This delicious poached salmon with quick caesar salad recipe from the British Leafy Salads Association is ideal for a summer’s evening. Romaine is the leaf for the Caesar salad. Its refreshing crunchy leaves add great texture and the surface of the leaves are perfect for holding the dressing.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Serves 2
Ingredients
2 salmon fillets (300g)
5 anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained and finely chopped (20g)
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tbsp low fat mayonnaise (50g)
3 tbsp semi skimmed milk
25g Parmesan cheese
1 whole Romaine heart, leaves separated and roughly torn (200g)
Method
Poach the salmon in boiling water for 10-12 minutes, remove and cool slightly before breaking into large flakes.
Mix together the anchovies, garlic, mayonnaise, milk and half the Parmesan, finely grated.
Toss the Romaine leaves in the Caesar dressing, top with the salmon flakes. Shave the remaining Parmesan and scatter over the salmon and serve.
Cooks tip
Try using cos or little gem lettuce instead of Romaine.
Having a bag of salad or a head of lettuce in the fridge provides a quick and easy way to whip up a meal. This recipe pear and blue cheese salad is a great way to use up leftover cheese and it’s ready in just 5 minutes!
Preparation & Cooking Times
Preparation time: 5 minutes
Cooking time: None
Serves: 2
Ingredients
1 (200g): bag crispy salad leaves
2: ripe but firm pears, quartered, cored and sliced
75g/ 3oz: Danish blue cheese, crumbled
A handful of walnuts
Pickled Onions
For the dressing
zest and juice of ½ lemon
1 tbsp: vegetable oil
pinch of caster sugar
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Divide the leaves between two plates, top with the sliced pear. Scatter over the blue cheese, walnuts and pickled onions.
Whisk all the dressing ingredients together then season to taste. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and serve.
This crowd pleasing spinach salad isn’t just super tasty, it also bumps up the iron and calcium in your diet. The perfect salad for a healthy summer.
Ingredients
1 kg. fresh baby spinach leaves
2 cups arugula
2 oranges cut in wedges
1 cup pomegranate seeds
2 cups feta cheese cut in small squares
1 cup almonds, blanched and sliced 1 jar (330 gr.)
Navarino Sweet Olives
Method
Wash greens thoroughly, cut by hand into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Season with salt. Add feta cheese, orange wedges, pomegranate seeds and almonds. Pour on top one jar Navarino Sweet Olives.
Navarino Icons are home-grown and produced by Costa Navarino, a prime and sustainable luxury destination in the southwest Peloponnese in Greece. Navarino Icon products are sold at Harrods, London” www.navarinoicons.com
Spring Forward, Fall Back! The clocks have changed and while we’ve been super excited about the extra hour of sleep all week, we’ve just realised that we’ve been mistaken and actually we lose an hour in the morning. Here are some tips on how to cope with this news…
It’s that time of year again, when we reset our clocks and try to readjust to the Daylight Saving Time (DST). However, when the clocks go forward on for the official start of British Summer Time, it is somewhat a double-edged sword.
We are happy to see the start of lighter evenings and longer days, but we also lose an hour in bed. Missing one hour’s sleep may not seem a great deal, but it can have a negative effect on our body clock, taking up to a week to re-adjust and get back to a normal routine. Here is some helpful advice from Dreams to help cope with the clocks going forward this weekend:
Be prepared
A few nights before the clocks are due to change, start going to bed a little earlier. This should ensure that it is easier to wake up, and the adjustment will not be as much of a shock to the system.
According to Lisa Artis of the Sleep Council, “Some people suffer with fatigue cognitive slowing, mood problems and slower reaction times when they miss out on sleep. Studies have shown an increase in heart attacks, traffic accidents and workplace injuries in the days following the shift to British Summer Time.”
Lisa advises, “You can prepare in the days leading up to the time change. Start the Wednesday before: go to bed 10-15 minutes earlier each night, and wake up 10-15 minutes earlier each morning. When Sunday arrives, you will already be adjusted. This is particularly helpful for those with young children.”
Sleep in on Sunday if you can
For those not in a position to prepare in advance, if there is an opportunity to sleep in, simply ignore the change in time and sleep through that missed hour on Sunday morning. However, it is advisable not to snooze for too long, as this could impact the body clock for the following day, making it even harder to adjust.
