Children parenting and family life

WHEN you are a parent it can be expensive buying clothes for your ever-growing kids.

Thankfully shoppers have been raving about spotting George at Asda currently has a bumper sale on with numerous items down to just £1.50.

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One mum took to the Facebook group Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK and showed how she filled her basket on the George app with discount clothes.

She wrote: “Lots of clothes reduced on the George app.”

Including in her shopping haul were some gamer-themed boys pjs for £1.50, which were for aged seven to eight.

The woman also bought a five-pack of cotton socks for £2 and some Pokemon-themed socks for £2.50.

Other shoppers commented saying they had also stocked up for their kids’ summer wardrobes.

One mum got a £1.50 girls T-shirt, a two-pack of long-sleeve tops for £3 and some £4 swim shorts.

She also got a £2 tennis-themed pink sweatshirt, and a £2 mint green sweatshirt which said ‘Happy Moments.’

Meanwhile, a third Asda fan wrote: “Just got grandkids some bits too.”

One bargain hunter also pointed out that you can save on delivery by getting it sent to an Asda store, which waivers the usual £4 shipping fee.

George store launch

We recently shared how Asda has launched its first-ever stand-alone George store, and it could be rolled out across the UK if it’s a hit.

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The debut site opened on Saturday, May 10 in Leeds, taking over the old Asda Living at Crown Point Retail Park.

The slick new store is packed with head-turning fashion, stylish homeware, must-have toys and baby bits – plus a fresh café to fuel your spree.

There are 30 Asda Living stores across the UK, and bosses will decide later this year whether to roll out more George stores after another trial run.

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Fashionistas can bag the Spring/Summer 2025 collection fronted by supermodel Yasmin Le Bon, plus new celeb collabs – including a chic kidswear range by Erica Davies and a sunshine-filled drop from Billie Faiers.

And it’s not just the clothes getting a makeover – the whole experience is sleeker, quicker and easier, with speedy self-checkouts, faster queues and slick Click & Collect.

Shoppers will also be able to pop into the brand-new Kitchen café, where staffers are dishing up hot meals, cold bites and stone-baked pizzas.

Liz Evans, Asda’s Chief Commercial Officer for George and Retail, said: “Our Asda Living stores have been a huge success – but as shopping habits change, we want to make it even easier for customers to enjoy quality, style and value with George at the heart of it.”

The George label launched in 1989 when fashion guru George Davies teamed up with Asda to make the UK’s first-ever supermarket clothing brand.

By 2004, it was the nation’s biggest clothing retailer, and Asda launched its first Living store to expand into homeware.

Today, George is still going strong in 560 stores and pulling in 260 million visits a year to George.com.

A CONFUSED dad has been left stumped by his 10-year-old son’s maths homework with the internet dubbing it ‘absolutely bonkers.’

The father took to Reddit after being left puzzled by a multiple choice question given to his primary school-aged child.

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While there are four different “answers” to choose from, the concerned dad noted there “must be missing something” from the equation – as none of the options appeared to be correct.

“This particular question was in my son’s math homework from the other day,” he wrote.

“They reviewed the answers in class today and apparently the answer was A.”

The question that has him, and everyone else, scratching their heads was this: Kayla has 18 bottles of bubbles. She wants to give two bottles to each of her six friends. How many bottles will she have left over?

Children then had the option of four expressions and were challenged to identify the one that “solves the problem”.

It read: A) (18 divide 2) divide 6, B) (18 divide 2) + 6, C) (18 x 2) – 6, or D) (18 x 2) + 6.

But as the dad – who said he was “curious how they came to this answer” – pointed out, “none of the options seemed right as I was expecting it to be 18 – (6 × 2)”.

Some people rushed to the comments section to try and work out the answer, but most agreed there was an issue with the options provided with describing it as ‘absolutely bonkers’.

“I think it’s more likely a typo or misprint. If they swapped the subtraction and multiplication sign and moved the parentheses on answer choice C, then: (18 x 2) – 6 could become 18 – (2 x 6),” one said.

“You’re correct, the teacher is wrong. If you simplify A, you get 1.5 which doesn’t make any sense in the context of the problem,” mused another.

While one simply said: “Seems that A is wrong to me too.”

Some tried to make it work, but struggled.

“Really twisting my brain here to make sense of A being correct, but here goes: if you divide 18 bottles by 2 you get 9 bottles in two separate piles. Now give one bottle from each pile to all 6 friends. The result would be 3 bottles leftover in two separate piles, or 6 leftover bottles total. Gymnastics,” declared one.

