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‘Had to get it’, cries Dunnes Stores shopper over new ‘ultra-soft’ €20 button up fleece perfect for layering in cold
DUNNES Stores shoppers have been racing to the tills to pick up a range of gorgeous fleeces that have gone viral.
Shoppers are in a frenzy over the comfortable and cosy range that is perfect for layering.
One new piece has hit the shelves, available in three colours – cream, charcoal and blue.
The Alpine Fleece is a bargain, costing just €20.
Available in sizes XS to XXL, it is perfect for layering up in the Irish weather.
In the official item description on the Dunnes Stores website, chiefs wrote: “Made from an ultra-soft fabric, this fleece is designed to provide exceptional insulation while remaining lightweight and breathable.
“Featuring a zip through design, roomy side pockets, and an elasticated hemline, it is perfect for layering on colder days or wearing on its own.”
One fashion fan has shared a look at the bits she picked up.
She shared a video to social media showing off the gorgeous pieces to her followers.
Instagram user Erin Walls shared a short video to the platform, showing how she styled the pieces.
At the beginning of the video, she can be seen holding up a large Dunnes Stores shopping bag.
Erin said: “Dunnes have lured me in with the fleeces again. I saw this one and I had to get it.
She explained that she previously picked up the green fleece with the white piping, and sees a lot of people wearing either the same one of a similar variation of it.
Erin then added: “This one may be the same.
“There’s a selection of fleeces in there at the minute – I could have gone home with three or four.”
She holds up a cream coloured fleece with dark green detailing along the centre and collar, saying: “I liked the look of this one, it has buttons the whole way up, with the green-coral sort of colour”.
She notes that she picked up a size small in the fleece as it appears to be oversized.
Trying it on, she said: “The reason why I liked this button up – I wouldn’t normally go for a full zip jacket or anything like that, but when I’m going to pilates and I have a fleece on, it’s just the nuisance of having my hair pulled up and taking my fleece off and on before and after the class, so I thought this would be so handy”.
She buttons up the fleece, saying: “It’s so soft, the material of their fleeces is so good.”
The fleece is available online and in stores now, but it is set to fly off the shelves quickly.
Four ways to cut your gas bill this winter – including the thermostat secret that will instantly save you £80
IF you’re worried about rising costs and are looking for ways to save cash this season, you’ve come to the right place.
It turns out that many of us are making a few very popular mistakes, which are raking up our annual energy bills.
So if you fancy pocketing some extra pounds, you’ll need to take notes.
According to the experts at EDF Energy, there are four very simple ways you can lower your heating bills, with barely any faff or effort involved.
Not only this, but one thermostat secret will instantly save you £80 – yes, you heard that correctly.
So if you want to take control of your energy and save cash on your gas bill this winter, you’ll need to take notes.
Turn your thermostat down
According to the pros at EDF, the first thing you need to do is turn your thermostat down.
Whilst it almost sounds too simple, a recent study showed that 2.7 million households in the UK are turning their thermostats all the way to 25°C.
If everyone in the country lowered their thermostats, it could add up to a combined saving of £1.4 billion on heating bills, not to mention a huge amount of carbon.
Subsequently, the experts advise the ideal temperature to be somewhere between 18°C and 21°C.
But prepare to be impressed, as the general principle is that for every degree you turn your heating down, you could save around £80 a year – yes, you heard that correctly.
Heat your home only when it needs heating
Not only should you turn your thermostat down, but it’s also important that you only heat your home when it needs heating too.
We’ve all heard the theory that it’s cheaper to leave the heating on all day at a low temperature, but the results are in and according to those at EDF, it’s a very common myth.
It turns out that having the heating on only when you need it is the best way to save energy, so it’s important that you set a timer or use the programme function on your thermostat, so you can set up a schedule that works around your day.
5 ways to keep your house warm in winter
Property expert Joshua Houston shared his tips.
1. Curtains
“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air so always close your curtains as soon as it gets dark,” he said.
This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.
2. Rugs
“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued. “You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.
“Add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”
3. Check your insulation
Check your pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.
“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.
4. Keep your internal doors closed
“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” Joshua said.
“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”
5. Block drafts
Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.
Whilst you might also be tempted to crank the thermostat right up to warm your house quicker, that’s also another heating myth.
