February 8, 2012

Reduce Your Energy Consumption

Winter is finally here and the cold and frost looks set to be on the ground for a while which will mean those heating bills are bound to go up so we thought we’d check out a new energy saving product on the market called Vphase and give a quick mention about their website, vphase.co.uk.

About Vphase
You’ve probably already seen a few adverts on TV for smart energy monitors but all they generally do is tell you what things are costing to run and, if you don’t change your energy habits, then your costs will be the same. Vphase is completely different, in a nutshell it reduces the voltage that your home runs on to a constant level of 220 volts rather than the normal 240 – 245 volts. This means that most electrical items in the house use less energy but how they perform is not altered.

The Vphase device has to be fitted by a qualified electrician but the makers claim that users can save anything from 10 – 15% on their annual energy costs. The cost of the unit is going to be around £250 plus installation which sounds a bit steep but based on a few quick sums an average household will save about £160 a year so it pays for itself in just two years.

In addition the vphase website (vphase.co.uk) also has lots of hints and tips on saving energy so even if you decide the cost is too high at the moment you can still change your habits and start saving money.

What We Think
Energy saving devices are going to become more and more popular over the next few years as costs begin to increase so we wouldn’t be surprised if one of the major electrical suppliers doesn’t start offering this as part of their service to the consumer. The device is well built and once installed doesn’t need maintenance it just gets on and does the job so for it’s green credentials we’re giving it a big thumbs up.

For more information visit vphase.co.uk

Organise Your Weekend Walk

Plan your route around townGoing for a walk does not mean you have to get out the walking boots and rucksack. For may who live in towns and cities throughout the UK there are loads of parks or just interesting architecture to admire so we’ve decide to put together a review of Walkit.com, an urban walking route planner.

About The Website
There are loads of uses of Walkit.com, whether you are just planning a quick way to walk to your next meeting in the city when there is a tube strike or want a more leisurely stroll around town. The site itself is very simple to use, you just select the town or city nearest to you and then enter the postcodes to a from. There are a number of selections you can make including if you want a direct or less busy route and the website gives you an easy to follow breakdown of the route.

That’s Google Maps! we hear you say, well no compared to Google the Walkit.com site provides a much better breakdown of the route as well as options to choose and also you can plan a circular route if you want to as well as seeing a profile of the route to see if it is hilly or not.

In addition to the route planner they have also added a feature where users can share routes they plan which is ideal if you are planning a walk with a group of friends.

What We Think
We really liked the way Walkit.com gives quite a bit of flexibility to the route plans as well as provides a very detailed breakdown of the walk. We’re adding Walkit.com to our top rated list for this month as we think it is user friendly and an ideal way to plan walking routes with ease.

For more information please take a look at Walkit.com

The Only Place For The Royal Honeymoon

When we started looking at wedding type websites we came across quite a few sites out there that were really just standard holiday websites with a few different pictures and we wanted to find something that was a bit more exclusive but also gave some excellent reviews of the options so when we came across 101honeymoons.co.uk we thought it was only right to review their website.

About The Website
To start with this is definitely not the site to go to if you are after a package holiday as it is all about exclusivity for those couples who want to relax and enjoy their first few weeks of married life after the hassle of organising a wedding. As the name suggests 101honeymoons.co.uk does just that, gives suggestions for just a few destinations and resorts that are on offer.

Using the website is very easy, you just put in your requirements including the type of thing you want to do and where in the world and then the website automatically selects some of their recommendations. Then, instead of trying to do the hard sell, they give details of the honeymoon and what you can expect and simply pass you straight through to the provider. After reading a few of the reviews you will quickly see why this is the top website for exclusive honeymoons especially as everything is written in house by the team at 101honeymoons.co.uk who are experienced holiday and travel writers so they know what they are talking about. After that the choice is up to you.

What We Think
We were quite mesmerised by the website as 101honeymoons.co.uk have really taken their time putting together the list. The site offers a good range of choice without swamping users with information.

We’d recommend anyone who is looking for a honeymoon to visit 101honeymoons.co.uk

Taking the Embarrassment Out Of Therapy

Every year thousands of people in the UK become stressed out and need support from a professional but there is often a stigma attached with going to the Doctor to ask for support so that’s where a website called Mentaline.com steps in. They take away the embarrassment factor by providing online therapy sessions with qualified experts in the relevant field depending on your problem which can be anything from family and work worries to dealing with a loss.

About The Website
Mentaline.com has been established for a while and has built up a reputation of providing clear and supportive advice for users. The website works by users selecting the therapist or life coach they want to talk to and then paying a fee. Most of the therapists offer an initial consultation at a lower rate and the therapy is delivered using webcams so they can see you and you can see them.

The consultation periods are private and secure so users can be assured of confidentiality which we thought was a very strong selling point as well as sessions being conducted at a time to suit the user meaning that if you want to access a consultation in the evening or early morning it is very easy to do so.

What We Think
We thought the idea behind Mentaline.com was very good as it provides a support mechanism that many people may not know exists or are too embarrassed to use. The site also aims to demystify mental health issues and gives some very clear and practical explanation of conditions.

If you are looking for therapy of life support take a look at Mentaline.com for more information.

Make A Difference To Your Finances

Make the most of your moneyDid you know that next week is Financial Planning Week? Well we didn’t either but we thought we should give their website a mention after all the better you plan your finances for the future the better off you will be. We’ve taken a look around the website Financialplanningweek.org.uk and here are our thoughts and review.

About The Website
Financialplanningweek.org.uk is aimed at providing information, resources and guides for consumers who want to manage their money better. It takes a no nonsense approach to giving advice and, as it is impartial, there is no selling on the website.

It’s not really possible for us to review each of the sections but one of the areas we thought most useful The DIY Guides. They have tried to provide specific advice depending on your circumstances whether you are single, married or coming up to retirement.

Depending on who you are each sub section provides links to either online calculators or further advice and information as well as answering some simple questions.

What We Think
We found Financialplanningweek.org.uk a very useful website with clear and concise information. It doesn’t try to confuse the reader with jargon. With the recession forecast to go on for sometime still it’s probably a good idea for us all to get our finances in better shape so a good start would be Financialplanningweek.org.uk

New Website – Toyology.tv

Top Christmas ToysIf you have recently had the pleasure of attending a young persons birthday party you probably already know what the hottest toys on the market for Christmas are but for those of us who haven’t we need to find out what they are quickly so here is a quick review of toyolgy.tv, a brand new website that reviews all the latest games and toys on the market.

About The Website
Toyolgy.tv has been put together by by the team at Toyology.co.uk and aims to provide video reviews and information on all the latest toys and games. The site is brand new so they’ve only got there first episode up at the moment but over the next few weeks they are aiming to bring all their viewers all the latest toys and games news.

What We Think
We would suggest that Toyology.tv is probably a “must watch” for any parent out there who hasn’t got a clue what to buy for the kids this Christmas. The first show on the site is informative and well presented so is a very good source of information.

If you are not sure what to buy this Christmas take a look at toyology.tv