“A, if they are supposed to use Euclidean divisions (18/2 = she has 9 batches of 2, 9/6 => 1 and remainder is 3),” tried another.

While one described it as “bad logic”, but gave it a stab anyway.

“This is the only way I can get any of the answer choices (and it is A) – I’m not saying it’s correct, only wanted to explain their (wrong) logic:

“She’s splitting the 18 bottles into sets of 2, that’s 18 / 2. Then, she’s splitting those sets of 2 among her 6 friends.

“That’s why you divide by 6 next. That leaves you with A. But as everyone here has said, you and your son are correct. The worksheet is wrong.”

Eventually, the child decided to expose the issue with the question, writing: “None, 18 – (6 x 2).”

The father later returned to update everyone, stating “the worksheet is indeed wrong”.

“I did talk with the teacher and they went over it in class together. The teacher mentioned none of the answers were right and what my son came up with was correct,” he shared.

This article was originally published on News.com.au and has been republished here with permission.

NETFLIX has struck a new deal that will see a popular kids show come to the streaming giants service.

The show was facing an uncertain future after losing funding but has been saved by the new Netflix deal.

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Sesame Street will be hosted on the streaming service with 90 hours of previous episodes and a whole new season added to the Netflix catalogue.

The move comes after HBO decided not to renew the 50-year-old show’s deal.

Sesame Street was threatened with cancellation in the wake of the news but has now been thrown a lifeline.

The deal will see new episodes of the beloved children’s show run on Netflix, PBS, and the PBS Kids app later this year.

No date has been announced for the premiere as of yet.

Warner Bros Discovery, who aired the show since 2016, decided not to renew its deal for new episodes to air on HBO and Max.

However, episodes of the children’s TV series will remain there until 2027.

The new series, to be aired on Netflix, will be the shows impressive 56th season.

Episodes in the new season will revolve around a single, 11 minute story.

Sesame Workshop said in a statement: “This unique public-private partnership will enable us to bring our research-based curriculum to young children around the world with Netflix’s global reach, while ensuring children in communities across the US continue to have free access on public television to the Sesame Street they love.”

Sesame Street has been entertaining children since 1969 with beloved puppet characters.

The show has won more than 200 Emmys in its long history.

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NETFLIX PRICES AND PERKS – HOW MUCH ARE YOU PAYING?

Here’s what you need to know…

Netflix Standard with Ads

Price: £4.99 UK / $7.99 US

• Ad-supported, all but a few movies and TV shows available, unlimited mobile games
• Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
• Watch in 1080p (Full HD)
• Download on 2 supported devices at a time

Netflix Standard

Price: £10.99 UK / $17.99 US

• Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games
• Watch on 2 supported devices at a time
• Watch in 1080p (Full HD)
• Download on 2 supported devices at a time
• Option to add 1 extra member who doesn’t live with you

Netflix Premium

Price: £17.99 UK / $24.99 US

• Unlimited ad-free movies, TV shows, and mobile games
• Watch on 4 supported devices at a time
• Watch in 4K (Ultra HD) + HDR
• Download on 6 supported devices at a time
• Option to add up to 2 extra members who don’t live with you
• Netflix spatial audio

Picture Credit: Netflix

Episodes are led by Big Bird and a cast of characters that educate children about colours, shapes and numbers.

Funding for the show was thrown into question earlier this year when President Trump issued an executive order to block funding for TV network PBS (Public Broadcasting Service).

The move resulted in federal funding for the show, among other TV programmes for kids, being cut.

Netflix’ new deal will see the show saved from an otherwise uncertain future.

The streaming giant called Sesame Street a “beloved cornerstone of children’s educational television.”

Netflix promised to keep fan favourite segments like Elmo’s world and Cookie Monster’s Foodie Truck in the show.

The streaming service did hint at changes for the new season as well though, telling viewers to “expect new ways to play along.”

Sesame Street was co-founded by Lloyd Morrisett and Joan Ganz Cooney.

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VICK Hope has kept her pregnancy under wraps for months now – but dropped some major hints that left fans speculating.

The Radio 1 presenter and husband Calvin Harris, who tied the knot on their Ibiza farm in 2023, will become parents later this year.

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Vick shared the news live on Radio 1 today, telling Jamie Laing: “I should probably also say this is my final week before I go on maternity leave.”