The pros claimed that turning your thermostat up doesn’t change the temperature of the water flowing through your radiators and instead just means the thermostat won’t turn your boiler off until it reaches a higher temperature.
As a result, the experts claimed: “Your heating will simply stay on for longer, using more gas and costing you more money.”
Once you’re warmed up, keep it that way
As well as this, according to the experts at EDF, it’s important that once you’ve warmed up your home, it’s essential you keep it that way.
The pros advised: “Draught-proofing plugs the gaps in your property to help keep warm air in and cold air out.
“If there’s cold air coming in under your front door, a rolled up towel or blanket will do the trick.”
Not only this, but keeping draughts out through your letterbox is also key and even covering a small key hole will help too.
Don’t heat the rooms you’re not using
Again, it may seem simple, but the experts have shared an incredibly easy way to cut down your gas bill – and it’s to avoid heating rooms you aren’t using.
So if you’ve got a spare room you barely ever go in, why waste energy heating it?
The experts stressed the importance of turning radiators down (or off completely), which will mean you use less energy heating a room you rarely use (and more cash in your pocket as a result).
Cheap gadgets to help you stay warm
MARTIN Lewis' MoneySavingExpert shared six gadgets that can help you keep the heating off but stay warm.
Heating “the human not the home” means you warm yourself instead of turning on the heating and heating the whole house.
This can save money on your heating bill and means you don’t have to sit in the cold.
- USB gloves – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Heated insoles – initial cost £10, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- USB hand warmers – initial cost £15, cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Electric gilet – initial cost £50 (including battery pack), cost to run less than 1p an hour
- Microwaveable wheat bag – initial cost £4, cost to run less than 1p per hours
- Reusable hand warmers – initial cost £5 for a pair, cost to run less than 1p per hour
Championship League Snooker 2025 Winners’ Group LIVE: Kyren Wilson and Judd Trump battle for Champion of Champions spot
THE snooker roadshow rolls into Leicester as the Championship League comes to a conclusion this week!
A guaranteed spot in the Champion of Champions is up for the winner, plus prize money that includes cash for every frame won.
After seven rounds of group play, the Winners’ Group gets underway TODAY, with the likes of Kyren Wilson and Judd Trump in action.
After playing six group matches each, the top four snooker stars will then meet in a semi-final and final both on Wednesday evening.
- Start time: From 11am GMT
- TV channel: N/A
- Live stream: Matchroom Sport YouTube
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Follow our live blog below…
I’m sick of being called ‘lazy’ for using Mounjaro jabs – it’s better than Slimming World & I’ve dropped 3 dress sizes
STRUGGLING to keep up with her two young children and dreading her own reflection in the mirror, Emma Lasenby knew something had to change.
The 36-year-old mum-of-two from Kent found herself making excuses to avoid leaving the house or meeting friends, her confidence crushed by her weight.
But it wasn’t until she saw a photo of herself at her brother’s wedding that the turning point came.
Determined to take action, Emma decided to try weight loss jabs – a choice that has sparked both praise and criticism.
In less than a year, she shed over four stone and transformed her life.
Yet her journey hasn’t been without its challenges.
With one in 10 women in the UK now using weight loss medications, Emma is part of the 38% who feel they face judgement for opting for a medical solution rather than a more “natural” approach.
“I’ve been called lazy,” Emma admits. “But people don’t see the struggles behind the scenes.”
For Emma, the decision to use weight loss jabs wasn’t about taking an easy way out – it was about reclaiming her life and her confidence.
“There is so much judgement about people’s weight and size, and then again about people doing something about it,” the NHS infant feeding worker told What’s The Jam.
“I had been quite selective with who I told about using this medication, but I had already heard so many people talking about those who use it, such as myself, as lazy.
“Or that the weight loss doesn’t count, as it wasn’t done through exercise.
“Using weight loss medication is another tool to aid the process – it’s not a magic wand – but it does give people time and space to reset habits and replace those unhealthy relationships we have with food.
“I felt so confident and comfortable in what I had worn for my brother’s wedding, but when I saw the photo, I was shocked.
“In reality, I looked entirely different. We were due to go on holiday later that year and I was a bridesmaid.
“I refused to look or feel the same as I did that day.
