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I fly to Spain to stock up in Zara – trolls call it ‘madness’ but I save £124 on one shop & get cash back at the airport
A SAVVY shopper has revealed that he always flies to Spain to stock up in Zara.
Not only does Rod Adcock save £124.40 on just one Winter shop alone, but he also gets more cash back at the airport too.
He also saves £124.40 on just one Winter shop when purchasing abroad[/caption]So if you’re a Zara fan and are looking to cut costs on your next fashion haul, you might want to listen up.
Posting on social media, Rod explained why he would “never buy anything from Zara in the UK,” leaving many open-mouthed.
Instead, he explained: “It’s cheaper to fly to Spain and back to get that piece you’ve got your eye on, than to buy it from your local store.
“This is how you’re going to save a fortune and get a day out in the process.
“Becuase Zara is a Spanish company, everything is loads cheaper in Spain.”
Rod recently took a trip to a Zara store in Madrid to stock up for the Winter, where he nabbed a £149 wool blend double-breasted coat for just €129 [£107.37], saving him £41.63.
As well as this, he also found a cropped grey jacket, which is £79.99 in the UK, but only €69.95 [£58.22] in Spain, pocketing him an extra £21.77.
He also spotted a brown coat, which is normally £169 in the UK, but €149 [£123.93], in Spain, and thanks to further reductions at the airport, in total, he saved £124.40 on his three items.
Thrilled with his savvy hack, Rod shared: “Plus, when you take the clothes out of the country and back home, you can claim the tax back up to 15%.
“So if you’re buying this coat, £169 here in the UK, by the time you get your tax back, it’s £108.”
Rod recognised that shoppers will find flights for as little as £18 one way from London to Barcelona and he also claimed: “Even by the time you pay for your transfers, your food for the day, it is still cheaper to fly to Spain to buy that coat than it is to get it here in the UK.”
Why is Zara so popular?
Zara was founded in 1975 in Spain, and the first UK store was opened in 1998. It remains as one of the most popular stores on the high street, but why?
Rather than producing more quantities of a style, it is said Zara focuses on producing more styles.
Some stats suggest Zara releases 24 trend-led collections every year, 500 designs a week and almost 20,000 per year. Other estimates put its production levels at 450 million garments a year.
Even if a style sells out very quickly, there are new styles waiting to take up the space. This means more choices and higher chance of getting it right with the consumer.
Zara only allows its designs to remain on the shop floor for three to four weeks, and this pushes the consumer to keep visiting the store or website, because if they were just a week late, the clothes of a particular style or trend would be sold out and replaced with a new trend.
At the same time, this constant refreshing of the lines and styles carried by its stores also entices customers to visit its shops more frequently.
Clearly impressed, he beamed: “Day out, enjoy the sights, fill your belly full of patatas bravas and you are laughing.
“This money-saving hack will save you loads. A saving is a saving.”
Big divide
Rod’s Instagram clip, which he shared seven weeks ago, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed 543,000 views.
But viewers were left divided by Rod’s claims – whilst some thought it was a great idea, others hailed it ‘madness’.
Craziness that it’s cheaper to go on a shopping haul two hours on a plane than it is to buy 20 minutes up the road
Instagram user
One person said: “Madness.”
Another sarcastically added: “Great advice for a climate crisis.”
Is Zara menswear cool?
By Fabulous Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale
Abbey McHale said: “There really isn’t a wide range of choice for men when it comes to shopping on the high street.
“Whilst most of the main womenswear stores also sell menswear a lot of the time it looks repetitive and quite boring.
“Queue Zara, a brand that for men pushes the boundaries of what they can wear.
“It’s a jack of all trades kind of brand, they have smart suits if you want to look sharp, casual basics that just look good on and then a lot of more trend led pieces that might be more Marmite.
“For instance on their New In section currently it goes from a Western inspired collection with fringed jackets and baggy cargo trousers, to surfer boy on the beach in some stylish holiday attire, to dapper slicked back basics, before finishing with sportswear.
“It’s one of the only high street brands that lets men experiment with fashion more and that’s what makes them so cool.
“They break the mould, which is something more menswear brands need to take note of. “
A third commented: “That’s a lie – you need to get to the airport so that’s a taxi or petrol to get there, flight, taxi to shops and back.”
Meanwhile, someone else joked: “Yes, great for the environment!”
However, at the same time, one Zara fan explained: “This is true, I saved around £120 this summer in Spain compared to the exact item in the UK.”
Great advice for a climate crisis
Instagram user
Whilst another fashionista wrote: “Craziness that it’s cheaper to go on a shopping haul two hours on a plane than it is to buy 20 minutes up the road. Plus it’s a fun day trip!”
Not only this, but one user questioned: “How do you claim the tax back?”
To this, Rob replied: “Just take your receipts to the airport. There’s big tax refund places.
“But in some of the bigger shops like Uniqlo – they have areas to do it in the store.”
