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Brighter Living: Our picks

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Jess Tedds Brighter Living

Seven healthy and delicious recipes on a budget

Are you kickstarting your healthy eating this month? Foodie influencer, Jess Tedds from @JustJessFood is here to keep your cooking costs down with a bunch of tasty and nutritious recipes to suit the whole family.

person using mobile phone Money on your Mind

Five tips to get you through the cost of living crisis

two people chatting on a sofa with a hot drink Money on your Mind

Let’s talk about the ‘M’ word

Whether it’s with a friend, partner or your boss - talking about money can feel awkward and embarrassing. We spoke to the Money Medics to find out why it feels this way and how we can make money feel like less of a dirty word

Bex Burn-Callander Brighter Business

The key dates every business owner needs in their diary

Check out our month-by-month calendar of the must-know financial dates in the 2023/24 UK tax year.

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Brighter living

Virgin Wines Summer prize draw

Enter our social prize draw to be in with a chance of winning a case of Virgin Wines. T&Cs apply.

Brighter living

Five tasty and affordable fakeaway recipes

Are you fed up of overspending on takeaways and eating out? Or maybe you’re bored of your weeknight meals? Foodie influencer @JustJessFood is here to help with budget dinners inspired by your favourite restaurants and takeaways.

Brighter Living

JustJessFood: Brilliant budget Christmas food boards and DIY edible gifts

The festive season is here and with that often comes hefty spend, from gifts and days out, to food and hosting. Thankfully, @JustJessFood is here to make sure you can have a great time on a budget with tasty home-made gifts and Christmas market boards.

Cullen and Ola Brighter living

How to make stunning lamps without spending a fortune

We set the much-loved Cullen and Olamide from @bricks.and.disorder a challenge to create designer looking lamps on a budget. Here’s how they did it and how you can too!

Pizza bagel packed lunchbox Brighter Living

Five fun and cheap lunchboxes your kids won’t get bored of

Are your kids fed up with their everyday packed lunch? Foodie influencer Just Jess Food is here to help with easy and budget friendly creations your little ones will love.

Jess Tedds Brighter Living

Four cheap mouth-watering burger recipes

Make your next fakeaway night extra fancy with these low-cost, showstopping burgers – whether you’re vegetarian, vegan or a meat and chicken lover there’s something for everyone to tuck into.

Yaya & Lloyd Brighter living

Seven cheap tricks that’ll save you £100s while on holiday

Yaya and Lloyd from the much-loved @HandLuggageOnly reveal their insider secrets to keeping costs down while having the best holiday abroad.

Brighter living

How to find the best cheap family day out deals across the UK this summer

Keeping the family entertained during the summer holidays without breaking the bank can feel like an impossible task, so we asked Chloe from @ChloesDealClub for her top tips on finding cheap fun days out this summer.

Brighter living

How to give your garden patio a mega makeover for less than £80

Transforming your garden can be pricey, but fear not, Alex Lawson from Casa Lawson shares exactly how you can give your garden an incredible makeover on a budget.

Brighter living

Six ways to cut holiday costs that you might not have thought of

Many of us could do with some fun in the sun, but as living costs rocket, cutting the cost of a getaway is more important than ever before - here’s exactly how to do it.

Brighter Living

You won’t believe how cheap these Europe holiday destinations are for the family

The price of summer holidays in 2023 has literally gone through the roof. But not to worry, the Mini Travellers are on hand with their top five cheap European destinations that the whole family can enjoy.

Leon Wilkes Back Brighter Living

Three bougie zero-waste cocktails you can make at home

Looking for some fabulous cocktail recipes? Leon Wilkes Back, Head of Mixology at Virgin Hotels Edinburgh is shaking things up and showing us how to make some extra fancy cocktails using some cupboard staples that you may already have.

Brighter Living

Seven incredible cleaning hacks that’ll save you time, effort, and a ton of money

The Queen of Clean, Lynsey Crombie reveals how we can keep our homes looking sparkling with unexpected items that we already have lying about our homes.

Jess Tedds Brighter Living

Four easy and delicious ways to use up leftover Easter eggs

Looking for ways to use up all those leftover Easter eggs? From easy no-bake cheesecakes to marvellous creation chocolate slabs - Foodie influencer, Jess Tedds shows us how we can have fun in the kitchen this Easter while saving some pennies along the way.

Laura Capon Brighter Living

Where to spend and where to save in your beauty routine

From the skincare products you don’t need to haircare hacks and why you should never buy a cheap makeup sponge, here’s where you should and shouldn’t spend your money.

bedroom transformation Brighter living

Five under £100 hacks that will make your home look more expensive

Making your room look expensive doesn’t need to break the bank. From bathrooms to kids’ rooms – here’s how you can make your home look luxe for less.

Jess Tedds Brighter Living

Seven healthy and delicious recipes on a budget

Are you kickstarting your healthy eating this month? Foodie influencer, Jess Tedds from @JustJessFood is here to keep your cooking costs down with a bunch of tasty and nutritious recipes to suit the whole family.

