How to cook the perfect jacket potato in an oven

For the fluffiest centre, you need to begin with the right potato. I usually plump for large (200g-250g) Maris Pipers or King Edwards, which are easy to find and offer a wonderful, soft interior and crispy skin when baked well. I’m also keen to try the new Nemo potato, which is said to cook more […]

How to serve up a special supper for two

I had to cook meals that were special and put flowers on the table. I started to make a list of dishes that would be a treat but that didn’t require too much work. A bit of luxury – scallops, steak, wild mushrooms – was in order. A bowl of pasta, unless it was unusual […]

Election banter in the workplace? Here’s how to handle it

With Election Day merely hours away, contentious conversations at work may be reaching a fever pitch. If this gives you agita, you’re not alone. According to a September survey from HR data provider Brightmine, nearly 2 in 5 American workers have experienced a political disagreement with a work colleague and nearly 1 in 5 workers […]

How to prepare your online accounts for when you die

LONDON — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die? It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take […]

How to create a coffee corner in your kitchen

Set the mood Paul Firmin and Niko Dafkos, founders of lifestyle brand Earl of East, are so fanatical about the brown stuff that their trio of London stores features coffee counters; on their website, a dedicated Cafe Core section is stocked with Scandi-cool mugs and containers. In their own home, they have recreated the café ambience with mood […]

How to incentivize your kid to start investing for retirement

Momo Productions | Stone | Getty Images Once you’ve decided that opening a Roth individual retirement account for your child is a great idea, now comes the hard part: convincing the child to save for a far-off retirement instead of spending that hard-earned money.  I have some ideas for making the case to your child.  […]

How to give to Hurricane Milton

Communities in Florida still reeling from the impact of Hurricane Helene are now also grappling with the still-unfolding damage from Hurricane Milton. The storm crashed into a community south of Tampa, drenching counties with torrents of rain, downing power lines and bridges and kicking up dangerous storm surges. Here is some advice from experts about […]

How to wear the ‘soft goth’ trend in midlife

Silk blouse, £620, Irish Twin; Velvet trousers, £160, Aspiga; Leather heeled mule, £150, Jigsaw; Gold plated earrings, £170, Polene It’s not just movie star style that is driving the soft goth trend, there’s also a broader pop cultural context at play. Sarra Manning – a former teenage goth, now novelist and Literary Editor of Red magazine – explains that soft […]

How to achieve money satisfaction, from a financial psychologist

Many Americans believe they need to earn a certain dollar amount to feel rich. But even if they hit that goal or surpass it, they may be disappointed to find out they still don’t feel satisfied with their finances, says Charles Chaffin, co-founder of the Financial Psychology Institute and a professor at Iowa State University. […]