Search

The cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard. Here are 3 ways to soften the blow

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ama-samarasinghe-1386754">Ama Samarasinghe</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> As our wallets feel the strain from the cost-of-living crisis, many of us are looking for ways to soften the blow. While everyone’s circumstances are different, and ideally you should seek help from an accredited financial adviser, there are some tried and true ways to work out where all your money is going and why. Here are three practical tips to reduce the impact of the cost-of-living increases, and stretch every hard-earned dollar. <h2>1. Hunt for a better loan rate</h2> For many households, the biggest hit comes from the mortgage, so start there. Even a modest 0.5% reduction can translate into substantial savings. Call your bank today and just ask for rate reduction. If the answer is no, consider shopping around for a different lender. Your loyalty to your current lender might be costing you more than you realise. Banks often reserve their most attractive rates for new customers, leaving long-time customers paying higher-than-necessary interest. Even if your bank does agree to a rate reduction, explore the market anyway. There is a range of free rate-comparison websites, or you can directly check individual bank websites. If you find a lender offering a better rate, you might consider calling the competing bank to ask about switching your mortgage to them. Or, you might seek assistance from a mortgage broker, who can guide you through the process of securing a better deal (just remember they often take <a href="https://www.canstar.com.au/home-loans/mortgage-brokers-fees/">commissions</a> from lenders). Tread carefully and factor in any exit fees or charges from your current lender. Refinancing isn’t without risk, so a thorough cost-benefit analysis is important before making the switch. Also consider the value of features such as <a href="https://moneysmart.gov.au/glossary/offset-account">offset accounts</a>. An offset account, linked to your home loan, allows you to deposit money such as your salary and savings. This money is then “<a href="https://www.rba.gov.au/publications/smp/2015/aug/box-e-offset-account-balances-and-housing-credit.html">offset</a>” against your home loan balance. That means you only pay interest on the outstanding amount (the loan minus whatever salary and savings you put in the offset). This can accelerate loan repayment and reduce interest costs. Keep in mind that offset accounts are typically only available with variable interest rates. Offset accounts work best if you have considerable savings to put into the offset account that outweigh the additional fees and charges attached to offset accounts. <h2>2. Trim your expenses and uncover hidden savings</h2> It’s time to become a budget detective, identifying and cutting down on non-essential costs that might be quietly draining your wallet. Take a close look at those recurring memberships and subscriptions. How often do you actually use that gym membership or streaming service? Many banking apps have handy spending tracking features to help you set realistic budget goals for each spending category. According to the <a href="https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/selected-living-cost-indexes-australia/latest-release">Australian Bureau of Statistics</a>, insurance and financial services are among the top risers in living cost indexes (which measure the price change of goods and services and its effect on living expenses). So search comparison websites for better insurance premiums. Australia’s insurance market is competitive, and you can often get discounts by bundling your insurances together (for example, having your home and contents insurance with the same company that also provides your car insurance). However, don’t shy away from exploring different insurers for potentially better value. Don’t overlook energy costs, either. Use comparison websites like <a href="https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/">Energy Made Easy</a> (or, if you’re in Victoria, the <a href="https://compare.energy.vic.gov.au/">Victorian Energy Compare</a> site) to find more cost-effective energy plans. Stay updated on rebates and concessions via the federal government’s <a href="https://energy.gov.au">Energy.gov.au</a> site, to ensure you’re maximising your entitlements. Use less energy, if you can. Small adjustments can make a significant dent in your bills. And for fuel costs, find websites and applications that allow you to lock in the lowest prices in your area. If you’re renting, ask yourself whether moving to a cheaper suburb or a cheaper home is an option. Many people use cashback sites like Cashrewards and ShopBack to accrue cashback incentives. <h2>3. Maximise returns and tackle high-interest debts</h2> While rising interest rates might make your mortgage climb, it also means high interest on your savings. Consider exploring high-yield savings accounts; with current interest rates, you could potentially earn around 5.5% with a bank savings account. Many people set up recurring transfers to help them stick to savings goals, increase deposits and maximise interest earnings. For those wrestling with high-interest debts such as credit cards or personal loans, prioritise settling outstanding balances to minimise interest payments. It can be hard to escape the long-term repercussions (such as a <a href="https://theconversation.com/payday-lending-trap-requires-a-credit-supply-rethink-39311">poor credit score</a>) of defaulting on <a href="https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/09/21/researchers-uncover--pecking-order-of-defaults--as-belts-tighten.html">high-interest loans</a>. And approach buy-now, pay-later services with extreme caution. They may seem tempting but the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/acfi.13100">debts can quickly add up</a>. And if you need more help, contact the government’s free National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/218118/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/ama-samarasinghe-1386754">Ama Samarasinghe</a>, Lecturer, Financial Planning and Tax, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-cost-of-living-crisis-is-hitting-hard-here-are-3-ways-to-soften-the-blow-218118">original article</a>.

