Browsing Archive

August, 2012

Back to School Savers: Five Affordable, Healthy Lunchbox Ideas for Kids

packlunch
August 31, 2012 By In Top 10

It might only seem like yesterday that the summer holidays started, but now they’re drawing to a close and it’s time to think about sending the kids back to school. You may have starched their shirts, purchased new pencil cases and even polished the shoes, but how much time have you spent planning what to place inside your children’s lunch boxes?

To aid their concentration, provide them with the right nutrients and keep them big and strong, it’s essential to send them off to school with a balanced diet. Yet, kids are notoriously fussy eaters so we’ve come up with some quirky but healthy lunchbox ideas that your child won’t be able to resist. Use MyVoucherCodes for your weekly shop and they’ll be super affordable, too.

1. Ants on a Log

If there’s one thing that will get your child eating vegetables, it’s giving them a crazy name and spreading them with peanut butter.

What you need:

• Stick of celery
• Peanut butter
• Raisins

How to do it: Spread peanut butter on celery and dot with raisins. Yum!

2. Plain Popcorn

Your kids will enjoy eating this even more if you let them help make it the night before. Containing just 30 calories if popped without using oil (e.g. just hot air). This is certainly a healthy alternative to crisps.

3. Homemade Mini Pizza Rounds

Sandwiches day in day out can get boring, so why not mix it up a little by making pizza rounds instead?

What you need:

  • English Muffin or pitta bread
  • Mozzarella cheese
  • Tomato passata
  • Your choice of topping

How to do it: Cover half the English muffin / pitta bread with tomato passata, mozzarella cheese and your choice of topping, grill for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

4. Fruity Fun Skewers

What you need:

  • Strawberries
  • Melon
  • Bananas
  • Apple
  • Dipping yoghurt

How to do it: This one involves placing the fruit on a kebab skewer and is therefore not suitable for really young kids. However, the concept’s still the same: cut up pieces of their favourite fruit and give them yoghurt that they can dip the fruit into. This also works with healthy snacks such as yoghurt coated raisins.

5. Fruit Chips

You can buy apple flavoured crisps at supermarkets such as Tesco. Just look out for brands such as Snapz and Perry Court Farm and don’t forget to use one of our Tesco discount codes to save even more money. If you can’t find any in-store, grab the ingredients below and make your own.

What you need:

  • 2oz caster sugar
  • A mixture of thinly sliced fruits

How to do it:

  • Preheat the oven to 70C/150F/Gas 4
  • Place a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray
  • Pour 500ml of water into a pan and add the sugar. Bring the mixture to the boil
  • Add the fruit slices and boil for 4 minutes. Drain the fruit in a colander.
  • Arrange the fruits in a single layer on a baking tray and cook for 6 hours until they’re all dried out
  • Pack in a lunch box and enjoy!

Have you got any healthy homemade ideas for lunch boxes? Share your suggestions below!

Back to School: Top Apps and Gadgets to Help you Sleep

tired
August 30, 2012 By In Gadgets, Lifestyle, Technology

With all those recent late summer nights, it can be hard work getting back into a sensible routine when school or work starts again.

It is estimated that up to 25% of the UK population have problems sleeping.  Difficulty getting to sleep is probably the most common problem, with our increasingly stressful lives playing a major part in the cause.

It is important not to underestimate the role sleep has in restoring our bodies to full function after the ‘wear and tear’ of the day’s activities, especially on the brain.  This is even more true when it comes to school children, who are rapidly developing and soaking up new things.  It’s not rocket science to realise that a good night’s sleep will result in a better mental and physical attitude.

Some might say there are already far too many distractions in the bedroom, including games consoles, TVs and mobile phones – none of which contribute to a good night’s sleep.

Not all gadgets are bad though; here are some tech-favourites that could help you sleep.

Dreamate Sleep Aid
The Dreamate Sleeping Aid makes use of acupressure points, the watch-like gadget is worn on the wrist and gently massages specific points with its special micro-vibration motor.  All a bit technical, but it genuinely helps to relax and unwind as you drift off into a deep and natural sleep.  Comfortable and safe to wear all night, the Dreamate can correct poor sleeping patterns.  Available from Prezzybox.com for £59.95.