Jamie told her: “You’re an amazing friend, an amazing person, and you’re just going to be an amazing mum,.”

She replied: “Oh, thank you.”

But many fans had already guessed that the DJ was pregnant months ago.

Here we take a look at some of the clues that Vick subtly dropped to hint at her pregnancy.

BABY SHOWER

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Vick appeared to celebrate her baby shower a couple of weeks ago as she shared a picture playing a baby shower game – during a meal with friends.

Vick and Calvin certainly have solid foundations to give a baby the best possible early life.

Calvin and Vick have a stunning 138-acre organic farm in Ibiza, known as Terra Masia.

The Spanish estate produces fruit, vegetables, eggs, and wine, and represents Harris’s shift from jet-set lifestyle to a more rural affair.

A source told The Sun in 2022: “Calvin employs an expert team, including farmers and chefs, but he’s also hands-on, regularly getting involved in planting and other farm activities. He’s truly passionate about the project.”

They also have a 10-acre estate in the Cotswolds, which Calvin purchased for £3.6m in 2019.

Over the last few years a bespoke new mansion has been built on the Oxfordshire site which will become the family’s primary residence.

Architect Ben Pentreath, a favourite of the royals, designed the property which will be completed this year.

A source told the Mail: ” There’s no expense spared and it’s going to be amazing.”

VICK’S BRITS LOOK

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The popular radio star looked incredible when she walked the BRITs red carpet in March wearing a plunging dress halterneck satin gown.

The stunning frock also featured cut out details along the stomach, which appeared to show a growing bump.

The former Strictly Come Dancing contestant was joined on the red carpet by her superstar DJ husband Calvin Harris.

The couple put their arms around each other and posed for pictures, with Vick beaming at the cameras.

UNDER WRAPS

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Over the past few months, Vick has been attending various events, including Radio 1’s Big Weekender Launch party in March.

She attended the star-studded event in London wearing an oversized plaid coat.

Underneath she opted for a brown mini dress but her winter jacket was pulled tightly together to conceal her stomach.

Earlier this month, Vick shared a post of her recent work highlights.

One snap showed her smiling with Radio 1 co-star Jamie Laing while wearing a baggy grey jumper.

She also posed for a team photo with her new Countryfile family.

Vick wrapped up in a big black puffer coat, cream jumper and grey beanie hat.

In other recent snaps, the radio star is seen sitting behind a desk or wearing oversized baggy t-shirts.

And just a few weeks ago, Vick hosted with Greg James at the London Marathon as they cheered on their co-presenter Jamie.

Vick was seen wearing an oversized white teddy bear coat which kept her bump under cover.

UNOFFICIAL ANNOUCEMENT

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Just two weeks ago, Vick shared a photo of her blossoming bump.

Although the star had not officially announced her pregnancy, Vick was inundated with messages of congratulations from celeb pals.

Lisa Snowden wrote: “Congratulations darling. So happy for you both.”

Kate Thornton posted: “Congratulations on your beautiful news.”

Ashley James shared her excitement, commenting: “Omg Vick,” with a string of red heart emojis.

Vick was also seen cradling her bump during an interview with Florence Pugh two weeks ago.

Vick and Calvin’s love story was a longtime coming, with its origins going back to 2007, when Calvin was in his ‘Acceptable in the ‘80s’ era.

He had a crush on BBC star Vick, but when he worked up the courage to ask her out, she rejected him.

She told You Magazine: “It’s something that we laughed about on our first proper date… 

“We still laugh about it now.” 

Vick later confessed on Capital Radio: “I went off with either Scouting for Girls or The Wombats. I don’t know which. 

“I thought they were going to be bigger, but no, it turns out Calvin Harris was going to turn into an Adonis.”

Despite Calvin’s failed attempt at a date in the mid 2000s, he did eventually get the girl. 

The couple made their first official outing at The Chelsea Flower Show in May 2022. 

People couldn’t help but notice a sparkling diamond sitting on Vick’s ring finger – just five months after they got together.

They married in September 2023 at Hulne Priory, Alnwick, Northumberland. 

During the ceremony, the pair shared their personal vows and listened to poems. 

Nile Rodgers and Chic kicked off the reception with Luther Vandross’ 1981 hit Never Too Much, which was followed by songs by Madonna, Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams and David Bowie.

AT the age of three, Phil Foden’s daughter might struggle to tell the time — but Daddy has already treated her to a £10,000 Rolex.

