The summer holidays are here, but for most of us, that doesn’t mean work stops.

Despite booking multiple days off and roping in anyone I can help with childcare, it is inevitable that, at various points over the next six weeks, the kids will be cooped up in my office with me while I try to work.

As someone who likes to plan, I’ve already invested in several items to help keep my little ones happy and occupied whilst I keep serving up insightful content on small business tech.

I’m keen to provide them with retro-style pastimes and give them some options that get them creative and active, without creating too much noise. That said, I am already eyeing up a £300+ gaming console to get myself some quiet time – and it’s only week two (it's all about balance, right?)

Below you'll find the list of products I'm using, or planning to use, to survive the summer holidays. Half are under £20, with the rest requiring a bit more of an investment.

Of course, there is still a chance that by week six, you'll find me in the playpen playing Pokémon whilst my kids run riot.

Under £20

Over £20 (but worth it)

Looking to upgrade or replace your tech for less but missed Amazon AU's Prime Day sale that ended earlier this week? Or perhaps there something you forgot to pick up while the sale was still on? Fret not — there are still plenty of affordable buys right now at the world's biggest online retailer, with discounts of up to 71%.

Fifty bucks (or often less) is all you need to grab a high-quality power bank to keep your devices charged on the go, a great-sounding pair of headphones, or some handy tech accessories that you didn't know you needed ranging from trackers to air dusters, Bluetooth speakers and a whole lot more. You can even get gaming-grade PC gear like mice and controllers for under AU$50!

I've put together some of the best Amazon deals under that have retained their discounts long after Prime Day's official end date — and better yet, you don't even need a Prime membership to take advantage.

Looking for more post-Prime Day Amazon deals? We've rounded up over 50 more right here.

Amazon's line-up of Fire TV streaming sticks, televisions, and soundbars is one of the best options out there when it comes to convenience and affordability. Another plus is that they are regularly on sale. And that's the case right now, with several devices reduced by up to 45%, so I've picked out the 8 best deals.

• Browse all of today's best deals at Amazon

I've stuck with a relatively old Fire TV Stick for a few years now, so it is tempting to upgrade to one of these newer models while they're reduced to gain the benefits of better performance, a more reliable Wi-Fi connection, and improved video and audio quality.

Of course, I would normally suggest waiting for Amazon Prime Day if you're a Prime member and thinking of buying one of these — and that advice still stands, as that's when you can pay the lowest prices. However, as Prime Day was just last month, it'll be a while until similar discounts are back, and these prices aren't too far off in most cases. Best of all, you don't need to be a Prime member, either.

Today's best Fire TV deals at Amazon

Looking to grab yourself some office essentials, must-have tech around the home or a cheap gift for the techies in your life? Amazon Prime Day is here and I've found the best deals under AU$50 below.

With these big discounts, less than fifty bucks is all you need to grab a high-quality power bank to keep your phone charged on the go, a seriously good pair of earbuds, or some handy smart home tech you didn't even know you needed. You can even pick up keyboards for your WFH setup for under AU$50, plus a whole lot more for cheap.

With thousands of such offers on Amazon scattered all over the place, it's not easy to find these gems. So I've done the hard work for you. I've picked 50 of best Prime Day deals under AU$50 that I would spend my own cash on.

Note that most of the offers below are exclusive to Prime members, so it would be better if you were a subscriber already. If you aren't, you can sign up now and get a 30-day free trial, and you can cancel any time.

For more discounts, be sure to follow our live coverage of the Amazon sale, with upwards of 85% off on over hundreds of tech items.

A ‘digital hire’ won’t replace a skilled employee, but it can help automate many of the time-consuming tasks that eat up their day.

Until recently, AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini answered questions, did research, and made suggestions – offering advice, but not actually taking action. Now, thanks to AI agents like OpenClaw and Hermes, AI can interact with other platforms, allowing it to take action like writing and sending emails, updating your schedule, or scheduling social media posts.

In this guide, we explore everything you need to get started with a 'digital employee'.

Getting started

You’ll need a few things before you can get going with your new ‘digital employee’.

First, you’ll need to pick an AI assistant. There are a few available; OpenClaw is the most popular, closely followed by Hermes. To run your AI agents safely, you’ll likely want to host them on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). Once this is set up, you can then communicate with it via a platform of your choice, such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or Slack.

