Working in the corporate world, I know that if women want to get ahead in their career, they need to dress appropriately. I don’t want to be viewed as some floozy with half a brain, just because I’m showing off my cleavage in a revealing blouse (even if it is Balmain). I also don’t want to look tatty in a bobbled suit from Topshop that I’ve had for years. That’ll never do for where I want to be in my career.

Like most women, I want to get ahead in my career because of my intelligence and ambition. But there’s no denying that what you wear says a lot about you – in whatever sector you work – and especially if you’re a woman.

Think of some of the most powerful women in the world:  our current PM, The Queen, Angela Merkel to name but a few… and not a hint of cleavage in sight. They make sure they’re listened to rather than gawped at.  They’re viewed as brains and not as commodities. And they dress appropriately in, more often than not, designer pieces.

Looking around the office, I noticed that some of my high achieving colleagues look so polished and professional all the time, portraying an expertly designer-clad corporate image, and I wondered – could I really justify buying designer outfits for work? Or will high-street items offer the same investment in self – confidence?

Choose Wisely

You could be a corporate director, a startup CEO, trying to climb that corporate ladder or perhaps just about to begin your first job. Whatever your situation, adorning designer pieces can help you smash that ceiling – and help you feel pretty damn good whilst doing so.

But it is important to get the look right.  There are some beautiful Stella McCartney silk jumpsuits out there at the moment, but don’t go prancing into the office wearing the bright green one if you want to be taken seriously.  Wear this daring ensemble to a squiffy lunch with the girls instead.  For an important client meeting, or just an ordinary day in the office, choose a more understated navy blue one and team with a pair of nude Manolos.

Invest in timeless, classic pieces such as a Chanel tweed suit, a YSL tuxedo, a Burberry trench or Max Mara camel coat. As far as bags go, you can’t go wrong with the classic Chanel 2.5 or a Hermes Birkin. And a Rolex won’t fail to impress.

A big no-no for work-wear is a low-cut top or a very short skirt. Even in Lanvin. Why pay thousands of pounds to look cheap?

I don’t have to tell you that in this male-dominated corporate world, some men view women as eye-candy and not as professional equals.  Don’t play into their hands with your choice of outfit, designer or otherwise. You want to progress for what’s in your head, not what’s in your bra.

Fake It Till You Make It

Perhaps you’re not able to splash the cash on designer pieces just yet, but you want to give the impression to others that you can. So how do you go about this? My advice is to fake it till you make it, honey.

Follow my points below to look beautifully polished without having to wear designer:

Buy Quality

You can buy some lovely quality pieces that won’t break the bank and still look as though you’ve shelled out and invested in yourself. What does L’oreal say again? “Because you’re worth it…” Aww no, too annoying, but you get my drift.

Splash out on those outwardly visible accessories such as your pen, diary and watch. Carry a Mont Blanc pen, a Smythson diary (both around £250) and wear a Gucci watch (around £500) – then it will be assumed that the Zara suit you’re wearing is Tom Ford. And that you’re a high flier because you’ve worked hard to buy these expensive pieces, and have a big brain under all that beautifully coiffured hair. But most of all, you’ve invested in yourself as you know your worth.

Imitate Slightly But Don’t Full-On Copy

The high street produces some wonderful specific pieces that imitate designer ones, but if I’m going to buy high-street, I prefer to buy pieces that imitate a designer’s signature look, rather than a specific item. This approach is just a little bit more, well, sophisticated, and doesn’t scream COPYCAT to anyone who can tell that your top is actually Monsoon and not Gucci. You don’t want to try too hard to look designer.

Sheerluxe, a wonderfully revered online lifestyle magazine, offers some fabulous tips on looking like a Chloe–cladded goddess when your budget is high-street, which include:

• ditching coats for capes (not in the midst of winter, that’d be madness),
• investing in cinnamon and blush–coloured pieces (Chloe creates lots in these colours)
• wearing some gorgeous floaty dresses (weather – dependent, obvs).

Face It

There’s no denying that wearing beautifully-cut designer pieces will give you confidence and will positively affect how you carry yourself. However, don’t underestimate the power of a slick of lip gloss and a dash of mascara. You don’t have to wear full makeup every day to feel good about yourself but lip gloss and mascara are THE staples (and a touch of blush and concealer). Just a little goes a long way and won’t take long to do – in fact ditching the heavy full makeup approach can save you 15 minutes each day so you have time for a little Costa visit.

Walk With Confidence

Even if you’re terrified inside (although if you’re wearing Balenciaga, this is pretty much impossible), walk tall, smile and look friendly. You don’t want to appear aloof or pretentious but there is a fine line.  The good news is, the more you act confidently, the easier it is to actually become confident. And who knows, one day, you’ll be striding up and down that office in your authentic Chloe flowing dress, Louboutins and Rolex and you’ll be on your way up that ladder (not a ladder in the literal sense of course – you should NEVER climb ladders in Louboutins!)

Every day you’re marketing a really special and ambitious brand: YOU. If you want to be taken seriously and get ahead at work, you need to project a professional and polished image and sometimes, only designer pieces will do. However, if you’re not quite there yet financially, invest in those high street quality staples and soon you’ll be buying the real deals. The golden rule is whether you’re wearing designer or high street: don’t show off too much flesh!

Take a look at our fabulous article on How Women Should Dress For Success In The Workplace for advice on how to be taken seriously in the workplace.

Like many other busy career-orientated people, I don’t have time to be ill!  I can’t afford the time it’s likely to take to get a diagnosis, the time to wait for treatment or surgery, nor the time to recuperate afterwards. No, absolutely not. If you’re running your own business or climbing the corporate ladder it’s fair to say that your health is your wealth. And let’s not overlook busy stay-at-home mums: if they become ill, the smooth management of the kids and household will simply grind to a halt.

However we all get ill sometimes and may require surgical intervention or specialised treatment at some point, but waiting times on the NHS can be as long as 18 weeks. There is no way I could wait that long – and then face the possibility the treatment could be cancelled at the last minute.

I’m fit and well at the moment, but it won’t always be that way. I need to insure not only my health, but my livelihood, too. So this got me thinking… I wonder whether private health insurance is worth it – or is it a pricey add-on I could do without?

