Often when we start an activity which is out of our usual comfort zone or realm of expertise, we can become paralysed with inertia, and the first step feels as challenging as doing a cartwheel with our hands tied behind our back. The important thing, then, is to start! Just do it! Gather up some fabrics or paint charts, rip a few samples from the wallpaper in the DIY shops and lay them out together on the floor, to see if inspiration follows.

From here you should start to get some ideas. A muted sofa can be the starting point for a dynamic decorating theme. Sofas in beige and cream can work well against a lively, or even ostentatious, backdrop of warm pinks or cool blues. If your sofa is bold and patterned then extract from this two or three colours to form a working palette for the rest of the room. You might choose to make a feature wall with bold floral or abstract patterns and this can most easily be done with a block of wall paper, though fabric hangings and tapestries are also an option, as is paint.

Some of the premium wall papers are exquisite (though shockingly expensive!) and if you go for this option then you can tie the look together by selecting one of the background colours in the paper and asking your paint merchant to mix you that exact shade. This will add class and give you an expensive look for a quarter of the price!

Don’t underestimate the impact of soft furnishings. Your sofa centre piece can be enhanced by complementary cushions and throws, which can pick out one or two of the colours in the sofa and walls. Curtains, too, can add luxury and warmth to the room and generally speaking, the better the make and fabric, the stronger the look.

Be aware of the influence of the seasons, since heavy velvet curtains don’t work well in August, but can be swapped for flimsy voile or cotton at this time. Once you’ve put the look together, it will be easier to identify these issues so rather than fretting about how it will work, just bite the bullet, choose that sofa and go for it!

The weather conditions are also important. If you just want something that will give them some protection when out for a walk, say, to the shops, you would be better off getting shower proof Berghaus jackets, will be fine for light rain, but not a heavy downpour. For particularly wet weather, a good quality set of waterproofs will keep them dry, and is worth the money and the time and hassle of putting them on. If they are going to be using them on a regular basis, it is worth investing in a good set. Special care should be taken when caring for waterproof fabrics that are breathable and you may need to use a special detergent to keep them clean.   

So, you need to consider what they need the waterproof clothing for, what activities they will be doing, how long they will be wearing it for, cost and the weather conditions. If you consider these factors, you should be able to make the right choice for your children.

1. Turn off all lights when not needed and train the rest of the family to do this too. Don’t leave staircases unlit though if you have small children or elderly people in the house in case of falls.

2. Turn down your central heating thermostat by a degree or two. If you feel a bit cool put an extra pullover or cardigan on. Thick duvets on the beds will make sure you stay warm at night.

3. Don’t put furniture in front of radiators as it will block the heat. Fitting heat reflective foil behind radiators will help to keep the heat inside the room. The shiny side should face the room. Turn off radiators in rooms that are not used and keep the doors closed so that the warm air does not flow into these unheated rooms reducing your savings.

4. Close the curtains when it gets dark and invest in some thick heavy ones for winter. Lots of heat is lost through windows especially if there are small gaps around the glass.

5. Have a shower instead of a bath. You will need to heat far less water. If you must have a bath make sure you keep the depth to less than six inches. Make sure your taps don’t drip and waste your precious hot water.

6. Don’t leave your TV, DVD, video recorder or other gadgets on standby. They are still using a considerable amount of electricity even when not switched on. This is just wasting energy as well as your money. Turn off your PC at night or when it is not in use.

7. Wash your clothes at 30 degrees. You can get washing powder that is specifically for low temperature washes. Also only run your washing machine or dishwasher when it has a full load.

8. Consider double glazing and cavity wall insulation. This will be a large initial outlay but will save you money on your energy bills in the future. It will also add to the value of your house.

9. Make sure your attic is insulated. It is a great investment. We all know that heat rises and you can lose 25% of your heat through the roof.

10. Get your gas and electricity from the same supplier (duel fuel). They will usually give you a discount. Also pay for your fuel by direct debit for a further saving.

As well as saving you some money these tips are helping the environment too.

I believe that I am financially quite savvy and responsible I do not have much debt and have some savings, I do have credit cards but generally use them wisely and infrequently. I earn quite well but I like to be sure that my incomings are meeting my outgoings therefore I tend to be sensible when spending. I do not consider myself to be an impulse buyer, I like shopping but I do not do it endlessly or aimlessly.

When I go shopping I prepare myself well, I know how much I can afford to spend, I usually know what I need to spend for and I try to focus on the particular event or occasion that I am going to. I do spend quite a bit of time browsing through brochures from designer, sometimes online but mostly offline. I know what I like to wear and what looks good on me and I shop accordingly.

Perhaps it is because I am in my thirties and have experienced quite a lot that I am fully aware of the economic climate. I have found that I am not as willing to spend needlessly at present, I really have to justify my purchases, to myself no-one else, before I buy anything. I do tend to look at the designer sales. I would not say that I am a real “sale shopper”, I do not wait in queues when I know that there is a sale about to start. I will go to the sales and will consider what is available and buy what I need; I will not just buy because something is on sale.