The VPS is the ‘computer’ doing the heavy lifting, and you can communicate with your AI agent via an app on your phone. So, you don’t really need a powerful computer to run your agents. However, investing in a decent laptop will make it easier to manage workflows, along with the rest of your business, whilst on the go.

Getting AI working for you

Exactly what you have your agent do for you will depend on the nature of your business and your own unique set of skills. Here are a few platforms you may want to explore pairing your agent with, depending on what you want to achieve:

A note on security

Giving AI agents access to sensitive business information, such as financial data, customer data, and emails, carries risks. Using a dedicated VPS goes some way to protecting you.

However, it is important that you take the time to fully understand the risks associated with using AI agents and the steps you can take to mitigate them.

Amazon is already discounting several of its popular own-brand devices by up to 80% with just a few days to go until this year's Prime Day. That means you don't have to wait until next week to score record-low prices on Fire TV Sticks, Blink cameras, Ring doorbells, and more.

• See all early Prime Day deals at Amazon UK

Bundle deals are where you can find the biggest savings, such as this Blink Outdoor 4 Camera with Blink Video Doorbell for £24.99 (was £119.98). I see it as a great way to dabble with some smart home tech for the first time, as you get a handy doorbell and feature-rich outdoor camera for an incredibly low price.

Another bargain is the Amazon Fire TV Stick Plus for £24.99 (was £59.99). That's the lowest price ever for the streaming stick that supports high-end 4K resolution, Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos for improved image quality and audio, and Wi-Fi 6 for a more reliable connection.

Of course, you do need to be an Amazon Prime member to access these exclusive prices. But if you're not signed up, you can get a 30-day Amazon Prime free trial and grab these deals now. You'll also be ready for the full sale when it starts on June 23.

16 best early Prime Day deals on Amazon devices

More of the best early Amazon Prime Day deals

• Amazon Prime: sign up for a 30-day free trial
• Amazon Devices: Fire TV, Ring & Blink from £21.99
• Amazon Haul: up to 30% off
• Apple: AirPods Pro 3 for a record-low price
• Appliances: up to 45% off Ninja, Tefal & Sage
• Beauty: up to 60% off Philips & Oral-B
• Essentials: household goods from under £10
• Fashion: up to 50% off
• Father's Day: up to 50% off gifts & drinks
• Headphones: up to 50% off
• Laptops: from £149.99
• Tablets: Samsung & Lenovo from £125
• Toys: up to 25% off Lego and Tonies
• TVs: from £129.99
• Vacuums: up to 40% off Eufy & Roborock
• Wearables: Garmin & Huawei from £36.99

The annual Days of Play sale from PlayStation has been in full flow for the past week, offering some big discounts of up to 50% on DualSense controllers, PSVR2, headsets, games, and more accessories. With the event set to end on June 10, I've gathered up all the top deals in one place so you don't miss out on any last-minute bargains.

• Browse the full Days of Play sale

Easily one of the best offers in the sale is the price cut on almost all colors and variants of the PS5 DualSense controller. Whether you need a second for your player two, fancy adding a stylish personal touch to your setup, or want to show off your fandom for a particular franchise, there are plenty of choices.

I've got my eye on the Marathon controller, as I'm currently losing dozens of hours to that game, and I find the art style fascinating.

There's also a rare $100 saving available on the PlayStation VR 2 headset. I'm not sure how popular Sony's second attempt at a virtual reality headset for its console really is, but it's definitely an improvement over the original. If you wanted to try it for yourself, now's a great time to buy, as it's rarely on sale.

There are also several highly-rated games and handy accessories up for grabs in this year's Days of Play sale. Check out all the top picks right here — and remember, the sale ends on June 10.

PlayStation Days of Play sale – quick links

• Accessories: up to $50 off gaming headsets
• Controllers: from $54
• Games: up to 50% off PS5 games
• PlayStation Plus: up to 33% off
• VR: get $100 off PSVR2

DualSense Controllers

PlayStation VR

Games

Accessories

Searching for a gift for a tech-loving dad this Father's Day? Currys has just rolled over several deals from its recent bank holiday sale, added a few more, and offered up over 1,000 potential gifts at up to 40% off.

• Browse all Father's Day gifts at Currys

There's a wide selection available, including headphones, appliances, health & beauty products, speakers, tablets, coffee machines, and much more.

To help narrow down your search a bit, I've picked out 24 of the best deals that I think are actually worth buying. Hopefully, at least one of these here gives you some inspiration and is in your budget.