Orb Clock
The Orb Clock is far more than just a funky looking timepiece; it’s an alarm clock, sleep aid and a timer all in one! Wake up to one of six natural soundtracks, ranging from bubbling waterfalls to the peaceful sounds of the jungle at night, or turn the volume down and use the same sounds to help you drift quietly off to sleep.  Best of all, the clock also puts on a soothing light show to help you relax before bedtime, perfect for stressed out kids!  Get it for £12.95 at Gadgets.co.uk.

Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock App
Not all sleeping solutions need to cost the earth.  The Sleep Cycle Alarm Clock App is a virtual alarm clock that analyzes your sleep patterns, and wakes you in the lightest sleep phase.  Thus achieving a natural way to wake up when you feel rested and relaxed.  Simply pop your iPhone under the sheets and the clever app will do the rest.  Because it is compatible with technology many teenagers will already have, this could be the perfect sleep aid for you.  Available now from the itunes store, priced 69p.

Sound Asleep Pillow
Music helps a lot of people doze off, so the Sound Asleep Pillow is a design masterstroke.  Simply plug your music source (iPod, radio, TV out) into the pillow’s 3.5mm stereo socket, and listen to your favourite music as you lie in bed.  Earphones hurt, headphones are impractical and music docks are too loud.  Drift off the land of nod without waking up the whole house, and yes that also includes heavy metal.  Pre-Order today for £17.99 from Firebox.

And if all else fails……..
Pillow Tie
Sometimes you just cannot avoid the inevitable, but you can at least you can be comfortable.  The inflatable pillow tie is just the thing if you nod off in lessons.  Simply inflate its concealed airbag via the hidden mouthpiece and rest your weary head; you won’t even have to take it off!  Unfortunately the tie cannot guarantee that the teacher will not notice.  Available in a choice of colours for £13.99 from Amazon.

 

Remember to check MyVoucherCodes for discounts on all sorts of gadgets.

Are you ready for the back to school stresses?  Let us know if you have any methods for getting a much needed good night’s sleep in the comments below.

Back To School Clothes: How to Save Money on Uniform Essentials

school
August 29, 2012 By In Top 10

As the school holidays draw to a close, the time has come to kit out your kids for the term ahead.

This can be a challenging task. First of all, school clothes need to be durable and resilient to the inevitable daily wear and tear – but you don’t want to fork out a fortune for something that won’t fit in a matter of months. Getting the balance between great quality and great value is vital. And with so many deals out there at this time of year, it can get difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff.

We’re always looking for ways to save you money here at MyVoucherCodes, so we’ve put together our pick of the best value school uniforms right now.

Morrisons
Morrisons’ uniform is basic but it gets the job done. There isn’t much of a range of styles or colours – which isn’t great if you’re raising a mini fashionista – but it’s a great option if your child’s school colours are navy or red. All items come in at £2.50 each and most are 100% cotton and tumble dryer safe.

Polo Shirts: £2.50
Sweatshirts: £2.50
Trousers: £2.50
Skirts: £2.50

Tesco F&F
Tesco have a much wider range of products coming in a variety of colours. They also offer a uniform embroidery service for extra personalisation. Another benefit of Tesco uniform is that most of the products come in multipacks, meaning you can buy in bulk at an affordable price.

Polo Shirts: £2.00 (pack of 2)
Sweatshirts: £3.00
Trousers: £5 (pack of 2)
Skirts: £5 (pack of 2)

Sainsbury’s
Not only are Sainsbury’s skirts and trousers stain repellent and hard-wearing, they are also among the cheapest out there with packs of two on sale for just £4. Sainsbury’s also have a fantastic back to school webpage with some amazing healthy lunch ideas, as well as tips from mums and a really useful back to school check list.