Say What?!

Let’s take a look at the stats. Do you know how many people in the UK have private health insurance? It’s roughly 10.5% of the population, so just under 4 million people. Yet around half the UK adult population has life insurance. Clearly people are more concerned with their death than keeping healthy when alive!

You insure important assets in your life such as your car and house, so why not insure your most important asset of all – your health? You need to look after yourself so that you can look after everything (and everyone) else.

This is where private health insurance can be a literal life-saver, and is beneficial for people who are accustomed to the finer things in life.

What Is Private Health Insurance?

Private health insurance (also known as medical insurance) can cover all aspects from diagnosis to treatment (if you opt for a comprehensive plan), or can be combined with what’s already available on the NHS (if you opt for a basic plan). Some lucky employees have health insurance as part of their employee benefits package. However, those that don’t can set up their own insurance plan and pay monthly premiums.

What Does It Offer?

Depending on the insurance cover you opt for, it:

• Pays most (if not all) of your medical bills if you receive treatment privately.
• Offers a choice in the level of care you receive and how and when it is provided.

What’s Covered?

All types of insurance offer different levels of cover and private health insurance is no different.

For instance, basic private medical insurance will normally cover the costs of in-patient treatments, including tests and surgery including day-care surgery.

Invest in a more comprehensive policy, and you’ll be covered for out-patient treatments requiring the expertise of specialists and consultants, and some even pay out an amount for each overnight stay in an NHS hospital.

Take Bupa’s Comprehensive Insurance, for example. This policy offers Bupa’s greatest cover which includes:

• cover for investigations, scans and consultations necessary to ascertain the problem and reach a diagnosis using blood tests, CT, MRI and PET scans.
• cover for any treatment you might need as a result of the diagnosis – from out-patient treatments like physiotherapy through to in-patient surgery.

Bupa also offers another, more affordable policy called Treatment and Care where you’d be diagnosed by the NHS but go on to have treatment privately. It’s important to note that this policy doesn’t cover most pre and post-treatment diagnosis and testing, hence the cheaper premiums.

What’s Not Covered

In most cases, private healthcare insurance won’t cover treatment for:

• Pre-existing medical conditions
• Injuries sustained through dangerous sports
• Pregnancy and childbirth
• Cosmetic surgery to boost appearance
• Organ transplants
• Chronic illnesses such as those associated with HIV / AIDs, epilepsy, hypertension and diabetes (note that even if you are diagnosed with a “chronic” illness after you take out the policy, it still won’t be covered under the policy).

Advantages Of Private Health Insurance

There are differences in levels of cover but generally the main advantages are:

• Provision of Specialist referrals: Once you’ve been to see your NHS GP, you can request a referral to an expert or specialist working in a private capacity should you want a second opinion or specialist treatment.
• Shorter waiting times: This is the reason why many people opt for private health insurance: the shorter waiting times for treatment, compared with NHS.
• You have more choice: In most cases, you can choose the surgeon and the hospital you stay in, which isn’t possible in the NHS.
• Further scans: If you’ve been declined a scan by the NHS or there are delays, private health insurance will usually cover the price of your scan.
• Access to specialist drugs and treatments:  There are some specialist drugs and treatments that aren’t available on the NHS because they’re very expensive. Private health insurance will usually cover the cost of these drugs and treatments.
• Speedier physiotherapy:  You’ll get physiotherapy sessions quicker than you would with insurance than through the NHS.

It’s just a lot nicer, to be frank: No one wants to be in hospital, but if you have to be there, you might as well have a bit of luxury. Private healthcare is great for those who are accustomed to the finer things and don’t want to compromise with their healthcare setting or the treatment they receive. You’ll get a private room so won’t have to stay on a ward.

The Disadvantages

• It’s costly– and the price will increase: Bought By Many researched their ‘typical buyer’ (a healthy 33 year old, living in the South East) and ran their details by the four largest UK health insurers – Aviva, AXA, Bupa and Vitality. Prices came back between £23 and £35 a month, so around £276 and £420 per year. However, prices will rise each year, with age or possibly if you have made any claims. Also, to give you an idea about a family premium, (two adults in their 40s and two children under 10), this can vary widely – from £700 to £1,650 per year.
• It’s possible you’ll be seen sooner with the NHS: People with serious illnesses such as heart disease or cancer receive priority NHS treatment.

Pre-existing and chronic illnesses aren’t normally covered: diabetes and cancer, for example, as they’re deemed as chronic, will not usually covered by private health insurance policies, and neither are illnesses that are pre-existing to you taking out the policy.

How To Get The Best Price

Check comparison sites such as Moneysupermarket and GoCompare to get a benchmark quote – then contact a broker to see if they can offer a better one.

Make sure the broker is a member of the Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries, which is the trade association for independent medical insurance advisers.

So Is Private Health Insurance Worth It?

For the average, healthy thirty-something, paying a premium equivalent to a monthly manicure or phone contract is no big deal – and what you get for your money is pretty impressive if you do need to use your insurance.  Just remember, the premiums will increase with age, so do be prepared to shell out a little more each year.

Insurance will be of great value if you require specialist and expensive treatment, but not so if you develop a chronic illness where a policy may cover you for investigations into the diagnosis, but if you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, then you won’t be covered for its treatment.

So, yes, there are some exclusions to every policy, but for those, (for now) we still have the NHS to call on.

But if your time and being comfortable in your surrounding are exceedingly important to you, then taking out a private health insurance policy is a no-brainer.

Remember, you’re not only insuring your health, you’re insuring your wealth.

Once the glorious (but sleep-deprived) maternity leave comes to an end, most parents are faced with the dilemma of choosing who will look after their darling whilst they’re hard at work bringing home the bacon.

You’ll have to contend with guilt about leaving your little one (although think of the joy in being able to have a cup of tea uninterrupted and not having snot on your arm all day!), and have the added pressure of choosing the right type of childcare that suits everyone in the family.

With so many different choices for childcare out there, I wonder… how do you choose which suits you and your child best?

Let’s have a look at the pros and cons of hiring a nanny or using a nursery to help you reach your own decision.

Nanny

A nanny will take the role of primary care-giver and is employed by you to take care of your child in your home. There are live-in nannies and day nannies – which pretty much do what they say on the tin.

