One great change that is so simple and cost effective is to grab yourself some thermal underwear and thus decrease the amount of heat needed in the home. Thermals can make a huge difference to the amount of energy your house consumes; by turning the thermostat down by just 3^oC can reduce your heating bill by up to 10%. As well as getting a massive saving you can also feel great about knowing that you are doing your bit to help curb the ever increasing threat of rising sea levels and fuel shortages. With the money you save from the heating bill you could buy a more fuel efficient car and in turn save even more money.

Now I know you’re thinking to yourself that you wouldn’t be seen dead in thermals but they have changed a surprising amount from that awful long john image. I too was sceptical but having seen thermal expert Damart range of colourful and fashionable thermals my opinion has changed considerable, the thermals range was trendy and the garments could even be worn as standalone pieces.

Other clothes made from natural fibres such as cotton, wool, hemp and recycled materials i.e. fleeces and some synthetic threads are great for reducing your carbon footprint due to the lack of chemical and industrial processes involved however avoid petroleum based synthetic threads as they cause hazardous waste and don’t biodegrade which isn’t too great for the environment.

With the world’s economic crisis getting into full swing, the price of energy can only go higher so if you want to reduce this cost as much as possible and help with the global warming crisis then dress green the easy way – don some thermals, have low fuel costs, feel good about yourself and be the envy of your friends.

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If I were looking for a winter coat for use here in the UK, knowing that the US clothes cater for more severe weather, I would be tempted to buy the US make just in case we have a very severe winter if it were at the correct price. However, if the price difference was to extreme I would stick with a normal Berghaus jacket that caters for our season’s weather.

I think the bottom line with all clothing here in the UK is price, we do not always have a need for the ‘extra’s’ that US made clothes offer, simply because of our weather structure. Also let us not forget the price comparison between UK and US can be extreme. In the US clothing is much less expensive in fact the same item here in the UK you could pay double or even triple.

My conclusion is, unless I was on holiday in the US and brought some US clothing cheaper than I would find it here in the UK, then I would not buy US made clothing to wear in the UK unless I was buying a very good deal because there is simply no need.

A lot of summer outdoor wear is pretty basic – therefore feel it doesn’t really matter which make you choose UK or US, because of our weather structure being based on seasons rather than area’s it only really matters with winter wear a small amount and is not really worth the extra expense.

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These days, wellies don’t need to be boring; there are a wide variety of colours and patterns available, and you´re bound to find some displaying your child´s favourite cartoon character. Wellies are ideal for rainy days, and for the slush that so quickly follows snow; they won´t let the rain or snow in. They don´t need to be expensive, so can be easily replaced when the child´s feet grow too big for them. They are easily cleaned, and simple to remove upon entering the house; even the smallest child can pull a pair of wellies on and off. They are also practical for changing out of when the child arrives at school.

Boys may not be as keen on wellies, especially as they get older, but they can go out and play in a good sturdy pair of boots. There are plenty of rugged lace-up short boots that will keep the feet warm and dry providing the snow is not too deep, but it is important to ensure that they protect the feet from damp. Leather is more resistant to damp, and the thicker the soles, the better. Shoes can also be treated with sprays to keep them waterproof; there is nothing more unpleasant and uncomfortable than damp feet!

Considering how quickly children´s feet grow, it may be worth buying winter shoes a size bigger. Normally this would not be recommended, but in a season where girls are wearing thick woolly tights it may be practical to allow a bit of extra space. Any extra space can be padded out with two pairs of socks, which may be necessary anyway as temperatures drop! This may even allow boots to be used for a second winter, although there are no guarantees, of course. If so, it would ease pressure on the parental purse!

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I totally hate being accosted on the street by those people trying to sign me up to donate to various charities, all it does is completely put me off contributing to the particular charity. I like to be in control of my choices and some student trying to get my details off me in the street to set up a direct debit to give to a charity just makes me angry. Another bugbear for me is getting tickets for prize draws through the post, the charity expects you to sell the tickets and send on the donations, I just return the tickets in the envelope provided to the respective organisation.

