Loyalty Cards
Shops are thinking of different way to entice customers to spend money and one of the best ways is to offer some form of loyalty offers in the of way loyalty cards where you earn points or money each time you spend.

How do they work?

Each time you spend any money in the shop you will earn points from as little as 1 point for every 20p up to 1 point for every £1, each store loyalty scheme will have their very own rules and ways to collect points.  Most shops will also offer different ways to earn more points from buying certain items to vouchers and double or treble points weekends.
>What can to spend your points on?

What can to spend your points on?

Each store or scheme has their own rules on what you can spend your points on.  The Boots scheme allows you to collect points and spend then in store giving you the option to save up and buy something a bit more expensive or simply as money off your shop.  I quiet like to save my points and buy something nice as a treat for myself. Tesco offers you all sorts of different ways to spend your points from monetary vouchers you use towards your shop or you can double up the amount of vouchers and use towards special days out for the family, meals, magazine subscriptions, even holidays and flights.  Additional points can be collected each time you fill up at one of their petrol stations, use their credit card or mobile phone bill, plus on all their different kinds of insurance they offer plus you can earn points with selected gas and electricity suppliers. Nectar points originally started by Barclaycard and then became a joint venture between Sainsbury’s and BT.  Nectar points have become so popular you can now collect points from e-stores (online stores) such as Amazon, Play.com, eBay, iTunes, plus various High Street stores along with their very own credit card.  Like Tesco, there are various different ways to spend your points from specific items to holidays, flights plus many more different options.

How to collect more points

Each Loyalty scheme offer different kind of incentives on how to collect more points to boost your tally.  Tesco has an on-going offer at the moment where they are doubling every point you earn plus every quarter they send a statement of the points you’ve collected and where plus money off vouchers and extra points vouchers.   Other schemes also send you ‘earn extra points’ vouchers to boost your total.

What to watch out for

Whilst all these special offers seem to be a good idea, you should still be careful.  If you can earn extra points on certain items please make sure you actually use the items before you buy.  The amount of points you could earn might equate to 10-20p but cost you £1, so if you don’t use the item are you actually gaining anything?  Also some of these offers and vouchers have expiry dates so if you don’t use you lose which would be a real shame and waste.  If you use multiple supermarkets you might find you don’t collect points very quickly and you may find you have small amounts on each instead of a bigger amount on one.

Most schemes give you online access to your account so you can keep up to date with your total plus any special offers.  The Tesco Clubcard has special offers every now and then where you  can double your points in certain departments, you can either double up and spend in store or go online, taking all the hassle out of your shop. Nectar points also have a fantastic online service allowing you to see how you are doing plus all the stores you can earn additional points.  Most schemes will also send you a paper statement but these are coming far and few between as the preferred option is to do everything on line.

The Supermarket Shop

It feels like everything has gone up in price over the past few months and your grocery shop is no exception.  Whilst most Supermarkets would like to say they have a price freeze you should check out the size of the item compared to the size it used to be.  One of our local Supermarkets used to sell filled potato skins and you would get 6 in a pack, whilst all their advertising states prices have stayed the same you only get 4 in a pack now – so is that really keeping prices the same or just using clever marketing hoping the majority of customers won’t notice?  With food being so important in life it seems hard to think you can cut back and make savings, but with out top tips you should be able to bring the cost down each time.

Time of day

This is an old favourite saving tip and believe me it works!  Never go food shopping when you are hungry, everything will seem delicious and you will end up purchasing more food than you really wanted.  Try going after breakfast or lunch and make sure you have eaten before hand.

Make a list

This is something I hate doing as I always forget to put stuff down or find it easier to wonder around, however it is a proven fact that if you carefully write down your list before you leave home or start a few days earlier you will only get the essentials things you really need.  But if you do write a list try and stick to it otherwise you won’t see any savings and end up with a trolley full of stuff you didn’t really need!

Small Trolley or Basket

You might not think this works but it does, especially if you only have a few items to get.  Using a basket keeps you focused on just getting the items you need instead of things you don’t as you only have a small space to store the items plus you have to carry it.  So unless you are built like a brick house and have muscles to show for it then you will avoid the heavier stuff and only get the things you need.

The Reduced Counter

This is usually the most popular shelve in the store with everyone looking for bargains.  Sometimes you will find stuff you need and other times you won’t.  If you see any meats or fish then don’t worry about the BBD (best before date) just make sure the item can be frozen and stick it in the freezer as soon as you get home to use at a later date.  If you are observant enough you could even look at the fresh meat and fish shelves and see when the most popular BBD is and pop back in on that date to grab yourself a bargain.  The other day I noticed all the fresh mince expired on a certain date, there were about 5 shelves of the meat, I happened to be in the store a few days later and thought I would have a look at the reduced counter and there were loads of packs of mince all at reduced price.  Whilst I didn’t really need any for the next few days I still bought a few packs and stuck them in the freezer – perfect for spaghetti bolognaise, meatballs, chilli con carnie, cottage pie plus many other meals.  The only things I am really skeptical about are the items from the counters, as you can’t really see what you are buying.  They might say fresh fillet steak at half price but you don’t know how much fat or what kinda cut it is so would verge on the edge of caution.  It might be a saving at the time but a huge disappointment when you get home!

Special Offers & Vouchers

If you’re looking for offer codes why not try a Tesco eCoupon or a Asda promotional code, we also offer Sainsburys promotional codes that offer online savings only.  Whilst these special offers seem too good to be true and you feel you should take advantage of them please be careful. Some will be good offers whilst others just a marketing ploy to make you spend more.  The best ones are Buy One Get One Free or BOGOF to those in the trade.  These will only be special offers and give you a saving if you actually needed the item and not if you just buying because of the offer.  Being a bit of a supermarket shopper you get used to seeing the special deals and my local supermarket has great offers that seem to come around very quickly so I don’t buy certain items unless they are on special offer.  I only get the baby wipes when they are buy 1 and get 2 free, for me this is a huge saving with the amount we get through and works out cheaper than most of the store brands.  Cheese is also a good one as it has a long sell by date so it doesn’t matter if you have a few packs in your fridge, unless you don’t eat much cheese and will be a waste. Don’t but things you don’t usually have on special offer if they have a short shelf life, as you will end up throwing a lot out at the end of the week. Plus look at the size of family or the amount of people the shop is for, if you are on your own is it really worth buying a large pack of potatoes because you get another free or money off?  Would you really use them or simply buy them due to the offer and end up throwing away.  Have a good think before taking advantage of special offers, as they might not give you a saving at all in the long run!

Brands

Whilst most people like buying branded items, it’s worth having a look at the stores own brand and also the stores own budget brand especially if you are using as ingredients in a recipe etc.  There is a rumor out there that the stores own brand is actually made by the leading brands, they slightly adjust the recipe and use cheaper ingredients but overall they taste the same.  Most people wouldn’t know they difference if they did a blindfolded test despite their protests before hand! The stores own brand is usually cheaper and still of very good quality, however there are some you can tell aren’t as good but that’s down to personal choice.  The budget brands are also just as good so why not try some out as your might be pleasantly surprised.  There is a stigma that seems to go with the blue strip or similar brands but to be honest why pay over the odds for something when you can get it less than half price.

Getting Something Back

I am very much one for getting something back from the Supermarkets you use on a regular basis, either by money back in terms of vouchers or discounts vouchers for the family or even points to save up for items around the home or for the family.  Most big shops offer some form of a loyalty scheme so make sure you sign up to the ones closet to you, and why not get more than one stores card.  Most offer points on petrol and they usually offer lower prices and special deals making filling up a little bit easier.  Each store has their own rules one what you can get in return, I use Tesco for food and petrol and like to save my vouchers for either a big shop or recently they have had special offers on their points scheme where you can get double the amount for your vouchers for certain departments, ideal if you need some bigger and more expensive items around the home or garden.  They also send vouchers and money offer coupons from time to time plus you usually get a few more money saving vouchers on fuel or store items when you spend over a certain amount on your shop.

Budget Shops

Every town and city has seen an increase of budget shops from Poundland, QD to Wilkinson’s who are more of your hardware (ish) kind of shops, you won’t get food in either but you will get everything else and usually at a much lower price.  There has also been an increase in shops like Lidel and Aldi where you can get all your groceries and cleaning, toiletries basically everything you could in your local Supermarket. You might not recognize the brands as they are usually shipped in from Europe at a much lower cost than the UK’s top brands.  If you are stuck in your ways it is worth trying somewhere else every now and then as you might be pleasantly surprised not only at the quality of food but how much the shop costs.

