There are, however, some wise and sensible alternatives to keeping the costs down but still keeping your pants and socks looking beautifully clean and smelling rhapsodically fresh.

Hand-washing

Hand-washing saves a great deal of money as it uses no electricity and considerably less water than a machine wash. It also allows you to focus more effort on clothes that are particularly dirty so there is less chance of having to re-wash. It's a very environmentally friendly thing to do, and can also quite therapeutic.

Use Less Detergent

Unless you've just been on a SAS training weekend, you don't need to chuck in half the bottle of detergent with your weekly wash. Detergent is expensive, and using too much of it can lead to skin irritation and other skin problems.

Re-wear Clothes

Unless you live in a tropical rainforest, a few hours in direct contact with flesh should not be enough to condemn a t-shirt to the wash basket. With a few obvious exceptions, re-wearing clothes does not make you a slob, and it could save you a significant amount of money.

Don't Underload

Don't put the washing machine on when you've got a wardrobe full of clean clothes just because that one shirt you want to wear is dirty. Seriously, you'd look just as good in the clean stuff. Washing just one or two items is a waste of water, electricity and hard-earned cash.

Cheaper Detergent

Maybe a cheaper detergent won't clean your clothes as well as your current detergent - but maybe it will. You haven’t sworn an allegiance to a particular brand and nobody will think any worse of your for trying out a different one, so experiment with different types of washing powders and softeners.

Homemade Detergent

Time-consuming? Yes. Money-saving? Definitely. The internet is littered with recipes for homemade detergent. So try them out. Like hand washing, it could save you a lot of money, and be quite therapeutic.

Energy Efficient Washing Machine

You go to the shop to buy a washing machine. You see two that you like. One's £100 cheaper but the other will cost £5 in electricity cost per usage. Which one do you buy? I think we all know the answer.

Concentrate

Give the act of washing clothes the attention it deserves. Acts of casual stupidity, forgetting to put detergent in and the like, cost money, especially when done frequently.

No Extra Rinse

Don't press buttons on your washing machine just because they're there. Extra rinse uses more water and therefore costs money. Unless you have sensitive skin, it's usually completely unnecessary and chomps through electricity like it’s going out of fashion.

Cooler Wash

"If it's not dirty wash at thirty" may have been drummed into all of heads to the point of monotony, but it still worth remembering. In fact, except in cases that the industry delicately refers to as "exceptional soiling" even cooler washes work too.

No Tumble Dryer

Tumble Driers use a lot of electricity. Drying clothes outside uses none, gives them that clean outdoor freshness, and it makes them smell nicer.

Repair, Don't Replace

If your washing machine does break down, it's best not to rush out a buy a new one straight away. It could be significantly cheaper to get it repaired. It may be cheaper to buy a new one, but if it isn't the potential saving could amount to hundreds of pounds.

Holidays. Nights out with friends. Music. Sport. These are the things you want to be spending money on - not washing clothes. So if you follow a few of these simple tips you might suddenly find you have a bit more money for the finer things in life. Not much, but maybe just enough to make all the difference.

Can you think of any other great ways to save money washing your clothes? Share your cash-savvy tips in the comments.

Alex McDonald is an enthusiastic newcomer to the world of blogging, and one that has recently taken an increased interest in controlling household expenditure. For repairs of household items, he recommends Ransom Spares.

As it gets colder, most of us just throw one on and move on with our day, but there’s more than one way to wear it that doesn’t make getting out the door any harder than it already is, and might get you a little more attention with the ladies. 

For those of you that wanna mix it up a bit—maybe to  impress that lady friend or maybe to disguise the fact that you wear the same hoodie every day—here are a few looks inspired by some of Hollywood’s manliest dudes.

The Rocky Balboa:

This is the classic pullover look, usually in a single, plain color. This look is athletic, and will tell women that you work out. Be careful with this one though, and try to make sure you don’t look like you’re about to mug someone (skip the beanie). Tom Hardy wears this too, and the guy played Bane. Can’t go wrong here.

