Articles by Andrew Regan

1) Update Your Look without Breaking the Bank
The credit crunch is undoubtedly having an impact on many areas of life and has rarely been out of the news recently. Disposable income is at a premium for many people, but how can you keep looking fashionable without affecting your finances? One of the main things you can do to avoid feeling the pinch is to shop smarter. Certain things never go out of fashion; classic white tee-shirts for example are... » read more

2) Multifunctional Printers for the Office
There was once a time that equipping an office with all the essentials meant purchasing a lot of different hardware and then trying to find a suitable space for it all. With the advances in technology it’s now possible to combine your essential day-to-day business functions with just one piece of equipment. The main advantages of this are to be found in the cost and space savings. It makes sense that... » read more

3) Online savings for silver surfers
The internet has perhaps had more influence on modern culture than anything else. It has shaped the way the entire world interacts and communicates with each other and it enables a far greater level of autonomy, as people no longer have to rely on ‘specialists’ to take care of their personal business. Whilst once upon a time it was the norm to use a travel agent to organise a holiday, the consumer now... » read more

4) Taking Advantage of Video Calls On Your Computer
If you are already used to phoning people via your computer then you will already be thinking of the days of paid telephone calls as being a thing of the past. The big advantage of getting in touch with people in this way is that you can chat with friends or relatives who live in other countries for as long as you like without having to pay anything for the privilege. Making calls via your internet... » read more

5) Cyprus: Sun, sea and sand… and a beer festival
If sunshine and sand coupled with great music and a selection of fine beers sounds like your idea of fun, the Limassol beer festival in Cyprus should definitely be in your diary. Cyprus has been a popular holiday destination for many years with tourist numbers continuing to grow. It’s easy to see why this Mediterranean island is a firm favourite; an abundance of sandy beaches, stunning scenery and... » read more

6) For year-round sunshine, head to Florida
There is no doubting the health benefits that an extended period of time in the sun has. Now, that doesn’t have to mean lying on a beach all day reading and getting sun-burnt, which would probably be many people’s idea of a holiday from hell. No, in an age which has seen many more people affording exotic adventure holidays, it can be easy to forget that sometimes all a body needs is a week or two of... » read more

7) Enhance body and mind with London's outdoor spaces
The benefits of being outdoors are well known; being active rather than inactive is good for both body and mind. But being outdoors this summer needn't mean picking up a tennis racket or taking a brisk walk up the nearest hill. London is a historic royal playground where large stretches of good riding territory had to be made available. But not all of London's parks were created for the rich and... » read more

8) Combine A Splash Of Egyptian Culture with a visit to Libya or Jordan
If you mention the word Egypt to anyone, the chances are they will immediately think of the Pyramids and the Sphinx. While it is certainly true that Egypt is best known for these, it has plenty more to offer as well. Egypt multi centre holidays are also becoming more popular as more people want to discover all the other delights this country has to offer. By visiting more than one location on the same... » read more

9) How Should You Pay Back Your Mortgage?
For most people a mortgage is the biggest sum of money they will ever deal with in their life. With this in mind it’s important that the right mortgage product is chosen not just for the short term but also the long term too. Many mortgages have tie-in periods, so what suits you today may not work out so well in a few years time. Everyone dreams of being mortgage free one day but what’s the best way to pay... » read more

10) Why Outsourcing Is a Viable Business Solution
While many businesses start life by doing everything for themselves, there comes a time when it isn’t the most cost effective way to carry on working. If you find you are starting to struggle to get everything done each day, then it might be time to think about whether or not outsourcing could improve your daily working life. The first clue that it might be time to give outsourcing serious... » read more

11) Tourists enjoy the culture and history of New York City
Tourism is a huge industry in New York City, with approximately 44 million domestic and international tourists enjoying a trip to the city every year, to enjoy spectacular architecture and a whole host of historical attractions Many people visiting New York for the first time will awestruck by the breath taking structures that dominate the New York skyline, with none more impressive than the Empire... » read more

12) Leather bombers flying high
The black leather bomber jacket, which featured heavily in TV series and films throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, is making a glorious comeback. TV cop shows The Sweeney and Starsky and Hutch were two extremely popular programmes that regularly featured the fashion of the era, and leather jackets and coats starred in both shows. In the London-based special squad spectacular 'The Sweeney',... » read more

13) The story of Lego – the world’s most famous brick
<p> Lego is 50 years old, and the plastic toy building brick is still as popular as it ever was. Lego sells over two hundred playsets a year (with themes ranging from Star Wars to Harry Potter), in hundreds of different countries. The Lego toy empire began in 1932 when Danish carpenter and joiner Ole Kirk Christiansen, began making wooden toys and selling them from his workshop. Two years later, he... » read more

14) Standard Life performance stuns analysts
Only one year after being the target of an abortive take-over attempt by London insurer Revolution, Standard Life has stunned market analysts by announcing a 64% rise in its profits. In addition to the announced annual results it was the best performing UK insurance stock during the month of February. Full year income for 2007 totalled £465million representing a 21.3 pence rise per share, comparing... » read more