Polo Shirts: £3 (pack of 3)
Sweatshirts: £3 (pack of 2)
Trousers: £4 (pack of 2)
Skirts: £4 (pack of 2)

ASDA George
ASDA uniform was recently voted best in the UK for overall value by Which?. A study, conducted by the independent consumer watchdog, put ASDA up against uniform heavy weights like M&S and Tesco and showed ASDA to provide the best quality products weighed up against price. This shows that high quality products can be bought at budget prices.

Polo Shirt: £2.50 (pack of 2)
Sweatshirts: £2
Trousers: £3
Skirts: £3.50

Marks & Spencer
M&S has always sat a little more on the expensive side of the fence when it comes to school uniform, but they do make up for it in quality. Their motto ‘Buy Once Buy Right’ demonstrates a dedication to producing long lasting garments. Plus they’ve recently introduced a number of nifty innovations (like scuff resistant shoes and anti-ink stain shirts) that you just don’t get with the likes of Morrisons. Bear in mind though, the bellow prices are based on the M&S’s costing for small size items – their prices increase depending on the size of the garment.

Polo Shirts: £3 (pack of 2)
Skirt: £3.50
Sweatshirts: £2
Trousers: £3

Like so many things in life, mastering your school uniform shopping  is ultimately a case of trial and error. More importantly you need to consider what your child will be comfortable and happy in.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this. Where do you buy your school uniform from? Which stores do you think give best value for money? Get in touch we’d be happy to hear from you. Be sure to check out the latest Back to school deals from MyVoucherCodes.

Going Back to School? Try These Top 5 Brain Training Games

BrainTraining
August 28, 2012 By In Games, Top 10

After a long and relaxing bank holiday weekend, it’s back to work and school for most of us.

As we all know, getting back into learning mode can be a struggle after some time off, but fortunately, help is at hand – and it needn’t involve double espressos, energy drinks, or matchsticks to help keep your eyes open.  Nope, there are dozens of fantastic games to help keep your mind young and healthy – and we’ve rounded up the best of them.

Check out these games to get your family in the mood for work and school.

Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain

The original Brain Training game, Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training is still the go-to game for those looking to keep their mind sharp with simple, daily exercises. Boasting eleven unique brain-training activities, from traditional Sudoku to maths and memory games (in which you’re tasked with remembering words that appear on the screen, or performing maths problems as quickly as possible), this is the perfect accompaniment for the morning commute.

More Brain Training

Not so much a replacement of the original game, but a fully-fledged companion, More Brain Training features 17 new mini-games. Each is designed to stimulate your brain in a unique way – enhancing memory, concentration and mental acuity. Just like before, the game can be played in short, five to ten minute sessions – the mental equivalent of a quick jog around the block. The game charts your progress as you play, and you can also play any of the mini-games against other people, to see who comes out on top.

Big Brain Academy

Designed to put your grey matter to the test with a variety of fun mental exercises, Big Brain Academy for Wii has been designed for players of all ages and experience levels to enjoy. With challenges as varied as selecting the odd one out in four pictures, popping numbered balloons, and using a spotlight to count animals, you’ll have to think fast if you’re going to beat your friends and family. A multiplayer treat.

My Word Coach

Nintendo’s Brain Training series has become a global sales phenomenon, so you can hardly blame other publishers for jumping on the bandwagon. Of course, where others have failed, My Word Coach fares better – offering a brain training experience like no other. Boasting six unique training exercises, from Missing Letter (in which you scribble in missing letters to complete a random word), to Safecracker (a competitive game in which you’re tasked with guessing a word based on definition alone), My Word Coach is sure to improve your vocabulary in no time.

Junior Brain Trainer

Created specifically for children, Junior Brain Trainer takes a fresh and fun approach to learning by teaching kids in bite-sized chunks and rewarding them with a host of unlockable mini-games. The game encourages children to spend time completing five different activities each day, and has been designed to improve reading, writing, spelling, maths, geometry, logic and problem-solving skills. Put simply, it’s the perfect way to support your child’s studies outside the classroom.

