Along with low-rise jeans and cigarettes, Gen Z can be held responsible for bringing back the disposable camera.

Sales have been on the rise since 2019, according to Fujifilm, who have seen a particular resurgence among younger customers.

But there’s no question that taking a photo on one is pretty tricky, especially a selfie.

How do you get that fuzzy disposable camera aesthetic, without chopping your forehead off?

As ever, social media has the answer.

Instagrammer Hayley Fitz shared the hack, and followers were thrilled. ‘Good to know! That’s a clever trick,’ wrote one happy commenter. While another dubbed it ‘so smart’, and a third said ‘life hack right there’.

So, without further ado, here’s how to take the perfect disposable camera selfie – and all you need is an iPhone.

How to use an iPhone to take the perfect disposable camera picture

1. Start by opening the camera app on your iPhone and setting it to front-facing mode.
2. Grab your disposable camera and position it like you’re about to take a selfie.
3. Place your iPhone behind your camera with the front-facing lens lining up with the viewfinder eyepiece.
4. Looking at the screen of your iPhone, move the camera around until you find the perfect selfie position. Your view will be slightly blocked by the disposable camera, but you can get a good idea of what you’re taking a picture of.
5. Snap away!

Of course, there are some naysayers, who haven’t been quite so impressed with this handy trick.

Some claim that taking a photo like this takes away from the excitement of waiting to see what your snaps will look like when you finally bother to get them developed.

‘This defeats the entire purpose of the camera and the fun of seeing how your photos look after you develop them,’ @itslauraalovee wrote.

@rachelmferguson_ added: ‘But it’s more fun to not know what it looks like.’

Another user, @dialz4milez did have a good suggestion though for those worried about losing the magic of a disposable camera:

‘Honestly love the idea, I imagine you don’t do this for EVERY disposable image but do have some promised ones I bet feels good, I’ll try this idea.’

Will you be trying it?

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Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) has revealed what he calls ‘the single most lucrative thing you can do with your money’.

According to the finance guru, a simple check could boost the retirement funds of millions of Brits — with many adding upwards of £10,000 to their pot.

And in a recent edition of the MSE newsletter, he urged ‘everyone’ under age 73 to see if they’re eligible now, as there’s not much time left to act.

The door closes for this on April 5, but Martin warns that ‘it’s not a quick process’, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better.

Here’s what you need to know

How to boost your pension

According to MSE, buying back missing years in your national insurance record could massively boost your pension.

Your state pension is determined by how many years you have paid national insurance (NI). As a general rule, you need about 35 years to get the maximum amount, which is currently set at £221.20 a week.

However, some people may have gaps in their NI record for a variety of reasons:

• You were earning a low wage (it’s only mandatory to pay NI if you earn more than £242 per week from one job), or were unemployed.
• If you were self-employed making small profit margins
• You lived or worked outside the UK for a period of time

While currently, men aged under 73 and women aged under 71 are able to buy missing years back to 2006, the launch of the ‘new’ state pension means the option won’t be available for long.

You’ve now got until April 5 to buy back any missing national insurance years from 2006 to 2018. After this date, you can do it to 2019, potentially meaning you’ll miss out on the years you need to boost your retirement.

And when we say boost, we mean it. One MSE subscriber emailed into the financial advice platform to share just how lucrative this hack is.

‘My wife had 10+ years missing,’ David wrote. ‘Her pension forecast was £69/wk, but a (large £8,200) contribution to fill the gaps increased it to £132/wk.’

This equates to a £3,280 per year jump — a staggering £60,000 if his wife draws her pension for 20 years.

The process is pretty straightforward, although Martin’s advice is to start now, commenting: ‘Leave it to nearer the deadline and if the systems get clogged, it could be very cumbersome to make it work.’

Step one is to check your national insurance record on the UK Government website.

If you do have any missing years, MSE says its worth using the Government’s state pension forecaster to determine how much pension you’ll get with your current NI record. If you’re already getting the full state pension – which will show as a £221.20 a week forecast – there’s likely no point in buying back any years.

Bear in mind too, if you’re still a way off retirement, you still may have plenty of time to make up enough years, so you might not need to fill those gaps.

In some cases, you may not even have to pay for a full year (which typically costs £824), so the risks of spending more than you’ll get are effectively ‘diminished’.

‘What matters most here is whether you’re on track to get the full forecast, the cost of the years, and your age right now,’ adds Martin.

The Government website can help you decide whether to buy back certain years, and how to do it, and you can find more information on the MSE website.

This article was first published on March 5, 2025.

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Martin Lewis’ Money Saving Expert (MSE) has revealed what he calls ‘the single most lucrative thing you can do with your money’.

According to the finance guru, a simple check could boost the retirement funds of millions of Brits — with many adding upwards of £10,000 to their pot.

And in the latest edition of the MSE newsletter, he’s urging ‘everyone’ under age 73 to see if they’re eligible now, as there’s not much time left to act.

The door closes for this on April 5, but Martin warns that ‘it’s not a quick process’, so the sooner you get the ball rolling the better.

Here’s what you need to know

How to boost your pension

According to MSE, buying back missing years in your national insurance record could massively boost your pension.

Your state pension is determined by how many years you have paid national insurance (NI). As a general rule, you need about 35 years to get the maximum amount, which is currently set at £221.20 a week.

However, some people may have gaps in their NI record for a variety of reasons:

• You were earning a low wage (it’s only mandatory to pay NI if you earn more than £242 per week from one job), or were unemployed.
• If you were self-employed making small profit margins
• You lived or worked outside the UK for a period of time

While currently, men aged under 73 and women aged under 71 are able to buy missing years back to 2006, the launch of the ‘new’ state pension means the option won’t be available for long.

You’ve now got until April 5 to buy back any missing national insurance years from 2006 to 2018. After this date, you can do it to 2019, potentially meaning you’ll miss out on the years you need to boost your retirement.

And when we say boost, we mean it. One MSE subscriber emailed into the financial advice platform to share just how lucrative this hack is.

‘My wife had 10+ years missing,’ David wrote. ‘Her pension forecast was £69/wk, but a (large £8,200) contribution to fill the gaps increased it to £132/wk.’

This equates to a £3,280 per year jump — a staggering £60,000 if his wife draws her pension for 20 years.

The process is pretty straightforward, although Martin’s advice is to start now, commenting: ‘Leave it to nearer the deadline and if the systems get clogged, it could be very cumbersome to make it work.’

Step one is to check your national insurance record on the UK Government website.

If you do have any missing years, MSE says its worth using the Government’s state pension forecaster to determine how much pension you’ll get with your current NI record. If you’re already getting the full state pension – which will show as a £221.20 a week forecast – there’s likely no point in buying back any years.

Bear in mind too, if you’re still a way off retirement, you still may have plenty of time to make up enough years, so you might not need to fill those gaps.

In some cases, you may not even have to pay for a full year (which typically costs £824), so the risks of spending more than you’ll get are effectively ‘diminished’.

‘What matters most here is whether you’re on track to get the full forecast, the cost of the years, and your age right now,’ adds Martin.

The Government website can help you decide whether to buy back certain years, and how to do it, and you can find more information on the MSE website.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Some lucky people will find themselves out like a light as soon as their head hits the pillow at night.

Others will be tossing and turning, replaying the day’s events, counting sheep and watching the hours tick away as they struggle to fall asleep.

Thankfully there are tips and hacks aplenty to practice better sleep health, and handy trick might be just what you need.

Have you tried to, just stay up? We know it sounds totally counter-intuitive but it seems there is method in the madness.

A technique called paradoxical intention has been in the works since the 1930s, usually used to treat anxiety disorders, but it can also be utilised for better sleep – you just have to tell yourself you’re not falling asleep and not put any pressure on yourself to drift off.

Paradoxical intention is an accepted psychological technique for treating insomnia. It was first named by the Psychologist Victor Frankl in 1939. He believed to treat anxiety we need to face the fear of whatever it is that is making us anxious. 

As well as anxiety and insomnia, the technique is also used to treat OCD, anorexia and many different phobias.

For insomnia, the theory is that when we get into bed and try to go to sleep, the pressure of trying to sleep, causes anxiety. This switches on the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) – the body’s ‘fight, fright and flight system’ which is the response needed for the body to flee from danger.

The anxiety of trying to sleep then puts you on high alert, something that isn’t helped if you keep glancing at the clock. However, you can lull yourself into a sleep by telling yourself to do the opposite.

We spoke to Dr Deborah Lee, sleep expert from Doctor Fox, who tells us about how to practice paradoxical intention, and activate your PSNS instead of the SNS nervous system.

Dr Lee tells Metro: ‘If you get into bed and tell yourself you must stay awake, funnily enough the opposite happens, and the parasympathetic pathway (PSNS,) the body’s main rest and relaxation pathway is activated.

‘The PSNS is the dominant autonomic nervous system in operation when we sleep. Your natural sleep drive takes over and you find yourself falling asleep. 

‘The key principle is that you need to be convinced that it’s fine to be lying there awake and that sleep will come. If you don’t buy into the exercise, it won’t work.’

While more tests need to be carried out, in 2002 a study concluded that paradoxical intention was better at reducing sleep-related anxiety than other passive methods of trying to induce sleep. In some studies, the effects of paradoxical intention on insomnia led to large improvements in insomnia symptoms.

Dr Lee notes that there a myriad of reasons why someone may be having trouble dozing off and that it’s worth interrogating what these are. She also warns that paradoxical intention alone might not be enough, as you’ll also need to be practicing good sleep health.

‘Sleep and falling asleep are complex,’ she explains. ‘Many of us are kept awake by all sorts of issues such as noise, overheating, an uncomfortable bed, night-time allergies and worrisome thoughts.

‘Paradoxical intention can’t fix everything! It’s only likely to work if you practise good sleep hygiene, with all these variables corrected, and a set bedtime and getting up time.’

But given that the brain is so powerful, you could run the risk of manifesting the assertion that you won’t fall asleep and end up staying up.

The expert adds that while you might not get the technique right straight away, don’t put pressure on yourself and don’t give up – come back to it.

‘Learning to control our thoughts is a crucial part of going to sleep. By facing up to what we dread, we are normalising the situation. Each time we go through it, it feels a little less frightening. 

‘Paradoxical intention is not a quick fix and it works little by little, over time. If you find it isn’t working, go back to basics and address all the key issues for sleep hygiene. Work on increasing your natural sleep drive by not napping during the day, taking exercise during the day and going to bed a bit later when you feel tired.’

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Reclining plane seats is a tricky issue: while everybody’s entitled to use the feature, it can leave the person behind cramped and uncomfortable.

