New York State – Page 447 – Bundlezy

New York State

Category Added in a WPeMatico Campaign

Supercomputer predicts new Championship season with Wrexham fairytale continuing and ex-Premier League trio relegated

WREXHAM are in line for a fourth-straight Hollywood season, according to a new Championship supercomputer.

But it’s bad news for former Premier League side Watford, who are pipped for relegation to League One for the first time in 48 YEARS.

Wrexham AFC players celebrating a victory and lifting a trophy.
Rex
A supercomputer has tipped Wrexham to make the Championship play-offs[/caption]
Watford player dejected after conceding a goal.
Watford are predicted to suffer relegation from the Championship
Rex
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Tyler Dibling of Southampton reacts during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at St Mary's Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
Tyler Dibling has been predicted to win theChampionship with Southampton

Boffins at AceOdds booted up their intelligent PC, which simulates every single fixture 10,00 times for the most accurate score.

It estimates the outcome of games based on a team’s current strength (based on factors such as league position and form) and betting market odds.

And the results are astounding, with Wrexham, who became the first team to earn back-to-back-to-back promotions up the pyramid, have the chance to play for Premier League football.

The Red Dragons, once suffering a record 15-straight seasons in the National League before Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney saved the day, are predicted to finish inside the play-off spots next season.

Linked with a host of big names, including Jamie Vardy and Ben Davies, Wrexham’s top-flight dreams remain alive – if they edge out Bristol City to sixth-place on goal difference. 

Meanwhile, the clever AI algorithm reckons Southampton will go straight back up by winning the Championship.

The Saints, who hired former Lens boss Will Still after relegation this season, are set to face a dramatic title race with Sheffield United, who will finally earn automatic promotion at the second time of asking.

Fellow relegated sides Ipswich, Leicester and Frank Lampard‘s Coventry City are predicted to join Wrexham in making the play-offs.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS

Tom Brady-backed Birmingham City, who recorded the most-ever EFL points last season (108), will also register an admirable top-half finish.

On 65 points, the Blues are set to finish ahead of neighbours West Brom and other established names such as Stoke City and Middlesbrough.

Meanwhile, Championship newboys Charlton Athletic are expected to avoid a return to League One, finishing six points above the drop.

In terms of the relegation places, Derby County and Hull City join Watford in the dreaded drop to the third-tier.

Watford last played in League One (then known as the Football League Third Division) during the 1977-78 season.

Derby finished 19th last year, while Hull are pipped to finish rock-bottom after just about saving themselves on the final day this season, after Luton lost to West Brom.

While the supercomputer thinks the likes of Preston, QPR, Boro and Oxford United will narrowly survive.

And Norwich, Millwall, Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea will finish a respectable mid-table.

James McClean of Wrexham celebrating.
Rex
Wrexham star James McClean could return to the glittering heights of Premier League football after playing with West Brom and Sunderland a decade ago[/caption]
Omari Hutchinson of Ipswich Town during a soccer match.
Getty
Omari Hutchinson helped Ipswich earn promotion to the Prem in 2023/2024, before being relegated this season[/caption]

Read More »

My mum abandoned me and gave me to a cult – we were fed LSD, beaten, bleached & waterboarded to keep us under control

Photo of a group of children, their cult leader, and an adopted son.

BEN Shenton was just 18 months old when his mother gave him up to a well-spoken blonde woman who swore she’d give him the best life possible.

Little did she know her decision would put Ben through years of abuse at the hands of a woman who believed she was Jesus Christ reborn.

Photo of a young girl with blonde hair.
BBC
Ben Shenton was handed over to a cult leader[/caption]
Photo of a group of children at Lake Eildon in the 1980s.
BBC Handout
Anne Hamilton-Bryne’s ‘children’ were forced to bleach their hair and wear matching clothes[/caption]
Photo of Anne Hamilton-Byrne.
Anne believed she was Jesus Christ reborn and became the leader of the notorious Australian cult

Images of Ben show a happy young boy, but the reality was entirely different – as the youngster was forced to become part of a notorious cult known as ‘The Family’.

Anne Hamilton-Byrne, who Ben would grow up to know as his mother, became the leader of the cult based in Australia, which drugged and beat him.

