Thermomix (£1089, Vorwerk) - I cannot cook for the life of me, my fiancé kept asking me to cook his dinners and I was hearing more and more about the Thermomix. It’s a game changer, with their ‘Cookidoo’ app I have access to thousands of recipes, and can cook something I know will taste amazing. It chops for me, weighs for me, tells me what I need to put in when, cooks for me (as a hob would, you still need an oven) and even orders my shopping for me! I’ve cooked beef stroganoff, empanadas, fettuccini pasta amongst other concoctions, when previously putting chicken nuggets in the oven was a stretch. Given we want our kitchen renovated so have a 2/3 broken oven, our Thermomix combined with our air fryer we have a fully functioning kitchen! It’s also given me the confidence to try other recipes such as making a mozzarella, basil and tomato Christmas wreath, and mini pizzas using blinis. Everyone has loved the food I’ve cooked using the Thermomix and had no complaints - so recommend! The one downside is there’s so many receipts on the app I find it hard to filter down to ones I’d be interested in making, but it is super easy to tailor things to my fussy taste buds once I’ve found something.

Business class flights to Maldives - free on Amex points. I am a terrible flyer, I hate planes, the only thing that helps me through is if there’s a free set of seats and I can stretch out across them. With our Amex Platinum card we can use our Amex points to get a business class seat and use our companion voucher so that we get another (all depending on availability). Given my nerves on a long haul flight, I actually began to look forward to it, as I didn’t even know we were taking off since I’m in a pod in the middle of the plane, so unable to look out of the window, with my headphones in watching the screen. I’m not cramped in, I can sleep, I have my routine to change into my plane pyjamas. Accumulating the points in theory isn’t cheap, but if you keep on top of card deals, getting particular cards can get you a hundred thousand points, and if you keep changing according to the deal they rack up quickly. If you use the BA e-store, you can get 8 points for every £1 you spend on booking.com, so large purchase holidays helps you accumulate points too. Just keep looking out for points deals. Also to get the business class seats, phone up/look 355 days in advance at midnight - that’s when eh flights come out so gets you the best chance of getting a seat. You have to be very organised about your holidays, though sometimes more seats become available closer to the trip, but if you are, another great benefit is often First Class is less points than business so keep a look out for that!!!

Peloton (£500, second hand, Facebook Marketplace)

On our office days, we were finding it really hard to workout, I had quite weak legs so began going to spin classes when I could after work, but they got cancelled/were at inconvenient times. We thought about getting a peloton, but were unsure how much we’d use it, given we’d recently sold things on Facebook Marketplace and knew we were trustworthy people, we thought there may be some others like us on there - we managed to get the bike which retails at around £1400 for £500, I use it once a week, my fiancé uses it a couple of times and it just helps ensure the cardio gets done!

Treadmill (£179, onBuy)

As the winter months roll in, it’s soaking wet, freezing and dark, my usual two daily walks are not pleasurable, so I’ve got a treadmill that I can put under my desk whilst I work/put in front of the telly in the evenings so I can get my steps in whilst doing what I’d be doing anyway!

Pilates by Bryony

I have done every single challenge this year. I found 6 days a week quite a time commitment every week, plus going to the gym on top and having a reformer pilates machine at home. However, her body is amazing, I watched her from afar for a while, and just love how she focuses on the breath, the challenges keep me committed to doing pilates as I feel like I’ve achieved and her workouts serve more as meditation as they’re so heavily focused around the breath. My abs are also so much better, and because she does a challenge every month, just doing the challenges means you do SO much pilates in your life - you can also often just do 15 minute sessions if you struggle to fit in her full challenge workout, it’s literally a game changer. A quick tip - she does a mega black Friday deal, so keep a lookout for this in November.

Thick carpet (Cormar Carpet Sensations Orchid)

My house is an ice box, the heating is terrible, but as we’re going to renovate there wasn’t loads we could do. However we bought new thick carpets, Cormar Carpets in Sensations Orchid, it is so thick and luxurious for the hallway we’re keeping. Then in the rooms where the carpet is a total mess, we bought a cheaper cream carpet, and then put the thickest fluffiest cream rug on top, it feels os nice on your feet and our heating has just amplified no end. If you have no budget I would highly recommend Billie Faiers from Borough Carpets

Black leather trousers (£49, Sosander)

My trouser wardrobe game was weak, I’ll be honest. So I had to invest in some trousers that weren’t tracksuit bottoms or workout leggings as they didn’t cut it anymore post COVID, I invested in some smart wet look leggings and they just elevate any outfit, add on a pair of boots and you just look so smart effortlessly

White jeans (£89, The White Company)

Again, since COVID I haven’t touched jeans, insistent they’re not comfy, given I only had Ted Baker skinny jeans (which I love). I was then introduced to the Brompton jean by The White Company, they are sooo comfortable, I now have them in blue and white, it just makes a casual look, look so much smarter wearing jeans rather than tracksuit bottoms - another staple in a capsule wardrobe.

Lucinda Riley Seven Sisters Book Series (£49.99, Amazon)

Finally, I know I’m late to the table on this one but I finally got round to reading The Seven sisters, after my Mum, aunts and cousins, and cousins wives recommended it. It is the most enchanting tale of escapism, learning about history wrapped up in beautiful tales from the modern day. This will be going in the book club and will be in there for the next however many months until I finish the books. Whilst each story is long, they are so beautiful. Having started in October, I’m now on book 4 (considering they’re 670+ pages each and I’ve read other books in between) and cannot wait for the rest!