 

Have we missed out your favourite brain training game? Let us know in the comments below.

Remember to check out MyVoucherCodes Discounts for great offers and reductions on Entertainment

August Bank Holiday – Events Around the UK this Weekend

wall of death
August 24, 2012 By In Travel

The sun is finally out (for now) and we’ve all been soaking up the rays for the last week or so. So what could make our lives even better than this? How about a bank holiday weekend? Many activities and events will be taking place around the country from August 25-27 and best of all we’ll all get an extra day off work! So make the most of it this year by checking out some of these fun things to do.

Classic Car by Martin Pettitt on Flickr

Ormskirk Motorfest – Lancashire

Any fan of classic cars should head to Ormskirk in West Lancashire on Sunday 26 August. Celebrating every aspect of motoring and motor sport, the Ormskirk Motorfest is sure to attract thousands of visitors to the town. With many roads in the town closed for the day, a procession of cars and motorcycles will drive through Ormskirk throughout the day starting at around 10am. Look out for traditional sports cars, as well as some of the oldest working vehicles you’ll ever see.

AVIVA Birmingham Grand Prix

Feeling a bit low after the euphoria of the Olympics? Fear not, as many of the world’s top athletes will be returning to action at the AVIVA Grand Prix in Birmingham on Sunday 26 August. Spectators will be able to cheer on our medal-winning heroes such as Mo Farah, Greg Rutherford and Christine Ohuruogu, as well as a host of other athletes from around the world. So don’t put that Union Jack flag to the back of the wardrobe just yet!

Notting Hill Carnival – London

For the biggest and most spectacular bank holiday party, around a million people will be flocking to the Notting Hill Carnival. Taking place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 August, the carnival is a huge celebration of the diverse and multicultural nature of London and is jam-packed full of magnificent costumes, tasty food and pulsating music. Tubes will be busy so get there early to avoid the crowds and be kind to your feet by wearing comfortable shoes. Expect loud music, outrageously colourful dancers and a real feel-good vibe.

Creamfields – Cheshire

With some of the best dance music acts on the planet, Creamfields is an annual festival taking place in Daresbury, Cheshire over the bank holiday weekend. A massive 55,000 music-lovers are expected to attend this year’s event across three days with acts such as David Guetta, Annie Mac and DeadMau5 all taking to the stage. Whether camping for two or three nights for the real festival experience or simply getting a day ticket, Creamfields is one of the biggest events on the festival calendar.

Shrewsbury Steam Rally

After celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, the Shrewsbury Steam Rally is back between Sunday 26th to Monday 27th August. This year’s event promises to be bigger and better than ever before with two new attractions – The Wall of Death and the Vintage Fashion Day. Visitors will be able to check out a variety of steam engines, vintage cycles, classic vehicles, tractors and much more on this fun day out for the whole family.

Remember, you can get money off your food, shopping and activities this weekend with the MyVoucherCodes website.

Let us know what you’re getting up to over the Bank Holiday in the comments below…

The Best Money Saving Apps for your Mobile

pound
August 23, 2012 By In Gadgets, Lifestyle, Top 10

A smartphone is not simply a good looking gadget, handy for work and play – it can also help save you an absolute fortune.

Apps are great at simplifying things, and money saving apps are no different.  Because apps are so easy to use and so readily available, it’s no wonder that so many people are already making savings right now.  A small saving here and there can make all the difference.

So why not give it a go yourself – download these apps and see how much you could save.

mySupermarket

Physically shopping around for the best price is a thing of the past; let the mySupermarket app do all the hard work.  This popular app compares the cost of products across the main supermarkets, plus you can even scan products to compare their prices and to find cheaper alternatives within the supermarket you are currently in.

Fuel School

Fuel can be a constant drain on your finances, so it is always nice when you can save a little bit.  Fuel School is the must have mobile app for drivers who want to save up to 10% on fuel bills. The app uses GPS technology to analyse your driving style and then give eco-driving tips and advice on how to maintain your car to get more miles out of your tank.  Try it for yourself, and see how much you can save!