15) The Mysterious Sub-Culture: Britain’s Boy Racers
Whether you live in a city and have been woken by the low hum of an exhaust too big for the car it’s attached to, or whether you live in a small coastal town and have watched perplexed as a convoy of souped-up little hatchbacks whiz around the promenade again and again; most of us have in some way experienced the mysterious world of the Boy Racer. But what do we really know about that world? Well, we... » read more

16) Fun in Phuket: Luxury Thailand Summer Trips
Summer is low season in Thailand, but this means that it's a great time to visit the country if you're looking for special offers on hotels, including free nights and free upgrades (both on a hotel room and for a meal plan) and also no crowds. Phuket, which has also been named "The Pearl of Thailand", is regularly voted as one of the world's top holiday destinations. Lying just off the southwest coast,... » read more

17) Society’s love affair with the credit card
Mail on Sunday columnist Lauren Booth decided at the start of 2008 she could do without her credit cards, and in a symbolic gesture cut up all her plastic with the biggest pair of scissors she could find. However, her attempt to live in the modern world without plastic back-up has proved a dismal failure, and also a salutary lesson on how only 42 years after their introduction into the UK, credit cards... » read more

18) Medical Insurance: Prevention and Cure Combined?
For many people, private medical insurance has traditionally been seen as a luxury expense that only the wealthy can afford. However, the reality these days tells a different story; with NHS waiting lists becoming longer and longer for even the simplest of routine tests, it is no surprise that more and more people are turning to private health insurance. BUPA, the UK private health insurance provider,... » read more

19) The benefits of health insurance for specific conditions
Comprehensive private medical insurance plans can be expensive; but if you are one of those people who are on a budget, there are other ways to protect yourself should the unexpected happen. For instance, some health insurance providers offer lower cost plans that just cover specified conditions. Cancer, heart disease and stroke are common conditions which can be covered by specific condition insurance... » read more

20) Austin: The Live Music Capital of the World
Austin’s musical heritage began in the late 1960s and 1970s when the country music popularised by people such as Willie Nelson was joined by a cornucopia of other styles and sounds brought by the more liberal inhabitants of the city who had moved there during the two decades. A well known local club called the Vulcan Gas Company was integral in the growth of the Austin music scene with seminal acts such as... » read more

21) Luxury Holidays: The Tropical Trinity
Few could deny that when it comes to holidaying in the most luxurious of surroundings, the island nations of the Seychelles, Mauritius and the Maldives are perhaps the pinnacle of decadent destinations. This trinity of topical islands offers some of the most beautiful silky white sands, swaying palms and azure seas in the world. The Seychelles are made up of over one hundred lush green islands... » read more

22) Counting the cost of travel in London
In 1900, motoring was a luxury hobby in Britain, and there were only 8,000 cars in the whole of Britain at the start of the 20th century; but by the end of the century the car population had soared to 21 million. The number of cars on the roads began to rise during the 1920s as manufacturers started to make small, lightweight and cheaper vehicles for a wider market. Cars at this time were still relatively... » read more

23) Get stylish with this season’s must have fashion item, the check shirt
<p> Popular throughout the years not only as part of a formal outfit but also as an integral part of fashion through the 80’s and early 90’s, this season the check shirt is the must have clothing item to bridge the gap between smart and casual wear, offering a variety of colours and designs to choose from depending on the occasion. Stuck for ideas on how to incorporate a check shirt into your outfit? Look... » read more

24) Pre-nuptial agreements on the up, say divorce lawyers
Pre-nuptial agreements (or Pre-nups), which are not legally binding in the UK courts, have been the subject of considerable controversy; but recently got the stamp of approval from a Court of Appeal judge who suggested that it may be time to make them legally binding. Recently, a multi-million pound divorce battle was due to rule on the validity of a pre-nuptial agreement but the case settled instead... » read more

25) Enter the Dragon: The Life of Bruce Lee
Though Seattle is most famous for its influence on the grunge scene, its sports teams and being the home of corporations like Microsoft and Starbucks, one of Seattle’s most famous residents was martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Born to a Chinese father and a mother of Chinese and German ancestry in San Francisco in 1940, Lee moved with his parents to Hong Kong when he was only three months old. Lee’s... » read more

26) The UK love affair with text messaging
Although virtually unknown as a form of communication only 15 years ago, text messaging has become an important part of many people’s lives and is regularly used to keep in touch with friends and colleagues around the world. Indeed, people in the United Kingdom send over 100million text messages every day, and on New Year’s Eve alone over 290 million texts were sent. As a result of our new-found love... » read more