The Gosling:

The ladies are all about Ryan Gosling these days, and his hoodie look is easy enough to imitate. Just throw a black leather jacket on over your zip-up, and you’ve made it happen. The ladies will imagine you driving them at high speeds in a sports car and will forget that you’re just a dude in a hoodie.  Badass and comfy as hell.

The Timberlake:

Think JT in The Social Network. Rock this Harvard prep look by throwing on a blazer over that tried-and-true hoodie. Dark blazers work particularly well for this, and like that hoodie, you can get away with owning just one. This is way better than denim, and a plus of this look is that you can look pretty classy without even throwing on a tie. You’re practically a gentleman.

The Gyllenhaal:

Have a favorite graphic tee? Just throw that hoodie on over it, and you’re good to go. Can it get any easier? Seriously, no effort here. Mixing up that undershirt can even make it look like you’ve changed since yesterday (even if you pulled that shirt out of the dirty clothes pile). Remember, though—smell it first, bro.

The Reynolds:

Don’t feel like putting on a shirt too? There’s always the quintessential chest-hair look. Ryan was undershirtless in The Change-Up, but it’s a little Burt Reynolds in Deliverance too. (Minus the leather and the bow.) There’s really nothing manlier than showing off a little of the man fuzz, so embrace it. Keep in mind that this might not be the best choice for work—or for a nice date. See “The Gosling” for best results.

The hoodie can and should be the thing you wear all through fall, but remember that you’ve got options. If you’re gonna wear it every day, mix it up.  And remember, there’s no harm in owning more than one, even if they’re the same color. The chicks dig clean looking dudes.

Sammy Weston is a 28-year-old writer living in Boston, Massachusetts. Throughout his life Sammy always maintained a strong affinity for men’s fashion and has set out to share his fashionista wisdom with the world. 

In the modern era, the tendency to wear tight-fitting pants or skinny pants was made popular in the middle of the 20th century when well-liked and iconic figures, such as actors, actresses and musicians started to wear them, including the heartthrob of millions in her era (and even now), Marilyn Monroe.

The Influence Of Music In Skinny Jeans Fashion

Throughout the second half of the 20th century well-known musicians, particularly country and rock musicians, including Elvis Presley, who was also an icon of his time, wore this type of clothing. This could be one of the simplest reasons behind the popularity of skinny jeans today – people just love to look like those they idolise.

People have often got the impression and generally accepted the point of view that wearing skinny jeans makes one look like the stereotypical and proverbial ‘bad boy’, especially when it comes to any discussion about this trend amongst men and boys of a younger age. In addition to this, musicians and public figures continued to wear such jeans through the 70s, 80s and 90s. We shouldn’t forget that fashion trends are often spearheaded by such people who often feature in the advertisements of different items of clothing, and are one of the main reasons behind the ever-growing popularity of skinny jeans.

It is widely accepted that wearing tight pants, be it skinny jeans or some other form of clothing, makes one look slim and fashionable, as opposed to wearing loose fitting and baggy trousers or jeans. Amongst both men and women, but especially ladies, there is the idea that it makes them look more attractive and desirable to the members of the opposite sex, so make sure you’re picking your style for the right reasons.

Make Sure You Make A Sensible Choice And Look Good!

The modern version of skinny jeans made of denim probably arose to prominence around or after the year 2000 when denim clothing started to become more popular than ever before. These tight fitting pants depict youthfulness and tend to give the wearer a stylish and a lean look, making them extremely desirable. Moreover, it is obvious that skinny jeans require less quantity of fabric because they’re smaller, meaning many manufacturers therefore prefer skinny jeans over loose fitting jeans these days, since it helps them cut their costs.

Keep in mind, however, that just like any other item, accessory, or fashion trend, wearing skinny jeans is not for everyone. It requires a certain type of a physique, as it simply doesn’t look good on people of every size. For example, if someone is overweight or overly muscular, skinny jeans should probably not be the first choice although it all comes down to the choice of that person. People sometimes wear whatever latest ‘in’ thing is and whatever the newest trends are, just for the sake of adhering to them, and that is not how it should ideally be.

