Researchers from The Gym Group have taken a deep dive into the ways in which money savvy Brits are cutting back on their spending this year, with cutting out the weekend pizza, Chinese or curry, topping a list of 35 ways Brits are saving the pennies.

One in four (22 percent) have started batch cooking, while a fifth (19 percent) have unsubscribed from apps that they don’t use.

18 percent have cancelled streaming services, while 12 percent are opting for DIY haircuts, growing their own veg (10 percent) and DIY beauty treatments (nine percent), while seven percent have reverted to taking books out of the library and making bread from scratch (six percent).

One in twenty said switching to a less expensive gym membership was on their list of cost-saving swaps. The average monthly amount currently spent by gym-goers surveyed comes to a whopping £65.30.

Cycling to work (five percent) and car sharing (four percent) were also in the list of Brit’s savvy cost saving exercises.

Ann-marie Murphy, Chief Operating Officer at The Gym Group said: “It is clear that finding ways to budget that allow us to maintain our lifestyle is so important. This research shows the spending decisions many are facing during increased cost of living, including choosing lower cost subscriptions and memberships. In fact 16 percent of new members joined us because their previous gym fees were too expensive.”

Eight in ten (80 percent) Brits say they have reviewed their finances this year, saving an average of £118 in the process.

Increased pressures on their finances (49 percent), increasing bills (47 percent), being prepared for whatever may happen in the future (37 percent) and wanting to start putting money away (31 percent) are the main reasons for analysing costs.

A third (29 percent) think they could be better at managing their money, while one in four (26 percent) want to future proof their current standard of living.

Despite wanting to save money, a third (27 percent) admit that they will miss the items that they are swapping or ditching, with three quarters (74 percent) saying it is important for them to maintain the same lifestyle.

Good for my mental health (49 percent), not wanting to change their day-to-day lifestyle (45 percent), ruining their social life (36 percent) and wanting to have new things (15 percent) are the main reasons for maintaining their standard of living.

Four in ten (40 percent) said that the detox made them feel more in control of their finances, while 39 percent felt better at managing their money and pleased with themselves (38 percent).

A third (35 percent) felt more motivated to get more value out of their spending, with one in three (34 percent) admitting they were more conscious of what comes out of their bank account.

Price (79 percent) is top priority when considering signing up to a new provider, followed by quality of service (47 percent), convenience (34 percent) and availability (25 percent).

Two thirds (63 percent) don’t do a financial detox every year because they’ve not needed one before (44 percent). A sixth (21 percent) want to build better financial habits, while one in ten (12 percent) want to save for a large purchase like a holiday, car or a house deposit.

One in four (25 percent) will continue to do one every six months, while a third (30 percent) will undertake a review once a year.

TOP 35 WAYS BRITS ARE SAVING CASH 

1. Ditching takeaways      43%
2. Shopping around for discounts     38%
3. Reducing meals out/pub trips     37%
4. Turning the thermostat down     37%
5. Turning off appliances at the plug    34%
6. Sticking to a meal plan and shopping list    29%
7. Swapping premium brands for supermarket own  28%
8. Ditching shop bought coffees     25%
9. Cutting down alcohol      22%
10. Batch cooking        22%
11. Using loyalty cards      22%
12. Buying food in bulk      19%
13. Eating less meat      19%
14. Unsubscribing from apps     19%
15. Thrift shopping       18%
16. Cancelling streaming subscriptions    18%
17. Avoiding top up shops      18%
18. Buying from second hand websites    17%
19. Ditching ready meals      17%
20. Swapping lunch out for a packed lunch    16%
21. Negotiating prices with providers    15%
22. DIY haircuts        12%
23. Installing a smart meter      11%
24. Growing my own veg      10%
25. DIY beauty treatments      9%
26. DIY home projects      9%
27. Swapping car journeys for public transport   8%
28. Travelling at off-peak times     7%
29. Taking books out of the library     7%
30. Making bread       6%
31. Walking the children to school     6%
32. Cycling to work       5%
33. Switching to a lower cost gym membership   5%
34. Going into the office to save hearing at home   5%
35. Car sharing       4%

George Clooney has been crowned the world’s sexiest grey, according to new research. The 61-year-old film star has been rocking his famous grey locks since 2009, when he joked that he was shocked to see his silver mane on screen.

