Check out what these celebrities did before they were famous:

Jennifer Aniston

The ‘Friends’ superstar was once a telemarketer – for two weeks. When she was young she decided to travel from New York City to Los Angeles to begin her acting career, but it was a while before she managed to land her first role.

She quickly realised that she’d need a job to help pay the bills, so took a telemarketing position at Poconos Mountains, a holiday company. She spent her days calling people up to try and sell time share holiday properties but has admitted that she was awful at it.

Vince Vaughn

Believe it or not, but Vince Vaughn also worked in telesales. Nowadays, Vaughn is famous for films such as ‘The Wedding Crashers’ and ‘The Break-Up’ (which also starred Jennifer Aniston!), but when he was 17 it was a very different story.

He was responsible for calling people up and wheeling and dealing until he managed to convince them to buy tickets to the rodeo.

Ellen DeGeneres

Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres had dozens of jobs before she managed to get her foot on the celeb ladder by starting out in stand-up comedy. One of her many jobs was working as a paralegal, although she’s since commented that she always hated working in a nine to five job. Clearly, Ellen was destined for greater things!

Michelle Obama

The First Lady of the United States of America met her husband, the current President, at the law firm they both worked at. Michelle was an associate at the Chicago branch of the Sidley Austin law firm, where Barack joined as a summer associate on a part-time basis. Who knew that she’d become one of the most influential women in the USA nearly 20 years later.

So, you see, becoming a celebrity isn’t something that happens overnight! Do you know of any other famous people that worked in offices before they got their big break?

This article was provided by Aurora Johnson on behalf of Official Space, the UK’s favourite office space website. If you’d like to find out more, simply click here.

Ladies can agonise over what kind of cocktail dress they should take, whether weather a swimsuit in the lounge areas is acceptable and what style of clothing is best for shore excursions. All of this can really take the fun out of your cruise though, so use our ultimate FAQ guide to help you along:

Do I need to pack a cocktail dress?

This really all depends on the kind of cruise you’ll be going on. Tradition dictates that cruise ships come with formal dining, where ladies must wear cocktail dresses. However, a lot of cruise lines nowadays offer casual cruises, where you don’t have to dress up at all in order to enjoy a good meal. Some others have a 50/50 split between formal and casual dining, while others choose to stick to tradition.

If you’re unsure of whether you need to pack a cocktail dress, consult your cruise brochure or contact the cruise line direct. If you’ve chosen a cruise with both casual and formal dining, it’s usually best to take a dress just in case.

What should I wear on the cruise ship?

It’s fine to wear casual clothing when in the main areas of the cruise ship, such as the lounges and decks. Casual doesn’t always mean jeans and a T-shirt though, as many cruise lines see casual as trousers and blouses. Check with the cruise line beforehand, although many cruise lines are now easing up on dress codes and allowing passengers to wear jeans.

It’s seen as a faux pas to wear swimwear outside of the pool and spa areas. Simply cover up with a sarong or maxi dress if you don’t want to have to return to your cabin to change.

What should I wear for shore excursions?

This all depends on where you’re headed, as warmer climes will call for less clothing. It’s always good to opt for layers though, so you can easily cool down if you get too warm. You should always wear comfortable shoes, since you’re likely to do a fair bit of walking as well, so flip flops are a definite no-no. A hat is always a pre-requisite for hot locations, as is a layer of sun cream to ward off sunburn!

Knowing what to pack for your cruise can be difficult, especially if you haven’t any experience of this kind of holiday. You’ll soon learn what you need though, so you’ll be ready for your next cruise!

This article was provided by CheapCruises.com, a website devoted to providing people with  cheap cruises from some of the best cruise companies around the world.

Hair

Goth hair takes all shapes and forms. First off, there’s colour. Black is the first go-to colour when going for a dramatic change. Be careful as black hair washes out your skin tone. If you want to make a big change to your look and have pale skin, black hair will certainly get you noticed, but be careful it doesn’t make you look deathly pale. Deep reds are also a great Gothic look, as well as dark brown.

For long hair, choppy layers add shape. They are also easily styled into a more edgy fashion. Dead straight hair also adds a gothic element to your look if you have dark hair, as strands styled to be separate are often seen in this trend. If you have thicker hair, or just prefer to have it full of volume, leave it long. With a few loose curls at the end, you’ve got a celebrity Goth glam style.