24 best Father's Day gifts at Currys

Amazon’s Mid-Year Sale has steep discounts on some of the best headphones, including our best overall Sony WH-1000XM6 and an all-time low price for the brilliant ANC king, the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2.

While these are great value relative to their features (and still more reasonably priced than most specialist audiophile gear), they still cost upwards of AU$500 apiece, which admittedly is a big chunk of change to spend on headphones if you’re the average consumer.

The good news is that you don’t have to spend that much to get quality headphones, and from what I’ve found during this current sale, a lot of the highly rated options with hundreds (and even thousands) of 5-star user reviews cost less than AU$100.

In fact, the cheapest one I’ve found is a wired pair from JBL that costs only AU$8, which has a 4.4-star rating from nearly 113,000 user reviews. If audio quality is important, there are some audiophile-grade in-ear monitors (IEMs) that also received rave user reviews, and I’ve tracked them down for you as well.

With so many deals to choose from, I’ve settled on 20 of the best-rated headphones across over-ears and earbuds, including wired, true wireless, open-ears and even gaming headsets.

After a lengthy stagnant period, things are once again on the move in the world of Fitbit. The wrist-based fitness tracker brand was acquired by Google in 2021, and for a long time it seemed like that might spell the demise of the Fitbit name. Finally, this month it was announced the Fitbit app was being rebranded as Google Health. The first Google-branded addition to the lineup has just hit the shops too — the screenless, budget-friendly Google Fitbit Air (review incoming).

So what exactly does the lineup look like now? Prior to the arrival of the Air, the last fitness tracker to be launched was 2023's Fitbit Charge 6, and before that, the Fitbit Inspire 3 in 2022. The shift to Google did spell the end of the Fitbit smartwatch range — we'll only see Pixel Watches going forwards.

You can still find the odd Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 kicking around, but Fitness editor Matt Evans recommends considering a Pixel Watch 4 instead: "All its fitness features are now incorporated into the Fitbit/Google Health app, making it effectively the best 'big Fitbit'."

Our best Fitbit guide has specific recommendations for different use cases. However, for a full overview of all your options, stay right where you are. Below are all the Fitbit options currently worth considering.

I've included some now-discontinued options, but nothing that so old as to be a poor investment. Although it's not confirmed, we're not expecting Google to end support for these models any time soon (the sensors will just feed data into the new Google Health app) — as such, they can be a great choice if you're looking to save money.

Fantastic Fitbits

Memorial Day is here, and if you've been looking for a deal on a Lego set, Amazon’s latest sale is worth a look — and it’s already in full swing. From Creator kits that let you build three different iconic models to Star Wars ships, Lego Art, and Botanical Collection sets, there’s pretty much something on sale for every kind of builder and fan.

• Shop Amazon's full Memorial Day sale

As is often the case with Amazon, the real standout here is the variety. The retailer’s Memorial Day Lego sale includes newer releases alongside longtime favorites, including the Lego Mona Lisa set, The Starry Night, several Lego Star Wars kits like a Droid Battle Pack, a few adorable builds, and plenty of Lego Botanicals sets if you’re looking to add some brick-built flowers to your space without worrying about watering them.

To help narrow it all down, I’m highlighting 15 of the best Lego deals live right now at Amazon — including massive Lego Star Wars builds, detailed display pieces, fun smaller kits, and some of the best Botanicals discounts in the sale.

The best Memorial Day Lego deals at Amazon

It's not a huge surprise that Amazon has discounted several of its popular and best-selling devices for this year's Memorial Day sales. I've searched through the sale and picked out 18 of the best offers I think are worth buying, including discounts of up to 40% on Fire TV Sticks, Blink video doorbells, and Ring security cameras.

• Browse the full Amazon Memorial Day sale

Individual offers that stand out the most to me include the Fire TV Stick 4K Select for $24.99, the Blink Outdoor 4 for $43.99, and the Ring Wired Doorbell for $49.99.

While today's deals are strong, I will just say that Amazon Prime members might want to wait until next month. The retailer has announced that it will run its annual Prime Day sale in June, so we should see slightly lower prices then. Remember, though, that you need a membership to access those deals.

For everyone else, these are likely the best prices we'll see until Black Friday, so they're well worth taking advantage of while you can.

18 best Amazon Devices deals for Memorial Day

Today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, Apple & appliances
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: mattresses from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills & rugs

When it comes to speakers and soundbars, one name is synonymous with high-quality audio and excellent value for money: Sonos.

