1. Get creative when it comes to dinner: You really don’t have to spend a lot on a romantic dinner at a restaurant. Why not have a nice candlelit dinner at home? You could even get all dressed up for it. If you know you’re going to be too tired to cook after work on Valentine’s Day, which falls on a Tuesday this year, order a special meal ahead of time and pick it up on your way home.

2. Enjoy a little ambiance: If you both really want to go out on the town together, you could have coffee or a drink and dessert at an expensive café, restaurant or romantic bistro. This is a way to savor the atmosphere — and your date — without emptying your wallet.

3. Seek out some silence: Here’s a potential date idea if you’ve both been stressed out lately: You could wander through bookstores with coffee shops that encourage browsing. Rediscover passages you love from your favorite books, and enjoy the quiet.

4. Have low-cost fun with food on Feb 14: You can pull out the cookie cutters and make heart-shaped cookies and even cut your lunch sandwiches into hearts. You also can make heart-shaped cupcakes by placing a marble inside each muffin tin on the outside of the paper cupcake cup.

5. Give thoughtful gifts: Most people stick to the same general gift themes on Valentine’s Day: flowers, chocolates, cards, maybe a piece of jewelry. Can you think of something different that might mean a whole lot more — and maybe even cost a whole lot less? Such gifts could include room made goodies or gift certificates for your services. The gift certificate idea might be just the ticket for you if you’re short on cash but high on love this Valentine’s Day. You could offer to run errands for your loved one, make a nice dinner, clean the house, repair the car or give a massage.

6. Reflect on that flower purchase: If you’re sure your special someone will be devastated without the gift of flowers, then you probably should get some. But once again, you don’t have to follow the herd. Everyone opts for roses at this time of year, but there are plenty of other gorgeous and neglected (i.e., less expensive) flower varieties to choose from. And red isn’t your only option, either. You also could choose peach, pink or yellow. What’s more, if you place your flower order early, you stand to save on your purchase. And here’s another detail to consider: Does your partner love to garden? If so, a beautiful outdoor plant that will keep on living might be more appropriate than cut flowers that will quickly fade.

7. Write down how you feel: Using any kind of paper — you could write out dozens of reasons why you love your partner. Leave the messages all over the house, in both noticeable and hidden-away places. This is a gift that could keep on giving for weeks or months to come.

8. A romantic getaway: Not the kind that costs a fortune! Instead, wow your Valentine by taking them to the first place you had a date, or the place you had your first kiss. If this isn’t possible due to geographic issues, recreate your first date, rent the first movie you saw together. This is for the creative minded and it will impress your guy/gal.

9. Plan ahead for next year: If Valentine’s Day is a holiday that matters to you and your significant other, make a mental note of how quickly it can sneak up on you after the big holidays in December. Think about realistic ways you can cut back on your spending so you’ll be able to use cash to cover Valentine’s Day without relying on credit cards and going into debt.

2. Take many pictures: The most important thing to keep in mind when photographing groups and families is to take many pictures in order to ensure the highest number of shots that you are happy with. Work quickly so as to keep the experience fun.

3. Shoot first, ask questions later: Be ready to press that shutter button at a moment’s notice in order to capture those fleeting special moments.

4. Don’t use a flash indoors where possible: Although the flash can be a real lifesaver, the burst of artificial light can cause harsh, flat light that is not complimentary to the subject. Where possible use naturally lit areas, or if taking pictures at night turn on indoor lighting to reduce red eye and harsh flashed-out subjects.

5. Use a flash outdoors: Even in bright sunlight, forcing your flash to fire can often mean the difference between a so-so snapshot and an eye-grabbing masterpiece. The reason is that this kind of bright day flash will fill in the shadows and even out harsh contrasts.

6. Look for reflections: One of the quickest and easiest ways to add an artistic touch to your holiday photos is to focus on capturing reflections rather than the object itself. Simply keep an eye out for interesting splashes of colour reflected from Christmas lights and other holiday decorations.

