Online dating is hugely popular, and can lead to some great dates, but going on these dates is an expensive business. These days, you’d be frowned upon for expecting the man to foot the bill for dinner, so you have to factor at least half the dining expenses into your financial forecast for the night. Then there’s the transport costs; a bus or taxi there, depending on the size of your heels and last minute hair disasters, then a taxi back (unless he’s a weirdo and that friend you’ve got on standby speeds in to drive you home).

So why not save yourself some money and stay online for the first date? You could use your webcams to have a net date, just to see how compatible you really are before you spend out on meeting up offline.

This way, not only will you save money, you’ll be able to control the night a lot better too. For example, you could have a few sneaky prop cards placed just out of the webcam’s sight to help you keep the conversation flowing if you sometimes struggle to think of topics.

You can also create the perfect lighting to make yourself look great on the webcam. In Old Hollywood film, the most beautiful stars were made even more beautiful with three-point lighting. The idea is to light your face up from both sides and from above, to create the most radiant complexion possible. Grab yourself a few lamps and make sure they can’t be seen by the webcam.

There is only so much you can do with lighting so you might want to put on the make-up and sexy outfit you would normally wear for a real-life date. If you’re figure could do with a helping hand, you could check the slimming aids available here, in the run-up to your date.

If you are looking for something to brighten up your hamster’s cage, consider a natural wood toy that is safe for your little friend to chew and enjoy. If you choose coloured toys, make sure they are treated with vegetable dyes, which are safe for your pet.

Hamsters love to have tunnels to crawl through and little places to hide in, especially if they are playing with a friend. If you do have more than one hamster, an offer such as the two hamster toys for £6 offer available here would make you a saving. Or you could stock up so you’ll always have a supply of fun toys for him to enjoy!

Make sure your hamster isn’t too cramped in his cage; get the biggest one you can afford. This will stop him growing out of his cage, saving you money in the long run, and make him feel more comfortable.

Along with providing toys for him to play with, give your hamster as much attention as possible. Handle him regularly and he will be tame and happy.

Save on vet bills by giving your hamster the means to keep himself fit and healthy. A hamster wheel is a great way for him to stave off obesity and, like the chewable toys, it will provide daily entertainment.

You may feel like you never want to see another Easter egg again but make sure you show your pet rabbit you’re not bored of her, too. Insuring your bunny against any accident or illness is a smart move, especially if you buy online where you can save some cash with special online rates.

But not all bunnies are so well taken care of…

In the lead up to Easter, the House Rabbit Society (HRS) produced a press release which highlighted the commitment involved in buying a pet rabbit.

On March 22nd HRS vice-president Mary Cotter warned people to think carefully before buying rabbits as Easter gifts. She said that of all the bunnies brought as Easter fads, many would either die of neglect or be abandoned. She stressed the importance of realising that a pet rabbit could be a ten year commitment.

House Rabbit Society’s president Margo DeMello recommended that parents buy their children rabbit-shaped chocolate instead of the real thing, unless they were certain they could offer real bunnies a good home for life. However, she stressed that she was by no means advising against families with small children keeping rabbits. She said: “Parents must be actively involved on a daily basis, and willing to supervise any interactions between rabbits and children”. Click here to read the press release.

While HGV insurance is probably the most important thing for HGV drivers to buy, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK has found that fuel efficiency does not seem to be held in the same regard. That’s because research by the group found that one-quarter of van drivers do not consider how much fuel they’re using from day to day.

Volkswagen claimed that drivers are not the only guilty ones, either; fleet operators themselves only seem to carry out a limited number of measures to boost efficiency, too. Less than half of the pool of responding managers claimed to consider planning less demanding routes for staff, and 35 per cent said that the driving habits of employees was a major issue for them. On top of this, nearly a quarter of drivers found themselves making two trips on the same route in the same day.

Responding to the research upon its release, Alastair Hemmings, the national fleet manager of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles UK, said: “This research clearly shows that van drivers and fleet operators can easily save money by choosing more efficient vehicles and considering other areas of their operation where efficiencies can be made.”

For more information on HGV insurance policies visit Staveley Head, and for more information on fuel efficiency visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/bloom/actions/ecodriving.shtml.