Compensate on the Sunday night
For those who cannot avoid losing the hour’s sleep, it is a good idea to compensate by heading to bed a little earlier on the Sunday night. This is particularly beneficial for those who rise early on Monday mornings and need to be refreshed for work.
Change the time on the clocks the night before
Don’t leave it until the morning to change the clocks – do it before going to bed, otherwise there is a risk of oversleeping, which could be a disaster for anyone who needs to be somewhere important. It is also a good idea to change all the clocks in the house at the same time, so none are missed.
Have an afternoon nap
If it is not possible to grab some extra sleep the night before, or to go to bed early on Sunday night, then perhaps a forty winks power nap on the Sunday afternoon might be the solution. . Especially important for new parents, make the most of that time when you can nap since to recharge and refresh your overall sense of wellbeing.
However, it is advisable to keep any naps short, or they could have a negative effect on sleep at night. Always set an alarm – even if just taking a short nap.
The change in sleeping pattern – even just an hour’s difference – can throw a person’s body clock off kilter for a few days. However, anyone struggling to get to sleep should try not to worry, as this can just make the problem worse. There are various activities and solutions that can help, for example, eating cherries or these other sleep-inducing foods, or trying one of these sleep remedies from around the world.
Keep the light out of the bedroom
Sunlight naturally wakes us up, and with the clocks going forward, the sun will seemingly rise earlier. While sunlight is a positive way to wake up, it will not help combat that rogue lost hour’s sleep. Invest in some blackout blinds and ensure all nooks and crannies around the blinds and curtains are blocked. It can be difficult to get up for work on a Monday morning at the best of times, so be sure to catch up on that lost hour.
Create a relaxing sleeping environment
To ensure a good rest on the Saturday night, creating an atmosphere conducive to sleep is essential. Interior designer, Joanna Thornhill, recently explained how you can make your bedroom a relaxing retreat on the Dreams Sleep Matters Club. Designer Ella Jade also has tips on how to use colour schemes to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Keep children awake longer on Saturday night – or tire them out
If you want to avoid the children waking up early on the Sunday morning, then try tiring them out and keeping them awake a little longer on the Saturday night. To avoid disrupting their bedtime, however, try wearing them out during the day with games and activities that may help them sleep for longer naturally. Going forward, lighter evenings can play havoc with bedtime routines, as children will often want to stay up later, so it is important to maintain their usual schedules as far as possible.
Make the most of the extra hour awake
Obviously, getting a good night’s sleep is of huge benefit, but there’s also much to be said for making the most of the extra hour awake. Grab a healthy breakfast and maybe go out and get some exercise, to help stay more alert and awake. This also helps to promote a better night’s sleep generally. Tai chi or yoga is a great way to start the day without being too strenuous, while exercise such as swimming or cycling has a reasonably low impact on the body, so won’t be too much of a shock first thing in the morning.
More advice on sleep and wellbeing can be found on the Dreams Sleep Matters web site at www.dreams.co.uk
This is summer in a dish and is ideal for a picnic…
This is summer in a dish and is ideal for a picnic. Little gem leaves are perfectly formed for scooping so you can use your fingers for this one! The salty olives and feta cheese are the perfect balance for sweet, grassy little gem.
Prep time: 10 minutes
Cook time: 3-4 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
3 pitta bread (200g)
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 plum tomatoes, cut into wedges (260g)
½ cucumber, diced (200g)
50g pitted black olives, halved
½ x 25g pack mint
200g pack feta, broken into chunks
Juice of ½ lemon
4 whole little gem lettuces, leaves separated (250g)
Method
Brush the pittas with a little oil and griddle for 4-5 minutes until golden, turning half way through, tear into pieces.
Mix the tomatoes, cucumber, olives, half the mint leaves and the feta in a large serving bowl.
Whisk the remaining oil with the lemon juice, finely chop the remaining mint leaves and add to the dressing, season. Toss into the tomatoes with the pitta pieces and Little Gem leaves.
Cooks tip
For extra convenience, try using tubs of cubed feta marinated in oil with olives.
Hectic airports, delayed flights and lost luggage – travelling on a plane can be very stressful. Unfortunately, if you are crossing multiple time zones, you can also expect symptoms of jet lag. From headaches and irritation, to diarrhea and a pounding heart – jet lag hits without warning and it can transform you into a zombie.
