alex-manson-smith

1. Forgo your daily latte In Sunday’s Observer, journalist Polly Vernon wrote that her coffee habit had so far cost her around £20,000 (four large cups a day, at £2,000 a year). And, as she says, she’s not the only one – 11 million of us visit a Starbucks, Costa or Café Nero every week…. Read more »

With the summer holidays comes the ever-pressing question, what am I going to do with them? Theme parks and petting zoos are all very well, but they’re expensive and, let’s face it, you’re going to have a lot of afternoons to fill. So, with that in mind, here are some ideas for free ways to… Read more »

Forget about getting married, just going to a wedding can be an expensive business. There’s the travel, hotel, new outfit… And even after all that the selfish so-and-sos expect a present. So if you’ve got a wedding – or six – this summer, here are five ways to cut the cost of being a guest:… Read more »

With the economy as it is, a fancy holiday may seem depressingly out of reach. But here are 10 tips for bagging one on the cheap: 1. Check exchange rates to see which destinations will offer you the best deals. 2. Be prepared to go out of season. July and August are outrageously expensive times… Read more »

1. Make sure you’re getting the cheapest fare This will be by far your biggest cost, so it’s important to be sure you’re getting the best deal. Unfortunately, the esoteric way the ticket prices are structured makes this nigh-on impossible. Compare the cost of season tickets, monthly passes and railcards, and check whether you’ll be… Read more »

That you’ve heard the arguments for cycling a million times – it’s cheap, good exercise, eco-friendly – doesn’t make them any less compelling. But if you’re thinking about hitting the saddle, here are a few useful pointers: 1. When choosing a bike, go for practicality, not looks I have a Pashley Princess. It’s one of… Read more »

As the proud owner of a rescue mutt (a Jack Russell/Chihuahua cross, since you ask), I’m happy to extol the virtues of getting your pet for free, rather than paying around £1,000 for a pedigree inbred that will be no doubt riddled with health problems. I adopted Wilkie in LA, where stray dogs are more… Read more »

Is your workspace a mess, stacked with piles of paper you plan to deal with one day (but not quite yet)? Do you have a reputation for being ditzy? Does it take you forever to find anything? If you answered yes to any of these, it’s time to get organised… Here’s how to do it:… Read more »

Ever feel like you’re juggling a million things at once? Every feel like you’re dropping a few balls here and there trying to fit it all in? In between finalising that presentation, rushing that report and pelting to your kid’s parent’s evening, trying to balance work and life is a tall order for most of… Read more »

Back when I was a kid, stuffing my face with a mountain of chocolate at Easter was an annual highlight. These days, parents are more neurotic and less inclined to let their children eat their own bodyweight in sugar and cocoa butter, so here are some suggestions for healthy (and affordable) alternatives to Easter Eggs:… Read more »