Skinny jeans have been around for well over a century in some form, although the term ‘skinny jeans’ itself has not been around for that long. As with many other trends of fashion, the fashion of wearing skinny jeans emerged and then disappeared from time to time, however it has consistently returned to the forefront of style.

 In the modern era, the tendency to wear tight-fitting pants or skinny pants was made popular in the middle of the 20th century when well-liked and iconic figures, such as actors, actresses and musicians started to wear them, including the heartthrob of millions in her era (and even now), Marilyn Monroe.

The Influence Of Music In Skinny Jeans Fashion

Throughout the second half of the 20th century well-known musicians, particularly country and rock musicians, including Elvis Presley, who was also an icon of his time, wore this type of clothing. This could be one of the simplest reasons behind the popularity of skinny jeans today – people just love to look like those they idolise.

People have often got the impression and generally accepted the point of view that wearing skinny jeans makes one look like the stereotypical and proverbial ‘bad boy’, especially when it comes to any discussion about this trend amongst men and boys of a younger age. In addition to this, musicians and public figures continued to wear such jeans through the 70s, 80s and 90s. We shouldn’t forget that fashion trends are often spearheaded by such people who often feature in the advertisements of different items of clothing, and are one of the main reasons behind the ever-growing popularity of skinny jeans.

It is widely accepted that wearing tight pants, be it skinny jeans or some other form of clothing, makes one look slim and fashionable, as opposed to wearing loose fitting and baggy trousers or jeans. Amongst both men and women, but especially ladies, there is the idea that it makes them look more attractive and desirable to the members of the opposite sex, so make sure you’re picking your style for the right reasons.

Make Sure You Make A Sensible Choice And Look Good!

The modern version of skinny jeans made of denim probably arose to prominence around or after the year 2000 when denim clothing started to become more popular than ever before. These tight fitting pants depict youthfulness and tend to give the wearer a stylish and a lean look, making them extremely desirable. Moreover, it is obvious that skinny jeans require less quantity of fabric because they’re smaller, meaning many manufacturers therefore prefer skinny jeans over loose fitting jeans these days, since it helps them cut their costs.

Keep in mind, however, that just like any other item, accessory, or fashion trend, wearing skinny jeans is not for everyone. It requires a certain type of a physique as it simply doesn’t look good on people of every size. For example, if someone is overweight or overly muscular, skinny jeans should probably not be the first choice although it all comes down to the choice of that person. People sometimes wear whatever latest ‘in’ thing is and whatever the newest trends are, just for the sake of adhering to them, and that is not how it should ideally be.

Tim Cashmore is one of the hottest skinny jeans designers in the world, hoping to let everyone know just where the skinny jeans trend began.

Pac-Man / Ms. Pac Man

Never could you have imagined using a joystick to control a floating head around a maze eating dots and fruit while running from colorful ghosts could be as addicting as this, but Pac Man was easily the first addicting game (sorry Angry Birds!).  Ms. Pac Man; released in 1980, and 1981 respectively by Bally Midway, amped up the offerings by adding strategy to the game rather than aimlessly running around. There was a method to the madness if you were clever enough to figure it out.

Donkey Kong

It is said to be the game that sent Nintendo on a path to industry domination—and you all thought it was the plumber and his brother but this is the game that introduces Mario as well, shows how much you know—Donkey Kong originated in arcade machines in 1981, according to Ask Men. Mario was not Mario in the game, but was called Jumpman, probably because he spent the entire game scaling stages while dodging barrels being hurled at him by Donkey Kong as he attempted to save the princess. Oh, and he wasn’t a plumber either—Mario was originally a carpenter, go figure!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Released in 1989, this street fighting game was the absolute ultimate in its time because the TMNT could not be more popular among kids. “Turtle Power” was the name of the game and publisher Konami certainly was able to cash in on it with this game where you got to run around kicking as much tail as possible—so much button mashing! And let’s not forget the frustration of the skateboard levels and the massive amount of quarters sunk on those levels!