Once your body’s natural 24-hour clock has been disrupted there is nothing that can completely beat jet lag. However, there are things you can do, to ease its symptoms and enjoy your holiday. We have asked Michela Vagnini, Nutritionist at Nature’s Plus to give us her toptips on beating jet lag naturally.
Look at the Sun
To rebalance your day and night rhythm try to force yourself to get up just after sunrise. To boost your cortisol production, which is responsible for waking up in the morning, look towards the sun when waking, an open window will do the trick if you can’t get outside. In the evening, look at the sunset until it gets dark. This will stimulate melatonin production in your brain, which is also known as the ‘sleeping hormone’.
Stay away from Starbucks
Several studies have identified dietary components, such as glucose, sodium, ethanol or caffeine as capable of phase-shifting day and night rhythms. Be careful with sugary and junk foods that might have some stimulating additives or flavorings.
Stay away from coffee, colas, teas and other energetic drinks or herbs. Be careful with crisps and salted peanuts – they are very high in salt. Try to reduce your salt intake to 2g a day max (1/2 teaspoon). Make sure you read labels as some snacks may contain MSG, which is a popular flavor enhancer, also known as a brain stimulant.
Having an alcoholic drink might seem like a good idea to help you fall asleep but in fact, it will compromise sleep quality and dehydrate you, making it more difficult to adapt to new time zones.
Turn off your phone
Long-time exposure to blue light from our phones, iPads and TV’s can interfere with a production of melatonin and confuse our tired body, which will take it as a daylight and sign to stay awake.
Go for a walk!
Sunlight stimulates the secretion of serotonin, known as a ‘happy’ hormone that will give you a quick boost of energy. In addition, when our body gets physically tired it induces a deeper better sleep.
Support your adrenal glands
These peanut-size masses of tissue located on top of your kidneys are essential for your stress response and sleeping patterns. When you are jet lagged they are doubling up their workload to keep you awake so they need an extra sup
port. The most important nutrients for adrenal health are vitamins B, which you can find in eggs, organic meat, green leafy vegetables and whole grains (Don’t get tempted with sugary muffins!). Spirulina and algae extract are great super foods for our adrenal glands providing essential minerals and amino acids. To get a complete green foods blend, add a tablespoon of Nature’s Plus Green Lightning (www.nutricentre.com, £1.29 per sachet) to your coconut water and feel the energy!
We used to think that business class was crazy and a waste of money, after all, we all end up in the same place. And even if you have all the money in the world, why waste it on a few more inches of legroom. Like most people, we’ve always been happy to make do with “cattle class”. But of course, that was before we flew with TAP Portugal.
From food that you actually want to eat, to pre-flight drinks (in real glasses, obviously) and meals served on a tablecloth with real china and proper cutlery (instead of those plastic knock-offs back in cattle class), here are 5 reasons you should always fly business class with TAP.
The Comfort
When you’re on a long haul flight, an inch of extra legroom, let alone a foot makes all the difference and you get more than enough room flying business class. Seats can be adjusted with a controller until you’re pretty much lying down. Hello long haul flight nap.
Work Productively
With more legroom and a bigger workspace, it means that you can actually do some work.
The Food
Plane food, it’s usually a culinary journey of hell. Think soggy grey stew or something that’s pretending to be chicken. But not here. When you travel TAP you get edible and delicious Portuguese , Brazilian and International cuisine.
Think the best of Portuguese products and flavours and a menu is designed by award winning chefs. If you have a sweet tooth then you’re in for a treat, most flights serve Portuguese egg tarts which retain their crisp, crackly pastry and rich flavour even though you’re miles up in the air.
Save on time
We’re not advising you to purposely cut it fine, but you can show up at the airport a little later because your business-class boarding pass gives you access to a faster security line at most airports. You’re the first off the plane and so is your bag, so there’s less time waiting at baggage claim.
If you’re going on a long haul flight, business class is better. There is no doubt about it.
This journey with TAP Portugal was hosted as part of a press trip with the Brazilian Tourist Board. For further information, visit www.flytap.com or call 0345 601 0932.
