Five Ways to Save Money while Travelling

Photo by Brett Zeck on Unsplash

I've always had a passion for travel, back when I was in my early twenties I spent a month travelling around Europe, I loved discovering new places and experiencing different cultures and if I had the money at the time I would have continued on my adventures and expanded my horizons further. Fate has its way of working things out the way they should be though, as it was just after I got back to the UK that I met my now husband and father of my children.

My life took a different turn and within a few years we were married and parents to two wonderful little people. Ours travels now tend to be a lot more UK based such as our youth hostel adventures in Yorkshire.

I have to admit that my heart is still filled with wanderlust and world travel is certainly something in my future plans. One of the benefits for us of having our children at an early age is that once they are older we can fulfil our dreams to spend time travelling the world and satisfy that desire to see the the sun rise and set in far away locations filled with earth shattering beauty.

Photo by Pascal Debrunner on Unsplash

Even though our worldly travels may be a few years in the future, that doesn't stop me from from mentally planning them now and one thing that won't change is my compulsion to make my money stretch as far as possible, so while I'm dreaming of sunsets on far away shores, I've pulled together some top tips to save money for travelling the world.

Photo by The Enlight Project on Unsplash

Top Tips for Saving Money while Travelling

Lay Your Head Somewhere Different

Why not think outside of the box when it comes to accommodation? Rather than staying in a hotel room all of the time, just imagine the adventures you could have pitching a tent in Thailand, sleeping on a boat in Reykjavic or spending your nights on the road, travelling around the Australian Outback in a caravan you found on Gumtree. Closing the door on hotel rooms isn't just about saving money either, you will be able to see the city you are visiting from a truly different perspective.

Talk to the locals

It's a simple one, but it really can make a difference to how much money you end up spending. When you arrive in a new country or city, talk to the people who live and work there. Find out the best value places to eat, the hidden gems that the tourists usually miss out on and the the best times to visit those must see attractions. In these days of modern technology, you don't even have to wait until you arrive to do this, you can check out forums and facebook groups online before you even set off on your trip!

Visit fewer places and stay longer

The slow travel movement is really taking off. It makes so much sense when you think about it, how many times have you come back from a trip and just wished you had longer to take it all in. Instead of planning an action packed itinerary that will risk you burning out half way through, why not get to know somewhere really well?  As well as feeling more relaxed and being able to explore so much more of a destination, this will also save you a lot more money that you realise. Flights, bus trips, train journeys and driving long distances can really eat into your budget. You can also often negotiate better rates on accommodation if you are staying for longer, so the savings all add up. 

Slow down, take more in, save money and discover so much more.

Be Flexible with your Flights

If you have the luxury of being flexible with your dates of travel, it can really save you a fortune! Firstly, when booking flights, it's always best to use an incognito or private browsing mode so you see the best prices. The next step is to identify the cheapest day to fly, it is often accepted that this is a Tuesday, however that could be just a myth, so to be sure for the time that you are travelling you can do a search on a booking site such as Skyscanner. To do this, choose your departure and arrival destinations, select a the one way flight option, then select 'depart', but instead of selecting a date, choose 'whole month', then 'cheapest month', and then search flights. You should now have an idea of the best value dates to fly and can start to arrange your travel around these.

Walk More

When you are at home or in a place you are familiar with, you are much more likely to walk from place to place than when you are visiting somewhere new. When travelling, it can be almost instinct to jump on a tram or bus when you see one that displays your destination, even if it is within walking distance. However, by walking across a town you can see so much more of the place you are visiting and save those pennies for the important things!

This is a collaborative post.

Saving for the Future Made Simple with Nutmeg

I spend so much time thinking about how I can spend less and save money that I am often at a loss as to what to do with those extra pennies I have put away. I want to get the best out of them but that's not always as easy as it seems. I have recently been introduced to Nutmeg, which is a simple way to get the most out of your money online.

I've got to admit that I used to think online investments were beyond me. I didn't think I had the time, knowledge or capital needed to do any more with my money than put in a savings out to earn a few pennies in interest.

