The Spoon Drawer

Opportunities for young people are in abundance in London. The capital has loads to offer in terms of education, internships and careers, with offices and connections to hundreds of internationally recognised brands; but only if you can afford it. London is becoming increasingly autonomous from the rest of the UK due to its inflated cost of living, the result of highly concentrated spending in London which has left other major cities in the country wanting the same treatment. Governments have been highly criticised for focusing growth in London, which has resulted in families being priced out of the area. Students and young professionals in London must be resilient, cost effective and efficient about their living situations if they are going to survive the high price-tag of the enviable London lifestyle. Here are some tips for living comfortably on a low income in the capital. Accommodation Housing is very expensive in London, especially if you’re in a highly popular p

During my time working in a Wetherspoons I was invited to attend the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers ( ALMR ) conference. As a supervisor, I was told it would be beneficial to bolster my understanding of the industry’s future direction. For some reason, the immediate image that struck me was an old-school town meeting, in which someone has the floor and votes are counted in yays and nays. What I discovered was an industry dominated by a peculiar mixture of anxiety and excitement, unsure of the future but excited to help shape it. I already knew at this point that pubs were changing drastically to meet the expectations of younger crowds. In my adopted home town of Brighton, traditional establishments are being closed to make way for chic pubs with attractive interior designs and craft beers on tap. This is a winning situation for all but the landlords whose pubs are being closed; consumers can expect superior quality establishments in the future, and the hospitali

That time of year has come around so fast once again. Creating that dream luxury Christmas may seem like a rather daunting task, but with quality gifts to be found online and on the high street with greater ease and with more variety, you’re actually spoilt for choice when it comes to finding the perfect presents and stocking fillers... photo credit: wwarby   So I’ve compiled The Affordable Luxury Christmas Gift Guide 2014 , a great collection of everyday luxurious items that can also be found on your local high street, with something for everyone in the family, as well as covering your friends and colleagues.

I reflect almost every Christmas on how lucky and thankful I am to have my friends, my family and my health. I've been looking into ways the more fortunate amongst us can help the less fortunate without disrupting our own lives and budgets this Christmas. From what I've gathered, people really do wish they could do more for others during the Christmas period, but it’s tough when there’s so much happening in our own lives during this time, taking on more could just cause us to spin out of control; and what about our budgets? Christmas is a very tight time regardless, so how can we afford to spend more? Donate Contraband Got a loft full of old toys? Pass them along to Barnardo’s who give them to children in need. You could even give blood this Christmas and help the fight against blood disease; it costs nothing to give, is quick and can help save someone’s life. Got an old computer or Mac lying around? Computers for Charities will take your beloved old machine