6: sausages
400g: small new potatoes, cooked and halved
1tbsp: olive oil
4: spring onions, sliced
150g: cherry tomatoes, halved
1 (130g): bag Italian or Continental salad leaves
Grill the sausages under a medium grill for 8-10mins, turning them occasionally until browned on all sides. Thinly slice and leave to cool. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the potatoes and sauté for 6mins or until golden brown. Add the sausages, spring onions and cherry tomatoes and sauté for 3mins. Finally add all the dressing ingredients and toss well. Remove from the heat. Empty the salad leaves into a large bowl, add the potato mixture and toss to mix. Serve immediately.
Cook Tips
This salad can be served with 225g/ 8oz cooked and sliced new potatoes and 1oz/ 25g of walnuts to turn dish into a heartier meal.
Salad Used
Bag Italian or continental salad leaves.
Recipe courtesy of Sausage & potato salad from the British Leafy Salads Association
TV chef Dean Edwards developed this recipe to help inspire people to make more of salad. This makes a fantastic veggie meal and it’s ready in less than 15 minutes! This salad is full of great texture, from the sweet crispiness of the iceberg lettuce to the crunchy carrot and courgette ribbons. Iceberg is really versatile and is a lettuce which is great in both hot and cold dishes.
Celebrity Make-up Artist Francesca Neill shares her tips for eye make-up and the trends to look out for
We’ve all heard the buzz about make-up primer and how it will be a good investment for our make-up bags but what does it actually do? Despite the eyelid skin being noticeably thinner compared to facial skin, eyelids still produce oil which can cause eye make-up to slide around and end up in the crease. Using primer before eyeshadow application not only provides the perfect even base for eye make-up; it also helps even out any discolouration and smooths the appearance of fine lines on the eyelids too.
A good quality eye primer will blend smoothly onto the eyelids, dry invisibly, intensify the colour pigment of the eyeshadow and prolong the wear of your eye make-up. Collection & Celebrity Make-up Artist Francesca Neill tells us more and shares her top tips on eyeshadow application and how to achieve the ultimate smokey eye look in this short video
Aromatic fresh thyme lends depth to this dish, complementing the sweet earthiness of the beetroot and enhancing the delicate flavour of the cod.
Ingredients (serves 2)
Prep: 10 minutes/ Cook: 30 minutes
300g whole beetroot, peeled and cut into wedges
1 tbsp olive oil
½ pot Thyme, chopped
2 tsp balsamic vinegar
2 cod fillets
450g floury potatoes, cut into chunks
15g butter
3 tbsp semi skimmed milk
2 tsp horseradish sauce
Method
Preheat the oven to 200oC, gas mark 6.
Place the beetroot in a small roasting tin and toss in the oil, 1/3 thyme and vinegar, season and bake for 15 minutes. Place the cod on a small baking tray and add to the oven and cook for a further 15 minutes until the cod is cooked and beetroot is tender.
Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in boiling water for 10-15 minutes until tender, drain and mash with the butter, milk, 1/3 thyme and seasoning.
Toss the beetroot in the horseradish with 2 tbsp water and remaining thyme and serve with the cod and mash.
Where do you buy herbs from in the winter?
Pots of British grown, fresh herbs are available from Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Waitrose, all year round.
Business Class flying: Is it worth it? Well when it comes to Qatar airways the answer is a definate yes
Fancy skipping the queues and being greeted with champagne and fine wine upon boarding the plane? Do you want a comfortable journey and food that you actually want to eat? Most people think that flying business class is an unnecessary expense, we did too until we flew from London to Doha with Qatar Airways. It opened our eyes to a whole new world. Here are seven reasons why flying business class with Qatar Airways is totally worth it:
Comfort
Long haul flights can be a real pain in the back, but not with Qatar airways. The seats in the business class cabin are super comfortable. The fight for space between your feet and your bag isn’t a thing here, there’s loads of room to stow your belongings.
The wide seats can be moved to lots of different positions including a full flat bed position so sleeping will come easily. There’s even fluffy pillows and comfy blankets to rest your weary head on that are so much better than the ones you get in economy.
Fantastic Food
Plane food is, on the whole, extremely unappetising. We reckon most people only eat it because they’re bored. But not here. Qatar Airways food is not only palatable, it’s good. They serve signature dishes, created by well known celebrity chefs, and no chef would put their name to terrible plane food unless they wanted to ruin their career in one fowl plane dive. You can even order your food on demand. From Iranian grill mixes to a great meze plates, the food here is anything but bland. Also, the wine list is endless. It is however a little sad when you see the air hostess pour the leftover wine down the drain – Doha is a dry airport.