Coming in second place is British actress, Helen Mirren, who decided to embrace her natural colour after playing her role as Queen Charlotte in The Madness of King George.

Other stars who have embraced their silver streaks, include American actress Jamie Lee Curtis, Richard Gere, Idris Elba, and Meryl Streep.

Also featuring in list, compiled by insights agency, Perspectus Global, was Salma Hayek who recently revealed her silver streaks in a Instagram beach shot along with the caption ‘Proud of my white hair’.

And it seems Brits are accepting the move towards embracing their greys, with a third (28 percent) of over 40s admitting that natural grey hair is SEXIER than dyed locks. 

One in four (22 percent) reckon grey hair looks mature and sophisticated, while a quarter (28 percent) say they are embracing their silver because they are worried about the condition of their hair from constant colouring. 

Other names to feature in the sexy silver list include Harrison Ford, Barack Obama, Colin Firth, Sarah Jessica Parker and former Friends star, Matt LeBlanc.

One in ten (nine percent) have stopped colouring their hair to save both time and money.

Of those that are still dying their hair, a fifth (21 percent) are going to embrace their greys one day, with a tenth (10 percent) tempted to make the transition sooner rather than later.

One in ten (10 percent) admit to being inspired by social media accounts and celebrities to stop colouring their hair.

Harriet Scott, CEO of Perspectus Global commented, “The survey findings suggest Brits believe silver is sexy, and it is great to see how many are now ditching the hair dye and embracing their natural colour. 

“It is also great to see George Clooney come top in the poll, along with so many other gorgeous grey stars.”

More than half (51 percent) of those polled agreed that as a result of celebrities embracing their grey hair more, people are letting their natural hair grow through.

One in three (36 percent) believe it is now more acceptable to go grey and that there is less stigma about not covering up them up (36 percent).

A third (35 percent) love how their natural hair looks, while a further one in three (32 percent) believe it looks really cool.

 A quarter (28 percent) think the times are changing and less men and women will colour their hair in future to hide the greys.

This shift could be down to the lockdown when one in four (28 percent) started to embrace their greys and stop colouring their hair.

MOST ATTRACTIVE SILVER HAIRED CELEBRITIES ACCORDING TO BRITS:

1. George Clooney   28%
2. Helen Mirren    21%
3. Jamie Lee Curtis  16%
4. Richard Gere   16%
5. Idris Elba   15%
6. Meryl Streep   14%
7. Salma Hayek   14%
8. Pierce Brosnan   14%
9. Tom Hanks   13%
10. Harrison Ford   12%
11. Jodie Foster   12%
12. Barack Obama   11%
13. Colin Firth   11%
14. Sarah Jessica Parker  10%
15. Jane Fonda   10%
16. Matt Leblanc   9%
17. Jon Bon Jovi   9%
18. Diane Keaton    8%
19. Antonio Banderas  7%
20. Andie MacDowell  6%

There’s plenty you can teach yourself about fitness, and doing so is not only useful for beginners. Even if you’re experienced with working out, learning more about exercise can improve your routine to see results faster or even fix any bad habits that you may have picked up. However, it can sometimes feel like there’s so much you need to know that you don’t know where to begin. 

Fortunately, sports nutrition experts Bulk have conducted research to discover the most Googled questions about workouts and provided their insight to help you reach your fitness goals. 

“What to eat before a workout?” takes the top spot as the most searched for question around fitness. 

It’s recommended to eat around 2-3 hours before exercising, particularly if you plan on completing a long workout. Eating a meal with protein before a workout can increase muscle protein synthesis, where your cells produce protein; foods like poached eggs and chicken breast are high in this nutrient.  