Account Tracker

It’s very easy to get bogged down in finances, but don’t worry because Account Tracker can help. Simply enter your accounts and billing dates and the app will send you bill reminders and even alerts when an account is about to go overdrawn.  Add to this multi-currency support, budgets, reports and lots more, and you have one hell of a money manageable tool.

0870

The 0870 app is a serious money saver.  Within 2 minutes of downloading, you’ll have made your money back.  It cleverly turns costly 0870, 0800 and 0845 numbers into local numbers, resulting in savings of around 35p a minute on calls.  Thousands of people have already taken advantage of this 69p app, and saved lots.  Make sure you do the same, and spread the word!

eCurrency

eCurrency is far more than an easy to use currency converter and handy calculator.  It allows you to convert more than 190 currencies while on the go, even without active internet connection.  The app also supports custom rates.  Whilst on holiday it can be hard to keep a tight rein on spending,  but with eCurrency it’s as easy as 123.

 

And don’t forget the MyVoucherCodes App which finds the hottest discount vouchers within walking distance of your current location, enabling you to download them straight to your iPhone.  For discounts it really doesn’t get any better than this!

 

Do you use any apps to save money? Tell us your tips in the comments below.

Most Outrageous Costumes from The Notting Hill Carnival

carnival main
August 21, 2012 By In Entertainment, Fashion, Lifestyle, Top 10

The biggest celebration in Europe is returning to London town…

Every August bank holiday weekend since 1966 the carnival has been lighting up the streets of West London with its vibrant festivities. The carnival itself plays host to street after street of colourful entertainment, with over 1 million visitors flooding in every year. A visit to the Notting Hill carnival will not be easily forgotten, with sensational Caribbean food stalls and over 40 sound systems blasting music through the air, you’ll be hard pressed to find a better way to spend your Bank Holiday weekend.

The history of the carnival dates back to the mid sixties, beginning as a local celebration established by the West Indian community of Notting Hill. Growing year on year, soon people from all over the globe began flocking to share in some of that glorious Caribbean hospitality. Nowadays, Notting Hill carnival has become a London institution in its own right with the mas parade running through the heart of it. There’s a tremendous amount of preparation that goes into the extravagant costumes of the mas paraders. In fact most of the bands take the whole year to ready themselves for the big event – astoundingly, the majority of this time is spent stitching on rhinestones.

But the result is 100% worth it for those two days of the year when the streets become drenched in spectacular colour.

For me, the highlight of the festival has got to be the costumes as they parade down the street in a sea of sparkle and sequins. We’ve filtered down some of the most dazzling and outrageous costumes from previous years to get you in the mood to party. They’re going to be pretty tricky to beat but I sure 2012 won’t disappoint.

 

Are you going to the carnival this Bank Holiday? Let us know in the comments below…

Hot Gaming Deals: Get a Bargain in the Reduced Section

Lightning
August 20, 2012 By In Games, Technology, Top 10

The summer game drought is in full swing at the moment, with many publishers gearing up to release their latest creations in time for the winter holidays.

While that might sound like great news for your wallet, there’s nothing worse than snapping up a terrible game simply because there’s nothing better to play. Thankfully, that needn’t be the case.

There are dozens of fantastic games out there – and with retailers busy making way for the deluge of holiday blockbusters, there’s never been a better time to grab a bargain! So, why not check out these hot gaming deals and beat the summer drought?

Final Fantasy XIII-2

Square-Enix’s seminal RPG has fallen by the wayside in recent years, but this  instalment addresses many of the shortcomings of its predecessor, Final Fantasy XIII. Picking up where the last game left off, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a tale of sisterly camaraderie and unfortunate haircuts against the odds, as Serah (along with new recruit Noel) go in search of the game’s previous heroine, Lightning. Packing a world as beautiful as it is vast, a brilliant J-pop soundtrack and a more player-driven approach to gameplay, FFXIII-2 comes highly recommended.