Someone who’d clearly had enough of her knees being crushed is Clare Duggan, who recently shared a ‘hack’ for protecting her legroom on flights.

‘This is the best life hack when you’ve got someone in front who’s trying to put the seat down constantly’, she said in a TikTok video that’s racked up 1.5 million views in just over a week.

Demonstrating, Clare then puts her tray table down and wedges a Pringles tube on top of it, effectively blocking the person in front from adjusting their seat.

It’s certainly not a foolproof plan though; for one, it’ll only work on certain planes.

There’s also the matter of angering your fellow passengers, as Claire’s tip clearly has.

‘This is ridiculous and quite frankly, you should be banned from flying,’ commented @husohere. ‘Bloody pathetic.’

‘You are a horrible person,’ wrote @th15guy5ucks, while @annecleese added: ‘I would call the steward immediately to fix my seat.’

Others praised Clare for sharing the trick, including @samjnsn who said: ‘As a 6ft 5 traveller this is the best thing I’ve ever seen,’ and @peckishpiranha who called it ‘genius.’

But some laid blame not with travellers but airlines, for putting reclining seats in such already-restricted spaces.

One commenter, @tamaaaarn, wrote: ‘They need to remove the recline option or create more room between the seats.’

Flight etiquette is often a heated topic, with an on-board tuna melt being labelled ‘diabolical’ and ‘a crime’ by disgruntled social media users.

Jackie Vernon-Thompson, who runs From the Inside-Out School of Etiquette, agrees that smelly food is poor form, but she also highlighted a range of other faux pas.

According to the 54-year-old, you should avoid blocking the aisle while you put your bag in the overhead locker, and spreading your legs out into the aisle is a ‘non-negotiable’.

‘There are seats with extra legroom you can pay for,’ she said.

‘And if you need to stretch your legs, take a walk – but you paid for your seat, not the aisle.’

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February 2 marks National Yorkshire Pudding Day here in the UK, and there’s nothing more divisive when it comes to a roast dinner than whether or not to add Yorkies.

If you aren’t adding fluffy Yorkshire puddings to your Sunday lunch, then you’re well and truly missing out.

But if you are, then we’ve got some top tips from chefs to help you take yours to the next level adding more flavour and making them the best they can be.

Making Yorkshire puddings couldn’t be simpler, as it’s just a case of mixing up flour, eggs, and milk, and pouring the batter into some very hot oil, before whacking it in the oven. But according to Josie Savry, director of The Ox and The Rose & Crown, the key is to make the batter in advance.

She tells Metro: ‘My most important tip is that you have to make your Yorkie batter the day before. It needs time to slightly ferment, you’ll see some bubbles in the batter, then bring to room temp before putting your batter into your well-oiled tray. What’s more, at my pub The Ox, the rule is the bigger the better. So don’t be afraid to use large trays for those large Yorkies.’

And Luca Mastrantoni, head chef at Ekstedt at The Yard agrees. For his Scandinavian-inspired Sunday roast, the batter is left to rest for at least an hour, but ideally overnight to give ‘better texture and rise’.

His other top tips include making sure the oil in your tin reaches 200 to 200C and avoiding opening the oven door at all costs while the Yorkshires are cooking, or they could deflate – which would be tragic.

But the most interesting tip of all came from Tim Dela Cruz, head chef at Smiths of Smithfield Restaurant, who revealed that he adds a secret extra ingredient to his Yorkshire Puddings for ‘adventurous flavour’.

He explained: ‘When I’m making Yorkshire puddings at home for a Sunday roast, I use equal amounts of milk, plain flour and eggs, but then add a little touch of saffron to the mix. This gives it a lovely colour and some added flavour.’

But these aren’t the only extras you could add, and he’s also not opposed to turning a Yorkshire pud into a pudding… literally.

Tim continues: ‘For those wanting to be more adventurous, I would also recommend adding some slight spicing such as turmeric and chilli powder, or if you prefer something sweet, twist your Yorkie into a dessert with some chocolate and marshmallow toppings – almost like a smore!’

Some might be appalled by the idea of eating a Yorkshire Pudding as a dessert, but it’s important to remember the batter is the same as that of a pancake – which we have no qualms about smothering in Nutella or maple syrup.

Traditionally though, Yorkshires are actually meant to be consumed as a starter, and not with the main dish.

Who knew?!

The original purpose of the pud was that you filled up on the stodgy batter to start with, meaning you didn’t need so much of the meat and vegetables that followed – which was perfect for big families with tight budgets.

So there you have it, you can now make the best Yorkshire Puddings, and you know exactly when to eat them.

And if you’re in need of more tips for your lunch, we also recently learned how to make Marcus Wareing’s ‘perfectly crispy’ roast potatoes. The trick is not about which potatoes you use, but how you cook them, and you have to make sure not to over boil them.

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Taking the family abroad can get expensive when you’re limited to school holidays — but Martin Lewis has a nifty way to beat the peak-time price hikes.

In the latest edition of his Money Saving Expert (MSE) newsletter, the personal finance guru shared tips to save money on travel, with one in particular that’ll appeal to UK parents.

It’s all about working around term times in different areas, so will depend on where you’re based. First off, check when holidays start for you via your local authority’s website.

‘Most schools in England and Wales break up around July 23,’ Martin writes.

‘So book for before then if your school finishes sooner, eg, many in Leicestershire break up over a week earlier this summer.’

If you don’t fall into category though, don’t worry: holidaymakers in England can make the most of Scottish summer break, and vice versa.

Explaining the ‘Scottish trick’, which he says is especially good for those in northern England or northern Wales, Martin says: ‘Fly from Scotland in the last two weeks of August, even if you don’t live there.

‘As Scottish schools generally return around Aug 13, you can make big savings by flying the family out from Scotland instead.’

When the MSE team went looking for deals, they found the exact same late August holiday to Dalaman £151 per person cheaper when flying from Edinburgh rather than Manchester.

And it works in reverse too.

If you’re in Scotland, look to fly from England in late June or early July, before schools break up. According to MSE’s research, going from Liverpool instead of Glasgow cut the cost of a three-star all-inclusive week in Majorca from £1,155 per person to £569pp.

Don’t forget to factor in the cost of travel to and from the airport, as well as the price of a hotel (which may be necessary depending on your flight time and how far away you are).

It can also make sense to look into other countries’ holiday dates so you don’t pay over the odds.

‘For example, book Disney World when many US kids are back at school in late August,’ says Martin. ‘A week’s family Disney stay was £223 cheaper than in late July.’

But even if you can’t wangle any of these dates, he advises waiting until the end of the summer to get the best deals.

Martin adds: ‘If you can, don’t jump to go at the start of the holidays. Hold off, then jet off in the last two weeks of summer, as prices drop rapidly at the end of August – likely because most people want to go as soon as possible.’

With savings of £180 per person for a week in the Balearics, good things really do come to those who wait.

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If the January blues are kicking in and you’re already Googling ‘get rich quick’ schemes to stay on holiday forever, it’s time to start planning your next escape.

With travel deals in full swing this month, there’s no better time to snap up a bargain and get your annual leave sorted early.

Plotting days off around weekends and bank holidays can help to maximise your holiday allowance, giving you more time to unwind on the beach without burning through leave too quickly.

So, whether you’re dreaming of a relaxing all-inclusive escape or a quick weekend getaway, planning opens up a world of possibilities.

Metro has crunched the numbers so you don’t have to. This is how you could turn your 2025 annual leave into a whopping 61 days off.

How to maximise your days off this year

Easter: Friday, April 18 to Tuesday, May 6 

Good Friday falls on April 18 next year, with the Easter Monday bank holiday on the following Monday 21. Then, the early May bank holiday is just two weeks later. So, you can enjoy an extra long Easter break of 18 days by only booking nine days off.   

May: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 11 or Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1

Thanks to the two bank holidays in May, there are two ways for you to enjoy nine days off in a row while only using four days of annual leave. 

August: Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 31

Book four days off in August to gain nine days off for a summer holiday thanks to the bank holiday on August 25.

December: Saturday, December 20 to Monday, January 5, 2025

To end the year and enjoy the festive period with family and friends, book seven days off to gain a total of 16 days off.

How much annual leave do I get?

In the UK, full-time workers are entitled to 28 days’ paid leave each year, although the exact amount you get will depend on your employer, shift patterns and length of service.

This schedule is suitable for those who work Monday to Friday, get bank holidays off as standard, and are able to take any days they want throughout the year – unfortunately, that’s not always the case for those in retail, hospitality or seasonal trades.

It also may not apply if you live outside of England, as bank holidays differ slightly across the UK.

If you can take advantage, though, get those holiday requests in ASAP and mark them down on your calendar. You may even have a few days left over for spontaneous adventuring.

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If you’re a card-carrying Costco member, chances are, you like a good bargain.

But it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of deals the massive warehouse has on offer. 

Thankfully, one finance pro has shared some cost-cutting hacks to keep in mind for your next visit.

Mark Tilbury, a ‘self-made millionaire’ and finance expert, shared tips with his 1.6 million Instagram followers in a video titled: ‘Five price hacks you can use in Costco to save money.’

In the video, Mark claims the Costco price tag can indicate how much money can be saved. He first urges his followers to look out for price tags that end in .99 — for example, when an item is sold at £20.99.

Mark says that this means the item has not been discounted and is being sold at its full, original price. So, he claims, ‘there’s no rush to buy it’. 

However, for his next tip, Mark urges shoppers to look out for the price tags that end in .97. According to Mark, this means the product has been discounted from its original price and could be worth buying.

Thirdly, Mark adds: ‘If it ends in a 39, a 49 or a 79, it’s a “manufacturer’s special” so check their website and compare prices.’

In Costco terms, a manufacturer’s special offer applies to products that are undergoing a trial run, and are typically priced cheaper than their retail price. 

For his fourth tip, Mark advises shoppers to look for symbols next to the price tag. As he loads a £149.99 Nespresso machine into his trolley, Mark explains: ‘If it has a star or a plus, it won’t be restocked, so feel free to load up.’

The asterisk – also known as the death star – sits in the right-hand corner of the price tag and indicates the item will be discontinued soon. 

Sharing his fifth and final tip, Mark says: ‘If the price ends in a 00, you’ve stumbled upon a manager’s special. 

In the Cotsco-sphere, a manager’s specials mean the items are heavily discounted – and will likely be the lowest prices you’ll find for the item. 

He adds: ‘These hidden gems are so rare. I couldn’t even spot one today.’

There are 29 Costco warehouses around the UK, with discounts on everything from toiletries and groceries to petrol and big-ticket tech.

You can’t just walk in and start shopping though. Only certain professions can apply for in-store membership (priced from £33.60 per year).