Now I know about Nutmeg I know that that is just not the case. In just ten minutes and starting with just £1000 I can be on my way to a professional portfolio where I can invest money for my children's future.

My eldest son Ben will turn 18 in ten years time. I would love to be in a position to help support financially with his choices at that point, whether he wants to go to university, travel, or put a deposit down on his first home.

Nutmeg allows me to look at an overview of potential investments, showing my target return and how increasing the risk factor can affect the returns. Using a sliding scale you can adjust the risk factor from 1 to 10. Opions include; 'Avoiding loss is a priority', 'Slow and steady is acceptable', 'I'm willing to lose some to make some', 'I'm comfortable taking a chance', 'I'll risk large losses for higher gains'.

In the image above you can see projections for an initial investment of £1000 with monthly contributions of £50 and a risk factor of 4 over ten years.

What makes Nutmeg so accessible to an investment newbie like myself  is that you only need to invest a relatively small amount, with a lump sum starting from just £1000 and monthly payments from just £50 you can still reach significant goals over time.

One thing I have learnt over the last few years is that you can't always project your future financial situation which means that it is important to be able to have access to your money and with Nutmeg you can you can withdraw whenever you like and there's no minimum investment period.

So are you thinking that you would like to invest for your children's future?

Find out more in this video:



This is a collaborative post.

Helpful Tips For Choosing the Right Broadband for Your Home

Broadband is becoming a fundamental part of any home in today’s world, so much so that the right to access broadband internet has become a legal right for every Finn. While all telecommunications companies in Finland are obliged to provide all residents with broadband lines that can run at a minimum 100 Mbps by 2015, the UK government has promised a minimum connection speed of at least 2 Mbps to all homes by 2016.

With rising numbers of people going online to work from home, stream entertainment, bank or shop for groceries, a high-speed and reliable connection is essential. A superfast broadband connection is needed to support the accompanying increase in the number of internet-enabled devices such as mobile phone, tablets, Sky+ boxes, games consoles, and e-readers. 

Broadband is an important factor when choosing a home. Houses without a broadband connection or slow download speeds can be worth up to 20% less, according to The Guardian. Estate agents reported that there is an increasing number of buyers who are willing to pull out of a deal if broadband is not available in that area. When buying property, speedy broadband is now more important than transport links, schools, off-street parking and local amenities.

It's important to find the best broadband deal for you though. Here are some tips.

Compare broadband providers

Make sure you compare all options. Price shouldn't be the only deciding factor when choosing a provider. You should also consider customer support and read reviews to find out what current or former customers are saying about them.

Get a bundle package

Purchasing a bundle package from one company can be significantly cheaper and include other fringe benefits. For example, Sky TV and broadband Unlimited customers get unlimited usage allowance, free Wi-Fi over 20,000 locations across the UK and free Sky Broadband Shield to prevent access to malware-infected and phishing sites. Broadband providers offer different packages with different data allowance. At the Sky broadband comparison website, you can compare the different packages by price, broadband speed and other criteria.

Check your usage

The most important thing to consider when choosing a provider is how much you use your broadband. Try taking a look at your recent bills to find out how much you use. Take into account the number of people in your household, the types of devices that are connected all at once and the amount of downloading and streaming you do.

Broadband internet access being considered as a utility like electricity and water. Similar to choosing a electricity and water supplier to your home, you need to decide what kind of package would suit your usage. With so many providers to choose from, one of the best ways to narrow down your list is to use a price comparison website.

This is a featured post.

Celebrate Mother's Day with Debenhams Flowers

Mother's Day is just a month away (15th March 2015 if you want to add it to your diaries) and it will be upon us before we know it! In our family we buy for Mums Grans, Nannas and Great Grans so the costs can add up. I have been trying to be organised for a change and have been planning gifts already. I have a few ideas to bring you over the next few weeks. The first one comes courtesy of Debenhams Flowers who offer a great selection of gifts for Mother's Day.

They offered to send me a bouquet of my choice from their Flower Delivery selection. After browsing through the Mother's Day section I was delighted at the choice available but rather predictably chose a bouquet of roses, my favourite flower and one that holds a lot of personal meaning for me. The bouquet I settled on was of Princess Victoria two tone vintage garden roses. The peach and cream colours really stood out on the website and I could see how they would brighten up any room. At £29.99 I thought the cost was in line with what I would usually be looking to spend on my mum this Mother's Day.