Frogger

Like Pac Man, this 1981 classic is highly addictive. The premise is simple, you drop a quarter in one of the Frogger arcade machines and your little frog just wants to cross the street, easy enough. And then, mayhem erupts. Suddenly, the streets become like the seven circles of Dante’s hell for this poor little frog and you have to help him dodge cars, snakes, alligators (what are alligators doing in the street anyways?), and more before he can get to safety on the other side.

Which arcade classic is your favorite?

Tony is an avid gamer and likes to review games and share his opinions with readers.

That wouldn’t be such a bad idea, considering the increasing popularity of culinary festivals in general and beer festivals in particular. Would you be surprised to learn that beer festivals are currently more popular than those for wine? If you are thinking of running your own festival, there’s a lot to consider. Make sure you get the basics covered like a venue, local suppliers, liquor licensing, Wellington boot rental (if you’re planning an open air event!) and even portable amenities (that’s toilets to the rest of us). Read on, for some inspiration.

Who Runs Beer Festivals?

Often small beer festivals are organised by pub or bar owners looking to build their client base, or to establish their reputation as a purveyor of quality ale. Larger festivals tend to be held by brewer’s guilds, local councils, enthusiastic groups of micro-brewers, or simply fans of good beer.

Oktoberfest Version Two?

There’s no rule that says every beer festival has to be in September and lederhosen are certainly not obligatory. It is a good idea however to have a theme for your festival and stick to it. One great theme is to focus on small local breweries and get them involved. Not only does this support local businesses but people enjoy sampling local produce. Consider creating a competition atmosphere by judging the best beer at the festival.

Beer O’Clock

Choosing when to have your festival is very important. National holidays and long weekends are a great time, particularly in late spring, summer and early autumn. If there are any national evening events, such as fireworks displays, then make the most of the party atmosphere. However, it is a good idea to ensure that no other big events are taking place that will adversely impact upon your numbers.

Where’s the Beer?

Don’t be afraid to start small. It can be difficult to estimate the number of visitors you are likely to see and even more difficult to estimate the amount of beer they will consume! Talk to local micro-brewers who may well be experienced with the regional festivals. They will also be able to give you information on the types of beers they supply, so that you can ensure you have a good range available for your visitors to try. Try to make sure there is something for all tastes. If you are planning a family event, ensure there are plenty of soft drinks available for children and any designated drivers. Also having food onsite as it is always popular and will encourage visitors to stay longer.

If you choose to have your event outside, take the conditions into account. If it is likely to be wet, ensure you have adequate cover for your visitors. If it is likely to be particularly hot, ensure you have adequate coolers for the beer!

Willing Volunteers

You would be amazed how many people are willing to give up their free time on the promise of free entry to a beer festival and a few perks. As well as a few free bottles, commemorative t-shirts can often prove to be a deal clincher. Ideally look for volunteers who know a thing or two about brewing and are passionate about beer – and not just drinking it!

The Legal Bit

Depending upon local laws and your choice of venue, you will almost certainly require a license to sell alcohol. This will be known as either a ‘special’ or ‘temporary’ licence. It is essential for an event coordinator to investigate local regulations and begin the application process as soon as possible. If you intend to hold the event on a site with an existing license, make sure to discuss your needs and the terms of the license with the venue’s representatives.

Pipa Rose is a blogger who’s been to her fair share of beer festivals. If you are planning an event in or around Wellington New Zealand, make sure you look into liquor licensing Wellington.

You might choose a tee that allows you to be passive-aggressive. Maybe you're mad at your mom and won't tell her so you happen to wear a t-shirt to her house that says, "If It's Not One Thing It's Your Mother". The point is, shirts can do the talking for us. The words make a statement while we quietly go about our business. Choose your message carefully because you might have to explain your choices. With their messages, a funny T-shirt can relax almost any atmosphere.