Little True was seen wearing the pricey watch in pictures posted on her Instagram page last week.

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England and Man City ace Phil, 24, and girlfriend Rebecca Cooke run the site, which has 22,400 followers.

True is also seen kitted out in a £160 Monnalisa designer dress, a £40 bag from Hookd and a Pandora charm bracelet.

Her Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six.

Phil’s own watch collection includes a Rolex Sky Dweller and a Day Date.

The midfielder, who came on as a sub in yesterday’s FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, loves spending his £200,000-a-week wages on his kids — Ronnie, five, True, and baby boy Phil Junior.

True was given a pony, Angus, at Christmas and is having riding lessons.

A source said: “True loves anything girly, sparkly — she loves fancy things. She is the little girl that wants for nothing.”

Phil recently moved the family to a mansion with a lake in the Cheshire countryside.

He was brought up on a council estate in nearby Edgeley, Stockport.

His mum, Claire, has revealed how much her son had changed recently.

She said: “The shocking thing is I hear him ordering salmon a lot now and he never used to eat that.”

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A PRIMARY school has been evacuated after a pupil brought a grenade to show and tell.

Students at Osmaston CofE Primary School in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, were rushed off the site after the shocking discovery on Friday.

Teachers were concerned when a boy pulled out a World War Two hand grenade.

Headteacher Jeanette Hart did not know if the weapon was live or not so quickly took it and put it behind a large tree outside.

Despite not being “100 per cent happy” carrying the old bomb, she said she “didn’t want to take the risk” and leave it in the school.

The head teacher raised the alarm and Derbyshire Police arrived on the scene with army explosives experts.

Mrs Hart told the BBC: “It was quite an eventful assembly.

“It was going fine and there was a boy who brought an old bullet case in, which I knew about, but then his friend produced a hand grenade from his pocket.

“That, I was not expecting.”

Experts determined the heirloom was safe through X-ray analysis.

A spokesman for the Matlock, Cromford, Wirksworth and Darley Dale Police Safer Neighbourhood Team added: “Just a word of guidance for parents and guardians – double check what your kids are taking to show-and-tell, especially when they are family heirlooms.”

Mrs Hart the ordeal was completely “innocent” and the boy thought the grenade was “interesting” after learning about VE Day.

“His family didn’t know [he took it] and they were a little taken aback,” she added.

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More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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A COUPLE has caused controversy after sharing the very unique name they’ve chosen for their newborn son.

Morgan and boyfriend Lou welcomed their first child into the world a week ago, and decided to unveil his moniker in a video on their TikTok page.

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In the clip, they admitted it was “really easy” for them to settle on a name for a little girl, and had chosen Birdie Lou for if they’d had a daughter.

“But it was really hard for us to find a boy name that was like equally as exciting,” Morgan admitted.

So, instead of going the traditional route of going through a baby name book, Morgan and Lou decided to go through their record collection, looking for one that “spoke to us the most” and “had sentimental meaning”.

“And that’s how we ended up landing on Pony Ramone Presley,” they said.

They went on to explain where the inspiration for the name had come from, as they said that on their first date, they had danced to an Orville Peck song called Pony.

“So when we saw this record, it felt right,” Morgan added.

“Beautiful name!” Lou chimed in.

The tot’s middle name was inspired by the rock band Ramones.

“When we first found out she was pregnant, we were actually heavily, heavily listening to the Ramones,” Lou said.

“So it just felt right, and it just sounds nice.”

“Welcome to the world Pony Ramone,” they wrote over the top of the video as it came to an end, with Lou holding up a onesie that had the name ‘Pony’ emblazoned on the front.

The video quickly attracted comments, with the majority coming from people who insisted they’d assigned their son to a “lifetime of bullying” by giving him that name.

“That’s so terrible I’m sorry lol,” one wrote.

“You’re naming a future adult. You’re being selfish,” another raged.

“Pony???? Jesus Christ!”

“The bullying he’s going to get for his name though…” a third said.

“Parents caring more about appearing original and trendy than caring about how their name choice will affect the baby through their life is always wild to me,” someone else sighed.

“Feels selfish.”

“People choose names for their children as if they were choosing a name for a pet,” another commented.

“Oh my gosh that poor boy when he starts school,” someone else said, while another called him “that poor kid”.

“I swear some people just name their children anything these days,” someone else wrote.