For my family money is tight, we are not extravagant and we try to live within our means, however we know that there are people worse off than us and we do make charity donations when we can. We are all aware of major charity campaigns that appear after a major natural disaster, but there are loads of less well known charities trying to survive that are not able to afford major advertising campaigns to encourage donations.

Heart disease is still Britain’s biggest killer and it is a major concern for me and my family, there are very few families that have not experienced a death from heart or chest disease, and therefore I do like to make a regular contribution to a local heart disease charity. I don’t give by direct debit but I do make regular donations, I also buy the charity’s Christmas Cards and support their other fundraising events. Clothing made by companies like Damart also appeal to me because a portion of the proceeds from their sale goes to the charity.

There have been many major advances in the treatment and prevention of heart disease and most of these have been funded through heart disease charities, research is ongoing into new treatments and also there are many campaigns to encourage all of us to change our lifestyles.

Donations to charities usually decrease in times of economic hardship, therefore it is essential to make some sort of contribution, however small to the likes of heart disease charities. I may have to reduce the frequency of my donating but I am fully aware of the absolute necessity for care and research to continue, therefore I will still try to make some donations.

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The key to saving money at Christmas is preparation and information. We need to inform ourselves of all the various sources from where we can make our purchases from shops, markets, fairs, and the internet to catalogues, product parties or even auction sites or house. Although it is too late to save money into an account for spending it is not too late to take some practical steps to make savings. Such steps should include:

Firstly, make a list. Lists are underrated but it is essential to know who we have to buy for; then set a budget, it is much easier to decide what to buy when we know how much we have to spend, then decide what to buy and for whom. Only buy some presents, perhaps agree with other relatives that each family will buy for a specified person. Some friends or relatives may prefer a visit from you rather than a present. Research the items, uses price comparison sites and look for the best deals, both locally in shops and more widely on line.

Look for deals such as 3 for 2, or buy 1 get 1 free/half price. When buying locally use cash, it is easier to stick to a budget when you can see the cash being spent, it is very easy to present a credit card and not monitor the spending, keep an eye out for local sales. If you are shopping online, use a debit card rather than a credit card, unless it’s for larger purchases where a credit card will offer better consumer protection.

Not all presents need to be bought, consider making presents, these could be knitted items such as scarves or gloves, or even bake Christmas shortcake or mince pies and hand deliver them. Although it is perhaps a bit risky, it could be very fruitful to leave buying presents to the very last minute. Many shops start their January sales on Christmas Eve or in the immediate days before Christmas.

Christmas shopping can be very stressful but if we are prepared it makes it a whole lot easier.

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Practical accessories include, sunglasses, handbags, umbrella, scarf, gloves, and purse. Vanity would include; cosmetics, hats, belts, jewellery and the mobile phone although this crosses over into practical as well.

So which are best, it’s quite tough to decide because many women and many man included, insist they can’t do without a comb or hairbrush and that trusty mirror to be sure they look their best at all times.

Accessories are necessary for most of the population, it is impossible to choose just one, often one accessory is connected to another and it becomes routine, for instance, in a woman’s handbag everyone knows there will be make up, a purse, and often an umbrella.

Most people do co ordinate their accessories with what they are wearing, leading to many people having quite a large accessory collection in their attire.

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The type of pearl jewellery that has been making a comeback has been the necklace and the bracelet. Both provide a simple and effortlessly classy look if combined with the right outfit. Probably one of the most recognised wearer of pearls was Marilyn Monroe and wearing pearls today can give you that classic look.

A cultured pearl is one which has been created by a pearl farmer. More than 99% of pearls sold today are cultured pearls which have been grown with a helping human hand, ie By actually inserting a foreign object into the tissue of an oyster or mollusc, pearl farmers can encourage the creation of a pearl. Natural pearls are created when this happens, you guessed it, naturally!

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