7. Blur and zoom those Christmas lights: Try something new, set your camera to a slower shutter speed then purposefully move the camera while taking the picture. The idea is to blur the colourful Christmas lights.

For the zooming effect to look clean, you will want to mount your camera on a tripod to restrict movement while you zoom in or out during exposure.

8. Give the gift of a photo: A family photo is appreciated by all especially parents and grandparents.

9. Plan ahead: Charge batteries and clear memory cards or buy film to ensure you don’t miss any priceless moments with those you love.

1. Basil: Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow. It is known for its potent leaves and is a staple in Italian cooking. Basil grows best in warm conditions and likes plenty of sunshine, so place it where it will get a full day’s sun. To harvest, pick from the top of the plant first. Do not pick all the leaves; rather, pick a few at a time so the plant has a chance to regrow. It will get larger every time leaves are picked

2. Parsley: Parsley adds a fresh, clean flavor to meat dishes, as well as soups and salads. It is commonly served as a garnish. Place parsley in full sun to partial shade for best results. To harvest, cut the outermost stalks from the bottom of the plant. Both the stems and the leaves can be eaten.

3. Oregano: The oval, gray-green leaves of oregano are commonly used in marinara, spaghetti and pizza sauces, as well as beef or lamb stews, salads, and soups. Plant in full sunlight. Oregano is ready to be harvested when flowers appear, unless continuous picking of the leaves has prevented flower growth.

4. Sage: Sage is used in cooking rich meats, such as lamb and pork, as well as in sausage and cheese. Plant sage in full sun. To harvest, pick leaves prior to flowering.

5. Rosemary: A fragrant, shrub-like herb, rosemary is used extensively in lamb and chicken dishes, as well as breads. Rosemary grows best in full sun, but can tolerate some shade. To harvest, cut the stems with a sharp knife. Rosemary leaves can be taken off the stems for cooking, or whole stems and leaves can be used.

Fresh herbs are an easy way to add flavor and a dash of summertime to your cooking. With a little care, you can grow an Italian herb garden and have fresh herbs all summer long.

2. Check out message boards: To make sure you are paying for something worthwhile, do a little online research. Searching the Web for message boards and hotel reviews can give you a good look at what you are getting yourself into.

3. Plan ahead: Odds are you will get better rates if you plan ahead. Airline tickets are expensive when buying them at the last minute. With planning, you can have time to research various hotel offers or package deals.

4. Consider a travel agent: There are many travel agents out there more than willing to help you. Often, they can give you information about locations that the average person might not know, like a great little bed and breakfast on the outskirts of town or a hole-in-the wall restaurant with the best cuisine you will ever eat.

5. Safety: Investigate the safety of the area you are planning on traveling to. Some parts of town may not be safe for you to explore. Be aware of your location and do not be naïve of current world issues.

6. Look into unexpected fees: Don’t forget about taxis, possible checked baggage fees, tips for services and other unexpected costs that you might encounter when you travel. Costs can add up quickly while traveling, and random problems like needing to buy a new suitcase might pop up. Add a little bit of extra cash into your finance planning to cover these costs and still stay on budget.

7. Consider quality vs. quantity: Before embarking on your vacation, set your priorities. What is more important to you on the trip? Where do you want to spend your money? Your priority might be taking luxury transportation like first class airline tickets, staying in nice hotels and or dining at expensive restaurants. Consider staying in hostels or bringing along your own cheap snacks instead of buying food while you are out and about.

8. Think about alternate means of transportation: Often traveling like the locals is the way to save money. Learn subway, trolley or cable car routes and save yourself cab fares. Ask local residents what they suggest for transportation.

9. Budget: Budgeting can make so many things possible. Start putting aside a small portion of your paycheck away or forgo a few little luxuries like expensive coffee each morning or manicures for a while and watch your money grow.

10. Don’t stress: Always remember, have fun while planning this trip and don’t stress. You don’t want to be bitter about the whole thing before you leave the house. Having the mindset of “wow, this sure better be worth all the hassle” is no way to begin a vacation.