Carbohydrates in particular give your body the fuel it needs to exercise, especially for high intensity exercises, so opt for including whole grain pasta or whole-wheat toast in your pre-workout meal. However, it’s not always practical to eat 2-3 hours before exercising, for example if you like to have an early morning session in the gym before work, so a small portion of Greek yoghurt with whole grain cereal will give your body both protein and carbs without leaving you feeling sluggish. 

“What does pre workout do?” and “What is pre workout?” take the second and third spots, respectively. 

Pre-workout is a supplement usually taken by strength and endurance athletes to boost energy, improve workout performance and promote muscle growth. Common ingredients include caffeine, carbohydrates, creatine monohydrate, and it can be taken as pills, powders to mix with a drink, or even be combined with protein supplements.  

Pre-workout should be consumed between 30-60 minutes before you workout – doing so will give you more energy to exercise harder and longer, and it can help to build your muscles. 

“What to eat after a workout” is the fourth most Googled search term around working out. 

Protein is the most important nutrient to consume after a workout to increase muscle mass; particularly if your workouts consist of lots of heavy lifting and strength training. Your body needs lots of protein to build and repair tissues in order to continue to grow them. For optimal results, try to consume a protein supplement or high-protein foods between 15 minutes to an hour after your workout, which is known to be the anabolic window (the short time after exercise when your body is repairing and recovering).  

 It’s also important to keep in mind that 2.2 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight is the daily recommended amount of the nutrient to gain muscle. Consuming carbohydrates with protein after working out will also help to speed up recovery and replenish the muscle glycogen that you burned during exercise. 

“How many exercises per workout?” takes the fifth spot for most searched questions regarding fitness. 

The recommended number of exercises per workout ranges between 4-8 with each exercise consisting of 2-3 sets of 8-12 reps, but there are circumstances that can determine how many you do. For example, if you are training both upper and lower body on the same day, you may complete four exercises for each muscle group equating to eight in total, but if you are just focusing on legs it may be four overall.  

It is also worth considering that fewer reps with a high weight are better for building strength and muscle mass while more reps of a lower weight are suggested for muscle endurance.  

“How many times a week should I workout?” places sixth on the list of the most Googled questions about fitness. 

A minimum of 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity is recommended to stay in good health, with that being spread over four to five days or even every day. However, it ultimately comes down to your fitness goals and what exercises you plan on doing. For example, if you wish to train both upper and lower body as well as doing cardio, you may find yourself working out every day and doing several hours of exercise each week.  

You should ideally train each muscle group between two and three days a week and wait at least 48 hours before training the same area again, and it’s important to remember that it isn’t advised to focus on the same muscle group every day as it could result in exhaustion, soreness, and injury. 

A spokesperson from Bulk has commented: “Working out goes so much further than just showing up at the gym. If you’re eager to reach your fitness goals, it’s important to know everything from nutrition to the suggested exercise duration, but it’s understandable that it can seem overwhelming. Given the time of year, many people may have only recently joined a gym as part of a New Year’s resolution, so it’s crucial to try to educate yourself on the ins and outs so that each workout is successful.” 

First impressions count. That’s a mantra that every successful business professional knows and has embraced.

You have seven seconds to make a good first impression and no second chance to redo your presentation. According to thehalo effect, the human brain judges information sequentially, meaning that your first impression will dictate how you’re perceived and responded to later on.

To make a lasting first impression and keep up the professional image, you need to learn how to handle yourself in a business environment. From dressing for success to aligning your aspirations, UK fashion retailer Dune Londonhas put together a few tips to help you master the routine of the professional in you.

Guard yourself up for a great start at your new job or an opportunity to step ahead at work in the new year.

Ace your professional image

How you dress can make a great deal of impact on how people perceive you and form opinions about your abilities and personality.

Recently, the professional dress code has been undergoing some changes. While a suit and tie might have been considered classic work attire a few years back, today, IT companies such as Google and Twitter are introducing a new trend. They are taking a more relaxed approach to workplace dressing and are pioneering in wearing hoodies, jeans, and trainers to work.