Best price: ShopTo £6.85

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

When the original Deus Ex launched on PC in the early nineties, it redefined the first person shooter with complicated moral decisions and a more personal approach to narrative. Now, more than a decade later, Deus Ex: Human Revolution combines the best of the PC original with a unique flavour of its own. Following gruff-voiced security guy Adam Jensen, the latest game is an intelligent, tense and foreboding adventure, set against a political backdrop of government corruption and the ethics of human augmentation.

Best price: CEX £6

Bulletstorm

A far cry from the military shooters that dominate today’s game space, Bulletstorm is a refreshing blast from the past. Helmed by fresh-faced developers People Can Fly (and overseen by Gears of War overlord Cliff Bleszinski), Bulletstorm casts you as Grayson Hunt – a satirical version of nineties game protagonists as he does battle against an army or bloodthirsty mutants. A nostalgic treat.

Best Price: Play.com £5.99

Crysis 2

Ditching the tropical jungle of the PC original for the urban jungle of New York City, Crysis 2 couldn’t be more different from its predecessor. Possibly the best looking first person shooter on console, Crysis 2 is a masterclass in world building – recreating the Big Apple to the smallest detail. Well, what’s left of it anyway. An mysterious alien race is threatening to tear the city asunder, and it’s up to gun-toting muscle-man Alcatraz to send them packing. The updated nanosuit (which allows grants you enhanced armour or invisibility) also brings a new tactical approach to gunplay, making Crysis 2 one of the most unique shooters on the market.

Best Price: Amazon £7.22

Machinarium

Over the last decade, point and click adventure games have becoming something of a rarity. Fortunately, those days seem to be coming to an end. The download market and the explosion of iOS and Android devices have witnessed a resurgence of the genre in recent years, and Machinarium is certainly one of the best. An exquisitely rendered journey set in an ominous world, Machinarium is packed with inventive puzzles that will have you scratching your head for weeks.

Best price: Amazon £3.95

So if you want to keep up with all the best gaming bargains, remember to check  out all the latest gaming discounts at MyVoucherCodes.

Five Films that Make you Want to Go on Holiday

movie main 2
August 17, 2012 By In Entertainment

When it comes to films, it’s all about location, location, location – but some settings translate on the big screen better than others.

Whether it be a rural retreat in the country or a beach break away, here are some of the top tempting movies that make us wish we were part of the cast.

1. Mamma Mia!

Whether you’re a die-hard Abba fan or would rather leave them in the ‘70s along with platforms and bell-bottoms, there’s no denying that this flamboyant flick had us head over heels for Greece. Filmed on the far-flung island of Skiathos, this light-hearted musical brought the best of the Mediterranean to screens everywhere. From the porcelain coloured houses to the traditional tavernas and hillside churches, the secluded setting made for the perfect backdrop to accompany this delightfully cheesy soundtrack.

Favourite Quotes: “Typical isn’t it? You wait 20 years for a dad and then three come along at once.”

2. Along Came Polly

Although mostly filmed in bustling New York City, it’s the location before Polly showed up that  left us craving a Caribbean escape. When Reuben Feffer (Ben Stiller) took his wife to the island of St Barts on their honeymoon, I think everyone wished they’d packed us too. From the deep sea diving amidst the turquoise tides (and the hunky, French instructor) to the endless white sand beaches, we spent the rest of the film urging to unwind in this pocket of paradise.

Favourite Quotes: “Luban! Look me in my eyeball. I treat her like my own flesh and blood.”

3. Eat, Pray, Love

From India to Indonesia, this film documents Elizabeth Gilbert’s (Julia Roberts) soul-searching journey as she travels around the world. However, one of the best parts has to be her stint in Italy. From the freshly picked tomatoes plucked straight from the vine, to the bowls of comforting carbs filled with handmade spaghetti, it’s fair to say the food envy’s inevitable.

Favourite Quotes: “You want to know your problem? Americans! You work too hard, you get burned out. Then you come home and spend the whole weekend in your PJs in front of the TV!…But you don’t know pleasure. You have to be told you’ve earned it. An Italian doesn’t need to be told.”