Alongside business owners, qualifying roles include the likes of local government, banking, medicine, education, or the police.

But even if you don’t fall into one of these categories, you may still be able to get in on the savings.

According to MSE, AA, RAC and National Trust Members are also eligible to join at certain locations – including Birmingham, Sheffield and Cardiff. 

There is a catch, though. You can only shop at the location you joined. Once you get the go-ahead, however, all you have to do is show the relevant info at the membership counter and shop ‘til you drop. 

Those who don’t qualify for the warehouse membership can sign up for an online membership for £15 a year – with no qualifications necessary. 

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Keeping track of your spending when travelling abroad can be difficult.

The food, the transport, the excursions — there are so many factors to consider and dealing with a different currency makes it even more of a challenge.

But with 51 countries now more expensive for Brits to travel to, following a drop in the pound’s value, being able to quickly calculate prices is more useful than ever.

Lucking, there’s a little-known iPhone feature that makes this much easier.

The calculator app has had a makeover, and you can now use it to convert currencies with just a couple of taps.

The tip has gone viral on social media, with one Instagram user and travel planner, @lifeofthetravelingpin, calling it a ‘game changer’ for international travel.

She added: ‘This new feature not only is it easily accessible, but it also works without data and easily switches to input the local currency or your home currency. Now you can easily convert currencies directly from your phone, even when you don’t have an internet connection.’

Other Instagram users were impressed, with one commenting: ‘Did not know this!! Will use it on my vacation next month!!’

Another added: ‘I never knew a calculator could excite me this much’, and one person said, ‘This is literally the most useful thing I’ve ever seen on Instagram’.

Many shared the places around the world where they plan to use the tip, and were pleased to be able to delete their conversion apps.

How to use the iPhone currency converter

1. Go to the Calculator app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Calculator Mode button at the bottom left of the screen.
3. Toggle on ‘Convert’ and select ‘Currency’ from the menu at the top of the screen (you can also choose to convert measurements like speed, time and weight with this feature).
4. Choose the units or currencies you want to convert from and to.
5. Enter a value in either field to see conversions as you type.

The new feature came as part of the iOS 18 update, which was released in September 2024.

This means iPhone users will have to have installed the latest software to be able to use it, which is available on iPhone XR/XS or later.

Unfortunately, there are a number of older models that are not compatible with iOS 18 and therefore won’t have the new currency conversion feature.

The calculator currency converter isn’t the only travel hack that’s gone viral on social media recently.

Travellers are sharing increasingly extreme hacks to avoid airline baggage fees, including buying a travel pillow for extra storage and hiding items in duty-free bags.

Other money-saving hacks include using comparison sites to find the best deals on flights and hotels, and travelling during the off-season.

However, be cautious when trying out viral travel hacks.

Not everything you see online will work, and trying to dodge fees may land you in hot water with airline and hotel staff.

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There are more than 15,000 restaurants in London, meaning you certainly won’t be short of options for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. 

But getting a table at some of the hottest spots the city has to offer is often easier said than done, with many places booking up months in advance, and queues stretching down the street.

However, it turns out there’s a clever way to find and book superb restaurants – and it’ll also help you nab free food, limited-edition dishes, and other exclusive perks.

Here’s everything you need to know…

How to get free food in London restaurants

It’s all thanks to a little-known app called Appetite, which first launched in November 2023 and is essentially an all-in-one destination for all your foodie needs. 

The free app allows you to put all of your must-visit restaurant lists and recommendations in one place, search for exactly the kind of place you want to visit (be it a romantic date night spot, or somewhere buzzier), and book yourself a table if there’s one available.

You can share memories from your meal, make plans with friends and follow other foodies to discover where Londonders are really eating. But perhaps the best part is a brand new feature known as ‘Treats’. 

Every month users of the app will be eligible for a number of treats at the best London restaurants, which includes everything from free food, to complimentary cocktails, and secret off-menu dishes you wouldn’t otherwise be able to try.

If this weren’t enough, there will also be access to exclusive events and invitations to soft launches for new restaurants.

These treats, and the restaurants they are available at, will change every month, so you can keep eating at new and different places. 

Current examples of available treats include a complimentary Pork Chicharron starter at Crudo Cevicheria in Covent Garden, complimentary Churros Con Chocolate at Broken Eggs in Fitzrovia, complimentary World Famous Cauliflower at Miznon in Notting Hill, and complimentary champagne or a cocktail at Cornus in Belgravia.

You’ll only be able to use each treat once, but there’s no limit on the number of different treats you can try from your list of available offers. 

The treats available to you will vary depending on your location, and it’s worth noting that there is a little bit of a catch. With treats such as the famous cauliflower at Miznon, there are a couple of stipulations you have to follow to claim the dish. In this instance, the offer is to share between two people, but you have to spend a minimum of £30 to get it. 

After downloading and joining the app for the first time there were seven different ‘treats’ available that Metro could see for January 2025. But the co-founders of the app, Toby and James Green, claim they are working towards more of a ‘reward’ system – the more people use Appetite, the more treats they’ll receive.

Toby Green, co-founder, Appetite said: ‘Whether it’s a glass of Champagne to toast a new job, or a slice of cake to celebrate a birthday, the small gesture of a treat on-the-house has always been an essential part of the dining experience – turning an ordinary meal into a memorable one. 

‘With the launch of Appetite Treats, we’ve just updated it for the digital age. So, now you don’t have to wait for a special occasion – you can treat yourself and your friends every time you eat out.’

As well as London, the Appetite app has also launched in Manchester, and the team are looking to expand it out across England in the future.

In the mean time, if you’re looking for more delicious cafes, bars and restaurants to try in London, Metro recently shared a look back at some of the best eats of 2024.

And a number of fabulous foodie places were also recently added to the Michelin Guide for 2025, including a restaurant that ‘feels very 90s’ and has a special link to Princess Diana.

Those keen for other London freebies might also be keen to discover more about the ‘secret’ way to bag free theatre and concert tickets. All you have to do is sign up to become a seat filler, and there are a number of different sites and companies you can do this with.

From The Audience Club (which has a £5 membership fee, or is free to join for those with a Blue Light Card), to Central Tickets, SeatFillers, AJTix, and Show Film First, websites such as these offer last-minute seats and entry to help fill unsold space at events. 

This includes everything from local pub comedy nights or cabaret events to fringe previews, outdoor concerts, festivals, West End productions, regional theatre, film screenings, and even movie premieres. 

A lot of seats will be free, but sometimes members will have to pay a small fee to secure tickets. Other events may have a heavily discounted price — for instance several big gigs are currently listed on one of the sites for less than £20 a ticket. 

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We’ve all been there — sitting on top of a suitcase at the end of a holiday, trying to squeeze the zip shut on all the new purchases.

Buying souvenirs is part of the travel experience, but airline baggage policies make it difficult to indulge in retail therapy without paying the price for an overweight suitcase.

It means travellers are resorting to extreme hacks to avoid baggage fees, but you don’t have to sweat over concealed items at the gate to take extra luggage home with you.

There’s a simpler solution: packing a suitcase within a suitcase for your outward journey. Hear us out.

A Reddit user calling themselves Either-Number-8116 recently posed a question: ‘This might be a stupid question but are you allowed to check a suitcase with a smaller suitcase inside?

‘I’m going to Europe soon and I plan to do a lot of shopping. [On] my flight there I only get one checked bag but on my flight back I get two free checked bags.

‘I was thinking of packing a small suitcase with my things and putting it into a slightly larger suitcase and checking the larger one, then checking both on the way back’.

In good news for shoppers, packing suitcases inside each other to take on a plane is indeed allowed, provided you don’t exceed the weight allowance.

Reddit users confirmed they’ve used the trick successfully, though one woman warned that security once opened her suitcase to check what was going on.

‘I guess it looked odd on the screen but they didn’t care,’ she wrote.

Others said they pack an empty duffle bag inside in a suitcase for the outward trip. They then fill it with clothes on the return, making extra room in the suitcase for any valuable or fragile souvenirs.

As long as you aren’t carrying a prohibited item, what you choose to pack in your suitcase is up to you.

And when you get to your destination, you can separate your suitcases and fill them with any items you purchase while you’re there.

This tip saves money on luggage fees because you’ll only have to pay for an extra bag on your way back.

Just make sure to add the extra bag to your return flight — either when you book or at a later dat. Don’t wait until you arrive at the airport, as this may cost you more.

It’s not the only packing hack that could save you money — savvy travellers have been sharing some of their top tips for evading baggage fees.

One popular trick involves taking the stuffing out of a travel pillow and filling it with extra clothes instead, while others have suggested buying a duty-free bag at the airport and putting extra items inside.

Some simply wear as many layers as they can on the flight to free up room in their suitcase.

However, be wary of some viral packing hacks — taking them too far could land you in hot water with airline staff.

In June 2024, a video of a viral packing hack backfiring emerged on TikTok.

It showed a man being escorted away from the gate at Orlando International Airport after he tried to take a pillowcase filled with clothing and other items on board his flight.

Filling a small travel pillow with personal items might let you sneak some extra luggage on board,  but filling up a standard pillowcase may sound the alarm to gate agents.

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Russian-speaking hackers are believed to have stolen a huge trove of location data pulled from people’s phones around the world.

Tens of millions of phone coordinates pinged through the use of thousands of popular apps are said to have been accessed.

Experts said the information can be used to reveal ‘intimate’ details of people’s movements down to whether they were using their phone on the bus or on the toilet.

A post which appeared earlier this month on a well-known hacking forum contained a 1.4-gigabyte sample of what the author claimed to be more than 10,000 gigabytes of data taken from Gravy Analytics, a company which collects location data from phone use and sells it on.

A number of cyber security experts have analysed the sample and said it appears to be real information linked to the use of popular apps.

The apps include Spotify, Citymapper, Tinder, Grindr, Candy Crush, Temple Run, My Period Calendar & Tracker and MyFitnessPal, according to a list of thousands compiled by tech news outlet 404 Media.

The companies behind many of the named apps have said they do not work with Gravy Analytics, and some have said they do not track user location data at all.

Spotify claims it has confirmed that ‘no Spotify user data is involved in this hack’, while Tinder said it found ‘no evidence that this data was obtained from the Tinder app’.

But experts have said the information could have been collected through advertising linked to the apps, rather than the code of the apps themselves.

It’s thought that a large amount of data on how people are using their phones is collected from their interactions with ads which appear on apps, often without the knowledge of users or the apps’ developers.

Zach Edwards, senior threat analyst at cybersecurity firm Silent Push, told 404 Media: ‘For the first time publicly, we seem to have proof that one of the largest data brokers selling to both commercial and government clients appears to be acquiring their data from the online advertising “bid stream”.’