He had no idea of his life before Anne, as she went to great lengths to keep his adoption a secret, even bleaching his hair platinum blond like hers and his new ‘siblings’.

Despite abusing more than 20 children, including Ben, Anne and her husband and cult co-leader, Bill Hamilton-Byrne, never faced justice.

Now, over four decades on from the abuse, Ben shares his story of growing up in the “Kai Lama” compound, where children were locked in with barbed wire and tortured.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Anne first started out as a yoga teacher before turning to a more ‘spiritual life’ and eventually believing she was Jesus Christ reincarnated.

She was born with the name Evelyn and had three marriages in total – the first coming to an end when her husband died in a car crash, which led to her ‘spiritual awakening.’

She met English physicist Dr Raynor Johnson in 1963 and the following year, they set up a group dedicated to spreading a surreal combination of Christianity and Hinduism, with Hamilton-Byrne at its centre.

Her final husband, Bill, became the person who led the doomsday cult with her in the 1960s, when the world faced existential threats like nuclear warfare, the Vietnam War and the spread of communism.

Anne was able to rope people into the cult through yoga lessons, meetings at her house once a week, and then three times a week, until she built the compound on land near her house for them to move into.

Anne came across as beautiful, well-spoken and nurturing, so it’s no surprise Ben’s mum was easily convinced he’d have a better life with her.

Ben said Anne manipulated his mother into giving him up in 1970, convincing her that ‘only she could give me the best life possible’.

The pair consistently preyed on vulnerable people like Ben’s mum, Joy, who had suffered a back injury and felt she could not look after him anymore.

They also started recruiting people into their cult by approaching patients from Newhaven Hospital in Kew, a private psychiatric facility run and operated by various members of The Family, who targeted vulnerable patients, subjecting them to heavy doses of LSD and electroshock therapy.

She and husband Hamilton-Byrne took children through illegal adoptions, allowing the cult to grow in numbers before imprisoning them in a strict home-schooling environment at a rural property near Eildon in Victoria.

Anne Hamilton-Byrne at Lake Eildon.
Label Distribution
At one point, Anne had 28 children in her care[/caption]
Group photo of children and a dog in light blue clothing.
She convinced parents to give her their children

Using lawyers, social workers, and doctors to forgo official channels, they were able to forge birth documents and raise over a dozen children to believe they were the birth children of the Hamilton-Byrnes.

When children were born inside the compound to cult members, they were raised to believe their birth mothers were instead among a handful of “aunts”, who gave out brutal punishments for whatever they saw fit.

PICTURE PERFECT FAMILY

From the outside, the family looked picture-perfect as they lived on their compound in Victoria, Australia.

Life at Kai Lama seemed healthy and even advanced for its years; it featured yoga, exercise, vegetarian meals, meditation and education.

Ben lived on the remote property and was raised alongside dozens of other children for 13 years and recalls living with 28 other kids at one point.

“Growing up, it was Anne and Bill, they were mum and dad; and then there were foster kids, and they were kids of other sect members, who would either come up on weekends or stay there for stints of a couple of years,” Ben, told the BBC.

“The greatest amount of kids at any given stage was 28,” he added.

Anne and Bill brought up the children as their own, even dressing them in matching outfits and dying their hair bleach blond to appear like a real family.

I loved them in their little smocks and jeans and the long hair and ribbons.

Anne Hamilton-Byrne cult leader

“We were her children. We were different ages. We’d line up von Trapp style (like) The Sound of Music, which we’d watch, dressed in outfits that matched and that was just what we were asked to do,” he told the True Crimes Conversation podcast.

“You look back on that and you see it’s choreographed.

“It crafted a belief that she had these children, which she didn’t. We were all either adopted or handed over.”

In an interview years after the children were finally taken from her, Anne said: “I wanted them to look like brothers and sisters – I must admit this.

“I loved them in their little smocks and jeans and the long hair and ribbons. It was beautiful – it was lovely to see.”

Asked why she imprisoned 28 children over two decades, she responded: ‘I love children.’