Shopping Online

If you have access to the internet then checkout shopping online.  Most Supermarkets offer an online service where you order what you want and then get it delivered to your door.  Recently stores have listened to their customers and now offer a click and collect service where you order on line and go to a pickup point at a prearranged time to collect your shopping, this service is free, saving you a delivery charge.  Once you add your details online and if you have a loyalty your favourite or frequently purchased items should automatically appear, making your selection easier.  Shopping online has a host of benefits with the main one being you only buy what you need and aren’t tempted to add more as you aren’t wandering round the store.  Plus it tally’s up your shop so you know how much you are spending as you go along instead of finding out when you get to the till.  Just be care of loose items as I remember a friend saying she only wanted 5 bananas and put 5 in the quantity not realizing the had asked for 5Kg’s of bananas, she had a bit of a shock when they turned up with her delivery.  All the special offers in store apply online so you aren’t missing out.

Food shopping shouldn’t be too much of a chore and cost you a fortune, even if you take just a couple of these tips you will see yourself saving money.

Written By: Nicola Sargent

The Seasons

As each season drawers to an end your current wardrobe might not be suitable for the following season.  Moving from winter to spring can be a bit trickiest as some days it might feel mighty cold and others very warm so if you dress in layers you should be able to be comfortable during the day and night, however it might be time to put all your thick wooly jumpers, snow boots and winter coats away for the year, giving you space in your wardrobe for the Spring clothes.  If you are organised enough you will already have a stock of the next seasons clothes tucked away in the loft or under the bed or back of the wardrobe so juts by getting them out and giving them a wash to freshen them up will make you feel like you have a new wardrobe without spending a penny.  Spring and summer clothes can be the same when you accessorise with lightweight cardigans and jumpers, likewise with summer to autumn. The main tip is to get clothes you can wear in layers so if it’s a nice hot sunny day you could wear a little short sleeved top or vest, if a bit cooler you could get away with the same top with a lovely cardigan or jumper, if colder then put a long or short sleeved t-shirt underneath and so on.

Where to shop

If you do need some new clothes and you are shopping on a budget why not look at the supermarkets as they now have their very own brands like George at ASDA, F&F at Tesco and TU at Sainsburys.  Also look out for sales, over the coming months you will start seeing stores offering more sales and bargains so don’t just think of today or what you would wear now think about the other times during the year as it might be the perfect time for you to pick up a new winters coat in the summer at half the price.  If you plan ahead and don’t forget what you have bought you could find yourself with some bargains perfect for the next year.  Always buy clothes that will fit you, don’t make the mistake millions of people make by buying something in a smaller size thinking you will shrink into it as the chances are you won’t and all you will end up with is a wardrobe of clothes you can’t wear as they don’t fit!

Online Auction Sites

Also at the beginning of the season you will find eBay a very good source for getting your new wardrobe, as there are always clothes for sale and a perfect time for you to grab a little bargain or 2.  Same applies to you, if you are looking to update your wardrobe and not worried too much about making any money from your old clothes then take them to your local charity shop as they will gladly take them from you and give you that warm feeling of doing something nice for someone in need.  Alternatively you could sell your items on eBay or Preloved auction websites, whilst you might not get a busting lot for them you might earn enough for a new top or par of shoes.

Charity Shops

Charity shops are always good place to look, whilst you might not be able to stock our your entire wardrobe you might be able to find a good bargain or 2 especially if you are into vintage clothes.  Charity shops have changed over the years and with younger folk giving away old unwanted clothes you could definitely bag yourself a new outfit from last years season.  Some of my friends have wardrobe clear out evening where they all get together over pizza and a few bottles of wine and go through the stuff they want to get rid of, perfect if you are the same size as your friends especially the same as the one friend who likes her designer stuff.  Any left very clothes are taken to the charity shop.  Buying new clothes doesn’t have to be expensive especially with the bargain shops coming onto the High Street, such as TK Max, along with outlet shops that sell seconds and last years seasons, these are all perfectly fine unless you are very fashion conscious and have to wear all the latest trends etc.  If you are then you might find it very hard to shop on a budget so you either have a smaller wardrobe or go with what you can realistically afford, there is no point in running up huge debts for the latest fashions.

Catalogues and Credit Cards

Catalogues seem to give you the impression they are the best way to shop but be careful as paying so much a week soon adds up especially the more you buy and if you get paid monthly the weekly amount is x 4 and you could find yourself in a position where you can’t even pay the minimum amount.  Check out the interest rates as some are very high and if you only pay the minimum amount each month you aren’t reducing the overall bill at all as the interest is usually more.  The same applies to buying new clothes on a credit card or store cards he interest will add up and before you know it you will be in debt.  All these kind of companies are very kind and offer you the best deals around to entice you into signing up and seem to encourage you to spend by increasing your credit limit etc, you could try Kays Catalogue promotional codes for a discount or money off first orders.  However once you have been spending all the goodwill seems to disappear and all they are interested in is getting their money back and charging you extortionate interest rates.  I once got turned down for a store card as I didn’t have any outstanding debit, I didn’t have an overdraft or credit card and they said I wasn’t the kind of customer they were looking for as I wasn’t a big enough spender. The chain is no longer on the High Street so I wonder if they’d had a different strategy they would still be around!  Whilst those days didn’t last long for me I did find myself in trouble with having 2 catalogues and 3 store cards to pay off each month, it was a really struggle and took a long while but I managed to pay them all off and have never touched a catalogue or store card since.

Buying clothes should be good fun but just be careful on how you pay for them; no outfit is worth getting into debt for!

Written By: Jacqueline Cox

Most stores offer you a match price guarantee where they will give you the difference or offer you the same price should you find the item cheaper anywhere else.  Most people don’t really take much notice of these offers unless you are buying a big or expensive item but it’s worth looking at everything you buy.

Electrical goods are the most popular for these kind of offers so check out the small print and see what price match deals they have, John Lewis, Asda, Tesco and Evans Cycles are just a few stores that operate a price match policy.  Some only offer you a price match if you can find the item on the High Street and not online where as others offer for items bought online.

Once you have read the small print and found out the terms of the price match, simply do a search online to see if you can find the item at a cheaper price, some price matches might not include items on sale at other places so be careful also don’t take into account the delivery charges.  Online websites such as Kelkoo are great as they will do the searching for you plus give you customer feedback on the stores service.

Some supermarkets also give you a price match option or something very similar, checkout what is involved and how you go about claiming your money back.  Be careful as some places make things so hard for you to get the money back you have to think whether it’s worth it or not or whether to you have the time or inclination to do it.

Just remember every little helps especially when times are hard, getting a few pence or pounds back here and there will be extra money in your pocket that you hadn’t expected.

Written By: Sam Turner

Some people love to haggle and think that every seller will offer you a special price if they are persistent enough and offer incentives such as paying cash. The true art form in haggling is knowing when to haggle and when not to and when to stop. Most people enter into the haggling phase when abroad and do it as a bit of fun however there are some that do it as a way of life.

Most High Street chain stores, supermarkets and most internet sites have their set price all linked in with margins and profit by their head office so there is absolutely no point in wasting time and effort trying to reduce the amount you want to pay.

Markets and Bazar’s are the best places to start your haggling, especially when you are abroad. It’s a bit of fun knowing you are getting a little bit off something even if you have spent the past hour trying to negotiate a lower price. Most market traders expect there to be a bit of haggling in their sales and treat it as a bit of fun, so if you are new to haggling this is the perfect place to start.

If you are looking for a new car then this is a perfect place to try out your haggling skills as all cars are priced higher than what the seller will accept for it. If they have someone who comes in asks offer price then they have made a great profit. Sometimes you may feel the reduction is small compared to the cost of the car but if they won’t do anything with the actual car price how about trying to get some accessories thrown in as a good will gesture -this only works if you purchase from a main dealer. If you are buying privately then keep your eye on the car and see how much the seller is prepared to reduce it by, if they are adamant then just walk away and if the car is still for sale in a week or 2’s time then try contacting them again as they may be more willing to do a deal as time goes on. Knowing your market is important here, little back street dealers will most probably do you a better deal than a main dealership – how many times can I get deal into a sentence eh? I know someone who came into a nice amount of money and wanted to get his dream car so he went to the dealership on Park Lane, London and started to try and negotiate a better deal, he was asked politely ‘if he wanted the car or not’ basically telling him no deal was to be done. If he had of tried a less prestigious location he might have been able to get a better deal.

One of the scariest things in life is purchasing your own home, simply for the amount it costs and how long your mortgage is. If you are starting off or moving on from your first house you might find your mortgage to be for 25 years which is a long time and if you struggle or default on your payments you could leave yourself in a terrible financial mess. Finding your perfect home can become a difficult time especially if you are buying with someone else, tyring to find everything you want in a home and suiting your way of life can be testing along with thinking of your long term plan. If you are selling your house then look at negotiating a good commission rate with your estate agent from the off set, when things are tight and the housing market are slow they will definitely be up for doing a deal as they want your business. When you find your ideal house you really shouldn’t offer the asking price first time round regardless of the advice your estate agent gives you – remember they are on commission so the more you pay the more they earn. Offering a low price gives you more room for movement should they decline your offer, if you offer a couple of thousand below asking price you might find yourself paying not far off the asking price. Stick to your guns during the negotiating period and just think if this property is meant to be it will be yours, also know when to stop haggling and decide whether it’s worth walking away from your dream property for the sake of such a small amount – same applies if you are the seller!

