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Articles by Elle James
‘I was a shopaholic £23K in debt – THIS is how social media hacks cleared £16K’
A self-confessed shopaholic who once splashed more than £1,000 in a single day has revealed how she turned her life around after racking up £23,000 of debt. Jenna Way admits she treated credit cards like “free money”, spending thousands on clothes, takeaways, birthdays and Christmas presents. The 33-year-old mum said she regularly overspent on herself, husband Callum Way, 36, and their children without thinking about the consequences.
My toddler’s meltdowns weren’t the terrible twos – doctors found a terrifying cause, now she’s fighting for her life
A mum has revealed how she discovered her toddler’s ‘terrible twos’ actually had a much more sinister cause. Alicia Bridge’s two-year-old daughter Ada began to have meltdowns, often screaming and crying for an hour at a time, which the mum put down to her age. Even doctors initially thought Ada’s unusual behaviour was down to the so-called terrible twos, but a blood test revealed the shocking news that the little girl had acute lymphoblastic leukaemia – a form of blood cancer.
‘I gorged on McMuffins and Tesco meal deals almost EVERY DAY for five years – two simple things helped me drop 11 stone’
A dad has shared how he went from piling on the pounds by eating McDonald’s McMuffins and Tesco meal deals almost every day to losing 11 stone in just two years. James Nash had struggled with weight for five years, tipping the scales at 24st 9lbs before his doctor spurred him into action to get healthy after he experienced swelling in his leg. The 33-year-old has completely transformed his body, having lost 11 stone through hard work and dedication, with two simple changes.
‘My dad had a rare liver disease I hoped I’d never face – now I’m battling the same incurable condition’
A British woman has revealed how she was diagnosed with an incurable liver disease – and spending years hoping she wouldn’t get it. Michelle Timmons has suffered with chronic health conditions for several years, facing severe abdominal pain, bleeding, needing to go to the toilet urgently, and extreme fatigue.
Family's 'perfect' Egypt holiday turns into terrifying nightmare as toddler left fighting for life
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I looked like a normal dad – but 10 pints a day nearly STOPPED my heart, and my kids begged me not to die
A dad has shared how years of stress and addiction left him considering suicide – and how he managed to break the cycle. Dean Cooper says job pressure and family demands drove him to drink, and he would often go to the pub “just to drown the noise”, building to a worrying 10-pints-a-day habit. The 46-year-old’s body started to break down and he saw no way out, until a near-fatal collapse forced him to change his lifestyle – with his children begging him not to die.
‘I thought my toddler had food poisoning while on holiday in Egypt – it turned into deadly E.coli battle’
A mum has revealed how her “perfect” family holiday quickly became a nightmare after her toddler suddenly became ill. Lara Holt’s 19-month-old son Cillian contracted E.coli while on holiday in Hurghada, Egypt, and ended up fighting for his life after it developed into a rare but potentially life-threatening condition. “It was the most terrifying experience of my life,” Lara, who is from Liverpool, told Need To Know.
‘I’m a high tier wife and I teach other women to be the same – I never argue with my husband’
A British “trad wife” says she has become a “high tier” spouse by refusing to argue with her husband and keeping drama out of the home. Laura Zachary believes her role is to support her husband, Zion, while he takes responsibility for earning money and providing for the family.
‘My abs disappeared before my eyes until simple test helped me regain flat stomach’
A British woman has shared how she realised her abs were disappearing before her eyes – and the simple test that helped fix the problem. Hannah Swan says she was training at the gym three or four times a week and eating healthily but nothing seemed to make a difference. She struggled with bloating, low energy and weight fluctuations, to the point that she was unable to wear her favourite clothes.
‘Doctors refused my double hip replacement as I was too young – but at 23 I had no choice’
A man has revealed how doctors allegedly refused to give him a double hip replacement because he was “too young” but it was his only choice. At just 23 years old, Jack Brennan went through the invasive procedure. He suffers from a disease that is so rare, it only affects four in every 100,000 children.