Money & Banking

“That’s insulting”: Brittany Higgins grilled over "fabricated" allegations

Brittany Higgins has denied she lied when she accused Bruce Lehrmann of sexually assaulting her in Parliament House. Higgins was called to give evidence on Thursday, as part of Lehrmann's defamation suit against Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten, when she was grilled during cross-examination by Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow SC. “That is a fabrication that you were sexually assaulted,” Whybrow said. “I understand that is your assertion. It’s insulting but I understand it,” Higgins replied. Whybrow’s questioning revolved around how Higgins’ recollection of events changed between statements she gave to the police, in court, to journalists from Ten and a news website, and in the first draft of a book she sent to publisher Penguin Random House. One example was that the location of a box of chocolates eaten after the alleged rape had changed between versions. “I want to suggest to you that is an example of your evidence evolving as you find out new information,” Whybrow said. “No, I don’t accept that,” Higgins answered. She admitted giving incorrect statements to Wilkinson and Ten producer Angus Llewellyn during a five-hour interview conducted in January 2021, before she was filmed for bombshell The Project broadcast that first aired Brittany's story. These claims, which included what security did and what she was wearing after the alleged rape, were based on her beliefs at the time, the court was told. Lehrmann has also already given evidence in which he admitted to a number of lies and false statements he gave to police, Parliament House security, his employer and supervisor, and the media. Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten for defamation, specifically citing a February 2021 report on The Project in which Higgins was interviewed and her sexual assault story made national headlines. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

DIY fabric-covered notebooks

This DIY fabric-covered notebook makes a lovely gift idea for friends and family. Using scraps of fabric (or even old items of clothing) and cheap plain notebooks, these customised notebooks cost next to nothing and will take you no time to make. What you will need: <ul> <li>Notebook</li> <li>Fabric of your choice </li> <li>Scissors</li> <li>Sharpie and ruler</li> <li>Mod podge</li> <li>Paint brush</li> </ul> How to: 1. Open your notebook flat over the fabric. Trace around notebook leaving a three centimetre border. Cut fabric. 2. Paint the outside of notebook with a layer of mod podge. Carefully press fabric onto notebook and smooth so there are no wrinkles. 3. Glue overhanging fabric edges on inside of the cover. Stick the first and last pages of notebook to covers so the fabric won’t show. Let dry. Top tip: Embellish your notebook with ribbons or twine. You can even use a few different materials to create a pattern on your notebook. Your imagination is your only limit! Images: Shutterstock

