AN experienced gardener has shared a method that allows her to grow more crops with less space.

A handy app helped her figure out which plants grew well together and which didn’t.

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Sabrina (@sabrina.duurzaam.leven) shared the gardening advice in a TikTok video.

She passed on her wisdom so that beginners did not have to waste their time and energy.

“Something I wish I knew before I started gardening that would have made the process so much easier, and that is the square foot gardening method,” she said.

Her hack required rope, a staple gun, a tape measure and scissors.

She divided her raised garden bed into one-foot squares with twine.

“[It will help me grow so much more food in less space,” she said.

“How it works is for each square of the garden bed you will plant a certain number of seeds or plants depending on the space required for each plant.”

To help her plan her garden and make sure different plants worked well next to each other, she used the Planter app.

With the app, she created a visual of her garden, including its size and the plants she’s growing.

Best of all, the app will help the gardener maximize their space and make sure the plants have enough room.

“It will tell you how much space is required for them,” she said.

“For example, it will show you that a tomato plant will actually take up four squares whereas you can plant four lettuces or 16 carrots in each square.”

For trickier plants, the app also came with a built-in companion and combative feature.

“This app also tells you which plants are companion plants and which are combative which is super helpful,” she said.

Sabrina shared an additional tip that allowed her to harvest crops all season.

“I like to plant half in the square now and the other half later so everything doesn’t mature at once and you can have a continual harvest,” she said.

“With this method, you are able to grow more than traditional row gardens because you are planting crops closer together which maximizes spaces and yield.”

The method also required less maintenance overall, with less weeding and watering.

Gardeners thanked her for her sage advice.

“This is EVERYTHING! You just saved my sanity! I’m about to plan out where to plant this afternoon and now I’m so much less overwhelmed,” said one commenter.

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AN interior designer has shared her flawless plant arrangement for the veranda.

For a lush but low-maintenance welcome, she replaced all her plants with faux greenery from Amazon.

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Jessica (@missjessicanicoblog) shared the design advice in a TikTok video.

She decided to upgrade to fake plants after ‘giving up’ real plants.

“I find it very difficult to keep plants alive on this porch,” she explained.

“I’m saving more innocent plant lives and using fake Amazon stems to make my own.”

To simulate the illusion of real plants, she stuffed her large planter with boxes to compensate for most of the height.

For the remaining space at the top, she filled in the gaps with foam green blocks.

The last piece of the puzzle was a bundle $25 fern stems from Amazon, who glued them to the foam blocks until they looked full and natural.

She made sure all areas where the foam blocks were visible were covered and was happy with the game-changer makeover.

“I absolutely love it and I love it even more that I don’t have to worry about keeping it alive,” she joked.

Those who didn’t have a green thumb understood her struggle and praised her creative solution.

‘Genius! And I know I won’t kill him!’ said one commenter.

“The only plants I can keep alive,” joked another.

Jessica even had a solution to make the plants look as realistic as possible.

One commenter was skeptical of the tip because they were concerned about how legitimate the plants might look.

“Until they fade and look plastic. I only use them in winter,” they said.

“I could try injecting them with Sunguard!” Jessica replied.

Many were happy after trying the trick for themselves.

“I did this, but with artificial boxwood, because I had already killed two and couldn’t take the money used to replace them,” said one commenter.

“So happy with it!”

“I love it! I did the same and two years later I still have beautiful looking plants,” said another.

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A GARDENER revealed the method they avoided, which always leaves plants a week away from death.

Instead, they lived by a “three strikes” rule that saved time and energy.

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The Redditor u/jelliknacht shared their gardening tips and tricks with beginners.

For those who worried about failure, they explained that failure was inevitable yet valuable.

“Every failure is a lesson,” they said.

Their advice to use large self-watering pots was hoped to reduce rookie mistakes.

“When you see pictures in magazines and on the Internet of piles of leaves coming out of small pots, that’s what they are lies” they explained.

“Or at least rarities. Suppose the underground part of your plant is about the same size as the above-ground part.”

Jelliknight added that gardening is a numbers game and you always have to be careful if you want to bear fruit.

Rather than experience disappointment when store-bought seedlings die, they planted as many seeds as possible to increase the odds of success.

“Start with seeds. It’s the cheapest way to garden. And you will do so for many years to come,” they said.

“Those seedlings from garden centers have been pampered, shaded, hardened, fertilized, watered several times a day and watched with an expert eye; they are not at all prepared for the harsh realities of life in a noob’s garden.