Photo from http://www.debenhamsflowers.com/princess-victoria

I was able to choose a delivery day of my choice for the flowers to arrive, they were delivered in the morning and my mum took them them, not knowing what to do with them, she left the box in the hallway until I got in from work. Despite being left in the box for over six hours after delivery the flowers were beautifully fresh when opened and looked even nicer than in the website pictures.

I immediately decanted them in to my favouite vase and thought the turquoise colour brought out the two tone peach and creams in the roses wonderfully.

The images above were taken between the day the flowers arrived and 9 days later. They remained beautiful and in bloom throughout this time and made me smile every time I walked in to the room.

This bouquet would make am ideal gift for Mum, Gran or any one else this Mother's Day. Debenhams Fowers offer a range of specially selected Mother's Day bouquets stating from just £19.99 including standard postal delivery. (Named Day delivery by courier is only an extra £2.99)
Find out how you can save money on your favourite bouquets below:

The lovely folks at Debenhams Flowers have given me an exclusive discount code to share with you. Use code DFBLOG25 to save 25% off Mothers Day Flowers. 

(The only bouquets exempt from the discount are the 'Flowers By Post' range.)

I was sent the Vintage Rose bouquet free of charge in exchange for this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ten Ways to Spend Less this Christmas

I love Christmas, I love the preparations, the excitement, the food and unlike some I actually love the shopping! I take a great amount of joy in finding the best deals on toys for the children, finding unique and special gifts for friends and family and managing to source a couple of surprises for my lovely husband. One thing I don't like though is worrying that i'm spending too much. As you will know, however carefully we budget and plan, things always creep up on us and this year we have had to replace two large appliances and have some work done on the car in the last month so things have been even tighter than usual. That is why I've been looking around for some tips to enjoy a big festive celebration this year while spending a little less than I usually would. I've brought together ten of the best ways I found to spend less this Christmas with some fabulous inspiration from other bloggers:

Make Your Own Festive Decorations

Christmas decorations are lovely but they are sometimes quite expensive! Why not put an afternoon aside to get crafty and make your own? We made our own Christmas Crackers and a Paper Wreath last year. Red Rose Mummy Recycled an old lightbulb to make this cute Robin. Zing Zing Tree has a great guide to making 3D Snowflake decorations and Over 40 and Mum to One shows us how she makes other Festive Papercrafts.

Give Handmade Gifts:

Last year the whole family got involved in making gifts for teachers and nursery staff and these Gingerbread cookies were very well received! Hand made gifts from the children are lovely and always take pride of place on the grandparent's mantlepiece or dresser but us 'grown ups' can make gifts too! Blue Bear Wood makes a Pampering Beauty Hamper with Bath Soak and Lip Balm. The Brick Castle shows us how to make some delicious sounding home made Fudge.

Buy Secondhand

For me giving gifts isn't about buying the latest gadget or must have toy. It's about making somebody smile knowing that I have spent time thinking about what they want or like doing. Sometimes I have found the best gifts second hand searching on ebay or even scouring around charity shops or carboot sales. It's also worth remembering that when you buy your gifts from a charity shop you are giving twice, once to your friend or family member and secondly to the charity that is helping to fund research or provide care for the needy. Me and My Shadow took part in a Charity Shop Challange and found some great gifts from charity shops.

Enter Competitions

I've always said that entering competitions is a great way to get a few extra gifts that you wouldn't usually be able to afford at Christmas. As it happens my eldests' main present this year is a LEGO Movie set that we won a few months ago. He will be delighted with it! On the run up to Christmas there are lots of competitions running at the moment that just take a minute or two to enter, from stocking fillers to some rather exiting prizes! You can take a look at Mymummyspennies Giveaways here and pop over to Superlucky for a great selection of competitions hosted on other blogs. Many toy brands are also running fantastic 12 Days of Christmas Promotions over on facebook, I've been entering a few including the one from Toys R Us that has some amazing prizes!