Eyes

The make-up is very important when it comes to gothic styles and Goth glam. You can stay quite subtle with it by simply outlining your eyes in eyeliner. Liquid eyeliner gives you a more defined line, but is harder to use. Practise first and allow plenty of time to get it perfect before you make your first public appearance! Pencil is better for the novices of eyeliner. A thin line just over and under your eyelashes will define your eyes and make them pop out, with a lengthening mascara to frame them.

To go more dramatic, use thick, false eyelashes to bring the focus to your eyes. Choose dark eye shadow colours, shading from light inside to dark outside, makes your eyes big and bold. If you want the feature of your face to be your eyes, taking inspiration from the Goth glam look is ideal.

Lips

Black isn’t the only colour for Goths. It’s become a much more colourful genre of style, although it does still stay dark. For an everyday gothic inspired look, go for deep or bright reds. Although red is a bold colour anyway, going for a dark red is the boldest. It’s normally more suited for an evening look, so make sure that the rest of your makeup is plain and that it suits what you are wearing. It can look out of place with casual clothes. Bright red is more casual, but still holds a gothic feel. You can have more detail on your eyes when wearing a lighter red, as it won’t look so harsh.

Don’t pile too many elements all into one. Gothic lips and eyes at the same time can be too much, especially if you’re just starting to add elements into your look. It can easily work for a night out or evening style, but not for going to work. Focus on either lips or eyes at one time to make sure that you have a great everyday look.

Clothes

Studs are in, and they are everywhere. Leather jackets with studded shoulders are one of the must haves this year, and don’t worry, you can easily find one. High street fashion stores as well as the big brands stock studded clothes – jackets, going out tops, casual t-shirts, leggings, and boots. The same with make-up, choose only one or 2 studded items of clothing, at opposite end of your body. A pair of studded ankle boots will look great when paired with a studded necklace or jacket.

Black lace or sheer black overlay is a subtle way to release your inner Goth.  As seen with many celebrities, ranging from Katy Perry to Kristen Stewart, a little nude underlay and sheer black add mystique and glamour to your Goth style. It will certainly turn heads, but make sure you use this sparingly. Too much fake flesh on show can be a little controversial in the office. It may be ideal to wear another colour underneath instead of a nude tone, to make it more obvious that you are not baring everything!

Dark and dramatic colours are the staple to Gothic look. What’s great about gothic looks is that they never go out of fashion. The style has been spotted on the red carpet from 2000 up until recently, and it’s still going strong! Don’t be scared to rock a little Goth.

Not so very long ago, mobile phones were quite simple devices available only in shades of grey. Today’s mobile phone buyer, however, can choose from a rainbow of colours and a wealth of advanced technology features. The best mobiles on the market now include such options as the iPhone 5, the Samsung Galaxy S3, and the Nokia Lumia. If you are thinking of upgrading, look around for the best sim only deals available on the market.

The Apple iPhone 5: a shopper’s best friend

Apple has long led the way in innovation; the original iPhone was the first to feature motion sensing so the phone could adjust its display depending on how the user held it. The latest iPhone to hit the market, the 5, has progressed even further with the likes of voice commanded maps and Siri, the world’s first mobile digital assistant.

Far more than merely a voice command interface, Siri allows mobile users to ask their phone anything under the sun – and more impressively, get an answer! From, “How far is it from Mercury to Venus?” to, “Where can I find suede boots on sale?” Siri queries the Internet for information and replies out loud. Having an iPhone 5 can be like taking a trusted girlfriend out shopping with you any day, any time.

The Samsung Galaxy S3: sleek dependability

Some users feel the iPhone 5 battery life could be better. If long trips away from a power outlet are a regular part of your life, the Samsung Galaxy S3 might suit you better. This Android phone offers an excellent, easy-to-use interface and better battery life than the iPhone. Younger women who do a great deal of driving for work purposes will be sure to appreciate the Google Maps feature, which offers the best geo-location speed of any mobile phone on the market.