Advantages of having a (live-in and day) nanny include:

• One to one care for your child so this could mean advanced development in some areas
• More flexibility than a nursery with regards to hours (you can negotiate hours that suit both when you draw up a contract)
• Your child and you enjoying a close bond with your nanny. A nanny quite often becomes part of the family and you since you’re entrusting the most precious thing on earth to this person, they are likely to become a good friend
• If you have more than one child, hiring a nanny can be a cost-effective option

Disadvantages of hiring a (live in- and day) nanny include:

• Having to pay tax, national insurance and a pension (if they’re eligible) for them as you’ll be their employer. However, it’s possible that if you go through an agency to recruit and pay your nanny, they will take away this burden for you – for a fee.
• You’ll have to provide holiday entitlement and consequently have back-up childcare if your nanny is on leave or ill.
• Hiring a nanny is often the most expensive childcare option if they’re looking after just one child.
• Unlike nursery staff, nannies don’t have to be formally vetted and childcare qualifications aren’t necessary.
• You may worry your child could be isolated from other children and that they aren’t developing as much socially as you’d like.

Finance Info

Usually the most expensive childcare option, the average salary for a live-in nanny ranges anywhere from £350 to £450 per week, depending on where you live. For a daily nanny, you’re looking at around £500 per week.

Day Nursery

Nurseries seem to be popping up all over the place at the moment. No wonder: they’re lucrative little businesses and the most popular form of childcare.

Nurseries are great if you want your child to:

• have a solid learning structure
• participate in a wide range of activities with other children and build confidence and social skills from group activities
• be part of an Ofsted inspected environment which allows you to check the nursery’s performance

Also, you pay a monthly fee (which can also be paid, or supplemented, by childcare vouchers until April 2018, or the new tax-free childcare initiative run by the government to help working parents) so the actual payment process is uncomplicated and can be cost-effective if you use one of these tax-efficient perks.

Disadvantages Of The Nursery Setting

The downsides to using nurseries include:

• A rigid time structure. Most nurseries are open 7.30am-6pm, so if you need to get into work super early or if you will struggle for a 6pm pick-up, then nursery won’t suit
• It’s a veritable hotbed for germs, purely because they are so many of the little tiddlers in one place. Be prepared for lots of illnesses in your home.
• If you require an extra day here and there or if you need to swap days, then it might not be possible due to staff and children ratios.
• One to one childcare is non-existent. Most key workers are in charge of three children at a time.

Typically young girls and transient staff work at nurseries. It’s just the way it is. The staff are mainly young and want to move jobs frequently. So be prepared for your child to get used to their key worker one week and then the following week, they’re gone (the key worker, not your child, that is!).

Finance Info

You’re looking at approximately £250 per week for a full-time place – more if you’re in London.

Have a look at this handy table illustrating childcare costs for most types of childcare on a full-time basis:

Type of Childcare	How Much Does It Cost? (Britain average)	How Much Does It Cost? (London average)
Day Nursery (50 hours for a child under 2)	£222.36 per week	£277.84 per week
Live-in Nanny (50 hours)	£350 - £650 per week plus: • tax • National Insurance • room and board	£433 per week plus: • tax • National Insurance • room and board
Daily Nanny (50 hours)	£512 per week plus: • tax • National Insurance • room and board	£616 per week plus: • tax • National Insurance • room and board

Source: Childminder and nursery costs from Family and Childcare Trust, 2017.

We’ve heard the advantages and disadvantages of both types of childcare. So who has won the fight?

If you’re prepared to pay more, you’re not fazed by being an employer, you work long or irregular hours and are willing to spend the time interviewing lots of candidates in the search for the right person (drum roll The Apprentice…), then hiring a nanny is a good option for you.

However, if you are a little apprehensive with inviting a stranger into your home to look after your invaluable treasure (and your child!) and you value lots of group activities for social development, then using a nursery is a good option.

In terms of choosing the right nanny or the right nursery, recommendations tend to win hands down. If you get recommended a fabulous nanny by a trusted friend, then snap them up. Similarly, ask around your local area for nursery recommendation, take a look at local nursery reviews and Ofsted reports, as I’m sure you’ll agree: we just want the best start in life for our children that we can possibly buy.

Chances are, if you work, run a business, run a household or have kids, your life is one big, crazy, busy place – even more so if you’re juggling all four at the same time. And if you’re a woman it’s highly likely that you are far busier than your male partner: a study showed that on average, women spend 17 hours a week on housework compared to men, who opt for the easy life and do just under 6 hours per week.

Working Women Still Do Lion’s Share Of Housework

And that data doesn’t even include any child rearing requirements!

If you’re constantly exhausted, never complete your To Do List and sometimes hide in bed on Sunday mornings as you can’t face the chores that lie ahead of you, here is some sound advice on how to stop running yourself ragged.

1) The Kids

Assuming your kids are beyond pre-school, get them to help with basic chores. If they get used to helping around the house when they are 6 plus they’ll find it completely normal. Choose simple tasks appropriate for their age. A 6 year old can be told they have to put their toys away at the end of each day; a 10 year old can unload the dishwasher; a 15 year old can do just about everything that you can.

The alternative is of course to do every little thing yourself – but don’t settle for that. Ensure your children appreciate all the household tasks that need to be done, and to realise you’re not there to wait on them hand and foot. If there is a little reluctance at first, explain that a tired parent is a grumpy one who is less likely to have energy for a trip to the park / football field / a day out, and they will soon start to see the benefit of pitching in.

2) The Male Partner

Depending on the mental age of your partner, simply tailor the advice in section 1 to suit them.

3) In The Kitchen

Cooking an evening meal each day can be time consuming. There’s the shopping, the prep, the eating, the clearing away. So be savvy with your time.