Laura Capon Brighter Living

The budget beauty hacks you need to know about

Fed up with wasting money on disappointing beauty products? Beauty editor, Laura Capon gave us the ultimate glow-guide on how to save money on your skincare and make-up without scrimping on quality

Living room transformation Brighter living

Ten of the best workation destinations across the UK

With more and more of us ditching the office and being able to do our jobs remotely, workations - that’s working vacations - are on the rise. Here’s our guide to the best budget-friendly places to work, play and stay away from home

Mother and child using a laptop Brighter Living

How to give your kids a brilliant summer that won’t break the bank

With the kids breaking up from school, it’s time to think about how you can enjoy a great summer on a budget. Here are some tips to inspire you

person in a kitchen Brighter living

From bland to budget grand - the best ways to give your house a renovation for less

Doing a house up on a budget? Find out how much you should budget for home renovations, and how to save with the cost of living crisis in mind…

Jilly Isabella Brighter living

How to create a capsule wardrobe your bank balance will love

Social media influencer and founder of slow fashion brand Dula, Jilly Isabella tells us the importance of having a capsule wardrobe and how to create one that you'll never get bored of.

Two people having coffee looking at a mobile Brighter living

Hoping for a holiday? Top tips on how best to save for your travels

Don't let the cost of living crisis limit your travel opportunities this summer. Read our top saving tips so you can still get away on that much-needed break...

Virgin Money Foundation Young Change Makers Brighter living

Meet the young people changing the world in extraordinary ways

We’re looking for incredible young people with a passion for social change to apply for our next Virgin Money Foundation Young Change Makers Fellowship Programme. Here are some amazing stories from our first group to inspire you

person on phone and listening to music Brighter living

Eight incredible apps that will save you money and time

Fighting a battle with the cost-of-living crisis vs the struggle of finding time for yourself? Here’s how you can save money and find me time with your smartphone

Jack's Flight Club Brighter Living

'Save hundreds on your next holiday with my top travel hacks'

Looking for a holiday on a shoestring? Jack from the much-loved Jack’s Flight Club reveals his top booking hacks so you can travel the world for less

Ellie on her wedding day Brighter living

How to save thousands on your dream wedding

We planned and created our dream wedding on a budget - here are our top tips on saving for and arranging your big day...

Living room transformation Brighter living

‘I transformed my room for under £99 and couldn’t believe the difference’

It only takes a few items to totally transform a room, and it can be done for under £99. Here’s how six people did just that - you won’t believe it’s the same room!

Person using laptop Brighter Living

How to avoid lifestyle inflation

Got a promotion and noticing your spending rising to keep pace with your salary? Then you need to read this before your lifestyle impacts your ability to save and hit your future financial goals.

Money on your mind

Who needs a greener bank, anyway?

The responsibility to play our part in tackling the climate crisis is hugely important to us here at Virgin Money. Here are the steps we are taking to become a greener bank

Louise and her husband at a party. Brighter living

“Home furnishing hacks that have saved me thousands”

Lockdown made Virgin Money’s Louise Hodges learn to save thousands on home furnishings without scrimping on style. Find out how to save money on your home

Stephanie Giordano: business owner of 'Baked by Steph'. Brighter business

"How I turned my side hustle into a thriving business"

Stephanie Giordano turned her bespoke bakery business into a successful enterprise creating hundreds of beautifully detailed cookies per day. Find out more about starting a business here.

Skydiving experience. Brighter Living

Six surprising things Brits are splurging on this summer

After months locked up indoors, Brits are planning to turn 2021 into a summer of fun. Find out what they’re planning to spend their pent-up cash on, according to research by Virgin Money.

The Elsie Rose boat on the beach. Credit: Sussex Bloggers. Brighter living

Planning a staycation? 8 standout Instagram accounts you need to follow

86% of Virgin Money customers say they are opting for a staycation this year over going abroad. So we’ve rounded up our favourite inspirational Instagram accounts for UK holidays. Don’t say we never do anything for you…

The big ash reno interior design Brighter living

10 Instagram accounts to follow for wonderful wedding inspiration

With an average cost of £30,000, it's no surprise that weddings are one of the most popular things people save for. Here's our pick of the best Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration, whatever your budget

I paid off my mortgage in my 30s Brighter Living

“I paid off my mortgage in my 30s”

Three shrewd savers reveal the little things that helped them repay their mortgages in their twenties and thirties – and how it has changed their lives for the better

Brighter living

Unexpectedly brilliant British breaks

With the world of travel continuing to be uncertain, now is the perfect opportunity to explore destinations a little closer to home. Here are Visit Britain's pick of the UK's best undiscovered destinations.

How we retired in our 40s Brighter living

“How we retired in our 40s”

Saying goodbye to being a wage slave at a relatively young age sounds like the preserve of millionaires, but it’s absolutely achievable for ‘ordinary’ earners. It just takes a bit of planning…

Brighter living

First time buyer? Your questions answered

Starting a home-buying journey can be intimidating. Financial influencer Kia Commodore and Virgin Money Red Team mortgage expert Phil talk you through it

Brighter living

“I lost my job in lockdown – now I’m living my best life”

Being suddenly out of work can feel like the end of the world, but as these people found, it can also be the beginning of something exciting

Holly Branson discusses driving gender equality at work Brighter living

“It’s in everyone’s interest to empower women”

Virgin’s Chief Purpose and Vision Officer Holly Branson discusses the need to drive gender equality at work and why we should all choose to challenge

Farrow & Ball interior design Brighter living

8 Instagram accounts to fuel your holiday daydreaming

Here’s our pick of the best travel accounts to follow to help you escape reality (if only momentarily…)

Farrow & Ball interior design Brighter living

9 Instagram accounts to follow for incredible interior inspiration

Thinking about upgrading your home this year? Here’s our top pick of accounts worth following to help you craft your perfect space

Brighter living

What to expect on your next flight

What’s flying like in the coronavirus-alert world?