One of the first soundbars I ever had was by the manufacturer, and there's currently a compact yet powerful Sonos One speaker sitting in my living room, ready to blast out some tunes at a moment's notice.

So, when some of the speakers and soundbars from Sonos go on sale, you know they're going to get a nod from me — especially when they're also well-rated by the learned folks on TechRadar's expert audio team.

• See all Sonos deals at Amazon

Some of the offers up grabs as part of this week's Memorial Day sales include the fantastic Sonos Roam 2 for $134 (was $199), the brand-new Sonos Play for $299, and the excellent all-in-one Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar for $369 (was $499).

I've highlighted these and many more deals on the best Sonos speakers and soundbars at Amazon below. Whether you want a portable speaker at a great price or a room-filling soundbar to bring films or the World Cup to life, there's an option for you right here.

12 best Memorial Day Sonos deals

Today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, Apple & appliances
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: mattresses from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills & rugs

With the UK set to hit temperatures upwards of 30°C this coming week, many of us are looking for ways to keep cool, calm and collected whilst we work.

A quick search will return a bunch of great gadgets that promise to help you survive the office sauna. From fancy fans to air conditioning units, options are plentiful and many of them, like the Dyson Hot+Cool Jet Focus Fan, are certainly very cool.

But at £399 a pop, they are also very expensive. Let’s be honest, that's a lot of money for six days of British summer.

I’ve made it my mission to source a stack of budget-friendly products and gadgets that will do the same job at a fraction of the price. So, if you’re a fan of saving your hard-earned money, you’re in the right place.

Temperatures are set to hit 30°C+ in the UK over the next seven days. In the iconic words of Jay from The Inbetweeners, that “might be too hot” – at least it is for me.

So, I embarked on a journey of discovery, seeking out the best products to keep me cool while working. If your usual heatwave strategy is “drink iced coffee and pray,” this list is going to be a game-changer.

From compact desk fans to freezer-friendly beer glasses (just for water when working, obviously), below you’ll find everything you need to convert your desk from an uncomfortable sauna to a usable workspace.

So, if you’re not a fan of the heat or you just want to keep your cool in your team Zoom call, these are the best products on the market right now.

Since I picked up my first pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones back in 2017, I haven't looked back. I may have swapped from the classic QuietComfort 35 to the newer QuietComfort model in that time (and replaced the earcups a handful of times), but almost a decade of use from two pairs of excellent headphones is outstanding.

That's why I'm more than comfortable recommending these Bose headphones and earbuds that are all on sale for Memorial Day.

• See all of today's best Bose deals at Amazon

Our team of audio experts also rate all of these picks highly, giving them a minimum of four stars in our reviews, with near-universal praise for the sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfortable fit.

I can definitely speak to all of these positives with the QuietComfort Headphones specifically. Whether I need focus time in the office, want to block out noise on the commute, or just enjoy music while I'm working from home, they are always up to the task. And, right now, you can pick up a pair of Bose QuietComfort Headphones at Amazon for $229 (was $349).

As well as the manufacturer's flagship headphones, several more of the best Bose headphones are also reduced at Amazon in the Memorial Day sales.

There's the standard pair of QuietComfort Earbuds, the higher-end QuietComfort Earbuds Ultra, and the Bose Ultra Open, which are a great pick for fitness enthusiasts and runners who prefer an open-ear design.

4 best Bose deals for Memorial Day

More of today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, Apple & appliances
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: mattresses from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills & rugs

With the average Master of Business Administration (MBA) course costing upwards of $60k and taking 1.5 to 2 years to complete, it just isn’t a realistic option for many entrepreneurs and small business owners.

But with vast amounts of information now at our fingertips, you don’t need to invest a ridiculous sum of money or time to build your business knowledge. From podcasts and YouTube videos to affordable online courses, there are countless ways to develop a bespoke business education.

Audiobooks are the ultimate option, combining the curated, deep insight of books with the hands-free convenience of a podcast. Below, I've gathered eight of the best business audiobooks out there. Each covers an essential aspect of your average MBA:

• Strategy
• Marketing
• Finance
• Operations
• Psychology
• Statistics
• Economics

Of course, audiobooks alone won’t give you the full business school experience. Many top-tier MBA programmes rely on a case study approach, helping students apply what they learn to real world dilemmas and offer access ready-made networks.

The alternative? Test what you learn on your own business in real-time. After all, real-world application is the highest form of business education. Then pair that with joining networking groups specific to your industry.