“Might as well name mine Chair, Zebra, Door knob, and butter dish!”

“That’s a baby, not a puppy,” another said.

However, there were those in the comments section who approved of the baby’s unusual name.

“Stay true to your uniqueness guys, that little man is going to live a blessed life,” one wrote.

“I’m actually so obsessed with Pony as a first name!” another admitted.

“Oh I am absolutely in love with his beautiful name,” a third commented.

It’s a baby, not a puppy

TikTok commenter

“Having a unique name is really fun! Two of the coolest parents ever!”

“Pony has the most badass parents,” someone else agreed.

“Love his name!”

“I LOVE Pony because its a reflection of your love onto your sweet baby. Don’t listen to anyone else,” another urged.

“People act like we don’t already live in a world full of Forests, Diamonds, Bartholomews, and Cinnamons,” someone else wrote.

“Pony is actually so sweet and meaningful. They actually picked a cool name instead of a normal name spelled ENTIRELY WRONG in order to be ‘unique’.”

STRUGGLING households in parts of the UK could get up to £500 in cost of living help – but you’ll need to meet strict rules.

The cash boost is part of the Household Support Fund (HSF), a £421million pot, which helps low-income families with food, energy bills, and essentials.

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But it’s only available if you live in Worcestershire – that includes the districts of Malvern, Worcester, Wychavon, Bromsgrove, Redditch or Wyre Forest.

To check if you qualify, go to gov.uk/find-local-council – Worcestershire County Council must be listed.

You’ll also need to meet income and vulnerability rules.

Who is eligible?

To qualify, your gross annual income must be:

• £24,570 or less (for a single adult with no children)
• £31,000 or less (for all other households)

You must also have no savings, unless you’re of state pension age – in which case you can have up to £5,000.

And at least one person in your household must meet ONE of the following:

• Be of state pension age
• Have a long-term diagnosed health condition or be registered disabled
• Have a child under four
• Be in receipt of DWP benefits like Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, PIP or Disability Living Allowance
• Be receiving support from services such as food banks, Citizens Advice, Age UK, mental health or housing support, or your GP’s social prescribing team

How much can I get?

The amount depends on your household:

• Up to £500 for homes with children under 18 or full-time students under 21
• Up to £300 for adult-only households aged 18–66
• Up to £300 for pensioner households

Payments can go straight to your energy provider, be credited via an online portal or come in the form of Post Office vouchers for prepayment meters.

You’ll need to supply:

• A recent energy or water bill (dated within 3 months) showing your name, address and account number
• Evidence of your vulnerability
• Extra documents if applying for help with energy debts or heating repairs

What else is covered?

Help is also available for:

• Repairing or replacing broken boilers
• Installing first-time heating systems
• Servicing and upgrading smart heating controls

You’ll need to complete a separate application if applying for these – but forms will be sent to you once your initial claim is made.

Where to send your evidence:

• Email digital copies to: [email protected]
• Post paper documents to:
  Act on Energy
  Unit 2, Lauriston Business Park
  Salford Priors
  Warwickshire WR11 8SN

Applications will be closed if evidence isn’t sent within 28 days – so act fast.

In other related benefit news, pension savers have been pocketing thousands in tax refunds after being overcharged — and now fresh HMRC changes could stop millions more being stung.

Over 15,000 people got an average refund of £2,881 between January and March this year after being overtaxed when they dipped into their pension pots.

In total, £44million was handed back in just three months, according to new figures — with hopes the amount overpaid will fall thanks to recent rule tweaks.

HMRC rolled out a new system this month, aimed at stopping retirees from being wrongly whacked with a sky-high emergency tax bill when making a withdrawal.

Other help you can claim

If you’re not eligible for the Household Support Fund, you might qualify for other forms of help to cover energy bills or food.

Support may vary depending on your local council – so even if you don’t live in Worcestershire, it’s worth checking what’s on offer in your area.

Several energy firms offer grants to households who are struggling to pay their energy bills worth up to £2,000.

This includes British Gas, Octopus Energy and EDF.

New parents might also be eligible for free food worth up to £442 a year to cover the cost of healthy food and milk via the Healthy Start scheme.

Or, you can get an emergency food parcel from a Trussell Trust food bank.

You can find your nearest via www.trussell.org.uk/emergency-food/find-a-foodbank.

To get a food parcel, you need a voucher from a community organisation like Citizens Advice or your GP. You can then exchange this voucher for a food parcel at the food bank.

