SWANAGE has been named one of the best caravanning spots in the country thanks to its Blue Flag beach, colourful beach huts and steam railway.

Known as The Caravanning Mummy, travel expert, and mum-of-two, Rachel shares travel tips and destination guides on Instagram, including the best places to go on a caravan holiday in the UK.

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Rachel purchased her caravan back in 2019, with her family spending the school holidays and weekends exploring the UK in their Bailey Of Bristol Phoenix 650 caravan.

The mum-of-two started holidaying in Dorset in the 1990s with her parents and has spent the last few years returning to her childhood haunts with her own kids.

And she recently named Swanage as her favourite caravanning destination in the southwest.

She told Sun Online Travel: “Swanage is the quintessential British seaside town. It’s got Punch and Judy shows, colourful beach huts, Blue Flag Beaches and Corfe Castle. It’s absolutely gorgeous.

“Swanage is such a brilliant staycation location because it takes adults back to their childhood visits with old-timey beach attractions.

“I just think it’s a brilliant little place. While it’s not necessarily unknown, it is just a very special place.”

One of the top attractions in the coastal town is the Swanage Railway – a full-size steam train that ferries passengers from Norden to Swanage, passing sites like Corfe Castle.

Swanage Railway runs themed experiences throughout the year, including a Polar Express service and a Spooky service.

Adult return tickets start from £18, with children’s tickets coming in at £9 for a return.

There are several beaches in and around Swanage for holidaymakers to visit like the Blue Flag Swanage Beach, which is known for its fine sand, cleanliness and amenities.

Other nearby beaches include Studland Beach.

Back by a wildlife reserve, Studland Beach is regarded as one of the finest beaches in the country.

There’s also Chapman’s Pool, a small cove that’s similar to Lulworth Cove, and Sandbanks Beach.

Located in Poole, Sandbanks Beach has held its Blue Flag status for the last 35 years and is known for its golden sand and crystal-clear waters.

Facilities at the beach include toilets, showers, a beach cafe, a mini golf course and a beach volleyball net.

Swanage Pier is another popular attraction in the seaside town.

The pier is popular with divers because it’s one of the few sheltered sea diving sites on the south coast.

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Entry onto the pier costs £2 for an adult, with a £5 charge for any adult who wants to dive under the wooden structure.

Holidaymakers can hire equipment from Divers Down – the oldest diving school in the UK.

Other attractions include Swanage Museum, Prince Albert Gardens and the chalk hills on Purbeck Heritage Coast.

Even though it’s a village in its own right, Corfe Castle is another must for holidaymakers visiting Swanage, with Rachel adding: “Corfe Castle is brilliant for my boys – and kids in general – because they can run around the ruins of a castle and pretend to be knights.”

Located halfway between Wareham and Swanage, the skyline of the Dorset village is dominated by the remains of Corfe Castle.

Built by William the Conqueror and partially demolished in 1646 during the English Civil War, Corfe Castle attracts visitors from all over the world.

Managed by the National Trust, entry costs £12 for an adult and £6 for a child.

There are loads of places to grab fish and chips in Swanage, including the Village Inn, the Fish Plaice, which has been running since the 1970s, Harlees Fish and Chips Swanage and the Hungry Shark, to name a few.

Swanage has plenty of pubs too like the Black Swan Inn, the White Horse Inn Swanage and the Ship Inn.

Later this month, Rachel will be sharing more Dorset caravanning tips at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, these are the top-rated holiday parks with on-site waterparks and pools.

And this holiday park has been named as one of the best in the country.

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Ghana will exit a debt default after the west African nation completed a restructuring of $13bn in US dollar bonds, paving the way for a return to global capital markets almost two years after an economic crisis forced it to suspend debt repayments.

Almost all bondholders voted to exchange their bonds for new debt worth $4.7bn less, lowering Ghana’s debt bill by more than $4bn in the next two years, the government said in a statement on Thursday.

“Today, our economy has turned a corner,” President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is stepping down in the elections after two terms, said in a statement. “We’ve accomplished what everyone said was impossible — we decisively resolved Ghana’s debt overhang problem.”