Bake it Yourself

As I've been doing my grocery shopping over the last few weeks I have spotted more and more gorgeous looking treats from Christmas cakes to festive biscuits and chocolates. As easy as it is to pop a box in your trolley it all adds up. Why not raid the baking supplies in your kitchen cupboards and see what you can throw together yourself? If you need some inspiration take a look at these Stained Glass Window Cookies from ET Speaks from Home or these Christmas Cupcakes from CasaCostello

Regift

Sometimes you get the perfect gifts and other times people just get it wrong. They have good intentions but the end result is that despite ranting regulary on how much you hate the colour pink you unwrap that beautiful packaged gift on December the 25th to find the handbag you'd been wishing for... in hot pink. Or a lovely pair of fluffy slippers two sizes too small. Or it could be that people get it so right that you end up with a fabulous Cath Kidston Ipad case... twice. If you have a gift receipt then fantastic, you usually have until mid January to exchange but if not then it's likely that these unwanted gifts will stay at the top of the wardrobe until next year. Why not get them out and see if you know anyone that will appreciate them more than you? (Just make sure you remember who gave them in the first place!) If you don't remember then why not gift them to someone you don't know? Maybe your local women's refuge or other charity?

Have a Free Festive Day out!

We have lots of Grotto's local to us at the moment and my children have been lucky enough to visit a couple, they have enjoyed chatting to Father Christmas and looks at the festive scenery and decorations but you don't need to spend money to have a festive day out. Check out your local council's website for local festive fayres and events (these are often free or have a small charitable donation to enter) and why not even pop down to your local garden centre and enjoy looking around the decorations, you don't have to buy anything! On Sunday 14th of December Altrincham Ice Skating Club will be bringing Disney's favourite Princesses, Anna and Elsa to Spinningfields Ice Rink in Manchester to perform a free Frozen on Ice show for all the family. (You can book to skate with the stars for a charge afterwards if you wish). 

Shop Around

It can seem easier to see what you want to buy, and purchase it there and then, especially if it has a big red 'special offer' sign next to it, but how do you know just how special that offer is? Find out! There are a number of online sites that you can check on to see if you really are getting the best deal. Price Runner is a good general comparison site, it's also worth checking out the forums on MSE and HotUkDeals too. If you are looking at amazon check the pricing history on CamelCamelCamel. My final word on this is if you are shopping online ALWAYS do a quick search for a discount or coupon code, even if you find one for 10% off or free delivery, you are still saving some pennies!

Earn Money when you Spend it

Once you have made sure you are getting the best price for what you are buying the next thing is get as much money back in cashback as you can. There are a few different ways you can do this the two main Cashback sites are TopCashBack and Quidco. I'd recommend signing up to both of these as they can both offer competitive deals on different sites, so just do a quick check to see which is the best before you make a purchase. If you pay using paypal when shopping online you can boost your cashback by linking up your paypal account also. You can also link them up to your debit cards so that you earn money back when you spend in store to. As well as these site many credit card company offer rather impressive cashback deals around this time of year as well, just remember that it's only worth signing up to these if you pay your balance off in full each month as otherwise your interest will cost you more than any cashback you earn!

Don't Buy it

If you don't need it then just don't buy it. 

It's easy to say but can be a lot harder to follow through with. Sometimes you have to say no, and often you have to say no to yourself as much as your children. 'Just one more present', 'But it's a bargain', 'I'd better buy another just in case' are all phrases I've used to justify spending more money when I knew I shouldn't. You CAN give your family an amazing Christmas without going into the red and you are likely to enjoy it that much more if you aren't dreading the credit card bills arriving in January. 

I hope these ideas will help you spend a little less this year and still have a fabulous Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

If I've got you feeling thrifty why not check out these other festive money saving posts:

Having a £10 Christmas

Easy Moneysaving Tips for Christmas

Movies or Sports? Why not have both for just £20?