“Four dollars for one seedling that will permanently die or two dollars for 100 seeds is not a difficult choice.”

One season the gardener planted more than 60 tomato seeds, but was rewarded with only two seedlings.

“Another year I got about two dozen seedlings, I only got fruit from about four plants. Assume you’re going to fail and be pleasantly surprised if you don’t,” they said.

To make their plants successful, they also avoided planting them in containers as this can be restrictive compared to planting in the ground.

“Growing in containers sucks. It just is. In the soil you have water stored, nutrients just hanging around, good insects and worms, in a container you have exactly what you put in it,” they explained.

“Everything is always about a week away from death and the few tomatoes I have taken from containers never taste as good as those from the ground.”

Other tips, such as growing smaller fruit, figuring out what grows best locally, and only growing what you can eat, increased their success rate and reduced waste.

Even when the going gets tough, Jelliknight wasn’t above giving up.

“I have a three-strikes rule. If I try to grow something three times and fail, I give up and try something else,” they revealed.

“There are some things my neighbors can grow, but I just can’t. There’s no point in going uphill trying to find something that will grow in your plot.”

A BEAUTY fan has shared her trick for prepping eyebrows instead of using makeup.

The hack helped her hair grow faster and brushed it into place.

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Corabelle (@corabelleofficial) shared the beauty tip in a TikTok video.

As she got ready for her day, she decided not to wear eyebrow makeup.

Instead, she opted for hair growth oil to get the job done.

“Realizing that you can use hair growth oil instead of filling in your eyebrows because it looks better,” she said.

Using a thin-tipped brush, she ran the oil over individual brow hairs, parting each hair as if she had run it over with a fork.

“I joke that it looks better, but it does help your eyebrows grow like crazy!” she said.

Other beauty fans have turned to growth serums instead of makeup to revamp their brows.

Shoppers raved about a popular beauty deal, a $20 Dersie Rapid Brow Serumthat worked to restore their thin hair.

“I over-plucked and tried to grow my eyebrows back for years,” said one reviewer.

“This product has helped fill in the gaps that I thought were lost forever.

“I have sensitive skin and haven’t had any problems with this serum other than maybe a little drying, so I moisturize in the morning.

“I apply this product every night before bed. The hairs have definitely gotten thicker and are growing much faster, so I have to tame them more often, but I am very pleased with the results.”

Another satisfied customer thought the serum ‘worked like magic’.

“My eyebrows have never looked so full,” they said.

“It’s easy to apply and it’s worth your money. Highly recommended.”

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A GYPSY who built his empire from scratch has revealed a three-step method anyone can use to make millions.

Billionaire Alfie Best, 53, has worked his way to wealth for decades, and has had many setbacks along the way.

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But Alfie’s journey to become known as Britain’s richest gypsy has made him want to inspire others.

And now he is offering the British a helping hand by giving advice on how to reach the top financially.

Alfie told The Sun: “Don’t get me wrong, success comes and goes – it could be with us today, it could leave us tomorrow and I’m very aware of that.

“We always have to keep working on it, but if we want it bad enough, we will be there to make it happen with them.”

He added that he believes people already need the right “mindset.”

The 53-year-old continued: “We don’t all have to be David Beckham, Tyson Fury, Ronaldo – we don’t all have to be because we’re not built as athletes.

“We’re all built in different ways. You know we have to do what we love because you’ll never work another day. It’s so true: If you don’t love it, don’t do it.”

Alfie says there are three key steps people can take to become millionaires – and he knows it works.

The father explained that people should “take a step back, not forward” – analyzing where you are with simple cash flow; look at where the losses are going out and where the revenue streams are coming in.

He said: ‘Because what’s happening in today’s society, companies are all trying to get us on the merry-go-round of making monthly payments on our money, our insurance, our mortgages and our rent.

“It’s about conditioning yourself and once you’ve done that, look at where the revenue comes from and where you can massage that to increase it and get that business for your customers.”

Alfie explained that he’s been getting that advice in speeches for years – and one man recently revealed that he had followed it, and it has paid off.

The billionaire explained that he gave a speech in Dubai last year and there was a question and answer session at the end – then a man from London stood up.

Alfie continued: “He had come there to invest in property in Dubai.

“He said, ‘You may not remember me, but you gave a speech two years ago in Birmingham. I was in an extremely difficult position and my company was about to go bankrupt. You didn’t know that at the time, but I asked you what you wanted to do.” would do if there was a particular difficult time.’

“And I remember that was the advice I gave him.”

The billionaire explained that the man then thanked him and said his “business is now thriving, not just barely surviving.”

