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Police share wild seatbelt pic after fining driver for bizarre DIY fix

A driver has copped a $387 fine over their bizarre seatbelt fix during a random stationary test at Richmond in Sydney's northwest. A photo shared by NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol showed the shocking state of the driver's seatbelt, which was tattered and held together by duct tape. The police department have warned other drivers to make sure their seatbelts are in good condition, otherwise they too might cop a fine and demerit points. "Seatbelts help to save lives, except for this one...." they wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday. "Hawkesbury Highway Patrol were recently conducting random stationary testing on Londonderry Road at Richmond when they spoke with a driver about his seatbelt. "Not only was the seatbelt not being worn, an inspection of the seatbelt found it to be dangerously defective," they added. "He was issued a defect notice and infringement in the amount of $387 and three demerit points. Please ensure your seatbelts don't look like this." <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2024/03/SeatbeltNSWPolice.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Many commenters were baffled as to how the vehicle passed the eSafety check, also known as a pink slip inspection, which is required for vehicles over five years old in NSW to be deemed roadworthy. "And who passed the Pink Slip? That’s where I’d be heading," one wrote. "I wonder who did the rego check on this vehicle," another added. "How does it even get to that stage," a third questioned, while others agreed that the seatbelt was no longer safe. Images: Getty / Traffic and Highway Patrol Command, NSW Police Force

Legal

How does Australia’s health system stack up internationally? Not bad, if you’re willing to wait for it

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-duckett-10730">Stephen Duckett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> When things are going bad in the health system, we are reassured we’ve got one of the best health systems in the world. But we’re rarely told where we actually stand relative to others. A <a href="https://www.oecd.org/health/health-at-a-glance/">new report</a> from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) shows where Australia is doing relatively well – and not so well. The report is more than 200 pages with dozens of charts and tables. Here we highlight five charts showing Australia’s relative performance. Overall, Australia’s health system performs well, but can come after long waits. And our use of antibiotics is trending in the wrong direction. <h2>1. We spend less than average but live longer than average</h2> Despite the rhetoric about the unsustainability of the health system, Australia performs well. When mapping health expenditure against life expectancy, Australia (marked by the red dot) sits in the best performing quadrant – and has done so for the past decade. <iframe id="tc-infographic-996" class="tc-infographic" style="border: none;" src="https://cdn.theconversation.com/infographics/996/32f7548791bf05b7559d74976bfa0b955319adc5/site/index.html" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> In contrast, the United States is stuck in the worst performing quadrant for the whole period – significantly higher spending than other countries with worse life expectancy. The life expectancy measure is used here but it involves an implicit assumption that the principal impact on life expectancy is from the health system, which is not really the case. Nevertheless, it is a good measure of overall system performance and combined with spending provides a good measure. <h2>2. Most Australians rate their health as good or very good</h2> The vast majority of Australians (about 85%) rate their health as good or very good, with Australia performing better on this metric than most other similar countries. Often good health is conflated with good health care, and the data show that Australia also has more doctors per head than other countries. <iframe id="Ygo7Z" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Ygo7Z/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> The founding charter of the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised that health is not just the absence of disease, but a “<a href="https://www.who.int/about/accountability/governance/constitution">state of complete physical, mental and social well-being</a>”. This points to a flaw in the nexus between good health and more health professionals. The WHO focus on well-being helps to explain why it is not surprising that, looking across countries, the number of doctors doesn’t appear to be a key determinant of performance on self-rated health. <h2>3. It’s harder to get a bed in aged care</h2> About 30% of people in OECD countries are over 65, while the Australian proportion is about 20%. The proportion of over-65s is rising everywhere. A minority of older Australians (14%) use aged care, with most of these using home care. However, monitoring access to residential aged care (represented here by the number of long-term care beds per thousand population over 65) might act as a “canary in the coal mine”, highlighting where access problems exist. <iframe id="lBe4O" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/lBe4O/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> In Australia, access to aged care beds is falling, by about 27% between 2011 and 2021. We started in the middle of the pack so this is a concern and probably contributes to more Australians being stuck in acute hospitals, rather than being in more appropriate accommodation in residential aged care. This “<a href="https://www.ama.com.au/articles/hospital-exit-block-symptom-sick-system">exit block</a>” in turn leads to problems of ambulance ramping. <h2>4. Australians wait too long for public hospital hip replacements</h2> Most publicly funded health systems are characterised by long waiting times for access to planned procedures such as hip replacements. Some waiting is to be expected as part of efficient management of operating theatre scheduling. But long waits, especially when the person is in pain, reflect poorly on management of the public hospital system. <iframe id="LNntD" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LNntD/2/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe> The data shows that almost two-thirds of people waiting for hip replacement surgery in Australia waited more than three months. This is marginally worse than the OECD average. Unfortunately, our performance is deteriorating. A number of states, such as <a href="https://www.health.vic.gov.au/planned-surgery-reform-blueprint">Victoria</a>, have developed strategies to improve the performance of the planned procedure system, or have identified opportunities for <a href="https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/about+us/about+sa+health/reporting+and+advisory+groups/health+performance+council/health+performance+council+reports">efficiency improvements in public hospitals</a> which would help address this issue. Although it’s understandable that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080122011554">planned procedures were affected</a> by the first few years of the COVID pandemic, governments should have adapted their funding and provision systems to bring waiting times back to the pre-pandemic levels. <h2>5. Our use of antibiotics is going in the wrong direction</h2> Antibiotics have saved millions of lives. But public health experts have long recognised the emerging <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance">problem of antimicrobial resistance</a>, where inappropriate use of these drugs can lead to their reduced effectiveness over time. Worldwide campaigns to promote appropriate use of antibiotics are bearing fruit and across the OECD, use of antibiotics is going down. Unfortunately, Australia’s trend is in the reverse direction. <iframe id="AK4GO" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: none;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/AK4GO/1/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0"></iframe><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/218031/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/stephen-duckett-10730">Stephen Duckett</a>, Honorary Enterprise Professor, School of Population and Global Health, and Department of General Practice, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</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/how-does-australias-health-system-stack-up-internationally-not-bad-if-youre-willing-to-wait-for-it-218031">original article</a>.