Wi-Fi Direct allows the S3 to seamlessly integrate with other digital devices, allowing, for example, the S3 to function as a remote control for a Samsung television (I have one of these and they’re fab!!)

The Nokia Lumia: work on the go

Working women aged 18 to 30 are just as likely to need mobile phone integration with Microsoft Office as with a television set. The Nokia Lumia, fashioned from sleek polycarbonate, answers this need with style. Widely billed as the “first real Windows Phone,” the Lumia offers 3.7 inches of screen real estate and the ability to work on Office documents in a fully compatible environment.

All work and no play makes for a dull girl, however. To this end, the Lumia also offers excellent integration with social networking platforms as well as Xbox Live gaming. It also looks good, featuring a matte finish that lends it a little more panache than the average shiny mobile phone.

That’s right girls, I am about to tell you the negatives of shopping and no matter what you buy: a lipstick, a laptop – a lapdog in fact, it’s just something else to worry about. You are unlikely to think about the consequences of everything you own – even with something as small as a lipstick, there are a whole host of things for you to consider or worry about; whether it goes with your outfit, whether to carry it around with you and what if you lose it?!
OK, so that’s quite an insignificant example but its true none the less. So what about the bigger things in life? The ones that we perhaps can’t afford outright and with finance and debt  comes even bigger burdens…

I always wanted a Volkswagen Beetle and instead of saving and buying it outright, I maxed out the remainder of my credit card and popped to the bank and asked them to fit the bill for the rest. So now I’m saddled with monthly repayments that eat into my salary. The worst part is since leaving my trusty Ford behind, I have had a new catalytic converter, new brakes, new starter motor and a new battery – that multiplied by the larger cost of tax, petrol and insurance for a bigger engine, I begin to wonder, is it really worth it?! The pleasure I now get from driving my VW Beetle is simply counteracted by the monthly repayments and upkeep of it.

So the moral of the story? Credit isn’t glamorous. Just because you get what you want right there and then, we often fail to see the bigger picture and fully understand the commitment we’re taking on when we buy something – on credit or not. If we live a simpler, less materialistic life, we’ll all benefit from an increase in our overall happiness and a decrease in our overall stress levels. No more worrying about checking our bank balances, dreading the next credit card statement or fitting the bill when things go wrong. If I were you, I’d set aside a weekend to sell all your unnecessary belongings on eBay: sell old nintendo ds games you haven’t used in years, sell old clothes you don’t wear anymore – sell anything, then put that money away for a rainy day.

So when you’re about to snatch up that next impulse buy to show off to your girlfriends, think about this article and ask yourself if you really need something else in your life to worry about. If you can confidently and honestly answer “Yes”, then make that purchase and enjoy it, if not, think about how nice it will be to not have another thing to burden you – smile, and walk away.

So, on the advice of your online gay best friend, I recommend a Valentine’s Getaway. Somewhere hot. Somewhere exotic. This will be a spontaneous and exciting way to treat yourself and your loved one, while spending some quality time together away from all the hustle and bustle of your day-to-day lives.  There are endless destinations you could visit, most of which really depend on your time, budget and interests. I’ve put together my top 5 – just to get you started…

1. City Break In Paris

Paris has a long-lived reputation as one of the most romantic cities in the world. Short city getaways to the French capital are relatively easy and cheap to come by, and the atmosphere there will no doubt be beautiful.

2. Romantic Trip To Lake Como

Next up is the beautiful and tranquil Lake Como. Possibly one of the most relaxing and romantic places in Europe… A break, no matter how long to this Italian Sanctuary will be perfect for any Valentine’s gift.

3. Fabulous Holiday In Dubai

Dubai – ‘The New Middle East’. If you and your partner have a taste for luxury, look no further than Dubai. I’ve been myself and I can honestly say it’s one of the most spectacular places I have ever been to.

4. Valentine’s Break In Sardinia

There is little else more romantic than outstanding beaches, breathtaking scenery and delicious food.  A villa break in Sardinia for your Valentine’s is a highly recommended destination for a chance to over-indulge and take some time out.

5. Relaxing Holiday In The Caribbean

Imagine laying together on a Caribbean beach with the sun beating down on you and a cool glass of something colourful and over-the-top by your side? If that doesn’t sound romantic enough, just imagine the sunset views from your hotel balcony on a stunning Caribbean island.