Nevertheless, professional work attire hasn’t gone out of fashion. In fact, it is becoming more polished and sophisticated than ever with the new fashion trends being woven into the business dress code in line with the emerging fashion trends.

For women, 2023 brings power pants matched with power blazers to the workplace. Floral prints are also having their moment, and a particular colour is emerging as a trend –beige. For your accessories, pearls dominated the scene in 2022 and the craze will continue into 2023. Alongside the classic stilettos and heeled boots, loafers are also a popular choice of footwear amongst women.

In terms of menswear, tailored suits are seeing renewed popularity. Light suits, which have previously been equated with summer weddings, are also entering the businesswearscene. The footwear silhouettes that will be seen in formal men’s fashion feature clean and timeless designs, such as men’s loafers in browns and brogues that elevate the suit look.

Before you decide how to dress for your workplace, be sure to read the room. If there is no set dress code available, make sure you do your research, speak with fellow colleagues, or ask your line manager for a quick brief on the dress code.

Limit your time on your phone

Scrolling mindlessly on your phone not only looks unprofessional but also harms your productivity.

A study by Vouchercloud reveals that the average UK worker spends about 2 hours and 53 minutes being productive when you take away all the distractions. One of the biggest distractors we face at work is spending time on our phones. Research shows that on average, a person spent about 147 minutes a day on social media in 2022.

When we are constantly distracted, we tend to work faster to compensate for the lost time. While this speaks highly of our ability to adapt, it comes at a cost – our stress level. When we feel pressured to complete work in a certain time frame, we raise our stress level. When this happens every day, multiple times a day, it’s likely to lead to burnout and affect our mental health.

Remember that your mobile phone is a tool, not a distraction. While it can be tempting to check your phone during the day, it can be disruptive and steal both your time and energy, leaving you feeling less focused.

If you can limit your phone usage at work, you will be equipped with better time management, less stress, and more productivity, meaning you’re more successful at your job.

Be on time

Being punctual is an indication of respect for others’ time. It also shows that you are responsible and reliable, and these are valued qualities in any professional environment. In return, it can help build trust and credibility with colleagues and clients, ultimately leading to more opportunities and success in the professional world.

Being late, on the other hand, can create a negative impression and disrupt the schedule of others, especially if you’re doing it consistently.

Arriving on time is one of the best ways to demonstrate your work professionalism and ethic and get noticed and recognised by your managers.

For extra green points, try arriving at work early. This will give you the time to prepare for the day, do some ad-hoc tasks before everyone else arrives and get you in the right mindset for success.

Set SMART goals

Speaking of getting into the right mindset, aligning yourself with your purpose and goals is key.

Whatever is happening in your inner world will be reflected in your external world and how other people see you.

Set some time aside to evaluate your goals. What are your career aspirations, where do you see yourself in five years’time, and how are you planning on achieving that? Be your own interviewer and you will see how your vision of your work and your future is getting clearer.

Once you establish what you want to achieve, it’s time to set SMART goals: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, andtimely. Your future is laid ahead of you, and all you have to do is align with it.

Every morning, remind yourself of your goals and the reasons for wanting to achieve them. Fall in love with your job and watch success bestow you. Your positive attitude won’t get unnoticed.

Stay away from office gossip

Once you start finding your way around the office and begin making friends, it’s easy to get swept in office politics. Gossip is a virtue that is definitely not valued in the professional world.

While it’s a normal part of human communication and everyone indulges in it from time to time, the workplace is not the right setting to do so. You don’t want to be perceived as aperson who gossips about everyone’s private lives.

It’s likely that you will run into gossip in the office, and when that happens, simply avoid the conversation or say that you don’t want to comment. If you’re planning on climbing up the career ladder, you need to build trust in the people around you and be impartial to personal matters.

Building a professional image at work starts from the moment you wake up when you set your intentions for the day and get ready for work. Ensure your appearance is intact and in line with your workplace dress code. Be punctual and stay away from office gossip. These little steps will help you be your best version at work and get noticed by those around you.