Caring

Can’t afford a gym membership or fitness class? 3 things to include in a DIY exercise program

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lewis-ingram-1427671">Lewis Ingram</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-bennett-1053061">Hunter Bennett</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a> With the rising cost of living, gyms memberships and fitness classes are becoming increasingly unaffordable. But the good news is you can make <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28655559/">just as much progress at home</a>. Cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength and flexibility are the <a href="https://www.acsm.org/docs/default-source/publications-files/acsms-exercise-testing-prescription.pdf?sfvrsn=111e9306_4">most important</a> components of fitness. And each can be trained with little or no equipment. Let’s look at why – and how – to fit them into your DIY exercise program. <h2>1. Cardiovascular endurance</h2> Cardiovascular endurance exercise (or “cardio”) forces the heart and lungs to increase the supply of oxygen to the working muscles. Heart disease is a <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/the-top-10-causes-of-death">leading cause of death</a> and cardiovascular endurance exercise helps keep the heart healthy. The best thing about cardio is you don’t need any fancy equipment to do it. Walking, jogging and running are great options, as are cycling, skipping rope and swimming. There are two approaches to maximise cardiovascular endurance: <ul> <li> <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8897392/">high-intensity interval training</a> (HIIT) – short bouts of hard exercise (around 80% to 95% of your maximum heart rate) interspersed with lower intensity recovery periods (around 40% to 50% of your maximum heart rate) </li> <li> <a href="http://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26664271/">low-intensity steady-state</a> (LISS) exercise – aerobic activity performed continuously at a low-to-moderate intensity (around 50% to 65% of your maximum heart rate) for an extended duration. </li> </ul> Both are great options. While high-intensity interval training can be more time efficient, low-intensity steady-state training might be more enjoyable and easier to sustain long-term. No matter what you choose, <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity">aim for</a> a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity cardiovascular exercise each week. For example, you could try 30 minutes, five days per week of low intensity cardio, or 25 minutes, three days per week of high-intensity activity, or a combination of the two. How do you know if you’re exercising at the right intensity? Smart watches that measure heart rate can help to monitor intensity. Or you can rely on the good old-fashioned <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25536539/">talk test</a>. During low-intensity activity, you should be able to speak in full sentences. Conversely, short phrases (initially) or single words (towards the end) should be all that’s manageable during high-intensity exercise. <h2>2. Muscle strength</h2> Next is muscle strength, which we train through resistance exercise. This is important for bone health, balance and metabolic health, especially as we age and our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30276173/">muscle mass and strength declines</a>. Aim for two days per week of whole-body resistance exercise performed at a moderate or <a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/physical-activity">greater intensity</a>. Try to build two weekly sessions that target the major muscle groups. This could include: <ul> <li>squats – lower to the ground from standing by bending the hips, knees, and ankles while keeping the chest up tall before returning to standing by straightening the hips, knees and ankles</li> </ul> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.physio-pedia.com/Hip_Hinge">hinges</a> – fold forward at the hips by pushing your bottom back to the wall behind you, keeping your back straight. A slight bend in the knees is fine but aim to keep your shins vertical </li> <li> <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7196742/">push-ups</a> – if a full push-up is too difficult, you can place your hands on a raised surface such as a step or a chair </li> <li> horizontal and vertical pull ups – using something like a portable chin up bar, which you can buy from sports supply stores </li> <li> vertical pushes – pushing an object (or weight) vertically from the top of your chest to an overhead position. </li> </ul> Once you have selected your exercises, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35873210/">perform</a> 2–3 sets of 8–12 repetitions at a moderate to greater intensity, with about 90 seconds rest between each set. As you progress, continue to challenge your muscles by adding an extra set to each exercise, or including dumbbells, changing body position or wearing a backpack with weights. The goal should be to progress slightly each session. However, if you have any underlying health conditions, disabilities, or are unsure how best to do this, see an exercise physiologist or physiotherapist. <h2>3. Flexibility</h2> Improved flexibility can <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3273886/">increase your range of motion</a> and improve your ability to manage daily life. While we don’t know the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3273886/">best means of increasing flexibility</a>, the most basic and readily accessible is static <a href="https://www.topendsports.com/testing/flex.htm">stretching</a>. Here, we lengthen the muscle – for example, the hamstrings, until we feel a “stretching” sensation. Hold that position for 15–30 seconds. While the precise intensity of this stretching sensation <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26347668/">remains elusive</a>, <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29506306/">around 5–10 minutes</a> per week per <a href="https://exrx.net/Lists/Directory">muscle group</a>, spread across five days, seems to provide the best results. <h2>How to stick with it?</h2> The best exercise is the one that gets done. So, whatever you choose, make sure you enjoy it. After all, it’s about creating an ongoing commitment to exercise that will deliver long-term health benefits. It’s also important to ensure you’re ready to exercise, especially if you have any underlying health issues, have been previously inactive, or are unsure how to start. A <a href="https://www.ausactive.org.au/apss">pre-exercise screening</a> can help you to determine whether you should see a doctor or allied health professional before starting an exercise program and for guidance on the next steps. <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/206204/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/lewis-ingram-1427671">Lewis Ingram</a>, Lecturer in Physiotherapy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/hunter-bennett-1053061">Hunter Bennett</a>, Lecturer in Exercise Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/saravana-kumar-181105">Saravana Kumar</a>, Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-south-australia-1180">University of South Australia</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/cant-afford-a-gym-membership-or-fitness-class-3-things-to-include-in-a-diy-exercise-program-206204">original article</a>.

