Stretch Your Salary

Why is it that we spend the month waiting for pay day and then, before we know it, we’re broke again? Here’s how to make the most of your salary so that it lasts until the end of the month.

We all count down the days to pay day, and there’s nothing like the relief of seeing your bank balance out of the red. But after splashing out on designer shoes, beauty treats and fancy nights out, we’re quickly back to zero funds. Before we know it, we’re faced with another couple of weeks broke until the next pay cheque. If you’re tempted to take your penny collection down to the bank, fear not! Here are some tips on how you can stretch your monthly wage and still afford to have fun.

Pay yourself firstDo you put enough away for a rainy day? The experts recommend that as soon as you get paid you put 10 per cent of your salary in a high-interest savings account. Rather than seeing it as a chore, see it as paying yourself. Then, once you’ve paid all your bills and other expenses, divide what is left in your account into four. This is your weekly allowance, and you cannot withdraw any extra.

The three-day rule
Apparently, women use their credit cards to buy clothes twice as much as men. The next time you see an item you like, give yourself three days to think about buying it. More than likely, you’ll realize that it’s not a necessity and end up going off the idea. What a difference a few days can make!
By lilian ukwo

SIMPLY DIVINE - Chocolate

fudge cake

IngredientsFor one round tin 26cm in diameter

* 225g plain dark chocolate
* 225g unsalted butter
* 345g caster sugar
* 6 eggs, separated into yolks and whites
* 120g ground almonds
* 145g soft white breadcrumbs
* 30g plain flour
* 2 tbsp vanilla essence
* Icing
* 85g cocoa powder
* 255g icing sugar
* 130g butter
* 170g caster sugar
* 6 tbsp water


Top tip: Always use dark, as opposed to milk, chocolate when cooking and baking, because it provides the desired taste and texture for a recipe.


Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160ºC/320°F/gas 3. To make the cake, melt the chocolate in a double boiler or in a bowl placed over a pan of boiling water. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar until white and soft. Add the egg yolks gradually, one by one, then add the almonds and beat them in. After this, gently fold in the chocolate with a spoon, then add the breadcrumbs, flour and vanilla essence, and mix together. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites, along with a pinch of sugar, until stiff – but do not overbeat. Fold the egg whites into the cake mixture, then pour the mixture into your buttered cake tin (lined with paper). Place in the oven and cook for 1 hour.
2. During the cooking time, make the icing. Place the cocoa powder and the icing sugar in a mixing bowl. Then warm together the butter, sugar and water until dissolved. Add the liquid into the dry mixture and mix together for a thick but “pourable” consistency. Once the cake has cooked and cooled, pour the mix over the cake.

Health Matters

Living with diabetes

More than two million people in the africa live with diabetes. People from African-Caribbean communities are three times more likely than the general population to develop the condition. This is thought to be linked to diet, genetic differences in processing and storing fat, and unequal access to health services. This is why people from African and Caribbean backgrounds are advised to test for diabetes if they are over 25 and have any of the risk factors. Diabetes is a life-long condition that occurs when the amount of glucose in the blood is too high and the body cannot use it properly. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually develops in people under 40, although it can arise in older people too. Type 2 diabetes can occur at any age. Treatments include insulin injections and maintaining a healthier lifestyle to control blood glucose levels.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

My mother is my mentor – Nuella Njubigbo

Nuella Njubigbo, fondly known as Ella, is an actress and a script writer. Alluring Ella is an indegene of Anambra state and a graduate of government and public administration from the Imo State University.

She has done about 30 movies in her about five years of acting. Some of her hit movies include Life’s incidence, Lord of marriage, evil project and Heart of a slave.This is what she has to say about her mums rule in her life.

My mother is my mentor, she is my backbone. Without my mother, there will be no me; I am not talking about me physically bt I am talking about the Ella you know. Without my mother, there will not be an Ella. She was there for me, she stood by me, she has just been so wonderful to me’ she gave me all the support that I need and she always made me believe in myself. She has been more than a mother. Even when I started this job, she never said no; she just gave me advice on how to do things and always reminding me of where I am coming from and that I should not lose focus or go out of good moral training in the name of a career.



Nuella Njubigbo

Skin Treatment Mask

Occasionally, when your skin craves "intensive care", it is energized with moisturizing minerals and powerful plant extracts.