Art

Bringing art into public spaces can improve the social fabric of a city

You don’t need to look far to see the impact of art in public spaces. Art can connect us to place and record history as it unfolds. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, stories on the <a href="https://www.publicartarchive.org/public-art-covid19/">importance of public art</a> are being <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/travel/coronavirus-street-art.html">told globally</a>. And this isn’t new. Times of crisis have often inspired some of the most influential artistic movements. Displaying visual symbols of resistance publicly, like the face of George Floyd, can connect <a href="https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2020/06/george-floyd-global-murals/">social movements across the world</a>. And in Canada, the display of statues like Egerton Ryerson have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/egerton-ryerson-racist-philosophy-of-residential-schools-also-shaped-public-education-143039">deemed unacceptable</a> as we reckon with our ongoing colonial history. Public art <a href="https://www.routledge.com/The-Everyday-Practice-of-Public-Art-Art-Space-and-Social-Inclusion/Cartiere-Zebracki/p/book/9781138829213">can be defined</a> as art that is available to the general public outside of museums and galleries; publicly funded; and related to the interests or concerns of, and used by a public community. Public art is referred to by some as <a href="https://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/creative-placemaking-using-the-arts-as-a-tool-for-community-development">creative placemaking</a>: a process of artistic creation and collaboration that helps to shape the surrounding built, natural and social environments. For French philosopher <a href="https://www.versobooks.com/books/1029-the-emancipated-spectator">Jacques Rancière</a>, art is disruptive. Done right, he says, it can make the spectator rethink their understanding of politics and society by calling to attention previously hidden inequalities. For many, the power of public art rests in its ability to turn artistic practice into a <a href="https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/art-of-social-practice-is-changing-the-world-one-row-house-at-a-time-2415/">social practice</a>. It challenges the viewer to confront social issues that affect the very place they stand. <h2>Art in times of crisis</h2> COVID-19 is just one example of a period of shared adversity when our connection to the arts has flourished. <a href="https://time.com/5827561/1918-flu-art/">The Dadaists’ commentary on the 1918 flu</a> reflected an intense and collectively frustrated desire for meaning in a world filled with chaos. During the Great Depression, the arts became increasingly experimental. In the United States, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal saw the largest public art <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/1934-the-art-of-the-new-deal-132242698/">funding initiative</a>the country had seen. A few decades later, in the 1980s, provinces and municipalities in Canada followed suit and began <a href="https://canadianart.ca/features/art-in-condoland/">significantly investing in public art</a>. <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-soundtrack-of-the-sixties-demanded-respect-justice-and-equality-105640">Protest music</a> during the civil rights movement and Vietnam War expressed anger, despair and hope. Gay artists and writers <a href="https://www.cairn.info/revue-etudes-anglaises-2008-3-page-350.htm">during the AIDS crisis memorialized a collective grief</a> that was being either ignored or vilified. The art from both eras came at an immense cost, and has been profoundly culturally and socially influential. Today, the pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated inequalities that were already present. But there has also been engagement and social solidarity: from <a href="https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2021/05/23/19-black-canadians-on-what-has-changed-one-year-since-george-floyds-murder-and-what-next-steps-we-need-to-take.html">Black Lives Matter</a>, to the Indigenous <a href="https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/what-were-seeing-in-2020-is-idle-no-more-2-0/">Land Back movement</a> and <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/we-are-not-the-virus/id1530051155">support for unhoused people</a>. Those who have the privilege not to pay attention are finding this option less viable. This engagement arguably comes with its own <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-solidarity-during-coronavirus-and-always-its-more-than-were-all-in-this-together-135002">set of problems</a>, but it is a momentum that can be built upon to imagine and do the work needed to create better futures for society. Artists are well positioned to do this creative imagining. <h2>Art beyond the gallery</h2> As we each search for meaning throughout our intensely local and geographically limited lives during the pandemic, public art finds, creates and shares the beauty, joy and solidarity that can be found in public spaces. Galleries are often isolated from the communities in geographical proximity. They have often been <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00043249.2017.1367190">places of exclusion</a>, and have historically served to uphold a dominant, European <a href="https://jps.library.utoronto.ca/index.php/des/article/view/20250">settler-centred narrative</a>. They have played a role in perpetuating colonial and racist attitudes towards Indigenous communities, their art and histories. Indigenous artists have long been <a href="https://www.rebeccabelmore.com/artifact-671b/">challenging these narratives</a>. Mainstream art is catching on, and there has been an unprecedented level of Indigenous <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00043249.2017.1367191">representation and leadership</a> within gallery spaces in recent decades. This leadership should shape public art in Canada. Public spaces, like art galleries, have also <a href="https://theconversation.com/6-ways-to-approach-urban-green-spaces-in-the-push-for-racial-justice-and-health-equity-160227">privileged some</a> more than others. Bringing art outside of the gallery space is not a catch-all solution. What matters more is how it’s done. <h2>Toronto’s year of public art</h2> In Toronto, the municipal government has announced that its “<a href="https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/history-art-culture/public-art/year-of-public-art/">Year of Public Art</a>” will begin in the fall with a total budget of $4.5 million in 2021. This is the inauguration of a 10-year public art plan. It responds to calls for an improved public art strategy, with a greater commitment to equity in the location of installations, the level of engagement with communities and the artists who create works. Toronto has promised a strong commitment to Indigenous self-determination, leadership and placemaking within its public art strategy. The city’s public art installations have <a href="http://www.theartfulcity.org/home/2017/3/9/50-years-of-public-art-in-toronto-where-do-we-go-from-here">increased in the past 50 years</a>, with over 700 installations added between 1967 and 2015. Toronto’s <a href="https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/official-plan-guidelines/design-guidelines/percent-for-public-art-inventory/">Percent for Public Art program</a>, a commonly used strategy in cities in North America and Europe, encourages developers to donate one per cent of their gross construction costs towards public art in their development’s direct vicinity. The program is <a href="https://www2.ocadu.ca/sites/www2.ocadu.ca/files/project/Pt1%20-%20Redefining%20Public%20Art%20Toronto%202017.pdf">voluntary</a> though. And because most development is happening in the downtown core, this is where public art has been concentrated, meaning neighbourhoods with less development have received less investment in public art. Nonetheless, the city is home to a multiplicity of adept communities and talented artists who continue to use public art to build community capacity and foster social inclusion. Listening to artists of diverse backgrounds and elevating communities to participate meaningfully will support important conversations that determine our collective future. And that makes the investment in public art worthwhile for us all. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/bringing-art-into-public-spaces-can-improve-the-social-fabric-of-a-city-162991" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Art

