3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Brits warned they’re throwing away more than £200 worth of unused phones & gadgets – even old headphones could earn £50
BRITS are losing out on more than £200 worth of unused gadgets they could easily sell, new research reveals.
The average UK household is throwing away or sitting on over £218 of unwanted mobile phones and other gizmos they no longer use.
Don’t leave old phones in draws gathering dust – they’ll lose valueThe Sun
Almost a third (29 per cent) of Brits aren’t aware their unused devices can make them money, according to a study by Virgin Media O2 of 2,002 people.
And only one in ten actually recycle their unwanted smartphones.
Leaving your phone in a draw for months or years on end is also a huge waste, with devices depreciating in value by the day.
Brits, on average, typically take up to three months to trade in their old phone, the poll shows.
O2 Recycle – which is available to anyone, not just O2 customers – offers £136.46 for smartphones on average.
But the scheme also accepts other gadgets you may not expect such as earbuds.
On average, O2 Recycle pays out £53.52.
You can also get cash for old consoles, laptops, tablets and wearables.
“Sell your unwanted mobile, laptop or tech as soon as you’re done with it,” said Regina MutononofromO2 Recycle.
“The sooner you sell it, the more money you’re likely to get for it.
“You should ensure that the SIM is taken out prior to selling the handset (or memory card where applicable), but don’t worry about your personal data being accessible, as O2 Recycle will wipe data from all devices for you.”
Get money off a new phone
Many retailers and smartphone makers now allow you to exchange your old handset for a discount on a new one.
These can sometimes be better value than accepting cash upfront, so it’s always worth checking before.
Similarly, there are many phone recycling firms about – be sure to look around and compare for the best price.
You could even sell it yourself on eBay – have a look how others have performed, though of course there is no guarentee on the end price.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Britain’s ‘darkest ever house’ with all black floors, walls & ceilings could be yours for just £195k… could you bear it?
THE UK’s ‘darkest ever’ house is up for auction – with entirely black exterior, ceilings and KITCHEN.
The unique property in Broxburn, West Lothian, has black exterior walls as well as a black front door, black fencing, black decking and even a black shed in the back garden.
SWNSThe house has an entirely black exterior, ceilings and kitchen[/caption]
SWNSLocated in Broxburn, West Lothian, the semi-detached property has a guide price of £195k[/caption]
SWNSEven the back garden features black decking and matching shed[/caption]
The stairs, floors, as well as most of the ceilings and walls are black too.
Even the kitchen fridge and bathroom are the same shade.
The only variation is dark purple accents – such as curtains, feature walls and sofa cushions, making it a strong contender for the title of the UK’s darkest home.
The listing for the three-bedroom semi-detached home describes “a spacious living area, and roomy kitchen” as well as “additional storage with a good-sized shed and large garage”.
With a guide price of £195,000, the agency is taking offers on the unique home – with the deadline at for 5pm today.
While Broxburn’s all-black property stuns with its moody aesthetic and dark purple accents, Florida’s ultra-narrow home turns heads for its towering defiance of convention.
A bitter land dispute led to a man building a towering 10ft-wide, 19ft-tall house to spite his neighbors – and it’s now worth £500,000.
Developer John Atkins, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida, refused to sell a narrow strip of land situated between two properties, despite repeated demands from his neighbours.
Instead, he decided to make the most of the narrow plot by constructing what’s now known as a “spite house.”
Neighbors were furious, claiming the space was far too tight for a proper home.
But John was determined to prove them wrong.
After initial plans for a 15ft-wide house were rejected by city officials, he came back with an even slimmer design – and regulators couldn’t find any reason to stop it.
The result was a house just 10ft wide and 19ft tall, standing proudly and looking straight into the gardens of the neighbouring properties.
In June 2024, the unusual property was snapped up by new owner Mike Cavanagh for £500,000.
Despite its odd dimensions, Mike is thrilled with his purchase, calling it a “quirky but solid investment.”
Inside, the 1,547-square-foot home features smart built-in storage and custom furniture, including a white oak sofa that Mike says was “pricey but totally worth it.”
While his neighbours might not be fans of the towering house, Mike doesn’t mind.
SWNSThe only variations in colour are dark purple accents – such as curtains, feature walls and sofa cushions[/caption]
SWNSThe property comprises a spacious living area and three bedrooms[/caption]
SWNSUniquely furnished, the property is sure to appeal to homeowners seeking an exceptional new home[/caption]
SWNSThe agency is taking offers on the unique home[/caption]
SWNSThis property is close to Livingston and Edinburgh City Centre[/caption]
SWNSResidents are said to enjoy a strong sense of community, with local parks, schools, and shops enhancing the neighbourhood[/caption]
Explaining he decision to leave BT, he told The Telegraph last year: “I often felt I was doing High Performance all week, and empathy and understanding and leaning into people.
“Then, on Saturday, I was having conversations about sacking managers and dropping players, criticising decisions made by referees.
“I’d been dreaming for a long time, but not brave enough to take a leap.”
GettyJake Humphrey left BT Sport – now TNT – in 2023[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on I’m a beauty writer and skincare fanatic – the bestselling brand that’s my favourite and here’s why you should invest
Medik8/The Sun
ACHIEVING a healthy complexion doesn’t always mean you have to shell out on pricey skincare.
I adore wallet-friendly brands like CeraVe and La Roche Posay for their simple, no-nonsense formulas.
But there is one luxury brand that I am a total sucker for: Medik8.
Medik8/The SunThese are my favourite products from bestselling skincare brand Medik8[/caption]
I still remember the first time I ever tried Medik8.