Patrick Kielty’s wife Cat Deeley looks like vision in classy €115 frock that’s ideal for stylish spring office wear
PATRICK Kielty’s wife Cat Deeley has made a super stylish return to This Morning in a bright spring look.
The Birmingham beauty was back on screens alongside her usual co-host Ben Shephard for another fun-filled episode of cooking, interviews and fashion.
Cat is renowned for her trendy style on the hit ITV chat show and fans can’t get enough of her latest TV look.
The 47-year-old stepped out on air in a beautiful polka dot midi dress from Sosandar.
The fabulous frock had a timeless feminine silhouette with dreamy blouse sleeves and a ruffled hemline.
It also featured a high neckline with a classy cut out along the chest area and a chunky polka dot belt.
The Ivory & Black Spot Print Belted Fit Dress currently retails for €115 and is the perfect staple to have this spring.
Cat complimented her statement dress with a leather belt and a simple pair of black opaque tights.
The mum-of-two also added her favourite pair of black stiletto heels.
Cat looked stunning in photos she shared on her Instagram story before going live on air.
Her hair was styled in her signature wavy blow-dry and her makeup was glowing.
And the fashion doesn’t stop there, last week was a vision in a fabulous pair of wide leg blue denim jeans from Mint Velvet.
The classic denim jeans sat high on the waist and had a gradual flare, making for a totally figure-flattering silhouette.
The Indigo Wash Wide Jeans are the perfect staple to have in your wardrobe for any occasion – dressed up or down.
Priced at €120, the Mint Velvet jeans are currently available in multiple sizes on their website.
Cat decided to add an elegant cropped denim jacket to the mix – the perfect Canadian tuxedo.
DENIM DREAM
The gorgeous Indigo Denim Cropped Jacket had a crew neckline, puffed shoulders and silver buttoned cuffs.
There was also a four-pocket construction at the front with a button fastening through.
The statement piece retails for €137 and is the perfect match for the flared jeans.
The British star styled her outfit with her favourite pair of brown heeled knee-high boots.
Major €96 TV & broadband price blow for 600,000 Irish as exact date of money change & people not impacted revealed
THOUSANDS of Irish households are set to see a major jump in the cost of TV and broadband.
Sky Ireland has raised the price of its broadband and TV subscription services – a move estimated to hit around 600,000 households.
Customers will see their bills increase by up to €96 a year from the start of April, with broadband products to rise by €4 a month – or €48 a year – with the exception of the Sky 1Gb Fibre option.
There will then be a €3 rise per month on TV base packs, with a €2 rise per month for Sky Kids.
However, customers could also see an increase of €8 per month, leading to a total rise of €96 per year, which the rises are capped at.
The move is expected to be followed by Eir, Vodafone and Three Ireland, as each have a set percentage increase every April.
The total price hike is set to work out at an average of 4.5 per cent a year.
The new increases will not impact those who are still subject to promotional introductory terms.
Sky Ireland said in a statement: “In the coming weeks, we will notify our TV and broadband customers regarding a price increase that will come into effect from April 1, 2025.
“This price increase will impact our TV and broadband customers, with the average bill to rise by 4.5pc.”
They added that the new price hikes reflect the investment it made to improve its products and services.
They also said the increase is to help ease the costs they continue to see heighten.
They added: “We know price increases are never welcome and have tried to keep this increase as low as possible by absorbing costs where we can, while still providing our customers with as much value as possible for the services and content they know and love.”
Sky Ireland noted that they had recently made investments in new content.
They have also confirmed they are extending their existing sports rights.
Last year, Sky Ireland made a similar move which saw hundreds of thousands hit with price hikes.
Customers were hit with increased of around €52 this time last year.
In separate money news, it was announced as part of Budget 2025 that every household in Ireland would be receiving two lump sums towards their electricity.
This payment is automatically applied to your energy bill in the form of two €250 amounts.
The first payment was made in the last few weeks of 2024.
The next lump sum amount will be paid out to Irish customers before the end of February.
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You have 20/20 vision and a high IQ if you can spot the hidden heart in this Valentine’s Day optical illusion
SPOTTING the three cupids is easy, but only those who are really love-struck can find the hidden heart in this Valentine’s Day brainteaser.
Time to put your vision skills and IQ to the test and crack this tricky brainteaser as quickly as possible.
Can you spot the hidden heart in this Valentine’s Day optical illusion?[/caption]The image above is known as an optical illusion, meaning there could be other not-so obvious elements to be found.
The challenge here is to spot the hidden heart perfectly blended into this romantic scene.
Everyone can quickly see the three cupids among the flowers.
But only those with 20/20 vision and a high IQ can solve this mind-bending puzzle.
Are you able to find where the heart is or will you be left scratching your head?
It might seem a bit daunting at first, but the key is to carefully examine each section of the image.
You might wish to start from the top left corner of the image and work your way down, or maybe do the complete opposite – whatever gives you more confidence!
Another useful tactic is picking an element of the picture and analyse what’s around it.