Photo of a young boy lying on the ground at night.
Ben Shenton
Ben Shenton pictured after being removed from the cult[/caption]
Photo of five blonde children in dark clothing.
BBC
Ben (pictured front right) and his ‘silbings’ were the targets of abuse for years[/caption]

UNDER WRAPS

But in reality, the children were subjected to years of beatings, mind games, isolation, and forced to take drugs by the cult leader, who had convinced more than 500 people she was Jesus Christ.

The couple had convinced their followers they were making a ‘master race’ while teaching a mixture of Christianity and Hinduism.

Ben recalls one form of torture Anne liked to perform on the children was waterboarding.

It’s a method of torture that creates such horrific psychological pain that its use has even been banned in the US military.

“We were all lined up. We were belted. Our head held under the bucket of water, interrogated,” he said.

“Held there until you thought you were suffocating, brought back out again.

“Horrendous experience. It caused nightmares.

“These things shape your personality.”

Ben recalls seeing his siblings being beaten with a belt, and says they were given LSD ‘as part of an initiation ritual.’

“I was watching her being belted with a buckle and she’s being beaten to the point where she’s wriggling out of her clothes,” he said of his sister, Sarah.

“Hearing her body smash across the balustrades – it was horrendous to know they had the power to do that and would do it,” he told the MailOnline.

She had this ability to be able to be so warm, so loving, so caring, and yet at the same time so manipulative.

Ben Shenton

Ben says Anne’s most effective tactic was to keep the children from forming bonds with each other to keep them all in line.

To weed out misdeeds in the children, Anne would perform group interrogations by beating them until someone came clean. Ben said he stayed compliant to avoid punishment.

“This was the evil genius of her. She understood that if she could separate us, isolate us, make it so that we couldn’t build relationships with one another and punish us, then she could control us,” he said.

“Anyone who’s lived under domestic violence will know the living with fear, the walking on eggshells, the currying favour of those in authority, or the absolute rejection of them, the hatred of them, the love-hate relationship.

“It’s domestic abuse on steroids,” he said.

Now, Ben believes Anne was a sociopath or psychopath.

“She had this ability to be able to be so warm, so loving, so caring, and yet at the same time so manipulative,” he said.

'The Family' Cult Timeline

  • 1968 The Family begins to ‘adopt’ and acquire children to create a ‘master race’.  
  • 1974 An official school is set up for the ‘master race’ children at the Lake Eildon property.  
  • 1978 Anne Hamilton marries William (Bill) Byrne and they take the surname Hamilton-Byrne. 
  • 1983 Police visit the Lake Eildon property to search for a missing girl. She is not found on the property.
  • 1987 (14 August) Combined police raid on sect property at Lake Eildon. Anne is overseas. Bill is present at the raid but is not charged. 
  • The children are removed from the sect and placed into care. 
  • 1987 (Oct/Nov) Bill flees to Hawaii to meet Anne. 
  • 1987 (12 December) Detective Lex de Man is called to investigate. He learns about The Family. 
  • 1989 (about June) Lex de Man writes a report recommending Victoria Police commence a criminal investigation into The Family. 
  • 1989 (11 December) Operation Forest Task Force commences. 
  • 1993 (4 June) Anne and Bill are arrested in the Catskill Mountains, Upstate New York. 
  • 1993 (17 August) Anne and Bill are extradited to Australia. 
  • 1993 (31 August) Anne and Bill appear in the Victorian Magistrates’ Court, charged with conspiracy to defraud and commit perjury by falsely registering the births of triplets. 
  • 1994 In the County Court, Anne and Bill avoid prison and are fined $5000 each. 
  • 2001 Bill dies, leaving Anne to lead a diminishing group of followers. 
  • 2019 At 97, Anne lives in the dementia wing of a suburban Melbourne nursing home.

CAUGHT IN THE ACT

It wasn’t until 1987 that the cult was finally searched by 100 police officers and the children were rescued. 

At the time, a 15-year-old Ben was doing his scheduled yoga class when police stormed in.

His sister, Sarah Moore, had managed to escape the cult at 17 and headed straight to the police to tell them what was going on.

Not taking any chances, police stormed the property and rescued six children, including Ben.

While he was reluctant to go with them at first, he soon realised this was his path to freedom.

He recalls: “I think I got this epiphanal moment, realising this is the ticket out of here. So I just I let go, and I went with them.”