Hotels might be the last place you would think of haggling but if you turn up looking for a room that evening they might do you a deal. It’s better to have someone in the room paying a small amount than no one in it at all. As long as the amount you pay covers their cleaning and basic costs you should be able to get a good deal. However be careful of your location, if you are in the middle of nowhere with no other places to stay around they might not be up for offering you a lower rate as they think you have no other options to stay there. If the hotel is in a city or close to other hotels they may be up for a deal as they will want you to spend your money with them and not a competitor plus there is a chance you will buy food and beverages from their facilities which again adds to their profit margin!

Another good place to haggle is with traders and handymen such as plumbers, electricians, decorators etc. If they are a one man band and own their business you should ask how much they want to do the job and then ask again if you were to pay cash. Now this option isn’t all the legal it goes on throughout the trades and is a way of getting a better rate. If they are up for a cash offer they might just take off the amount of VAT should it go through their books, or something similar. Like I said before this isn’t a legal way and some tradesmen might be a bit offended if you try and offer cash for a reduction in price. You may also want to try Trust a Trader or Rated People for various tradesmen with reviews and pictures of previous work.

Negotiation and haggling should be fun and no matter how much you get knocked off the asking price you should still feel the same achievement.

Whilst you might think the only money you have is either in your bank or building society account or purse/ wallet you might be pleasantly surprised to know there are other things around the house that you no longer need that could earn you a few extra pounds.  If you need some extra cash quickly please don’t use these companies offering you instant cash or pre payday loans, their interest rates are so high you could end up paying double, if not more, leaving you in a worse situation than you started in.

Take a look around at your possessions, do you still use, need or wear everything?  If not then why not look at selling them for a bit of extra cash.  Whilst you may not get anywhere near the amount your initial paid for them you might get something and these days something is better than nothing.  If you have a load of items then these could add up to a nice tidy sum.  BUT please do not forget Golden Rule No. 1 – only look at your possessions, not anyone else’s as that could amount to theft and leave you in very deep trouble dependant on who they belong to!

There are so many second hand shops about that will also give you some money back or there are an ever growing number of charity shops where you can take your stuff to but you won’t get anything for them apart from the good feeling you are helping someone else out.

If you have access to the Internet then why not take a look at sites like Preloved and EBay as they are the most popular sites around.  There are other online second hand stores about that are specifically for your area meaning you don’t have to pay for postage or travel too far to see the items.  With most of these sites you have to take a few photos and write a good description about the items, try and make these as appealing as possible as these will make or break your sale.  Most of these sites offer you the chance to put a minimum or ono (or nearest offer) price giving the buyer an idea of how much you want for them.  If you go on auction sites its best to start at the lowest price and see people bid against each other to win the item.  Once the sale has ended all you need to do is speaking to the buyer and agreement payment method and confirm once you have received payment you will dispatch the item.  Golden rule No. 2 – do not post any items until you have received full payment and it has cleared in your account, unless you have agreed to accept cash when they come to collect the item.  Golden Rule No. 3 – be careful the buyer does not try and do another deal when they come to collect the item, don’t give in due to feeling pressurized or threatened.  Stick to your guns and say that was the price you agreed and not further deals would be made.  Would also report these type of people to the auction or second hand store website.

On EBay and Preloved and other similar sites you can sell literally anything from general household stuff along with no longer wanted baby or children’s toys and equipment, house and garden furniture along with personal items such a clothes, shoes, trainers and boots.  Children’s and baby clothes are very popular.  Take a look on the sites to see what similar items go for to give you an idea of what you will get.  I am not a regular seller but have sold a cooker and a dishwasher along with pots and pans, pictures, cross trainer plus other items and got good money for them.

If you have jewellery you no longer want or wear and is good quality gold, silver or platinum or have precious stones (not your cubic zirconia) take a look at the Cash for Gold websites or similar or visit one of their stands in bit shopping malls for an idea on how much you can get for them.  Alternatively try second hand jewellery shops as whilst they might not think the item has much resell value as it is they might be able to melt the item down and make something else and use any valuable stones to their best potential.  Unfortunately costume jewellery doesn’t have a good 2^nd hand value and places like EBay will be the best place to try and sell these types of items.  If you have some really old jewellery that you think could be antique then take it along to an antique store to see what they think.  Golden Rule No.4  - if you visit a shop whether it’s a second hand jewellery shop or Antique shop, I would suggest you visit more than one just to make sure you are getting a good price.  Whilst its nice to think you are getting a fab deal there are some untrustworthy people about and maybe your item is very valuable but they only offer you a low amount so they can make a nice tidy profit, not you. Another top tip is to do a bit of research before you go, so it looks like you know what you are talking about and try not to look shocked when they offer you a price.  Test out your poker face and seem very disappointed as you felt it was worth a lot more as the buyer will soon up their price if it is valuable.

If none of these options are suitable to you then look at doing a garage sale or jumble type sale in your front garden.  If you have children get them involved not only will they love being involved they will start understanding the value of money at an early age plus make it a fun day for all the family, you could even sell home made cakes or home grown plants as a side line.

No matter how little you think you own there is always something you haven’t thought of but please do not sell everything apart from the clothes on your back unless you really have to!  Steer away from these money-lending companies as much as possible, if you really are in dire straights visit your local band or building society to see if they can help or even try the Citizens Advice Bureau, don’t whatever you do stick your head in the sand and think it will get better on its own.

Going to work is essential for most people and the expense that goes with it seems to be ignored or justified as essential.  Just by making a few changes to your week you could find yourself with more money to enjoy life at the weekend or to put towards something else each month.

Getting to work

A lot of people go on autopilot every morning and leave the house and jump straight into the car.  You have to ask yourself with current fuel prices on the rise again is this most economical way to get there especially if you have to pay for parking?  Perhaps just by looking at other suggestions you might find a more suitable way of getting there and in some instances you can use it as a way to get fit thus saving on extortionate gym fees.

Walking

If you live close enough you could invest in a decent pair of trainers and walk to work each day, not only would this be one of the best money saving ideas but you would also see your fitness levels increase

Bike

Just the same as walking, if you live close enough why not get your bike out and cycle in each day, ideal way to save cash and to get a little extra exercise each day.

Public Transport

Whilst this might not seem the ideal way to save money, it might save you a little especially if you have parking fee’s to pay.  Look at the options available and do some calculations to see if getting the bus or train would be cheaper.  The cost of fuel is on its way up again and will be a long time it reduces again, if ever!  Plus if you have a little walk each end just think of the calories you will burn each day. Most city and town centers have dedicated bus lanes making your journey slightly quicker than having to sit in traffic every morning and evening.  Some forms of transport allows you to take your bike on board saving you the need of having to walk at each end, making your journey quicker as well as increasing your fitness levels.

Car Sharing

If you live close to colleagues then look at car sharing, not only will this give you someone to chat to it will also mean you only drive into work and pay for parking every other week and will also reduce your monthly fuel bill.  If there are more than 2 of you, you could find you only drive once a month.  Have a word around the office, some companies will keep special parking spaces available for people who car share.

Meals

Dependant on the time you leave the house you might buy your breakfast on the way in or once you are at work, especially if you have a sandwich van delivery in the morning.  Over the next week add up everything you spend on food during the week, you will be surprised at how much it comes to over a month and worse over a year.  The average sandwich from a van comes to about £2.50, so if you buy just one a day with crisps and a drink you could easily be looking at spending around £17.50 per week, £70 per month.  If you buy a breakfast roll along with your lunch then that figure will be more than £100 per month.  Why not be prepared and make your sandwiches to take in for lunch and cereal for breakfast.  Buy all the sandwich fillings, bread and milk from your local supermarket like ASDA, Sainsburys or Tesco.  Making sandwiches in a morning has never worked for me and if they aren’t in the fridge the night before then the sandwich van gets my hard earned cash. Why not make them the night before; best time is when you are doing the evening meal, as there is always a spare 5 or 10 minutes whilst your dinner is cooking. Alternatively you could be even more prepared and make them at the weekend for the whole week and pop them in the freezer, either get them out the night before or as you leave for work and they will be defrosted by lunch time, unfortunately you have to be careful and make sure your filling can be frozen.   Breakfast time can be even easier, if you like cereal then you are onto a winner as you can buy a box during your normal shop.  If you work place has a fridge then you can store the milk in there alternatively take it in a flask to keep cool.  Check out to see what kitchen facilities and utensils are available at your place of work, if there isn’t any then think outside the box, take your own crockery and cutlery in, and use cool bags and flasks.  Flasks are fab as they work for both hot and cold food.  Make yourself some soup at the weekend and take some in a flask each day making a nice hearty warm lunch, perfect for those cold winter days.    If you have a microwave then there is so much you can do, take in home cooked meals that just need warming up, jacket potatoes, ready meals, porridge, scrambled eggs, the list goes on…

Eating out at lunchtime can work out very expensive, even if you go for the cheapest option you could still find yourself spending at least £10 each time.  Do that twice a week and you are looking at £80 per month plus the food you buy on the other days.  Try keeping a meal out to once a week, Friday’s are perfect for pub lunches and if you want to be even more careful but not miss out why not make your own sandwiches and just have a drink or limit yourself to one lunch out once a month.

