Basic survival supplies to keep at home in case of an emergency

1.            Emergency Food

Oats, Mash Potatoes, Tinned Food, Flour, Noodles.

 

2.            Water

Keep any plastics bottles and fill them with water for storage.

 

3.            First Aid kit
You can never go wrong with keeping one of these.

4.            Candles / Torch
In case the electricity goes at least you'll be able to see what you’re doing.

5.            Wind up radio
If the electricity goes for a longer period, at least you can hear any news on a portable radio

6.            Money
Remember when the electricity goes, cash machines will not work or credit card machines in shops.

7.            Can opener
This may sound like a silly one, but this is one of the things people take for granted as a lot of people use electric openers.

8.            Baby wipes
Remember if the electric goes, so does the water.  Hygiene will be very important to avoid getting ill.

8 Tips to Treat Cold's and Flu's

1. Blow Your Nose Often and the Right Way
It's important to blow your nose regularly when you have a cold rather than sniffling mucus back into your head. But when you blow hard, pressure can cause an earache. The best way to blow your nose: Press a finger over one nostril while you blow gently to clear the other. Wash your hands after blowing your nose.

2. Stay Rested
Resting when you first come down with a cold or the flu helps your body direct its energy toward the immune battle. This battle taxes the body. So give it a little help by lying down under a blanket.

3. Gargle
Gargling can moisten a sore throat and bring temporary relief. Try a teaspoon of salt dissolved in warm water, four times daily.

4. Drink Hot Liquids
Hot liquids relieve nasal congestion, help prevent dehydration, and soothe the uncomfortably inflamed membranes that line your nose and throat.  Oh and plenty of water too.

5. Take a Steamy Shower
Steamy showers moisturize your nasal passages and relax you. If you're dizzy from the flu, run a steamy shower while you sit on a chair nearby and take a sponge bath.

6. Apply Hot or Cold Packs Around Your Congested Sinuses
Either temperature may help you feel more comfortable. Take a damp washcloth and heat it for 55 seconds in a microwave (test the temperature first to make sure it's not scalding). Or take a small bag of frozen peas to use as a cold pack.

7. Sleep With an Extra Pillow Under Your Head
This will help with the drainage of nasal passages. If the angle is too awkward, try placing the pillows between the mattress and the box springs to create a more gradual slope.

8. Echinacea
Echinacea has a long history of use for treating respiratory infections. It’s not well understood how it works, but several studies show that Echinacea can help you get over a cold faster and reduce symptoms.


And on that final note, add your own tips in the comment section below and share this post...

8 ways to save money and make some money back

1.    Make a shopping list
If you’re not organised or haven’t got a pen, this one is really hard. But stick with it and you can eat well and save enough for a holiday without thinking about it.  Part of the problem is the power of the supermarkets.  These giant museums of food have spent millions on tricks to make you put stuff you don’t want in giant trolleys, keep in the fridge for a week and then throw away.  We each chuck out nearly £500 of food each a year.  That’s moronic but that’s the supermarket business model.  Make a shopping list. Dig out the cookery books, plan a few meals and only buy what you need.


2.    When was the last time you went to the market?
One way to beat the supermarkets - that is, to eat healthily for less - is to use your local market stalls.  Lower overheads generally mean lower prices.  Where supermarkets have ‘half-price’ strawberries that aren’t half price, the local market will often have the same fruit for a quarter of the price of the pretend half-price ones.


3.    Sell your clutter on eBay or Gumtree
Take this quick test: You're at home, open a cupboard, and look inside.  If it's full of clothes you haven't worn, or 'good ideas at the time' you haven't used, for, let's say, three years - you don't need them.  So why not sell them to someone else who does? For fans of the understatement: Ebay is quite well-known and popular now. The great thing is you really can flog any old garbage - for a commission.


4.    Use your talent to earn extra cash
If you have a talent or a skill, use it to your potential… e.g. if you’re an IT techy like me, then fix other peoples PC’s when you’re not at work.  Or even if you’re not in the building trade but handy with a few tools, there’s your second income also….

 
5.    Compare Compare Compare
Use comparison websites to get the best deals, whether its car, house or travel insurance and never automatically renew your quote.

6.     Buy clothes and presents in the salesIf life has drained every drop of human dignity from your soul, bingo! - Boxing Day sales were created for you.

On a serious note, there is no shame in standing in the Next sales queue at 4am in the morning.  I would know; I get all my kids clothes for the rest of the year and all my works shirts too.

For those who aren’t for waiting in 4am queues, there are quieter mid-season sales where you can find most things you need for half the price it would have been if you couldn’t wait.

7.     Avoid extended warranties
Electrical goods are more reliable than ever. If your new radio won't last three years perhaps it's not worth buying in the first place.  Think about it: how many times has your fridge broken down in the last five years? And do you really need the hassle of claiming for repairs to a £10 toaster?

8.    Switch Energy Suppliers

The main suppliers, known as the Big 6, control 90% of the UK's energy market today stand accused of making a huge profit from the less well off.

The investigation, by the Competition and Markets Authority, found millions of dual-fuel customers, many of whom have never switched suppliers, have missed savings of up to £234 a year.

Go onto a comparison site and switch your energy now.  The process has been made so much simpler and the switch can be done in a matter of 2 weeks.

And on that final note, add your own tips in the comment section below and share it with a friend

8 tips on how to sleep better

1. Rest in cosy comfort: A quality mattress, soft blankets and cool temperature will reduce annoying distractions (too hot! achy back!) and help you relax.

2. Turn on some soothing sounds: Use a sound machine or a fan to drown out what may be preventing you from falling asleep within 15 minutes of lying down.

3. Complete darkness: If your room isn’t completely dark, consider a sleep mask—this will also increase your natural production of melatonin, which is not only a great sleep inducer but a great cancer fighter as well.

4. Snooze-inducing smells: Wearing lavender lotion or using a diffuser with lavender essential oil may help you hit deep sleep sooner. Plus, who doesn’t love the smell of lavender? Ahhh…

5. Turn off tech at least 1 hour before going to bed. Then, keep lights dim and read or meditate to let your body naturally make some sleepy melatonin (the hormone that is produced as it gets dark out, and regulates sleep and wake cycles).

6. Skip or reduce caffeine. Caffeine not only prevents many people from falling asleep at night initially, but it can also decrease the amount of restful sleep that happens at night.  If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, try decaf, herbal tea or keep it to one cup very early in the morning.

7. Exercise. Try to fit in 20-30 min of moderate exercise daily, but make sure to do it several hours before bed. Ideally, 20-30 minutes of cardio in the morning with some restorative yoga in the afternoon.

8. Clear your mind. If you’re tossing and turning after switching the lights off, you may need to hit the reset button on your mind. Here are a few things to try. Before going to bed, journal—jot it all down.  If you can’t fall asleep after lying in bed for 15 minutes, get up and do something relaxing for 15-30 minutes before returning to bed. Don’t give up. You’ll find a strategy that works for you.

Your turn: Do you have a helpful sleep tip? Leave it in the comments below.