All about SALE - Top 5

Who doesn't love sales? I know I do. The rush of the discounts, the eye-catching display in the windows, the screaming placards announcing Up to 60, 70, 80% off! Oh bliss! 

So, this new post is about SALE!! Personally, I wait for these Autumn/Winter, Fall Summer, Spring/Summer sales. Why? Because you get everything cheaper, duh! The same coat that you saw in Zara for £39.99, will be made available to you for half the price at £19.59. Who cares if you need it or not. It just feels right at that price. Those shoes, oh well, "I already have a rack full of shoes," you argue with yourself, but when you see that 70% off sign, the same pair just starts to feel like a necessity. If you share these sentiments, don't feel bad, or feel alone. I'm 100% with you in this. (Like a soul sister, if that helps!) 

So, I thought of sharing this exciting news of current sales that are going on at some of my favourite brands. However, a disclaimer first: Although various brands and their products are mentioned and featured in this post I have not been paid by any of these brands to write this article and will not be receiving any payment for the publishing of this article. Please do not feel I am pushing any form of marketing upon you - the reader – instead I am just sharing what I think is a good bargain. Everything you read in this article are my own words and are not in any way affiliated with any of the brands mentioned below.

Now, let’s start with my absolute favourite - House of Fraser. It is my 'go to' shop for absolutely everything. Starting from apparels to shoes; kitchenware to home accessories; make-up to electricals - you will find everything under one roof. And how amazing will that be if all that you need is put up on a clearance sale? Yes, House of Fraser is offering up to 70% off clearance sale on dresses, dining & glassware and up to 50% off on knitwear, bags & luggage. There is also a 20-50% off on shoes, boots, beauty products and accessories. Kids, don't ya feel left out. There is a massive up to 60% off on kids clothing, toys and nursery goods. 

Here's how you can reach House of Fraser 

Next comes my second best favourite - Marks & Spenser. Have you noticed how they have gone all chic and cool and colourful, over the past 2-3 years? It's no longer the shop for dull and boring people (no offence). M&S has had a makeover and how! The store is currently offering a flat 20% off on knitwear and dresses and skirts. However, if you love M&S, I would strongly recommend signing up at their website for latest offers. They almost fortnightly do a one-day online sale, offering various discounts to their online customers. And trust me, it is worth registering. 

Here's how you can reach Marks & Spenser

In my top 5, the third position is taken by H&M. Their products are cool, hip, interesting and most of all affordable. So, it comes as an even greater joy when H&M puts a sale. Check out their cool jumpers, currently on up to 70% off. Their dresses too are on sale, making them a catch. Kids - again, you guys can have the coolest accessories starting from just £2. 

Here's how you can reach H&M

Now, moving on from clothes to shoes. I absolutely adore stuff from schuh. From slick slip-ons to trainers to boots to sandals, you can be sure to find an interesting display of collection. They also do bags (love their duffel bags), caps, bum bags and shoe care products. They are running an up to 80% off in their store on shoes, boots, uggs and trainers. Hey students, you are in for a treat. You guys get an additional 10% discount :) 

Here's how you can reach schuh

And last, but not the least, Office. They always have the most awesome collection ever, however the price is always on the higher side (for me at least!). So, I can't wait for the time when they put their collection on sale. Coz, that is the only time that I can afford to buy anything from that store (ironic, isn't it). So Office has a 70% off going on on selected boots, whereas there is an up to 50% off on spring styles. Mens smart shoes are £35 and under, whereas you can get your hands on a Vans pair for £25. 

Here's how you can reach office

Have I missed any of your favourite brands that are on sale? Let me know. I will add them to my list. Maybe pay them a visit too :) 

The beats of the ghatam

TH Vinayakram

Rhythm has always been a quintessential facet of Indian classical music, including the Carnatic tradition. In the contemporary generation of percussionists, perhaps no other individual has mastered the intricacies of the ghatam to the degree that Padma Shri TH Vinayakram, affectionately known as Vikku, has.

A Grammy award-winning artiste, Vinayakram gained worldwide recognition with his virtuoso work with the ghatam. I got an opportunity to meet Vinayakram and his son Selvaganesh, at the World Percussion Festival, where he performed with his group Sapthaakshara. Excerpts from a quick chat with Selva:  

"Our main criterion, whenever we perform, is to engage the audience through our music. We ask them to participate by making them give us a dhun or a beat, which we improvise on and present a jugalbandi," says V Selvaganesh. 

