Browsing: Lifestyle

As the new year unfolds, many households in the UK are grappling with the impact of escalating living costs, with energy, water, council tax, and broadband bills all on the rise. However, amidst the financial challenges, there are various discounts and strategies available to ease the burden on family budgets. Let’s delve into specific areas of expenditure and explore potential avenues for savings. 1. Energy Bills: Navigating the Cold Spell Typical energy bills saw an increase of £94, reaching £1,928 a year on January 1. Low-income households can benefit from the Warm Home Discount, offering a £150 reduction automatically applied…

Users of iPhones running iOS 17 and later must take additional steps to secure their devices against potential abuse of a feature designed to help regain access if a passcode is forgotten. With the iOS 17 update, Apple introduced a change allowing users to continue using their old passcode for 72 hours after changing it, providing a window for recovery if they forget the new code. However, this feature could be exploited if someone learns the new passcode and tries to access the device within the 72-hour period. To address this potential vulnerability, users can take a simple precaution by…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a concerning warning about a staggering 4,300% rise in measles cases across Europe. In 2023, 42,200 cases were reported in 41 out of 53 member states, compared to 941 cases in 2022. The majority of infections, two in five, occurred in children aged one to four, while one in five affected individuals were 20 years and older. Tragically, nine children have died, with almost 21,000 hospitalized. WHO attributes this alarming surge to declining measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination rates and increased travel after the COVID-19 pandemic, facilitating the spread of the disease across borders. Measles…

The sight of fuzzy mould spores in damp corners is unwelcome but familiar to many Brits. However, mould can sometimes spread unnoticed, especially following weeks of icy winds and heavy rain. Asthma + Lung UK warns that these weather conditions create an ideal environment for damp and mould to thrive indoors. Living in such conditions can be particularly harmful to vulnerable groups, including those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). If you’re unaware of mould in your home, your body might signal its presence through various symptoms: Respiratory Symptoms: Mould produces spores that can be inhaled, causing symptoms…