Some of the named apps, such as Grindr and Muslim Pro (a Muslim prayer app) have said they do not allow ad networks to collect users’ location data.

The Gravy Analytics hack is said to include coordinates pulled from devices in Europe, the US and Russia.

The sample data has been removed, although a number of experts were able to download and analyse it in the meantime.

Gravy Analytics, which claims to track more than a billion devices around the world daily, has yet to publicy comment on the matter.

Its parent company, Norwegian firm Unacast, is understood to have disclosed a breach to data protection authorities in Norway and the UK.

The notice filed in Norway said a hacker had acquired files from its Amazon cloud space using a ‘misappropriated key’, according to TechCrunch.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Winter mornings are bad enough as it is with cold temperatures and frost, but many of us are often also met with the problem of iced-up car windows.

Frozen car windows are not what you want to see first thing in the morning, especially if you have to get behind the wheel.

While there are countless methods for de-icing your car, it’s important drivers do so safely and without breaking any rules. 

For example, one TikTok account has sparked the resurgence of a popular tip for defrosting your windscreen – but drivers should be warned it could lead to a fine. 

In a short clip, East Midlands mechanic @eden_tyres_and_servicing shared a four-step process on what they claimed to be ‘the best way to defrost your window screen’. 

Their method involved blasting the heating as soon as you get in the car, switching on the air conditioning to soak up excess moisture, turning off the car’s air-recirculation feature and cracking the windows slightly to ‘get rid of the humidity’. 

The video quickly went viral on TikTok, scoring 25,000 likes and hundreds of comments. 

However, some users were quick to point out that leaving your engine running while parked is known as ‘car idling’, which could lead to a fine. 

Under regulations 98 and 107 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986, leaving the engine running on a vehicle parked on the public road is an offence, which also aligns with rule 123 of the Highway Code.

According to the RAC, failing to turn off your car engine when instructed could result in a fixed penalty notice of £20, which will increase to £40 if unpaid within a specific time frame.

‘The fine can also be increased to £1000 if you are repeatedly caught doing it,’ its website notes. 

While this rule does not apply to leaving your engine running on private land, such as driveways, the RAC advises against car idling regardless of location.

The British automotive service also warns leaving your engine running poses a risk of car theft – if the vehicle is left unattended. Not only that, it’s also harmful to the environment. 

Idling increases the amount of exhaust fumes in the air – contributing to the ozone, regional haze and global climate change. 

So if you’re looking for fail-safe methods to de-ice your car without these risks, Metro has gathered tried and true tricks. 

How to de-ice your car as quickly as possible

Saltwater mixture

All you need is table salt, water, and an old towel.

Simply mix up a saltwater solution, dunk the towel in it and leave it on the windscreen overnight.

Alternatively, in the morning you can mix up a saltwater solution and wipe or spray it on the glass using a plant sprayer.

Avoid the metal on your car, though, as salt is corrosive.

The science bit is that saltwater freezes at a lower temperature than normal water, so will melt it away.

Alcohol spray

If you’ve got no salt in, you can mix surgical spirit or indeed any booze with water (two parts alcohol, one part water) instead, as both also freeze at low temperatures.

Vinegar

If your house is teetotal – or you just don’t fancy wasting some precious booze – then just mix three parts white vinegar with one part water and spray that onto glass the night before as a preventative or in the morning.

The sandwich bag trick

Putting hot water in a ziplock sandwich bag and simply sliding it across the windscreen is a quick and safe way to defrost your car.

Just make sure to have a cloth ready to wipe off the melted water.

The old towel trick

If you can’t be bothered with all of the above then you could just try and prevent yourself the hassle in the first place.

To do that cover your car in a towel, sheet, newspaper or large bit of cardboard before any dew or ice forms.

Soft brush

If your car is not just covered in ice but snow as well then the best way to rid yourself of it is with a soft brush.

You can buy special ones for cars – but the brush that came with your dustpan should also work just fine.

Don’t just focus on the windscreen – the AA says that it is important to make sure your front grill is clear as well to avoid overheating.

You should also not forget to brush your lights.

De-icing ‘hacks’ you should avoid

Alongside idling, these are some other common de-icing ‘hacks’ that could actually cause damage to you or your car:

• Using a credit card, CD case or something metal like a scraper – This can scratch the glass

• Pouring hot water over it – The temperature difference can cause the glass to crack

• Using a portable hairdryer or other heated appliance – This is extremely dangerous as it could lead to electrocution

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If you’re only just back at work after the festive period and are already researching ‘get rich quick’ schemes so you can forever be on holiday, this tip is for you.

It’s never too early to get a head start on booking your annual leave for the year, and it’s even sweeter if you know you’re making the most of it.

By being clever with your holiday allowance – and plotting leave around weekends – you can get long stretches off, without using it all up by summer.

Metro has crunched the numbers to help you get a whopping 61 days off this year.

How to get 61 days off this year

Easter: Friday, April 18 to Tuesday, May 6 

Good Friday falls on April 18 next year, with the Easter Monday bank holiday on the following Monday 21. Then, the early May bank holiday is just two weeks later. So, you can enjoy an extra long Easter break of 18 days by only booking nine days off.   

May: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 11 or Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1

Thanks to the two bank holidays in May, there are two ways for you to enjoy nine days off in a row while only using four days of annual leave. 

August: Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 31

Book four days off in August to gain nine days off for a summer holiday thanks to the bank holiday on August 25.

December: Saturday, December 20 to Monday, January 5, 2025

To end the year and enjoy the festive period with family and friends, book seven days off to gain a total of 16 days off.

How much annual leave do I get?

In the UK, full-time workers are entitled to 28 days’ paid leave each year, although the exact amount you get will depend on your employer, shift patterns and length of service.

This schedule is suitable for those who work Monday to Friday, get bank holidays off as standard, and are able to take any days they want throughout the year – unfortunately, that’s not always the case for those in retail, hospitality or seasonal trades.

It also may not apply if you live outside of England, as bank holidays differ slightly across the UK.

If you can take advantage, though, get those holiday requests in ASAP and mark them down on your calendar. You may even have a few days left over for spontaneous adventuring.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

Airlines are offering passengers a way to upgrade tickets on quieter flights, and it could save you hundreds of pounds.

It’s as simple as telling the airline how much you’re willing to pay — in other words, submitting a bid. While you’re not guaranteed to win an upgrade, the chance to nab a cheap business class flight is worth the punt.

Whether you’re in search of some winter sun or looking ahead to your summer getaway, bidding to upgrade is one way to make your trip feel extra special without splashing out.

Here’s everything you need to know…

Which airlines allow you to bid for an upgrade?

The following airlines allow passengers to bid for a business class seat — check their websites for further details:

How to bid for a seat upgrade

After you’ve bought an economy class ticket, keep your eyes peeled for an email from the airline offering you the chance to bid for an upgrade. This will often arrive within a week before departure.

You can also go to the airline’s website to see if your booking is eligible for an upgrade.

Airlines will set a minimum and maximum price for a bid. Most passengers will bid close to the minimum amount, so bidding around 20-40% above this gives you a good chance of securing an upgrade.

Not all airlines allow you to bid for seat upgrades, and those that do may only allow it on specific routes or have a certain time window in which to do it — less than 72 hours before departure, for example.

If you win the auction, the airline will let you know and your ticket will be upgraded. Passengers can usually enjoy all the benefits of the upgraded travel class too.

This may include fast-track check-in, a separate lounge in the airport, and complimentary food and drink.

Remember that your bid only counts for one segment of your journey. If you have booked a round trip and want to upgrade your return seat as well, you will need to place two bids.

It might sound too good to be true, but travellers on Reddit have been sharing their bidding success stories.

One user who calls themself doineedaname42069 flew with Air New Zealand and said: ‘We did the lowest bid to get into Premium Economy and got accepted. Was a 787 plane and the late night flight during the weekday, so that might have been why we were accepted.’

Another user, Francisandhismates, wrote: ‘I’ve had my offer accepted two times now on Air NZ, once for business and once for premium economy. The business one was just straight lowball. And the other time I committed a little bit more. It certainly happens!’

Aer Lingus passenger Elbion said: ‘Done it once before and stuck the minimum on it, got the seat and it was subjectively worth it’.

Meanwhile, Icelandair passenger New-Adhesiveness-289 said: ‘[I] bid the minimum and got it. I personally found it to be worth it.’

lizlizliz645 added: ‘I bid just barely over the minimum and got it’.

Remember that bidding to upgrade is a method airlines use to make money from unsold seats.

While it’s a nice perk, you should never bid more than you are willing to pay or can afford. Good luck!

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If you’re already dreading your first day back at work after the festive period and researching ‘get rich quick’ schemes so you can forever be on holiday, this tip is for you.

It’s never too early to get a head start on booking your annual leave for the year, and it’s even sweeter if you know you’re making the most of it.

By being clever with your holiday allowance – and plotting leave around weekends – you can get long stretches off, without using it all up by summer.

Metro has crunched the numbers to help you get a whopping 61 days off this year.

How to get 61 days off this year

Easter: Friday, April 18 to Tuesday, May 6 

Good Friday falls on April 18 next year, with the Easter Monday bank holiday on the following Monday 21. Then, the early May bank holiday is just two weeks later. So, you can enjoy an extra long Easter break of 18 days by only booking nine days off.   

May: Saturday, May 3 to Sunday, May 11 or Saturday, May 24 to Sunday, June 1

Thanks to the two bank holidays in May, there are two ways for you to enjoy nine days off in a row while only using four days of annual leave. 

August: Saturday, August 23 to Sunday, August 31

Book four days off in August to gain nine days off for a summer holiday thanks to the bank holiday on August 25.

December: Saturday, December 20 to Monday, January 5, 2025

To end the year and enjoy the festive period with family and friends, book seven days off to gain a total of 16 days off.

How much annual leave do I get?

In the UK, full-time workers are entitled to 28 days’ paid leave each year, although the exact amount you get will depend on your employer, shift patterns and length of service.

This schedule is suitable for those who work Monday to Friday, get bank holidays off as standard, and are able to take any days they want throughout the year – unfortunately, that’s not always the case for those in retail, hospitality or seasonal trades.

It also may not apply if you live outside of England, as bank holidays differ slightly across the UK.

If you can take advantage, though, get those holiday requests in ASAP and mark them down on your calendar. You may even have a few days left over for spontaneous adventuring.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

If you keep olive oil next to your hob or oven in the kitchen, you’re making a big mistake according to experts.