Ghana is the latest country to finish a debt restructuring this year as investors and governments come to the end of a series of often protracted talks to resolve a wave of sovereign defaults that followed the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ukraine finalised a wartime restructuring of $20bn in debt in September after just four months of talks. But Zambia, which like Ghana used a G20-endorsed “common framework” for poor countries to deal with creditors, had to wait four years for lenders to finally agree terms this year.

Last month Sri Lanka reached a deal in principle for bondholders to restructure nearly $13bn of bonds just before elections, more than two years after it defaulted. Ethiopia has also launched creditor talks.

Ghana’s bond exchange finalises a deal agreed in principle in June, and means the country will be out of default before general elections in December.

Rampant inflation and the Ghanaian cedi’s collapse against the US dollar after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine led Ghana into a $3bn IMF bailout that required talks with its major creditors to reduce the debt.

As a result of the economic crisis, the gold and oil producer that was once one of the continent’s fastest-growing countries was overtaken by Ivory Coast as west Africa’s second-biggest economy after Nigeria.

The IMF has projected that Ghana’s gross public debt will fall below 80 per cent of GDP next year, down from nearly 100 per cent in 2022. Ghanaians were still battling annual inflation of more than 21 per cent as of last month. 

The legacy of the financial turmoil will be a key factor in the December elections, which will pit Akufo-Addo’s vice-president Mahamudu Bawumia against John Mahama, a former president.

Ethiopia is the next big G20 common framework case to be negotiated after Ghana. But talks to restructure a $1bn bond that fell into default last year have quickly become acrimonious.

On Thursday a bondholder committee said that an 18 per cent haircut on the bond that Ethiopia’s government floated with investors this week was “wholly inconsistent” with economic fundamentals.

The committee also criticised what it said was “the lack of transparency” over Ethiopia’s dealings with official creditors.

A SAVVY seller has shared how they managed to make thousands of pounds by flogging goods on eBay.

Joseph Holman made £250,000 profits as a teenager selling items on eBay, using the cash to buy his first Porsche.

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The Luton-based businessman became known locally as “The eBay King’”thanks to his ability to turn clobber into cash.

He now runs his own eco-friendly home furnishing brand, known as Green Doors, but he has been making money from eBay since he was just a kid.

As a pre-teen Holman invested his birthday and pocket money into a bulk order of magnetic ‘stick and ball’ games, which he then sold on individually.

Joseph, now 33, ended up netting a profit of around £2,000 in just six weeks.

“I was hooked on buying and selling anything I could,” he shared.

By the time he was 16 the savvy youngster had £30,000 saved up from eBay profits, eventually purchasing a moped to make deliveries.

The following year he bought a car, which he said made selling larger items possible as he could go and pick them up.

This decision helped him bag £50,000.

His friends started calling him the “The eBay King”, earning the name by selling everything from soaps to statues and baths to bikes.

He added: “By the time I was 20, I had made over two hundred grand, all from selling things on eBay.”

Joesph is sharing his tips for success after eBay announced it had scrapped fees for private sellers, making it more profitable to sell on the platform.

Now sellers using the marketplace can take home more money when they flog secondhand items including CDs, books, toys and furniture.

Before the change, private sellers had to pay an enormous fee of 13.22% when selling items on eBay.

These included a 12.8% “final value” fee plus 30p per order and 0.42% “regulatory operating” fee.

For a seller listing a chest of drawers worth £20 the change would save them £2.94 in fees.

They will now take home the full £20 instead of the previous £17.06.

For items worth just one or two pounds the fee changes will have an even greater impact.

This is because previously there was a fixed 30p element to how the final value fee was calculated.

On a £3 transaction, this would be equal to 10% of the seller’s total profit, without including the other elements of the fees.

It comes just months after eBay slashed fees to sell secondhand clothes on its website in a bid to compete with other platforms including Vinted and Depop.

Here are Joseph’s top tips for making money on eBay.

