Tag: tips

Rescue dog crisis as 3.4m Brits give away pets

Five ways to save money with pet costs at an all-time high

·       3.4m Brits have given away pets this year as costs soar

·       As price of pet products reaches all-time high, animal experts offer their money saving tips from tooth brushing to how to get the cheapest pet food

The price of owning a pet is on the rise, with inflation on pet products, such as food, health items and treats, up a massive 85% since 2015.

Pet food costs in particular have seen a stark rise, with shoppers hitting out at high price increases in supermarkets such as Tesco, Asda and Morrisons. The cost of pet care has also increased by 10% in the last year.

3.4m Brits made the heartbreaking decision to give up a pet in the last year, with rising costs a key factor. Trusted Housesitters, who provide pet sitting services, has looked into the data and offered five money saving tips for pet owners who may be struggling with costs.

1.      Research different pet foods

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Pet food can be one of the largest outgoings when owning a pet. Whilst some dogs and cats have sensitive stomachs, for many, putting them onto different food can be a great way to save money. Make sure you do your research and look at the ingredients – there are many reasonable priced brands which could save a lot. There are also price comparison supermarket apps, such as Trolley, so you can see where has the best prices on that day. Buying in bulk could also save you in the long run.

2.      Brush your pet’s teeth

A study into dog’s teeth showed that 85% of dogs over 4 years old have periodontal disease[1], which results in infections and inflammation of the gums.  Keeping your pet’s teeth clean can help to avoid hefty vet bills, brushing your cat or dog’s teeth every day (or at least twice weekly) can keep them healthy, which will save you money in the long run. 

3.      Learn to groom

Pet grooming is vital in making sure they stay healthy and comfortable, however it can be costly, at £43 on average a session, which can increase depending on the dog. If you are able to, learning to groom them at home can be a good money saving exercise. Think of things like clipping their nails, trimming their coats and cleaning around the eyes and ears, there are many helpful online sources which can help and if you are worried, or it can be impossible due to the breed then please do visit a groomer.

4.      Don’t skip the vet visits

Make sure your dog stays fit and active, has plenty of clean water and don’t skip your vet visits, as it could lead to them catching things early, which otherwise may cost a lot to fix. Going every 3-6 months for a health visit could be life changing. You could also ask your vet about payment plans to spread the cost of any treatment.

5.      Stick with tough dog toys

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Whilst fluffy teddies may be cute, they often don’t last long with a dog involved! Durable, good quality toys will last longer, saving you money in the long run by outlasting cheaper alternatives.

For more useful advice on owning a pet, please visit:

https://www.trustedhousesitters.com/blog/

World Space Week: Simple ways to experience a rare astronomical event

With World Space Week in orbit this week, Dan Green, editor of The Week Junior Science+Nature, provides his simple tips to experience a rare astronomical event, the partial solar eclipse, on Tuesday, 25 October.

The Week Junior Science+Nature this week launched its first guest-edited edition, edited by Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, space scientist, writer and TV’s ‘Sky at Night’ co-presenter, published to mark World Space Week 2022.

People across the UK will be able to experience a partial solar eclipse on Tuesday, 25 October.

In this rare astronomical event, the Moon’s orbit lines up closely with the Sun. Its dark disc will cross in front of the bright Sun, making it look as if someone has taken a bite out of the Sun. The partial eclipse will last about two hours – starting about 10.10am, it will reach its maximum by 11.00am and will be all done by 11.50am.

Here are four top tips to help you get the best view:

Sight lines in towns and cities are often blocked by tall buildings. Find an open area where you can get a clear view of the Sun.

Never look directly at the Sun, as this could damage your eyes.

To view the event safely, you’ll need eclipse glasses. You can buy them online, or dig out your old pair you kept in a drawer from the 1999 total solar eclipse.