Would you wear a t-shirt that could listen to you?

Since we ditched our ancestral fur and became ‘naked’ apes some two million years ago, fabrics have been central to human life. For most of their history, developments in <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/wearable-tech-style/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fabric technology</a> have centred around novel fibres and increasing production capabilities. But a new era of fabric technology has begun. Motivated by the ubiquity of fabrics, and their intimate proximity to the human body, a team of researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US, has taken fabric research in a mind-boggling new direction, developing fabrics that can ‘hear’ sounds. Publishing in Nature, the researchers <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04476-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">describe their development</a> of a fabric yarn interwoven with an electrical, or ‘<a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/three-minute-thesis-piezoelectric-energy-harvesting-human-movements-will-power-smartphones/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">piezoelectric</a>’ fibre. The resulting fabric has ‘hearing’ capabilities, using a mechanism similar to that of the human ear: the fabric medium plays the part of the tympanic membrane, converting pressure waves at audible frequencies into mechanical vibrations, which can then be processed into electrical signals. Only a small quantity of the specialised piezoelectric fibre is needed to make fabric acoustically sensitive. A single fibre can be used to generate tens of square metres of fabric microphone, which is then capable of detecting even very weak sound signals, such as human speech. Outside of fabric research circles, the drive to develop t-shirts that can listen to you may seem baffling. But the researchers say this transformation of fabrics could have exciting and far-reaching consequences, with uses ranging from law enforcement to monitoring heart health. For example, the researchers trialled a shirt design that incorporated multiple fibres woven into different positions on the body, using the time delay between signal detection to allow the direction of incoming sounds to be pinpointed. They say that such a garment could be useful for police officers to narrow down the direction of a gunshot, or for individuals with hearing aids to listen in specific directions while removing background noise. And there are more potential uses for those with hearing difficulties. With simple modifications, the fabric can be made to broadcast audible sounds as well as detecting them, facilitating communication between deaf individuals when both are wearing the fabric. Two-way communication garments could even let us talk to each other underwater. Draped across the skin of your chest, the fabrics could also capture cardiac signals – turning your shirt into a stethoscope that could potentially monitor your heart and respiratory condition in a comfortable, continuous and long-term manner. And importantly, the fabric is still easy-care, able to withstand being chucked in the washing machine at the end of a long day of listening.  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=185469&title=Would+you+wear+a+t-shirt+that+could+listen+to+you%3F" width="1" height="1" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" />  <div id="contributors"> <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/materials/fabric-technology-fabric-that-can-hear-sound/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/jamie-priest" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jamie Priest</a>. Jamie Priest is a science journalist at Cosmos. She has a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology from the University of Adelaide. Image: Getty Images </div>