27) How to survive a mini-recession
Cheap credit has been available for so many years in the UK that many people have now accepted it as the norm. However, recent events in the global economy could prompt the end of low-cost lending, and bring with it a culture shock for many. Traditionally, economies have undergone cycles of ‘boom and bust’, but the UK’s economy has appeared to have bucked that trend for a significant number of years;... » read more

28) Student Digs: The House Party Years
Most students look back at their time at university with very fond memories. Who could deny that staying up late into the night, drinking, dancing and socialising, getting up late, rolling into a couple of lectures before doing it all again wasn't a fun lifestyle? The majority of students spend their first year of university life in halls of residence, often provided by the university. They are a great... » read more

29) Students 'using gap years to save for homes'
Students in Britain are increasingly using a gap year to work and save for the deposit for a first home, according to a new study. Twice as many students are choosing to save for a housing deposit over a gap year, rather than see the world, as first-time buyers continue to struggle to get onto the property ladder. Conducted for bank Abbey, a new poll indicates that one in ten of those taking a gap year... » read more

30) Motoring on the Information Super Highway: Car Clubs Online
As information and the speed at which we receive it becomes increasingly more important, the internet has become the ideal place to find data, and exchange ideas and views; and it seems that the world of cars is no exception. A few years ago, a Haynes manual or the local garage was the main sources of mechanical information and repairs. Magazines and television provided news on the latest cars,... » read more

31) Portsmouth’s living museums
Found at the mouth of the Piscataqua River in New Hampshire, the historic town of Portsmouth - only one hour drive north from Boston, Massachusetts - has a long naval tradition and boasts a long and proud past. As well as being home to a major Naval Base, Portsmouth also boasts two magnificent, well-regarded museums; the Strawberry Banke Museum and the John Paul Jones House Museum. However, although... » read more

32) Stress affecting majority of UK workforce
Small businesses need to look at developing the skills of their staff so they are better equipped to deal with pressure, it has been claimed. Mike Petrook, a spokesperson for the Chartered Management Institute, was speaking in response to the publication of a survey conducted by the Samaritans which shows that more than half of the UK workforce are worried that their jobs are taking over their... » read more

33) Visa readies America's largest IPO
These days consumers are besieged by warnings of a potential credit crisis but it looks as though Visa Inc, the world's largest credit card operator, is unperturbed. Visa have the potential to raise up to $18.8 billion by floating 406 million shares of between $37 and $42 - and possibly a further 40.6 million shares depending on demand - in what will surely be the biggest American debut initial public... » read more

34) Small business owners should pick easy website domains
Running small businesses can be extremely difficult. While it is rewarding, bosses need to worry about their finances and finding the right staff that will be able to advance the company. But in 2008, as the world becomes increasingly web-savvy, having a successful website which can draw in customers or be used for advertising and sponsorship is a fundamental part of running a small company. A leading... » read more

35) London gears up for 15th annual Jazz Festival
<p> The history of the London Jazz festival dates back to the 1970s, when the London Borough of Camden had the idea of adding a Jazz Week to the already popular Camden Festival, held during the spring. A variety of venues in north London got involved, promoting international jazz stars as well as providing a platform for up and coming British musicians to showcase their talents. The popularity of the... » read more

36) Plucky Pedro put Benidorm on the map
Benidorm is one of Spain’s most popular holiday destinations for both British and Dutch tourists. But it owes its entire current day prominence as a desirable resort to the pluck of its current mayor Pedro Zaragoza, for it was he that single-handedly started the beach revolution in Spain in 1953. Ideally located on the Costa Blanca coast of Alicante, the fishing village of Benidorm had everything... » read more

37) Celebrate the Chinese New Year in London
Yuletide celebrations may have come and gone, but Sunday the 10th of February will see celebration of the Chinese New Year, ringing in what is in Chinese astrology, the Year of the Rat. As the biggest city in Europe and one with a sizeable ethnic Chinese population, London’s Chinese New Year celebrations will be amongst the most extravagant around the world – last year it was the largest in the world... » read more

38) Owning versus renting; is there a choice?
For many years renting a home proved more expensive than buying your own property, but since the UK entered the era of rapidly rising house prices it appears that people who rent are now actually better off than those who buy. Of course, that’s not taking account of any capital appreciation in the owned property, but merely looking at the day-to-day costs of living. For example, in many areas people... » read more

39) Creating the perfect honeymoon
The venue, the caterer, the guest list, the dress; the wedding is planned and ready to roll, now all that is left is anticipation and honeymoon planning. As the farthest reaches of the world become ever more accessible, the choices of where to go on the honeymoon proves even more difficult. Herein lies the first obstacle; there is more than one person making the choice. As couples go, it is a pretty... » read more

40) How to Raise Money While Building Your Stamina
Do you ever get days where you struggle to make it through to lunch time, let alone the end of the day? Do you always find yourself trudging up the stairs instead of bounding up them two (or even one) at a time? Do you constantly find it an effort to get out of bed and get going in the morning, ready to face the day? s If you do, your body is probably crying out for some decent exercise. We all need... » read more