Selvaganesh earned worldwide recognition as a percussionist through tours with English guitarist John McLaughlin's group Shakti, of which his father was also a member. In his opinion, fusion music is an experiment, while percussion is an art. "Youngsters today are more focused on fusion music. Fusion is not bad, but the problem is that they get into fusion music before getting enough exposure or experience in that one form of music they want to experiment with," says Selvaganesh, who also performs as a part of Sapthaakshara. 

About the role of technology in music, Selvaganesh says, "Technology has played both a good and a bad part when it comes to classical music. The bad part is that anything and everything is now available online; people have stopped coming to concerts or purchasing CDs. The good part, however, is that it has helped widen the reach of our music. People are becoming aware and the concept of virtual classes is gaining popularity." However, he adds a note of caution, saying, "No matter how advanced we become, the internet or technology cannot replace the knowledge that a guru can give you. The presence and guidance of a guru is essential, especially in learning the ghatam." 

What is a credit score?

What you pay for a mortgage, your car insurance, even your mobile phone contract, most likely depends on three-digits you probably don't even know…

 

Thank you for your recent application to XYZ Bank. Unfortunately, after careful review of your application, we must decline your request at this time.

Do these words follow you whenever you apply for credit cards, or try to get car insurance? How about when you apply for home loan or car loan? Are you having nightmares about your financial future trying to understand a three-digit number called credit score and how it is calculated?

Well, let us start by telling you that your credit score is something that can either cost or save you thousands of pounds. However for that to happen, you must understand the ‘what’, ‘where’ and ‘how’ of a credit score. Read on…

What is a credit score?

Say you are planning to buy a home, and for that you approach a bank for loan. As a responsible lender, the bank would want to make sure that you can comfortably afford to manage any new borrowing. Of course, they would also try to make some money off of you. To do so, they would need to evaluate all the relevant information regarding your financial behaviour at their disposal. This is where the credit score comes in. It provides them with all your credit history and helps them to assess the chances that you will be able to repay what you owe.

Simply put, a credit score is a tool used by banks to determine your eligibility for credit cards and loans and by insurance companies to determine if you are a good credit risk. Most of the times, landlords and potential employers also take this information into account, while finalising a probable candidate. Hence, if there is any three-digit numbers that hold so much power, it is this number.

Divided into categories, ranging from very poor (0-560) to fair (721-880) to excellent (961-999), your credit score defines your financial worthiness. People with a high score are generally seen as lower risk, and are therefore more likely to be granted credit - and most likely at better rates.

How is it calculated?  

Contrary to popular notion, your personal or professional information such as age, race, marital status, income and employment don't affect the score. However, there are a number of key components that can either make or break your credit score. Here are the five major ones:

Payment history: Making payments boosts your score, while missing payments destroys it.

Amounts owed: Debt can hurt your score, though installment loans (like student loans) are actually beneficial if you keep up with your payments.

Length of credit history: Old accounts earn more trust, whereas new accounts are regarded with suspicion. This means that a late payment on a two-year-old account will hurt your score more than if you’d had the card for two decades.

Types of credit used: Different kinds of credit impact your score in different ways. For instance, a credit card from a national bank carries more weight than one from a department store.

New credit: Multiple requests for credit, including credit inquiries and number of recently opened accounts in a short period of time mean you are a greater risk.

Apart from this, your electoral roll information and court records are also taken into account while calculating your credit score.

There are three major credit bureaus in UK - Equifax, Experian and CallCredit - which issue credit scores. These commercial organisations compile all information about you and supply that to a lender when you apply for credit. Since each pulls information from a slightly different network of lenders to compile its own report, the scores mostly vary from bureau to bureau.

Where can I find my credit score?

You have a statutory right to get your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus, each year, for a nominal fee of £2. You can even opt for a free 30-day trial with either Equifax or Experian and check your credit score online. Bookmark these links for future use:

Equifax: http://www.equifax.co.uk/Products/credit/credit-score.html?cmp=generic|creditcheck|freecreditchecks_broad|&gclid=CjwKEAiAgfymBRCEhpTR8NXpx1USJAAV0dQyipIEkWuEBQ7ZVbS59DPEsHHv3p-JwdNM4iTB4uAQgBoC0Y3w_wcB

Experian: http://www.experian.co.uk/creditexpert2/03_credit_check.html?sc=701684

CallCredit: http://www.callcredit.co.uk/

Useful advice

With identity theft becoming the buzz word in today’s Digital age, you should check your credit report regularly and report inconsistencies immediately. Elements on your credit report that don’t belong to you or mistakes such as wrong name or an old address, happen more often than you might think and can have adverse effects on your credit score.