Body

$35,000 home comes with a catch

Etsy is an online marketplace best known for its handmade trinkets and creative wares, but now, the site has decided to broaden its horizons and try its hand at selling houses too. A new listing from the ‘store’ Modular Home Direct is offering eager homeowners and passionate crafters the chance to own a 432-square-foot tiny house for just $35,306.09 ($22,896 USD). However, the property comes with a catch: its loving owner must construct it by themselves. The listing’s description declares it to be a “beautiful modern low cost home” that comes with “doors, windows, insulated wall panels, flooring, baseboard trims, drywall, insulated roof, plumbing and electrical hook ups”. Furniture, however, was not included. According to the American real-estate company Zillow, the home’s asking price of $22,896 USD is less than one tenth of the average cost of a home in the United States (~$346,270 USD). The flatpack property is manufactured by Modular Home Direct, the same company behind the listing, and features all the key necessities in a tiny home as well as a few bonuses - a bedroom, a bathroom, a kitchen, a living room, loft, and even front and rear porches. And for anyone looking to take on the challenge - though the offering is limited to the United States due to shipping logistics - there are a few things to consider. For as well as the base construction, the home will also require the installation of electricity and plumbing. According to the Daily Mail, the US-based property site Home Advisor has estimated that these costs would see potential owners forking out anywhere between $550 to $2,3000 USD on just the property’s electrical wiring, while plumbing could start at around $360 and could reach up to $2,000. Modular Home Direct aren’t the first to try and capitalise on the growing tiny house movement, as people all over the world seek alternative housing options as real estate prices continue to soar. And while some online weren’t thrilled with the idea, others were onboard, though most seemed to agree that the price was too good to be true, and likely would increase as more costs came to light. “The cost of materials in a house is much less than the ground it sits on,” a Daily Mail reader said. “By the time you buy the land, go through the permitting process, bring utilities in.. the cost gets closer to an established home.” “They have an interesting website, if you're handy it could be a diy project. My brother in law has a diy log cabin, family pitched in to build it, it's very nice,” one shared. “I think my husband and I could build this. We both know electrical and plumbing... only bump would be the heat pump”. “You have to buy the land, buy the house, put the house together (or pay someone to put it together), and pay someone to hook up the electricity and water. You'd probably have to pay for building permits and inspections,” someone said, before noting that “so once you've done all that, it would probably be easier just to buy a move-in ready house.” And as another wrote, “like everything else meant to be affordable, it will soon cost $109K when it catches on.” Images: Etsy

