London’s Thinnest House is Plenty Big

Pictures of No. 5 Thurloe Square in the well-heeled London district of South Kensington tend to provoke the same disbelieving reaction: how can someone live in something so thin? Viewed from head-on, the building looks perfectly normal, like its neighbors. However, from the side, it looks like a slice of a house shaved down to almost nothing. In reality, it's not a flat sliver at all, but a long triangular wedge about 6 feet across at the pinched end to a respectable 32 feet at its far end where the actual living happens. The building has become such a fixture of the neighborhood that it now features on tourist trails through South Kensington. The trick, once explained is simple enough. The wedge presents its sharp point towards the square. A photograph taken from just the right corner will flatten the whole triangle into what looks like a paper thin wall, hiding the depth that stretches away behind it. The apartments within are far from cheap, though. This is one of London’s most exclusive districts. An apartment inside the capital’s most famous skinny building can run from £750,000 ($1.3 million) to £1,100,000 ($1.4 million).

 

 

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The Little Habits That Are Inflating Your Grocery Bill — and How To Fix Them

If rising grocery prices are changing how you shop, you’re not alone. With everyone feeling the pinch, there are a few little habits that experts say can actually increase your grocery bill. Avoid these mistakes and you may see a big savings at the checkout line.

• 1. Going in without a plan. Sitting down and making a plan, plus writing out the corresponding grocery list, allows you to choose meals with overlapping ingredients so the list is shorter and to make sure you’re not shopping for an ingredient you already have in the back of the pantry. 
• 2. Shopping when you're stressed, tired or hungry. When you’re the victim of one or all of these factors, you’re less able to manage impulse control, which can lead to overspending on things you don’t need and will regret later. 
• 3. Making impulse buys. Most of us know the feeling of making a list and ending up at the register with a cart full of goodies that we probably don’t need and definitely increased the bill. There are two options the experts recommend: (1) sending someone else — obviously with good impulse control — to do the grocery shopping, or (2) putting in an online order for pickup. 
• 4. Buying pre-cut or pre-made items. We love convenience, but convenience will cost you money at the grocery store, where pre-chopped, pre-cooked or even pre-portioned items will increase your grocery spend. 
• 5. Making daily grocery store stops. The more times you enter a grocery store during the week, the more money you're going to spend. If you can limit your grocery shopping to just once a week, you’re less likely to spend money on extras while you’re shopping. Make a list, have a meal plan, and you can get everything you need for the entire week in one shop. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also save time and energy too. 
• 6. Skipping a pantry sweep before you shop. Have you ever gone to the grocery store to buy a pantry staple like flour or vinegar, only to get home and realize you had some stashed in the back of the pantry? It’s one of the biggest money wasters when it comes to grocery shopping. Check your pantry for hidden staples such as rice, pasta, flour, etc. A quick inventory could save you big bucks.
• 7. Ignoring grocery store sales when planning. You’ve checked your pantry, come up with an outline of meal plans, and put together a list. What you probably forgot to do is check the grocery store sales flyer. Whether it comes in the mail or you go online to the store’s website, sales can work into your weekly meal plan, saving you a lot of money in the end.
• 8. Thinking small when it comes to protein. Buying in bulk differs depending on your family size, but buying meat and fish in large quantities is often a great way to cut back on spending. Buying a whole bird, like chicken or turkey, can also easily make two meals and even a delicious soup.
• 9. Opting out of loyalty programs. Beyond shopping sales, many grocers big and small offer either a loyalty card or an app with a loyalty program. Not only will you save money on groceries, many stores offer a discount at the gas pump as well.
• 10. Leaving behind leftovers. Before you make your next trip to the grocery store, be sure to plan carefully, avoid over-shopping and eat your leftovers. Many people wait too long to eat leftovers and wind up tossing them, never thinking about how much food they're wasting. Think about how much money you could save every month if you ate all the food you paid for.

 

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Inside Vanna White’s Shocking Net Worth

Vanna White has been flipping letters on Wheel of Fortune since 1982. She’s been encouraging contestants for so long that she actually holds a world record. White was presented with the Guinness World Record for Most Frequent Clapper in 2013. “They say I have clapped more than 3.9 million times,” she said in an interview. White gets paid a pretty penny to clap. Over the years, it’s been reported that her salary was $3 million a year, less than her former co-host Pat Sajak‘s $15 million annual salary and far below new Wheel of Fortune host Ryan Seacrest‘s $28 million a year. However, in 2023, White signed on for two more years as the co-host of Wheel of Fortune, and she’s reportedly taking home a lot more money this time around. How much money? That remains to be seen, assuming the information is ever publicly disclosed at all. Regardless, White has spun that salary into a real estate portfolio, book sales and more. Her net worth in 2026 is $85 million, with a large chunk of that money coming from her work on television. White only tapes four days a month, which frees her up to pursue other ventures. Vanna White may be dragging in the big bucks, but she also remembers that giving back is extremely important. She donates regularly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, most recently $1.8 million.

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Marine’s Tattoo Requires a Good Sense of Humor

While serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan, Andy Grant lost his leg after stepping on a mine. Six years later, he had not only learned how to walk, he won a couple of gold medals at the Invictus Games — an international multi-sport event for wounded military service personnel. One of the reasons for his success is his good sense of humor. While having his leg amputated, the then-26-year-old lost the word “alone” from the “You’ll never walk alone” tattoo on his knee. Now the tattoo simply reads, “You’ll never walk.” Andy finds the tattoo amusing and a real conversation starter. "The tattoo that I have been left with has always been a bit of a joke. I use it in my motivational speeches.” He says the tattoo just adds to his story. “You have got to see the funny side of it.” Today the 37-year-old continues his career as a motivational speaker, encouraging others how to be resilient and to never give up.

 

 

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