Do your supermarket shop online and sit back and wait for it to be delivered to your door. Big brands who offer this service include:

Tesco  https://www.tesco.com/groceries/

Asda  https://groceries.asda.com/

Sainsbury’s   https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategoriesDisplayView?catalogId=10123&langId=44&storeId=10151&krypto=%2BdQoy8oMjvHtAhjG%2FG4gjd2Kcqs7%2Bb5mBgszZO2z8wtHCDgX9TDW9urJ4t8bTbmUNMOHRVdyp8pk%2BUyUIP3s4w%3D%3D&ddkey=http%3Agb%2Fgroceries

Ocado https://www.ocado.com/webshop/startWebshop.do

Waitrose   http://www.waitrose.com/shop/Browse/Groceries

Morrisons  http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/

Iceland  http://groceries.iceland.co.uk/

Amazon Pantry (for Amazon Prime members) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/pantry/info

Create big batches of meals that can then be frozen for another day. Cook quick meals that are still nutritious – omelettes with baked beans can be whipped up in no time at all and deliver a high protein punch for growing kids. Sign up to Hello Fresh – a fabulous invention which takes all the hassle out of meal planning and shopping, and you get to eat wholesome, tasty food.

Check out our earlier review of Hello Fresh here.

Get the kids involved in cooking – most love to get their hands dirty in the kitchen and you’ll be training them up so that once they hit their teens, they’ll be able to cook some basic meals for the whole family.

And finally once the meal is over, make it a rule that everyone helps with the clear-up.

4) Cleaning The Home

Many busy folk struggle to find time to clean the home properly. According to a discussion on mumsnet, women are spending around 2-6 hours per week simply cleaning the house.

Have you got that time to spare? Wouldn’t it be preferable to outsource your cleaning to someone else, so you can actually relax a little in the evenings and weekends, rather than donning rubber gloves and scrubbing the loo? Unless you find house cleaning relaxing and therapeutic, use a cleaning service so you can free up your time for things more important to you.

There are plenty of online companies where you can source a cleaner for your home. For example:

Homeclean

Mollymaid

The Happy House Cleaning Services

Merrymaids &

Maid2Clean

5) At Work

If you work full time, the biggest chunk of your day will be spent at there. So make sure you work effectively without getting burnt out:

Don’t agree to deadlines that are going to be hard to achieve – and will result in rocketing stress levels. Your boss may genuinely not realise how long a task is going to take you. So be firm, be realistic and explain to your boss why you’ll need another day/week to complete the task s/he expects to be finished yesterday.

Don’t take on work that a colleague should be doing. We all know the colleague who appears to do so much but in fact has an uncanny ability to off load their work to over helpful colleagues. They may use flattery, “You’re so much better at Excel than me – can you just go through this spreadsheet and check my calculations?”. Or a bit of begging, “The boss wants this report on his desk this afternoon and I’ve got all this other urgent stuff. Can you just tidy it up a bit for me?” The end result of helping this colleague is that a) you increase your workload b) you never get credit for what you’ve done c) you may miss your own deadlines and d) you feel stressed and resentful.

If you manage staff, delegate effectively to them. Provide clear instruction on what they need to do, check they understand and agree a date when they’ll have the work completed. Then leave them to get on with it – no interfering, no hassling and no continual requests for updates.

Stop being a perfectionist. If you’re finalising a report, stop agonising over word choice – “should I use ‘worrying’ or ‘concerning’ in the conclusion?; “when should I use ‘whilst’ and ‘while'”?. So long as the report is well written, grammatically correct and nicely laid out it’s good to go, and you can get on with your next task.

Stop being an over-controller. Some bosses have staff, but they don’t really like delegating to them – they’d much prefer to do the work themselves because really, they don’t trust anyone else to do it properly. If that’s you, stop it! You have staff to ease your work load, so use them wisely. Learn the art of delegation and see it as a way of developing your staff in their role. Perhaps the first piece of work they provide is below your high standards; but by teaching them how to improve (in a tactful and reassuring way), they’ll feel motivated to do better next time and you’ll eventually have a team member who can work autonomously, giving you the freedom to concentrate on your own job.

In Conclusion

If you’re serious about creating more time in your life to do the things you want to, and to stop running yourself ragged, try out the tips above – you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.

If you’re interested in outsourcing even more tasks to external help, then read our article about Concierge Services which provide virtual helpers to do almost any task you need completing.

Have you ever looked at a fabulous Roland Mouret midi-dress and wondered “how do I justify the splurge?” Yes? Me too. Or if you’re one of the few that hasn’t already got one, what about that Alexa Mulberry? Both items are pricey and let’s face it, you’ve probably got a million midi dresses and bags tucked away. So how do you justify those price tags?

What if I told you that by investing in designer pieces, you’d be investing in your career? If you want to climb that corporate ladder, you need to dress to impress. Investing in appropriate designer pieces will not only ensure you don’t slip behind in the fashion stakes, but that you don’t coast down the corporate ladder either.

And I’m afraid that tatty, old H&M dress just won’t cut it, darling.

But being the money-savvy lady you are, you’re not going to be inclined to hand over a wad of your hard-earned cash for something, no matter how fabulous it is, if it’s not going to offer a you little something in return too. We all know that good returns can come from investing in stocks and shares, certain art pieces, property and gold, but how about designer clothing and accessories? How fab would it be to invest in designer clobber and see a great return?

I wonder… is splurging on designer fashion a sensible investment, or are we fooling ourselves into thinking so to justify spending high sums?

To Sell Or Not To Sell

Yes, that is the question. You may want to buy some designer pieces for you to wear and keep, but it would be wise to have an idea of a resale value in case you’d like to sell in the future.

Think about this: if you’re lucky enough to get your hands on a Hermes Birkin bag, which could set you back anywhere from £7,500 to £100,000, the resale designer fashion website Vestiaire Collective reveals you could benefit from a resale value of around 137 per cent.

Due to its high demand, a Hermes Birkin bag is deemed the best investment in designer handbags – and with a resale value like that, who could argue?

To put it into perspective: the annual return on a Birkin bag is 14.2% according to the website Baghunter. Compare this to the S&P 500 index return, which has increased by 8.7% a year and it is looking like investing in designer bags (Hermes in particular) is a pretty shrewd decision! And let’s not even start comparing to current ISA rates!

Similarly, the resale value of a Chanel Classic Flap Bag has increased 72 per cent between 2010 and 2015 and Saint Laurent and Céline handbags enjoy remarkably huge increases in resale values, too.

Do we need any more of an excuse to go out and splurge… I mean, invest?!

What Should I Invest In?