Are you a Movie lover or a sports fanatic? In our house we have a mixture. My husband loves watching sports on TV, anything from athletics to football and especially any of Man Utd's matches! Where as I much prefer snuggling up and watching a movie, I've got quite a varied taste when it comes to films, I love anything from a good old soppy romances like Dirty Dancing and Notting Hill to gore filled Quentin Tarantino classics such as Natural Born Killers or Django Unchained.

Thanks to TalkTalk's new promotion we may be able to settle a few arguments! Now TalkTalk TV homes can watch both Sky Sports and Sky Movies for just £20 a month for the first three months meaning that we can watch the Premier League matches AND my favourite movies!

Following the success of TalkTalk’s recent Sky Sports half-price offer, they've now combined Sky Movies and Sky Sports Boosts saving sport and movie loving homes up to £25 a month. 

Usually TalkTalk homes can access Sky Sports Boost for £30 a month and its Sky Movie Boost for £15 a month, on a month by month basis with no ongoing commitment. 

Sky Sports channels bring live coverage of the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League Football, F1 and Rugby Union. Customers can also enjoy 11 Sky Movies Channels, including Sky Disney and Sky Superheroes and access to hundreds of blockbuster movies on demand.

TalkTalk's half price Boost gives customers like me access to more movies and sport on a flexible basis without hefty costs or having to commit in the long term.  TalkTalk  believes that it's customers should be able to dip in and out of channels they love, and that’s why it is giving customers access to Sky Movies and Sky Sports Boost at better than half price. 

This offer is ideal for cash-conscious sports and movie fans and gets families ready for a great autumn of entertainment.

All we need to do now is decide who gets custody of the remote! 

 TalkTalk’s TV Boosts provide additional channels that can be added or removed a month at a time with no ongoing commitment; it is TV to be glued to not stuck with. In addition to the Sky packages, TalkTalk homes can add Boosts for hit US and UK entertainment and favourite kids channels and on demand content to their package at the touch of a button. TalkTalk’s Essentials TV is half price for six months at £4.25, then £8.50, plus line rental. And Plus TV is just £9.25 a month for six months, then £18.50 a month, plus line rental. TalkTalk’s Plus TV package includes seven great Sky entertainment channels and a free YouView box, usually £299.

This post was written as part of my role as a TalkTalk Family Blogger.

Half price mobile offers until 30 September

TalkTalk Mobile is offering the biggest brands at the lowest prices just for its customers. And until 30 September customers can get half price of some of the very best brands including Samsung, Sony and LG. 

As part of its commitment to making TalkTalk homes better off TalkTalk Mobile has provided a simpler and affordable way to find a mobile match. And it has partnered with the best people in the mobile world to cut out the costs and pack in a whole bunch of savings. 

TalkTalk has half price offers on some of the very best brands until 30 September to kit the kids out for school without the hefty costs. Customers can get the Samsung Galaxy Fame from just £3.75 and the brand new Nokia 630 from just £5 a month. Customers can also get half price tablet and mobile bundles, ideal for back to school starting from £7.50 a month. Find out how you can take advantage at TalkTalk Mobile.

This post was written as part of my ambassadorship as a TalkTalk Family Blogger.  

Save Money on Family Days Out with #CBeebiesMagKidsGoFree

The Summer Holidays are always a difficult time to stick to a budget, you want to make the most of the time off with your children and create some special memories together but days out to their favourite attractions don't come cheap, especially if you are a larger family. 

So to help save you some money this summer CBeebies magazine has teamed up with Merlin Entertainments to launch a Summer long campaign giving parents the chance to save up to £355 on top kids’ attractions in the UK!

Every issue of CBeebies Magazine from the 16^th July until the 7^th October will come with two vouchers for kids to go free to a different Merlin attraction.These will include some of the most popular kids’ attractions in the country...

Sealife Centres and Seal sanctuaries - Issue 409 on sale 16^th July

Chessington World of Adventures - Issue 410 on sale TODAY 30^th July

Alton Towers Resort inc. CBeebies Land - Issue 411 on sale 13^th Aug

Warwick Castle - Issue 412 on sale 27^th Aug

Legoland and Legoland Discovery Centre - Issue 413 on sale 10^th Sept

Sealife Centres and Seal sanctuaries - Issue 414 on sale 24^th Sept

Depending on the resort you choose to visit each voucher could save you between £19.50 and £43.20! So for a family of four visiting Cbeebies Land at Alton Towers purchasing a £3 magazine will not only entertain your children on the car journey there but could save you a whopping £86.40!