Winter is upon us, and with more people crammed indoors sharing recirculated air, germs and viruses are unavoidable. Here’s a list of habits you can adopt today to ward off illness in the future.

1. Get a massage:

Massages are truly valuable because they decrease your stress levels, which boosts your immune system. Try to fit in a rubdown at least once a month, and remember, your masseuse doesn’t have to be a professional.

2.Take a cold shower:

A brief cold shower can raise your energy levels and aid in circulation, in addition to giving your skin a healthy glow.

3. Use good habits:

Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the crook of your arm and wash your hands properly (at least 20 seconds of washing) and often (particularly before meals and after touching anything in a public place).

4. Eat raw garlic:

Garlic has lots of antioxidants, which means it’s excellent for your immunity. But cooking diminishes garlic’s power, so eating it raw is best but if you can’t stomach raw garlic try garlic capsules instead.

5. Stay positive:

Studies have shown that positive people produce more illness-fighting antibodies than people who have a negative outlook.

6. Eat lots of ginger:

Ginger is great for your digestive health, as it helps move food through the gastrointestinal tract. Try ginger in tea by adding a few slices to hot water, or add it to a stirfry.

7. Try a little prevention:

Drinking Vitamin C at the first sign of illness may actually prevent the onset of a cold, or at least shorten the duration of the symptoms. If you are up for it, eat a few chili poppers as chili is very high in Vitamin C.

8. Sanitize:

Frequently spray your hands with sanitizer and use antibacterial cleaner to wipe down your phone, mouse, desk etc in order to prevent the spread of germs.

9. Stay away:

If you are sick try to work from home until you have recovered in order to prevent infecting other employees and starting a cycle of absenteeism that is costly to your company.

10. Get a plant:

According to a University of Agriculture in Norway study, indoor plants an reduce fatigue, coughs, sore throats and other cold-related illnesses by more than 30 percent, partially by increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.

1. Reward yourself. According to some studies, people who diet by refusing themselves treats tend to gain way more weight than people who occasionally indulge themselves. This has to do with the psychological effect of pushing something out of your life that you want there. If you give yourself a reward or two when you deserve it, weight loss won’t have to control your life.

2. Park farther away. Every little bit counts, so take a farther away parking spot when you get to work or campus. The more movement in your day the better chance you have of losing the winter weight. Other ideas are to pace around while you talk on the phone or while at the office, try to give yourself a task that requires movement every twenty minutes or so. It’s the little battles that kill the calories.

3. Don’t try miracle diets. There are some diets that basically deprive your body of valuable nutrients, causing you to lose weight, and as soon as you go off the diet, your body tries to compensate and ends up packing on the kilos. Just stick to eating healthy; three decent sized meals or five smaller meals a day with healthy foods, no fast food, and moderate exercise, and you’ll be much happier and lose much more winter weight than with the quick fix diets.

4. Clean your house. When the weather is bad, walking around outside isn’t much fun but house cleaning can burn just as many calories, especially sweeping. Put on some music and clean house for twenty minutes or more every day. You’ll end up burning calories and you’ll have a clean house!

5. Cut out the extras. If you drink coffee black, it’s five calories, if you put sugar in it, you’re multiplying those calories. If you add milk, it’s even worse. Learn to drink black coffee, skip chocolates and other sweets unless it’s only an occasional thing, skip the cheese on your sandwich at lunch, skip the cold drink in favour of some tea, and in general try to cut out calories that you don’t typically think about. You’ll notice a big difference.

Really, this is all common sense, but that’s what good weight loss technique is: keeping yourself in a good state of mind and carefully weighing your choices and options. Watch yourself without getting too obsessive and you’ll shed the winter pounds steadily and permanently.

1. Use what you have! Refurbishing existing furniture is a great way to get a new look.

2.  Shop online. There are local online classifieds with great deals to explore, second hand websites and store websites with specials for you to take advantage of. The best part is you can do it from home.

3. Learn to sew. Homemade is cheaper and gives you loads of options in terms of fabric! Check for inexpensive classes in your local area.