But how do we decide which pieces are investments? To help us in our quest, the Vestiaire Collective has devised The Resale Calculator using data from its millions of members to uncover how much luxury designer items will be worth when selling them. It’s a useful tool to indicate the potential resale figure before we actually decide to buy a piece brand new.  After all, you wouldn’t put your money into stocks and shares without knowing the potential returns, would you?

There’s no doubt that designer handbags are the best investment of all designer fashion. However, designer shoes (worn and unworn) come a close second and whilst ready-to-wear clothing is never going to compete with the resale value of handbags and shoes, there are some designer clothing pieces that will resell better than others.

A few points to consider if you’re thinking of investing in designer clothing:

Go Classic

Always pick classic pieces as they’re less likely to date. That orange Chanel jumpsuit looks great whilst wearing it in St Tropez darling, but not so great during a work business meeting with the CEO. Versatility is key.

Brand Awareness

Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant always command strong interest in resale. Pick a classic piece by one of these designers and you’re on to a winner. Balenciaga and Balmain are also two strong contenders for those top spots in resale value.

Treasure Your Investments

If they’re going to serve you well, you need to look after them. Always look after leathers and suedes appropriately, pack bags to ensure they maintain their shape, keep invoices and authenticity cards and store items in their dust bags and boxes.

Keep Receipts

Having a proof of purchase not only helps to prove authenticity, but also helps with a quick and more profitable sale.

When To Sell

For maximum resale attractiveness, sell pieces within four seasons of release. If people remember the pieces from seasons, they tend to desire them more than if they don’t know about them at all. Therefore, they’ll hold a higher resale value.

Win Some Lose Some

It’s undoubtedly difficult to know the best time to sell a piece. You might already know that a designer’s last collection for a house is always a popular one. Most would advise to sell within four seasons, however, the resale value might just surge if you hold on to it for a lot longer…

Decisions, Decisions…

So, is investing in designer fashion an excuse to splurge or is it a wise financial move?

You can get excellent returns on your designer investment if you buy the right piece, look after it well and sell it within the right timeframe after buying it. However, as with any investment comes risks, but I’d say that there are far fewer risks involved with buying that Chanel 2.55 than there is investing £4,000 in stocks for certain pharmaceutical or banking companies. Not only that, with a Chanel handbag, you get to experience it and take it to all those girlie liquid lunches (just don’t get too squiffy and leave it anywhere!). What do you get with a straightforward investment? A piece of paper and relatively low return? I know where I’d rather invest my money!

And if you don’t achieve the resale price you’re after, you get to keep that designer piece, but if you do get a fantastic resale price, perhaps buy another piece and do the same with that, too. You could start a profitable side-hustle and become the next Tamara Mellon or Karren Brady… Or you could just have a bit of fun buying and selling and making a little money in the process. What are you waiting for?!

Useful websites:

Vestiare Collective: https://www.vestiairecollective.com

Edit Second Hand: https://editsecondhand.com/

Hardly Ever Worn It: https://www.hardlyeverwornit.com/

High Fashion Society: https://highfashionsociety.com/

In the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal in October 2017, more and more women have felt confident in sharing their experiences of harassment in the workplace. You must have been hibernating if you haven’t read about, or participated in the “Me Too” or “Time’s Up” movements which have highlighted the prevalence of harassment in the workplace. These movements have shown victims that their experience was not an isolated case, and encouraged them to seek the support available.

It’s a sad fact that many women (and men) in the working world have come up against a certain degree of harassment. I can’t imagine there are many offices without a tolerated letchy type that, rather than be denigrated, is actually talked about with uneasy humour. You know them: you feel uneasy when you’re alone with them, they say inappropriate things in a meeting, and their eyes linger on you (and not just on your face) for just a little too long.

But at what point does the office “pest” become a perpetrator of sexual harassment? And what do we do about it?

What Is Sexual Harassment

Before you think that Stuart in Accounts sexually harassed you because he once touched your shoulder when you nudged past him, it’s probably best to clarify what sexual harassment really means.

Legislation came into place in 2005 which strengthened the law on sexual harassment in the workplace. Since then, sexual harassment has been defined as “any type of unwanted contact of a sexual nature.” So this means physical (unwanted and unnecessary touching, hugging or rape, for example) or verbal harassment (inappropriate comments about your appearance, lewd suggestions, etc).

Fundamentally, if a sexually-charged action could affect a person’s performance in the workplace and could be construed as hostile, intimidating or humiliating, then it can be described as sexual harassment.

Discrimination against an employee because of their gender can also be deemed sexual harassment.

It Happens To Women… And Men

Unfortunately, sexual harassment is something many people will encounter during their working lives. In fact, one in five calls made to the Equal Opportunities helpline is about sexual harassment. What is even more surprising is that 40% of the complainants are male. Sexual harassment doesn’t just affect women.

Focusing on women for the moment, TUC research in 2016 shows more than half of women overall, and nearly two-thirds of women aged 18-24 years old, have experienced sexual harassment at work. A shocking statistic but one that probably only shows the tip of the iceberg.

How Should We Deal With It

Many people don’t come forward about harassment in the workplace, especially if the perpetrator is a powerful figure,  because they’ve either become accustomed to being treated in this way, or they’re scared of reprisals (such as losing their job or having their career progression blocked).

If we met someone socially who made us feel uneasy due to their inappropriate behaviour, we’d choose not to spend time with them again. However, most of us don’t have this liberty in the workplace. We are stuck.

So do we stick with it and ignore it, or do we formally report this behaviour?

At work, where you spend a large amount of time in close proximity to colleagues, you need to feel as comfortable as possible; being the subject of any type of harassment should never be tolerated.

What Should You Do

If you’ve been physically assaulted, you should inform the police as a first step. For non-physical workplace harassment, follow the steps below to put an end to it.

1. If you feel comfortable, confront the perpetrator and make them aware that you feel distressed by their behavior. Otherwise, appoint a colleague to do so on your behalf. Perhaps the perpetrator didn’t realise that their behavior offended you so this is their chance to stop.

2. If the harassment continues, notify your line manager – and make a written note of every instance thereafter.

3. Ask your line manager to inform your HR department of the harassment – if you take legal action at a later stage, this is an important step to take. Nowadays most companies have a zero tolerance attitude and regard sexual harassment a serious and disciplinary offence. The HR policy on handling harassment cases will outline the next steps.