Alfie says it was then that he decided he wanted to make a difference in people – and that’s why he’s launching now Best prosperity network.

He explained that it is an initiative for people who want to know how to generate a better income, adding: “I am going to take it upon myself to do my utmost to encourage everyone to create a better life for themselves and the people around them create. “

When asked if he thought money and success could lead to happiness, the father said yes.

“When you become successful, when you feel it, you feel proud, and when you achieve success, you think you have a purpose.

“Moreover, most importantly, happiness cannot be born, nor fulfillment.

“But I’d rather cry in a Rolls Royce than on a bike.”

MANY homes are struggling with mold, not least due to the wettest February on record.

The pest is not only unsightly and difficult to remove without careful treatment, but is also harmful to your health.

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If left unchecked, black fuzz can cause a range of different conditions, including breathing problems and headaches.

Mold problems often start with condensation.

This occurs when warm air comes into contact with a cold surface.

If condensation and moisture are left untreated, mold can grow on your walls and ceilings.

While severe cases may require you to seek the advice of a professional – which can be expensive – there are some simple steps you can take yourself to keep the toxic mess at bay, according to Andy Simms, a construction expert at MyBuilder.com .

He told The Sun: “Firstly, it is imperative to identify the underlying cause of mold in your home.

“But if condensation is your biggest problem, there are some cheap and clever hacks that can help.

“A cheap method is to use mega chalk and clove oil.”

If you have children, you may be familiar with using chalk in craft activities.

What you may not realize is that it is also a highly absorbent material.

Clove oil has antifungal properties that can kill spores and effectively prevent mold growth.

Andy said: “The chalk removes condensation and the clove oil prevents it from returning. Both items are relatively cheap.”

For example, you can buy a 20 pack of Giant Chalk from Amazon for £3.25, and a 10ml bottle of clove oil from Boots for £2.99.

All you have to do is dab a few drops of oil on your chalk.

“Once you’ve done this, simply place the chalk on the affected areas,” said the DIY expert. “This can help keep the area dry. This is an often overlooked method that can be very effective.”

For example, you might want to place the piece of chalk in the corner of your bedroom, or in your drawers or wardrobe.

The key is to place a few sticks around the house where you need moisture to be absorbed, such as windowsills

You can then return to those pieces of chalk every month or so and add a few more drops of clove oil.

Andy added: “If you spot small spots of mold, clove oil is a great product that you can use to clear these up before the mold spreads too far.”

Mold can be especially problematic between October and April due to the wet, damp and humid conditions during the winter months.

The problem is also exacerbated at this time of year by a lack of adequate ventilation, as people are less likely to open their windows when it is cold outside.

But if you do need to call in a professional, you can expect to pay an average of around $200 to have mold removed from your home.

If you have a particularly bad case for your entire home, you could be faced with a bill of between $800 and $1,000.

With this in mind, it is worth taking all possible steps to get rid of condensation.

Andy added: “Mold is a real scourge on British homes due to bad weather, and it can be very difficult to eradicate once it has taken hold.

“So while you investigate where the problem is coming from, there are some things you can do to keep it at bay.”

More ways to tackle mold and damp

Using chalk and clove oil isn’t the only unusual tip Andy recommends.

He said: “Another unorthodox technique to remove damp from your bedroom is to fill old socks with cat litter and place them near the affected area.

“This may sound unpleasant, but it really works.”

You can buy a 10 liter bag of this pet essential for just £7.50 at Asda.

Andy added: “If you decide to try this trick, keep in mind that you will need to replace the nest monthly.”

In addition to chalk and cat litter, salt and baking soda are also cheap and effective ways to reduce the moisture caused by condensation, according to the do-it-yourselfer.

“Try placing these in small dishes or bowls near areas where condensation occurs,” he added.

While these unusual-sounding hacks can all help you control condensation in your home, there are also some basic rules to follow.

“The most effective solution is to improve air flow by simply opening the windows as much as possible,” says the developer.

“If it is safe, consider sleeping with the window open as this will limit the amount of condensation in your bedroom.”

If this isn’t possible, get into the habit of opening your curtains – and windows – as soon as you wake up in the morning.

“Remove any condensation with an old towel,” said Andy. “Make this part of your morning routine.”

It is also important that the windows are open when showering.

“Avoid taking long hot showers if possible,” says Andy.

“A shorter, colder shower reduces the amount of condensation in your home. Whatever you do, make sure the bathroom is ventilated with an open window, or by turning on the extractor hood.”