You Can Be Productive
One of the worst things about flying economy is the boredom. There are only so many movies you can watch on a long haul flight before your eyes go square. And forget about trying to get any work done. Trying to get your laptop out of your bag is hard enough, let alone fighting with the person next to you for enough elbow room so you can actually type. However flying business class is a whole different story. The space and free wifi on is much more conducive to working.
The Service
World-class service. That’s all we have to say.
The Toiletries
The chance to freshen up mid-flight with a bag full of Giorgio Armani toiletries it just the ticket. You can avoid that horrible sweaty feeling that comes with long-haul flights with these luxury goodies. Big thumbs up.
All The Awards
Qatar Airways have received World’s Best Business Class from Skytrax so many times it’s hard to keep track. Skytrax commissions leading, independent, global surveys of airline and airport performance. They think that Qatar Airways are the best of the best and so do we.
The Business Lounge
Waiting at the airport for your flight is one of the worst things about flying. But not at when you’re business class with Qatar. All passengers who fly either Business or First Class get free access into the Qatar Airways airport lounge.
The lounge itself is like stepping into a fancy boutique hotel lobby or a private club. The deli counter is a winner and offers lots of fresh food. Also they have fantastic shower facilities if you want to freshen up, complete with heated floors and luxury brand products.
Brazilian food can be a bit hard to get a handle on. The cusine is so diverse and has influences from all over, including Portugal and Africa and most of us are unfamiliar with its own indigenous foods. Ever heard of cupuaçu, bacuri, pupunha or tucumã? Didn’t think so. However, like most places in the world, one thing is for sure – you find the best seafood on the coast and Fortaleza is no exception. Here it’s abundant and delicious. We’ve listed some of the not-to-miss Brazilian foods when your in Fortaleza, but our top recommendation is to eat seafood whenever you have a chance.
CARNE DE SOL
Carne de Sol is a delicious “sun-dried” meat which translates to “meat of sun.” Beef is heavily salted and cured in the sun for one or two days. It’s typically served alongside a semi-hard cheese called queijo de coalho which is also delcious. Try it!
TAPIOCA
The locals love to eat tapioca for breakfast. These unique pearlescent Brazilian-style crepes are made with tapioca starch derived from the cassava root (also called yuca). They are chewy and bland, but turn out to be quite satisfying when filled with something sweet or savoury. We liked having ours with cheese. Other favourite fillings include grated coconut, banana and carne de sol. If you get a chance, watch them being made – tapioca is poured onto a heated pan and somehow sticks together forming a crepe. It’s a bit like watching a magic trick.
Seafood Anything
Seafood is a speciality of Fortaleza. It’s especially famous for its lobster, shrimp and crab. For a great seafood experience go to fish market at the end Avenida Beira Mar. Here you can buy fish or shellfish at one market stall, and another stall will clean, cook and serve it up with some rice for you to eat. For a great seafood restaurant you can’t go wrong with Coco Bambu.
Acai Bowl
If you’re a foodie or really into your fitness, then you’ve probably heard of the acai berry. Grown on palm trees in the swamps and floodplains of the Amazon, the acai berry is one of those super foods that everyone raves about. Some people even call it the youth berry. When you’re in Brazil, you must try an acai bowl. It’s basically a really thick smoothie that sort of resembles ice cream and is commonly topped with granola and banana. It tastes a bit tangy and bitter, but even if you don’t like it, remember it’s doing wonderful things to your body.
Caranguejada
Going to Fortaleza and not experiencing Thursday night crab-fest and having a crab-blowout is inconceivable. Head to Varjota which a neighbourhood where you’ll find lots of bars and great restaurants. Order a “Caranguejada” which is a crab dish with lots of fresh spices. It’s authentic, local and delicious.
Pão de queijo
Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. These little cheese puffs are made with tapioca flour and are a much loved snack. We liked having them for breakfast.
Tacaca
This is a delicious soup of shrimps common to the North of Brazil. It’s made with shrimps (obviously) yellow pepper and other herbs boiled in manioc root broth.