A great way to view the eclipse is with a pinhole camera. Cut a 1-2mm circular hole in a piece of card. Standing with your back to the Sun, hold the card up so Sunlight passes through the hole and falls onto a piece of white paper.

Move the card back and forth until you get a sharp image. The bright dot on your piece of paper will clearly display the partially eclipsed Sun. (You can also get the same effect using a colander.)

The next partial solar eclipse visible in the UK is on 29 March 2025.

Water’s Worth Saving

When considering your impact on the environment, people often think about pollution, emissions, and energy, but not water. Water saving isn’t always top of the agenda in environmental discussions, yet water is one of our most precious resources and it’s increasingly at risk.

Join our water-saving campaign and check where you could be wasting water. If every household made even slight changes to their daily habits, it would seriously reduce our water footprint. Simple steps such as washing up in a bowl, switching off running taps, and using eco settings on the washing machine all help.

Discover ways you can reduce your carbon footprint at home and in the garden 

#WatersWorthSaving

#WWS22

#OnlyOneEarth

Heatwave Hacks: Keeping your home cool on a budget

With temperatures set to soar to 30 degrees in parts of the UK this week, many Brits may find themselves tempted to splurge on household items to help keep them cool.

But keeping temperatures down at home can be expensive. Some hot weather tips are great for lowering the heat, but they can cause your costs to rise.

To help you to save whilst keeping cool this summer, consumer finance expert, Paul Wilson, has shared his top tips on heatwave hacks which can save us up to £177 a month. 

  1. Avoid portable air conditioning units – save £90

“Homes in the UK tend to be poorly prepared for heatwaves, so when the temperatures start to soar, it can be tempting to spontaneously splurge on the latest cooling gadget or device.”

“Whilst portable air conditioning units sound like a great idea in theory, in principle they can eat through your money and wrack up heavy costs on your energy bills. Our research shows that portable air conditioning units cost around 38p per hour. Based on the average run time of four hours, 18 mins during the day and four hours, 48 mins at night, this could add £24 per week onto your energy bill, if not more.”
“According to Uswitch, running an standard electric fan will cost only £1.64 per week, which means running air conditioning would cost you over 14x more for the same effect!”

  1. Opt for cotton sheets – save £7

“There’s nothing worse than being kept awake all night due to the heat. Rather than buying satin sheets, opt for white cotton sheets. The light and breathable material will enable you to sleep much easier during a heatwave. They come at the fraction of the cost of satin sheets which retail around £18. If you’re thinking of purchasing sheets for a double-bed, from a large online retailer, you could save as much as £7 by choosing the cotton option over satin.”

  1. Ditch branded summer toiletries – save £7

“Suncream is an essential summer toiletry, especially when the temperatures are set to hit highs of 30 degrees. But instead of splurging on summer sun essentials, ditch the household brands and choose supermarket branded items instead.”

“They’re just as safe and are often more than half the price of the branded alternative. For instance, you could get your hands on a budget-friendly suncream for £3.90 instead of a household name brand that retails at £7.”

“For those that suffer from Hayfever, try swapping out your usual branded packet of tablets for a generic branded packet to save half of the price.”

  1. Take a cold shower – save £2

“Jumping in the shower is a great way to cool off instantly when the temperature climbs, but make sure you’re being efficient with your water usage. Reduce the number of baths you are taking and opt for a short, cold shower with a water-efficient shower head.”

“This saves you the cost of heating water and reduces steam which would make your bathroom hotter – which is the last thing you want in a heatwave. If you swapped a daily bath to a short four minute shower, you could save £24.82 over the course of a year.” 

  1. Swap coffee for flavoured water – save £27

“It can be tricky to stay productive when you’re trying to work in a stuffy office or at home during a heatwave, especially when you’ve had a bad night’s sleep thanks to soaring temperatures. So, it’s a natural urge for many of us to want to reach for a cup of coffee for a caffeine boost in the morning.”