Real Estate

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

19 handy uses for toothpaste that have nothing to do with your teeth

<h2>Remove scuffs from shoes</h2> A little toothpaste does an amazing job of removing scuffs from leather shoes. Just squirt a dab on the scuffed area and rub with a soft cloth. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. The leather will look like new. <h2>Clean your piano keys</h2> Has tickling the ivories left them a bit dingy? Clean them up with toothpaste and a toothbrush, then wipe them down with a damp cloth. Makes sense, since ivory is essentially elephant teeth. However, toothpaste will work just as well on modern pianos that usually have keys covered with plastic rather than real ivory. <h2>Clean your sneakers</h2> Want to clean and whiten the rubber part of your sneakers? Get out the non-gel toothpaste and an old toothbrush. After scrubbing, clean off the toothpaste with a damp cloth. <h2>Clean your clothes iron</h2> The mild abrasive in non-gel toothpaste is just the ticket for scrubbing the gunk off the bottom plate of your clothes iron. Apply the toothpaste to the cool iron, scrub with a rag, then rinse clean. <h2>Polish a diamond ring</h2> Put a little toothpaste on an old toothbrush and use it to make your diamond ring sparkle instead of your teeth. Clean off the residue with a damp cloth. <h2>Deodorise baby bottles</h2> Baby bottles inevitably pick up a sour-milk smell. Toothpaste will remove the odour in a jiffy. Just put some on your bottle brush and scrub away. Be sure to rinse thoroughly. <h2>Prevent fogged goggles</h2> Whether you are doing woodworking or going skiing or scuba diving, nothing is more frustrating (and sometimes dangerous) than fogged goggles. Prevent the problem by coating the goggles with toothpaste and then wiping them off. <h2>Prevent bathroom mirrors from fogging</h2> Ouch! You cut yourself shaving and it’s no wonder – you can’t see your face clearly in that fogged-up bathroom mirror. Next time, coat the mirror with non-gel toothpaste and wipe it off before you get in the shower. When you get out, the mirror won’t be fogged. <h2>Shine bathroom and kitchen chrome</h2> They make commercial cleaners with a very fine abrasive designed to shine up chrome, but if you don’t have any handy, the fine abrasive in non-gel toothpaste works just as well. Just smear on the toothpaste and polish with a soft, dry cloth. <h2>Clean the bathroom sink</h2> Non-gel toothpaste works as well as anything else to clean the bathroom sink. The tube’s sitting right there, so just squirt some in, scrub with a sponge, and rinse it out. Bonus: the toothpaste will kill any odours emanating from the drain trap. <h2>Remove crayon from walls</h2> Did crayon-toting kids get creative on your wall? Roll up your sleeves and grab a tube of non-gel toothpaste and a rag or – better yet – a scrub brush. Squirt the toothpaste on the wall and start scrubbing. The fine abrasive in the toothpaste will rub away the crayon every time. Rinse the wall with water. <h2>Remove ink or lipstick stains from fabric</h2> Oh no, a pen opened up in the pocket of your favourite shirt! This may or may not work, depending on the fabric and the ink, but it is certainly worth a try before consigning the shirt to the scrap bin. Put non-gel toothpaste on the stain and rub the fabric vigorously together. Rinse with water. Did some of the ink come out? Great! Repeat the process a few more times until you get rid of all the ink. The same process works for lipstick <h2>Remove watermarks from furniture</h2> You leave coasters around. But some people just won’t use them. To get rid of those telltale watermark rings left by sweating beverages, gently rub some non-gel toothpaste on the wood with a soft cloth. Then wipe it off with a damp cloth and let it dry before applying furniture polish. <h2>Clear up pimples</h2> Dab a bit of non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste on the offending spot, and it should be dried up by morning. The toothpaste dehydrates the pimple and absorbs the oil. This remedy works best on pimples that have come to a head. Caution: this remedy may be irritating to sensitive skin. <h2>Clean smells from hands</h2> The ingredients in toothpaste that deodorise your mouth will work on your hands as well. If you’ve gotten into something stinky, wash your hands with toothpaste, and they’ll smell great. <h2>Stop bug bites from itching</h2> Put toothpaste on your bug bite to keep it from itching. Dab a dime-sized amount onto your bug bite. This method also helps to cool down burns on your skin. <h2>Remove a stain from the carpet</h2> Rub toothpaste into the stain on the carpet with a toothbrush or sponge. Rinse with water and repeat until the stain comes up. <h2>Clean your foggy headlights</h2> Make the headlights on your car shine like new. Put toothpaste onto a sponge and scrub your headlight in circular motions. Wipe the toothpaste off with a damp cloth. <h2>Remove small scratches from your phone screen</h2> Rub toothpaste on the front or back of your phone (wherever there are scratches). The toothpaste will work to reduce the look of the scratches and make your phone screen look much better. Image credit: Shutterstock This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/food-home-garden/diy-tips/19-handy-uses-for-toothpaste-that-have-nothing-to-do-with-your-teeth" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home Hints & Tips

Make your bedroom a place you’ll never want to leave

Not all of us can pop into a local homeware store and score a $1,000 bed spread, but there are some little changes you can make to create the look of a super luxe bedroom. 1. Pillows, pillows, pillows! Plump, over-stuffed pillows are what you see at fancy hotels, so bring the same look home. Overstuff your decorative throw cushions to give them a more sophisticated look. Pile on more pillows with a colour scheme of your choice and transform your bed. 2. Make a blanket statement Luxury bedding isn’t attainable for all, so focus on a throw blanket instead. Choose a nice colour, one that suits your pillows and other decor and drape it off the end of your bed. It will take the focus off your duvet. 3. Style your bed side table Don’t let it evolve into a junk drawer! Empty your dining classes and clear things like hand creams and loose papers. To make the room more glamorous, get a new lamp, add in a plant and think about hanging something small in the empty wall space above the table. 4. Upgrade your mirror Try an antique-inspired brass mirror or one with an interesting shape to draw attention to it. There are also mirrors with a shelf attached, so you’ll gain a little vertical storage where you can place candles, indoor plants or whatever decor you fancy. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

Stop making these 5 living room mistakes

A living room should be a welcoming place to entertain guests and a space where you can go to unwind. Creating a comfortable and stylish living room doesn’t have to involve any manual labour or cost a fortune, a few simple tweaks can make a world of difference. 1. Furniture placement If you tend to push furniture up against all the walls of your living room, you’re making it look smaller rather than larger. Give the room the illusion of more space by pulling furniture away from the walls. Plan your living room around the scale of the room, it will open it up and become a place you’ll never want to leave! 2. Too much clutter Clutter makes a house a home but storage is key when it comes to keeping a tidy living room. Pack away what you can to keep your tables relatively tidy. Arrange flowers, books, candles or house plants however you like to create an inviting atmosphere. 3. TV placement The optimal place for your TV to sit is on a blank wall that doesn’t block window light. If you can, mount your TV on the wall for a cleaner look, otherwise have an appropriately sized TV unit to put it on. 4. Using the wrong rugs Rugs are a must for a stylish living room but they need to look like they belong! Small rugs can imbalance the room, so go for a big rug your furniture can sit on top of. 5. Lack of colour Many living rooms lack colour, not just the walls, but the lack of artwork, rugs and cushions. Bright pieces add life to a room. Hang artwork, get colourful pillows, plants, or other clutter to spruce up the room - just not too much! Image credit: Shutterstock