Coffee Shops

Coffee shops have become very popular over the past few years and most mornings you will see big queues of people waiting for their first cuppa of the day.  On average, according to one of the leading coffee shop executives, the average consumer spends around £3.50 each morning on their morning caffeine or tea fix, making £17.50 per week or £70 in just coffees alone.  A jar of decent coffee from your local supermarket costs around £5 and would last you a good week or 2! Invest in a flask or travel mug, and make yourself a brew just before you leave the house giving you your early morning fix to the train bus or car or even leave it till you get to the office.  If your office has a coffee machine take advantage of it, even if you have to pay it will be considerably less than a coffee shop.  Alternatively if there is somewhere to boil a kettle simply keep a jar in your drawer and why not try out dried milk. Most people wouldn’t know the difference and would obviously sort our your milk situation. Alternatively purchase some UHT milk cartons, the kind you get in some restaurants as they don’t need to be chilled and just the right size for your cuppa.

The Wardrobe

This is one of the most controversial topics within the work place.  Just by remembering a few simple golden rules can save you money in the long run. Check out your dress policy, you might not think there is one but check with your HR department as there should always be one in your terms of employment.  Don’t try and out do everyone else, its not a competition to see who has the latest trends and styles, most workplaces will not appreciate you turning up as if you are off to a nightclub or the beach on sunny hot days. Smart casual doesn’t mean fully suited and booted so do not feel you have to go and purchase 5 suits plus matching accessories for the week.  You can never go wrong with dark trousers or skirts, especially black as they go with everything.  A couple of pairs will last you the week if you are careful and just get mix and match tops, shirts and jumpers to go with them.  Buying layers is always a good idea as most offices have arguments over the air-conditioning, some people are hot throughout the day where as others are cold so if you have layers on its easier for you to get to a comfortable temperature.   Try and keep your wardrobes separate so you aren’t wearing your work wear at the weekend or your favourite outfit to work as overtime it will not be your favourite.  Most stores have sales on throughout the year where you can stock up on your work wardrobe, places like Moss Bros, Miss Selfridge, Debenhams, John Lewis, New Look have a fantastic selection of clothing perfect for the office and we have the occasional promotional code or discount code for these stores too.  Also supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsburys, ASDA have also great ranges in clothing and usually at lower prices than the High Street, the quality may not be as good the prices are excellent giving you the ability to update your wardrobe on a more regular basis.  You don’t have to spend a fortune to look good and stylist in the work place.

After work drinks

After a long day at work the temptation to pop to the local pub round the corner might be too hard to refuse.  But have you thought how much this could be costing you plus run the risk of being slightly over the limit driving home.  The temptation for those working in city or town centers and who use public transport is greater than for someone who has to drive home or it’s a bit of a trek to the local pub.  Why not keep the pub for one night a week instead.  If you think that you won’t get much change out of £10 for a couple of pints or glasses of wine each evening, even more if you find yourself in big rounds.  Going in rounds can work out costly especially if you decide to have something non alcoholic and everyone else is drinking, plus don’t go in a big round if you are only staying for one or 2.

Saving money through the week can be easy if you recognize where your money goes, our best suggestion is to keep a diary of everything you spend during the week or month and see where you can make savings.  Simple savings can be made just by saving £3.50 per day giving you a saving of £70 a month for you to spend on other important things like bills or go into savings or even help you save up for a holiday.

Article By: Jacqueline Wilson

No sooner do we start recovering from Christmas and the commercial expense of Valentines Day we have another day to celebrate. However, this one is different and not one to be ignored, as it’s to celebrate the lady who brought you into the world.  The special lady who cared and nurtured you through the night in your early days along with the times you were sick.  Mothers Day is a chance for you to treat your mum like a queen for the day and do everything for her instead of the other way round.  Obviously there are exceptional cases to the above and know some are not as lucky as others but it doesn’t have to be your birth mother if you have someone else who you feel closer to or has brought you up.

The cost of Mothers Day is entirely up to you and doesn’t have to cost a fortune as most mums are happy with something simple or hand made or even just a big hug if you aren’t a hugging person.  Here we have some simple ideas and suggestions to make your mum feel that extra special on her day.

A card is a card at the end of the day but depends how much time and effort you want to put in.  If the children are young then why not make a card for their mummy, it is a great chance for you to spend quality time with them plus be a more personal touch for mum.  If that doesn’t tickle your fancy then take a look online at companies like Moonpig or Photobox, for example, to create a personalized card.  You can make it as fun or as soppy as you want and all for around the same price as a card bought from your local store.

Flowers are always a winner for every occasion but be careful as shops and suppliers have cottoned onto this and inflate their prices around Mothers Day.  So if flowers are your preferred choice then look around for the best kind of deal.  For something a little different look at what flowers you have in your back garden, as spring has sprung and is a beautiful season with flowers coming into full bloom and full of fragrant scent and making the effort to go out and pick them will be worth its weight in gold, especially for the young children. There are plenty companies around who will delivery your flowers to your mum, making the present a little bit more special plus you can add champagne, chocolates and teddies to the delivery, take a look at the Interflora website for more information etc.  Just one word of advice, if you are picking the flowers at your local store or garden just please make sure the flowers heads are all in tact and don’t look as if they will die within the next couple of days.  The best flowers to buy are the ones that are about to bloom and not the ones in full bloom, as they won’t last as long.

Chocolates

Along with flowers, chocolates are always a winner, as the majority of mums love the excuse to eat chocolates and say they taste better when bought for them.  One thing we suggest is to put a bit of thought into it and not just buy a chunky block or whatever comes to hand close to the checkout tills, instead look at the various different kind of indulgent selection boxes plus places like Thorntons are always a good bet as they also offer fancy truffles, fudges, sweets to make your choice more personal and extra special.

Over the years your mum has cooked 1000’s of meals for you and on Mothers Day it is a chance for her to sit back, relax and be looked after.  Mothering Sunday is one of the busiest days for restaurants and pubs so you will need to plan in advance.  If you are looking at taking your mum out for lunch somewhere, try and find out her favourite restaurant as an extra special treat.  If you have siblings then why not all go out together that way you can split the bill so it won’t be as expensive.  Alternatively why don’t you put the time and effort in and treat your mum to a home cooked Mothers Day meal, as this will most probably mean more to her than anything else, especially if you are not known for your culinary skills!

Make your present more personal to your mum and earn loads of brownie points at the same time.  If she has a favourite photo of you when why not look at doing something with it like get it framed or put onto a canvas, just be careful you don’t get too vain as she might not want a life size photo of you hanging on her wall!  Places like Photobox will help you get these favourite images onto plates, mugs, key rings, t-shirts, mouse mats plus many more items.  If you have other siblings why not look at getting some photos of you all, or even give her the present of a family photo shoot.  Everyone knows a budding photographer so you could ask one of your friends to help take this pictures, alternatively you could look around at local studios as they often have special deals plus if you spilt the cost between you and your siblings it won’t cost as much.

Whilst diamonds are a girl’s best friend it might seem a bit odd buying one for your mum.  Instead why not look at alternatives like simple gold or silver bracelet’s or necklaces or even just simple bling costume jewellery from a High Street store or have a look at little boutique’s that sell individual pieces that don’t cost a fortune. M&S and John Lewis, along with Next have a great selection of costume jewellery at fabulous prices.

If you are stuck or have to post your Mothers Day present then why not look at vouchers.  Whilst many think vouchers are a cop out most mums will be very happy with them.  A Mothers Day present shouldn’t be expensive or over the top so a simple voucher could be the ideal present, this way she can put it towards something she really wants instead of something chosen for her and not have the heart to tell you she doesn’t like it. The majority of High Street stores do gift vouchers such as M&S, House of Fraser, John Lewis plus places like Sainsburys and Tesco’s have a huge selection of these cards for various different stores.

Just like on Valentines Day you can’t go wrong with a CD, DVD or DVD box set as a present as long as you know the person likes the music, film or series!  From lovely slushy chick flicks to the fabulous dramatization of Downtown Abbey or even natural history programs such as Earth Flight are winners.  Find out what she likes and see if you can get it on box set or DVD.  Have a look at Amazon, Play.com or even your local Supermarket like ASDA, Morrisons and even Argos for the best prices and selections about.  Every time she listens or watches it she will think of you and that kind of thing is completely priceless!