My product of choice was the brand’s cult Vitamin C serum and – as a religious user of budget serums – I thought there was no way that a £39 serum was going to be worth the price tag.
But how wrong I was.
I’m not sure if it was the lightweight, fast-absorbing formula, or instantly brightening results that did it for me, but after that first use, I was hooked.
Since then, I’ve tried almost everything the brand sells, and have (almost) always been impressed, thanks to Medik8’s innovative, elegant formulas, which deserve their admittedly hefty RRPs.
And, as shoppers continue to race to pop products into their baskets, it seems I’m not alone in my adoration for Medik8.
I’m a huge fan of the vitamin C serumThe Sun
Last year, one in seven orders on beauty retailer Face the Future were Medik8 products, making it the website’s bestselling brand for cleansers and serums, with over 6,000 and 3,000 units sold, respectively.
Founded on a unique CSA principle – which involves using vitamin C and SPF in the morning, followed by a vitamin A (AKA retinoid) at night – Medik8 products are developed in the UK and the brand is a certified B-Corp.
Here are my top picks…
Medik8 Total Moisture Daily Facial Cream
This moisturiser keeps skin hydrated for up to 100 hoursMedik8
I have combination skin, meaning I suffer from both oiliness and excessive dryness – the joy!
So finding a moisturiser that deeply hydrates my skin without creating a greasy, oily sheen can be tough.
However, I’ve been impressed with this indulgent formula, which has a cooling, almost whipped texture that quickly sinks into skin.
Once applied, the cream claims to keep skin hydrated and moisturised for up to 100 hours, thanks to multi-weight hyaluronic acid – though I still apply mine twice daily.
The innovative formula also helps boost your skin barrier by up to 30% in one hour, reducing the risk of dryness and breakouts caused by harsh weather and pollution.
Medik8 C-Tetra Luxe Serum
This potent formula contains more vitamin C than the original version of the serumMedik8
Before I begin, I’ve heard very mixed reviews about vitamin C serums.
While I swear by these glow-promoting, skin-clearing formulas, others will experience irritation and sensitivity.
So if you’ve never tried vit C before, I’d advise that you don’t make this £59 Medik8 serum your first rodeo, and instead, I’d suggest dipping your toe in with an inexpensive formula like Botanics Vitamin C Glow Serum, £10.99.
That said, I swear by this C-Tetra Luxe serum – which contains twice the amount of vitamin C of the OG C-Tetra serum – and I have it to thank for clearing and refreshing my skin.
Unlike other vitamin C serums I’ve used, it’s lightweight without being watery and leaves my skin looking brighter and more glowy, even after just one use.
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum
Medik8This serum floods skin with moisture[/caption]
Hydration is key to nearly all of your skincare concerns, and this serum has it in spades.
Starring plumping, hydrating hyaluronic acid and healing vitamin B5, the product features a cocktail of refreshing ingredients that flood skin with moisture.
While it’s heavier – and slightly stickier – than other hyaluronic serums I’ve tried, the formula doesn’t leave your complexion feeling heavy or ‘stuck’, and instead instantly alleviates feelings of dryness and tightness.
I prefer the texture of this Hydr8 B5 Intense Serum to the OG Hydr8 B5 serum, which I find a little too sticky, plus, its more potent, fast-acting formula delivers more noticeable results too.
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on Love Island star drops biggest hint yet she’s heading to villa for All Stars as she posts airport photo
LOVE Island star Abi Moore’s has dropped a big hint she could be on her way to the All Stars villa.
The blonde beauty shared photos on Instagram today from an airport, writing: “She’s off again.”
InstagramAbi Moores has dropped a hint she could be an All Stars bombshell[/caption]
Abi found fame in the villa in 2023Rex
In the shots, Abi, 25, could be seen in a crop grey tracksuit, possibly suggesting she’s flying long haul.
Fan seemed to think so, with one suggesting her destination was South Africa, where All Stars is et.
One wrote: “Wow you look absolutely stunning as always Abi. I hope you are ok as always I am really looking forward to seeing you on love Island all stars I hope you have an amazing time in there I hope you find love in there too xx.”
Another said: “Going into the all stars villa?”
A third shared: “Bombshell!!! Love island?”
It’s the latest in a series of ‘clues’ Abi has dropped on social media, though she could just be capitalising on her association with the show to boost engagement with her account.
A few day ago she revealed a slew of bikinis had been dropped off at her door.
Teasing a bombshell stint in the villa, she wrote on Instagram: “Received so many cute bikini sets. Thank you so much.”
She then proceeded to model them for her followers.
It was in 2023 that Abi found a connection with Mitch Taylor on the show, but he later ditched her and recoupled with Ella Barnes.
It was deemed one of the show’s most horrific Love Island triangles, and helped Mitch earn his ‘Messy’ nickname.”
Poor Abi was left brokenhearted and had to watch her man getting cosy with his new girl while they both called her “bitter”.
After a painful few weeks, she ended up leaving the villa with Scott van-der-Sluis, but it was short-lived in the outside world.
Abi had a connection with Mitch Taylor in the villaRexInstagramShe left the show with Scoot van-der-Sluis, but it was a short-lived romance[/caption]
3 weeks agoLatest NewsComments Off on WA to see Ghosts as hit BBC comedy gets an Aussie reboot to be shot in Western Australia
The State’s screen production boom is set to continue this year, with The West Australian able to reveal an Aussie version of the hit BBC comedy Ghosts will be shot in WA.