“I’d tried so many diets and exercise programs that only kept the weight off in the short-term, I needed a sustainable way to lose weight.”
Emma had been trying to lose weight since she was a young adult, but this went to the back of her mind after giving birth to her second child.
I’ve never felt that ‘buzz’ after a workout, so this time, I’m building exercise into my routine and everyday tasks
Emma Lasenby, 36
At her heaviest, she weighed over 14st and her self-esteem took a huge toll.
She said: “I didn’t feel confident or accepted at my size.
“I learned to dress a certain way, to hide my body, and lost my sense of style and the way I liked to dress, as I worried about how it would make me feel – and how others would see me.
“Compliments always seemed to have a caveat.
“And didn’t have the energy to keep up with my children; I would be tired, have aches and a lack of energy.”
She had tried various diets before, such as Slimming World, restricting her food intake and doing “gruelling” exercise routines, all which only worked in the short-term.
A lover of food, it was always on her mind and she’d often grab whatever, whenever, without a thought about how nutritional it was.
Emma, who was “fed up” with nothing working, did her research and came across Mounjaro.
The self-injectable medication is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but more recently, for weight loss purposes.
Getting out with the kids, multiple trips up and down the stairs or anything else where I can get moving
Emma Lasenby, 36
Emma accessed the medication through Juniper after checking her eligibility and discussing a plan with a prescriber.
A starting dose can begin at £180 and then go up depending on increases in dosage.
She said: “Before, when I had lost weight, it quickly crept back on faster than it came off whenever I stopped with the diet or exercising.
Now I’m more confident, wear what I like and feel like I’ve got my new, own style.
“I’m more energised and willing to do more things.”
Currently, she weighs 10st and has gone from a UK dress size 18 to 12.
She said: “I know how to balance my nutrition throughout the day and the importance of eating, as well as fuelling my body regularly.
“I make use of protein shakes, and lunch is something simple – balanced, with a focus on protein – and not eating loads of food for the sake of it.
“For dinner, we have a subscription service, which has been great for finding new recipes.
“I’ve never felt that ‘buzz’ after a workout, so this time, I’m building exercise into my routine and everyday tasks.
I had no contradictions, beside being mindful of the side effects, but I thought it was at least worth a go
Emma Lasenby, 36
“Getting out with the kids, multiple trips up and down the stairs or anything else where I can get moving.”
Emma is now on a maintenance dose of Mounjaro as she’s closer to her target weight goal.
For her, though, it’s not about getting to the smallest she can, but more about finding the point in which she feels happy to stop – and when her weight and size doesn’t impact her daily life.
She hopes sharing her story will encourage people to use weight loss medication if they feel it is right for them; but says it’s important to do your research first.
Emma added: “Decide what you want. No weight loss will stick if you aren’t willing to change your habits.
“I knew nothing about weight loss medication, but had seen an advert and thought it was worth looking into.
“I had no contradictions, beside being mindful of the side effects, but I thought it was at least worth a go.
“Now, I no longer worry about what people think about my looks – as they’ll always judge regardless – but what’s more important is my acceptance of how I look and feel.
“And that’s been a massive shift.”
Ozempic - an expert's view
Dr Mitra Dutt, a GP from Lloyds Pharmacy Online Doctor, says: “Mounjaro works by activating two hormonal receptors (GIP and GLP-1), which enhance insulin production, improve insulin sensitivity and work to decrease food intake.”
Saxenda, which contains the active ingredient liraglutide, is another weight loss jab that’s been available on the NHS since 2020.
While Mounjaro is hailed as the “King Kong” fat jabs, a new weight loss drug dubbed “Godzilla” looks set to displace it.
Containing the active ingredient retatrutide, slimmers trying the drug lost up to 29 per cent of their weight in less than a year.
By comparison, trial results showed semaglutide, known as Ozempic, could lead to 15 per cent weight loss and tirzepatide, aka Mounjaro, to 23 per cent.
Retatrutide acts on three different receptors in the brain, “turbocharging” calorie burning while dulling hunger pangs.
Existing weight-loss jabs only suppress appetite, whereas the new treatment also speeds up metabolism.
The new drug is still undergoing clinical trials so it’s not yet known if it will be made available on the NHS.
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