It was only then that Ben found out he was not their biological son and was handed over by his mother Joy, who stayed in the cult as an ‘aunt’.

At the time, Anne was in Hawaii while Bill stayed on the compound, but he wasn’t arrested.

Later, he went to New York to meet Anne before the pair were arrested and extradited back to Australia.

While many of the children came forward with claims of abuse, both Anne and Bill were only charged with conspiracy to defraud and perjury by falsely registering the birth of triplets.

The pair were spared jail and fined just £2,300 each for the crime.

Detective Lex de Man, who investigated the case, says evidence of abuse was unable to be taken to court despite multiple victims coming forward.

Justice was not done.

Ben Shenton

Detective de Man recently told The Age: “My only regret is she was never held totally to account for the misery she caused to the former cult children.

“I have no sympathy for the woman I consider the most evil person I ever met in my police career.”

LIFE NOW

Ben moved into foster care when he left the cult, and while lying on his bunk bed with fresh pyjamas and a meal in his tummy, he realised he’d never go back to The Family again

“I realised then I (didn’t) have to do this anymore, I’m free. I don’t need to go back,” he said. “That, to me, was when I shut the door.”

Four decades on, Ben is a proud husband to Rajes and a dad to Ellie and Callum, who live in Perth, Australia.

He has written a book on his time in the cult, Life Behind the Wire, and runs the organisation, Rescue The Family, to raise awareness on cult manipulation.

In 2019, Anne passed away while in a Melbourne care home at the age of 98 and Ben has reconnected with his biological mother.

“What Anne did was evil. She used the name of Christ to give herself validity. She used a belief system,” Ben said.

“Justice was not done.”

Headshot of Ben Shenton.
SBS Productions
Now Ben educates others on manipulation after his own experience[/caption]
Anne Hamilton-Byrne, leader of The Family cult.
Anne never faced criminal charges for the abuse she put the children through

Read More »

Married At First Sight stars reveal surprise romance as they go instagram official despite NOT marrying on show

MARRIED At First Sight stars have revealed their surprise romance after going Instagram official, despite marrying on the show. 

Fans of the most recent Aussie series watched as Awhina and Adrian were paired together.

Awhina and Billy, from Married At First Sight, in a mirror selfie.
Instagram
Married At First Sight stars have revealed their surprise romance after going Instagram official, despite marrying on the show[/caption]
Woman enjoying a glass of red wine at a restaurant.
Instagram
Awina posted some teasing photos to Instagram[/caption]
Awhina and her groom from Married at First Sight Australia.
Nine
Things didn’t end well for Awhina and Adrian on the show[/caption]

However, from the moment they said ‘I do’ the ex-couple bickered and argued.

Months on from when filming on MAFS wrapped, Awhina now appeared to confirm she’s seeing her co-star. 

And even more so now, with Instagram official snaps shared on their socials. 

The pair enjoyed a cosy date night at a place named The Garden in Perth recently, and snapped some very romantic photos in the process. 

Both in black, they posed for a mirror selfie that saw stunning Awhina looking forwards, while Billy placed his arm around her front and she held onto it. 

She said: “I’ll keep this one 🤭” as the caption, sending the rumour mill into overdrive in the process. 

Awhina shared a string of date night snaps in the carousel, as they enjoyed small plates and red wine while dining out together. 

“Adrian punching the air right now 😂,” one person responded in the comments, referencing her ex. 

Another person wrote: “Yusss, I love how he is with your son. As a mum that’s the ultimate most attractive attribute.” 

Someone else simply put: “I am living for this ❤.” 

The telling post comes after Awhina was spotted looking glam at a horse racing event in Perth.

During the video, Englishman Billy – who starred on MAFS with his ex Sierah – makes an appearance.

Awhina captioned the video: “Our exes ate a plate of meat, but who really ate?”

The ex-bride’s clip has sent fans into a meltdown as they flooded her with replies.

One said: “Billy and Awhina, Jamie and Elliott. the experts got it wrong and should have had them paired from the start.”

A second said: “Experts really got this season wrong in the matches. Billy now with Awhina, Jamie with Elliot. They are all so happy now.”

“Can I just say when I watched mafs I literally said before the scandal that Billy and awhina were made for each other ….. Called it,” said a third.