If you come from a large family or have a bit of cash available then how about sending your mum to the theatre for the evening to enjoy one of her favourite plays or shows.  You can either pay for the tickets yourself or split the cost between the family but please don’t just buy her a ticket make sure there is someone to go with her.  Depending on how much you want to spend you can get great prices at various different outlets for key shows in London but if you are looking at keeping it local then checkout your local press for special offers.  If you want to just contribute so she can choose what and where then why not look at Theatre vouchers from places like Theatre Tokens, Theatre Gift Vouchers or even WH Smith on the High Street, these are just like vouchers from M&S and alike but you use them towards seeing a show.

No matter what you on Mothers Day try and make it as special as you can for her, as she is a very special lady and just remember what you have put her through over the past years.  Mothers Day doesn’t have to be expensive s just spend within your limits and just remember a huge hug and a ‘thank you mum’ will most probably mean the world to her instead of something materialistic unless your mum is the materialistic type!

There is much confusion and conflicting stories as to how we started celebrating Valentines Day.  Most historians agree it started back in the Roman Empire, around 270 A.D under the rule of Emperor Claudius II.  However there are varying stories as to how the date came about and one of the most popular stories is when Emperor Claudius II was in power but was going through a very unpopular time and struggling to get men to join his army as they wanted to be at home with their families and loved ones.  Cruelly Emperor Claudius II decided to ban all marriages and engagements in Rome until his army was up to full strength.  A priest in Rome called Saint Valentine heard about all this and with the help of Saint Marius they decided to help the Christian martyrs and perform secret marriages.  When Emperor Claudius II found out Saint Valentine was arrested, during this time Claudius said Saint Valentine life would be saved if he recognized the Roman Gods, unfortunately this was something he would not do and was subsequently sentenced to death on 14^thFebruary 270A.D.  Another legend states that whilst in prison Saint Valentine fell in love with one of his jailers daughters and just before he met his fate he wrote her a letter and signed it ‘from your Valentine’ a phrase that has become infamous across the globe.

Since then the 14^th February become Saint Valentines Day, a day for lovers and even back in the Roman days, men would offer handwritten letters of affection to the lady who’d caught their eye.

Over time Saint Valentines Day became St. Valentines day and whilst it started off being just a lovely handwritten letter of affection men started sending presents such as flowers to prove their love.   The long tradition still exists where a valentine a message is sent without saying who it is from, instead, signing it ‘from your valentine’. If you have ever been lucky to receive such a valentine you will know how exciting it can be trying to work out who it is from, however on the flip side it can be a nightmare when you do find out especially if the feelings aren’t reciprocated!

During the past century St. Valentines Day, now more commonly known as just Valentines Day has become more commercial which has unfortunately driven up the cost of flowers and chocolates during the month of February. So how can you make Valentines Day a day to remember for your loved one without breaking the bank? Here we have some suggestions that we hope you will find useful!

Cards

Sometimes a card is all your need so why not make it special and create a personalized card something she will want to keep forever plus it doesn’t have to cost a lot.  There are plenty of places online that will help you make the perfect card like MoonPig and PhotoBox. Plus, dependant on what you choose it could work out cheaper than getting a card from your local shops.  Another way to impress is to make your own, it will make your loved one know you have spent a lot of time and effort in creating it and it can have anything you want written or drawn on it – time to get your creative juices flowing!

A present isn’t essential, however, some people have come to expect a present along with a card.  Our suggestion is to try and have a chat before you go out and buy, if possible agree an amount you will spend.  A present should only be a token one and not cost a fortune especially as we are just getting our finances together after Christmas and knowing that Mothers Day is the following month and Easter just round the corner.  There are plenty of ideas for presents whether you are looking for fun and racy ones like undies or games.  DVD’s and CD’s are always a winner and can be picked up at really low costs either online or at your local supermarket like Tesco, ASDA and Sainsburys to name a few and we have discount codes for most too.  Chocolates and champagne are always very popular unless you know your lovely lady is trying a shift a few pounds after Christmas.  Only opt for the more expensive presents if you can truly afford them but remember what you do this year you will need to do better or at least as good as next year.

As each year passes the more commercial Valentines Day becomes and this increases the expectations and peer pressure especially in the late teens and early 20’s folk.   Going away for the weekend or the night is perfect to escape the parents and have sometime together, however just think of the costs especially if you are getting presents, flowers and cards as well.  Going away can be very romantic but choose your destination carefully, whilst some places will offer deals that are hard to refuse you might find it doesn’t live up to expectations especially if you want everything to be perfect for the evening.

The cost of flowers rises, if not doubles at the beginning of February and stays at an inflated price for the rest of the month.  The cost of sending a dozen red roses to your loved one can set you back anything from about £40 to £80 at least, dependant where you purchase them from.  There are even bouquets of 100 roses priced at just under £500!  Roses don’t tend to last that long unless you look after them very careful in the right location and they way you feed them, so don’t expect your £40 bouquet to be around for long.  Why not look at other flowers like stunning stargazer lilies along with carnations, chrysanth’s etc. that not only look and smell stunning but will most probably last longer!  There are plenty of companies that will deliver, perfect for working days but please be careful as they usually charge extra for valentine’s day deliveries.  You shouldn’t have to spend a lot on flowers so why not check out what your local store has to offer or if you are a keen gardener why not pick your own.

Most restaurants look at Valentines Day as a way to earn extra money and will do all they can to entice you into their eatery and ply you with food and booze.  If you like going out then look around at and see what special offers are about, most restaurants will offer special set menus with some including drink so you can get an idea of how much the evening will cost.  But don’t forget to add taxi or travel into the equation. Talk to your other half and see what they want to do especially if Valentines Day falls on a weekday and they have an early start the next morning.  Why not treat your loved one to a home cooked meal, find out what is their favourite meal and if not too complicated then have an evening instead if you are not adventurous in the kitchen or you don’t get home from work until late then why not order a takeaway giving you more time to spend on your loved one.

Valentines Day can sometimes be fun for singletons, if groups of you are all single why not do secret Valentines – bit like a secret Santa. Send cards to each other to work, not only will it put a smile on your face for the rest of the day but make all the others around either jealous they didn’t get a card or stop feeling sorry for you.  Make it fun, doesn’t have to be serious.  Also it could be the ideal time for you to met that extra special person, places like the gym are usually quieter than normal and will only be single people there!

Valentines Day should be fun and not just a commercial mule, spend within your limits, as it’s really not worth busting your bank account for the sake of one night.  The main thing to remember is to spend quality time together, not to bankrupt you or to outdo friends or others around you, if your relationship doesn’t last the night due to their expectations then the person isn’t right for you!  Enjoy your day/evening together and if your really want to do something but funds won’t allow it why not have a belated Valentines Day in March or later in the year.  Just remember saying the words ‘I love you’ shouldn’t just be said on one day each year and you don’t need flowers, presents or cards to prove it!

Article By: Helen Willment

If you wanting to get away from it all for a while and take a well-deserved holiday or short break but concerned how you will can afford it.  Look no further as here we have some very simple tips on how to have a lovely holiday that won’t cost a fortune.  We believe there is no point working hard throughout the year and then having an over the top holiday that you will spend the following year paying off.

 

When looking at going away try and be as flexible as possible, if you aren’t travelling with any school aged children then try to avoid all school holiday times.  If you are travelling with children then there are special deals to be had if you book early enough or to certain destinations. Throughout the main holiday season, July and August, more commonly known as peak season, there are busier weeks that work out more expensive than others so have a good look around to find the best possible price.  Also some schools you have to pay a fee to take the children out of school for holidays etc.  As long as your child isn’t going through key exam times or course work then look at taking them out a week or 2 early and weighing up the cost of the fee against what you would pay for the same holiday during peak season.  Another money saving tip is to look at the days of the week you want to travel, most people travel weekend to weekend but look at going mid-week to see if there is any reduction on price.