Technology

How super could soften the financial blow of coronavirus

With Australia now facing a severe economic (and health) crisis, there are calls to allow people to access their superannuation to obtain cash. That makes a lot of sense. Why have assets tied up to get a slightly better retirement outcome if the misery of current life can be softened by accessing those assets now? But allowing that could make the economic situation even worse. If super funds were to provide cash to their members, they have to get that cash. If they sell the assets they hold (shares, bonds and so on) that will further depress already depressed asset prices. The last thing we need is such sales solely for the purpose of obtaining cash, particularly if the assets have long term value. How to overcome it? It’s simple in principle, if a bit complicated in practice. A loan, rather than early access We could let people borrow against their super assets at a zero interest rate with repayments (to the super fund) only needing to be made after their income has returned to “normal”. Those repayments could be via a marginally higher tax rate on future earnings (much like we do in the case of higher education) or by voluntary contributions. But where would the super funds get the cash to distribute to members? Simple, via a novel form of <a href="https://theconversation.com/below-zero-is-reverse-how-the-reserve-bank-would-make-quantitative-easing-work-118843">quantitative easing</a>. The super funds could borrow from the Reserve Bank, using super fund assets as collateral (a practice known as repurchase agreements or repos). These specific repos would need to be at a zero interest rate, to match the zero interest rate being paid by members. The loans could be at a zero interest rate Given the current ultra-low level of interest rates, and with strong collateral making the repo loans virtually risk free, that is not unreasonable in the current troubled times. This solution has the advantage that super funds would not be dumping assets into already depressed markets. It would be no more costly to the government than giving cash hand-outs, and the money would be repaid. It should be able to be quickly implemented and would be targeted to those who needed it (albeit not to those with no super balances). It would enable the government to separately more directly help those without access to super balances. Importantly, while it would require temporary, crisis, adjustments to the super framework, it wouldn’t undermine the system. It’s doable, quickly… One problem is getting bipartisan support for enabling legislation – but one hopes that should be possible given the current crisis. At an operational level, what would super funds and the Reserve Bank need to do? First, super funds could give a special designation to those members receiving the interest free loans – switching their accounts into “drawdown mode” of the kind used for accounts in the the retirement phase, but with special conditions (involving the loan agreement) attached. That would enable cash to be withdrawn. Second, the Tax Office would be notified of those members and accounts so as to be able to implement repayments via annual tax calculations or via advising employers to withhold and transfer a larger sum as regular pay as you go tax amounts. The bank would need to introduce a new special form of zero interest rate, long term, repurchase agreement for super funds using super funds as collateral (up to a limit equal to amounts distributed to members). ..and better than borrowing against homes There are other ways for Australians to get cash by drawing on other assets, particularly equity in their homes. But at the current time, with uncertainty about what the crisis will do to housing prices, increasing indebtedness in this way with an interest cost doesn’t seem to be as good an option as borrowing against super. Desperate times call for innovative solutions. A “Super Access” scheme of the kind outlined here is worth considering. There would undoubtedly be practical complications involved in its implementation, but there do not appear to be obvious ones that would derail it. It wouldn’t help everyone, but it would help some people and enable government to target cash handouts and other strategies towards those unable to take advantage of it.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/134134/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kevin-davis-3497">Kevin Davis</a>, Professor of Finance, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-melbourne-722">University of Melbourne</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-super-could-soften-the-financial-blow-of-coronavirus-134134">original article</a>.