According to Stephanie Cooper, Editor Pre-school: “Keeping kids entertained during the long summer months can often be a challenge and we want to do our bit to help. We are delighted to team up with Merlin Entertainment on this fabulous offer. For a magazine priced under £3 for each issue parents can bring two kids for free to some of the countries’ best venues.

Are you planning any family days out this summer? I would love to hear where you're going! We're looking forward to vising Cbeebies land this weekend, so be sure to come back and check out our review!

Top Up Summer Wardrobes: Cheap Threads for Kids

The summer months are just around the corner, and the winter threads that may be taking up valuable wardrobe space just won’t do when the sun comes out in full force.

 While some parents may not have to worry about what cash they spend on their kid’s clothes, others are fretting about having to clothe their children for the new summer season on a tight budget.

After all, it’s not cheap, especially if you have more than one to kit out! 

However, if you know where to look, your money will go much further, and with George at ASDA you’ll be surprised at how much fantastic stuff you can get for next to nothing.

Take a look at some of these fantastic pieces, and add them to your trolley next time you go to the supermarket:

Boys

Little lads of all ages will love the bold colours that the George collection has to offer, and will stand out this summer in some bright new threads. Summer is all about colour – nothing drab and boring, thank you very much! 

Here are some of our favourites:

Photo sources http://direct.asda.com/

• Character T’s, such as the ‘I’m Hungry!’ T shirt for as little as £3,  that’s cheaper than a kid’s magazine! Alternatively, opt for a retro favourite, such as the fabulous Gremlins T shirt for £5 – perfect for your cute little Gizmo.
• Boy’s jeans at George are the perfect thing to wear for everyday summer fun, with various styles and colours available, including cuffed, turn-ups, twisted seam and skinnies.
• Snapback caps appear to be all the rage with boys at the moment, and you don’t have to worry about spending a fortune on them. You can pick them up from George for £5. Sorted!
• Cargo shorts and turn up denims are not only affordable, but of great quality and totally comfortable. Kit them out for summer with a few pairs of each, which can easily be mixed and matched with shirts, tee’s and polos.

  Girls

  
  
  Shopping for little girls isn’t always easy, especially when they like to have a say in what they wear and have very clear ideas about what they think looks pretty and stylish. Take her to the shops with you so that she can choose what she loves, and your princess will be smiling from ear to ear.
  
  



Photo sources http://direct.asda.com/

• Skinny jeans are super cool, and look fantastic with plain white T shirts or vest tops. Pick up some bright and bold ones to stand out from the crowd, or some simple distressed denims that will go with everything.
• Pretty skirts such as the gorgeous white and pink cutwork skirt at George for £8 will make your little diva look and feel amazing. Team with some cute ballet pumps or sandals for an outfit perfect for a summer day.
• Bargain price 3-packs of t shirts, in reds, whites, pinks and lilacs give you the chance to mix and match, all for as little as a fiver.
• Online exclusive dresses, such as the Tropical Print Dress for £12, would be perfect for days where dressing up is a must.

Kids never seem to stop growing, so don’t overspend on high street labels when you don’t have to. Shop at George and you’ll get far better value for money!

Posted in Collaboration with Asda 

The Best Buys in Bulk Purchases - Win a £50 Amazon gift card!

I'm always looking for ways to save pennies when shopping and buying household items in bulk is a great way of making savings...

A lot of people don’t plan ahead when it comes to a good shop.  With some groceries you can only buy small amounts at once, Salad, for instance, doesn't keep for long and neither does fresh fruit. If you buy  large quantities of these you may end up adding to world’s giant piles of wasted food.

However there are quite a few things you can buy in large numbers that will help you to save on your credit card bill and feel a little bit smug about your forward planning. Be warned though if you live in a house the size of a broom cupboard then you’ll may be navigating around boxes for a while.

Below are just some examples of ways you can shop smart by buying in bulk...