Yes, attending networking events and testing new business ideas are sure to cost you money, but you can test a lot of ideas and attend a lot of events before you exceed $60k.

With gorgeous displays, excellent metrics tracking, and clean designs, Garmin smartwatches are some of our top picks here at TechRadar. And there's good news if you've had an eye on one of the manufacturer's wearables, as many of them are on sale right now at Amazon for Memorial Day.

• See all Garmin deals at Amazon

There's everything from everyday fitness trackers, dedicated running watches, or rugged all-purpose wearables for your more extreme outdoor adventures, all up for grabs. Essentially, there's a Garmin for you that we've tested and would recommend.

You could go for the Garmin Vivoactive 6 for $249.99, the fantastic value Garmin Forerunner 265 for $349.99, or the Garmin Venu 4 for $449.99 — our pick for the best Garmin watch you can buy.

Those are just a few highlights, but you can browse through all eight Garmin deals I'd recommend from the Amazon Memorial Day sale below. It's a great opportunity to pick up some new tech to kickstart your fitness journey now that spring is finally here again.

8 best Garmin deals for Memorial Day

Today's best Memorial Day sales

• Amazon: 45% off TVs, Apple & appliances
• Apple: iPads, AirPods & MacBooks from $99
• Casper: up to 30% off mattresses
• Dell: laptop deals from $249.99
• DreamCloud: up to 60% off mattresses
• Home Depot: 40% off appliances & furniture
• Lowe's: $1,000 off appliances, patio & tools
• Nectar: mattresses from $369
• Saatva: up to $550 off luxury mattresses
• Samsung: up to $1,600 off appliances
• Target: 30% off clothing, patio & furniture
• Walmart: furniture, cheap TVs & vacs
• Wayfair: 50% off furniture, grills & rugs

I launched my first business back in 2017, taking the leap from marketing agency employee to marketing freelancer.

Since then, my career has taken several twists and turns. But one thing has remained consistent: whether I’m applying growth tactics to my martial arts gym or writing about social media software for TechRadar, marketing has been the defining theme through my entire professional life.

Over the past decade, I’ve listened to more than 90 audiobooks, the majority of which have been on business strategy, psychology, and marketing topics. Out of my entire digital library, 12 specific titles have had a profound impact on my career and businesses.

Dare I say it, these books taught me more about marketing than my business degree ever did – and they cost significantly less.

So, if you want to double down on your content marketing knowledge, build a powerful business strategy, or simply learn how brands resonate with customers, this curated list of marketing audiobooks gives you everything you need.

Garmin is one of the biggest names in smartwatches — and especially if you're looking for a wrist-based hiking, running or golfing companion. The brand makes dozens of different models, at different price points and offering different combinations of features, so making sense of your options can be confusing. If you're short on time, our best Garmin smartwatch guide will point you directly towards our recommendations for specific use cases. However, if you want to explore all the possibilities, you can stay right where you are.

This article is your guide to all the Garmin smartwatches (within reason; I've culled anything super-old or ridiculously tricky to get hold of). I've included not just the latest-and-greatest in each line, but previous models too, provided they're still available to buy. Opting for an older version can be a great way to save a bit of money, if you're not precious about having the most cutting-edge features.

You'll also notice I've separated my guide into product lines. I've added a short blurb at the start of each section, explaining who each range is primarily targeted towards and how the features are angled. However, bear in mind these are very broad definitions — there's lots of overlap between ranges, and all the main features you'd expect from a smartwatch will be included no matter which range you opt for. Hit the View details button for more info about each watch, and a link to our full review.

Garmin Forerunner

The Forerunner range is designed for runners, and offers strong GPS, distance and pace tracking, with further features geared towards training and improving performance. As well as the options listed here, there are two new, beginner-friendly Forerunner watches we're in the process of reviewing: the Forerunner 70 and the Forerunner 170, both of which went on sale on 15 May (the 70 replaces the veteran Forerunner 55).

The Forerunner lineup is extensive, and even the older models can still be worth a look — the soon-to-be-replaced Forerunner 55 was the watch worn by Sebastian Sawe as he smashed out his sub-two hour 2026 London Marathon.

Garmin Fenix

Fenix is Garmin's other main smartwatch range, this time geared towards a broader range of sports and outdoor activities, rather than focusing on running. The Fenix models boast features like topographical maps and waypoint tracking, and are designed to be rugged with long battery life. The current flagship model is the Fenix 8. Unlike the Forerunner lineup, the Fenix watch numbers increase with each new model.