The product testing pros over at Which? revealed their top kitchen and household insights from 2024 and among these were some tips for getting the most out of everyday products.

The team shared the most ‘invaluable secrets’ they’d learned over the last year after testing thousands of items – everything from air fryers, to dishwasher cleaning methods, and gin.

Among their best tips is some handy advice for looking after olive oil, as they claim if you aren’t storing it correctly, it could go past its best before date much quicker than you think and turn rancid.

Now, it’s no secret that the last few months have seen olive oil skyrocket in price, with analysis by Sky News, finding that the average price of a 500ml bottle of olive oil rose from £3.54 in January 2021 to £7.45 in June 2024, an increase of 110.5%. 

As such, many won’t want to be forking out for the cooking ingredient too often if they can help it.

So to ensure your olive oil lasts for as long as possible, the experts recommend storing it inside a dark bottle or tin, as this will preserve the oil longer than if it were kept in clear glass or plastic.

They add that the bottle also shouldn’t be left next to your hob or oven, as the heat from the appliance can cause the oil to turn rancid more rapidly. Light can also have a negative impact on it.

Instead, you should store the olive oil in a cool, dry place, such as a cupboard.

And this isn’t the only top tip the experts shared, they also warned shoppers not to automatically assume that ‘craft’ gin is a superior product.

They explained: ‘As with “bespoke” and “master distiller” these terms aren’t protected, so don’t guarantee quality.’

Instead of splashing out on a large bottle of ‘craft’ gin, they urged people to ‘test the waters’ by purchasing a small bottle first, to be sure it’s worth the money.

The team at Which? also reminded people that bigger brands aren’t always better, recommending supermarket-own brand versions of popular items like beans and crisps.

After a year of conducting blind taste tests, the consumer champions found that Aldi Bramwells Baked Beans won out over Heinz, Asda Everyday Tea Bags rated higher than Twinings and Tesco Finest Sweet Chilli Crisps were favoured against Walkers.

Metro has also recently conducted several product taste tests, looking to find the best mince pie alternatives and best supermarket bakery croissants.

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Hosting at Christmas is all fun and games until the smoke alarm goes off and you realise you’ve forgotten about the turkey.

Even if you plan ahead of time, so many things can still go wrong on the day, bringing extra hassle and anxiety when all you want is to spend time with your loved ones.

Almost half of Brits stress over Christmas dinner, with a survey by Samsung Series 7 Bespoke AI Oven finding that 27% find the cooking process the most challenging part of the festivities. 

Try not to fear, though, as we’ve cooked up a little something too: a troubleshooting guide to resolve all the most common dining dilemmas you might encounter at this time of year.

So whether you need to make your meal stretch further after an unexpected guest turned up, you’ve run out of oven space or can’t get your roasties right, we’ve got you covered.

Salvage an undercooked or overcooked turkey

According to AEG, turkey is the most troublesome menu item for 22% of Brits, and Google Search data from the past four Christmases shows that Brits have searched for ‘how to cook a turkey’ almost 90,000 times.

But what about when you’ve already started the process and think you’ve messed things up?

If your bird has come out of the oven on the dry side, you just need to revive it with some hydration. Ina Garten recommends doing this by placing the sliced turkey on an ovenproof plate with a quarter of an inch of gravy. The Barefoot Contessa chef then puts the platter in the oven at 160°C for between 15 and 30 minutes, heating it up and allowing the moisture to soak into the meat. Make sure you make extra gravy for serving too, as it can hide a multitude of sins.

Alternatively, if parts of your turkey don’t seem cooked enough but you don’t want to risk putting it back into the oven and potentially drying out, you can cut off the underdone pieces and quickly boil them in a chicken or vegetable stock. Verify everything is safe to eat with a thermometer (it should measure up at 75°C) and you’re ready to go.

Help turkey cook faster

Everyone is sat at the table but your turkey is nowhere near cooked? No dramas.

Simply wrap the bird in foil and turn the heat up to 230°C for around two minutes per lb, which should speed things up.

Alternatively, cut it in half or remove the legs and wings and lay them out on the oven tray, exposing as much of the meat’s surface to heat as possible – and don’t forget to temp check before you serve, as your guests would rather wait than get a nasty dose of festive food poisoning.

Properly carve a turkey

Carving a turkey can be daunting, but it’s easy once you know what you’re doing.,

Zwilling and Staub’s resident chef, Paul Bough, recommends using a sharpened knife, carving fork, and a wooden or plastic board to catch the juices.

‘First remove the wishbone, legs and thighs, then carve each section at a time with the meat flat against the cutting board,’ he says.

‘A sharp knife is key here, as it will cut cleanly. It will also make it easier to keep the skin intact – perfect for those guests who will ask for some of the crispy skin on their plate, too!

‘Use the carving fork to hold the meat still and steady while cutting. Cut against or across the grain for tender slices and avoid flipping the turkey around. Angle the knife slightly for thinner slices. Remember to save the bones and juices for stock or gravy!’

No space in the oven? Use your air fryer

In partnership with Next, Sarah Manning-Ball suggests outsourcing certain dishes to the air fryer when space is in short supply.

She says: ‘Using an air fryer can be a godsend on Christmas Day as it frees up space in your oven.

‘It’s perfect for roast potatoes and stuffing as they come out crispy on the outside and juicy and succulent in the middle. It’s also great for parsnips; just make sure you use a liner if you’re coating them in honey for a quick clean!’

Rescue soggy roast potatoes

Everybody loves crispy roasties on their Christmas plate, so they’ll likely not be happy with mushy spuds.

The trick is to ensure the oven is preheated to 220°C before you pop them in, but perhaps that ship has sailed, in which case HelloFresh Ireland’s head of culinary, Hannah Duxbury, spills says: ‘If your potatoes have gone a bit lacklustre, drizzle extra oil or melted butter over them before reheating.

‘If they’re in need of an extra boost, place them on a wire rack and pop under the grill for a few minutes at the end. Make sure to regularly turn them to avoid burning.’

Thicken or add flavour to your gravy

Hannah also has some secrets for perfect gravy, including what to do if it just won’t thicken up.

She says: ‘There are a few of lesser-known ingredients you can add to your gravy to thicken at the last minute. If you have a handful of leftover roasted vegetables like potatoes or carrots puree and add gradually to your gravy. This adds a delicious earthy taste and packs your dinner with more nutrients. 

‘For a more tried and tested method, make a quick roux with equal parts melted butter and flour. This can then be added to gravy to thicken for a delicious consistency.’

And what about gravy that needs a flavour hit? Hannah recommends the following: ‘Introducing a small amount of acidity with vinegar or lemon juice can help to balance saltiness or counteract sweetness. Fresh herbs, lemon juice and honey are also great additions to help salvage bland gravy.’

Stop the pigs escaping their blankets

Search data shows that ‘how to keep bacon on pigs in blankets’ is one of the most commonly asked questions around everyone’s favourite trimming. 

If you find that your pigs just won’t stay cosy this Christmas, Hannah recommends turning to a couple of household items to keep them in line.

‘Uncooked spaghetti strands can be used as mini skewers for your pigs in blankets,’ she reveals, ‘Simply thread them through the bacon and around the sausage to create a lattice. The pasta will cook alongside the sausages and you can remove it before serving.’

Alternatively, tie chive stems around each end of your sausages – works a treat and looks great too. 

Make the meal stretch further for unexpected guests

While the festive season is a case of ‘the more the merrier’, when a neighbour pops round or someone brings their partner to dinner without warning, you might need to switch up your plans.

According to One4All, 50% of Brits have had unexpected guests turning up on Christmas Day, which probably means making what you have in stock stretch further (the shops aren’t open, after all).

As a first line of defence, you can load up plates with more veggies and cut down on meat, or mash some potatoes as an extra side dish that’s nice and filling.

Also, consider asking guests which parts of the meal they like and leaving out the ones they don’t, avoiding waste and giving you more of certain items to give to the others. And if all else fails, lay out chocolates and nibbles to fill everyone up beforehand.

Calm indigestion without medication

There’s nothing worse than dealing with indigestion or heartburn and being all out of antacids – especially on Christmas day when you can’t pick more up.

One natural remedy to neutralise your stomach acid could be sitting in your fruit bowl, though: bananas. The fruit’s high pH helps offset excess acid, calming things down when you’re in a pinch.

Cold milk, water or ice cream should also help cool your throat after reflux, and chewing gum, sitting upright and wearing loose clothing can also offer relief.

Avoid and deal with fat blockages

You shouldn’t put your cooking juices down the sink, as this can lead to blockages and prompt a big bill if you need to call out a plumber.

Ideally, you should leave fat to cool and through it in the bin once it’s solid, but if you’ve already got a blockage on your hands, Nancy Emery, cleaning expert at Tap Warehouse, explains: ‘You can use a sturdy rod like instrument to break up the fatberg but it’s likely you’ll need to roll your sleeves up and dig out the mass yourself to ensure it’s completely free of debris.

‘Sometimes, the only way to clear this kind of blockage is to call a professional – and this is not going to be cheap around the festive period.’

Safely store or get rid of leftovers

After all the festivities, if you’ve got leftovers galore, storing them quickly and correctly is key to getting them to Boxing Day.

Matt Ayres, appliance expert at RDO Kitchen and Appliances, says: ‘After enjoying your feast, refrigerate leftovers to prevent bacterial growth. Ideally, food should be put into closed containers and stored in the fridge within two hours. It’s also a good idea to label containers to keep track of how fresh they are.

‘If food has been stored correctly, it’s generally safe to eat cold leftovers. If food was left sitting out for longer than two hours, rather reheat the food until it’s steaming to kill any bacteria that might have developed.’

Any leftover veg that you don’t think will be eaten can go into the compost – just cut everything up and turn it regularly to aerate it.

Easily clean up Christmas spills

Where food and family are concerned, mishaps are pretty much inevitable – they can be easily cleaned up, though, leaving you to get back to the important stuff.

On behalf of ScS, cleaning specialist Rosen Delchev from Fantastic Services advises blotting rather than wiping any stains on furniture or carpets.

For red wine, she says: ‘Blot the stain with a clean cloth to absorb the excess liquid. Mix a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar, then continue with gently dabbing the stain with the solution using a clean cloth. After that, rinse with water and blot dry.’

A mixture of water and detergent is best for spilled Baileys, while water and ammonia will make light work of cranberry sauce.

Thicker liquids like gravy and custard are slightly different, though with Rosen saying: ‘Unlike the other stains, you need to scrape off the excess with a spoon. Next, mix a solution of warm water and dish soap, and once again blot the stain gently with the solution, before rinsing and blotting dry.’

This article was first published December 25, 2023.