Toilet Roll

Shop around. Sure, buying four, six or eight rolls at a time may seem like you’re thinking ahead. But bear in mind they don’t have a sell-by-date, they won’t go out of fashion and they definitely will be needed at some point. When buying toilet roll find the largest amount that you can afford and know you can fit comfortably in your home. Remember to shop around. If you do your homework, you can find packs of up to 32 or more rolls for less than a fiver. They won’t be double-quilted, but does that matter?

Meat

Some foods should generally be avoided when it comes to bulk purchases. However there are others that are worth taking a risk with. If left refrigerated meat doesn't have the longest life, but it does freeze incredibly well. So why not buy a bit more than you need and freeze some? It makes sense to buy meat in bulk and also to buy it when it’s on offer, check out the reduced fridges in your local supermarket towards the end of the day for great deals on meat that is close to it's use by date and fill up your freezer! 

Pasta and Rice

Pasta and rice are cupboard essentials and can be picked up for a song (or a few pounds) from plenty of independent or wholesale places in giant bags that will do you for a considerable amount time. You will need to be able to carry some weight (I wouldn't recommend doing this if you're catching the bus home!) but these are staples that can be used in so many meals helping to make other ingredients go further....

Alcohol

Some alcohol doesn’t have a sell-by-date and most don't lose their quality over time. In fact, in many cases age makes alcohol better. So if you like a drink, whether that be beer, fine wines or spirits and liquors, then you should consider getting yourself down to the bulk alcohol supply store and stocking up. Buying large quantities now will save you pounds, as long as you don’t do something silly and drink it all in one night! Remember to drink safe!

Laundry detergent

Laundry detergent can cost a pretty penny and while it will make your clothes all lovely and clean, the constant buying of detergent every month can be a drain on the bank accounts. So here’s the solution - stock up on the detergent now and you will save in the long run.

In fact, there are all kinds household products that can be bought in bulk: from toothpaste to washing up liquid, bin bags, soap, shampoo and much more.

I hope the above suggestions have given you some ideas about buying in bulk to save on your expenditure over all but of course it all depends on how much money you have available to spend in the first instance...

To start you off on your bulk buying journey I am giving you the chance to win a £50 Amazon gift card! Amazon offers you some great discounts when you buy a larger quantity of some items. For your chance to win just follow the rafflecopter instructions below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sainsbury's launch Bambino Mio Cloth Nappies with 20% off!

 Bambino Mio have got some great news to kick start 2014 – their products are now available to buy from Sainsbury’s in-store and online! The popular reusable nappy brand has been working really hard to make cloth nappies commercially acceptable and are getting there one step at a time...

From today you will be able to find them in 213 Sainsbury’s stores across the country with their multi award-winning miosolo all-in-one nappy, nappy liners, nappy cleanser, reusable swim nappies and potty training pants. They will have an even larger selection of products available at Sainsbury’s online too!

To celebrate the occasion Sainsbury’s are kindly offering their customers a fabulous 20% off Bambino Mio products in store!

Find out if Bambino Mio are in a Sainsbury's near you with their Store Finder...

 http://www.bambinomio.com/en/where-to-buy/local-stockists  

I for one am really pleased to see a large mainstream retailer such as Sainsbury's take this step, I have been using Bambino Mio products for many years and have seen the range grow and develop  from the 'pre-fold' system that was the first nappy my daughter ever wore to the reliable 'childcare friendly' MioSolo's that were loved by my daughter's nursery. I really hope that this will help to introduce the idea of cloth nappies to even more families and make it easier for them to get hold of accessories such as liners and nappy cleanser, asI always resented having to order online and pay delivery charges for small items.

If you want to find out more about MioSolo Nappies why not have a look at these posts....

Washing and Drying Mio Solo Cloth Nappies

Using Mio Solo Cloth Nappies Overnight

Staying at Home with Mio Solo Cloth Nappies

Out and about with Mio Solo Cloth Nappies

Happy Fluffy Shopping...

I've just Downloaded the new Free Savoo Iphone App!

