights during a peak period like half term.
But if you’re after a cheaper way to enjoy Center Parc’s outdoor adventure vibes, it might just be worth looking further afield.
A new report from Which? found families could more than halve the cost of a Center Parcs break by booking in Europe instead of the UK.
Oh, really?
Yup. The consumer group compared the cost of a four-night stay for a family of four at 16 Center Parcs sites across England, France and Belgium during four peak periods.
Advertisement
It found a UK stay came in at £1,274 on average, compared to £833 in France and £701 in Belgium.
Which? said the biggest price differences could be found for bookings over October half-term and Easter, partly due to differences between the school calendars here and in Europe.
On average, a family could save 55% opting for a Center Parcs resort in Belgium rather than the UK over October half term, with a four night break costing just £613, compared to £1,369 in the UK.
And the savings in France were almost as good, with the same stay costing £868 on average.
But don’t the travel costs make it more expensive?
Of course, with any trip abroad you need to factor in travel costs – and these can really rack up when the kids are off school, especially if you choose to fly.
That said, when Which? factored in travel costs – like taking a ferry and then driving – they still found families could save hundreds of pounds overall.
For example, Dunkirk is less than an hour’s drive from Center Parcs’ Park de Haan, in Belgium.
At the time of writing, a return ferry trip for a family of four from Dover to Dunkirk could be booked for approximately £170 during the October half-term.
Advertisement
Similarly, a return car ferry for a family of four from Dover to Calais could be booked for £125 return during October half term, and over Easter weekend a return journey via Le Shuttle can be booked for £179.
Venturing to European Center Parcs sites is something more and more parents are wising up to. One mum previously told The Sun how she took her family to Center Parcs in the Netherlands during the Easter holidays and saved hundreds of pounds.
For £680 she managed to bag a week in a three-bed cottage. She also suggested activities were cheaper in the Netherlands than in the UK.
And Which? also found this. Its analysis found archery costs between £19 and £26.50 at the UK’s Whinfell Forest park, while it costs £14 at Belgium’s Park de Haan. Similarly, Laser Battle games range in price from £24.50 to £34.50 at Whinfell Forest, and cost £15 at Park de Haan.
Jo Rhodes, deputy editor of Which? Travel, said: “Our research found that it’s well-worth casting your eye beyond the Channel to snap up some significant savings
In the midst of a cost of living crisis, many of us are looking for ways to save money and some Tiktok users have one answer: regrow your own food.
It might seem like something that’s reserved for people who are experienced with gardening, have allotments and a lot of disposable income to spend on equipment and seeds but, realistically, all you need is some compost and leftover pots and jars.
Advertisement
The rest is all part of your weekly shop.
What’s more, by regrowing foods, you’ll be doing your part to reduce food waste – something that is hugely important in the UK as we throw away around 9.5 million tonnes of food waste in a single year despite 8.4 million people in the UK experiencing food poverty.
So which foods can you regrow from scraps?
Spring onions
Regrowing spring onions is incredibly simple. Here’s how to do it:
Cut the green top away from the onion and leave 3-5cm of the white base intact.
Place this into a shallow jar, glass, or mug and submerge half the plant in water.
Leave in a sunny place such as a windowsill and change the water every other day.
Take directly from the jar when ready.
Romaine lettuce
The white roots of lettuce are used for regrowth and to do this you simply:
Cut your lettuce leaves and leave 3-5cm of height on the roots.
Place it in a bowl with enough water to submerge around 1cm of the lettuce.
Place this in a sunny position and change the water every other day.
After two weeks, the lettuce should have sprouted new leaves and roots and, if so, plant into potting soil or compost for prolonged growth.
Harvest when the leaves are around 10cm.
Garlic
If you’re a big believer that ‘there’s no such thing as too much garlic,’ we have great news – you can grow your own, too.
Best planted between November and April, garlic takes a short while to grow but is worth the wait. You can use old or fresh cloves for this but fresh ones tend to grow faster.
To grow your own garlic:
Split open a garlic bulb, being careful to leave skin on all of the cloves.
Place these cloves upright into a shallow bowl, jar, or mug and ensure that only the bottom of the clove is submerged in water.
Once again, place in a sunny position and change the water every other day.
Once shoots have grown, they’re safe to be harvested and eaten.
You can, however, grow full garlic bulbs by planting your sprouted cloves into soil, using a deep pot and only using one clove per pot. This should take around nine months to mature but you’ll know when your garlic is ready because the leaves turn yellow.
Chillies, tomatoes and peppers
Lots of seeded foods can be regrown from the seeds found inside of them – although some are easier to grow than others.
Separate your seeds from the food itself – you may find it easier to remove the pulp from foods such as tomatoes first.
Dry your seeds by placing them onto a paper towel for up to a week.
Plant into soil or compost and water regularly for best results.
Herbs such as basil and mint
Frequent garnishes and vital parts of many sauces, herbs are the finishing touch to the best meals – but buying them fresh can be expensive. Luckily, regrowing from cuts is simple and can be done year-round. Here’s how:
Separate your leaves as far as possible while keeping the roots intact.
Place this into a glass or jar filled with water and place in indirect light.