Peixe delicia
This is boiled or grilled fish served with bananas and coconut milk. It may sound like an odd combination, but it totally works.
Vatapa
This is a delicious dish made from bread, shrimp. coconut milk and finely ground peanuts, mashed into a creamy, if not a little grainy paste.
GETTING THERE: TAP Portugal flies from London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester to Fortaleza, via Lisbon, with prices from £532 return. Call 0345 601 0932 or see flytap.com.
STAYING THERE: Bed and breakfast at Hotel Vila Gale Fortaleza is from £50 per room per night; all inclusive at the Hotel Vila Gale Cumbuco is from £119 per room per night, see vilagale.com.
If you thought that Dover was the only place in Europe famed for its white cliffs, you’re far from in the minority. Contrary to popular belief, gleaming white cliffs aren’t exclusive to the south coast of the UK. Take a trip to France’s Alabaster Coast and discover a beautiful corner of the country that all too often goes overlooked.
Known informally as “The White Cliffs of Normandy”, this region has been inspiring artists, poets and romantics in general for centuries. It was a favourite of Monet and Pisarro alike – not to mention travellers from all over the world who visit the region each year.
The strip – know more formally as Côte d’Albâtre – stretches for more than 80 miles and has within its midst many pleasant towns, villages and coastal resorts. One of the easiest ways to reach The Alabaster coast is to take the car on the cross-channel ferry from Portsmouth to Le Havre. As such, it’s a great destination for a simple, relaxed and enjoyable road trip. Even if you only have a weekend available, there’s still plenty of time to explore what’s on offer.
Just be sure to stop by a few of the highlights along the way, which include the following top-picks:
Le Havre
As you’ll most likely be exiting the ferry here anyway, you might as well take the time to explore one of France’s most important maritime port towns. Steeped in history, Le Havre is home to interesting buildings, galleries and unique local attributes. The historic town centre makes the perfect place for an aimless stroll with no destination, being sure to stop by the impressive Eglise St Joseph on your travels. And of course, it would be a shame not to sample the very best of the local cuisine served up at the eateries of Le Havre, which for the most part centre on high-quality seafood.
Etretat
The Côte d’Albâtre as a whole may be beautiful, but the cliffs of Etretat are a real highlight. You might have seen l’Aiguille (The Needle) in any number of photographs, but nothing can prepare you for the sight of the famous rock formation in real life. Less of an option, more an absolute must for a coastal stroll, or a more rugged hike for those out for a challenge. Weather-dependant, the beaches make for ideal afternoons in the sun, along with the perfect spot to take in the sunset. There are several local seafood restaurants around Etretat that are every bit as impressive as the coastline itself!
Fécamp
Here’s where you’ll find the highest of all cliffs in Normandy and a spot that Monet was particularly fond of. The peak rises a full 300 feet above the bay beneath, though to really take it in for all its worth you need to book yourself on a boat trip out into the bay. It makes a great excursion for the whole family (weather permitting) and there’s always the option of indulging in a spot of fishing.
Dieppe
It would be a shame to take the time to visit the Côte d’Albâtre and not also take the time to stop by Dieppe. A popular holiday destination for France’s most elite circles for generations, Dieppe really does have it all. The architecture is beautiful, its maritime history is enthralling, the beaches are great and the food is quite legendary. Dieppe has a well-earned reputation for serving up some of the best seafood in the world in any number of traditional cafes and restaurants that haven’t changed for generations. It’s also the kind of place where a total transformation occurs at sundown and many quiet streets suddenly burst into life.
Côte Fleurie
Last but not least, consider including Côte Fleurie in your road trip itinerary. It’s another example of a seaside haunt that was previously exclusive, though has since become much more accessible and considerably less snooty. Home to an annual American Film Festival that brings the rich and famous of Hollywood into the area, Côte Fleurie is also home to a strip of stunning sands referred to as “The Queen of Beaches”. Coupled with a world of amenities for the whole family, you could easily spend a week or two at the heart of Côte Fleurie and never run out of enjoyable things to do.
You don’t have to be frugal to appreciate the value of a fantastic bargain. Whether it’s a 50% online-only sale or a local store clearance that is literally giving away items, those big red numbers almost always give us that tingling sensation that we’re stretching our pennies. It might sound silly, but there are many people who don’t actually look around for deals, don’t value their pennies or even shop smartly. If you’re someone that doesn’t put too much thought into your their purchases, or if you want to know how you can save even more money by shopping smartly, here are a couple of tips.