As you know I love to save money and find a great offer or bargain! However being a busy working mum it can be difficult to keep up with the latest vouchers and discounts. In the past I would fully prepare myself before going out shopping, checking out all the online discounts and printing out handfuls of vouchers to take with me, but these days I just don't have the time! Who does?  I hate to think that I am missing out on a really good deal so I was delighted to hear that Savoo, the money saving site that asks you; 'Why pay full price?' has brought out a new Free Iphone app that allows you to save while on the go!

Too many Apps...

I have to admit that I can be a bit skeptical about some of the apps that are out there I seem to have so many on my phone and many of they never get used as they are either to complicated or just pointless! I have to admit that of the ones I do have, Angry Birds probably gets used the most (by my son!) followed closely by the fabulous Zulily App that I check on my daily commute to work.

I needn't have worried though as the new Savoo app is both simple to use and really handy to have!

Real Savings...

A few days ago I was walking past my local Gap store on the way home from work and saw they had a sale on, I thought i'd pop in and take a look, maybe find some bargain summer clothes for my children. I had a quick look on the app and in seconds had a list of different offers and codes that I could get online! With a click of a button I could email them to myself and save even more money when I got home!

Your chance to Win...

So what do you think? Will you download the app? It's completely free so what's stopping you? If you need another incentive every 500th person to download it will bag themselves a fabulous £25 Amazon voucher!

Just click here to download.

Happy Saving!

Save 20% on a My Dad... personalised reading book from Love2read...

Congratulations to Amanda who was the lucky winner of our Father's Day competition and will be ordering her personalised book from www.love2read.co.uk ready for father's day!

I just wanted to remind you that your last chance to order from love2read in time for father's day delivery is Monday 10th June at midday. So be quick and don't miss out!

And as a special last minute treat you can save 20% by entering code DADSAVE in the coupon code box on the checkout page. 


Happy Shopping!

12 Days of Cuteness - Win a £25 Zulily voucher

If you follow any of my social media channels you will know that I am a huge fan of Zulily, a daily deals site with a difference. I have to say that over the last few months I have become slightly obsessed with checking the app on my phone each morning to see what delights are on offer that day! Their Flash Sales that offer up to 90% off high end brands for just 72 hours have allowed me to buy things for my family that I could not otherwise dream of affording! My bargain buys include a kiddimoto balance bike for my daughter's birthday that was just £17 reduced from an RRP of £60 and a beautiful green leather satchel from zatchels that was down to £60 from £87, I had been lusting after one of these for quite a while and it has now been sent to Santa to 'surprise' me on Christmas day!

I am currently waiting on my seventh order from them which is a lovely Janod wooden kitchen, I can't wait to see my children's faces when they unwrap it on Christmas morning!

Zulily is different from other deals sites because everything you order you are ordering directly from them, so you wont be sent a voucher that you have to claim elsewhere and pay extra delivery charges, all your beautiful items are sent directly to the Zulily pixies who lovingly package them up and send out to you in around 10 - 14 days. Because of this they have a standard delivery charge of £3.95 for most UK orders and  once you've paid it, you can order as many things you want in the same day with no extra delivery charges!

The last order date to guarantee delivery in time for the 'man in red's' visit will be 7th December, so to highlight this Zulily will be running a '12 days of cutemas' campaign from today until the 7th.

They have lots of fabulous Sales coming up over the next 12 days including...

Big Jigs wooden toys 

Orange Tree Toys 

Great Gizmo 

Kathe Krus 

Alex Toy

Dundelina 

Tutu & Lulu 

LoFff

Totoknits  

Stephen Joseph 

Olive and Moss 

Wee Squeak

Rachel Riley

Mon Petit Beby

Cinderella B Jewellery

...and lots more!

So if you want to be wrapping up some gorgeous branded toys and beautiful gifts at discount prices then make sure you order before the 7th December!

Now the lovely folks at Zulily have offered me a £25 zulily voucher to be used on zulily.co.uk for one of you lovely readers

For your chance to win simply follow the rafflecopter instructions below...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Discaimer: All opinions above are my own, but as a thank you for hosting this giveaway zulily have also given me a £25 voucher to spend on their site.