“But caffeine can actually make you feel hotter in a heatwave, as it can make you feel jittery, and this can have a knock-on effect on your productivity. Instead, try swapping your takeaway coffees, from a popular high street chain, for large bottles of water. Keeping hydrated in a heatwave is crucial, as your body sweats more to keep itself cool. Plus, your wallet will thank you later, as you could easily save £6 each week by swapping your coffees for flavoured water.” 

  1. Turn appliances off when you’re not using them – save £36

“When the heatwave hits, the last thing any of us want to do is generate more heat indoors. But did you know that electrical appliances generate heat whilst they’re in standby mode? Not only does this create more heat in your home, but it also adds extra costs to your utility bills.”

“The average UK household wastes around 30% of their energy usage, adding up to a huge £429 on an annual electricity bill. Appliances like TV’s generate heat when they are left on standby, so make sure you switch everything off if it’s not being used.” 

  1. Air dry clothes – save £8

“Hot weather is the perfect condition for air drying clothes and getting on top of that dreaded laundry pile. Check what rating your tumble dryer is, so that you can make some quick savings. For instance, a ‘C’ rated dryer costs over £100 a year to run, meaning that you can easily cut costs over the summer months simply by letting clothes air dry in the garden or well ventilated rooms in your home.”

“As with any cost-saving plans, the key is convenience when figuring out if you can stick to a cost-saving technique or not. Lockdown has been tough on all of us and the heatwave offers Brits a great chance to get out and about and make the most of restrictions lifting. Hopefully these tips will offer options on how to keep costs down and stay cool, whilst still being able to make the most of the great weather.” 

Paul Wilson is a Consumer Finance Expert at Financial Conduct Authority authorised and regulated credit broker CashLady.com.

Cash boost for millions of workers as government backs new law to ensure all staff keep their tips

UK Government backs new reforms making it unlawful for employers to withhold tips from staff

  • New legislation to make it unlawful for employers to withhold tips from staff
  • it means customers will know for certain that all tips will go to hard-working employees, who will take home more money
  • the Tipping Bill will benefit more than 2 million workers and, for the first time, will give them the right to see an employer’s tipping record

Millions of UK workers will be able take home more of their hard-earned cash under new legislation, backed by the government yesterday, banning employers from withholding tips from their staff.

Despite most hospitality workers – many of whom are earning the National Minimum Wage – relying on tips to top up their pay, there are still sadly too many businesses who shamefully fail to pass on service charges from customers to their staff.

The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill, introduced by Dean Russell MP and backed by the government, will ensure that all tips go to staff by making it unlawful for businesses to hold back well-earned service charges from their employees.

This overhaul of tipping practices is set to benefit more than 2 million UK workers across the hospitality, leisure and services sectors – who tend to reply on tips the most – and will help to ease pressures caused by global inflation and an increase to the cost of living.

Business Minister Jane Hunt said: “At a time when people are feeling the squeeze with rising costs, it is simply not right that employers are withholding tips from their hard-working employees.

“Whether you are pulling pints or greeting guests, today’s reforms will ensure that staff receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work – and it means customers can be confident their money is going to those who deserve it.

“I particularly want to tip my hat to the work of Dean Russell MP and all the campaigners who have helped make the Tipping Bill a reality.”

Through the Bill, a new statutory Code of Practice will be developed to provide businesses and staff with advice on how tips should be distributed. On top of this, workers will receive a new right to request more information relating to an employer’s tipping record, enabling them to bring forward a credible claim to an employment tribunal.

Dean Russell, Conservative MP for Watford, said: “I am delighted that my Tips Bill has passed second reading in Parliament. It is fantastic that we are on track to securing a fair deal for millions of people working in hospitality across the country.

“It has always felt wrong that some employers have retained tips intended for their staff. This new legislation will halt this practice, particularly given the current challenges around the cost of living. I would like to thank all of the businesses and stakeholders that have got in touch to voice their support.”