Retirement Income

New report finds some fabric softeners are no better than water

The feeling of clean <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/towels?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-link-towels&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank">towels</a> and clothing after getting tossed in the washing machine with fabric softener is a luxury like no other. However, a new performance review has discovered some popular commercial products perform no better than water or Epsom salts. Australian consumer watchdog CHOICE has put the brands to the test and have some uncovered some interesting facts. Of the 25 fabric softeners tested, Cuddly Concentrate Sensitive Hypoallergenic performed no better than water after receiving the lowest score at 42 per cent. Coles Fabric Conditioner Concentrate and Cuddly Concentrate Aromatherapy were barely better than a home recipe that included salts. Fluffy’s Concentrate, Concentrate Divine Blends and Cuddly Concentrate Antibacterial also performed at the same level as a home recipe. <img width="500" height="375" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/39753/a-in-text_500x375.jpg" alt="A In Text"/> The highest performing product was Soften Concentrated Fabric Softener which scored 79 per cent. However, despite the high score the softener is not suitable for “use on children's sleepwear or other garments labelled as flame resistant, as they may reduce flame resistance”. CHOICE content producer Ashley Iredale explained the group tested fabric softeners for softness and absorption performance. “You can tell from our results the softer the product, the less it will absorb,” he said. “Those softeners that claim to be ‘sensitive’ tend to reduce the amount of dye and fragrance, but they've still got chemicals in them that can cause irritation to some people.” “Most worryingly, fabric softeners also carry a warning not to use them on children's sleepwear or other flame-resistant fabrics, as they can reduce that flame resistance.” “Despite this, smiling happy babies feature heavily in fabric softener packaging and promotion.” Scroll through the gallery above to see the individual product reviews. To find your home essentials, including towels, <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/?utm_source=over60&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_medium=in-article-link-o60shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank">head to the Over60 Shop for high-quality offerings.</a> <a href="https://shop.oversixty.com.au/collections/bathroom?utm_source=Over60&utm_medium=in-article-banner-bathroom&utm_campaign=Over60Shop&utm_content=over60-shop" target="_blank"><img src="http://media.oversixty.com.au/images/EditorialAddon/201706_Shopnow_EditorialAddon_468x60_Bathroom.jpg" alt="Over60 Shop - Bathroom Range"/></a>

Home & Garden

Homemade laundry powder and fabric softener recipes

Want to save money while also being kind to the environment? Making your own laundry powder and fabric softener is a simple way to do it. Laundry powder You will need: <ul> <li>2.15kg Borax (found in larger supermarkets and hardware stores)</li> <li>1.81kg baking soda</li> <li>1.5kg washing soda (found in supermarkets)</li> <li>3 bars (425g) Dr Bronner’s soap (found at some health food stores or online)</li> <li>A large bucket or Esky</li> <li>An airtight container</li> <li>Food processor or grater.</li> </ul> How to: 1. Grate the bar of soap using a grater in your food processor or the fine side of a hand grater 2. Place the soap and the rest of the ingredients in a large bucket. 3. Store the mixture in an airtight container Note: To use, you will need just one tablespoon per wash. Fabric softener You will need: <ul> <li>16oz white vinegar</li> <li>Fresh herbs of your choice</li> <li>Essential oil of your choice</li> <li>16oz sealable glass bottle</li> </ul> How to: 1. Pour the vinegar into your glass bottle. 2. Add a bunch of your favourite herbs such as lavender. 3. Add 12 drops of your favourite essential oil – try lavender to match the fresh herbs. Note: To use, just add a quarter cup per wash. Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/homemade-cleaning-wipes/">How to make your own cleaning wipes</a> <a href="/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/add-colour-to-home-without-paint/">Add colour to your home (without painting)</a> <a href="/%20http:/www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/at-home/2015/08/uses-for-vinegar/">20 great uses for vinegar</a>