Funny shirts have the ability to make light of things. A crying baby might wear a funny tee that justifies his noisy attitude with, "Rebel Without a Nap". Or an older gentleman might proclaim his status in life with "Retired and Young at Heart". A pregnant woman might explain her expanding waistline with a picture of cookies and the headline: "Stuffed with Double Trouble".

Others may choose to announce their hobbies, profession, or romantic status. Many funny tees pay tribute to a recent vacation or rock concert. Weekend wear often incorporates photos of babies, pets, and cars. T-shirts often provide viewers with a snap judgment of your interests based on your attire. Some display popular cartoon characters and still others become a marketing tool as a wearable form of advertisement.

Many folks wear their favorite sports teams and designer logos in addition to funny sayings. Some of the best shirts combine humor with promotional clothing. A good example of this was the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals Rally Squirrel. During a game, this soon-to-become famous American gray squirrel ran across home plate and became something of a celebrity. Thousands of St. Louis Cardinals funny tees were sold on behalf of the Rally Squirrel.

Often, colorful graphics accompany funny phrases. With cartoons added to your slogan, banter may happily ensue when you approach likeminded folks. Funny and cute T-shirts are very popular and great conversation starters. If you're not talented with making up your own wearable lyrics, there are plenty of companies that sell great pieces of clothing to match your personality or mood.

You can walk into any mall and find funny T-shirts with interesting messages and silly graphics. With the advances in technology, finding the right shirt for you has become simple. If you don't see find what you're seeking at the mall, an online search will result in a treasure trove of possibilities. In the instance where the message or phrase is impossible to find, you can create it yourself with websites such as CafePress.com.

A funny T-shirt sends a message about who you are and what you're about. With your clothing you might reveal your favorite baseball team or your political views. With hilarious designs and phrases, funny tees can also spark conversation. They can be funny, cute and sarcastic, but hopefully not offensive. You want to make your audience laugh at your shirt, not cringe. Be smart, and have fun with your message!

Funny T-shirts can deliver humor, advertisement, or both. Your own personality is injected into the words plastered across your torso, so choose your mood and your message wisely. The best way to show off your hot fashion sense is to wear a funny tee that tells it like it is!

Slogan tops can actually give you a great way in which to express yourself and your mood, albeit one that’s a bit more obvious than simply choosing a color or a pattern for the day. Celebrities use slogan tees for sending a message to ex-partners who’ve cheated or former friends who’ve sold stories about them, as well as to tell the paparazzi to back off. They also use them for good causes, such as to promote issues or charities that are important to them. Others simply enjoy slogan tees as a fashion statement.

If you want to dip your toe in the trend for slogan tops, here are the essential dos and don’ts you need to know:

• Do choose something that expresses a bit of yourself. Sure, you can simply choose slogan tees that you like the look of, or you’ve seen your favorite celebrity wearing, but the best slogan tops are the ones that say a little something about yourself. It might be your mood that day or how you’re feeling about something that’s going on in your life, a reference to one of your favorite films or books or maybe an inside joke. It could even be a slogan that simply expresses your attitude to life or a part of your personality. Just have some fun with it!

• Don’t wear slogan tops to work. Even if yours doesn’t say anything offensive, it is still likely to be considered inappropriate or unprofessional by your bosses. You can pull it off on a dress-down day, but never for a big meeting.

• Do keep the rest of your look a bit grown-up. Teaming women’s sweat shirts and T-shirts bearing slogans with something that is neutral and maybe a bit more grown-up is the perfect way to create an interesting outfit. In fashion, clashing and mixing styles is the key to creating unique looks, so have a rummage around in your wardrobe to see how you can style up your slogan tee.

• Don’t choose anything too controversial, unless you are prepared for lots of attention. Offensive or controversial slogan tees might seem fun, but you will find that you’ll get lots of people coming up to you when wearing one. You might even get turned away from a shop or restaurant. As a last point, you might want to avoid areas where children are likely to be if your slogan tee is a bit shocking – save it for a night out instead.

Christien Felton writes for Fashion Union retailer of women's fashion online.