Do your research

The eBay king recommends carefully researching the product you are selling – and taking a simple screenshot can mean bagging a buyer willing to pay more.

He said: “Try to find the highest original Recommended Retail Price (RRP) online, take a screenshot of this, and add it to the eBay photos.

The RRP is the price a manufacturer suggests a retailer should sell a product for, but in some cases they can charge higher or lower.

Joesph said by showing customers the highest RRP they can see how much they are saving if they bought it somewhere else.

Cause a stir

To make sure your product stands out Joseph said to list your items as “Buy it Now/Best Offer”’.

By listing your product as “Buy it Now” it means customers can snap it up immediately for a fixed price that you as the seller have decided on.

Alternatively, you can list it as “Best Offer” which allows sellers to invite buyers to negotiate the price of an item.

 For example, you can list an item for £60 but be open to offers either higher or lower.

“This allows customers to quickly purchase your product, rather than waiting for an auction to end, which they might forget to bid on,” he said.

You can set your preferences to automatically accept or decline offers of a certain amount, and use the counteroffer feature to negotiate with prospective buyers.

The counteroffer allows sellers to come back with a different price than the buyer offered.

For example, if someone offers £40 for an item you can go back and suggest they pay £50.

The buyer has 48 hours to accept the new offer from the seller.

Ensure your item is looking the best

Joseph said it is important to know your audience and provide lots of pictures of the item you’re selling to ensure you make a sale.

He said: “Take the maximum number of photos you can upload and a video if necessary, so the customer can see all angles.”

The pro also said sellers should describe any defects to demonstrate that “you’re an honest seller, and provide a clear and engaging description”.

He added: “Understand the product and the type of customer it will attract – listings for a piece of art should be more detailed than those for an IKEA chair.”

Use keywords

When listing an item sellers should also consider using keywords to make their product stand out.

“The eBay title is crucial, especially the first four words, as they affect the algorithm,” Joesph said.

“Make sure to use relevant keywords first and use the entire space available for the title.”

When doing this sellers should pick three to five keywords that relate closely to their item.

Ask yourself what words people are likely to use in a search engine when looking for what you’re selling.

For example, if you are selling a dress from a specific brand make sure you use that in your title.

Once you have these keywords, use them appropriately in your listing title and item description.

You should make sure that you do not make any typos in keywords or listing titles as this can stop customers from finding your product.

eBay is not the only platform you can sell your goods on.

The Sun recently shared top tricks and tips for how to make your items stand out on Vinted.

You can read more about this by clicking the link here.

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Eurozone house prices have risen for the first time in more than a year, according to official statistics that suggest lower mortgage rates are fuelling a recovery in the region’s property market.

House prices in the currency union increased 1.3 per cent in the second quarter from the same period a year ago, according to data published by Eurostat on Thursday. The growth follows four consecutive quarters of annual contractions.

Demand in the European property market plunged as the cost of home loans increased from early 2022. But mortgage rates have declined this year on expectations that the European Central Bank would cut interest rates. The ECB’s key deposit rate stands at 3.5 per cent after it reduced rates in June and September, with investors anticipating another quarter-point cut next month.

“Eurozone house prices are beginning to finally recover,” said Tomasz Wieladek, chief European economist at investment company T Rowe Price, adding that “mortgage affordability has improved significantly” as a result of a resilient labour market and a large rise in disposable income as energy prices have fallen.

Franziska Biehl, an economist at ING, said that in addition to lower mortgage rates, the residential property sector’s recovery was supported by higher salaries. Wages are growing at a faster rate than inflation, according to official statistics.

Separate figures released on Wednesday by the ECB showed that the average mortgage rate on new deals declined to 3.7 per cent in August from more than 4 per cent last November. The average was 1.3 per cent in January 2022.

The ECB began raising rates from 2022 in response to a surge in inflation, pushing up mortgage costs. However, Eurozone inflation fell to 1.8 per cent in September, dropping below the ECB’s medium-term target of 2 per cent for the first time in three years and paving the way for more interest rate cuts.