Mum takes kids on extreme day trip to Austria amid the rise of the ‘coolcation’
A mum whisked her daughters away on a 24-hour trip to Austria after realising they had never seen snow – amid the rise of the so-called ‘coolcation’. Georgina Banfield, known as Georgie, decided to treat daughters Florence, 14, and Arabella, 12, to a whirlwind adventure after they admitted they had always dreamed of having a proper snowball fight.
Woman buys coat for a TENNER, flogs it for £115 – then ditches her 9-5 to sell vintage clothes from home
A British woman has shared how she managed to sell a vintage coat she bought for just £10 for £115. Hannah Divine says autism and ADHD made conventional employment difficult to navigate, prompting her to look for an alternative way to earn a living. The 26-year-old, from Berkshire, decided to take a “leap of faith” and start buying and selling vintage fashion online.
‘I turn my weekly Aldi shop into a catwalk – my daughter is mortified but everyone else LOVES it’
A mum has gone viral after swapping leggings for designer dresses and turning her weekly Aldi shop into a catwalk. Elizabeth Shankland stunned shoppers by wearing glamorous outfits from brands including Sister Jane and Missoni while carrying out everyday errands. The 46 year old decided to stop saving her favourite clothes for special occasions after being challenged to wear one of her fanciest dresses to Aldi.
American mum living in UK says family is splitting loyalties between FOUR World Cup teams
An American mum living in the UK says her household will be divided if England play the US at the World Cup – with her and her British husband cheering for opposite sides. Ashley Jackson, 42, moved from Texas to Manchester four years ago with her husband, Andi, 41, and their two kids. The mum-of-two, who regularly shares UK vs US culture shocks online, says football culture has been “a completely new experience” for her since moving to the UK.
Brit mum ignores doctors’ advice and jets autistic son abroad for stem cell therapy
A British mum has “ignored” doctors’ advice and taken her autistic son abroad for “game-changing” stem cell therapy. Faye McCann’s six-year-old, Phoenix, used to self-harm by biting and scratching himself.
Young brothers,10 and seven, complete Three Peaks challenge in 72 hours – and it was all inspired by their mum
Two young brothers completed the UK Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for charity after being inspired by their mum’s ongoing health battle. Over 72 hours, Sylvester Bean-Harding, aged 10, and Frank Bean-Harding, seven, climbed Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon with their dad Bernard Harding and his brother, William Harding-Martin. The boys took on the challenge to raise money for Crohn’s & Colitis UK, inspired by their mum Molly Bean-Harding, 34, who lives with Crohn’s.
Mum-of-three feeds family of five for just £1 a portion with budget Aldi shop
A British woman has shared how she created three hearty meals for her family of five for just £15. Claire Barnell regularly shares her budget family meals with her followers online and a recent video about her £15 food shop racked up more than 48,000 views. The 36-year-old revealed that she managed to whack up “three proper meals” for her family after a quick trip to Aldi.
‘We sold our three generation holiday home – only to buy it back along with 28 OTHER families’
A family has shared how they sold their home – only to buy it back again, along with 28 others. Camilla Wright’s family owned their holiday home for more than 20 years, but maintenance needs, supervision and other issues meant they struggled to keep up with the demands of running a second home. The family searched for a way to keep the property in their lives – and managed to find the perfect solution.
Primary school teacher shares how she saves £200 on everyday purchases
A primary school teacher has revealed the simple ways in which she saves £200 on everyday purchases after overspending for years. Avid shopper Katie Whittock says she has always loved a bargain. But the 40-year-old often found herself snapping up an item she needed on the first website she saw – only to later realise it was cheaper elsewhere.
‘I flew to SEVEN new countries in one year for £1,600’
A woman has shared how she visited seven countries for the first time in the space of a year for less than £2,000. Helen Dalling decided to see how many new places she could visit for as cheaply as possible – and managed to keep costs low while making the most of each new adventure. She did this by making each trip as short as possible, with some being ‘extreme day trips’ – where you fly in and out of a country within the same 24 hours – and others being just an overnight stay.