The next thing to do is to decide on your location, do you want to stay in this country or travel further afield to Europe or further.  Most people think that staying in the UK will be cheaper than going abroad however this is not always the case. Whilst the UK has loads to offer from beautiful scenic coastal locations, fabulous holiday parks including Butlins and Pontins which we have Butlins discount codes coming soon and Haven promotional codes, great B&B’s and guest houses plus loads more the only thing we can’t guarantee is the weather! So if the weather is important to you then you might be best at looking at going abroad as there is no point saving up for your holiday and for it to rain the whole time, saying that you can get bad weather abroad but it’s a bit less likely than here in the UK.   Have a good look around to see where the best deals are as sometimes a week or 2 in Spain can work out a lot cheaper than a week in the UK! If you are travelling without any children take a look at companies like Warner Leisure Hotels who offer superb adult only breaks in fabulous locations across the UK.  If you are wanting a break that includes travel then take a look at Shearings Holidays, not only do they specialise in coach breaks but they have also included trips to Europe by air, sea and coach or you can simply make your own way there.
With so many way of booking your trip it’s advisable to look around to get the best deal.  A few years booking your hotel and flights separately was the best way to make a saving but tour operators have clicked onto this and now offer very good package deals.  If you decide to book everything separately then be careful of hidden extras as some of these cheap airline companies such as Ryanair and Easyjet offer fantastic deals for flights starting from £1 but there are very few seats available at this rate and once you’ve added all the airport taxes, booking and admin fees on you could be paying more than a full value seat!  Be careful with the amount of luggage you think you will take as most airlines are really clamping down on people who are over their allowance or if their bag is too big and heavy to be classed as hand luggage.  Make sure you weigh before you leave home as the charges for excess baggage is very expensive which is an added cost you could do without at the start or end of your holiday. Most airlines offer additional extras such as access to airport lounges and quick check in’s etc. but please be careful as these prices might look tempting at first but are usually only available one way and prices per person so again these additional charges will make your holiday seem expensive.  Unless you are flying on a scheduled flight most charter airlines charge for drinks and food on-board, if your flight is only a couple of hours long do you really need to pay extra to have a meal during your flight, also airlines charge a fortune for drinks and snacks so checkout what you are allowed to take on-board and maybe take your own with you.  When booking you also need to find out if transfers are included with your package, obviously flight only books won’t include any transfers.  Airport taxis are readily available but be careful as there may be a long queue and they won’t come cheap.  Most main stream airports have airport transfers that you can book in advance so you know how much to pay and know someone will be there to meet you.  If you are on a package holiday airport transfers are usually an additional extra and you will travel on a coach with people from your flight to hotels in your area.

If you are looking at renting a car then please please do your research and book before you travel to avoid any disappointment or having to pay through the roof.  Car hire in Spain has doubled over the past couple of years, in fact I know of someone who was looking to book the same vehicle as last year and they paid approx. £500 and this year the cost works out to be over £1000!  Have a good look around to find the best deals but I would strongly recommend you stick to the car hire companies located at the airports as I have heard of horror stories where one person from a group is taken by car to an off-site location to sort out the car hire, not only did it take a good few hours for the person to return he was also very shaken with the experience!  If you are looking to hire car seats then please use a reputable company, the first year we hired a car the children’s seats looked very unsafe despite the company saying they were fine and legal. Luckily we didn’t have anything to worry about but the following year we paid a little extra to go with a more renowned company to ensure we had safer car seats.  One thing to consider is to look at how much an airline will charge for you to take your own car seats, some only charge £10 which I less than you would pay to hire one with your car.

When looking at booking your break check out what meal options are available as you may think you are getting good value with room only or self-catering but think about how much you will be spending on food.  Some of the hotels offer different kinds of packages which work out to be less than £10 per day for all 3 meals, take into account the exchange rate and your location as it could work out to be more cost effective to prepay for your meals so you don’t have to worry about how much meals will cost when you are there.  Whilst going full board or all inclusive might seem a bit restrictive it means you will prepay all your meals and whatever drinks are included so no need to worry how much extra cash you will need to take.  Most hotels or complexes will offer entertainment during the day and evening included in the price with some offering extras for an additional cost.  Kids clubs vary some are fully inclusive in the price others you have to pay a day rate.  Kids clubs are fantastic ways for your little ones to have fun with children their own age making your holiday a bit more relaxing, some hotels let you book places before you travel.
If you are travelling abroad check out the best exchange rate as they vary so much and some a lot better than others.  Comparison sites are available to make sure you are getting the best deal around, don’t whatever you do decide to do it all at the airport as they are renowned for offering the lowest rate possible as they know it’s the last chance for some!  Make sure you do your research and order in advance to make sure there isn’t a last minute panic to get some local currency.

Some people think holiday insurance is a waste of money but it’s one of those things that you really have to be sure you don’t want any; personally I would never travel without any insurance as you never know when something might happen.  Look round to find the best price and if you are travel again within the same 12 months take a look to see how much annual insurance will cost.  If the worst does happen and you find yourself needing medical help it can cost an absolute fortune especially if you need to be admitted to hospital or flown home.  If you are travelling to one of the countries within the EU you can now obtain an EHIC card which replaces the old E111 cards.  These will offer you the basic level of medical health care; it is something you need to apply for before you travel so give yourself plenty of time to make sure you get everything through in time. You can order your EHIP online, at a post office or by phone.  Please make sure you read the small print so you know what is included.

Just by using a one or more of these snippets of advice can save you money and we hope you have a lovely holiday!

Written by: Helen Willment

With Christmas and new years eve/day celebrations over, the big January sales have started popping up, in actual fact some quietly crept out mid to late December last year, the real bargain hunters may be looking for Christmas decorations and cards less than half price for the festive period this year, others maybe looking for something a little more expensive a little cheaper if you follow me. The January sales are prime time shopping periods for shoppers both on the High Streets and online, there really are bargains galore to be snapped up. So in lets see what we can find at less than half price.

John Lewis Clearance Sale. We found some fantastic deals here this year, John Lewis give you the option to search for the amount of discount you want to browse through: From 30% off, from 50% off, from 70% off, obviously the choice is not that great in the 70% discount section but still there’s quite a lot there.

Marks and Sparks Furniture Sale. The Marks furniture sale was only available for a few days this year but to be fair the savings available were pretty good, some great quality furniture and effects had there prices slashed by around 20%-30% with very few items having more than this percentage taken off, still well worth a good look though bargain hunters.

Dreams Beds. As we all know all the sofa retailers, carpet and flat pack furniture retailers have a massive 2 day sale that seems to last not just the 2 days but all year long, i think Dreams bed superstore as they call themselves come into this category, there always seems to be a HUGE sale on, anyway this year it looks like they’re offering up to 60% off thousands of beds and to be honest if the full prices they have quoted on the website is true which it should be by law, they’re offering some pretty good deals.

Currys Sale. This year Currys, Dixons and Laskys have sale sale sale plastered all over the website with free next day delivery in the corners, look for the little * Terms & Conditions Apply, always read the small print as you can almost guarantee all the great discounts they offer won’t apply to the items you’d like to buy. To be honest the sale this year is pretty good and we’ve found some right bargains. 51″ Plasma TV with HD Ready for just £449.00. Hoover Energy rating B tumble dryer for £280.00 the list goes on, well worth a visit.

If your shopping for larger items like beds, general furniture or maybe kitchen appliances we recommend you buy online in early January, on average you’ll save around 20%, not the big 50% all these big stores claim to offer but you can’t complain at 20% off.

Feel free to add any comments about any great deals snapped up in the January sales.

Planning your child’s birthday party should be fun, not a stressful event that you dread each year.  It is the time for your little ones to be in the spotlight and have fun with their friends.  Planning the party can be as easy or as hard as you make it, same goes for the budget, it can be as cheap or expensive!  If you have the funds available there are party planners available who will do all the hard work for you at a price.  Personally, I don’t think you can beat getting involved and doing all the work yourself; even get the birthday boy or girl involved.  With some simple tips to help you through the planning and party day you are sure to enjoy it as much as the little one.

The first thing to do is to forget what the latest celebrity is doing for their little one and how much they are spending, also try not to outdo the last party you went to as this is how things tend to get out of control very quickly.  Start by talking with their birthday girl or boy to find out what they want, whilst you might find they are asking for the moon there will be a compromise or something you can take and make into a party or treat for them.  Plan your budget carefully as there is no point in giving the biggest party when you don’t have the funds to cover it, if you start setting their expectations early on then there shouldn’t be any disappointment on the day.

Next decide what you want to do, whether you want a party at home (not for the faint hearted) or in a hall or somewhere else.  If it’s a summer birthday then look at local parks or woods or gardens, any of these will save on hire costs and all you will need is a few games and food.  If you want something organised and inside there are plenty of restaurants offering party’s including Pizza Express where they all get to make their own pizza plus other places such as Frankie and Bennies, MacDonald’s, Pizza Hut plus many more have party ideas for all ages, with most including the cost for food and some even include a birthday cake.  There are plenty of indoor gyms, play areas etc that offer party session where you will get a period of time to play, usually about an hour, and then go to a private room to have the birthday food – these kind of parties are ideal for the younger ones.  Some of these places charge a one off fee where you can invite as many as you want but you usually have to provide food and cake whilst others will charge per child and include food with some including a birthday cake and gift bags.  We really suggest you look around and see what places have to offer and work out costs per head including all food, cakes and gift bags.

Another way to keep costs low is to look at doing joint parties, this way you can split all the costs but still give your child a birthday party to remember.  A friend of ours is currently organising their little girls 3^rd birthday party and she will be sharing it with 7 of her little friends whose birthdays fall within 6 weeks of each other.  Not only does this help with costs but also saves having to go to 7 different birthday party’s in the 6 weeks plus her own! To hire a local hall for the afternoon and an entertainer, who is one of the top entertainers in the area, comes in at around £19 per birthday child!  All that needs arranging is hall decorations, food; hire of a bouncy castle, birthday cakes plus other little bits bobs.  Last year they spent around £25 each, the little ones had so much fun and the adults really enjoyed it.