The move towards a cashless society has exacerbated the problem of companies keeping card tip payments for themselves, and today’s measures, once in law, will ban that practice.

UK Hospitality Chief Executive, Kate Nicholls, said: “Tips and service charges provide a significant and welcome boost to hospitality employees’ take-home cash. So we’re delighted to see this proposed legislation recommend that employers can set a fair distribution policy for staff, meaning they all benefit.

“This should also reassure prospective hospitality sector workers at a time when the industry is seeking to fill vacancies.”

The reforms follow a range of UK Government action to support people with the cost of living and help those on lower incomes keep more of what they earn.

Most notably, earlier this year the government increased the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour – equivalent to an extra £1,000 a year for a full-time worker – with a full campaign which encouraged workers to check their pay.

In addition, the government recently announced a widening of the ban on exclusivity clauses, giving the lowest paid workers flexibility to top up their pay and work multiple jobs if they wish.

The government helpfully adds: ‘reforms come at a time when there are more employees on payrolls than ever before – and unemployment has reached an all-time low’.

The weather hots up – but are you hot on water safety?

As the heatwave sweeping across the UK continues, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) fears that many people will head to waterways in a bid to cool off from the 30+ degrees reported to hit some regions this week. 

A 16-year-old boy tragically lost his life to drowning in Lancashire over the weekend and the charity is urging people to ensure enjoying the water is fun and not fatal.

Lee Heard, Charity Director at RLSS UK said: “Every year during the summer we see a sharp rise in the number of accidental drownings in the UK as many people look to cool off on hot summer days like we are experiencing currently.

“I deeply regret to say we have already seen a number of drownings already in the past few weeks as the temperatures have soared.

“It is vital to ensure that everyone has an understanding of water safety and makes it their responsibility to educate their family and friends on how water can be enjoyed safely to prevent such tragedies. In July 2021, there were 49 accidental drowning fatalities in the space of just two weeks in the UK.

“We want to help families enjoy water safely with our summer water safety information. We truly believe that people can be equipped with the right knowledge around water safety, and as a result we won’t need to see the fatalities we currently are seeing with accidental drownings.”

The Royal Life Saving Society UK has some simple and easy to follow tips on its website and social media channels to help keep families safe this summer, including their five summer water safety tips:

  1. Look out for Lifeguards
    If you’re looking for a place to cool off, always find a lifeguarded swimming site.
  2. It’s colder than it looks
    Water at open and inland sites is often much colder than it looks, cold water can affect your ability to swim and self-rescue.
  3. Don’t go too far
    Always swim parallel to the shore, that way you’re never too far away from it.
  4. It’s stronger than it looks
    Currents in the water can be very strong. If you find yourself caught in a current – don’t swim against it – you’ll tire yourself out. Stay calm, swim with the current and call for help.
  5. Bring a friend
    Always bring a friend when you go swimming so if anything goes wrong, you’ve got someone there to help.

Lee continued: “We often see people trying to cool off in lakes, quarries, rivers and other waterways when we experience extremely warm weather like this week brings, and many of these people do not have the experience of swimming in these waters and that is where we see people getting into trouble.

“As a result we then see others trying to help those in difficulty by going into the water themselves to attempt a rescue which can have fatal consequences. 

“ If you or someone else finds themselves in difficulty in the water, it’s vital to remember the Water Safety Code:

  • whenever you are around water you should stop and think to assess your surroundings and look for any dangers;
  • stay together when around water and always go with family and friends;
  • in an emergency call 999 and ask for the Fire and Rescue service when inland and the Coastguard if at the coast;
  • and finally float to live, if you fall in or become tired, stay calm, float on your back and call for help, or if you see someone in the water, throw something that floats to them and resist temptation to go in.”

For further water safety information visit the RLSS UK website – www.rlss.org.uk.