‘My heart stopped beating 12 times in one day – EATING causes me to faint and I feared every meal could be my last’
A mum with an ultra-rare condition that caused her heart to stop beating properly whenever she swallowed says she feared every meal could be her last. Sarah Hall’s heart paused 12 times in a single day, with eating and drinking often triggering dizzy spells, blackouts and terrifying collapses. The mum-of-two became so frightened of fainting in public that she stopped going out for meals and even worried her heart might stop while eating and never restart.
Pals, 50, jet off to Spain for just 12 HOURS for luxury day in the sun – and it cost just £120
Two friends jetted off to Spain for a whirlwind day trip and it cost less than £120. Helen Dalling joined pal Alina Durrington, 50, for a 16-hour trip to Palma as a belated birthday getaway. They flew out at 8am and returned the same night, squeezing in sightseeing, swimming, tapas and even some sweet treats.
Couple begged friends on Facebook to be their SURROGATE – and finally have a baby after cancer dashed their dreams
A couple has shared how their desperate plea on Facebook gave them their dream child. Lindy Snyman and her husband Kris spent a decade trying to become parents until one post on social media changed everything. The two faced challenges at every turn during their attempts to have children, from miscarriages and failed IVF rounds to a cancer scare that saw Lindy undergo a complete hysterectomy.
Brit urges holiday-goers in Tenerife to be aware of ‘tourist traps’ that catch people out EVERY YEAR
A British man is urging anyone making a trip to Tenerife this half-term to be aware of several “tourist traps” that catch people out every year. Ruben Chorlton-Owen regularly shares his travel tips and hacks with his 105,000 followers on Instagram (@rube ). The 24-year-old, from Abersoch, North Wales, has recently visited the popular Canary Island hotspot.
‘People call me SNAKE because of scaly skin that sheds everywhere – now I’ve found miracle £12 fix’
A woman has shared how cruel trolls have likened her to a snake thanks to her skin condition – which she has now found a ‘game-changing’ £12 product to help cure. Ellena George has suffered from psoriasis since she was a child and it still impacts her life today in various ways, from colours she can wear to daily pain and even how she styled her hair on her wedding day.
‘I’ve lost 10 STONE with no jabs after years of weight ruling my life – I barely recognise the old me’
A young woman has revealed how shedding a staggering 10 stone has transformed her life so dramatically she barely knows who she used to be. Lara Jade says her weight once ruled every part of her world, leaving her feeling miserable, isolated and desperate to stay out of sight. But after making small yet powerful lifestyle changes, the 22-year-old has dropped an incredible 65kg and says her life has changed “in so many ways”.
Men are unknowingly damaging their sperm, according to fertility scientist
A fertility expert has revealed four little-known ways men could be damaging their sperm – and warned the impact can affect women and pregnancies too. Dr Aileen Delaney says there is still a “distinct lack of education” around reproduction and fertility, with both men and women often unaware of how much sperm quality matters.
‘I had NO symptoms before routine test revealed I had deadly cancer with tiny survival rate’
A man has revealed how a simple precautionary blood test uncovered a deadly cancer with a shockingly low survival rate – despite him having no symptoms at all. Pradeep Thatai only asked doctors for the routine test after his wife, Teenu, raised concerns about the risk of prostate cancer at his age. But just hours after the appointment, the 74 year old received a life-changing phone call from hospital staff with devastating news.
‘Bullying gave my son seizures – I had no choice but to pull him from school’
A mum has revealed how her son suffered seizures after being relentlessly bullied at school before she pulled him out over fears for his safety. Harry Burden, 15, a quiet teenager living with epilepsy, had barely walked through the school gates on his very first day before his mum Judith Burden, 48, received an urgent call. Just hours into the term, the stress of the school environment had triggered a terrifying seizure.
Microsoft Cares About Your Privacy
A woman going out with a man nearly 40 years older than her has shared an insight into their relationship as they prepare to welcome their first child. Estie, who is from Gansbaai, South Africa, said: “Nothing is a given, I have friends who died young in car accidents. Age and time are relative.