Home & Garden

How to watercolour your fabrics

You can transform any simple white fabric into works of art with this simple, easy watercolour technique. Create beautiful sheets, pillows, tablecloths… you name it! You will need: <ul> <li>Watercolour paints (does not have to be fabric paint)</li> <li>White fabric</li> <li>¼ cup fabric medium (Note: allows your paint to set on fabric)</li> <li>2 cups of water</li> <li>2 Paint brushes</li> </ul> How to: <ol> <li>Fill two cups half way with water. In one cup add a quarter cup of fabric medium. The other is for your paints.</li> <li>Wet your watercolour paints with your brush and paint your fabric. More water = less colour pigment. Experiment with your painting techniques. You can try wetting your fabric first for a more blended look.</li> <li>Using your other paintbrush, paint the entire canvas with fabric medium/water. This will help blend the colours.</li> <li>To set your wet, painted fabric, put it in the dryer on high or allow to air dry and iron.</li> <li>Check your fabric medium for wash/care instructions.</li> </ol> <a href="http://www.ellaclaireinspired.com/" target="_blank">Photo source: ellaclaireinspired</a> Related links: <a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/07/fun-welcome-mat-ideas/">7 simple DIY welcome mats to try</a> <a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/07/great-home-diy-tips/">Reinvent your home with just a bucket of dye and oodles of imagination</a> <a href="/lifestyle/diy/2015/06/dyed-napkins/">Beautiful DIY dyed napkins</a>

Home & Garden

How to make your own bunting

It’s coming up to that time of year again – party season. From summer BBQs to end of year parties and the big one… Christmas. Also great for decorating your grandchildren’s bedrooms, outdoor play areas or any room in the house that needs a little creative flair, bunting is also a great way to add a little handmade – and thus thoughtful – touch to a celebration.Before the idea of making something scares you off, let us tell you that bunting is much easier to make than you might think. The hardest part will be picking the fabrics, colours and font for your lettering.What you’ll need"<ul><li>Fabric </li><li>Scissors</li><li>Fabric glue</li><li>Ribbon (or extra fabric cut into a strip), 3 to 4cm wide</li></ul>Instructions:1. Cut out a template of a triangle (a good size is 15 centimeters across the top and then 20 centimeters down each of the diagonal lengths – but you can adjust to suit your needs). Next, place the template over your fabric and trace around to cut out your triangles. The amount of triangles you need to cut out will depend on what saying you want to spell out. Remember to leave a blank triangle in between each word. You will also need double the amount of triangles as you need a back and front piece of fabric for each triangle.2. Sew two triangles back to back so the pattern can be seen from every angle. It’s a nice idea to mix and match.3. Evenly space the triangles along your ribbon ensuring you leave some length at either end (either side of the triangles) so you can tie your bunting up when it’s done. Next glue each flag in place halfway along the width of the ribbon. Then you’ll want to fold the ribbon over so the flags sit in the fold and sew down.4. Customise your bunting with patterns, embellishments or by gluing letters onto the bunting flags to spell out celebratory words: Jeux de noel, Happy Birthday or your grandchild’s name.