Home & Garden

Creative ways to use leftover eggshells

Eggshells are surprisingly versatile, so you may want to keep them around. There are various ways you can use the shells around your home and garden! <h3 dir="ltr" role="presentation">1. Fertilise plants</h3> There are plenty of natural sources you can use, like compost and manure, but you can also use eggshells! Crushed eggshells are a great source of calcium, which is needed for healthy plant growth. Rinse out the eggshells, let them dry, then crush them into small pieces and sprinkle them in the garden soil. They will break down over time, providing an excellent source of calcium for your plants. <h3 dir="ltr">2. Feed the birds</h3> Just like plants, and us, birds rely on calcium for strength, and if you’re a bird fan, then this is a sure way to keep them coming back. They’re a great addition to a bird’s diet, especially during nesting season. Rinse out the eggshells and let them dry, then crush them into small pieces and sprinkle them around the garden for birds to find. <h3 dir="ltr">3. Make a scouring powder</h3> You can use eggshells to make your own scouring powder to clean pots and pans. Rinse out the shells and let them dry, then crush or grind them. Mix the crushed eggshells with baking soda to create a natural powder strong enough to remove tough stains and grime. Don’t egg-nor the power of eggshells! Image credit: Shutterstock

Home & Garden

Creative ways to store more in your tiny bathroom

Having a small bathroom doesn’t necessarily have to mean you don’t have enough space, you just have to think outside the box! Getting creative with storage can make the smallest of bathrooms look stylish. 1. Towel racks Using vertical space will help to clear out storage spaces built into your bathroom. Invest in a wall-mounted rack for towels, using bright-coloured towels can add a pop of colour to the room as well. 2. Basket Shelves Mount a set of baskets on your bathroom wall, you can keep cosmetics here or some candles and an indoor plant for decoration. 3. Adhesive hooks Make use of the space behind your bathroom door. Attach adhesive hooks to the inside of the door to store hair dryers, brushes and accessories. 4. Roll-away cart If you’ve got a really cluttered bathroom, use a wheeled cart to store your soaps, lotions, shampoo and conditioner. It saves a cluttered sink and you can roll it in and out for convenience. 5. Dual purpose mirror A two-in-one mirror can be a lifesaver for small spaces. Store your cosmetics, health care products and toothbrushes behind a stylish mirror. Don't think you can't have it all in a tiny space! With a creative mindset, you can fit all of your goodies into your bathroom. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

5 DIY ideas for your home that are easier than you think

If you want to spruce up your home without breaking the bank, check out these home upgrades you can achieve all by yourself. 1. Feature wall If you’re looking for a pop of colour or have a wall in need of some TLC, try a feature wall. You can do this with paint, but if you want a wall that looks like it’s been renovated by professionals, try covering it with plywood panels. Arrange the plywood panels however you like on your wall and secure them with a nail gun, paint over the top of it and transform your room! 2. Wall storage Invest in some wooden hooks to hang items on. Use items such as scarves, indoor plants, hats and bags for decoration and paint the hooks for a pop of colour. 3. Gallery wall Dedicate a wall for paintings. It’s a good idea to pick artworks that are similar and will complement each other. Choose the same frame style so they all match, and line them up on the wall. 4. Style your bathroom It is possible to transform your bathroom even if you’re less than handy! Think of a colour scheme and get matching towels, soaps, and mats. You can also make other simple changes by matching towel rails, door knobs and taps to bring the room together. 5. Paint your door Totally transform your home with a new coat of paint on your front door. Bright colours make for a great feature and a stylish new front door will leave a lasting impression on guests. Use water-based gloss or semi-gloss paint for easy cleaning and durability. Paint your door in its frame or lay it on the floor and remember to remove knobs and hinges. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home Hints & Tips

5 tips for gardeners

When you first start gardening, do your research! Different plants require different maintenance, but here are some simple tips to help you get the garden of your dreams. 1. Prune Not sure when to prune? Prune spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs and large flowers such as climbing roses. Prune immediately after the blooms fade; if you prune summer plants in autumn or winter, you’re removing the flower buds for the next Spring. 2. Growing season Learn how long the growing season for your plant is, not all plants bloom in Spring! Do your research, and if you want to start small, start growing plants indoors to avoid overgrowing them. 3. Pay attention to the light Research how much light your plant needs. If you’re growing vegetables, get them into a spot where they will receive 8 hours of direct sunlight every day. Most veggies need full sun to produce the best harvest. 4. Soil trumps fertiliser Of course, fertilizer is a great tool for growing plants, but what you really need to pay attention to for optimal growth is quality soil. You can try organic fertilizers like compost and well-aged manure to your soil. The best soil structure is crumbly, easy to dig, happily receives water and is loose enough to provide oxygen for plant roots. 5. Avoid digging or planting in wet soil Wait until the soil is crumbly and no longer forms a ball when you squeeze it in your hands. It doesn’t have to be bone dry, but just enough moisture to allow your plant to breathe and for you to plant them optimally. Image credit: Getty