4. Forgetting Sarah Marshall

It’s hard to upstage Russell Brand, but Hawaii’s stunning scenery somehow managed to do just that, leaving him to blend into the background in this funny flick. Shot at Turtle Bay Resort on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, the 2008 rom com depicted a beautiful side of the country that showed us more than grass skirts and brightly coloured pineapple drinks, giving us major Polynesian fever.

Favourite Quotes: [After spilling cranberry juice on his shirt] “Oh God, please take my eyes, but not the shirt!”

5. Sex and the City II

Although filmed in Morocco, we couldn’t help but yearn for a bit of this Arabic action as we watched our favourite female clique head off to Abu Dhabi for a girly getaway. From the belly dancing to the lavish outfits that seemed more like costumes – not to mention the jewellery, we were tempted to hop on the next flight to this destination in the desert.

Favourite Quotes: “You’re on a camel in the middle of the Arabian desert. If you’re not having a hot flush, you’re dead.”

If these films make you want to head off for a break abroad, use our Thomson discount codes to bag yourself a bargain.

Essential Festival Apps – Pefect for the V Festival

festival app main
August 16, 2012 By In Gadgets, Technology

With the festival season still in full swing, don’t forget that crucial festival accessory; the festival App!

The V Festival descends on Chelmsford and Stafford on 18th August, and looks set to be one of the best yet.  Notable acts performing include The Killers, Snow Patrol, David Guetta, Nicki Minaj and the awesome Stone Roses.  The weather looks to have turned a corner too, so with any luck a mud party might not be on the menu this year (although I’m informed some people like it?).

But before you depart for the festival, just consider whether you have everything you need.  Sure you may have the tent, the clothing and even that banner which you intend to wave non-stop hysterically.  But sometimes there are things that are impossible to pack, even in that overly large back-pack.

The festival app could therefore come as a godsend.

Apps are generally useful at the best of times, but even more so when you are stuck somewhere without the relative comforts of home or even work.  As a precaution you should probably think about loading up your smart-phone with some festival-related applications, just in case you cannot get a signal whilst in that open field.

But which ones are the best?  Here are a few essential festival apps that I think hit the mark.

Battery Life Extender

Let’s face it, festivals are not famous for plug sockets.  This app, which is available for both Nokia and Samsung devices, can prove crucial during those longer two or three-day festival trips.  The battery life extender allows users to generate up to 30% more usage from their mobile phone or laptop.  A great free app that is an absolute must.

Tent Finder

Another handy free app for Apple’s iPhone is the Tent Finder, a must have for anyone who is attending festivals.  It cleverly utilises GPS to identify and locate your tent in an area populated with thousands of festival goers, which can be handy after a long day of music and alcohol.  As an added bonus, this app also allows you to pinpoint and store additional locations such as bars and toilets (probably in that order!).

Latest Festival Weather

Latest Festival Weather is a weather forecast service providing accurate live festival weather conditions for the locations that the events take place in.  The app provides weather forecasts for all the popular festivals, handy if you’re not sure whether to pack sun cream or a rain coat.  Knowing English weather it will probably be both, but at least you will be prepared.

Festival Star

The Festival Star app claims to be the ultimate festival companion, and for very good reason.  Where to start?  There are notifications, which tell you what’s going on around you and alerts that you can customise to tell you when a band you want to see is playing.  But that is just the tip of the iceberg, how about Near Me, which tells you what is going on around your via exact GPS positioning.  Plus guides, and just about all the information you could possibly ever want at a festival.  It’s like a Swiss army knife for the app generation.

Shazam

How annoying is it when you hear a song, but don’t know who the performer is.  That is where Shazam proves to be a very handy app.  It’s not always easy to hear introductions at music festivals, and do you really want to get in discussion with those odd people next to you who look a little worse for wear.  Solution, simply hold the phone in the air and wait for confirmation of the artist, song name and links to YouTube videos.  Simples.

 

So whatever you get up to at the festival, remember to App it first.