Life Hacks

lifestyle Life Hacks

HOW TO…HOST YOUR OWN ROYAL GARDEN PARTY

No one throws a party quite like the Queen and the Platinum Jubilee will be the biggest yet. Celebrations will be taking place nationwide, but if you prefer to celebrate privately with friends and family in your own home or garden, British Interior Designer Benji Lewis and founder of Zoom That Room, shares his suggestions to ensure your celebrations are fit for a queen.

• Think pretty when it comes to planning your royal garden party, it’s about celebration so things should be bright and upbeat to reflect the mood. • Floral patterns are quintessentially British, so be prepared to get flower fabulous. • Combining different patterns suggests a casually thrown together look, but do plan what to use and where to use it - don’t contain thoughts to only using strong designs on your linens only, look at patterned china too - florals, checks and stripes are good. • Matched porcelain tea sets are lovely, but breakages happen; don’t shy away from mismatched pieces, as long as you achieve some kind of harmony with colour or style, things will still look fab. • Serve tea in a bone-china cup with a saucer; this isn’t some kind of affectation, it’s simply that it’s more pleasurable to drink from a fine china cup than it is from a hefty mug. • Establish how you wish to entertain and what’s achievable with the space you’ve got; if you only have one table and need to it be the place from which you serve tea, offer cake and sit at, then size things accordingly; a vast tray of sandwiches on a small table won’t allow for anything else to happen. • Bowls of coloured sweets provide additional interest, but think about how you present them; sugared almonds in a crystal bowl are lovely. • If you’d like your guests to stay and toast HRH after tea, have a bottle of chilled fizz close to hand, and just as you offer tea in a porcelain cup, provide a crystal

Champagne glass for the pleasure, it’s immeasurably chic. • Nothing says Royal Garden party more than bunting.

Source vintage or something made from fabric so that you can re-use it. • Food-wise, opt for the Queen’s favourites: Victoria

Sponge, miniature jam scones, sandwiches and chocolate tarts.

INDUSTRY SECRETS: SAVE HUNDREDS AT THE DEALERSHIP

Consumers often fear the idea of haggling or negotiating at the car dealership. But with the right amount of research and a handful of industry secrets under your belt, you can feel more confident after reading these insightful tips from car finance specialists, Carvine…

1. Know when to strike. Prices tend to be at their lowest or at a more negotiable rate during certain times of the year. In September and March, people are more likely to part exchange their old vehicles for the latest models. To cope with the sudden influx of stock, many dealers are more open to haggling as they want to shift the surplus of used cars as quickly as possible. October to December is also an excellent time to buy a new car as salespeople are looking to smash their final year targets and get as many quick sales in as possible.

2. Find out all the relevant list prices for your chosen model and make of car. This will put you in a better position, especially if you know the average current price, expected mileage and what sort of condition the vehicle should be in.

3. In recent years, car finance has become the most affordable, convenient and less expensive way to purchase a vehicle. But it’s not just dealerships that offer car finance deals. Before stepping onto the forecourt, compare other deals so you know what’s available. The car dealer might be willing to budge on price if you can highlight comparable deals elsewhere.

4. Booking a test drive and getting a feel for the car, while listening to the engine and noticing how well the car handles on the road are all essential. If you notice anything untoward - an oil leak, blue, black or dense white smoke, staining or rust and scratches on the bodywork, you have more power for negotiation.