Married at First Sight fans previously watched as Billy’s ex Sierah had become close to Adrian during the show’s partner swapping exercise.

In awkward scenes, Sierah revealed that she ended up confiding in Adrian off screen.

Billy felt betrayed because he had opened up to Sierah with an emotional letter about feeling rejected by his father, while she chose to open up to someone else.

Two glasses of red wine on a table with dinner settings.
Instagram
Awhina shared a string of date night snaps in the carousel[/caption]
Photo of Awhina and Billy from Married At First Sight taking a selfie in a mirror.
Instagram
The pair looked closer than ever[/caption]

Read More »

Love Island fans work out ‘real reason’ couple have split again as on/off Islanders unfollow each other

LOVE Island fans claim to have worked out why one of the show’s couples has split again.

The Sun revealed today how Harriett, 25, and 28-year-old Ronnie have called time on their relationship while on holiday in Ibiza

Ronnie Vint on Love Island: All Stars.
Love Island fans are suspicious about Ronnie and Harriett’s split
Rex
Harriett Blackmore on Love Island: All Stars.
Rex
The Sun revealed today how the pair have broken up again[/caption]

Although the pair have not formally confirmed their break-up, Harriett has complained to fans about the “bad day” she’s having.

Harriett and Ronnie have unfollowed each other on Instagram, with him deleting all trace of her on the photo sharing site too.

But fans are suspicious about the on/off couple’s latest split.

Mulling it over on Reddit, many claim to have worked out why Harriett and Ronnie have broken up again.

It has been suggested that Ronnie might be being lined up to make a shock entrance in this summer‘s Love Island for Casa Amor.

The twist, which comes later in the series, always sparks drama as the couples are put to the ultimate test with a host of new bombshell arrivals.

Writing on the social forum, one fan said: “They’ll be back together in a month.”

But another replied: “Ronnie will be the big post Casa bombshell by then.”

Agreeing, someone else added: “No kidding. He’ll cry about Harriett while hitting on other women.”

A fourth chimed in: “And then Harriett will come back in for him to win her back.”

Another viewer begged: “Please don’t give the producers ideas!”

Ronnie and Harriett originally split last summer – just weeks after leaving the villa.

The pair then rekindled their connection on Love Island: All Stars in January.

Last week, the couple were at the centre of break-up rumours after fans noticed Ronnie had deleted photos of Harriett from Instagram.

A mystery post appeared on the site which claimed to show Ronnie confirming: “Yeah it’s true. Will explain my side of things later.”


Have YOU got a story or an amazing picture or video? Email exclusive@the-sun.co.uk and you could even get PAID



But Ronnie quickly hit out and insisted he was the victim of a hoax by a malicious troll.

He wrote online: “This is clearly a set up. Edited because we are sweet and I haven’t commented a thing. Thank you.”

Following today’s news that the couple have in fact broken up, Harriett has spoken out.

Refusing to address the reports directly, she told her Instagram followers: “I’ve never felt this exhausted in my entire life. 

“Love you guys! Bad day, not a bad life.”

Ronnie Vint and Harriet Blackmore at the MobLand premiere.
Getty
Ronnie and Harriett rekindled their romance on Love Island All Stars[/caption]
Man sitting outdoors at a restaurant with a drink and menu.
Instagram/@ronnievint
Ronnie has deleted all trace of Harriett on Instagram[/caption]
Woman in a rose-gold cutout swimsuit taking a selfie in a mirror.
Instagram @harriettblackmorex
The pair have unfollowed each other on the social media site too[/caption]

Read More »

Birmingham bin misery could go on until CHRISTMAS as workers vote to continue strikes

Pile of overflowing garbage bags on a pavement during a refuse workers' strike.
Getty
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JUNE 02: Bags of rubbish and bins overflow on the pavement in the Sparkbrook area on June 02, 2025 in Birmingham, England. Birmingham’s refuse workers have been on indefinite strike since March 11 over Birmingham City Council’s plans to downgrade some staff and reduce their pay. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)[/caption]

Birmingham bin workers have voted to continue industrial action in a dispute over pay and jobs.

Strikes could last until December with Unite announcing the continued industrial action moments ago.