Compared with the previous quarter, Eurozone property prices were up 1.8 per cent in the three months to June, the fastest quarterly increase in two years, Eurostat data showed. In the hard-hit German housing market, which has suffered seven quarters of contraction, house prices rose 1.3 per cent quarter on quarter. House prices in Europe’s largest economy are still 12 per cent from their 2022 peak despite the latest rebound, and fell 2.6 per cent from the same period a year ago.

Above-average annual price increases were reported in many markets, with the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal all reporting price growth near 8 per cent in the second quarter. Annual prices rose 10 per cent in Croatia, the currency bloc’s newest member.

House prices also returned to growth in Italy, where they have lagged behind the region’s average over the past five years.

However, French house prices were 4.6 per cent below their levels a year ago.

Andrew Kenningham, economist at consultancy Capital Economics, said further price rises would be modest as lower ECB borrowing costs were already reflected in mortgage rates and the wider economic backdrop for the Eurozone was “poor”.

“We don’t expect house prices to surge,” he said. “Germany is struggling with declining competitiveness and France [is] facing a period of austerity.”

Commercial legal finance, or litigation funding, litigation finance, or third-party funding, involves businesses and law firms utilizing funds from an external financial provider to cover commercial litigation and arbitration costs.

This funding can take various forms (such as fees, expenses, advances, or portfolio funding) and does not affect control, which stays with the claimant. Normally non-recourse, the capital does not involve debt, with the investment and returns contingent upon a successful resolution.

What Are the Benefits of Legal Aid

Legal aid is frequently the sole support for individuals confronting impactful outcomes like losing their residence, job, or custody of their children.

Studies indicate that offering legal services “substantially reduces cases of domestic violence.” The help provided varies based on the client’s legal issue.

Legal aid attorneys support clients in diverse areas beyond courtrooms, represent them during legal proceedings, and frequently spearhead intricate legal efforts aiming to bring about systemic changes that impact numerous individuals in similar situations.

Who Qualifies for Legal Aid?

Despite the dedicated efforts of lawyers who frequently dedicate their careers to assisting low-income individuals, programs lack sufficient resources. They must prioritize helping the most disadvantaged clients with a limited number of critical legal issues.

Despite this, around half of eligible individuals seeking help from legal aid programs cannot receive assistance. Those who do receive help usually get brief advice and limited services. Those who are not helped must depend on self-help materials and legal information, which are also inaccessible to everyone in need.

Why Businesses Opt for Litigation Financing

Litigation financing provides numerous benefits that appeal to companies dealing with expensive legal disputes. This guide to litigation finance offers additional details on the topic, including why businesses opt for this form of financial support.

Here are several primary reasons why businesses are increasingly embracing this type of financial assistance.

Financial Support

Legal disputes are known for their high costs. With expenses such as attorney fees and court charges, the financial burden escalates rapidly.

Litigation financing eases this financial pressure. This enables businesses to concentrate on their core activities without the concern of growing legal fees.

Risk Mitigation

Litigation inherently carries risks. Even strong cases can crumble, resulting in substantial financial setbacks. Through litigation financing, companies can shift some of this risk to the financing entity.

If the case doesn’t succeed, the business is typically not obligated to reimburse the funds, making it a more secure option.

Resource Allocation

By obtaining external financing, businesses can distribute their internal resources more effectively. Instead of drawing funds from vital areas like research and development or marketing, companies can utilize litigation funding for legal costs. This strategy ensures that legal challenges do not hinder the company’s progress and creativity.

Who Provides Legal Aid?

Legal aid providers come in various sizes and focus areas; some cater to local needs or specialize in specific issues like domestic violence or employment practices, while others handle cases citywide or statewide with minimal constraints on the type of cases.

The total funding for civil legal aid delivery in the U.S. is approximately $1.345 billion. The Legal Services Corporation is the country’s primary financial legal assistance supporter initiative, contributing roughly a quarter of this funding.

LSC, a federally funded nonprofit organization, distributes grants to 134 recipients nationwide. Unlike other funding sources for civil legal aid, grantees receiving federal aid from LSC must adhere to specific advocacy and client eligibility regulations.

