7 Ways to Make Your Christmas Budget Go Further With Voucher Codes

Having saving diligently all year using the Skint Dad 52 Week Saving Challenge, it's with mild horror that we are finding our Christmas fund really hasn't gone very far at all.

It's difficult to know how much is enough and then we did not factor in the cost of late Autumn birthdays.  Caitlin is in November, my nieces in December and January and my nephew in December too!

This is without buying anything for the Husband or anything particularly luxurious for Christmas dinner.  I've made the cake this year (thank you Mary Berry) and will be making Jamie's Christmas Pudding next week.

So without going mad, it's time to look at ways to save on our Christmas shopping and voucher codes are a very good way of doing this.

Do you remember to check whether there is a live voucher code every time before you buy online? You should, not least because codes change so quickly and it's easy to miss a great offer.

Caitlin has had some new clothes for her birthday but now Ieuan has announced he wants to look 'cool' so project 'update Mr Ieuan' is in progress.  He did ask me for a tattoo yesterday at which I draw the line and I have explained that sunglasses at the school Christmas party might look a bit odd.

Both Caitlin and Ieuan are growing so fast that their wardrobes need a regular sort through. When they were babies I used to bid for clothing bundles on Ebay but now they are older (and more fashion conscious), I can't get away with it like I could.

So I tend to rely on merchant voucher codes for major high street retailers such as Gap at www.myfavouritevouchercodes.co.uk/gap-voucher-codes, making sure I use the link on the vouchercode website to enter the retailer's site.

Here are 7 other ways to maximise your Christmas budget with voucher codes.

* Visit your favourite retailer websites and compile a wish-list of items you would like - that way it's easier to check whether or not they are on sale.

* If possible, make a note of the starting dates of the sales in your diary or Google calendar. There is often plenty of notice.  

* If you don't mind filling up your in-box, signing up to newsletters will often give you advance warning of forthcoming sales.

* Have an up-to-date list of the kids' measurements - height, chest, waist, hip, leg length, shoe size etc.  I can never remember Caitlin and Ieuan's.  Come to that, I'm not entirely sure of the Husband's!

* Keep a list of the size your child takes in each retailer an whether that varies.  For example, Caitlin can be a 9-10 for tops and a 7-8 for bottoms in some stores.

* Make sure you've signed up for any loyalty schemes the retailer offers to make the most of any bonus points.  Generally you can't use any other discount when you use a voucher code but you could always use them later.

* Lots of retailers allow you to specify a safe place for delivery in case you are not at home when the courier or postman arrives.  Make sure you've filled this in and perhaps agree to help out a neighbour on a reciprocal basis.

With a bit of careful research and keeping your eye on those bargains, it's possible to make your Christmas budget go a lot further.

Read more

Survey Reveals Selfie Stick Voted Worst Christmas Gift

I'm sure by now you are in the throes of Christmas shopping and experiencing that heady panic which demands a ridiculously named, highly calorific 'seasonal' coffee and a mince pie.

And, to compound the stress, a new survey conducted by gifting website www.ijustloveit.co.uk has found that, these days, it's less about the quality time and more about the quality present.

The survey was taken by 2,000 people in the UK - 1,020 women and 980 men. The age range was between 18 – 55+.

I'm sure there's a hefty amount of buying for kids by parents who are dealing with guilt at their long working hours.  Or spending on relatives we've avoided visiting because Facebook is so much easier - and cheaper!

But the irony is that many of those gifts we are feverishly pursuing won't be wanted anyway.

A whopping 60% of those surveyed said that they had received an unwanted gift at Christmas.

Over 50% chose to give their unwanted gifts away and 25% chose to sell their gifts

Over 40% of those surveyed are currently buying for 6-10 people, so potentially at least half will give their gifts away.

It also showed that men are less concerned with the quality of their gifts than women, with more men choosing to keep hold of ‘unwanted’ gifts, whereas women wanted to get rid of them.

When it comes to receiving unwanted gifts, 50% of men would prefer to either keep them compared to 40% of women, with over 60% of women giving them away, compared to only 40% of men.

If you are thinking of gifts to buy this year, the survey also showed that the ‘popular’ Selfie Stick was voted one of the worst Christmas gifts to receive by both men and women, with 40% of the total vote.

Other survey results include:

The highest percentage of people, at almost 40% of the vote, prefer buying for children compared to any other relative or friend, and only 0.45% of people look forward to buying for their grandparents.

Over 10% of people enjoy buying for mothers; while only 1% of people enjoy buying for their fathers. People would rather buy for their pets at 1.40% than their dads! Over 35% of those asked most look forward to receiving gifts from their partners, with grandparents once again receiving one of the lowest votes of only 0.45%

Comparing mother to father again, over 10% look forward to receiving a gift from their mum, and a measly 2% from their dads.

In total, over 40% of those asked said they would spend between £100 - £300 on Christmas gifts. That’s nearly 50% less than data acquired in 2015.

Which rather begs the question - where are all these 'quality presents' going to come from?

Somehow stocking up in the January sales seems like a very good idea. And there's always Ebay.