4. When choosing a paint colour, pick one shade darker or bolder than what you feel is safe. Go out of your comfort zone, and you may be pleasantly surprised.

5. Limited space? Buy multi-purpose pieces. An ottoman/coffee table/storage unit combination or a dining room bench/outside seating/table, are two examples of how to save space.

6. If you have the space, pull your couch away from the wall. A lovely console placed behind the couch will give your room more interest and a division of space.

7. Avoid the catalogue look. Don’t buy an entire matching living room or bedroom set from one store, personalize your space, buy unique pieces from different places.

8. Draped window treatments. Hang your drapery panels wider and higher than the actual dimensions of the window. You’ll create the illusion of a bigger window and make your room feel larger and more grand.

9. Keep your backdrop (walls and furniture) neutral. This is a great tip for those who like to switch up their colour schemes with pillows, candles and other small accessories. Neutrals, although black, white, grey and beige tones are also the lightest and most muted version of any colour.

Light a fire and play board games!                           

Stay warm by the fire, turn the T’V off and interact with those around you!

Enjoy an indoor braai!  

South Africa’s national pastime, nothing like sitting around the braai while it pours with rain outside!

Finish that holiday scrapbook you never get to!

You know the one! You’ve been meaning to but you just never get there, all the while the facts are fading and you know you are going to regret it one day when you want to share your memories!

Throw a themed party!

A murder mystery party is a great way to stay warm inside while trying to solve a case of whodunit!

Try new recipes out on your friends:      

Dig out those recipes that you have been dying to try, invite your friends over and test them out.

Make contact:

Catch up on all those emails you have been promising your friends overseas or better yet spend some time on Skype catching up with the ones you love.

DIY – Take on a design project:

Sick of that room that needs a new look? Been meaning to paint those kitchen cupboards? Now’s the time to make them fabulous!

“Spring” Clean:

Go through your cupboards and clear out all the clothing and items you don’t need (apply: if I haven’t used it in a year I don’t need it) and donate it to a worthy charity to add winter warmth to the heart.

Plan your summer holiday:

Enough said!

Take advantage of the winter specials:

If staying in is getting too much then get out and enjoy the many accommodation and restaurant specials available in winter!

1. Be realistic
The surest way to fall short of your goal is to make your goal unattainable.

2. Plan ahead
If you wait until the last minute, your resolve will be affected on your mindset that particular day.

3. Outline your plan
Decide how you will deal with the temptation to skip that exercise class or have one more cigarette. This could include calling on a friend for help, practicing positive thinking and self-talk.

4. Make a “pro” and “con” list
Develop this list over time, and ask others to contribute to it. Keep your list with you and refer to it when you need help keeping your resolve.

5. Talk about it
Don’t keep your resolution a secret. Tell friends and family members who will be there to support your resolve to change yourself for the better or improve your health. The best case scenario is to find yourself a buddy who shares your New Year’s resolution and motivate each other.

6. Reward yourself
Celebrate your success by treating yourself to something that you enjoy that does not contradict your resolution.

7. Track your progress
Keep track of each small success you make toward reaching your larger goal. Short-term goals are easier to keep, and small accomplishments will help keep you motivated.

8. Don’t beat yourself up
Obsessing over the occasional slip won’t help you achieve your goal. Do the best you can each day, and take each day one at a time.

9. Stick to it
Experts say it takes about 21 days for a new activity, such as exercising, to become a habit, and 6 months for it to become part of your personality. Your new healthful habits will become second-nature in no time.

10. Keep trying
If your resolution has totally run out of steam by mid-February, don’t despair. Start over again! There’s no reason you can’t make a “New Year’s resolution” any time of year.

1. Download the “Tower CILdisk” from the downloads section on the Tower website.
2. Open “Windows Explorer”, find the saved file on your “C” drive and double click on it to Unzip to “C:\Temp”
3. Once it is unzipped, in Explorer, open the “Temp” folder in click on the CILdisk icon (black Tower logo next to it) and follow the instructions on your screen.
4. For further support call the Consumer Helpline, toll free 0800 220 488.