Home & Garden

3 simple DIY tips to spruce up your home with money left over

With the cost of living… need I say more? Well, with the “price of life” going up, everyone is looking for more affordable ways to spruce up their home. Here are some of the best tips for those looking to decorate with a little change left over. 1. Decoupage an old table to personalise it All you really need is a standard wooden table, some newspaper cutouts or patterns, and no matter the colour or stain - it will work. First, sand the table down and then apply the decoupage glue to the table and the back of the paper. From there, just stick the paper down in the desired pattern and smooth it down with something flat. About half an hour later, apply the glue directly onto the paper and maybe another layer once this has dried - that’s it! 2. Upcycle your furniture with marble effect sheets While marble bank accounts can hurt the wallet, up-cycling your furniture affordable to get that look is easy enough using self-adhesive plastic sheets Start by placing the sheet on the top of the table and tuck the ends underneath. Make sure you have a tight fit by using a credit card to flattest and then smooth the edges, and that’s it! Enjoy your stylish new table. 3. Replace silicone around the house The silicone around your shower and sink will deteriorate over time, sometimes so much so that it will get damaged or break off. Before playing a new layer on top, remove all the old silicone beforehand. Make sure to clear any residue that has been left behind and clean the area with denatured alcohol. Before applying the new seal, bring some tape and place it around the edges you want to reseal. Now, using sealant, slowly close the gap and smoothen the new finish with a caulking tool. Image credit: Shutterstock

Home & Garden

Kate and Wills lead star-studded BAFTA red carpet

Prince William and Kate Middleton have lead the star-studded red carpet at the annual BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Awards. Stepping out in style at London's Royal Albert Hall, the royal couple began the precession of the who's who of Britain's entertainment industry. Prince William, who has served as the president of BAFTA since 2010, donned a sleek black, crushed velvet suit, while Kate paired a one-shoulder white Alexander McQueen gown with black opera gloves. They were joined on the carpet by stars of the big and small screens, such as Cate Blanchett, Emma Thompson, Julianne Moore, Michelle Yeoh, Catherine Zeta-Jones and many more. Inside the awards, Aussie actress Cate Blanchett took home the Best Actress award for her role in the film Tár, fuelling speculation the role will also land her an Oscar win later this year. Meanwhile Austin Butler beat out both Colin Farrell and Brendan Fraser to win Best Leading Actor for his portrayal of Elvis. The coveted Best Film award went to All Quiet on the Western Front, while The Banshees of Inisherin won the award for Outstanding British Film. Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

13 budget beauty tricks

There are plenty of beauty tips that are not worth listening to. Who actually throws out their mascara after three months? Do you really need to buy enough make-up brushes to rival an artist's palette? And will putting strawberries all over your teeth really give you a smile to rival Lucille Ball’s? It’s all a bit too hard. Use these simple, DIY tricks to save your time, money and effort. <ol> <li>To avoid lipstick on your teeth, after applying your lippie stick your finger in your mouth and pull it out. This way your finger will take the excess product, not your teeth. </li> <li>Concoct your own plumping lip venom (and save yourself $30) by adding a drop of cinnamon or peppermint oil to your lip colour.</li> <li>Vaseline costs you pocket change and has to be the most hard-working beauty products out there. Apply to lashes before bed to make them grow longer and thicker over time, use it to tame unruly eyebrows, apply to pulse points before spritzing your perfume to make the scent last longer, combine with sea salt to make a scrub and mix with lipstick to make a subtle cream blush.</li> <li>Don't have a curler? Give yourself groovy, long-lasting waves by flat-ironing your braids with your hair straightener. Avoid making the braids too tight lest you like the crimped look.</li> <li>Don't listen to Sally Hansen when she says you need to buy cuticle cream. Eye cream applied to your nail beds serves the same purpose.</li> <li>While towels cause static and friction, drying your hair with a cotton T-shirt eliminates the frizz factor completely.</li> <li>A light dusting of baby powder between coats of mascara creates fullness you have not dared to even dream of.</li> <li>There's nothing worse than blotches of dry shampoo that could be mistaken for dandruff. Always apply it the night before, not the morning of, to prevent product build-up.</li> <li>Want to give your lipstick long-wear power? After applying, hold a tissue over your lips and lightly dust with translucent powder to set the colour.</li> <li>Got a spot of foundation on your white shirt? A touch of shaving cream on a damp cloth should clear it right up.</li> <li>You can reduce hair static and fly-aways by slicking it with a dryer sheet.</li> <li>There's no tougher wait than the time it takes your conditioner to work or your manicure to dry. Cut that drying time in half by dunking your nails in a bowl of cold water for two minutes shortly after painting.</li> <li>Had a messy experience with leaky products in your suitcase? Hasn't everyone? Just unscrew the caps, place a layer of cling film over the top and screw them back to prevent any liquid from ruining your trip.</li> </ol> Written by Kathleen Lee Joe. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stuff.co.nz.</a> Image credits: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

How to make your own mosquito trap

Nothing ruins a good time like a swarm of hungry mosquitos. Keep the outdoor fun going longer with this easy DIY mosquito trap. You will need: <ul> <li>An empty 2 litre plastic bottle</li> <li>A marker</li> <li>A box cutter</li> <li>A tape measurer</li> <li>¼ cup of brown sugar</li> <li>1 cup of hot water</li> <li>1 gram of yeast</li> <li>Duct/electrical tape</li> </ul> How to: 1. About 10cm from the lid, make a mark around the bottle. 2. Using your box cutter, cut the bottle in half at your mark. 3. In a saucepan, boil your water until steaming. 4. In the lower half of the bottle, add brown sugar and boiling water. Let cool. 5. Once cooled, add yeast. Stirring isn’t necessary. 6. Take the top of the bottle, flipping it upside down, and fit it into the base of the bottle, leaving enough room above the mixture for mosquitos to enter. If there isn’t, pour out some mixture. 7. Use tape to secure the cut edges at the top. 8. Place wherever your mosquito problem resides. The mosquitos will be attracted to the sugar mixture and not be able to fly back out of the trap. Image: Getty Images

Domestic Travel

Seven simple ways to save money now!