Pile of overflowing garbage bags on a pavement during a refuse workers' strike.
Getty
Strikes could now last until December[/caption]
Protestors holding signs in support of Birmingham bin workers in front of a billboard urging Labour to stop blocking a deal.
Getty
Workers voted in favour of further strikes by an overwhelming majority[/caption]

A massive 97% of workers voted in favour of continued strike action with a 75% turnout the workers union has said.

Nearly 400 bin workers from Birmingham, who are facing pay cuts, voted to continue the strikes.

The strikes began in January after workers were told by the council they could face pay cuts of up to £8,000.

Refuse workers said the cuts would leave them struggling to pay their bills.

Rubbish has piled up on the city’s streets amid the industrial action with rodents and vermin now appearing across Birmingham.

Talks have been held under the chairmanship of the conciliation service Acas but the dispute remains deadlocked.

The council brought in temporary workers to cover for the striking staff.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “After smearing these workers in public since January and telling them to accept a fair and reasonable offer that never existed, the council finally put a proposal in writing last week.

“True to form, the proposal came weeks late and was not in line with the ballpark offer discussed during Acas talks in May.

“It had been watered down by the government commissioners and the leader of the council despite them never having been in the negotiations.

“It beggars belief that a Labour government and Labour council is treating these workers so disgracefully.

“It is hardly surprising that so many working people are asking whose side Labour is on.

“The decision makers at Birmingham council need to get in the room and put forward an acceptable offer.

“Unite will not allow these workers to be financially ruined – the strikes will continue for as long as it takes. Unite calls on the decision makers to let common sense prevail in upcoming negotiations.”

Overflowing rubbish bins and bags of refuse on a pavement during a strike.
Getty
Residents have reported spotting rats among the filth[/caption]
Birmingham bin workers on strike.
Getty
Unite announced the continued industrial action today[/caption]

Read More »

Boohoo is selling dupe of House of CB’s iconic dress for £150 less – and it’s perfect for flattening tummies

WE’VE all fallen hook, line and sinker for House of CB’s bandage dresses.

But with a hefty price tag of £150 or more for each one, we’ve found a dupe of their iconic dress that’s perfect for flattening tummies.

Pink bandage midi dress with double straps.
House Of CB
The House of CB HourGlass dress has a hefty price tag[/caption]
Woman in baby pink midi bandage dress.
Boohoo
Boohoo’s baby pink midi bandage dress gives you a saving of just under £150[/caption]
Woman in baby pink midi bandage dress.
BooHoo
The Boohoo looks very similar in style to the more expensive version[/caption]

The Boohoo Bandage Double Strap Midi Dress is made in a figure-hugging bandage fabric and looks rather similar to House of CB’s viral The HourGlass dress.

It’s form-fitting silhouette accentuates your curves, while the sweetheart neckline and double strap detail add a dash of sophistication.

It is simply perfect for a cocktail party or a night at the club, and designed to turn heads – at only a fraction of the price.

The dress is currently only available in Chocolate and Rose.

But the best part is that the Boohoo dress is currently on sale for just £20 – a huge difference to The HourGlass dress which costs £169 – giving you a massive saving of just under £150.

But if you still feel like splashing out for a very special occasion you better be quick because House of CB say their bandage Collection is a limited edition.

Whichever you choose – team yours with big hair, high heels, bold lip – and you’ll feel like a million dollars.

Meanwhile, a popular supermarket has launched a £20 dupe of the £11k Birkin bags that Victoria Beckham & Olivia Attwood love – and it comes in 2 colours.

And if you’re not willing to fork out for a Labubu – which can fetch a whopping £70 online – there’s a budget-friendly alternative you can get in your local B&M.

The cost of hotels and flights is already expensive, so we know you want to save cash when it comes to luggage too.

And people are rushing to Tesco to pick up their new suitcase & it’s a dupe of pricey Rimowa but more than £1,000 cheaper.

We also have the perfect Crocs dupe for your summer- as a discount supermarket’s Summer Clogs sell for a mere £3.99.

This is an eye-watering £46 less than what shoppers would find on the Crocs website.

Plus, Aldi’s new Japanese-inspired skincare brand is said to be a dupe of Tatcha – it’s 90% cheaper but was it as good?