Organising a party doesn’t have to be expensive when you do a bit of ground work before hand, look around and see what your local area has to offer, some open farms have special birthday offerings along with arts and crafts places.  Another one of our friends took their little ones to a pottery shop where they could paint and design their very own piece and then took them for a meal.  Look at how many children your little one wants to invite, some numbers might not be feasible so put a limit on how many they can ask and they will soon come up with a list.  Instead of buying their birthday cake from a professional why not look at what your local supermarket has to offer or even better try making your own.  If you are providing the food then don’t go overboard, remember they are only children and will not know or taste the difference between finest ranges or budget ranges.  If you are lucky enough to have a party outside why not look at doing a BBQ, sausage and burger each and you are sorted!  Other ideas include sleepovers, most kids love a sleepover with all their friends at some point party food or take away and a few DVD’s are all you need.  If they like the outside why not have a tent party in your garden.

The gift bags needn’t be huge and to be honest you don’t have to give one.  Look at the age of the child and see if there is anything else that could be given in its place.  If it’s a young birthday why not look at a balloon or something just as simple as little ones will most probably get more enjoyment out of something like that.

With so many ideas around nowadays you are sure to find something to suit your little one and doesn’t have to be expensive.  Do your research and get an idea of what they want and then do a good look around, plus ask other parents for ideas if you are really stuck, they are sure to have a suggestion that could work for you.  Most of all try and enjoy the day as its no fun if you are tearing around all the time, if the children are old enough to be left make sure you have a couple on hand to help you out.  Plus make sure you have a nice glass of wine or favourite tipple waiting for you once it’s all over and done with.

By: Helen Willment

If you’re a bit of an 80′s man you’re probably remember the good old Game Boy and the good old Donkey Kong hand held machines, as technology has moved on the likes of the Playstation and the Xbox have taken the market by storm but Pac Man and Space Invaders will never be forgotten. Although exact replicas of the older games are available on the latest entertainment systems you just can’t beat having the original consoles in your hand, fear not all the oldies are available and for less than you probably think.

The original GameBoy sells for around £35 on ebay.

The MegaDive is going for around £30 on ebay.

The Atari 2600 which is the ultimate retro machine can be snapped up for as little as £40 in good condition.

Follow this link and place a bid, these systems can only gain value as they’re never likely to be manufactured again.

Anyone remember the Panasonic 3DO? This was a brilliant console which was built in 1993/1994, it really was ahead of the times but the astronomically high price tag put it out of most peoples reach also and the lack of games and support from 3rd parties showed us the end of the 3DO. The 3DO system was eventually discontinued at the later part of 1996.

The best thing to do is to firstly decide what you need your broadband for, is it for simple browsing every now and then, if so then the cheaper companies will suit you best.  If your Internet usage is business critical then unfortunately you do need to pay that little bit more for a better service.

Whilst you may think you are getting a good deal with the cheaper companies you need to take into account their customer support, as there will be a time you will need to contact them.  Most of the cheaper companies can offer such low prices, as their contact centers are offshore or overseas.  Whilst you won’t be paying for the overseas call you may find yourselves spending more time on the phone due to language barriers plus some of these companies will have call takers who don’t have much in the way of technical knowledge and then pass you onto another department or team to help you.  Some internet companies make it near on impossible for you to speak to a human in the UK who will be able to help you with your query and make you do everything online – not very helpful when you don’t have any internet access!  There is also a concern with the cheaper companies having as many customers as possible ontgo their network giving poor performance to their customers who will experience congestion or slow speeds during peak hours, usually evenings and weekends! Sometimes it pays to pay a little more for a better service.

Before signing up its worth taking a look at Broadband review sites and forums so you can get an idea of what their customers think, then take a look at the special offers about, be careful when looking about as some have lengthy contracts (bit like mobile phones) whilst may be fine to begin with but not if you start to experience problems, move or realize you could get a better deal elsewhere.

Another thing to take into account is your usage verses what they will offer you.  Some deals offer unlimited downloads but there will always be a catch so make sure you read the small print carefully.  If you get a download allowance each month take care not to go over as these charges could begin to add up and start costing you a fortune.

When you have decided on what you want and with what company you should be able to sit back and wait to be connected, if you are moving from supplier then your new company will ask you to get a MAC code from your current supplier and then they will do the rest for you.

As an ex remover myself i’ve decided to write a post on this money saving blog about saving money on removal costs, moving home and the general dos and donts.

Moving home can be a lot cheaper than you probably think if you follow some of my instructions but you don’t want to cut too many corners as it can become quite stressful and a lot harder and costlier.

Before you decide on a move date or completion date it may be a good idea to avoid Fridays, this is when removal companies are normally at their busiest, i’ve known some companies to charge extra on Fridays so avoid if possible.

Always make sure all your possessions are insured for transit, most good removers offer this service but if you come across a removal company that doesn’t i suggest you avoid them. Always read what the insurance covers and whether there are exclusions, most insurers put a compulsory excess on should you claim so be sure to check this out and fully understand it.

Move yourself or get a company in?

I personally moved just over a year ago and i done the job myself with a few friends and a 16 tonne truck borrowed from my step brother who runs Matthew Carter Removals and Storage, the whole process was reasonably easy as i “sort of” know what i’m doing, there’s an art to stacking your furniture/possessions into a removal van/truck. We always stacked the sofa or sofas up on their on their ends first as they’re an awkward shape and worked back in level tiers roping off every 2 metres or so, always choose the heavier items on the bottom like chests of drawers and boxes full of books. The higher you go in the stack i would suggest putting the lighter items finishing with dining chairs and  cushions nearer the top.

Baring in mind on most house moves you need to have your furniture and effects moved out of your home by 12pm ready for the new tenants/owners to move in, the complete contents of your home need to be on one lorry load, this creates a bit of a problem if you’ve only hired a 3.5 tonne transit van and you’ve only enough space for half of your furniture.

Hiring a professional removal company can take all or most of the stress out of moving day, most removers arrive nice and early and load within a few hours leaving you to whizz the hoover round and maybe take the meter readings with time to spare.

To be honest the price difference is not as much as you may think between the two options. An average 3 bedroom home s contents with 2 adults and a child would probably take between 1200 cubic metres and 1700 cubic metres of space on a lorry is stacked well.

To hire a lorry would cost in the region of £100 for a 3.5 tonne luton van and around £180 for a 7.5 tonne box van for the day, make sure you can pick the lorry up nice and early as an early start is essential. Truck hire guide and prices here, just to give you an idea.

A removal company would and should charge in the region of £500.00

Packing

Packing up can take days and days to complete and if you’re taking on the task yourself you really do need to do a good job, you’ll need decent cartons and plenty of black bags for bedding and cushions, cartons are normally supplied if you’re using a removal company but if you’re doing the job yourself you’ll need some good strong cartons, these can be purchased from storage companies or maybe you know someone that works in a warehouse who can get them free of charge. The packing of china and glass needs to be done properly with paper or bubble wrap between each item, again if you’re using a removal company they will supply packing paper, if you’re not it’s available from storage companies but it can be quite costly much like the cartons.

Most removers provide a packing service and they’ll normally send a crew in a day prior to your move date for what’s known as a full pack, everything will be packed up ready for your big day and to be honest this service is worth every penny, if i remember correctly the average hose will cost between £250 and £300 to pack.

The Big Day

In a nut shell you’ll save yourself £300 if you move yourself but you’ll have one hell of a stressful day, hire a reputable removal company and you’ll be in good hands, remember to get 2 or 3 quotations. It’s a good idea to get someone to look after the children and pets for the day as you’re going to be pretty busy.

Good luck….

Making every penny count is so very important to us nowadays especially with the rise in gas and electric along with the price of food and every day essentials soaring.  Getting your little ones ready to go back to school can be a difficult time for everyone, not only due to the nerves and anticipation from the little ones but the cost of all the uniforms, books and writing material.  The best thing to suggest is to look around at all the special deals about, some supermarkets like Tesco and Asda plus high street stores including BHS and Marks & Spencer offer fantastic offers with low price clothing, the majority of items are made from durable stain resistant materials making them great value for money.  Don’t get trousers or skits that are just the right length, why not buy the next size, giving room for growth, turn the them up to make sure they fit for longer hopefully the full school year and maybe, if you are lucky, the following year.

Do not feel obliged to stick to the store the school recommends for the basic items like shirts, skirts and trousers plus a lot of the gym kit as they tend to be a bit more expensive, just use these stores to get the specifics like ties, blazers and school jumpers and cardigans, basically anything that is school branded.  Shoes can be expensive but would suggest you pay a little bit more to make sure the shoes fit in length and width with room for growth, sometimes buying cheaper shoes can be less cost effective as they don’t tend to last as long and you end up paying out more in the long run, why not try a Cloggs discount code for extra savings.  If you need to get specific books try 2^nd hand websites little Ebay and Preloved, whilst the books may not be in pristine condition they will be a lot cheaper than buying from brand new, plus if your child takes care of them you may even be able to sell them on when they’ve finished with them.  You can get pens and stationary from a number of High Street shops, most sell multipacks making them better value for money and you will always have spares.