Read more

Helpful Christmas Stocking Filler Tips For Kids And Pets

It's 7 weeks to Christmas Day and as usual I am running late on my self-imposed deadline of 1st December for getting all my Christmas shopping done. No - I haven't even started!

It's not the big presents that pose the problem - it's easy (reasonably!) to set expectations about what Santa might or might not be prepared to lug across the skies in his overloaded sleigh.

But if, like us, you give your kids a Christmas stocking as well as their main present, you're probably familiar with the last minute running round, head scratching and the worry that you've spent almost as much on the stocking contents as you have on the main present or worse, forgotten something really important.

As a child, I had one of dad's walking socks which was usually filled with the same thing each year - an apple, an orange, some Walnuts and Hazelnuts (in shells), a tiny box of miniature liqueurs (!) and a tube of either Rowntrees Fruit Gums or Fruit Pastels.  Occasionally, Santa would go mad and supply Smarties or Chocolate Buttons instead.  There might be a teeny tiny book of poetry (one year I got a miniature copy of Shakespeare's MacBeth too or, memorably, one year we had a cap gun.  My sister and I went through a phase of pretending to be Charlies' Angels and arguing about who was Jill and who was Kelly.  Sabrina was always a bit too scary.

So I suggest you set a firm budget and write a list.  If you've got more than one child you have to make sure the financial value is the same (kids somehow know these things) but here are some ideas. These will obviously vary depending on the age of the child but Caitlin will be 9 and Ieuan will be 7.

These lists need not be gender specific of course but simply reflect what my two would like.

You can pick up lots of cheap and cheerful stocking fillers in places like Poundland, Wilko and ASDA - there is no need to break the bank if your budget is tight.

Girls Stocking Fillers

Nail wraps / Nail varnish
Knickers
Gift card (e.g. New Look, Claires Accessories)
Notebook or diary
Flavoured lip balm
Scented pens (have a look in Smiggle or Flying Tiger)
Chocolate coins / selection box
Craft items - stickers, writing sets, crafting kits
Purse / key ring / mobile phone charms
Hair bands / bobbles, glitter spray
Puzzle books
Bubble bath / hand cream / body lotion /body spray
CDs or iTunes voucher
Shopkins / Magiki Mermaids
Fun socks
Skipping rope

Incidentally one of the best presents I remember from my mum was a washbag full of perfume and cosmetic samples - mini body lotions, soaps, a travel toothbrush and a pretty flannel.  You could do the same by saving up the freebies that come with magazines or your hotel toiletries.

Boys Stocking Fillers

Torches, keyrings
Craft kits / tracing paper / colouring books
Pencils and paint kits
Dinosaur cards / Top Trumps
Toy cars
Book marks
Mini Lego sets / Playmobil Figures
Minecraft Guide
Character Flannel (Ieuan's outgrown Spiderman, now it's Star Wars)
Activity sticker books
Character bubble bath or toiletries
Yoyos
Horns / bells for bikes
Plasticine
Paper aeroplane set
Jigsaws
Marbles
Chocolate coins / selection box

And then there are our pets to consider.  Not everyone bothers of course but for many their pet is an equal member of the family and gets treated at Christmas too.  There's the additional stress of what to give the pet who has everything!

You can't go wrong with new bedding, leads or collars, a new food or water bowl, a squeaky toy and some doggie or kitty treats.  But please, no chocolate!

Actually, now I think of it, Christmas shopping is a lot easy for your pet than your kids, isn't it?!

Do you budget for a stocking for your kids or pets?  How to control the costs and what do you include?  I'd love to know.

Read more

Christmas Shopping? 8 Ways To Keep Your Cool.

There are times when those of us prone to getting a little 'tired and emotional' need to treat ourselves with a little more care than usual.  And Christmas shopping is definitely one of those times.

If, like me, you find yourself getting too hot, too tired and decidedly cranky with kids in tow, here are eight ways you can mitigate the damage before you either blow your top or end up spending far too much money because you just want to go home!

Decide how much you are going to spend on presents

This is THE most difficult aspect of all but you really need to be clear about your budget and how much you can afford to spend on each present.  It's so easy to feel pressured into spending too much but we all know that after the kids have the thrill of ripping the wrapping paper off, so many toys languish ignored after a day or so.

Make a list of what you're going to buy.

An oldie but a goodie.  Make a list of what you're planning to buy for everyone and stick to it.  The list should include stocking fillers as well as main presents. It is amazing how bits and pieces such as novelty chocolates and tiny games can add up.

Research prices online before you go.

For bigger ticket items, it makes sense to at least have an idea of what the big retailers are offering and most of them will price-match (John Lewis, for example).

If you're shopping for gadgets, make sure you are comparing the like for like technical specification and check what extras are included.

You might also want to check any consumer reviews you can find in magazines like Which? or on Amazon. Whilst you need to be able to read between the lines when looking at reviews, generally you will get a sense of whether a product is OK or a complete dud not worth your precious cash.

Check sites like Topcashback, Quidco, and Vouchercloud to see whether there are better online deals for your gifts.  Sites like these also have mobile apps you can use to check prices and earn cashback on the go.