How to look chic on a budget

Fashion stylist Gemma Rose Breger, and beauty journalist Samantha Silver revealed how you can make your outfits elevated without spending hundreds of pounds.

  1. Don’t ever spend on designer denim: River Island ”always has such a great selection of fashion-forward jeans that follow the current trends”. The high street retailer offers a great range of sizes to fit UK 6 – UK 18, and three leg lengths – and prices start from an affordable £25.
  2. There are no rules for jewels: ”Pick up something at a car boot sale, or charity shop, scroll on Vinted & eBay, snap up something from the clothing section in your local supermarket when doing the food shop or check out high street clothing stores.”
  3. Don’t forget the pre-loved sites: With a rising number of second-hand sites, such as Vinted and Depop, there’s no excuse for not buying – or selling – pre-loved garments. Gemma, for instance, has managed to get her hands on chic Chanel sunnies for a mere £17.

And finally, our Beauty editor tested Aldi’s 7 new beauty buys all for under £5.

A cult Charlotte Tilbury dupe is back but read here to find her favourite finds.

Read More »

All the Middle of Lidl bargains launching today including £20 cabin bag that are perfect for summer holidays

LIDL is now selling a range of products including a £20 cabin bag that is perfect for summer holidays.

With many plotting a get away this summer, the German discounter has launched a range essentials to help those with a holiday plan.

Black carry-on suitcase with wheels.
The cabin bag is perfect for travel

Over 30 products have landed in stores today.

The product is part of the bargain stores “Middle of Lidl” offers, which land in stores every Thursday and Sunday.

The items are usually sold at a low price and only available while stocks last.

That includes a snug suitcase that fits carry-on luggage regulations of most airlines.

The luggage piece costs £19.99 and can hold up to 12.4kg.

Other products up for grabs include a £4.99 luggage organiser set.

The storage solution comes with mesh insert and two-way zip.

The item is loved by many customers as a tool to fit as much as possible into their suitcase.

You can check out the full list of products here:

  • Topmove Wheeled Holdall – Grey: £14.99
  • Topmove Wheeled Holdall – Black: £14.99
  • Topmove 4-Wheel Trolley Suitcase: £29.99
  • Topmove Cabin Suitcase: £19.99
  • Topmove Travel Backpack: £19.99
  • Topmove Foldable Backpack: £5.99
  • Topmove Foldable Bag – Blue: £5.99
  • Topmove Foldable Bag – Grey: £5.99
  • Topmove Organiser Bag: £4.99
  • Topmove Wash Bag: £4.99
  • Topmove Anti-Theft Shoulder Bag: £7.99
  • Topmove Anti-Theft Handbag: £7.99
  • Livarno Home Travel Pillow: £6.99
  • Topmove Luggage Organiser Set – 4 Piece Set: £4.99 per pack
  • Topmove Luggage Scales: £3.99
  • Batman Kids’ Neck Pillow: £4.99
  • Paw Patrol Kids’ Neck Pillow: £4.99
  • Ladybug Kids’ Neck Pillow: £4.99
  • Gabby’s Dollhouse Kids’ Neck Pillow: £4.99
  • Silvercrest LCD Writing Tablet – Pink: £4.99
  • Silvercrest LCD Writing Tablet – Blue: £4.99
  • Silvercrest LCD Writing Tablet – Green: £4.99
  • Snap n Seal Stainless Steel Bottle – Lilac: £4.99
  • Snap n Seal Stainless Steel Bottle – Black: £4.99
  • Snap n Seal Stainless Steel Bottle – Blue/Pink: £4.99
  • Sensiplast Soft Earplugs – 8 Pairs: £1.49 per pack
  • Sensiplast Aqua Earplugs – 1 Pair: £1.49 per pair
  • Sensiplast Travel Earplugs – 1 Pair: £1.49 per pair
  • Toytopic Kids’ Travel Activity Pack: £3.99 per pack
  • Hinkler Pull the Tab Math Book: £2.49
  • Hinkler Pull the Tab Phonics Book: £2.49
  • Hinkler Pull the Tab Spelling Book: £2.49
  • Hinkler Pull the Tab Times Tables Book: £2.49

If you are keen to pick up Lidl’s holiday range you will have to act quickly, as it is a limited edition item; once it’s gone, it’s gone.