In recent years I have become more circumspect in my shopping habits I will buy online or in sales, but more frequently I find myself buying in designer outlet retail parks. These are shopping areas that specialise in designer wear but most of the items are at much reduced prices. The reduction in prices may be due to the fact that the garments are a previous season, or end of line but this does not bother me. I buy what I want and know what suits me rather than what fashion or trends suggest I should buy.

I love designer label clothing but I do not buy something just because it is from a designer. I have to be sure that I really need item, that I can afford it, it is worth the money and that it is something that I will actually wear. Just because something has a designer label does not always mean that it is the best thing to buy, many so-called designer ranges are watered down version so the actual designer original.

There are very few items that translate from the designer catwalk into the designer ranges, not everybody can wear the designer items. Very often designers are creating their outfits for very specialised wearers and not everybody will be able to wear the item. I am perhaps one of these people, because I am small, you do not see very many five feet nothing models on the catwalk. I like to be sure that the item will suit me before I purchase it and if that means buying designer clothing in sales or outlet stores then I will do this.

Children often grow at a phenomenal rate – seemingly overnight – and feet are no exception. With older children, it may be worth buying shoes to wear to school, providing they are growing at a slower rate. Then their school shoes will last longer, and they can wear what they like outside school hours. 

It is impractical and a waste of money to buy several pairs when fewer will do. In the current economic climate, many parents simply cannot afford to purchase numerous pairs of shoes for every purpose. Therefore it is preferable to buy shoes that are suitable for various purposes, leaving more money in the budget for when the child grows yet again, and needs new shoes. Parents can find proper styles a lot cheaper in high street stores and even some supermarkets so they can make huge savings. As children grow out of their school shoes very quickly it is makes sense to buy cheaper shoes as long as they fit properly.

If children were allowed to wear any shoes they like to school, many would turn up wearing styles that are totally unsuitable such as heavy boots with deep treads, high heels, ballet pumps and strappy sandals. They don’t look smart with school uniform and can be dangerous, causing falls and injuries. Trainers are also not suitable school attire. If there is a medical reason why a child needs to wear trainers, parents should write a letter of explanation to the school.

Parents should support the school by buying the preferred styles for their children. Wearing similar styles also helps to remove any noticeable differences in the affluence of the pupil’s home. Fashion shoes are fun and children should be allowed to wear them but not for school.

Which are better for children, closed walking shoes or open hiking sandals? I do not think that there is a clear and defined answer for this question. Either option has its own disadvantages and will be better in certain scenarios.

Take the closed walking shoes for example, these provide more protection for your children’s feet and are more sturdy then open hiking sandals, which is obvious! The closed hiking shoes are perfect for a winter hike when wanting to keep your children’s feet dry and warm and to protect your children’s feet against the elements. However, closed walking shoes are traditionally very heavy and can be a pain to walk around in. Although you want protection, you also want your children’s feet to feel comfortable and free.

On the other hand, open hiking sandals such as Keen Sandals also have their own benefits. Open hiking sandals are much lighter than closed walking shoes, which mean that they are easier to walk in. In addition to this, they are also a lot more breathable than tradition closed walking shoes. This means that your children’s feet stay a lot cooler and sweaty feet can be avoided, which is never a nice thing! Arguably, open hiking sandals also provide much more support than closed walking shoes do around the heel. The major disadvantage is the protection from the elements that they provide, which is minimal in comparison to closed walking shoes.

In conclusion, I do not think either option is definitely better or worse. I believe that it all comes down to where you are hiking and what type of terrain you will be facing. You also have to take into consideration the time of year it is and the weather on that particular day. Sometimes, under some conditions, closed walking shoes will be better, especially in winter. However, especially in the summer, open hiking sandals will be better. It is all up to the individual and how they want their feet to feel during the hike.

Many fashion retailers on the high street cater for sizes up to size 22 in the standard ranges and a few cater for larger sizes. Department stores such as Debenhams, Beales and John Lewis all have concessions that sell larger sizes; there are also a number of specialist retailers on the high street. Retailers such as Evans specialise in fashionable and contemporary garments in sizes 16 to 32, they also provide footwear and lingerie ranges for the larger size. I have shopped in Evans on many occasions and have noticed over the last number of years that they carry basically the same trends as the other well known fashion outlets except in larger sizes and cut to suit the larger lady.

The internet has perhaps opened up the marketplace for larger size clothing ranges. There are many sites that exclusively sell larger sizes and have their own specialist designers. Sites such as Bravissimo, Brastop, Figleaves and many more online retailers offer lingerie in larger sizes. The larger lady is no longer satisfied with frumpy clothing and ill-fitting, uncomfortable underwear and manufacturers and retailers are now responding to the demand for bigger sizes. Some of the online retailers have been so successful that they are opening high street shops; Bravissimo now has a number of high street outlets in cities such as Glasgow, Manchester and London.