Could you do with a few extra dollars in your pocket each week? These handy hints make it all too easy. A few extra dollars in the kitty each week would be handy for any of us. It’s possible! It’s just a matter of finding ways to trim the fat on your expenses and stretch your dollar further. We’ve compiled some simple tricks to start today to get money in your pocket fast. They’re achievable for everyone! Grow your own food Save at the supermarket by growing your own fruit and vegies. If you have a bit of extra space out in the backyard, why not utilise it with an apple tree, a few vegies and if you have the room, why not some chickens? For beginners, mint, silverbeet, leafy greens, zucchini and cherry tomatoes are great because they don’t need too much love and attention to grow. If you’d like to start out small, a lovely planter box against the kitchen windowsill to grow herbs could be a good starting point. Basil, oregano and parsley are all simple to start with and can all be grown indoors during winter. By growing your own food you’ll save on your weekly grocery bill and be engaging your mind and moving the body. <a href="http://littleveggiepatchco.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Little Veggie Patch Co</a> is a Melbourne-based business dedicated to helping people grow food. Their website offers some great videos on useful tips and tricks to help you grow a vegie patch in no time. Shop online Not only could you bag yourself some great bargains that you might not be able to find in a store, you can also cut out impulse buying. This can save you a lot at the supermarket if you’re a shopper who loves to buy what’s on special. While you may think you’re saving money by doing this, you’re actually just buying items you may not have necessarily bought if you were buying your groceries online. Before buying any item online, whether it’s a new bed for your pet pooch or your grocery essentials for the week, make sure you understand the company’s shipping costs and policies. Many places offer free delivery or shipping when you buy their items but it’s best to check first. Know your concessions If you’re on the pension, you could save on utility bills, travel expenses and many other every day costs. Many companies offer discounts for Aussies on the pension, which could put a few extra dollars in your pocket each week. However, you have to tell them. They won’t apply the discounts automatically. You could save money on books, magazines and travel. For those over 60, you can apply for a seniors’ card in your state or territory. This nifty little card offers a range of discounts, such as cruises or travel insurance, magazine subscriptions, cinema and event tickets, plus a lot more. The eligibility requirements and discounts differ between states, so it’s best to contact your local social services department to find out more. Sign up for customer reward programs If you’re buying products from a particular store, you should be rewarded right? You can be, but you’ll need to sign up to a store’s loyalty or rewards program. Generally, these work by rewarding you with points each time you shop in a particular store, and then once you reach a certain amount, you get a reward. It could be a voucher, a special deal or a product. Keep a money diary or download a budget app It’s hard to save without knowing where your money is going. Nip this in the bud by keeping a record of where your money goes in one week. Be disciplined and write down every expense. If you have a smartphone, iPhone, tablet or iPad, why not download a budget app? There are plenty out there in either the Apple Store or Google Play for those wanting to take control of their savings and take note of their spending habits. Make your own gifts Do you spend a lot of money buying gifts for your kids and grandchildren? What about friends and colleagues? Birthdays, anniversaries, school achievements and other events you may buy gifts for can quickly add up to be a huge expense. To save money, why not put your skills to the test and make your own gifts? With so many material things in the world, being given a gift personally made by you could be a much nicer way of showing your affection for someone. Whether you’re great at painting or drawing, cross-stitching, making candles or baking, put your skills to the test by creating a gift that has more heart than anything you could possibly buy in a store. Cut back for one month Why not try one month without something you regularly buy but don’t need. It could be a morning coffee or tea, a magazine you buy every fortnight or your weekly indulgence of potato crisps on a Saturday night. Whatever it is, try to give it up for one month. Put aside the money you would normally use to buy this item, and deposit it into a money box at home. While this isn’t going to buy you a round-the-world airplane ticket after one month, if you do this a few times a year, you’ll soon see results. Image: Getty Images