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If you’ve still got your Christmas food shopping to do, this tip – from Britain’s Coupon King Jordan Cox – can save you a pretty penny.

On Instagram, the money-saving aficionado shared a nifty hack for Tesco shoppers to nab £20 off, using the supermarket’s Clubcard Plus loyalty scheme.

Customers who sign up for the premium subscription get 10% off two shops a month (as well as 10% off clothing year-round) with a maximum£20 discount on a £200 spend.

Jordan explained: ‘The trick is – the first month of Clubcard Plus is free (usually its £7.99 a month).’

So essentially, you can sign up for nothing, get a tidy £20 off your trolley, then ‘cancel before you’re charged.’

There are a few things to note: first off, you need to make sure you do actually cancel before the free month is out. It may be worth setting a reminder on your phone just in case.

Additionally, it’s worth checking if you’re still getting the best price, regardless of the discount. Depending on how much you spend and what you’re buying, it could end up coming out cheaper elsewhere.

Some commenters also highlighted that the offer doesn’t always apply online, and may only work for in-store purchases.

Otherwise, fill your basket and enjoy the festive savings.

And for those who regularly shop at Tesco, Jordan highlighted the benefits of signing up for Clubcard Plus beyond the free trial period.

‘It’s actually worthwhile to have it if you consistently spend £80+ each month,’ he added. ‘So might be worth weighing it up.’

Elsewhere, Co-op customers have been warned to spend their loyalty points by the end of the year, as the supermarket makes the switch to ‘member prices’ in 2025.

Martin Lewis’s Money Saving Expert urged people to check the Co-op app, log into their Co-op account online, or simply check your receipt to find out how many points they have leftover.

You then have just a few days to drain your rewards balance before New Year’s Eve, as it’s a ‘use it or lose it’ scenario.

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Martin Lewis has proven once again that he really is a national treasure, and handed out tips on winning boardgames this Christmas.

The Money Saving Expert, 52, has already given us plenty of hacks for saving some cash in the run up to an often expensive festive period.

But he’s now turned his attention to a rather different passion of his: boardgames.

The Good Morning Britain presenter, who even proposed to his wife Lara over a game of Scrabble, fronted a new ITV documentary, Martin Lewis: How to Win at Board Games last week.

And he’s shared all his secrets, giving us a sure-fire way to win at Monopoly.

The documentary sees Martin teach some school children tips for winning Connect Four, take on a master of Scrabble, and hand out all his Monopoly hacks.

So ahead of Mr Monopoly being brought out the cupboard and dusted off, we’ve rounded up Martin’s tips to make sure you’re guaranteed to beat your relatives at the iconic game.

The most common throw is a 7

Thanks to his handy dice probability pyramid, Martin was able to show that the most common throw is a seven, and the least likely would be a two or a 12.

The chances of rolling out a seven are 1/6, so if you’re looking ahead at the board, seven steps forward is where you should be predicting your next landing spot.

‘When you’re in your game play and an opponent is coming near, you can work out “Should I put a house on that,” are they likely to land on it,’ Martin guided.

Buy as many properties as you can, at first

‘In the early stages of the game, you generally want to buy as many properties as possible,’ Martin said.

But as we know… Monopoly properties aren’t always equal, and it won’t be long before you’re all eying up Park Lane.

The two colours that are the best value for money

‘One way to compare is by calculating the return on investment,’ Martin explained, saying it’s important to figure out what you’ll be getting back in rent compared to what you pay for the card and any houses or hotels for it.

‘When we’re starting out, the most expensive give you the best return and the least expensive generally give you the worst return,’ he went on.

But as you start adding houses and hotels, it’s the light blues and oranges that give the best return on investment.

‘They’re the best value for money, something I tend to know a thing or two about,’ Martin said.

A quick rule reminder

One rule that most of us won’t remember (if we ever did read the rulebook) states: ‘If you don’t buy something, it goes out to auction.’

Though it’s an official rule, a X poll Martin conducted revealed only 23% of people played it.

So even if a player has turned down buying a card, they can still bid against their competitors for it, meaning you may be able to grab a bargain.

Another rule Martin reminded us of is that, at the start of every turn, you can trade with another player.

One ‘rule’ that we’ve all been playing by though, Martin revealed, isn’t actually an official one.

If you also put your fine money in the middle, and hope for a jackpot when you land on Free Parking, that could actually be the reason the game goes on for too long.

Martin said: ‘It’s a bit like economics, it’s inflationary, you’re putting more inflation, so taking money out of the game means you’ll end the game more quickly.

‘When you land on Free Parking, nothing happens. Best way to play.’

An alternative strategy

The most common way to play the game is buy as many full sets as possible to build houses and hotels.

But Martin revealed there’s an alternate way to play: buying one card from each different set on the board.

Although you might already be shaking your heads hearing this, he has a pretty simple explanation.

‘If you buy one of each different set on the board, your opponent can’t develop, as you need to own all the properties in the set in order to build them.’

Mortgage your other cards for extra cash

Once you have all the cards in a set, you can start building houses and hotels on them, but in order to do that, you may have to start mortgaging the ones you don’t need for the extra cash.

‘I’m developing much more quickly this way, but putting more of my eggs into one basket.

‘If it does work, because the returns are far greater for developed properties, I’m going to win, and I’m going to win quick.’

Don’t forget your emergency fund

It’s all well and good throwing your cash around to buy as many cards as possible, but don’t forget to save yourself an emergency fund for paying rent on your opponent’s properties.

The chances of landing in jail are high

According to Martin, the chance of landing in jail is well over any other score on the board.

And if you do end up behind bars – going back to Martin’s probability pyramid – you’re probably going to land on the oranges, making it the prime set to buy.

The ‘biggest power move’ is the number of houses to buy

Martin’s golden rule is to buy three houses on all your properties, before boosting to hotels.

He said: ‘This is probably the biggest power move. When you buy one house, on average across all properties, return on investment is 26%.

‘When you buy two houses, the return on investment is 56%, but with three houses, it’s 110%.

‘A massive jump between two and three. After that the incremental gain isn’t as good, so my strategy is you push up your three, then you develop your other properties up to three, and only once they’re all up to three do you start thinking about boosting it up to a hotel.’

Of course, using his tips, Martin won the game in the documentary against his producer.

‘It was utterly humiliating,’ she sighed. ‘His strategies are so strong.’

This article was first published on December 17, 2024.

Martin Lewis: How to Win at Boardgames is available to watch on ITVX.

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Christmas dinner is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year, but there’s one thing that can spoil the feast, and that’s dry meat.

Turkey isn’t everyone’s favourite thing to eat, but we can all agree that no one wants a dry, flavourless bird on the table on December 25. 

So how can you avoid this happening, especially if cooking isn’t your forte? Thankfully two top chefs have shared their expert tips, and they’re pretty easy to follow.

But you’re going to want to get cracking right away, to ensure you’ve got enough time to prepare ahead of the big day.

The secret to cooking the perfect turkey, according to the chefs is to ‘brine’ the meat. However, each has a slightly different take on this method.

For Elliot Day, the Co-Founder at FieldGoods (a meal delivery service), he uses a ‘wet brine’ technique for his turkey claims he discovered the tip from his American relatives.

Speaking to Metro, he claimed it’s a ‘failsafe’ for making a ‘juicy and delicious’ turkey and shared his recipe.

He said: ‘Famously dry and overcooked, the Turkey has a rough ride getting left in the oven for hours on end until it resembles something more akin to a choking hazard than a delicious meal – enter the turkey brine!

‘Brining your turkey will infuse the meat with flavour and moisture you didn’t even know existed. 

‘It may seem weird to soak a whole turkey in salty water, but trust me, you’ll never look back! We make our brine with water, beer, salt, sugar, orange, cloves and smoked bacon.

‘You want to make enough brine to cover your bird, this mix usually does us [the Day family] for a very reasonable 8kg turkey size, if you need more, just scale up the recipe.’

Elliot continued to say that turkey needs a lot of flavour, and that brine is a ‘perfect vessel’ for this, so don’t be afraid to add plenty into the mix – even if they’re not listed in the ingredients he suggests. Perfect flavour pairings include apple, sage, bacon, cloves, cinnamon, orange, black pepper, rosemary, or garlic.

‘The absolute non-negotiables are the ratio of salt and sugar to liquid, and the time in the brine,’ he adds.

But if a wet brine doesn’t sound all that appealing to you, there’s always a ‘dry brine’ to consider.

This method is the go-to for Rob Mitchell, the executive chef at Drake & Morgan and according to the pro it’ll leave your turkey juicy, but with the ‘crispiest skin’ on the outside.

Rob recommends doing the dry brine a day in advance, so you can leave it inside the fridge for at least 12 hours. He claims that while it sits, the salt will pull out any liquid that’s trapped inside the meat, and create ‘salty turkey juices’ that soak back in to create a ‘juicy and delicious turkey’.

‘To dry brine your turkey, pat all over with paper towels and generously rub a mixture of good quality sea salt, black pepper and a little light brown sugar all over and inside the turkey, and leave for at least 12 hours in the fridge. The mixture helps crisp up the skin like it’s been glazed,’ the chef tells Metro.

‘Once you’re ready to cook, get a stick of unsalted butter and work it into the entire surface, the cavity and under the skin, as this will add a delicious flavour and help make the skin crisp.’

For those that do like a really crisp skin on their meat, he warns against basting your turkey as he claims the hot cooking juices will make the whole thing soggy. Instead, he recommends sitting the bird on a trivet of seasonal vegetables and onions which will capture the juice during cooking and make ‘a stunning gravy’ afterwards.

He adds: ‘Cooking times will vary depending on the size of turkey you have; your oven should be at 180C and then depending on weight make sure you cook the turkey through until the juices run clear when pricked on the thigh. A meat thermometer is incredibly helpful here and you’ll want the internal temperature to be between 68-70c (it will keep rising once removed from the oven).

‘Now it’s all about rest – once removed from the oven for a 4-6kg bird you can rest for an hour, anything bigger at least an hour and a half. This gives the muscles of the bird (which tighten when cooking) time to relax – don’t worry about it going cold as it will retain its heat for a long while. Then, you’ll be ready to serve a perfectly crisp and tasty roast turkey!’

Once you’ve mastered the art of cooking turkey, your attention will likely turn to the side dishes and we’ve got you covered with those as well.

Celebrity chef, Marcus Wareing recently shared his method for making perfectly crisp roast potatoes – and it’s all about the way you boil and cook them.

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Whether it’s a casual Sunday lunch, or a full on Christmas dinner, there’s one thing that’s certain – golden roast potatoes are the star of the show.