Endnote

Seeking legal information and resources demonstrates strength and a proactive stance in safeguarding your interests. Feel free to contact us for assistance, even if you have doubts about eligibility. Let your legal aid organization assess your eligibility and choose to handle your case.

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The stories that matter on money and politics in the race for the White House

Former Republican congresswoman Liz Cheney will campaign with Kamala Harris in Wisconsin on Thursday, as the Democratic vice-president steps up efforts to win over Republicans unwilling to vote for Donald Trump.

Liz Cheney, the daughter of George W Bush’s vice-president Dick Cheney, last month endorsed Harris’s White House campaign as she warned of the “danger” of re-electing Trump. Dick Cheney subsequently also said he would vote for Harris.

The vice-president and Cheney will appear in the Wisconsin city of Ripon, considered the birthplace of the modern Republican party, a campaign official said.

Harris will say that while she and Republican voters may not agree on every policy issue, they can trust her to uphold the constitution and the rule of law, the official said.

The campaign stop, just a month ahead of the election, marks Harris’s most explicit attempt to lure Republicans who have been disenchanted with Trump’s control of their party — and whose votes could decide the election.

Cheney’s appearance in Wisconsin comes days after Jeff Flake, a former Republican senator from Arizona, announced he was also backing Harris, saying she represented a “new generation of leadership based not on grievances of the past, but hope for the future” — a pointed allusion to Trump.

In August, several former Trump administration officials and other big-name Republicans gave primetime speeches at the Democratic National Convention, and the Harris campaign has deployed prominent Republicans to campaign for her in battleground states.

The campaign has also invested heavily in advertising campaigns directed at moderate Republicans whose votes could be decisive in a gridlocked election.

The latest Financial Times poll tracker puts Harris slightly ahead of Trump nationally but in a split race in the swing states.

“[The Harris campaign] is doing a really good job of reaching out for us and, well, welcoming us into the fold,” said Geoff Duncan, the former Republican lieutenant-governor of Georgia who has criticised Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election. Duncan spoke at the DNC in August and has since campaigned for Harris in his home state of Georgia, a swing state.

“[Harris] has really shown a willingness to listen to the thoughts and ideas of those of us in the middle,” Duncan added.

Other high-profile Republican Trump critics — including Utah senator Mitt Romney, former president George W Bush and former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice — have stopped short of endorsing Harris. Many of Trump’s other Republican detractors, most notably former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, have now backed him.

Strategists say Harris could settle the contest with Trump if she wins a fraction of the Republican voters who backed Haley against him in their primary race this year.

A campaign group called “Haley Voters for Harris” on Wednesday announced a new “seven-figure” investment in its own advertising campaign targeting Haley primary voters.

In Pennsylvania, arguably the election’s most important swing state, more than 150,000 people, or nearly 17 per cent of Republican voters, picked Haley over Trump in April — even though she had abandoned her White House run two months earlier.

Now, some of those Haley supporters say they will vote for Harris.

Jack Merritt, a 74-year-old Republican from the Philadelphia suburbs who had previously told the FT he would spoil his ballot by voting for Haley in the general election, now says the vice-president has won him over.

“I remain a committed conservative,” Merritt said. “I don’t think she’s quite as liberal as people would like to paint her. Trump has got the potential of doing much more harm on the world stage than she would do . . . I have arrived at my least-bad choice.”

One former Republican official from a neighbouring Pennsylvania town said it was now “90 per cent certain” he would vote for Harris.

“Voting for Trump is not an option. I agree with former vice-president Cheney: he is a danger to the republic,” the former official added.

But other Haley primary voters in Pennsylvania contacted by the FT were unconvinced by Harris’s pitch, and suggested they might skip the top of the ticket altogether.

“I thought [Biden and Trump] were two bad choices,” said Marshall Lerner, a 73-year-old retiree who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020 and remains undecided about November. “Today, I would have to say, I don’t like either candidate. They are still two bad choices.”