So there you have it, no more chocolates, no more stuffed toys and certainly no more roses. Just good quality time together somewhere new and exciting. Taking the time to do something spontaneous and new this Valentine’s Day will pay off in the long run, and will keep your relationship fresh and unpredictable.

A great way to start is to reassess your outgoings. Some sound advice would be to log on to your internet banking, pull up a list of all of your direct debits, standing orders and any other monthly or yearly outgoings calculate the total cost of them.  It’s most likely that you’ll soon realise you’re paying out more than you expected.

Go through each and every outgoing and work out if they’re 100% necessary. These are the basics: electricity, gas, water and other such necessities. Try and eliminate at least 10% of your monthly outgoings completely, if you have 10 – that’s just 1 to say goodbye to.
Once you have eliminated any unnecessary direct debits that affect your account balance every month, start to compare the suppliers of your compulsory payments. For example, you could revaluate the deal you currently have on your Internet. Do a Sky broadband speed test to find out if you’re getting the best speed, for the best value for money.

There are also a number of websites out there that will help you compare the entire market, making it easier for you to see if you can secure a cheaper deal elsewhere. This will help you free up some disposable income from areas you didn’t first expect – meaning you have more money to save, invest or spend. We can all get a little lazy over time and just assume, or pretend we’re getting the best deal. After your debut year with an energy supplier, for example it’s possible that you may get a better deal elsewhere.

So whether you eliminate unnecessary direct debits, or switch providers, give your finances a spring clean as soon as possible.

Sources: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/bills/article-1591904/50-ways-save-money-.html.

This article was produced in association with Sky.

The first thing that struck me about the jacket when I opened it up was its colour. I chose the ‘Bitter Chocolate’ colour which looks great, if brown isn’t your shade the jacket also comes in ‘Dark Charcoal’ and ‘Grey’ tweed, also. Having red hair myself, I’ve always found brown to be a particularly complimentary colour to wear, and luckily for me, this jacket was absolutely no exception.

What I noticed next about the tweed blazer was the excellent quality. Superdry jackets are renowned for their high-quality and this one definitely lived up to the expectation. It feels thick and weighty, not too much so that it’ll weigh you down, but enough for you to know that excellent quality material and tailoring has gone into making it.

Obviously the material is classic tweed, the jacket features a casual two button fastening and is quite fitted. There’s two handy front pockets and hem Superdry logo badging. Whilst it does feature the Superdry logo, this isn’t instantly noticeable which I think is a positive thing, but label lushes out there may not agree with me!

In terms of sizing, the Superdry Porter Tweed Blazer comes in sizes Small (36″) to XX Large (44″) and everything in between. I chose the Small. If you’re trying to work out a rough calculation of size, I am 5ft7 and I weight 11st (154lbs) and the Small fits me perfectly.

Guys, if you’re reading this I highly recommend you order one and try it on for size, girls, if you’re reading this, one of these will make a perfect gift for your man. I’ve worn it out on a couple of occasions and each time I have had some really lovely comments about it.

Lastly, and certainly not least, I also just want to put out a big thank you to Cult Clothing for allowing me to review this blazer, which has now become one of my favourite pieces in my wardrobe.

Building A Business

The first rule when setting out alone is this: the success of your future lies in managing your finances. From invoicing to paying taxes, finances must be handled, and handled well. For the self-employed or independent contractor, this often means paying a hefty sum for an accountant. Don’t be fooled however, you will still be responsible for much of the financial work, but your accountant will ensure all taxes are paid correctly and on time.

You may even want to consider being part of an umbrella company or franchise. You’ll receive many of the same benefits as if you are a normal employee, but without giving up your self-employed status. Think of the company as the middleman between you and your financial tasks. They handle the taxes, insurance, invoicing and other financial responsibilities while you focus on gaining new contracts.

Help For All

Contractors fall in one of two categories. The first is the self-employed individual who works on their own. They are listed as an individual for tax purposes. The second option is to create one’s own limited company, which lists you as a business and offers a few more tax benefits. Regardless of the method you choose, an umbrella company is still a vital asset to your business. The main difference between an individual and a limited company is typically the availability of insurance with limited companies usually being responsible for their own.