It’s also worth checking if you’re eligible for benefits if you haven’t already – billions of pounds’ worth is going unclaimed, according to Policy in Practice.

There are three free calculators you can use to see what you might be entitled to:

• Policy in Practice better off calculator
• entitledto benefits calculator
• Turn2us benefits calculator

PARENTS know all too well that keeping kids entertained over the summer holidays can be pricey.

The cost of childcare alone can cost around £1,039 for the six weeks of the break, and that is not to mention days out and other activities.

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And many activity camps for children can be costly too, but that does not mean your child has to miss out.

There are loads of free classes available for families across countless areas in the UK.

Below we round up the best classes for kids this summer that cost nothing at all.

FREE FOOTBALL COACHING

McDonald’s runs free football classes for children aged 5 to 11 years old.

The programme lasts for 10 weeks and usually runs for an hour.

The event is hosted at local stadiums across the UK.

The sessions, which are open to all abilities, are running from March to July.

They are delivered by FA-qualified coaches at more than 1,600 locations nationwide.

You can find out more by visiting www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/football/fun-football-centres.

FREE COURSES FOR TEENAGERS

Islington Council runs a number of free courses for teenagers and young adults through its Summerversity scheme.

In the past, classes have included archery, football camp and photography lessons.

You can book a maximum of eight courses to keep your teenager entertained over the holidays.

You can sign up by visiting www.summerversity.co.uk/

Of course you will need to live in the London borough to get access to the scheme.

But if you don’t it may be worth ringing up your local council to see if it runs a similar event.

FREE BOXING CAMP

Sporting Aid in Waltham is running a free boxing camp for those aged 10-16.

The event is run every Saturday at 12:00pm at the Waltham Cross Playing Fields Car Park.

No prior experience is required so it may be a great way for your little one to be introduced to the sport.

You can sign up for the event by visiting www.eventbrite.co.uk.

FREE SUMMER CAMP

Music charity Vache Baroque runs a completely free summer camp for children in St Giles.

The event runs from  Monday 18 – Friday August 22 and includes a hot meal. It is for children aged 9–14.

Children will participate in a number of activities including singing, arts and crafts and circus skills

They can also take part in an optional performance with professional orchestra in its summer circus-opera on Sunday September 7.

You can find out more by visiting, vachebaroque.com.

TRYING to get onto the housing ladder is no mean feat, and many people have to make some sacrifices when it comes to it. 

From tightening up the budget, and reducing the spending on some of life’s luxuries, managing to find the money can take quite some time. 

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But one woman managed to bag her dream home by making some sacrifices. 

Leonie, who is known as ‘building_ribbons’ on TikTok, shared a video on her social media account explaining how she lived in a caravan for eight years to be able to afford her dream home. 

She went on to explain that people now assume that she is rich because of it, but instead she just managed to save thousands on rent. 

Speaking to her 122.7k TikTok followers, Leonie did a tour of her home which was in the countryside. 

The kitchen was large and open plan with an island in the middle, and wooden beams in the ceiling giving a luxurious touch to it. 

She also had large glass doors which looked out onto her garden, and allowed for plenty of sunlight to shine through.

Her video also showed her bathroom, which had a standalone large bath in it as well as her living space which had a fireplace lit to give a warm cosy touch to it. 

Having so much garden space also allows her to keep animals on it including a goat, and two dogs which her son plays with. 

Leonie explained that it was self-built in the English countryside and she was able to style it whilst also doing some bargain hunting. 

Speaking to her followers, she adds that “you guys probably think I’m rich but in reality we spent eight years living in a caravan to achieve the dream of building our own home and it was so worth it.” 

Revealing that she is a “country girl at heart,” Leonie loves that she can spend time with her family, horses, animals, and “gorgeous son”.

Her video, which was shared in October, has gained 105.6k views and gained 67 comments. 

One person who was in a similar situation, wrote: “I spent 10 years in our Mobil while we built our home. It was worth it, no mortgage.” 

Whilst a second complimented her “beautiful home” saying that her situation was “a dream.” 

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A third asked: “Your home is beautiful, can you please talk us through how you found the land and the process of building?

“Also, did you live in the caravan on the land?” 

Leonie replied: “We already owned the land….. planning took us nearly 10 years…the build took around 18 months. Yea we lived on site.”

How much does it cost to live in a caravan?