‘My man is 80 and more than DOUBLE my age but we’re having a baby’
A woman has shared an insight into her relationship with a man who is double her age as they prepare to welcome their first child. Estie Goosen and her husband, veteran singer Anton Goosen, have a 40-year age difference and have spent years battling nasty comments and judgement about their age gap. Despite it all, the two are going strong and ready to welcome their first child together this year.
‘I took a GRAVE cleaning job to fund uni – now I can’t imagine doing anything else’
A teenager has revealed the unusual side hustle she started to fund her studies – cleaning graves. Sulandri Kotzé dreams of becoming a nurse but says she did not want her parents footing the bill for her future. So the 17-year-old came up with a business idea that has since become her full-time job – restoring neglected graves. READ MORE: Rich House Poor House millionaire is still helping his poorer counterpart get out of debt And it has turned into a full family affair.
British men are KILLING romance with fake dating culture – escort reveals how to fix it
A professional escort has claimed modern men no longer know how to date and says dating apps are to blame for turning romance into a “disposable” experience. Elizabeth Romanova, who has worked as an escort for more than a decade, says she has witnessed a dramatic shift in dating culture over the years. The mum-of-one, who is in her early 30s, says modern dating has become “messy” because people no longer make genuine connections and instead “just scroll and move on”.
‘I FELT myself becoming paralysed in 15 minutes from the FLU – now I might never walk again’
A man has shared how he went from fighting flu symptoms to becoming paralysed – in the space of just 15 minutes. Tinus Greyling has been battling the flu for almost two weeks when things took a turn, sending him to hospital with a severe fever. Before he knew it, he was paralysed from the chest down and unable to control his bladder or bowels due to a condition doctors believe was triggered by the flu.
Schoolgirl, 15, set to become next F1 champ after go-karting sparked love of speed
A teenager is set to become the next F1 champion after her go-karting hobby sparked a love of speed that’s not slowing down. Emma-Rose Dowling has made history by becoming the first South African to be accepted into the F1 Academy’s Champions of the Future Programme in England – the breeding ground of up-and-coming F1 and F4 racers. The 15-year-old combines her love of racing and her passion for makeup in a single colour: pink.
‘I nearly died after giving birth – my TWO YEAR battle with a surprisingly common condition’
A mum feared her body was “slowly failing” after battling terrifying symptoms for two years – only to discover the real cause after a near-fatal ordeal. Danielle Bryce suffered night sweats, dizziness and breathlessness following the birth of her youngest child – but says doctors repeatedly brushed it off as hormones. The 44-year-old was only diagnosed with severe anaemia after being rushed to hospital when she began haemorrhaging from her uterus.
Rich House Poor House millionaire is still helping his poorer counterpart get out of debt
A man who starred on Channel 5’s Rich House Poor House has shared how he has now helped transform his ‘poorer’ counterpart’s life too – helping her get out of debt after meeting on the show. Lewis Crompton operates a thriving international business that aims to help people make money with ‘simple, 30-minutes per day’ trading strategies.
Savvy shopper snaps up designer dress worth £329 for just £3 in a charity shop
A bargain hunter has revealed how she picked up a designer dress worth more than £300 for just £3 in a charity shop. Helen Abbot spotted a dress from designer brand Sandro while browsing in a local charity shop. The same style, the Sandro Short Broderie Anglaise Dress is currently listed on luxury resale sites for a whopping £329.
I bought my own funeral home and became a mortician at 30 – it changed my life’
A man has shared how he became a funeral director at 30 despite being told to quit – saying the unusual career “changed his life”. After struggling to launch a career in music, Nathan Morris moved back to his hometown and decided to pursue something entirely different. After meeting the future mother of his children in a restaurant one evening, the topic turned to funerals – with her family owning a local funeral home.
‘I’m an American buying a house in the UK – these three quirks have left me BAFFLED’
An American woman living in the UK has revealed the three things that “baffle” her about buying a house in England. Ashley Jackson moved to Manchester from Texas in 2022 and is now house-hunting with her British husband. But the 42-year-old says some of the quirks she has spotted in English homes have left her totally confused.