But getting them perfectly crispy on the outside and lovely and fluffy on the inside can be a bit of a challenge.

Thankfully, an expert has shared his top cooking tip ahead of December 25 to ensure your festive feast is as tasty as possible.

Marcus Wareing, a top chef who is perhaps best known as being a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals shared his trick with Metro for making delicious roast potatoes every time.

The key, according to the pro, isn’t the type of potato you use – he says you can pick whichever potato you like best.

‘I get asked all the time which is the best potato, but you know what you could give me any kind of potato and I could turn it into a good roast potato.’

Instead, it’s all about how you cook them, and you don’t want to overboil.

‘You’ve got to peel the potatoes, cut them all the same size and boil them slowly, so that when you’re boiling them they cook gently without the outside being overcooked and the inside being overcooked,’ he explains.

‘Then you want to put some lard in a hot tray and pop it in a very, very hot oven – generally 220C to 230C – and just absolutely cook the hell out of them, turning regularly and you’ll find them becoming so crispy and crunchy, but they’ll stay light and fluffy in the middle. It works every time for me.’ 

And if you’re wanting to add any herbs to your potatoes to jazz them up, Marcus has some suggestions, depending on the meat you’re pairing them with.

If it’s lamb, you’ll want to go for some cracked black pepper, Maldon salt, rosemary and garlic, for beef just keep it simple with garlic and thyme, and if you’re having chicken you’re serving he claims you can add ‘a bit of everything’.

But there’s one thing you won’t ever catch the chef putting on his roast potatoes, and that’s Marmite. 

A recipe previously went viral on social media, which said that drizzling Marmite over your potatoes would help them get extra crispy when cooking, but according to Marcus it’s ‘absolute rubbish’.

This comes after the chef previously shared with Metro some of the ‘weirdest’ things he’s seen people do in restaurants.

The 54-year-old chef has worked in restaurants for 35 years, and until December last year owned and ran his own one Michelin Star eatery in Seven Dials, Marcus, and it turns out there are two things he wishes customers would stop doing.

The first is all to do with being on your phone, something many of us are guilty of doing.

‘Stop taking photographs and enjoy your dinner,’ Marcus tells Metro.co.uk. ‘You don’t need to film yourself eating your dish. Just eat dinner and enjoy the company that you’re with.’

The chef went on to say that he finds it ‘weird’ how obsessed we are with scrolling on our phones when we go out.

‘One of the things I see a lot in restaurants is people just glued to their phones. It could be a romantic dinner or just people going out with their mates, but you see them and they’ve just got their heads down looking at their phones. I find it quite weird. You’re supposed to be out for a reason.’

And the other thing Marcus really wishes people would stop doing is complaining after they’ve eaten their dinner.

‘People never complain or bring up any issues when they’re actually in the restaurant, the majority of people just seem to accept their food even if they’re not happy with it,’ he says. ‘They’ll suck it up and eat it and then send an email or go on Tripadvisor and complain.

‘Good restaurants love to make the customer feel happy, so if you say something during the meal, they’ll put the problem or mistake right, or give you something like a glass of champagne to cheer you up.’

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Martin Lewis’s latest tip will be a welcome one for anyone powering through their last-minute Christmas shopping, snagging big discounts with hardly any effort.

In this week’s edition of his Money Saving Expert newsletter, he shared 21 hacks that can help make online purchases ‘easier, quicker and cheaper’ — and one in particular stood out as a need-to-know.

‘Abandon ye shopping basket all those who enter,’ advised the personal finance guru, adding that one MSE reader who tried the trick got £8 off an £80 spend as recently as this week.

It all hinges on the fact that if you fail to finish your order, ‘companies often send you codes to tempt you back’.

And while it can be hit or miss, when Martin asked his social media followers about their experiences using the technique, customers at more than 80 retailers said it had helped them bag money off.

According to MSE, ‘the most common firms doing it seemed to be Argos, Currys and Morrisons’ but big brands like Tesco, Asda, Just Eat, Asos, Boohoo, Dunelm, H&M and The Entertainer were also reported to offer ‘abandoned basket’ deals.

As for how much you could save, it ranges from free delivery and exclusive loyalty scheme promotions to discounts of up to 50% or between £10 and £150 off.

Either way, it’s worth a go, and here’s how:

How to get abandoned basket deals

Start off by signing in or signing up for an account with your chosen retailer. This is crucial, as otherwise, they have no way of tracking what you’ve been looking at.

Next, fill your virtual cart with whatever your heart desires (higher value items tend to work best), but before you hit checkout – don’t. Instead, leave the site.

If it works, you should receive an email within 48 hours looking to sweeten the deal and get you to go through with the sale — often with a subject line like ‘Forgotten something?’

Alongside the fact it’s not a guaranteed method, it’s worth being aware of final delivery dates if you need something before Christmas. The cut-off for free or standard shipping at some retailers has already passed, and last orders for next-day delivery are fast approaching.

Otherwise though, why not chance your arm? Here are the companies MSE fans have had luck with:

Up to 50% discount

• Asos
• Baker Ross
• Balsam Hill
• Beauty Bay
• Bloom & Wild
• Boohoo
• Book Depository
• Boohooman
• Boux Avenue
• BrandAlley
• Buyagift
• Currys
• Glasses Direct
• Graham & Green
• Dunelm
• Euro Car Parts
• Graze
• Hamleys
• H&M
• Harvey Nichols
• Homebase
• Hush
• Joseph Joseph
• Just Eat
• Lenovo
• Lookfantastic
• Monsoon
• Moonpig
• Mountain Warehouse
• New Look
• Ninja
• Not on the High Street
• Office
• Patisserie Valerie
• Peacocks
• Pretty Little Thing
• Radley
• Reebok
• River Island
• Shein
• Sports Direct
• The Entertainer
• The Perfume Shop
• The White Company
• Thorntons
• Threadbare
• Ugg
• Urban Outfitters
• Victoria’s Secret
• Warehouse
• Wayfair
• WHSmith
• Yankee Candle
• Zalando.

From £10 to £150 off

• Argos
• Asda
• Boden
• Cotton Traders
• Deliveroo
• Ebookers
• Evans
• Lloyds Pharmacy
• Morrisons
• Ocado
• Princess Cruises
• Sainsbury’s
• Shark
• Tesco Groceries
• Very
• Virgin Media
• Virgin Wines 
• Waitrose

Free delivery

• Dorothy Perkins
• Emma Bridgewater
• Furniture Village
• JD Sports
• Next

Loyalty scheme member offers

• M&S
• Boots

Offering an extra nugget of wisdom, the MSE site claims that its users have also ‘bagged Adidas discounts after “favouriting” products (in other words, clicking the heart icon)’ and: ‘eBay, Vinted and Etsy sellers often send offers to buyers watching specific items, such as 10% or 30% off.’ 

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It’s no secret – low-cost flight tickets come with eye-watering extra fees.

And passengers are increasingly being stung by luggage costs, with airlines demanding payment if bags don’t fit into ever-shrinking baggage sizers and eagle-eyed gate agents always ready to pounce.

To avoid the dreaded added extras, travellers are taking matters into their own hands, inventing clever packing hacks that allow them to sneak extra luggage on their flight. 

From buying a travel pillow for extra storage to hiding items in duty-free bags, there’s a range of TikTok luggage tips that promise to help you pack for a flight with no baggage allowance.

One TikToker, @anayagreig, shared a video from the boarding queue with two bags hidden under her jumper. 

‘I had two bags and my camera under there. I don’t know how this even worked they didn’t even question me,’ she captioned the video.

Another user, @andreeawander, filmed herself sneaking her carry-on luggage in a duty-free bag. She captioned the video: ‘POV: You’re flying and decide to buy a duty free bag to sneak in the extra luggage.’

Placing the large paper shopping bag on top of her suitcase, she reveals a small black rucksack inside. In the comments, she added: ‘They need to stop charging people ridiculous amounts for luggage.’

Another daring TikToker, @travellingwithtals, filmed herself sneaking two extra bags aboard a plane. Alongside her large backpack, she hid a small one underneath her poncho and concealed a pillowcase filled with her personal items, including a sleeping bag.

In her video, she said: ‘If I get caught it’s going to be like $120, so we’re going to pray okay.’ She later films herself successfully on the plane with her luggage after breezing by security.

She captioned the video: ‘I never pay for a carry-on or checked luggage. I do this every time and never get caught. 

One traveller, @lilimannin, managed to sneak her luggage past gate agents by covering it with a thin cardigan on her back. While the guise was perhaps less impressive than other attempts, it worked successfully.

Commenters were in disbelief. User @lucifia_ wrote: ‘Love how they let us all through regardless.’

Others shared their own tricks. ‘I’m always pregnant when I fly with Ryanair,’ @wellwithmonia said, while @mariaaaaa18 said: ‘A WHSmiths bag works.’

In 2023 Ryanair netted more than £3.5 billion from extra charges – equivalent to almost one third of its entire revenue.

IAG, the parent company of airlines including British Airways, Iberia and Vueling, makes up almost 10 per cent of revenue from surcharges.

US airlines Frontier and Spirit reportedly paid gate agents $26 million in commission between 2022 and 2023 ‘to catch passengers allegedly not following airline bag policies, often forcing those passengers to pay a bag fee or miss their flight.’

Frontier gate agents reportedly earn $10 (£8) for each passenger forced to check their bag in at the gate. The additional charges were criticised by the Senate as ‘junk fees’.

Barry Biffle, Frontier CEO, hit out at passengers who avoid paying for carry-on luggage. Biffle, who makes £8.5million each year, said: ‘These are shoplifters. These are people that are stealing. It’s not equitable to everyone who follows the rules.’

A number of budget airlines, including Ryanair and easyJet, have recently been fined after Spain’s consumer rights ministry said the airlines violated customer rights.

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If you’re unlucky enough to be someone who gets ear pain when you catch a flight, we know how excruciating it can be.

Sometimes no matter how much you chew gum or hold your nose and blow, your ears stay blocked and get pretty darn painful.

But one TikToker may just have come to your rescue, in the form of a video that’s racked up nearly 4 million views on the platform.

In the clip, mum-of-one @babygriffin shared a hack she was recommended by a flight attendant who spotted her struggling. Having gone from feeling like her ‘ear drum was going to explode during descent’, it helped her ease the pain – and she’s sworn by it ever since.

It’s super easy to master this trick: start by taking a coffee cup, a washcloth and some napkins, then place them in the bottom of the cup.

Next, use really hot water to get the cloth and napkins damp (but not wet, as you don’t want to burn yourself), hold the cup over your ear, and press it to the side of your head.