Even contractors who only contract from time to time can benefit. Umbrella services are available to contractors regardless of the amount of work they perform. The benefits remain the same, leading you to less stress while receiving the valuable help you need to succeed.

Growing Your Business

Once you have a steady stream of income from your new self-employed status, you may consider growing your business and taking on new staff too. This will be an entirely new challenge for you, but perhaps the next step in your self-employed career. There is tons of advice only about forming a new company and you could even ask a business owner you know how they did it too. From making that brave leap from employed, to self-employed, you’ll find yourself Googling offices to let leeds or maybe even London in no time! There really isn’t anything quite like working for yourself…

Good luck with your journey and share any success stories here with us!

The aim of online crime is to obtain financial and other information in a fraudulent manor.

There are a number of different online scams that are recognised by the Metropolitan police, some of which are detailed below.

When shopping on the high street, you are not going to walk down the street with your handbag open and your purse sticking out of the top. You are not going to write down your credit card information and give it to a market stall retailer so that he can process the payment at a later date because you didn’t have any cash. You take precautions to protect your personal belongings and financial information when shopping in store, when shopping online you must take precautions also.

Here are 10 ways to help you avoid cyber-crime when shopping online this Christmas and New Year.

Check the website is secure

A secure payment page on a website will display HTTPS in the URL bar at the top of the page. Always check for this before entering any financial or personal information. The prefix on the website will change from HTTP to HTTPS when it reaches the payment information page.

Locked Page

A secure page will display a locked padlock. The padlock will be displayed off the main page and usually in the bottom right of your screen. It will look similar to this in internet explorer.

Check the Website Policies and company information

Each website should provide the shopper with the website policies. Have a read over this as it will detail where your information will be used and what information will be stored. Check the company details; ensure that there is a physical location of the business and there is an address and contact telephone number.

Read Custom Reviews

Research the company before placing your order, particularly if it is a smaller, unknown company. Read reviews of the products and service provided by the company. The joy of social media allows people to voice their opinion easier and they are more likely to voice their opinion in a negative way if they have had a bad experience.

Save confirmation Emails/confirmation number

Save the information given to you to confirm the order, this could be an email sent to your email account or a confirmation number displayed on the screen after you have given your payment details (Preferably take a screen shot of this page or print the whole page). This information is important if the order needs to be tracked for any reason as it provides date, time, type of payment and personal information provided.

Use a Credit Card

If you have the choice of using a credit card or debit card, choose the credit card. A credit card has better protection and in the event of criminal activity you are more likely to get your money back if it has been paid onto a credit card.

Keep track of delivery time

Check the confirmation email or delivery details for estimated delivery time. Keep track on how much time has passed since you placed the order. Contact the seller if there has been a delay in delivery. If you feel this has taken too long and the product is unlikely to arrive, it has arrived damaged or not as described, contact your bank for a chargeback. A chargeback is similar to a refund but it is conducted by your bank.

PCI Compliance

If a company accepts debit or credit cards as a form of payment online, they must be PCI compliant. This will either be displayed on their website in for form of a badge or a certificate or they can supply you with the certificate information if you contact them. It ensures the company is trustworthy and therefore safe to provide your financial details to.

Check the website address and URL

Ensure the URL you are on is the company that you originally wanted to purchase from. The URL should not contain strange characters such as %, @, &, *. Be aware of the URL before entering personal information as there is a chance the website has been targeted and you have been redirected away from the actual payment page on the trustworthy website and onto a fraudulent site at the point of entering personal information.

Trust your instincts

When shopping online beware of what you are buying and who you are buying from. You wouldn’t buy a Mulberry handbag for £50.00 from a man who beckons you down a dark alley, so assess the situation in a similar way when shopping online. If the deal appears too good to be true, then it is likely that it is. Do not provide your personal and financial information until you have checked the page is secure and the URL matches the website you have been browsing.

It is true that there are deals to be had on the internet and particularly with the January sales approaching; I am getting very excited. Just be careful and report any suspicious behaviour to the authorities.

This Guest Post was written by Vicki Power on behalf of Pannone. Pannone are solicitors based in London with vast experience in cyber-crime and online fraud.