4. If you’re not happy with your employer’s handling of your complaint, you can take the matter to an Employment Tribunal which will decide if your employer has treated your complaint appropriately.

What Next?

If you are, or have been, a victim of workplace harassment, and even if your HR department resolved the situation successfully, it’s likely that you feel tainted by the whole experience. Remember you’re not alone and there are a range of support networks you can reach out to.

Who To Talk To

If you are experiencing any kind of harassment at work, these resources may be useful:

• Bullying and harassment in the workplace – CIPD Factsheet
• Still just a bit of banter? Sexual harassment in the workplace in 2016 – TUC research report
• Tackling sexual harassment in the workplace – A TUC guide for trade union activists
• Bullying and harassment at work – guidance from ACAS
• Sex discrimination – Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
• Sexual harassment – Citizens Advice
• Encouraging a speak up culture – IBE

Nowadays, we have apps on our smartphones and tablets for everything from social media to food and clothes shopping, and even for Uber taxis. In fact, it seems every business has an app that they’d love you to download.

I’m a big fan of whatever makes life easier and frees up time to do things you really want to do. But do these little squares on my smartphone make life easier or do they complicate it even more?

1. Evernote

This hugely successful, free app promises to be the only note-taking app you’ll ever need. It’s available for your smartphone, tablet and computer and serves as your notetaker, PDA, pocket notebook, to-do list, etc. A big attraction of Evernote is that it syncs automatically across all your devices and operating systems, so you’ll never forget your to-do-list again. And you can share notes – for work or even if you’re planning a social occasion with your besties.

There are three service tiers. The free basic option is limited as you can’t sync between three or more devices and can’t retrieve your notes without an internet connection. The other tiers are Plus (about £30 a year) and Premium (for £60 a year). With both of these tiers, you can sync across all devices and save data offline. So it’s worth shelling out if you think you need the benefits.

However, if you want to access some pretty useful features such as turning notes into presentations, viewing previous versions of notes and annotating PDFs, then Premium, as opposed to Basic and Plus versions, could be just what you need.

Can You Live Without It?

You will need to pay if you want the full benefits of Evernote. Without paying, you can use the app on your smartphone to make notes and email it to other devices, but you can’t work on the document on the other devices – making it a bit of a faff to access and add to. As a paid app, it is great – no limitations at all when using it between all your devices.

2. Spendee

For those that like to be in control of their finances, this budgeting app is a huge help to track your money. You can connect your bank accounts to the app and your purchases or credits are recorded, or you can manually input your expenditure. Either way you can view a selection of attractive graphs and charts to illustrate your incomings and outgoings. Best of all, this app handles multiple currencies for when you travel abroad. Everything is then synced across multiple devices.

The free version is fine, but with the paid premium version (£1.49 a month), you can create and manage multiple wallets and budgets, including shared ones – incredibly useful if you have shared spending, for example if you live with friends.

If you need to budget your finances, then Spendee can help too. In the Basic plan, you can only set one budget, but with the Plus or Premium applications, you can set an unlimited number of budgets for different categories, such as food or entertainment. You’re then notified when you spend 75% or 90% of your budget.

Can You Live Without It?

There are traditional ways to track your spending, such as only using cash for purchases (whilst sticking to a budget) or regularly examining your bank statement, but this app can be especially useful if you have multiple bank accounts and credit cards. And if you do have trouble sticking to a budget, the paid apps can give an early warning signal when you’re near your limit – and prevent you overspending.

Also, it is fun to view your finances graphically and quickly see where all your money goes (how many Neros in a week?!)

3. Loyalive

Are you fed up of loyalty cards bulging out of your wallet? Do you forget you have loyalty cards for some stores? Yes and yes are my answers.

Wouldn’t it be a great if there was an app that stored all of your loyalty card details and points, and also told you when the number of points equal a reward? Well Loyalive is a great app which supports around 300 loyalty programmes. It even creates a barcode for each so that you don’t have to carry the physical card with you. Pretty handy, I’d say. Anything that slims down my bulky purse – and potentially makes me money – I’m happy with.

Can You Live Without It?

Yes, of course you can, but you might find this app saves you time and ultimately money (never miss a reward opportunity again!). Better still, it’s free.

Obviously, you’ll have to invest time in setting up your accounts on the app, but once you’re done, that’s it. Pretty fab app with minimal faff.

4. Starbucks

This app is great if you’re on the go and need a quick caffeine fix! Download this free app and pay for your drinks and food by scanning your phone screen at the till. You’ll also receive rewards, such as free drinks, for using the app.

It works like this: you add funds from your bank account (or credit card / ApplePay) into your Starbucks account, place your order and pay ahead so that when you get to the shop, it is ready for you. The best thing is that you won’t have to wait in those annoying queues! Hurrah! And your name has a much better chance of being spelt correctly on your drinks holder!

Can You Live Without It?

That depends if you can live without caffeine! Seriously, this app is really very good and isn’t much of a faff at all. You can place your order when you’re on the train going into work and it’ll be ready by the time you arrive in the shop. And you get rewards for ordering on the app. Actually, I’m not sure I can live without this one!

So there you have it… there are so many apps out there, it’s difficult to state which will make our lives easier – it’s really down to personal choice.

Some people like pen and paper, some want to make notes on their smartphone. Some scan their bank statement online, others want to see fancy graphs showing their spending habits.

My best advice – if you see an app which looks promising and is free, download it and try it out. You’ll soon discover if it revolutionises your life or if it’s more faff than fab!

For many people, life is incredibly busy. Whether you’re juggling the demands of work and home, or are running your own business, any additional tasks such as booking flights, arranging a cleaner or nanny, or running general errands, can feel like the straws that are poised to break the camel’s back.

If you’re making good money in your working life, a personal concierge service will enable you to focus on making even more, whilst their team of virtual helpers take care of all the tasks you simply don’t have the time, or inclination, to complete.

Here are some of the most popular concierge services around, ranking from those who deal with a range of mundane tasks, to the luxury concierge companies that work with high net worth clients who need to charter a private jet every now and then!