Garmin Vivoactive

Vivoactive is a more affordable range, geared towards casual or beginner runners and anyone looking for a general lifestyle smartwatch. You'll still get plenty of fitness capabilities, as well as a big suite of general tracking and heath data tools, but with fewer advanced features than you'd get with a Forerunner.

Garmin Venu

Venu is more of a general lifestyle smartwatch range than one geared towards running and adventuring, although there are of course general fitness features built in. The most recent model is the Venu 4.

Garmin Instinct

Instinct is an rugged series geared towards anyone looking for a more affordable outdoors and adventuring watch with exceptional battery life for multi-day expeditions — particularly if you opt for one of the solar-charged models. The latest model out is the Instinct 3.

Garmin Enduro

The Enduro range is built for endurance athletes, with multisport features similar to the Fenix line, lighter plastic cases, and solar charging to extend battery life. It'll be overkill for casual use, but if you need a watch that can run for days without needing to be plugged in, this is the range for you.

Garmin Approach

Approach is Garmin's golf range, and it includes not only GPS-enabled smartwatches, but things like handheld rangefinders and launch monitors. The smartwatch range includes features such as full-color course maps, a 'Virtual Caddy' and a screen that remains readable even in bright sunlight.

More Garmin options

Finally, a grab-bag of some of Garmin's more niche propositions. The MARQ is Garmin's luxury watch effort, combining mechanical watch craftsmanship and styling with smartwatch features; the Lily is the brand's women-focused watch; the Tactix is an ultra-rugged option for survivalists and military personnel; Epix is like a premium-styled Fenix, for outdoor pursuits; and the Vivosmart is a fitness band rather than a full smartwatch; and the Descent series are smartwatch-style dive computers.

You've already seen The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, but now you should prepare to sniff The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Grooming brand Old Spice has released a massive new collection of limited edition products inspired by the hit film, so now you can finally find out exactly what the universe of Super Mario smells like.

There are five distinct scents here: Cosmic Quest, Desert Detour, Castle Crush, Space Mischief, and Brooklyn Bounce. They're available across a wide range of different product types (including the expected deodorant sticks, soap blocks, and shower gels) and I've already gone hands-on and smelled them all.

My favorite is definitely Desert Detour, with its surprisingly refined profile that's almost like an Old Fashioned cocktail. Cosmic Quest is pretty good too, with a very fresh smell that reminds me of the classic Old Spice Whitewater.

I've also forced a few of my colleagues to share their thoughts as well, as you can see below. (An important note: Lynx is the UK name for Axe.)

Check out the new Old Spice x The Super Mario Galaxy Movie collection

When I discovered Audible back in 2017, it felt like unlocking a business superpower.

I’d always loved devouring business books, but with a hectic schedule, my addiction to knowledge building was restricted to bedtime reading and the occasional long commute.

Audiobooks changed everything. Suddenly, I was learning about extreme ownership whilst walking the dog, getting insights from an elite business school whilst driving, and developing negotiation skills at the gym. In fact, if a task didn’t require my ears, they were listening to an audiobook.

Today, my digital library has over 90 titles in it. Out of all of them, these are the eight that helped me launch four successful businesses, double down on productivity, and rewrite my approach to entrepreneurship.

Time for a reality check.

AI can't call on years of industry experience to fix a nuanced problem. It can't demonstrate empathy over shared frustrations or build strong human connections. It won't even laugh at your bad jokes unless you tell it to.

Despite the hype, AI can't actually fill a human space.

However, for small business leaders, the choice often isn’t between a human and AI, it’s between doing everything yourself, or not doing it at all – this is where AI can really help.

But what does it actually take to build a digital department that emulates a $50k hire? In this article, I'll line up everything in the tech stack you need to get started.

Jump to: Automation | Marketing | Admin

AI automation

You wouldn’t want to hire someone for $50k, only to have to explain over and over again how to do the same task.

So why would you want to do that with AI?

Automation is often overlooked by those looking to leverage AI. But continuously prompting your AI to do the same tasks chips away at your time.

Platforms like Google Gemini offer built-in automation tools that allow you to create one-off prompts that you can use again and again. For example, you may create a prompt that details your brand voice and preferred blog format, then you can feed a topic in whenever you want and let the AI create a blog post for you.

