Four Reasons Why We Should Do Our Bit for Small Businesses

Today we look at the crucial role small businesses play in bringing prosperity and personality to our high streets.

Small businesses in and around Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and Rushden have played a vital part in helping our community to get through the pandemic, so it’s no wonder that many of us are feeling a lot of love for local firms right now.

A new survey has found 59% of Brits say they support local businesses now more than they did pre-Covid-19.

The research, commissioned … Continue Reading…

Who is in Your Christmas Bubble?

In this two-minute read, we look at this week’s Christmas announcements mean to households in Northamptonshire.

This year has been filled with anguish and anxiety for many of us.

But the news that came out last week around successful vaccines and yesterday’s announcement of the temporary relaxation around social distancing rules over Christmas has cheered up many of us.

And in true Christmas miracle fashion, it’s got the four national governments of the UK to take a united approach.

For five days, people have the … Continue Reading…

Let’s Look Out for Each Other’s Mental Health This Winter

We look at six ways people in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough and Rushden can look after their mental health and that of their loved ones as we head into winter.

In early November, a week after the clocks went back, there was a spike in the UK’s highest levels of acute loneliness during the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics.

A BBC report claimed that the longer, darker evenings had led to 8% of adults saying they were feeling “always, or often … Continue Reading…

Should Landlords in Wellingborough, Irthlingborough & Rushden, Allow Tenants to Keep Pets?

Should tenants be allowed to keep pets in rental properties? It’s a thorny subject that is back in the spotlight after an MP called for landlords to be more flexible on the issue.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell argues that preventing tenants from being with their beloved pet companion is cruel and discriminatory.

“For most people, being separated from your dog is really no different than being separated from your brother or your sister,” he says.

Mr Rosindell has put forward a bill that … Continue Reading…

Planning to Sell Your Home in 2021? Then Read This Before Your Christmas Decorations Go Up

We look at why people planning to sell in 2021 should act now to take advantage of the traditional surge in interest from serious buyers.

If you’re contemplating putting your home on the market next year, there’s one thing you can do right now to maximise your chances of getting a great deal.

Before you get carried away in a giddy rush of festive fever and adorn your house in flashing lights and sparkly tinsel, take a deep breath and pause for … Continue Reading…

Let’s Get Moving – The Importance of Regular Exercise

We look at the benefits of exercising and why it could be easier than you think to get moving again.

We’ve been through some historically uncertain times this year.

But with the recent announcements around the highly promising vaccines to combat Covid-19, brighter times have appeared on the global horizon.

During this period of uncertainty, one thing has become crystal clear, and that’s the importance of exercising regularly for your mind and body.

According to the NHS, the benefits include:

Reducing stress levels

Strengthening your immunity

Maintaining … Continue Reading…

Celebrating World Kindness Day – Friday 13th November

Friday the 13th is usually viewed with suspicion given its ‘unlucky for some’ label.

But this year’s vintage is a time to celebrate and cast aside any superstitions and celebrate World Kindness Day.

And 2020 is certainly the year where kindness and community spirit were needed like never before.

World Kindness Day started in Tokyo in 1998 and has since grown into a global movement of doing nice things for others.

At Richard James, we want to take this opportunity to celebrate the kindness and … Continue Reading…

Wellbeing Wednesday: Five Healthy Eating Tips for People

Many of us turn to food when we’re bored or stressed, so it’s no wonder that the pandemic has played havoc with so many people’s waistlines.

Spending lots of time at home this year, amid ongoing uncertainty, has meant that bad habits have crept in. Do any of these descriptions resonate with you?

The all-day grazer: Mid-morning you reach for the biscuit tin and then keep going – and going. You eat little and often (by that we mean almost constantly) and … Continue Reading…

Government Announces New Rule on Evictions During Lockdown 2

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has announced a ban on bailiffs carrying out eviction enforcement during the lockdown in all but the most serious of cases.

While the courts are continuing to hear eviction cases, under the new rules announced last week as England returned to lockdown, bailiff enforcement action cannot be implemented until January 11, 2021, “at the earliest”.

Mr Jenrick says the move protects those who have found themselves in financial difficulty through no fault of their own “while ensuring landlords … Continue Reading…

Five Ways Homebuyers Can Plan Their Move in Advance

Moving can be stressful ­– some people rate it right up there with divorce in the aggravation stakes – but there are ways you can take the drama and disruption out of the process.

The first step is to acknowledge that buying a new home is likely to be one of the biggest purchases you make in your lifetime.

And if you plan to sell a property to fund your next move, you’re effectively carrying out two incredibly important transactions in one … Continue Reading…