Money & Banking

Battle of wills is costly and rarely delivers

There's nothing quite so grubby and unseemly as adult children battling over the last will and testament of a parent but such bitter skirmishes are constantly being fought through the courts. A will, properly done, is no guarantee against a legal challenge from a family member who feels they have not been left a fair slice of the family wealth. But courts tend to respect the wishes of testators to leave their wealth to whomever or whatever they wish, as long as they have not breached their “moral duty” to family members (for example entirely excluding one of three children without good reason or promising to leave something to a carer and then not doing so) or have failed to provide adequately for young children. It does appear a fair number of wills are made in people's dying days, often varying earlier wills as they ponder how they want to dispose of their worldly wealth. While it's always tempting to draw conclusions from a limited number of cases, it is hard not to theorise that wills drawn up in dying days are more likely to be challenged under the notion the writer lacked mental capacity, or that they were more susceptible to undue influences. But while these challenges may be costly to the estate - and enriching to lawyers - case law shows that mere unfairness will not be overturned by the courts, and that courts will only do the minimum needed to remedy any “breach of moral duty”. And, to quote one judgment, just because a judge “sitting in the testator's armchair” might see the matter differently, does not mean they should rewrite a will. A good will can be challenged Testators cannot be sure their will won't be challenged even if they make small bequests to recognise their moral duties to all their issue and justify their decisions in writing - something Public Trust asks testators to do. This tends to include citing the help given to family members in life. In one case a woman left most of her wealth to her granddaughter, who she had raised and who had looked after her later in life. The woman's two sons chose to challenge the will, which left one nothing (he had been helped financially in his parents' lives and had later squabbled over money with his mother) and the other a token amount. The brothers lost the legal tussle. Mother cut out of daughter's will One case involved the unusual situation of a mother seeking to have the will of her daughter altered. The daughter, dying of cancer, changed her will as she neared death, leaving all her money to friends, the Cancer Society and the hospice that was caring for her. The mother, included in a previous will, alleged her daughter lacked the mental capacity to make a will and also that “undue influence” had been brought to bear on her by a friend who inherited from the will. The allegations were backed by no evidence. Besides, the daughter had shown she had thought about her mother in notes stating that her mother was now financially independent. Getting the sums right In life a testator helped his son buy the family farm. When he died, his son's debts were forgiven, thereby passing the farm entirely to his son. The residual estate was then to be split among his other two children, both daughters. That meant the daughters got much less than the son, whose farm they believed was now worth about $10 million in part due to significant capital gains. The daughters challenged the will but the court said they could not maintain there had been a moral breach as both were left sums of about $300,000, even though there was written evidence the testator and his wife understood they put in place "arrangements which would give our three children an approximate equal share of our estates”. Unfortunately, their desires were not achieved in the legal documents. It appears the testator's professional advisers may not have done a good job. Abusive son A man who challenged his parents' will, in which he was left $70,000 of their $400,000 estate, got nothing more despite claims he deserved a half share. The man had Asperger's Syndrome but the judge decided the abusive way he treated his parents was only partly a result of the syndrome. The judge found the parents had treated the man well but that he had been abusive - documents were quoted in the judgment including one telling his parents to "f... off out of my life" - and that the relationship had been a “one-way street”. They had also given him $50,000 to pay off debts before they died and while they had considered cutting the son out of the will entirely, they had not. They had not, therefore, failed in their moral duty to him. Written by Rob Stock. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank">Stuff.co.nz</a>. Any advice contained in this communication is general advice only. None of the information provided is, or should be considered to be, personal financial advice.

Legal

DIY: Planter box

Whether you want to grow a herb garden or are looking for a nifty way to house a few flowering pots, planter boxes are a great way to present your greenery in a neat, space-saving and decorative manner. And the good news is, you can easily make a planter box yourself. Supplies: <ul> <li>Cedar wood (at least 3mm thick)</li> <li>Jigsaw</li> <li>Galvanized screws</li> <li>Wood glue</li> <li>2 clamps</li> <li>Drill</li> <li>Primer</li> <li>Paint (colour of choice)</li> </ul> Instructions: 1. Depending on the space in which you want to place your planter box – be it a windowsill, table or wall outside, the best way to determine the length of your planter box is to match the width of the box to the width of the space you are making it for. 2. With a jigsaw, cut three pieces of cedar approximately to the length and width you have measured. These pieces will form the base, front and back of your planter box. For the sides, cut two 20cm square pieces.   3. With the help of wood glue, assemble the planter box by fitting the pieces together in a rectangle shape. Use the clamps to hold together until dry.   4. Drill holes into the four corners and along the bottom of the front panel – making sure to drill right through to the bottom and side boards.   5. Insert the galvanized screws into the holes on the front, back and side boards.   6. Drill a few small holes into the bottom of your planter box to allow for adequate drainage which will help your plants to grow healthily.   7. To finish, apply a primer and either a wood stain or paint to the outside of the window box. Image:

Home Hints & Tips

4 ways to dehumidify your home

Normally welcomed in some parts of the country, the recent rain has brought an influx of another, spottier problem into our homes: mould. Reducing the humidity in the air is one of the best ways to keep mould at bay - which has seen dehumidifiers become a hot commodity and a rare find. But before you start on your quest to find one of those elusive devices, here are some simple DIY options you can try to stave off those pesky black spots. 1. Silica gel packets Instead of throwing away these tiny sachets in your packets of food, new electronics, or bottles of vitamins, keep them in a plastic container and poke some holes in the lid to create your own dehumidifier. The packets contain silicon dioxide in its gel form, which is made up of millions of tiny pores that can absorb and hold moisture. Place the container wherever it’s needed and be sure to keep it out of reach of kids and pets. 2. Rock salt dehumidifier Salt is another easy (and cheap) option for absorbing moisture - and all you’ll need to make your own rock salt dehumidifier is just two buckets and some salt. First, cut some holes in the first bucket and place it inside the second bucket. Then, fill the first bucket with salt and it’s ready to use - though you will need to empty the outer bucket as it fills up with liquid. 3. Baking soda Baking soda is just good for baking, and you can add dehumidifying to its list of handy uses. It works best in small spaces, like the tops of wardrobes or cupboards, and is as simple as filling a small bowl with baking soda and replacing it as needed. 4. Plants On top of adding some greenery to your spaces, certain kinds of plants can also reduce the amount of moisture in the air. Plants with waxy or hairy leaves, such as cacti, or those with large leaves are your best choice, with top picks including peace lilies, lilacs, spider plants, aloe vera, English ivy, air plants and Boston ferns. Image: Getty Images

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Police share wild seatbelt pic after fining driver for bizarre DIY fix

How does Australia’s health system stack up internationally? Not bad, if you’re willing to wait for it