Offers And Bargains Explained

Where can I get advice on cheap gift ideas?

You don't get good advice on cheap gift ideas from people who are selling anything at all, just listen to me. Save time and money by buying the same gift for everyone at Christmas, that way nobody feels hard done by. A book is best, even if it's second hand, people don't mind if it's entertaining. I buy from Amazon.co.uk where a second hand books costs me two pounds plus postage. I particularly like handmade soap, there's a company called Willowherb who sells a sampler pack of four soaps for under a few pounds. If you order a parcel try and find places that add in extra goodies that you can give away too. My other favorite cheap place to shop for Christmas gifts is Hawkin's Bazaar, where there are loads of silly but traditional toys. Homemade cakes are always well received, and so are marmalades and jam. And anything you've grown yourself, for instance, lemon scented Geraniums. Which is virtually free, because one plant will send out suckers with baby plants on them. You just pop a pot of earth under them and they'll take root by themselves. A package of seeds, for instance, for somebody to grow on their kitchen windowsills, herbs, costs under two pounds in super markets and nothing to post. A scratch card is easy to send within a greetings card and costs nothing extra to post.This creates a huge amount of excitement and good will if the recipient wins, as some of mine have. Wrap everything beautifully and address it lovingly and you will add a lot of value to any small gift.

Are 'buy one get one free' offers a good idea?

Buy one get one free offers are only a good idea if you wanted that thing in the first place, whether you actually need that item and whether you can afford to store it without buying expensive large freezers, fridges, kitchens, cupboards, and shelving. Fixtureferrets.co.uk is a great website. You pay a few pounds as a subscription and it emails you with news of bargain prices on your list of favourite foods and items you've already given them. I buy lots of specific items that way, like coffee, if they're buy one get one free, and I stockpile essentials, like buy one get one free loo paper, kitchen paper, etc.