An early form of life insurance can be traced back to Roman times when, because of the high costs of funerals, clubs were formed, known as ‘burial clubs’. The guarantee of such an organisation for its members was that for a regular contribution they knew that upon death, their burial club would provide the necessary finance to cover the costs of their funeral and in…
Availing of a mortgage means many things to those who wish to be homeowners. For most, it means entering into a lengthy and detailed process that requires a significant amount of paperwork — much of which is used to prove the identity of the borrower, source of income and the mortgage applicant’s prospects for repaying the loan. There is no shortage of people who have…
Research has shown that children who begin reading from an early age develop more of an appetite for books and tend to perform better at school. Whilst some kids seem to be natural bookworms, others sometimes need a bit of a prod before sitting down to read, and with such a wide range of titles now available there is something that should interest any prospective…
Availing of a mortgage means many things to those who wish to be homeowners. For most, it means entering into a lengthy and detailed process that requires a significant amount of paperwork — much of which is used to prove the identity of the borrower, source of income and the mortgage applicant’s prospects for repaying the loan. There is no shortage of people who have…
With budget airlines and cheap flights now a common feature of most western societies, the world has become a much smaller and more accessible place than it was for previous generations. As a result, regular holidays, weekend breaks and gap years abroad are on the rise as more people can afford to travel. The attraction of travelling is obvious. There are so many options available…
When it first became economic to use computers for business, companies began searching for appropriate applications. While repetitive calculations, like the ones used for payroll, were no problem to the computer, when attempting to calculate the amount of materials a company would have to buy, problems arose. Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems, as they were known before ERP systems, had two main faults. Firstly, nobody…
Who invented the car is a simple enough question, but the answer is far more complicated as there was no ‘eureka’ moment, but rather a gradual evolution of automobile milestones. Dependent upon how liberally you apply the definition of automobile, which literally means ‘self-moving’, designs for such a vehicle can be traced to as far back to the 15th Century and drawings made by a…
Life is going well and you’re ticking all the important boxes on your ‘to do’ list — you’ve moved out, you’ve got a partner and now you’ve had your first baby together. Your friends and family have all visited and ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ at your precious bundle of joy, but as they leave you realise that some of them live so far away that they…
Following a recent acquisition from the catalogue giant Freemans by businesswoman Kay Mawer, clothkit clothes could be the latest must have practical fashion trend, as they appeal to both the ethically minded consumer, as well as those who are cost conscious. This resurgence of the popular 70’s self-knit clothing line comes at a time when a recent Panorama investigation into Primark’s reliance on sweat shop…
The summer months in Britain offer a deluge of music festivals, which are often the saving grace for anyone who can’t find the time or money to organise a trip abroad. The music — and the general campsite experience — will always deliver the opportunity for a great time; but small details, such as wearing unsuitable clothing, can often put a blot on an otherwise…