OpenClaw takes this one step further, allowing you to execute real-world tasks such as file management, browsing the internet, and sending emails. Where AI could previously only answer questions, with OpenClaw, it can execute commands. Although OpenClaw is free to use, you will need to host it, either on your own machine or through a managed hosting service like Hostinger.

A Stream Deck lets you connect automations to physical buttons that sit on your desk, helping you streamline common processes. For example, you may set up one button that automatically collects sales data from the last 30 days, populates it as a PDF, and emails it to you.

AI marketing

Marketing is an essential, yet time-consuming task for any small business. AI can take many of these tasks off your hands, whilst helping you to double down on what works.

By feeding an AI website builder a few prompts, you can get a purpose-built, fully populated website in just a few minutes. Although you will likely need to edit the AI’s output, you will still save considerable time when compared to building a website from scratch.

Canva AI works in a similar way for design. Describe what you want, whether that be an engaging social media post or a high-impact presentation, and let the AI do the work for you. Opus AI can be used to quickly turn long-term video into social media-optimized clips at the click of a button.

Vibe coding platforms like Hostinger Horizons offer a flexible way to build any web app. Small businesses on a budget can use them to create anything from CRMs to digital products.

AI admin

Using AI to take on admin tasks can be a massive time saver for small businesses.

Notion has been a popular workspace platform for small businesses for years, helping them store everything from leads and documents to project management plans and databases. In 2026, it introduced AI agents, that users can ask to do anything from lead vetting to customer outreach.

Zapier offers a range of platforms, ranging from marketing and sales to IT and customer support. Zapier’s AI agents help automate any process within its ecosystem of tools, allowing you to use AI platforms like ChatGPT and Gemini to orchestrate your business.

Note-taking is now a breeze thanks to AI. Investing in a voice or video + voice AI note taker will let you keep records of all meetings without the massive time drain of handwriting notes.

A few bottles of decent whisky, a legendary meal out with friends, or a new PS5. In 2026, $650 is the price of an enjoyable weekend. It’s fun, yet it’s fleeting.

But what if you could spend $650 to launch your dream business? What if, for the price of a games console, you could confidently hand in your letter of resignation?

Is it possible? The answer is yes. But only if you know which tools to leverage and which ‘start-up traps’ to skip. Over the last decade, I’ve launched 4 successful businesses. If I had to do it all again with $650 in my pocket, this is exactly how I would spend it.

Jump to

Essential software
Hardware
Business audiobooks
Budget breakdown

Essential software

Powerful, affordable software is the cornerstone of every successful startup launching on a budget. The trick here is to cover as many of your business needs as you can with just a handful of affordable subscriptions.

To get your business off the ground, you don’t need expensive tools – these will eat into your budget and often come with a bunch of features that a fledgling business doesn’t need.

Here is what you need to get started:

A website platform like Hostinger. These platforms neatly package a bunch of tools under one roof. You can use Hostinger to build and host your website, buy a domain, execute email marketing campaigns, and even build web apps to help you run your business with its vibe coding platform, Horizons.

A design platform like Canva. Canva is one of the most beginner-friendly platforms for generating graphics for your website, email marketing campaigns, social media, and presentations. Most start-ups can get everything they need on Canva's free plan, although upgrading (from $18/mo) will supercharge your graphics output.

A workspace like Google Workspace. Expensive licenses are a thing of the past. Cash-strapped, agile start-ups can now subscribe to platforms like Google Workspace from $7/mo, unlocking storage, AI assistants, word processing, spreadsheets, and presentation tools.

A payment processor like Stripe. Without the means to get paid, your startup won’t get far. Platforms like Stripe make it easy to accept payments online, charging you a small fee on each transaction.

Hardware

The only hardware you really need to get started is a reasonable laptop with an internet connection.

Save investing in a flashy computer for when your business is off the ground and generating a decent profit – you can get started with a reliable laptop for less than $350, or you may already have something you can use.

Our experts voted the Acer Aspire 5 laptop the best budget business laptop. At $335, it is the most expensive item on our list of start-up essentials, but it will be the workhorse for getting your business idea off the ground.

The majority of us will work on our startup when we aren’t focusing on other commitments, such as work and family. This means we have a small amount of time to achieve big things. Using a portable monitor can help you seamlessly multitask, a pomodoro timer can help you maintain focus over prolonged periods, and a decent coffee machine will pay dividends when working late nights and early mornings.