Try and resist getting named items of their favourite character, program or pop group or singer as these are only fads and you can guarantee before the year is out they will want a different set as they no longer like the ones they have or because they aren’t ‘cool’ enough.  Hopefully some of these hints and tips will help when making decisions and save you money in the long run.

It’s not just household bills that have soared over the past few months; food shopping has also increased dramatically.  To help you save money when you go shopping firstly look at where you do your normal shop, if it’s the higher end of the scale then why not try one of the cheaper supermarkets as you might be surprised to find you are getting the same kind of quality for less money.

Planning your shopping trip is vital, so why no plan your weekly meals before you shop and have a good look in the cupboards, fridge’s and freezers and make a list of everything you need and stick to it!  Try not to go shopping when you are hungry, as you will spend more than you really need.  Look at all the special offers about but be careful you don’t get fooled into thinking you are getting a bargain, some offers make you think you are saving but what’s the point when you end up throwing it away as you haven’t eaten or used it in time.  Instead of looking at the branded food why not try the stores own brand, as you might be pleasantly surprised!  Also the value ranges are very good, and you’d be surprised to know they are made by some of the leading brands.

Buy food that can go in the freezer, not only does this save you from throwing food out but will give you more variety without having to pop to the shops.  A good shopping tip to shop online as you only put what you need in your basket and you won’t get distracted as you walk down the aisles!  Personally I like to get something back from my local supermarket so look at what they offer you in the was of loyalty rewards which could result in getting money back plus vouchers for money off and special deals.  Have a look at the reduced item shelf, most of the time there isn’t anything wrong with the food apart from it going out of date that day, so make the most of the reduced price and stick them in the freezer when you come home.  Shopping needn’t be a chore if you plan it carefully in advance, stick to your list and only get the things you need

It seems every single bill is increasing at the moment and here we have a few helpful tips on how to try and save money on your household bills.   Starting with your utilities as in gas and electric, checkout our price comparison sites to see who is offering you the best deal. Companies are increasing their prices on what may seem like a frequent basis so checkout their fixed deals to give you peace of mind over the coming months, there are some great deals out there with some companies offering fixed deals for the next 2 winters!!  Plus most companies offer you a duel fuel discount along with paper-free discount where you manage your accounts online.  Make sure all your radiators have thermostats fitted to ensure each room is heated to the required temperature, turning down or off radiators that aren’t required on a daily basis.

Keep interior doors closed to stop heat escaping into hallways and landings plus draw curtains as soon as it starts turning dark, you will not believe the amount of heat that escapes through windows!  Make sure your insulation is up to required levels if not checkout the local government incentives as most companies are currently being sponsored to get as many households properly insulated meaning you only pay a minimal amount towards the full cost.  Look at how many lights and pugs are left on without any need.  Saving electricity can come from simple things like turning a light off when you walk out of the room, turning items off instead of on standby, not only will this reduce costs it will also preserve the life of the product.

Do you have 2 different rates for your electricity? If yes then you will most probably find the cheaper rate during the early hours of the morning so why not set things like dishwasher, washing machine etc on a timer or delay switch so they only come on when the cheaper.  Tumble dryers can eat electricity and can become very expensive, if you have a garden then why not invest in a washing line and hang your clothes out on dry days, even when its not that warm out there clothes will dry!  Hanging clothes out to dry not only save you on electric with the tumble dryer but will also reduce the amount of ironing required and they will smell nice and fresh – you really can’t beat the smell and feel of bed sheets that have been drying outside!

With most households being on water meters think of how you cannot only save water but save on your costs.  Simple things like doing a small flush on the loo when you can, turn the tap off whilst brushing your teeth, fill the bath half full or take a shower when possible as this really reduces the amount of water you use.  Make sure your washing load is full instead of washing a few items, plus always use the Eco program where possible as it reduces the amount of water and electric used.  When watering your garden, use a watering can instead of a hose as not only will you save on the amount of water you use you will also being giving yourself a little work out with all the carrying and walking.  Next take a look at your other household bills, if you pay for a gym membership, work out if you really use it enough to make the monthly subscription worthwhile or could you save money by using a Pay As You Go gym? Also take a look at what you do there, if running is your thing why not go for a run in your local area? Or perhaps invest in a bike and go for a cycle ride instead? Why not take a look at your monthly expenditure, as I am sure there are ways you can save money from walking to the shops or doing the school run instead of driving, using your phone when it’s the cheaper rate plus set yourself a target whether its something you are saving up for or just to save money and with a bit of honesty and commitment it won’t take long to start seeing the benefits.

BT used to have the monopoly on landline phones, until some of the other telecommunication companies came on the scene and weren’t happy they couldn’t offer their customers a full media and communication bundle.  Nowadays there are numerous companies that offer special rates for phone and line rental with many even better rates if you take out their broadband and in some cases TV packages.  For instance both Virgin and Sky have the best TV packages about, one being cable and the other requiring a satellite dish attached to your house.  Both are able to offer you fantastic deals on TV and broadband and TV packages with even more discount if you take their calls plan and their line rental.  Not only does this give you a one stop shop for all your media requirements it means one bill and one company to deal with instead of many.  There are plenty of other companies offering calling plans and line rentals so it’s worth looking around and doing your research.

Most standard calling plans will give you free evenings and weekend calls with some offering a small additional charge to include 08 numbers along with preferential rates of overseas calls, the line rental is often a small additional charge. There are additional companies out there who offer great prices on international calls make calling family and friends easier, companies such as First Number and Briing.  Better still that a look at companies such as Skype and MSN who offer free online chats and you can even use webcams so you can really keep in touch with loved ones especially those overseas, the majority of these are free of charge and all you would need is a working PC with an internet connection and headset, speaks and/or webcam.

Take a look at what is about and we really recommend you bundle all of your media requirements, not only making life easier with only one bill and one point of contact but they also work out to be the cheapest.  Also look at the time you are calling, could the call wait until after a certain time of the day? Another thing to think about is what does your mobile phone call plan offer, if they give you free inclusive calls use these, where possible, before using your landline and then look at the time of day and ay of the week you are making the call, can the call wait until the evening or weekends when the call will be free?  Most money saving ideas come from looking at how you use your landline phone and by just tweaking your usage you could find yourself saving money with very little effort.

Mobile phones have now become an essential part of everyday life with almost everyone having one.  The purpose of a mobile phone has changed dramatically over the past couple of years with most wanting it not only for calls and texts but using them as mini computers for surfing the internet, updating popular social networking sites including MySpace, Facebook and Twitter to name a few, plus a high number use their phones to keep check on their e-mails.

Owning a mobile phone nowadays can work out to be costly unless you are on the right kind of package.  With so many different types of packages available you could be forgiven for getting confused. Firstly look at what you want from your phone whether it be just basic use for texting and calls or if you want data included.  The data allowance must be carefully considered as this is what will cost the most and if you don’t get the right package you could find yourself with very hefty bills.  Deciding on a handset is the next thing to consider, if you want it for basic usage then look at the standard handsets as you will most probably be able to get these free as part of your agreement.  The popular handsets from BlackBerry, HTC and of course iPhone will cost more and there are so many offers about where you pay our less for the handset but more for the monthly payment along with a longer contract period or visa versa.

A recent comparison was calculated using the iPhone 4 model and one of the most popular networks.  Over a 3 year period there was approx. £50-£80 difference in all their different options from paying for the phone outright and going on a SIM only contract to paying hardly anything for the phone and more on a monthly contract, we were very surprised with our findings.  The next thing to consider is how long you want a contract for, as mentioned earlier, you will pay less for your handset for a longer contract and more if you choose a shorter contract, but please be very careful as these companies do hold you to their contract length and whilst 18-36 months doesn’t seem that long when you are signing on the dotted line it can seem forever when you are half way through and want to change you network, handset, usage or all 3!  The contracts last for various different lengths from a 30 day rolling contract which is ideal if you already have your own phone up to a 36 month contract, plus there are SIM only deals and Pay As You Go options to choose from.  Pay As You Go deals are ideal for children or those on a tight budget as you only spend the credit available, most phones will continue to work once the credit has run out but only for calls to the emergency services or receiving calls – all networks are different so you must check to the small print to make sure.  If you are planning on going overseas we suggested you speak to your network provider before you travel, as they might be able to offer you a special package whilst you are away plus please remember to turn off data roaming, as this will cost you an absolute fortune!  Most network companies will send you a text when you reach a certain limit whilst some will stop all usage when you reach a certain amount but unfortunately others wont and the mobile phone companies are becoming less tolerant with customers who run up hefty bills whilst overseas, as there is so much publicity about the issue.  Once again we suggest you read the small print to make sure you full understand all charges whilst overseas.  If you take time to research and think about the long term you should find the perfect package and have no problems but we cannot stress how important it is to read the small print to find out exactly what is and isn’t included.