And that is not the only deal that has landed in Lidl stores this week.

Shoppers have been going wild for its Dyson fan dupe.

The Silvercrest Bladeless Tower Fan is currently on offer for £54.99 when you use the Lidl Plus app.

That’s £15 off its regular price of £69.99.

In comparison, it’s £225 cheaper than the popular Dyson Cool Tower Fan, which will set you back a hefty £280.

How can I save money when shopping at Lidl?

Lidl reduces items at the start of the day and the best deals can be found between 7am to 8am, when most stores open.

Shoppers can often find cooked meats, salmon fillets and breads reduced by 30% or more.

Not only does Lidl have its own range of reasonably priced alcohol, it also has its own knock-offs of branded favourites – so say cheers to its bargain booze.

Everyone knows about the “Middle of Lidl” – it’s here where you’ll find a load of random stuff that you didn’t realise you needed, at decent prices.

But if you are hoping to avoid spending more than you planned, you can check what will be in the “Middle of Lidl” on the supermarket’s website in advance.

The Middle of Lidl is refreshed every Thursday and Sunday.

Shoppers can also keep tabs on what’s appearing in the “Pick of the Week” section on the Lidl website.

The discounts happen every Thursday and are usually on fruit, vegetables, and meat.

How to bag a bargain

SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…

Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.

Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.

Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.

Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.

Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.

When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.

Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.

Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.

And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.

Read More »

Gardeners are snapping up fruit trees for £2 & it’ll give you months of homegrown raspberries & blackberries

GREEN-fingered fans are going wild for penny-pinching plants that are as tasty as they are pretty.

Customers are taking advantage of the purse-friendly fruit trees on offer from a huge retail store.

Six potted raspberry and blackberry plants.
Facebook/Gardening UK - Hints, tips & advice
Savvy shoppers are stocking up on the fruit plants[/caption]

Supermarket giant Morrison’s are selling three Flourish & Joy fruit plants for just £6 – making them £2 a pop.

Customers can choose from thorn-free blackberries, Buckingham variety Tayberries and Allgold autumn raspberries.

Fans on the Gardening UK – Hints, tips & advice Facebook page have rated the popular plantations.

One user commented: “Good bargains, happy gardening.”

A second recommended: “Blackberries are nice although take a bit of space and can be slow to ripen.

“Raspberries are sweeter and have heavier crops.”

A third budding gardener added: “I’ve always fancied getting some of them, but it’s like squirrel city in my back garden.”

If you’re looking to buy a fruit bush or two, then consider where it is going to grow.

Raspberries thrive in locations that provide a combination of sunshine, well-drained soil, and some degree of shelter. 

While they can tolerate partial shade, they produce the most abundant and sweetest fruits in full sun, preferably at least six hours of sunlight a day.

Blackberries thrive in a location with full sun or partial shade, in well-drained soil that is moist but not waterlogged. 

They also benefit from being trained up a support structure like a trellis or fence. 

With the sunshine season almost upon us, the fruity additions are fantastic affordable options for gardens and outdoor spaces this summer.

Tayberries FAQs

What is a Tayberry?

Tayberries are a cross between a raspberry and a blackberry, and they are known for their large, juicy, and sweet-tart flavour. 

How to grow Tayberries?

Tayberries are relatively easy to grow and are hardy, self-fertile plants. They are typically grown on wires or trellises. 

When are Tayberries ready to eat?

Tayberries ripen in late summer, typically from late July to early August, and are delicious fresh or can be used in cooking, baking, and jam-making. 

But as the sun comes out, so do common garden pests.

Green and black flies, commonly known as aphids in the gardening world, can be found on both indoor and outdoor plants.

If ants are causing problems in your garden or finding their way into your home, some of the best natural deterrents involve strong citrus scents.

You can use garlic to keep green flies off your plants and cupboard staples to get rid of garden ants.

Lemon is a particularly effective method; you can mix lemon juice with water and spray it around ant trails to keep them away.

While snails and slugs are common in gardens across the UK, they can cause significant damage to garden plants.

Coffee grounds and eggshells could help keep slugs away from plants.

If your problems are more rodent-based, natural ways to deter rats from your garden include citronella oil and onions.

Read More »