How can optical illusions and brainteasers help me?
Engaging in activities like solving optical illusions and brainteasers can have many cognitive benefits as it can stimulate various brain regions.
Some benefits include:
- Cognitive stimulation: Engaging in these activities challenges the brain, promoting mental agility and flexibility.
- Problem-solving skills: Regular practice enhances analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
- Memory improvement: These challenges often require memory recall and can contribute to better memory function.
- Creativity: They encourage thinking outside the box, fostering creativity and innovative thought processes.
- Focus and attention: Working on optical illusions and brainteasers requires concentration, contributing to improved focus.
- Stress relief: The enjoyable nature of these puzzles can act as a form of relaxation and stress relief.
Did you manage to spot the spider hidden in this Valentine’s Day scene? If so, congratulations!
Still struggling to find it? Have a look at the solution image at the bottom to find out where it is.
Did you know that solving optical illusions is a great way of training your brain and improving creative thinking?
Brainteasers are purposefully designed to trick our vision and can be used as simple determiners of intelligence.
So you might want to try The Sun’s wide range of optical illusions created to stimulate the deepest parts of your brain.
In this tricky scene, everyone can see the messy bedroom, but finding the hidden spider is the real challenge.
Another tricky brainteaser features a gnarled tree but only those with high IQ can spot a sleepy cat hiding on it.
If that’s still not hard enough for you, then have a go at spotting the hidden broom amongst the clothes in less than five seconds.
Or you can have a go at figuring out the hidden message in this band’s cover art that has confused fans for years.
Lastly, puzzle fanatics have been left scratching their heads trying to find the lost feather in just 12 seconds.
It was in the bottom left of the picture![/caption] Can you find the hidden spider?[/caption] Spot the hidden heart under seven seconds[/caption] There it is! Were you quick enough to find it?[/caption] True lovers will be able to see the heart hanging on the tree[/caption]Gordon D’Arcy to lead Irish team in gruelling charity cycle in honour of rugby great who died from motor neurone disease
GORDON D’ARCY is taking part in a gruelling charity cycle from Dublin to Edinburgh in honour of the late Doddie Weir.
The Scottish rugby legend died at 52 in November 2022 after a five-year battle with motor neurone disease.
The My Name’5 Doddie Foundation was subsequently set up in his memory and raises vital funds for motor neurone disease (MND) research.
The charity has teamed up with former Ireland and Leinster centre Gordon D’Arcy for an 800-mile cycle, the proceeds from which will go to the foundation.
The 44-year-old will lead a squad of Irish riders as part of a 300-strong team cycling from Dublin to Edinburgh entitled ‘Doddie’s Grand Tour’.
D’Arcy will be joined by former Ireland international Paddy Johns and Ulster star Dennis McBride.
And he said: “This is about coming together to support a cause that affects so many lives.
“Doddie’s spirit of resilience and camaraderie continues to inspire us all, and we’re determined to push through every mile to raise as much as we can for MND research.
“The Irish rugby community has always stepped up in times of need, and I know that fans across Ireland and Scotland will unite once again to support this incredible initiative.
“Every donation takes us one step closer to finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for MND.”
‘Doddie’s Grand Tour’ will kick off at Dublin’s iconic Guinness Storehouse on Tuesday, February 5.
The first leg will see riders cycle more than 100 miles from Dublin to Belfast before crossing the Irish Sea to Cairnryan, where the Scottish route begins.
The rest of the contingent will then join and ride through Wigtownshire, Dumfries, the Scottish Borders, Glasgow, Perthshire, and up to Stonehaven before arriving in Edinburgh.
The cycle lines up in such a way that it will arrive at its destination this Saturday, the day of Ireland’s clash against Scotland in the Six Nations.
The event is spearheaded by former Scotland rugby captain and MND campaigner Rob Wainwright.
It is aiming to arrive on Saturday, February 8 ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations clash against Ireland the following day.
Wainwright has raised more than £2.5 million for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation through previous fundraising challenges.
And he commented: “The Scots and Irish have a special bond, and while we may not have been terribly close on the pitch in recent years, we’re thick as thieves off it.
“It’s fantastic to have Gordon, Paddy, and Dennis leading the charge from Dublin.
“The support from the Irish rugby community has been immense, and with the passion of the fans behind us, we know this year’s event will be another huge success.”
Paul Thompson, Director of Fundraising at My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, said: “Every penny raised through Doddie’s Grand Tour will go towards supporting the Foundation as we fund research we hope will develop effective treatments – and, ultimately, a cure for MND. We urge everyone to get behind this event and support the riders in any way they can.”
A host of sporting figures will also take part in the ride, including Iwan Tukalo, Paul Burnell, Roger Baird, Rory Lawson, Ryan Grant, Richie Vernon, Tony Copsey, Heather Stanning, Andy Nicol, Cameron Glasgow, and Ruaridh Jackson.
To donate to Doddie’s Grand Tour, visit here. For more information about My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, visit here.