While applying for loans or insurance, your score can mean the difference between a reasonable or outrageous interest rate, as well as the difference between an affordable or unbearable insurance rate, so take it very seriously.

Always check your credit report/ score after rejection so that you don’t fall into the nightmare scenario of the rejection spiral. Once rejected, go through your report carefully for errors and get them corrected, else you will be vetoed, again, not because of any error, but because of ‘recent searches’. 

Even though a credit score is derived from your financial history, it works towards predicting your future financial behaviour. So while, a poor history counts against you, having little or no credit history is equally bad, as it makes predictions less certain.

Never pay for a credit repair company. If you see these advertised, avoid them. If you are struggling and need personalised, professional help, see a non-profit debt counselling agency like Citizens Advice Bureau, Civil Legal Advice or StepChange Debt Charity.

And finally, instead of obsessing about your credit score, understand that good spending will be rewarded and bad spending will be penalised. Be logical, sometimes frugal and be smart. Learn the important elements – such as pay on time, keep your debts low, eliminate discrepancies and stick with your old bank and credit cards – and develop habits that will keep your credit score high for years to come. It is that simple.

 

Oscars 2015: Complete list of winners

 

 

Honouring the best cinematic talent from Hollywood, the 87^th Academy Awards or the Oscars have finally wrapped up. Presented in 24 different categories, the winners for the most coveted film awards have been announced, putting an end to the suspense. While The Grand Budapest Hotel and Birdman faced a tie bagging four awards each, Whiplash managed to pick three trophies. Eddie Redmayne for The Theory of Everything and Julianne Moore for Still Alice have been named Best Actor and Actress in a Leading Role.

Here is the complete list of winners:

Best Picture
Birdman

 

 

Michael Keaton in Birdman

Actress in a Leading Role Julianne Moore, Still Alice

Actor in a Leading Role
Eddie Redmayne, The Theory of Everything

Directing
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Birdman

Actress in a Supporting Role
Patricia Arquette, Boyhood

Actor in a Supporting Role
JK Simmons, Whiplash

Foreign Language FilmIda

Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Graham Moore, The Imitation Game

Writing - Original Screenplay
Alejandro G Inarritu, Nicolas Giacobone, Alexander Dinelaris, Jr & Armando Bo, Birdman

Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, Birdman

Music - Original Score
Alexandre Desplat, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Makeup and Hairstyling
Frances Hannon and Mark Coulier, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Costume Design
Milena Canonero, The Grand Budapest Hotel

Music - Original Song
John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn for 'Glory' from Selma

Visual Effects
Paul Franklin, Andrew Lockley, Ian Hunter and Scott Fisher, Interstellar

Documentary Short Subject
Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry, Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1

Documentary Feature
Citizen Four

Film Editing
Tom Cross, Whiplash

Sound Editing
Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman, American Sniper

Sound Mixing
Craig Mann, Ben Wilkins and Thomas Curley, Whiplash

Production Design
Adam Stockhausen (Production Design); Anna Pinnock (Set Decoration), The Grand Budapest Hotel

Short Film - Live Action
The Phone Call

Short Film - Animated
Feast

Animated Feature Film
Big Hero 6

Presenters and performances@ Oscars 2015

Here's the skinny on all the presenters and performances at Oscars 2015.

Drool factor: Chris Pine, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jared Leto

Source: Twitter (Hadley Freeman, The Guardian)