1. Personal Concierge Services

1.1 Personal Time Saver (London)

Personal Time Saver is a London based service which was proud to be the runner up in London’s best concierge service 2013. It boasts a tailor-made service to suit each client and their philosophy is “No job is too trivial”. Whether you need house sitting, grocery shopping, a car serviced, help arranging a party, secretarial support or someone to complete your passport application, this gem of a company is at your beck and call 365 days a year. They will meet up with you anytime to confirm your requirements – or you can just email them an instruction. It’s a very personalised service and well worth the money if you’re simply too busy to manage all these tasks yourself.

For one off tasks they charge by the hour: £80-85 Monday to Friday, £85 on Saturdays and £100 on Sundays and bank holidays. For regular clients, they negotiate a retainer fee.

1.2 Choices Service Solutions (Manchester)

Choices Service Solutions works in the Manchester area, and has an extensive network of fully vetted traders and service provides that it contacts on your behalf when you need work done. So if you need help to source a gardener of cleaner, need your car taking for its MOT, need help arranging a party or need someone to find the best deal on flights, this team will ensure the job gets done.

Regular clients praise the small team at Choices Service Solutions for their personalised and efficient approach, and their affordable cost.

1.3 One Big Fish (Birmingham)

One Big Fish offers to manage your lifestyle in a personalised way. It offers a personal concierge available on a daily basis or a flexible monthly package. The range of services on offer is broad eg. organising travel arrangements; setting up a conference call with clients; booking a hotel or dinner reservation; planning a holiday; helping you purchase quality jewellery or a bespoke suite.

Lifestyle membership is £995 + VAT per year and includes:

– a personalised concierge service

– up to 10 requests per month during work hours (8am to 8pm Mon to Fri)

– access to private and VIP events

Bespoke membership is £2500 + VAT and includes all that the lifestyle membership offers, with 30 requests a year (extra hours then added at an additional charge) and upgraded services eg. at hotels when available.

2. Concierge Services For Leisure

2.1 Bon Vivant (London)

Bon Vivant claims to be London’s leading luxury travel and concierge service. Their selling point is that they know London inside out and their insider knowledge can help you get access to the best restaurants, sold out events and must see places and activities. If you become a member, (£4,000 per year) they also offer their luxury travel service for free: they will arrange personalised trips abroad, including family holidays, business trips, private jet charter and more.

If you want to enjoy your leisure time to the full, but don’t have time to make all of the arrangements, Bon Vivant is the concierge service for you.

3. Luxury Concierge Services (International Cover)

3.1 Quintessentially Lifestyle

Quintesessentially Lifestyle is an award winning luxury lifestyle management and concierge company operating worldwide.

It is not be cheap – you’ll need to pay an annual fee to become a private member, although their website is coy about prices (that’s how luxurious the services are!). As a guide, the individual membership was quoted as $1500 per person per year back in 2012 by Business Insider and is bound to be far more nowadays.

But if you have that kind of money and want a stress free life, just imagine the joy of being able to delegate all manner of tasks to someone else! Their team will sort out bespoke travel arrangements, last minute restaurant reservations, help run day-to-day errands on your behalf, get to grips with home management and even organise your relocation if you’re moving away.

They boast 24/7 support every day of the year and promise personalised assistance to all of their members. This company does just about anything you need, allowing you to focus on the more important things in life.

3.2 One Concierge

One Concierge is a world leading luxury concierge and lifestyle management firm for the most discerning clientele around the world. It offers both an on-demand service and a private membership option. The on-demand service promises you only pay what you have requested- and you need to submit a request via the website. For those with more money and regular need for concierge services, their membership packages are:

Bespoke $3,000 per year – includes unlimited requests 24/7 every day of the year, personalised service and preferred travel rates and discounts.

Lifestyle $8,000 per year – includes everything in the Bespoke membership plus priority handling and a dedicated account manager.

Executive $25,000 – includes the Lifestyle support, with a dedicated lifestyle curator, a virtual personal assistant and a Gold MasterCard.

Not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but if you are the kind of person who needs to charter a private yacht to impress new clients, this is the service for you.

If you’re busy and need a helping hand, a personalised concierge service may be the solution you are looking for. They range from affordable (taking into consideration the fact that you are getting a completely personalised service) to the expensive – but if you’ve been a sophisticated saver all your life, perhaps you can afford the best that money can buy.

Youngsters out there may feel they have a monopoly on internet usage, with their limitless Instagram selfies and favourite YouTube Vloggers, but over 50’s aren’t lagging far behind – they just hang out on different platforms.

According to Government’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), almost 80% of 55 and 64 year olds regularly use the internet for general browsing and shopping, and over half bank on line and are active on social networking sites. Moreover, a study by communications regulator, Ofcom shows that many over 50’s view being online as essential for their well-being and to keep up-to-date with today’s world.

So if you’re over 50, feel little different to the day you were 21, now’s the time to broaden your horizons and get active on the hottest websites specifically geared to the more “mature” age group.

Join A Community

Silver Surfers is the self-proclaimed “leading website for over 50’s.” And this is not just your usual lifestyle website – it’s entertaining, informative and also serves as a social network. Perhaps the best thing about Silver Surfers is its community (free to join) where once you’re a member, you can participate in forums, engage in chat rooms and even show off your creativity in “showcase”.

A great way to meet up with new people and share opinions and ideas online.

Over 50’s Dating

One in five relationships in the UK now start online and with many over 50’s single due to bereavement or divorce, online dating for the over 50’s has become big business. In fact, the over 50’s are one of the largest groups of online daters these days. If you’re interested in finding Mr Right or Little Miss/Mrs Perfect, check out the most popular dating sites for the over 50’s below:

Saga Dating Website: www.sagadating.co.uk

Muddy Matches Website:www.muddymatches.co.uk

My Lovely Parent Website: mylovelyparent.com

Telegraph Dating Website: dating.telegraph.co.uk

You’ll need to sign up to become a member and then pay around £12 per month for membership. But the partner of your dreams may be just around an online corner.

Learn Something New

The University of the Third Age (U3A) is exclusively for older people, offering opportunities to make new friends, learn new skills and share knowledge with others.

Classes are held in various locations either in a member’s home, a local library or church hall. Plus, if you’re out in the sticks, you can participate online through Virtual U3A.