LIVING in a caravan can be an economical and flexible lifestyle choice in the UK. Here’s a breakdown of potential costs:

Initial Costs

• Caravan Purchase: £8,000 – £40,000 (depending on size, age, and condition)
• Caravan Insurance: £200 – £800 per year

Ongoing Monthly Costs

• Pitch Fees: £150 – £600 (varies by location and facilities)
• Utilities (Electricity, Gas, Water): £40 – £120
• Maintenance and Repairs: £20 – £80
• Internet and TV: £20 – £50
• Gas for Heating/Cooking: £15 – £40

Other Potential Costs

• Waste Disposal Fees: £8 – £25
• Transport Costs (if moving locations): Variable, depending on distance
• Optional Add-ons (Awning, Solar Panels, etc.): £400 – £1,600 (one-time)

Sample Monthly Budget

• Pitch Fees: £400
• Utilities: £80
• Maintenance and Repairs: £40
• Internet and TV: £40
• Gas for Heating/Cooking: £25
• Total: £585

Annual Estimated Cost

• Total Monthly Costs: £585 x 12 = £7,020
• Insurance: £500
• Maintenance and Repairs: £480
• Total Annual Cost: £8,000

Tips to Save

• Off-Peak Pitch Fees: Look for lower rates during off-peak seasons.
• DIY Maintenance: Handle minor repairs yourself.
• Energy Efficiency: Invest in solar panels to reduce utility costs.

While initial setup costs can be significant, ongoing expenses for living in a caravan can be relatively low, making it a viable option for those seeking an affordable and mobile lifestyle in the UK.

Four children in every British classroom are living in hygiene poverty, according to research.

A major report has found 21 per cent of affected kids don’t play with others because they’re worried about what they might think.

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The issue affects 14 per cent of children across Great Britain in total, with 20 per cent of these going without essentials like toothpaste or deodorant, on a monthly basis.

According to A Clean Start in Life, a report delivered in partnership with Children North East, almost 350,000 children can’t always get to school due to not having a clean school uniform.

The study surveyed 1073 children aged 6-15 and was commissioned by charity in Kind Direct.

Their CEO Michael Gidney said: “Children are sharing toothbrushes, worrying about standing out at school for the wrong reasons and families are having to choose between eating and keeping clean – impossible choices no one should have to face.

“As well as surveying young people online, we spoke directly to children across England who told us hygiene poverty is damaging childhoods, and no one should feel embarrassed to ask for help.

“Our immersive ‘Not a Choice’ campaign at Bluewater shopping centre aims to bring this hidden crisis into a public space, where we all engage with hygiene products daily.

“By amplifying the voices of children and real experiences in the shopping centre restrooms, we hope to create a moment of reflection for visitors before asking them to help us end hygiene poverty.”

Until May 11, visitors to the Bluewater shopping centre’s restrooms, a space where hygiene essentials are often taken for granted, will hear voices and experiences of children having to face uncomfortable choices every day, such as skipping PE out of fear of being called smelly.

It is hoped the voices will encourage shoppers to stop, listen and take action to help end hygiene poverty for the 1.1m children living in it.

The report went on to find 26 per cent of children living in hygiene poverty suffer from low self-confidence, and 17 per cent have felt embarrassed and ashamed.

Nearly a fifth (15 per cent) of children battling it have had to share individual-use products like a toothbrush with their family, with 16 per cent having to wear the same clothes for multiple days in a row.

Just under one in 10 (nine per cent) have also faced issues with bullying related to their lack of hygiene products.

Further in-person sessions were conducted with 103 children and young people aged 5-18 (or up to 25 for some with special needs), to gather their experience of hygiene poverty.

Meetings were designed by Children North East, and were held in the North East, East and West Midlands, London and the South West, in schools, colleges, youth and sports clubs.

Leigh Elliott, CEO at Children North East, said: “The shame and stigma attached to wearing a dirty school uniform or having greasy hair can be an unbearable burden for our children and young people.

“This research, along with our Poverty Proofing consultations with thousands of UK pupils, reveal that an increasing number of children are facing this reality.

“Every baby, child and young person should be able to live a happy, healthy childhood, yet children have told us hygiene poverty is impacting their mental health and school attendance.

“By lifting families out of poverty, we can help protect young lives from the lasting impacts of not being able to access everyday necessities.

“Children North East is proud to have worked in partnership with In Kind Direct to conduct this research with children and young people, and we hope their voices will drive meaningful change.”