There are numerous other price-checking apps for your smartphone that you can use in store such as Red Laser or Price Grabber.

Plan Your Route

Once you know what you want to buy and where the best deals are likely to be, it's easier to plan your route.  Make allowances for the day and time you go shopping.  If you hate crowds, first thing on a Sunday morning will be a nicer experience than mid afternoon on a Saturday!

Dress Appropriately

I like to wear warm, casual clothes in layers with a stylish but comfy pair of boots that I can walk for miles in. You can find a great selection at Esprit.

Wear stylish boots you can walk miles in

If you've got kids, make sure they don't get overheated in all in one bodysuits and that their clothing is easily removable for dashes to the toilet!

Plan A Break

Particularly if you have kids, you'll need to schedule a toilet / drink break.  We like John Lewis as there is a good choice of food and snacks for kids, plenty of room, clean toilets and a welcoming environment for families.  Trying to cram into a tiny coffee bar with a pushchair and umbrellas is never a nice experience!

Make sure you have some bottled water and some healthy snacks (mini boxes of raisins or bananas) to stave off hunger pains.  If you're on a diet, a little snack pot with some fruit and nuts and perhaps a few cubes of cheese may help you avoid an enormous slice of fudge cake and a calorie laden festive coffee.

Keep Receipts

Why not start a folder specially for Christmas present receipts?  Just pop them straight in when you get home and you'll know when to find them should anything need to be taken back after Christmas.

Do It All Online Instead!

If you can't face the crowds, online shopping is the answer.  Just make sure that you take into account any delivery charges, last order dates and returns policies.  Not all online retailers offer to cover the postage costs of returning item.  If you're ordering a perishable gift, such as a cream tea hamper,make sure the recipient will be in to receive it.

It also helps to sort out a safe place for delivery as there is nothing more annoying than coming home to a missed delivery card.

With a bit of planning before your shopping trip you can minimise the stress and hopefully save yourself some cash into the bargain.

Like what you've read?  Why not join me on the Mother Distracted Facebook page, tweet me on @lindahobbis or follow me on Instagram.

Read more

10 Things You'll Probably Forget To Buy This Christmas

I was going to title this piece "The Mother Distracted Guide to Humbug-ery" and then I thought "best not". 

Anyway, here's my helpful list of things you might want to add to your Christmas shopping list on the basis that I like to be fully prepared for all possible emergencies, medical, psychological and social.  

Image credit: www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk

Most of these items are unremittingly dull.  But nowhere near as dull as trying to find a corner shop open on Christmas day whilst the husband is left to cremate the turkey and the kids dismantle any item costing more than a tenner which needs batteries..... which leads me to....

1.  Batteries.  Best to buy in bulk over the internet if you're organised.  If not, best join the queue in Argos for a pack big enough to power a space shuttle and spend 20 minutes watch the blinking TV screen as your order number takes an age to appear on the glamorous metal racking at the back of the stressed out line of assistants.

2.  Indigestion remedy.  Christmas is the only time of year when we are unnaturally possessed to consume our own body weight in dried fruit.  It ain't pretty.

3.  Plasters.  Fabric.  Waterproof.  The sort that are so strong that pain is involved in removing them. All other plasters float off as soon as they get wet, particularly any featuring Winnie The Pooh / Hello Kitty etc.

4. Wire cutters or very strong scissors.  Even Dynamo would struggle to get out of some of the packaging toys come in these days.  You'll need the fabric plasters to wrap round your fingers after it has taken you an entire festive episode of  Midsomer Murders to free Barbie and her range of microscopic accessories.

5. Tweezers.  After Caitlin's "bead up the nose" incident, I'm taking no chances.  Plus I can't remember the last time I actually scrutinized my eyebrows. And since we've got rid of the carpet and hubby has painted the floors, the risk of splinters in the foot (and even more annoyingly, shredded hosiery) is high. Less micro-pedi and more micro-shreddy.

6.  Bin bags. Just remember that the ratio of packaging to gift for most of the stuff we buy these days is 85% packaging and 15% gift. However, failure to recycle correctly in this here shire may result in heavy tut-tutting from the neighbours and possibly a short prison sentence.

7.  Fuel for the car.  No really.  If you're off to see Aunty Vi in the back of Abercwmtwch, you just know that there won't be a garage open this side of the Severn Bridge on Christmas day. Although come to think of it, that might actually be a good thing. You really don't need a pasty and a copy of What Car magazine either.

8. Enough cream.  Without fail if I buy a small amount, everyone wants some and if I buy it in pints, everyone wants custard.  I'm sure it's deliberate. 

9. A gravy boat.  What has happened to the nation's fleet of gravy boats?  Are we all using Pyrex jugs or those strange jugs in the shape of a cow?  

10. An emergency present.  Tricky.  I find boxes of Matchmakers or Ferrero Rocher chocolates kept for this purpose usually vanish. You'll just have to be strong or invest in a prettily wrapped gift card from somewhere like Marks & Spencer. 

I'm sure you have your own list.  Let me know.  I bet there's loads of things I've forgotten!

Read more