Picnics, parks and killer deals: Instagram Mum reveals how to save money during the summer holidays

The annual summer holidays can be a tiring and expensive time for parents. With the kids at home looking for constant entertainment and no school to keep them busy or provide meals, often parents end up splurging on activities, food and outings – making the ‘six weeks’ the most expensive times of the year.

To help parents save money this summer and still maximise their quality time with their children, CashLady.com has partnered with ‘Instagram Mum’, Emma Stretton, who shares her expert advice on how to have fun with the kids this summer break, without breaking the bank.

“I’m super lucky in that the summer holidays are actually pretty easy for me. My husband is a teacher so I don’t have to worry about where the kids are going to go for six long weeks. It does mean though, that all three of them are at home and need entertaining every day. These are some of the tried and tested things we do to save money over the school summer holidays.”

–@emma.wears.it.all

Emma Stretton is a mum-of-two and savvy saver living in Manchester. She has a keen eye for fashion and interiors and knows how to keep her two children entertained during the summer holidays. Emma commented:

  1. Picnics

“Picnics are literally my favourite thing in the world. Pitching up at a nice park or beauty spot and just enjoying a few sandwiches easily passes a couple of hours with the kids.”

“The boys will take their bikes, scooters or a football and entertain themselves for a bit.

Our picnic blanket is a piece of gingham fabric I bought from the bargain bin at a fabric store too, which is a cheap and easy option for those looking to save a few pennies.”

  1. Snacks

 “If the cost of feeding two kids wasn’t bad enough already, my food bill has shot up in the last few months. Without free school meals each day, it goes up even more in summer. I tend to buy snacks at budget supermarkets like Aldi or Lidl and have found a few cheap ways to make fun stuff. My kids’ all-time favourite snack is peanut butter and jam in a rolled-up wrap. They would live off them and it costs peanuts!”

“We also make homemade sausage rolls using veggie sausage meat and tortilla wraps. Flatten the ‘sausage’ meat all over the wrap, roll it, cut it into pieces and bake for about 20 minutes. It’s loads cheaper than Greggs. Pesto pasta is another super cheap meal, and pitta pizzas are also a big win in our house.”

  1. Parks

“Obvious? Yes! But my kids love a park, especially a new one they haven’t been to before. The summer holidays are an excellent time to explore new parks or places they can run around in. Even a trip through the woods is an adventure for them.”

“Sometimes I’ll draw a nature or ’treasure’ map that they can follow on our walk as well. Just Google local parks and make use of them all summer long – they’re free!”

  1. Free museums

“There are quite a few free museums near us (in Manchester); like the Portland Basin or the Imperial War Museum. We also get free entry to the Football Museum in Manchester if you can prove you live in the right postcode. Again, just get on Google and look for free things to do near you. Daysoutwiththekids.co.uk is a great website with loads of fun things to do across the UK.”

  1. Shopping

“I know the food shop isn’t the height of excitement but it does kill time and is a good activity for when it rains. I normally do it online but in the summer holidays, my husband takes a list to the shops and gets the boys to read it and shout when they spot what we need.”

“Some shops have those hand-held scanners you carry around with you. The kids love scanning the items and fighting over who gets to hold the scanner next. Making an everyday expense into an activity for the kids kills two birds with one stone.”

  1. Restaurant deals

“Lots of places will do ‘kids eat free’ offers over the holidays. Usually, it’s when you buy an adult meal. Have a look for places near you that are running similar offers.”

“We also use Manchester Confidential a lot where you can buy vouchers for local restaurants at half their value. So, we recently bought £50 worth of vouchers for £25 and had a nice meal together. Banyan is a big chain that often does it” 

  1. Loyalty Schemes

“My bank account is linked to my Sainsbury’s Nectar card so I earn points every time I spend. I can then use these to get discounts or vouchers for big days out like Alton Towers. I would also always look for 2 for 1 deals on things like cereal before I ever booked a big attraction.”