Although unfortunately it isn’t a solution to fully equalising your ears, the steam is said to help alleviate the pain you feel in your ear. And with instant results, it provides a welcome relief.

The young mum was told by her flight attendant she could order these on the plane, so you might be able to on your airline too. If you can’t DIY your own, it’s worth a try.

‘I owe that girl,’ she wrote in the TikTok’s caption. ‘Apparently it’s a trick not a lot of people are aware of.’

It seems she’s not the only one to use this hack though, with one TikToker saying in the comments: ‘Hot cup hack saved me on a flight to Cancun.’

What does a doctor say?

Metro enlisted the help of Dr Lawrence Cunningham from Help & Advice to determine if the ‘hot cup’ hack is worth trying.

He explains: ‘The heat from the cup might help with ear pressure pain by relaxing the area around the ear and improving blood flow.

‘The warmth could help ease tension in the muscles and tissues, which might make it a bit easier for the Eustachian tubes (which balance ear pressure, drain fluid, and protect the middle ear from harmful substances) to open and balance the pressure.’

‘While it’s not a medically proven method, the heat might feel soothing and provide some relief for certain people.’

It doesn’t necessarily align with the tried and tested solutions, but according to Dr Cunningam, that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you.

In terms of the other methods available for easing your ear pain on a flight, Dr Cunningham suggests: ‘Swallowing, yawning, or chewing gum to help open the Eustachian tubes

‘The Valsalva manoeuvre, where you gently blow with your nose pinched shut, is a tried-and-true method. This technique equalises the pressure by forcing air through the Eustachian tubes.

‘I always recommend consulting a GP if ear pain persists though, as there could be underlying issues to address.’

Why do some people struggle with equalising their ears?

It comes down to individual differences in Eustachian tube function apparently.

‘Some people have tubes that open and close more easily, making pressure changes less noticeable,’ Dr Cunninhgam says.

‘I’d say that age, allergies, and even minor anatomical differences can play a role in how effectively someone can equalise pressure.’

In his experience, children tend to be most susceptible as a result of their narrower Eustachian tubes, but he adds: ‘Frequent flyers and individuals with sinus issues also report more problems, possibly due to repeated exposure or inflammation.’

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Want to bag a bargain at Costco but don’t think you’re eligible for membership? According to Martin Lewis, you might be.

In the latest edition of his newsletter, the Money Saving Expert (MSE) founder shared a ‘secret’ way of joining the club, which offers its members and their partners lower prices for buying in bulk.

There are 29 Costco warehouses around the UK, with discounts on everything from toiletries and groceries to petrol and big-ticket tech.

You can’t just walk in and start shopping though, and only certain professions can apply for in-store membership (priced from £26.40 a year).

Alongside business owners, qualifying roles include the likes of local government, banking, medicine, education or the police.

But even if you don’t fall into one of these categories, you may still be able to get in on the savings.

How else can you join Costco?

Revealing a ‘little-known’ avenue, MSE explained: ‘AA, RAC and National Trust members are eligible to join at certain locations.’

Where can AA, RAC, and National Trust members shop at Costco?

As the retailer doesn’t advertise these memberships, the financial gurus called every UK Costco to check if the rumours were true. And, while it doesn’t seem to be a countrywide option, they were told it worked at Birmingham, Sheffield and Cardiff.

There is one catch: you can only shop at the location you joined at. Martin also recommends calling before making your first trip, just in case the rules have changed at your preferred warehouse.

Once you get the go ahead however, it’s as simple as rocking up to the membership counter with the relevant ID and using your coveted Costco card to shop ’til you drop.

That said, MSE has some advice to help you make the most of your experience, as it can be a little overwhelming for a first-timer.

The experts claim taking a shopping list and sticking to it is ‘the number one rule’ at Costco.

Otherwise, the huge range of products and lack of signage could mean ‘you’ll pop in for bog roll and come out with a canoe, a 6ft teddy bear and a crate of 30 Danish pastries.’

Next, they advise a dose of skepticism, saying: ‘Just because something graces Costco’s shelves, it doesn’t automatically make it a good deal. Always do your own research first and check if you can get it cheaper elsewhere.’

Compare unit prices (since Costco sizes are normally different) and consider downloading the Trolley.co.uk app to compare on the go.

Although Costco is often cheaper when it comes to branded goods, you may find supermarket own-brands or the likes of Aldi and Lidl come out cheaper.

When MSE researched a random selection of 30 items across various departments, all but five were cheapest at Costco’s warehouse. The bulk retailer also won for 10 out of 14 Christmas products, so it really all depends on what you buy.

Additionally, the site warns shoppers to remember that Costco’s headline prices don’t include VAT, and you’ll need to factor this in as you go to avoid a nasty shock at the checkout.

Don’t forget to take advantage of Costco’s low petrol prices either, or to get yourself a snack in the food court. Choose from a hot dog with unlimited soft drink refills for £1.50, pizza slices for £1.99 and jacket potatoes for £2.99.

MSE member Rachy said: ‘I go to Costco just for the day out and a hot dog.’

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A woman has gone viral for her ingenious Christmas tree decorating hack which she says has allowed her to spend more time with family.

Carrie Williams has saved herself a lot of hassle just by using a cheap roll of cling film on Amazon.

Christmas-loving Carrie, who lives in Mississippi, said she spent ‘all day’ decorating three Christmas trees and even more time putting up the rest of her festive decor.

This year, she said: ‘I decided I would wrap my trees ornaments lights and all in plastic wrap. I found a huge roll with handles on Amazon and wrapped it tightly.’

The family stored the wrapped tree in their bonus room until December rolled around.

‘When December came around, I brought them down and cut the plastic off and was able to just fluff the trees and bows and plug them in,’ she explained.

Carrie filmed the process and shared it on TikTok, where it quickly went viral, gaining more than 750,000 likes.

‘It saved me so much time. Now I have all month to spend with family instead of decorating,’ she added.

The hack has been hailed as genius, but not everyone is sold — one person said the best part of Christmas is decorating the tree.

Carrie explained: ‘My kids are all grown and I have 3 trees so it has become a headache. I want to have it all done so I can enjoy Christmas.’

The mum isn’t alone in wanting to make Christmas easier. One parent in Suffolk shared a genius hack to make the perfect gift for guests at Christmas. And it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

Kara Southall, 40, has shared how you can spruce up festive candles using just three items and social media users have are loving it. The best part? The present costs just under £2.

In the clip, Kara from Suffolk used a candle, greaseproof paper, a napkin and hairdryer to create a reindeer-printed candle. Altogether, it makes the perfect gift.

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A pilot has revealed the shocking truth about placing your phone in airplane mode – and obliging by this rule isn’t as critical as you might think.

We’re all well-versed in the routine: board the plane, plug in your seatbelt and then switch on the flight-safe mode on all handheld devices. But just how important is it?

Not very, according to airline pilot, US Army veteran and TikToker @PerchPoint.

‘If you forget to put your phone on airplane mode, no, it’s not the end of the world, the plane will not fall out of the sky and it won’t even mess with the systems on board,’ he told his 13.2K followers in one video.

But what it does have the potential to mess with is the headsets – which phones not placed in flight-safe mode can interfere with, creating a buzzing sound.

‘If you have an aircraft with 70, 80, 150 people on board, and even three or four people’s phones start to try to make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves,’ the pilot explains.

‘There’s the potential that those radio waves can interfere with the radio waves of the headset that the pilots are using.’

He went on to recall a recent flight from San Francisco, where they’d ‘pushed out the gate, [were] talking to the rampers, and started the engines.’

Once they’d turned around the plane and started to head towards the taxiways, he called up air traffic control to get clearance and was met with a loud buzzing noise that meant he could barely hear the directions he was being given.

‘It kinda sounded like a mosquito in my ear,’ he explained.

‘Like I said, it’s definitely not the end of the world but it’s pretty annoying when you’re trying to copy down instructions and it sounds like there’s a wasp or something flying around.’

‘So if you’re ever curious why you’ve got to put on airplane mode, that’s why.’

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When you’re cramped on a plane with hundreds of other people for hours on end, there’s bound to be a bit of tension.

Aside from getting to your destination safely and on time, your main goal is not to be ‘that passenger’ who annoys everyone else — and invoking the ire of the cabin crew is a major no-no.

Cher Killough has been a flight attendant for the past five years, so has seen her fair share of nuisance travellers.

But there’s one pet peeve that ticks her off most; a habit that men in particular should take note to avoid.

In a TikTok video, the Dallas-based airline worker shared a list of things she believes ‘should be illegal to do’ on a plane.

Number one was manspreading, or more specifically, ‘manspreading when you’re in a middle seat.’

If you haven’t heard the term before, it refers to when people (normally inconsiderate men) sit with their knees so far apart that they take up more space than their seat allows, encroaching on people either side

‘I’ve been a passenger, and had it numerous times, where men will spread their knees all the way into my seat section or the person’s on the other side’ said Cher. ‘It’s just unacceptable.’

According to the flight attendant, it’s often shorter passengers who are guilty of this faux pas.

She added: ‘I’m 5ft 8in, so if I’m taking up just my seat section, then you as a little 5ft 6in man can definitely do the same.’

Others agreed, including Caroline who responded: ‘When they man spread in the middle, I make myself as big as possible til they get the hint.’

‘On a 12-hour flight, the guy next to me had his legs spread open so far they were taking up his seat and most of mine, and his elbow kept digging in my ribs,’ another commenter, Jess, complained, while LynnieG simply urged manspreaders to ‘Please stop!’

That wasn’t the only thing Cher called out as bad in-flight etiquette either.

Next up, she claimed wearing strong perfume on a plane should be illegal, commenting: ‘I don’t care if it’s good or bad, no-one wants to smell whatever fragrance you decided to wear today.’

‘It’s already an environment where people are prone to getting nauseous,’ she explained. ‘Having an extra fragrance on top of that is just not a good mix.’

That said, Cher did highlight that she’d rather smell perfume than body odour, so don’t think her advice means you should skip deodorant (or heaven forbid, a shower) on your travels.

Last but not least, she said there’s ‘not a time that it’s acceptable to have your bare toes out in the cabin,’ and that sandal-wearers ‘seriously deserve to go to jail.’

The reason for her disgust is seeing people use the on-board toilets with exposed toes — which presumably, especially if they stand up to pee, is less than hygienic.

In the past, she called the habit of using the bathroom wearing only socks or going barefoot ‘disturbing’, since you’ll now have to spend the remaining hours of the flight in ‘soggy, pee-covered socks’.

Apparently, this is something she sees at least once a week in her job, so it’s not an isolated quirk. And now you know about it, you’ll probably never be able to unsee it yourself.

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