Subjects that you can learn about include history, literature and language, gardening and technology skills. And it’s possible to organise a group yourself if there’s enough demand in your area for a certain subject.

It’s a great way to exercise your brain cells and make new friends to boot!

Get Qualified!

It’s never too late to get a degree, hone some skills or learn a new language – and there may be a grant or a free course to help:

• The Scholarship Search site sometimes has results for mature students
• To search for bursaries and scholarships, take a look at the Student Cash Point
• Fancy taking a course with the Open University? See the OU’s eligibility checker for grant information and any free courses (you won’t have to repay a student loan if you never earn over £21,000 – fantastic if you’re retired!)
• Check out your local college for their free numeracy and literacy courses and it’s worth looking on Learndirect and Hotcourses for other local classes.
• Learn a new language for free! You can do this online in the comfort of your own home with sites such as Duolinguo, FSI Language Courses and Busuu

Enjoy Effortlessly Healthy Mealtimes

With all that dating, social schmoozing and learning going on, how is an over 50 going to have the time to plan and shop for meals? This is where Hello Fresh comes in: healthy ingredients and easy to follow recipes delivered directly to your door on the day of your choosing.

There’s no better way to feed your body and mind with organic and locally-sourced healthy foods – and still have the time to do all the things you really want to do.

For more information on Hello Fresh, take a look at our review.

Take Care Of The Future

Let’s not spoil all the fun, but if you don’t have a Will, then get one!

Sophisticated Savers have a range of free finance guides to download, including guides on Wills. They explain the important reasons to make a Will, including reducing the heartache and burden on your loved-ones if you die intestate (without making a Will) which could see your assets go to someone you didn’t intend to have them.

At Private Client Online, you can have your Will drafted by a qualified Solicitor for £69 (joint will at £99). And because they know you want to get on with the important stuff in life, the process takes as little as 15 minutes.

As you can see, there are lots of hot websites specifically designed for the over 50’s. You can make the best decision of your life in making a Will, you can create a whole new circle of friends and perhaps a partner if that’s what you wish – and you can make yourself healthier than you’ve ever been with great food.

So what are you waiting for?

Have you mislaid your mojo? Do you feel you’re losing a grip on your ability to be effective and successful at work and at home?

Nowadays people are time poor – there’s the commute to work, the job, the meetings, the deadlines – all followed up by demands made at home: the family expects dinner, the dog expects walking, the clothes expect washing and the house expects a clean now and then.

So it’s not surprising that many of us get tired, feel as if we’re on a never-ending treadmill and start to lose our mojo – that seemingly magical feeling when we get the new job, a promotion or something else that means a lot to us.

So here are our tips to get you motivated so you can get your mojo back.

1. Treat Your Body With Respect

If you’re exhausted you won’t perform at your best. The great ideas you used to have in the workplace will dry up as your brain feels like cotton wool. You’ll find yourself snapping at your partner and kids, because if they ask just one more thing of you, you’ll be likely to implode.

So treat your body with respect. It might sound boring, but eating healthily, minimising the number of alcoholic drinks you have each day, and getting an early night will help revitalise your body and mind.

2. Believe In Yourself

If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect others to believe in you? If you tend to think, “I can’t possibly do xyz”, stop yourself and change your thought process. If other people can do it, you surely can too. A positive mindset is a fundamental requirement for a motivated life.

3. Do A Job That Lights Your Fire

If you despise your job, you need to change. Life is far too short to waste it in a dead-end, unfulfilling job. Start investigating alternatives. Maybe you love the work but don’t like your colleagues – if so search for similar job vacancies at other companies.

Perhaps you have always wanted to do something completely different. Well don’t just sit there – find out exactly what you need to do to make it happen, whether that’s retraining or taking the leap to set up your own business.

Just by taking these first steps, your sleeping mojo will already be raising its head to find out if it’s time to wake up.

4. Ignore Negative People

If you can’t avoid them physically then simply tune out when they are repeating their negative, pessimistic tales of doom.

“Oooh,” they might say, “isn’t a career change at your time of life a bit risky?”

For negative people, any change from a safe, mind numbingly boring routine is a risk. So avoid them like the plague and continue believing in yourself and making sensible plans to make your life a happier one.

5. Make Time For Inspiring People

Positive people are a joy to be around. Their mojos are strong and bouncy and, well, inspiring. Think about what makes them so content – what do they do that you don’t? Can you learn something from their attitude to life? Let their positivity wash over you and you will feel enthusiastic and invigorated each and every meeting.

6. Delegate

How will you have time to refresh your body and mind, consider your long term career plans and meet up with inspiring people if you are getting snowed under by too much work and drudgery?

Delegate when you can to free up some of your time.

Don’t agree to work to unrealistic deadlines in your job – explain to the boss what you can and cannot achieve in the set time. Get all the family to help with chores – yes they’re boring but everyone needs to get stuck in.

7. Have Realistic Goals

A word of caution – set yourself realistic goals. If you set yourself a goal that is clearly without anyone’s reach, your setting yourself up for failure. And that will deflate your mojo once again.

Create a plan – around whatever it is that you want to change about your life – and break it down in to baby steps. Then when you nail each step, your sense of achievement will rocket.

8. Don’t Procrastinate

Stepping away from an unsatisfactory life takes guts. It’s far easier to put off doing anything with lots of “buts” and “what ifs”. However the procrastinator never achieves anything in life – they are too busy being cautious and sitting firmly in a rut. Which is such a shame.

Remember grab life with both hands and start living it. No more procrastination for you!

9. Bounce Back From Failure

No-one is immune to failure. Even the most famous entrepreneurs of all time have made some massive errors of judgement in their time. But if you fail at something, the most important thing is to dust yourself off and bounce right back.

You may have to adjust your plans a little, you may be a little more cautious next time, but failures are designed to help us get it right next time around.

10. Eat, Sleep, Motivate, Repeat

Keeping a positive and motivated grip on life takes a little effort. Don’t get complacent and fall back into bad habits. Keep revisiting your plan, taking stock of how healthy, fulfilled and motivated you feel, and regularly follow the advice above. Doing so should see you working happily at full capacity – yep, you’ll have reclaimed your mojo.