‘I thought I had the worst hangover possible – then I was diagnosed with a brain tumour’
A man has shared how he went from believing he was having the “worst hangover” to discovering he actually had a brain tumour. Ben Cornforth was given the devastating news after a sudden seizure saw him rushed to hospital. “The news was really hard but I was always happy to follow the doctors’ advice and trusted them,” Ben, from Birmingham, told Need To Know.
Psychic predicts who will win Celebrity Traitors as full line-up is revealed
An astrologer has predicted the winner of this year’s The Celebrity Traitors after the line-up was announced. The star-studded cast list includes a varied cast from comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett to former Little Mix singer Leigh-Anne Pinnock and actors Michael Sheen and Richard E. Grant. Celebrity psychic Inbaal Honigman says some contestants may be naturally equipped for deception, which plays a key role in the iconic game, while others could struggle to lie convincingly.
‘I was too sick to make it down the aisle – my husband is the reason I survived’
A mum has shared how she was worried she wouldn’t make it to her dream wedding or ever have children – until her family stepped in to save her life. Angelique Ferreira started experiencing worrying symptoms in the weeks leading up to her wedding day, leaving her concerned the big day may not go ahead.
The simple supermarket trick that will slash your fruit and veg bill
A savvy shopper has shared a “money saver” hack that helps supermarket customers who want to spend less on fruit and vegetables. Many people are struggling with rising costs and are searching for ways to keep their shopping bills down, from switching up which stores they visit to making the most of loyalty schemes and vouchers.
‘An itchy ear turned into a terrifying condition that left my face paralysed aged 29’
A mum has revealed how a simple itchy ear turned into a terrifying health scare that left her with paralysis down one side of her face. Paige Weston, 29, first noticed a small lump near her ear. But within days her condition spiralled into something far more serious. READ MORE: ‘Mounjaro helped me lose 140lbs – I hated my face before, now I can’t stop smiling’ The mum-of-two was initially told she had an ear infection before doctors uncovered the real cause – Ramsay Hunt Syndrome.
‘I bought my daughter an axolotl but now I’m the obsessed one and own 20’
A mum has shared how buying her daughter a pet quickly became an addiction she “fell in love” with. Emma Honeyfield’s daughter had been asking for an axolotl, a unique endangered aquatic salamander native to Mexico City, for a long time before she finally gave in. But the 36-year-old didn’t realise how much she’d come to love the creatures herself – ending up owning 20 and spending hundreds of pounds on them.
Woman, 22, ‘hits jackpot’ bagging £50 M&S luxury shop for less than £15
A woman has shared her “jackpot” yellow sticker haul she managed to snap up at M&S – worth nearly £50, but setting her back less than £15. Casey Gore shared the goods in a post to her more than 29,000 followers on TikTok, showcasing the bargains she managed to find in the reduced section of the supermarket. The 22-year-old sniffed out organic beef mince reduced from £7 to £2, a whole duck from £13 to £5.59, salmon in cajun sauce from £6.50 to £2.21, and more.
‘I ended up in a wheelchair and forgot my own dad after doctors said I had an “easy” cancer’
A young woman told by doctors she had “easy” cancer has spoken out after experiencing extreme side effects that left her wheelchair-bound and dealing with memory loss that caused her to forget her own father. Abbie Smith was just 22-years-old and halfway through her sports coaching master’s degree when she started to experience back pain.
Fostering expert says THIS is the ‘subtle’ way parents are driving teens away
A fostering expert has shared the subtle way parents are actually driving teens away without meaning to. Trevor Elliott says certain small, everyday parenting habits could be quietly impacting relationships with teenagers. The 35-year-old became a foster parent when he was just 24, fostering three teenage boys who left his care when they turned 21, earning him his stripes.
Savvy shopper makes quick and easy meal to feed two for just 70p
A British bargain hunter has shared a no-frills recipe using just two ingredients that can feed two people for a jaw-dropping 70p. Elliot Jeory is known for sniffing out deals from a mile away and regularly dishes out money-saving tips to his 436,000 followers. Now the savvy shopper has revealed his ultra-cheap “day before payday” meal – perfect for when cash is tight and cupboards are running low.
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