The same goes for if you have a fan in your kitchen: don’t forget to turn it on before you start cooking.

According to Andy, drying clothes indoors is also a big no.

“This will add moisture to your home,” he said. “So if you are able to do so, try to hang your clothes outside.

If there is a breeze, your laundry will dry at least partially – and possibly completely – even at lower temperatures.”

Although it comes at a greater expense, Andy suggests investing in a dehumidifier.

“Having one of these units in your bedroom is a sure-fire way to keep condensation at bay,” he said.

“You can often pick one up second hand. You can also control costs by using the dehumidifier occasionally.”

A father and mother in their 30s who already have a net worth of $2 million have told how they built a successful property portfolio in just 10 years.

Paramedic Leonard Price, 35, and his wife Larissa, 33, from Melbourne, bought their first plot of land in 2014 to build their dream home.

They decided to sell 10 months later because they felt it was ‘not a good fit’ and to their surprise they made a profit of $92,000.

‘I thought, “Holy s***, this is incredible!” All I did was put my name on a piece of land and pocket $92,000,” Price told FEMAIL.

Since then, the couple has spent a decade strategically purchasing real estate with the help of a buyer’s agent, skyrocketing their wealth.

But there were rocky spots. The couple then bought a mansion – a move that Price admitted “wasn’t the best investment decision.”

Although the couple owned the property for five years, the value increased by only $70,000.

“This made me realize that the best real estate investment strategy is to buy assets that appreciate in value – that is, land, not apartments and townhouses,” he said.

With the help of their buyer’s agent, the couple continued their investment journey, utilizing a “rinse, repeat” cycle of targeting properties with large land parcels.

The couple have now purchased properties across Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and the Gold Coast.

All houses have four or five bedrooms, two bathrooms, a double garage and are brand new built.

“Real estate has helped us build wealth and grow our net worth much faster than we would have if we had just saved and put our money in a bank account,” Price said.

‘Many people fear debt, but debt can be big if you can use it to buy assets that rise quickly in value. Ownership is just that.

“You borrow some money (incur debt) to buy something that you don’t have the personal resources for at the time, but that you have every confidence will increase significantly in value over time.”

It’s called using “lazy equity.”

Michael Beresford, Executive Director of Investment for OpenCorp, said the couple had managed to achieve their empire by tapping into the shares locked up in their homes.

Mr Beresford, who has more than two decades of industry experience, told FEMAIL that ‘lazy shares’ could help Australians pay off their investments or build investment portfolios that could crush their mortgages within a decade.

“Lazy equity is equity that is not being utilized,” he said.

‘If you have owned your house for a few years and the value has risen or you have paid off debts, you now have surplus value that remains untapped.

‘If you don’t use this equity, it lies dormant and becomes ‘lazy equity’. (But) if you use this equity as a deposit and expense for an investment property, it can start to work for you.”

Mr. and Mrs. Price took this strategy and ran with it – and thankfully it paid off.

Good and bad tenants and one regret: the experience of Mr. and Mrs. Price

The couple earns a combined salary of $200,000, but if money is tight, Mr. Price can pick up some extra shifts at work if necessary.

To use the services of their buyer’s agent, the couple pays about $12,000 per home and doesn’t lift a finger, as the agent does “all the work.”

“I didn’t do anything, I’m just paying them compensation. I have never seen the properties or touched the keys, but the return on investment is tremendous,” Price said.

The couple’s net worth is calculated by subtracting their assets from their debts.

They have $4 million worth of properties, about $300,000 in cash, super and savings with $2.2 million in debt, giving them a net worth of $2 million.

Each week, the couple pays $100 per investment property: the difference between the mortgage payments and the rent received.

As a result, investments are ‘negative all year round’, but according to Mr Price there remains a ‘positive cash flow’ at the end of each financial year. Negative gearing occurs when the cost of owning a rental property exceeds the income it generates each year.

“As all our properties are new builds, costs are depreciated over time, with depreciation also being a tax deduction,” Mr Price said.

‘Although we “lose” a little from week to week during the year, we make a significant portion back during taxes. Yet the value of the properties continues to rise.’

The biggest blunder occurred when a tenant left the property in disarray, causing $8,000 in damage that the couple had to repair.

“The tenant fled and we had to rush to fix everything,” Mr Price said.

Mr Price’s only regret was not starting the process sooner.

‘As they say: it’s about time in the market, not timing the market. The longer you are in it, the better off you will be,” he said, adding: “There is a lot of fear that the real estate market will collapse, but personally I don’t believe that will happen.”

