Lifestyle

by Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor How well do you actually know your family? I thought I knew mine quite well; my family’s grapevine reliably keeps me updated on all the important things in life like what my Nan thought of the latest episode of Poldark, which jacket my sister finally decided to buy for the spring season and the date on which my auntie’s lawn got mowed for the first time this year. My phone beeps so much with WhatsApp...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  Social media was born on ideals of friendship, but new research has found it could be doing more to dismantle our relationships than bolster it. A study in to modern friendship, commissioned by Thomas J Fudge’s Remarkable Bakery, revealed the majority of Brits (58 per cent) think that social media has a negative impact on their friendships, with nearly two thirds fearing their friendships are becoming more superficial. Researchers found 45 per cent fear they are ‘addicted’ to checking their social media...

By Nathan Lee, TLE Correspondent  A study has been commissioned to discover what makes the perfect shopping trip, finding a four hour trawl around stores, a cup of posh coffee, a flapjack and a modest £131 dent in the bank balance are criteria of an idyllic day out. The poll of 2,000 Brits who shop regularly found the ideal shopping expedition would include leaving home at 10am for a 14 mile drive to a mall or High Street, ending in a purchase...

By Emma Waight With summer looming it’s time to think about travel, or more specifically, travelling with kids. If the nightmare of Easter travel chaos is fresh in your mind, you should be looking for ways to ease the drama for the half term and summer holidays. Travelling with kids can turn what should be a relaxing holiday into a stressful affair. Even relatively short car journeys can test your patience in the (traffic) jam-packed summer season but with a...

By Vanessa Cameron, Founder of Qwiddle It may sound an odd concept, teaching children how to spend – we hear a lot about saving, child ISA’s have just been launched and there’s a whole plethora of savings facilities for kids; but how often do we actually talk to our children about spending money? Clearly spending and saving are intrinsically linked, but how on earth are we to encourage our children to save if they don’t know the first thing about...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor If there’s one thing I remember like clockwork at 9am on the first Monday of every single school break, it’s that I need to get much better at planning our holiday activities in advance and not rely on googling ‘Help me!’ to find things to occupy our time. There is a huge range of family-friendly festivals and events all across the country this summer; some free, some requiring tickets, some in a city centre and...

By Jasmine Stephens, Family Editor Like most parents, particularly cynical and sarcastic stay-at-home ones, I absolutely adore cleaning. I spend hours every day debating whether I prefer the postprandial wiping ceremony (encompassing hands, faces, table, floor, chairs, walls…) or the fragrant delight that is scrubbing the bathroom of a household with three children under the age of seven. Oh, the joys of getting my exercise by chasing the kids around the house with the vacuum cleaner as Cheerios are flung...

By Elaine Roche, partner, JMW Solicitors (www.jmw.co.uk) Parents have a lot to consider when starting a family; from birthing plans to primary school choices, university funds and everything in between. One consideration that is often overlooked is the creation of a will, yet this is arguably one of the most important tasks parents will ever complete and can be a quick process that saves a great deal of time, money and upset in the long run. It might not be...

By Sian O'Flaherty at STYLIGHT The highly anticipated Apple Watch has been described as “the most advanced timepiece ever created.” Its groundbreaking design and personal features will redefine the way we receive information, however, with prices for the gold version reaching a whopping £26,000 it’s certainly divided opinion. Crafted from 18-karat gold and with a polished, sapphire crystal display it’s the most expensive product ever made by Apple and is aimed at fashionistas with a seriously disposable income. With this...