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The approach of Compost Awareness Week (6-12th May 2007) has served as a timely reminder that standard household rubbish such as vegetable peelings, garden and plant cuttings, egg shells and pet hair can all be used to the benefit of your garden. Worried about the smell?

I couldn’t resist this Willow China set of plates and bowls from Pedlars.co.uk – apart from the obvious charm of the intricate Oriental design, the set has the added advantage of being under discount. A small bowl for £3.95 instead of £6.50, a large plate for £5.75 instead of £9.50; the set features alongside a variety of other tempting discounts on the Special Offers page  - but stock is limited .

Squeezing lemons equals sticky fingers and, if you’re really unlucky, a spurt of juice in the eye. Whilst this is hardly a major irritation, it is one that can be avoided – just snap up this Squeeze-me lemon squeezer (£10) from j-me. A minimalist yet functional design; just place half a lemon into the base, replace the nozzle and squeeze – the built-in pip guard in the nozzle keeps back any unwanted pips and bits, ensuring only lemon juice is squeezed onto your food. Call 020 8365 1136 or visit J-me.co.uk

I haven’t baked a cake in a long time, but this Cake Base Slicer from Tchibo might be just the inspiration I need. Featuring two adjustable cutting wires, it allows you to cut cake bases into different depths with ease. Lemon drizzle cake, chocolate cake  and  Victoria sponge all taste fabulous, and even better when made by your own fair hand. The Cake Base Slicer costs just £4 from Tchibo.co.uk

When you are baking cakes this winter, make sure you do so with these snazzy spatulas from Gilbert’s Food Equipment. Aptly called “Spatulart” due their innovative silicone printing, these are made with a specially designed silicone head, curved on one side and flat on the other, to ensure you get all the cake mixture out the bowl. Priced at £6.95 each. To find stockist details, call Gilbert’s Food Equipment on 0845 230 0681.

Filled with nostalgia for your hot holiday in the med?

With bikini season coming to a close, you can finally give up the Atkins Diet and put bread back on the shopping list. And the perfect place to keep all those wheat-based delights? In this highly stylish bread bin from Joseph Joseph of course. Made from a melamine and beech combination, this looks great on kitchen worktops and features a practical lid that doubles as a bread board. Priced at £39 from JosephJoseph.com (020 7261 1800).

Jam spoons left in the jam pot inevitably result in a sticky handle, sticky fingers and a general sticky mess. It’s a small annoyance in the grand scheme of things, but tiresome nevertheless, which is why Baileys Home & Garden has come up with this curved spoon. Simple, yet effective, it allows you to hang the spoon over the edge of the jar, keeping the handle squeaky clean, and ensuring a flawless start to the day. Priced at £4.50. Call 01989 561 931 for mail order.

Calling all the shots when it comes to quality and exceptional value tableware, Maxwell & Williams has proved its cutlery credentials once again with the launch of its Allure range. Allure by name, alluring by nature, the range is made from dishwasher safe stainless steel with each handle featuring a distinctive curve (designed for comfort to mould your hand) and a stylish squared end. And Maxwell & Williams is offering a 40 piece set (worth £145) to each of four lucky Really Useful readers.

The practical merits of wine coolers have been evident to picnic goers and al fresco diners for some time now. What makes the range of Rapid Ice Drink Coolers from Vacu Vin that bit different though, is its choice of summery designs. Useful and good-looking, these include flowers, vineyards and beach scenes, with prices starting from £3 for a beer or small water bottle cooler and £6 for a wine cooler. Cheap, cheerful, and the perfect way to enjoy an alfresco aperitif. Call 01299 250 480 or visit Vacu Vin.com

Prevent kids’ fingers coming to any gruesome accidents with this Lock Block from Lakeland. Featuring a unique patented system, it secures up to five knives in place – and only by simultaneously pressing the safety buttons will the block release the blades.

Forget seasonal sales, when it comes to year-round bargains, you can’t beat outlets such as the Reject Pot Shop. Tucked away in Camden, this little gem sources plain white bone china and porcelain seconds from factories in Stoke-on-Trent. Pieces may have very minor marks on them but this does allow you to enjoy discounts of up to 65 per cent off original prices – and you can’t argue with that. The outlet stocks lines from famous brands that it’s not allowed to mention with prices starting from as little 99p for porcelain plates.