Making Smart Purchases
First of all, before you make a purchase you should think about what you’re actually buying and if you need it. You have to discipline yourself to not fall into the trap of spending money during a sale on items you don’t actually need. For instance, if there’s a 50% sale on a large 4K television, then you might be inclined to upgrade your current television. In this case, think how much you actually use your television and if it will be worth the upgrade. The fact that there’s a sale doesn’t necessarily indicate a great deal either, it could just mean that the television in question isn’t very good and they’re getting rid of stock in anticipation of a new model.
In this case, you should do your research. Look online and Google a review of the product in question. If the reviews look good and the price is within your range, then you can consider buying it based on the fact that it’s a good value purchase. But let’s not stop there, let’s go back to what was said previously—do you actually need it? Far too many people become hoarders because they keep buying cheap furniture and electronics whenever they’re on sale. In the case of a 4K television, you need to have compatible media in order to make use of the larger resolution. If you currently use your television to watch Netflix, then you need to understand that not every show or movie currently supports 4K programming, meaning you won’t get to make the most of your new television. According to Lifewire.com, only a couple of shows on Netflix can be viewed in 4K, and the quality isn’t a huge difference compared to regular HD streaming.
How to Look for Deals
Deal-hunting is one of the most satisfying things for a frugal shopper to do. Whenever you have a couple of minutes spare, you could log on to deal websites such as DontPayFull.com and make some fantastic savings on everything from groceries to electronics. Many coupons go out of date within just a couple of weeks or even days, so if there are coupons for something you need such as groceries, then it’s best to make use of them as soon as possible.
Whenever you shop online, it’s a good idea to search for coupons for the online store you are using. You’d be surprised at how many times an online business hands out discount coupons on their social media channels or gives a code to reviews in order to get a bit more publicity. It doesn’t take long to look around for a coupon code either. Just do a simple Google search and spend about five minutes searching. If you can’t find a working one, then chances are there probably isn’t an active coupon around that you can use.
Separating Good and Bad Reviews
Online reviews on the store’s website are usually pretty horrible. Sometimes they’re filled with angry customers that bought a product and don’t understand how to use it, sometimes they’re reviewed by people who didn’t even buy the product, and occasionally there are reviews by people who are far too optimistic about a company or brand and they write a review that is borderline false advertising. These are the types of reviews you want to avoid, but it can sometimes be difficult trying to discern whether a review is legitimate or bogus. In other words, it’s best to avoid product reviews completely on websites such as Amazon, and you should only use the star rating as a general indication of the quality of a product.
If you want more detailed information, you should try and find reviews on YouTube that actually show you the product so you get a better idea of what it’s like. In addition to that, reviews on popular blogs that have reviewed similar products are also trustworthy, and they typically offer coupon codes or affiliate links that help you save money on those specific purchases. You can find a useful list of trusted reviewers at Cision.com. Keep in mind that some lesser-known blogs will review products only because they have been sponsored to, and although they are legally obliged to let people know they have received the product for free or that it’s a paid sponsorship, they sometimes neglect to do so.
Refurbished, Used and Older Models
Depending on the type of item you want to buy, you might get a fantastic deal on used or refurbished equipment. For instance, a new MacBook Pro starts at around £1,149, but a refurbished or opened box laptop of the same model could save you around £300 or more. If you look at refurbished versions of an older model, you could save even more money. The product still works, it comes with all the same software, the hardware is comparable and you could save a huge chunk of money.
Unless you absolutely need to buy something new, there’s almost no reason to buy it straight from the manufacturer or full price on a website or in-store. You should always look for older models because in some cases, they actually function better and have more features. For instance, the newer iPhone 7 doesn’t come with a headphone jack, meaning you can’t plug in your traditional headphones. This could be a problem if you don’t have a Bluetooth headset, which is why the iPhone 6 is still so popular because it still has the headphone jack, it’s cheaper and it still functionals fine.
In other words, always do your research and don’t be afraid of buying refurbished or used. You could save a massive chunk of money and there are usually always guarantees that the product will still work, and if it doesn’t, you have a right to return it to the seller and claim your money back.