There are also some less costly retailers that have ranges that include size 28. Fashion retailers such as Mark One and Matalan with their Rogers and Rogers collection, offer low cost fashion clothing for larger sizes up to size 28 and 32, the Marks and Spencer Plus range caters for up to size 28. So it is becoming easier to find larger sizes on the high street at reasonable prices. However it is perhaps online where the biggest revolution has taken place in outfitters catering specifically for larger sizes. There are a lot of sites specialising in clothing ranges that include size 28. Sites such as SoSienna offer a large selection of plus sizes and also offer clothing by leading designers such as Anna Scholz and Karen Kane. The likes of Igigi supply clothes in sizes ranging from size 12 to 32, they also offer bridal wear and special occasion or evening wear.

There has always been specialist catalogues that have catered for larger clothing, but more of these catalogues now operate online outlets to complement the catalogues.

Most of the high street retailers offer sizes up to size 22, but as demand increases for more sizes the retailers will extend the ranges. It has also been argued that sizing in clothes has changed over the years and that a size 28 now is different to a size 28 perhaps twenty years ago. Retailers are aware that body shapes have changed, as women and men are better fed, but also are inclined to be differently shaped than perhaps a generation before. People tend to carry weight around their middle and the bust and clothes have adapted to these changes as has clothing sizes. It would not have been possible even a few years ago to purchase bras in size J and double J.

It is becoming easier to find clothing that is larger and sizes like size 28 are more common. There is more choice available to the shopper looking for larger sizes from department stores to catalogues to online shops to specialist retail outlets. However as demand for bigger sizes increase more retailers will join companies like Marks and Spencer and offer clothing ranges that will cater for size 28 and above.

Stella McCartney

I have to admit that I am a bit predictable. I hold my hands up and say as a woman I prefer to wear clothes designed by a woman. I’m fed up of looking at stick thin supermodels wearing clothes designed by stick thin men. I don’t really have anything against these male designers however feel that it is quite obvious that they do not appreciate the female form. Whether it is because they do not find it attractive or because they cannot empathise with the areas that women want to accentuate and those that they want to cover at all costs.

My favourite designer is in fact Stella McCartney. The reason being that she is a woman therefore understands the female form. She doesn’t have the stick thin, almost masculine body that most models have. Most importantly though is that she is quite short and carries weight in a similar way to many women who have had children. But she always looks good. She knows what suits her. She also knows how to incorporate flattering cuts into her designs. Not all of her clothes are aimed at women with a similar body shape though. She seems to be able to design empathetically in order to help women feel confident (therefore look good) in her clothes.

Another designer that I really love is Diane von Furstenberg, and in particular, her wrap dresses. She also has the understanding of the female form and the female mind. Her dresses manage to create curves on those who need a little bit of assistance. At the other end of the scale the dresses enhance the more voluptuous figure, whilst flattering the flaws. Skimming over a pot belly or muffin top and accentuating a nipped in waist.  

I do have to admit though that I do love the look of many of the designer items designed by men. If I had the money to waste I would probably buy them and hang them on fancy hangers as works of art. After all, many of these clothes do actually look best on the hanger. Appreciating designer clothes doesn’t always mean that you have to wear them – indeed much more pleasure may come from them if you don’t put them on.

There are also the designers for high street brands. I think the most famous of these must be the Kate Moss for Topshop (although technically she is not a fashion designer, more of a fashionista). These ranges to me just seem to be a money making scheme on behalf of both the designer and the shop. The clothes are made in the same way as the shops other ranges, often from the same material, however for an inflated price. The input from the designer is in no way as involved as for their own personal range and there is not the same attention to detail. To me the purchasers of such ranges seem to be a bit blinded by the big name designer. You can get designer copies of clothes so quickly these days on the high street that unless you are going for the real thing then there is not much point paying over the odds. I have yet to purchase an item from any of these ranges, purely because they do not represent the quality or impact of truly designer clothes.

Until I can afford to buy exclusively Stella and Diane, I think I will buy the most flattering items from these ranges and supplement them with bog standard high street with anonymous designers. Why settle for the clothes in the middle that are more affordable than designer clothing but not of a substantially higher quality than high street. Mediocre does not make my wardrobe.

When buying backpacks or rucksacks there are so many different types and styles that it’s difficult to choose.  Personally my preference would be for a good lightweight. but strong product that ‘does what it says on the tin’, carrying everything required easily and efficiently.

Children however tend to be ‘brand led’, demanding the latest designer products, such as Nike, Berghaus etc.  However prices for Berghaus rucksacks are very expensive, some priced at around $200 or more.  These are made from top quality materials, evenly stitched and finished off, with many internal zips and pockets.

On the other hand, cheaper brands such as Regatta sell rucksacks very similar in design and style to Berghaus and Nike.  Their prices are much more affordable, starting at just over $40.  These styles are similar to more expensive products, with concealed zips and fasteners.  From a distance it would be impossible to detect whether the rucksack was expensive or not.

As most bags are very similar in design I would not be influenced by brand name, it would be price for me.

I believe strongly that it is. Children wear their school shoes every single school day. This means that they are often completely worn out by the time it comes to purchasing a new pair because the child has grown out. If school shoes were not required you would simply find yourself replacing your child’s casual shoes more often. There are of course a few other times when a smart pair of black shoes will come in handy for your child including the occasional smart family event. Having school shoes means that rather than having to splash out for a one off party you already have a pair of smart shoes on standby.