Awesome actors who've never won an Oscar

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp- Being an A-List celebrity who has been immortalized on the Hollywood Walk of Fame doesn’t guarantee an Oscar. Nor does winning a Golden Globe award. Johnny Depp’s films have raked in millions at the Box Office but it’s baffling as to why the actor has never walked away with the golden statue. His performances in Sweeney Todd, Finding Neverland and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl was exemplary and Depp got nominated thrice for an Oscar for all three films. But Johnny Depp hasn’t been lucky. What does it take an actor of his caliber to clinch the coveted award?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio: He’s smart, handsome and exceptionally talented. That’s Leonardo DiCaprio for you. The actor and producer started his career with TV commercials before doing soap operas like Santa Barbara and Growing Pains. Films naturally followed. Leonardo has established himself in Hollywood with films like Titanic, Romeo + Juliet. The Beach and Catch Me If You Can to name a few. Gangs of New York, Blood Diamond, The Aviator, Inception and The Departed only added to his success. But this Golden Globe winner has never been a recipient of the prestigious Oscar award. Leonardo has been nominated thrice. Films like Blood Diamond, The Aviator and What's Eating Gilbert Grape got him an Oscar nod but not the award. Wonder what causes a talented actor to miss the judges’ eyes. If not Leonardo, then who is the Oscar award fit for?

Richard Gere

Richard Gere: Humanitarian and actor Richard Gere has never won an Oscar and the reasons are obvious. Richard Gere is a Buddhist convert and a staunch supporter of the Dalai Lama. The Pretty Woman actor was banned the Academy 20 years ago when he took to the Oscars stage and used the podium to talk against the Chinese Government. Gere is known to take the cause of Tibetans in exile. Not only was the actor banned from setting foot on the Oscar stage, but he was also banned by the Chinese government from entering China for the stance he took. The actor took to the stage this year to perform a musical with his Chicago co stars Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta Jones and Queen Latifah. But will the Academy forgive him and concentrate on his films rather than his stance to make him eligible for the prestigious award?

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise- It comes a shock rather than a surprise that Hollywood’s highest paid and one of the most successful stars has never won an Oscar! The Mission Impossible series star, whose career spans three decades in Hollywood, is considered as one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, a feat that is difficult to accomplish. Over and over again, Tom Cruise has been voted as one of the world’s 50 most beautiful people and remains an influential figure in Hollywood. Cruise was nominated thrice for an Oscar for his roles in films like Magnolia, Jerry Maguire and Born on the Fourth of July. Did the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences think otherwise?

Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt-In spite of being a heart throb for millions, an actor of Brad Pitt’s caliber has never walked away wit the golden statue. Interestingly, Pitt who has played a myriad of characters over the years has been nominated three times for an Oscar for the films The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Twelve Monkeys and Moneyball. Although Pitt has won other prestigious awards like the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for the same film (Twelve Monkeys) that also got him nominated for an Oscar, he wasn’t lucky there. It comes as a surprise as to why is one of Hollywood’s most popular and highest paid actors snubbed by The Academy?



 

Funniest jokes in Oscar history

Ellen DeGeneres

Before actor Neil Patrick Harris takes the stage to host the 87th Academy Awards, we take a look back at the most humorous lines uttered by its hosts in history.

 Possibility No. 1: 12 Years A Slave wins best picture. Possibility No. 2: You're all racists. And now, welcome our first white presenter, Anne Hathaway! — Ellen DeGeneres (2014)

Dear Academy, I have never seen so many people with Botox in one room in my life. — Ellen DeGeneres (2014)

Django Unchained. This is the story of a man fighting to get back his woman, who's been subjected to unthinkable violence-or as Chris Brown and Rihanna call it, 'a date movie.' — Seth MacFarlane (2013)

So tonight, enjoy yourselves because nothing can take the sting out of the world's economic problems like watching millionaires present each other with golden statues. — Billy Crystal (2012)

We have Robert Downey Jr — an American who played an Australian playing an African American, nominated. Whereas I, who is an Australian who played an Australian in a movie called Australia, am hosting. — Hugh Jackman (2009)

Democrats do have a historic race going — Hilary Clinton vs. Barack Obama. Normally, when you see a black man or a woman president, an asteroid is about to hit the Statue of Liberty. — Jon Stewart (2008)

Clint Eastwood's a star, OK? Tobey Maguire's just a boy in tights! — Chris Rock (2005)

Oscar is, after all, 74 years old! He's almost old enough to get flowers from Anna Nicole Smith. Also, he is the only 74-year-old man in Hollywood who doesn't need Viagra to last three hours. — Whoopi Goldberg (2002)

Hosting is like making love to a beautiful woman. It's something I only get to do when Billy Crystal is out of town. — Steve Martin (2001)

This is the Academy Awards. Warning: contents may cause drowsiness; do not drive or operate heavy machinery. — David Letterman (1994)

I'm here to explain why black people will never be nominated for anything. This show is going out to 75 million people — none of them black. — Richard Pryor (1977)