The couple is expecting their third child and likely won’t buy a new piece of land to build on for years to come, but will continue to use the equity from their mortgages to continue the cycle.

PLAYSTATION fans say there is a trick to saving money, but you have a decision to make when you buy your console.

It has to do with the exact type of PS5 model you buy.

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There are two main variants of PS5: the regular version and the digital edition.

A regular PS5 will cost you $499.99 / £479.99, while the Digital Edition is slightly cheaper at $449.99 / £389.99.

The catch with the Digital Edition you cannot insert disks – but you do save some money on the purchase.

In a Reddit thread, a PlayStation fan asked, “Is it worth the extra money to buy the disc version of the PS5?

“Is it easier to use discs, or should I just save money and buy the digital version?”

The verdict was that if you buy a lot of games, you’ll save more money in the long run with a drive-friendly console.

That’s because if you own the PS5 digital console, you’re limited to digital purchases only.

That means you’re largely at the mercy of Sony’s official PlayStation Store prices.

With a disc console you can buy digital titles, but also physical games.

Let’s discuss it

One user wrote: “If you buy more than a few games a year, yes. You can get new games a little cheaper at release through major stores.

“Plus, if you trade/sell games when they’re ready, that’s an added bonus.”

Another said: “Personally I say yes because you can buy games cheaper and when you’re done you can resell them.”

One added: “I bought the physical version for exactly the reasons others stated. Resale value.”

“Not only can you often get used games cheaper, but you can also sell games back for store credit for other games. If you play a lot of games, this can save you quite a bit of money in the long run.”

And another commented: “Since disc media is thought to be coming, you can buy and own used PS4/PS5 games, making PS5 both future-proof and financially a better option in the long run.”

So even though you save $50/£90 on purchase, you can save a lot more over a number of years with the regular console that accepts discs.

MAKEUP can help cover up blemishes, enhance your facial features and, when applied correctly, even shave years off your appearance.

A beauty fan showed her followers the 3D method she uses to look younger.

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In her videoKaty Holloman (@katyholloman) gave a “little demo to show the basics” of her three-dimensional makeup.

“I’m 41 years old, but I bet by the end of this you’ll agree that I look about five or six years younger,” the TikToker said.

For her first step, she showed her followers how she contours her face.

“I apply it to certain areas of the face to enhance the natural shadows,” Katy explained.

She then used concealer to brighten and accentuate certain facial features.

“Note that I don’t layer anything, it just goes into certain areas of the face before blending it out at the end,” she said.

For her final step, Katy retouched her face with a highlighter before blending.

“I apply it to the outer parts of the forehead and above the contours of the upper part of the cheek, a little on the nose and chin,” she said.

Katy also praised her 3D double-ended makeup brush.

“This brush is such a hero, I’m just going to use this to blend out all my colors,” she told her audience.

“You’ll notice that it’s one coat of product and it doesn’t make my face look heavy and cakey.

“They’re all creams, so they fit together very seamlessly.”

As a finishing touch, Katy applied a pink nude shade to her lips and mascara to her eyelashes.

“You don’t have to be a professional to make the makeup look this good after you apply it,” she said.

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SETTING powder is great for keeping your makeup in place, but it can also emphasize your fine lines and wrinkles.

A beauty fanatic showed her followers the quick trick she uses to keep her skin looking smooth after applying the finishing touches.

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In her videoCherie Seaswan (@seaswan6) responded to one of her TikTok followers, who said she was told not to use setting powder on her mature skin.

“She was told that because she is older, she cannot wear setting powder. No ma’am, we can put under our eyes,” the TikToker said.

“As we get older, our under eyes will really show a lot of age in the form of texture, fine lines and wrinkles.”

Cherie explained that under your eyes is an area where you “have to be a little careful” when applying makeup.

“I have oily skin, for me a setting is not an option,” she explained to her audience.

“I have to cure, but what I do is cure very lightly. I never use a puff, I always use a brush.”

Cherie used an eyeshadow blending brush to demonstrate to her followers.

“Take this powder, tap it off and apply it lightly under the eyes,” she said as she applied the powder.

“This is how we put 55-year-olds under the eyes.”

She recommended the light layering method for anyone with a mature skin tone.

Her followers shared their thoughts on the technique in the comments section.

“Thanks honey! My under eyes are so dry and I can’t find the right things to work,” one viewer wrote.

“Mine ALWAYS shows my wrinkles,” said another impressed TikTok user.

“That’s right, chef’s kiss,” a third person commented.

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