Business books

Personally, I love a physical book (yes, I'm old school), but when you're launching your business, podcasts and audiobooks offer a great way to learn and find inspiration whilst keeping your hands free to work.

I've been a subscriber to Audible for over 7 years now and listen to books whilst working on my side hustle, walking the dog, and cooking. Out of the 90+ audiobooks I've listened to here are my top picks for start-ups.

Round up

Dopamine decor has been having a moment lately, with bright, colorful and playful furnishings injecting a bit of mood-lifting fun into people's homes. Now, it looks like the movement is making its way outdoors, and IKEA's outdoor range is packed with vibrant, quirky yard furniture and accessories.

A minty green Skogson outdoor chair and pastel yellow Tanebro side table are ideal for relaxing or entertaining outside, and for balcony storage, the electric-blue Sundso cabinet is practical but not dull. When it comes to lighting, you're spoiled for choice — the Solvinden LED lantern range is full of outdoor lamps in enticing candy tones, and you could even string one up from the playful, squiggly lamp stand from the same range.

Scroll down for my pick of the best mood-lifting IKEA outdoor kit, to brighten up your yard or balcony even when the sun's not shining.

Bold and bright outdoor accessories from IKEA

Prime Day may have been confirmed for June this year, but Amazon isn't waiting until the big yearly sale to discount some of its most popular and best-selling devices. Many are already on sale right now, with discounts of up to 40% across the Fire TV Stick range, Kindle ereaders, Echo Show smart display, and Blink video doorbells.

• View all device deals at Amazon UK

Many of these are at the cheapest (or close to the cheapest) they've been all year, including the latest version of the Fire TV Stick HD for £25.99, the vibrant Amazon Kindle Colorsoft for £174, and the Amazon Echo Show 5 for £64.99.

And while I'd recommend all of the deals below if you're looking to score a saving today, Amazon Prime members may want to hold off for now, as several are likely to be cheaper during the members-only sale next month. Of course, if you don't want to wait until then, you can check out my top picks below.

My top 20 deals from the Amazon Devices sale

I’ve been running for the past decade, and somewhere along the way I went from couch to coach. Since gaining my coaching qualification I’ve supported around 100 runners, from people taking their very first running steps to those tackling ultra marathon distances.

One thing I didn’t expect when I started coaching was how often I’d become an unofficial kit helpline. Athletes ask about everything: what shoes to buy when they don’t know where to start, which is the best running watch, and how to pick a hydration vest that doesn’t bounce you into next week. And I get it, because kit is overwhelming now. There’s more choice than ever, a lot of it is expensive, and almost everything is advertised as essential to peak performance.

I also spend a good amount of time testing gear for running publications, so I’ve built up a slightly ridiculous amount of hands-on experience. My own running ranges from parkrun to 100-mile races, plus multi-day races, overseas trips, and plenty of hilly and mountainous days where you learn very quickly what works and what absolutely doesn’t.

Through thousands of miles on the road and trail, I’ve curated a collection of my favourite kit which I reach for year after year. This isn’t “the best kit money can buy”, it’s those tried and tested – and sometimes stinking, fraying-at-the-edges – pieces of kit I cannot run without. Check them all out below, and click "View Details" to learn more about each one.

My top 10 running kit recommendations

The bank holiday weekend may be behind us, but that doesn't mean all the sales have ended just yet. In fact, Argos has just expanded its event with dozens of new deals, so I've taken a look through and picked out the 22 best ones I'd recommend.

• Browse the full Argos bank holiday sale

While there are lots of offers on homewares, furniture, and toys in the sale, I've scoped out several standout tech deals as well, with savings of up to 40% available on appliances, phones, smartwatches, TVs, and more.

Argos hasn't confirmed an end date for the sale, but I would imagine that these offers will only be available for the next few days. If there's anything that grabs you, then I'd pick it up before it's too late.

Argos bank holiday sale — quick links

• Appliances: up to 20% off Bush & Samsung
• DIY: up to 20% off tools & outdoor goods
• Furniture: up to 30% off
• Gaming: 2 for £25 on PS5 & Switch games
• Headphones: up to 20% off Sony & Shokz
• Health & Beauty: from £12
• Kitchen: up to 30% off kettles & microwaves
• Laptops: all-around devices from £299
• Phones: up to £100 of Samsung & Apple
• Smart Home: up to 40% off Eufy
• Toys: up to 33% off outdoor toys & Lego
• TVs: from £109

22 best deals from the Argos bank holiday sale