Change the water every 5-7 days.
Use the leaves as and when you need to and watch it continually regrow over time.
Drinking is a big part of dating culture. Most dates take place at bars or pubs because they’re the perfect place to meet and speak to someone. Additionally, you might be able to calm your first-date nerves with a drink or two – but the price of those drinks can rack up!
Brits spend almost £500 (£454) on first dates per year, according to credit card brand Aqua. This figure could be cut massively if you let go of the booze on your next dates. So much so, that 17% of those surveyed said they’re going to opt for cheaper coffee or lunch dates and 23% of British singles plan to stop dating completely!
Advertisement
When asked how much Brits believe should be spent on a first date, Aqua found that the average expected cost of a first date sits at £37.85.
However, it turns out that men have much higher expectations than women when it comes to first-date spending. The average response from men came in at £43.24, whereas the average response for women came in at £32.26, which is almost an £11 difference per date.
It appears that men are still quite traditional as only 15% of men believe the cost of a first date should be split equally. However, nearly 40% of women believe that the bill for a first date should be split equally.
But bills being at an all-time high, everyone is looking for ways to spend less money including dates.
Advertisement
Aqua has shared tips that will help singletons navigate their love life without worrying too much about their finances.
Have a movie night at home
This is probably one to do when you feel comfortable with the person you’re dating. So when you feel ready to welcome that special someone into your home, why not host your own movie night? With a few DVDs or a streaming subscription, you can recreate the magic of the cinema from the comfort of your own home without spending a load of money at the cinema.
Visit a free museum or gallery
Attending a free exhibition together is another great option as the only cost you need to cover is transport to and from the museum or gallery. The British Museum, The Tate Modern, and the National Gallery are a few London-based attractions offering free admission, but you’ll be able to find something to do wherever you’re based.
Find a local event to attend
There are plenty of free events like food markets, street fairs, or open mic nights advertised in local papers and on social media. More often than not, they’re free to attend and they provide a casual environment for you to get to know each other.
Go for a walk
With lighter evenings and longer days, it is now more pleasant to walk around outside – why not grab a coffee with your companion, go for a lovely woodland walk and enjoy the sunset? Better yet, make your coffee at home ‘to-go’ for a real budget-friendly date.
Spring is on its way but this is the UK and in typical UK fashion, it’s still cold. This means many Brits are still trying to find ways to save money on their energy bills.
The average bill is expected to rise from £2,500 to £3,000 this spring when the UK Government raises its energy price guarantee.
Advertisement
So it’s not shocking to know that people are sharing heater hacks left, right and centre on social media apps.
However, many of these so-called ‘hacks’ that are circling around can actually waste more energy and increase electric bills, with experts warning against trying them out for yourself.
Fortunately, an energy expert from Land of Rugs has done some major debunking around some of these ‘tricks’ and has a few tips on how to keep your house warm for less instead.
1. Turning the heat off if you are not home
While leaving the heat on low sounds like it will waste money, increasing the temps 10-15 degrees until your desired temperature has been reached is more expensive than keeping the house warm throughout the day.
Advertisement
“Keeping the thermostat set between 16-17C when nobody is home and bumping it up a couple of degrees to 18-20C when needed is the most efficient way to heat the house, as small adjustments of 1-2 degrees for short periods do not greatly increase energy bills,” the pro explains.
“Program your thermostat or set a timer to increase the heat a couple of degrees, just when some extra warmth is needed, such as before bed or in the morning.”
2. Tinfoiling the radiators
This is a common “heating hack” on TikTok, but it doesn’t really increase the temperature in your home or save money. In order for the tinfoil to be effective, radiators need to be turned on extremely high for long periods of time.
“The best way to save money with radiators is by making sure that they are working efficiently, not blocked by furniture, and that they have been bled at least once a year,” the expert from Land of Rugs says.
3. Using portable heaters
Portable heaters are usually not cheaper to use than central heating, as using them to heat the entire house can cost 2-3 times more than central heating. If you want to heat up one room in your house, a space heater could potentially save money, but central heating still seems to be the cheapest way to heat an entire home.
Advertisement
Instead of following these hacks, the expert suggests following these instead.
Seal windows and doors
Resealing doors and windows with caulk and weather stripping is beneficial, but using cling film or rolled towels around windows and doors is another inexpensive way to keep draughts out and heat in.
“Add a few extra layers by putting bubble wrap over windows and closing the curtains or blinds to keep the cold air from entering rooms,” they suggest.
Draught-proof your letterbox
If your letterbox is not fitted snugly to your door, it can let heat out and cold air in. Fitting a letterbox draught excluder with brushes can prevent cold air from seeping in through the box.
“A money-saving hack is to pop a sponge in your letterbox to absorb the cold air. Make sure it is fitted snugly and be sure to tell the postman,” the expert adds.
Install curtains over your front door
While many have curtains over windows to assist with keeping the heat in, it is also beneficial to install curtains above the front door. Door curtains can prevent cold air from seeping in whenever the door is opened.
Advertisement
The expert advises, “make sure to install the curtain rod a foot past the entryway if possible, and choose curtains made from thick, thermal material.”