“We get £5 cinema tickets from our bank account which are great for rainy days and we’re signed up to Subway rewards and Mcdonald’s rewards so we get free food every now and then. Never spend before checking whether you can get a discount or better deal first.”

  1. Buddy up

“If there are days when my husband can’t be with the kids, we try to ask friends or family rather than pay for holiday clubs. One of my friends does a summer swap every year where she has her friend’s kids one day and then her friend does it another day. So they can both go to work without forking out a fortune on childcare.”

“We also still pay £10 a month into childcare vouchers so that come the summer holidays, we’ve accrued enough to put the boys in for a couple of days. Most school holiday clubs will take them so it’s worth checking if you have any left that you didn’t use up when your kids were in pre-school.”

Commenting on the tips, CashLady.com’s Personal Finance Expert, Dan Whittaker, said: “The summer holidays are easily one of the best and brightest times of year to spend quality time with your children. However, it’s also one of the most expensive, with the costs of entertainment, meals and childcare increasing enormously.

“Emma’s tips demonstrate tried and tested ways to save money over the summer break, whilst still having fun and adventures with her kids. The advice goes to show that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have the most fun in the sun.” 

Over a third of adults say they’re unable to afford adult education

The biggest barrier to British adults continuing their education is cost, with more than a third (35%) saying they’re unable to afford to study, while almost a fifth (19%) say they don’t have time.

A YouGov survey of 2,109 GB adults commissioned by distance learning provider Oxford Opening Learning found that, although  69% of respondents said they could be motivated to learn for any type of new qualification – from GCSEs to PHDs and industry certificates – only just over a quarter of Brits (27%) are likely to actually do so.

The five most common issues that stop adults continuing with education in the future are:

  1.    Lack of affordability (35%)
  2.    Time constraints (19%)
  3.    Not needing any further qualifications (18%)
  4.    Lack of motivation (17%)
  5.    Lack of energy (17%)

Almost half of millennials (25–34-year-olds) say they are likely to consider studying for a new qualification in the future.

The other barriers that Brits said most commonly stop them studying are that they don’t have the time to devote to it (19%) and feeling that another qualification would be unnecessary because they feel they are educated enough (18%).

As well as respondents also saying that they lack the motivation to study (17%), the same number also said they lack the energy. Many Brits also commented that they deem themselves too old.

The research also revealed that many British adults would be happy to continue learning if they felt they could. Receiving a boost to their pay packet is only the third most common incentive, agreed by three in ten (30%) of  Brits , whereas 42% would be more likely to take a course simply out of their own general interest in the subject.

Greg Smith, Head of Operations at The Oxford Open Learning Trust, said: “The fact that so many would like to study further but don’t feel they can points to a lot of misconceptions that people have about adult education.

“For those who think they’re too old, adult learning isn’t only about furthering a career – it’s also extremely beneficial in terms of mental health. There’s evidence to show that, not only does keeping the brain active combat depression and anxiety, but also helps prevent dementia in later life and boosts confidence.

“Studying for a new qualification with a distance learning course is also vastly different to a classroom and can be spread over a longer period to fit in with your current work or lifestyle.

“The initial cost is often far outweighed by the benefits of gaining a new qualification, through an increase in pay, a promotion or a career change.”

Oxford Open Learning’s Top Tips for Adult Learners:

  • Make the learning experience as relevant and useful as possible. Draw on your personal experiences and link the subject matter to real world benefits for your work and personal life
  • Make learning as engaging as possible to boost motivation. Use a variety of learning stimuli, such as images, activities, videos, lectures and podcasts to find what works for you
  • Breaking down information into bite-sized chunks can also help to make it easier to process, and don’t forget to take regular breaks to help you maintain concentration
  • Master your skills by playing an active role in your learning experience. Exploring the subject matter through self-study and active participation can help you to learn in a way that is meaningful to you
  • Let learning occur through mistakes. Trial and error can make the learning experience more effective, while the sense of overcoming a challenge can help to boost confidence

More advice on how to overcome perceived barriers to adult education can be read here:

Successful Studying – It’s all about time

Red flags to look out for when buying second-hand

We all love a good bargain, and often these can be found through second-hand items and purchased both online and in-person. While these items are often fine, some may face problems when buying them, particularly if they are purchased online.