Daily stress can take a toll on the skin. Your skin is directly connected to your emotions and stress level. Stress has a negative effect on the barrier function of the skin, resulting in water loss that inhibits the skin’s ability to repair itself. This can make the skin appear dull, tired and aged.

This creamy mask combines indulgent care and effectiveness to aid the skin in reversing the visible effects of stress. It regenerates the skin with natural hydration, leaving it deeply nourished, revived and remarkably soft. Your skin is energized with moisturizing minerals and powerful plant extracts.

This ultra-rich skincare solution spreads on like a fine satin sheet, improving elasticity and suppleness, leaving it with a feeling of silken comfort. Uniquely entraps and bonds moisture to the skin.

Designed for all skin types. Apply to skin and massage in. Wait for 20 minutes and then rinse. Follow up with your regular moisturizer.

Beauty, Make up & Skin Care

Bare faced beauty: no make up can compete with the glow of a clear, radiant and healthy ski

Learning to care for your skin is the most important step in any beauty routine.
It is easier to apply make up to a smooth, clear skin than it is to skin that is rough and uneven. The mistake most women make is that they think make-up should make the skin beautiful. No, make up enhances your already clear, even- toned skin.
Before applying any make up or cosmetics on your face, start by properly cleansing your skin. Follow with exfoliating, and finish up with a light, non-pore clogging moisturizer.
Applying make up to dry or dead skin cells can add 5 years to your look. Polish your skin first, then apply a light moisturizer before putting on your foundation or powder.prep your skin before applying make up for a clean, natural look: balancing facial cleanser, skin polish and light moisturizers.

A beautiful, healthy skin needs little make up. Try to stick to mineral -based products as they will not clog pores and will not irritate your skin. When possible, go without makeup and let your skin's natural beauty shine through.

D'Banj confession of love

SDK: So you are in a relationship with her and you used her for the shooting of the video of ''fall in love''.you must have been looking at her whilst you were singing.were you really telling her your feelings?were you just singing or talking to her?

D'Banj: ....I am in love with Genevieve, its been long I felt this way about anyone. I don't know what other words to use to qualify my feelings but when you see the video,you will know that its not just a video,it was me talking to my girl for real.

SDK-So what is this?A marriage headed relationship?

D'Banj....Oh well,like I just told you now, Genevieve is my girlfriend, in fact I don't like using that word, shes my baby, she's my everything and I love her. We are both very mature people and we are also very private people. There's a big difference between our public lives and our private lives. We would like to take it one step at a time right now and would appreciate it if people will respect our need for privacy at this time.

SDK: -Need for privacy? D'banj when the news of this relationship hits the streets, I am sure you both know what will happen next.there will be talk everywhere, stories about whom you both have been with, the press will do a re-run on you both in every way they can.my question is, are you both ready for this?

D'Banj....(breathes deeply)well,what can I say? Like I said Genevieve is the biggest African star that i know and i am also in the public eyes so it is to be expected but i personally do not care about any news that wants to come out,like i am telling you,i have been rumored to have dated people i have never even met before .

For once,i am very proud of whom i am with,when i met Genevieve i knew what i wanted and i went after what i wanted and i am still with what i want,and shes the one i want, they can say anything they like.people know me as an entertainer and i will do what i do on stage and off stage i live a private life,people think they know me, they say all sorts but no one really knows anything about who i am and i like it that way.

Right now,the only woman in my life is Genevieve and she knows that.we don't know about tomorrow so we are taking one day at a time,right now we want to be together and we don't want to hide it anymore.i want to be able to take her out,walk into anywhere with her and not have to hide,we are both single so we are not committing any crime.

H mm…what say we? Certainly sounds like a man in love doesn't he? So what do you think? A match made in entertainment heaven or a publicity stunt? As they say, 'morning will show the day'…lets wait and see. Meanwhile congrats to the two love birds!

D'BANJ AND GENEVIEVE NNAJI IN SIZZLING HOT ROMANCE!

In what must be the biggest piece of news to hit the entertainment scene this year, it has been revealed that two of Nigeria’s biggest stars in the music and film industry D’Banj and Genevieve Nnaji are reportedly in a sizzling hot romance! Our sources reveal that the two have been meeting on the down low for sometime now but unfortunately some eagle-eyed journalists got

wind of it and tried to black mail them in a bid to make some quick money. It was then that D’banj decided that rather than being blackmailed he would come out with the news