Where can I find good value, larger clothes?A new brand that offers stylish and wearable fashion in a wide selection of sizes, lengths and fittings has recently hit the internet. Marisota sells everything from underwear to footwear. The collection consists of classic designs, all with a modern twist. We love this red coat (below), which is a great bold colour for autumn and the belted waist shows off a curvy figure. Available in sizes 12-34, £65.
Do you know of any restaurants that offer healthy children's menus?
There's no doubt that eating out with children is becoming a far more sophisticated affair just look at the Giraffe chain; relaxed, modern restaurants with plenty of healthy options for kids. They can choose from falafels, chicken noodles, salmon fingers and even a brunch menu served until 4pm not to mention the convenient locations in shopping spots and Heathrow Terminal 1. Check out www.giraffe.net or call 020 8457 2776 for your nearest branch.
Classic family choices like Harvester and Brewers Fayre pubs have also enhanced their children's menus. Harvester now offers main meals in child-sized portions for under-10s (£3.99), including healthy options such as spit-roast chicken and unlimited trips to the salad cart; perfect to get children eating fresh vegetables. Brewers Fayre has a similar option with 'grown-up' dishes such as chicken salad and spaghetti bolognese for under-12s, from £3.50 for main and dessert.
Can you suggest a good travel insurance policy?
For 15 days' European cover, Which? recommends travel-insurance-web.com. The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk) also has excellent advice on what to look for in
a policy; it should include a 24-hour helpline, medical cover (£1m in Europe, £2m elsewhere), personal liability, cover for possessions plus cancellation and curtailment. Take your schedule and certificate of insurance with you, in case you need them to claim medical assistance, and always make a separate note of your policy number and the helpline number.
Study the small print of your policy and ask as many questions as possible. Always declare any medication you are taking or current health problems, and bear in mind that accidents while under the influence of alcohol are not generally covered neither are some 'dangerous' sports.
Finally, if you're travelling in Europe, it's vital to have an EHIC form. Available free from the Post Office or online at www.ehic.org.uk, it replaces the E111; you'll need one per traveller. It gives free access to state medical treatment while away, but this may differ from what's available on the NHS, you could still need to claim on your insurance.
Which are the latest money-saving internet sites?
Price comparison websites such as www.moneysupermarket.com and www.confused.com have given a lot of control back to consumers. They work by checking your household bills against hundreds of other deals, allowing you to find the best offers for car insurance, broadband, savings accounts and the like. For more frivolous spending, auction sites such as eBay have revolutionised shopping for millions of people.
However, the very latest online trend is to cut out cash and barter, creating altruistic swapping communities that match up people and products for free. For example, register with your local branch of www.uk.freecycle.org and you'll receive daily emails offering everything from plant pots to laptops all for nothing. The idea is to keep unwanted items out of landfill sites by quickly rehousing them
where there is a greater need.
www.swapaskill.com is a similar idea, but trades in favours instead. Perhaps you could walk a neighbour's dog and they could prune your roses in return, or maybe a handyman will sort out your DIY disasters if you bake a cake for his daughter's birthday. Whatever you do, the idea is to reignite a community spirit and recognise that we all have valuable skills. And, of course, you get a far bigger feel-good factor from doing a favour and perhaps making a new friend than from simply paying top dollar for a professional's help.
Do you have any tips for reducing the time I spend on the family's laundry each week?
One easy answer is to buy a bigger washing machine. Until now, machines have come with a standard 5kg capacity, but the Electra E6860, from £373 (www.electra-whitebox.co.uk), can carry a whopping 8.5kg, which makes it big enough to wash bedding from a double bed, plus two singles, all in one go! The large porthole door means loading and unloading is much less hassle too.
It's not all about saving you from boring and back-breaking labour, though. As well as reducing the time you spend lugging heavy bundles of jeans and jumpers to and from the washing machine, the Electra E6860 will also reduce your impact on the environment as it uses 52 litres less water than a conventional machine. We think that makes good sense all round!
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