Selling experts from second-hand retailer for-sale.co.uk have revealed six red flags you should look out for when buying used items to avoid disappointment, or worse fraud:  

The seller asks for payment outside of the app or website: 

Many resale sites and apps have security measures for making payments such as the option of a refund if an item doesn’t arrive, however these usually only work through the site itself.

If a seller is pressuring you to make the payment outside of the app, there is a chance that the person is scamming you, and you should avoid them.   

The seller is selling a lot at once: 

If there’s an item you’re interested in and the seller is also selling a lot of other items at the same time, this may be a red flag.

You should especially watch out for this if all the items they are selling are high value – few people are selling a laptop, a games console, a designer bag, and a phone all at the same time.

If an account on a selling site seems suspicious, avoid it.  

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is: 

If the item you are interested in is in high demand, consistently sold-out on online retailers, or is priced far below the market price, it is likely a scam.

Follow your gut: if something about the purchase doesn’t feel right, don’t go through with it. 
 
The listing isn’t on a trusted website: 

Many reputable selling sites will have in place measures to help protect buyers against scams.

Sites such as Depop and Poshmark authenticate designer items to avoid scams, and some encourage in-person sales to prevent people from selling items which don’t exist.

If you find an item for sale on a site that you don’t recognise or that doesn’t have a lot of positive reviews, it may be best avoiding it.  
 
The seller is asking for money before giving you the item: 

Although unavoidable in some cases, such as purchases made over Depop and eBay, if you are purchasing an item from a local seller, you shouldn’t pay until the item is yours.

If you’re collecting an item you’ve purchased online, don’t pay the seller until the item is in your hands and you can be sure it’s not a scam.

Selling items which don’t exist online is a common way for scammers to take your money, and there often isn’t a way of confirming the seller’s identity, meaning that you likely won’t get the money back. To avoid this, pay the seller after you receive the item, wherever this may be possible.  

 
When buying electronic devices, ensure they work: 

If an item you’re buying needs to be plugged in, don’t buy it until you’ve tried it. Again, this may be difficult in situations where the item is being sold online, but if the purchase is being made face-to-face, check that it works before buying. If you don’t, you risk being stuck with a broken item that the seller likely won’t accept a refund on.

Scots reminded to take small steps to get set for a healthy Easter

People across Scotland are being encouraged to put a spring in their step this Easter with a few simple steps from NHS 24 to manage their health safely at home.

NHS 24’s Spring Campaign features lots of simple tips and advice on how to keep you and your family well by preparing for minor illness or bumps and scrapes.

NHS 24’s Medical Director, Dr Laura Ryan says: “Easter is one of the busiest times of year for Scotland’s health services. Lots of people tackle gardening or DIY over the break, so it’s a really good idea to think about what you might need at home to stay safe.

‘Treatments for minor injuries, such as plasters and antiseptic, are always useful to have at home, and your local pharmacy can help with advice about how to treat any minor cuts, bumps, bruises and scrapes.

‘If you have kids at home, some simple medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetamol, cold and hayfever remedies are great to keep in the cupboard to make sure that any sniffles or sore heads don’t get in the way of enjoying the break.

‘This year many GP practices and community pharmacies across Scotland may have different opening hours over Easter so it’s useful to know where to go if you do require medical advice or you have run out of medicines. NHS Inform has lots of symptom checkers on common illnesses so you can get fast, clinically assured advice that can help you decide what to do next. Managing minor ailments at home means we can enjoy Easter and make the most of the holidays.”

General advice and information on how to stay healthy this Easter can be found at www.nhsinform.scot/spring.