Home & Garden

How to make your own bunting

Home & Garden

How to: homemade laundry powder and softener

With all of the cleaning products one needs to buy for the house the bill at the supermarket can add up quickly. One thing we cannot go with out – and that can also be quite pricey – is washing detergent and softener. While this might sound like a small saving, in today’s economic climate saving even a small amount of money each week is worth the effort – and the dollars will add up over a year.What's more is that using these items from around the home to make your washing needs will save the envorinment too. Here's our recipe for homemade washing powder and fabric softener.LAUNDRY POWDERIngredients<ul><li>1 bar of grated soap (a homemade laundry bar, Dr Bronner’s, Ivory, ZOTE – try and opt for something natural with no nasties)</li><li>1 cup Borax</li><li>1 cup baking soda</li><li>2 cups washing soda</li><li>A large bucket</li><li>An airtight container</li></ul>Instructions1. Process (or grate) the bar of soap bar until it is fine.2. Carefully mix everything together in the large bucket.3. Transfer to an airtight container and voila you’re done. Use one tablespoon per wash.FABRIC SOFTENERIngredients<ul><li>White distilled vinegar</li><li>A bunch of your favourite fresh herbs of your choice (think lavender, rosemary, chamomile, lemon myrtle)</li><li>Essential oil of your choice</li><li>0.5 to 1 litre sealable glass bottle</li></ul>Instructions:1. Pour vinegar into glass bottle.2. Add in the herbs.3. Pour in about ten drops of your favourite essentials oil – think about a complementary scent to your herbs. Voila, you’re done. You just need to add ¼ cup to your wash.

Home & Garden

How to: homemade laundry powder and softener

Home & Garden

Inside the most eccentric yet charming London hotel

<img width="300" height="225" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1486/charlotte-street-hotel-front_300x225.jpg" alt="Charlotte Street Hotel Front (1)" style="float: left;">When it comes to interior inspiration, one of the best places to look for ideas are hotels. Especially those which have been designed by famous interior designers. If you haven't already heard of Tim and Kit Hemp, let us introduce you. The owners of Firmdale Hotels - with boutique properties in London and New York - Kit has received many awards for the design of her hotels, including the Queen's Award for Enterprise three times. From her hotels you can expect individuality, with each room and space having been uniquely designed. The spaces reflect a modern, English style. Think English fabrics with a modern spin via bold colours, exaggerated details and enlarged prints. You can expect many traditional English touches - chesterfield furniture, wallpapered walls and a townhouse feel. Here we leave you with some of our favourite rooms from her hotels. Be warned, these images may urge you to redecorate! Charlotte Street Hotel London<img width="300" height="240" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1487/charlotte-street-hotel-pruple_300x240.jpg" alt="Charlotte Street Hotel Pruple"><img width="232" height="217" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1488/charlotte-street-hotel-purple-2.jpg" alt="Charlotte Street Hotel Purple 2">Soho Hotel London<img width="300" height="205" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1489/soho-hotel-london_300x205.jpg" alt="Soho Hotel London"><img width="300" height="222" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1490/soho-hotel-london-bed_300x222.jpg" alt="Soho Hotel London Bed">Crosby Street Hotel New York<img width="300" height="225" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1492/crosby-street-hotel-deluxe-room-r-r2_300x225.jpg" alt="Crosby -street -hotel -deluxe -room -R-r2"><img width="300" height="300" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/1493/crosby-street-hotel-new-york_300x300.jpg" alt="Crosby Street Hotel New York">

Home & Garden

Our Partners

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Contests

Entertainment

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Property

Games

Information

Keep up to date

Search

The cost-of-living crisis is hitting hard. Here are 3 ways to soften the blow

“That’s insulting”: Brittany Higgins grilled over "fabricated" allegations

DIY fabric-covered notebooks

Bringing art into public spaces can improve the social fabric of a city

Would you wear a t-shirt that could listen to you?

How super could soften the financial blow of coronavirus

New report finds some fabric softeners are no better than water

Homemade laundry powder and fabric softener recipes

How to watercolour your fabrics

How to make your own bunting

How to make your own bunting

How to: homemade laundry powder and softener

How to: homemade laundry powder and softener

Inside the most eccentric yet charming London hotel

Our Partners