May 19, 2012

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Control your shopping habit

May 16, 2012 By

If you need to curb your shopping habit – perhaps you’re saving for a holiday or wedding, or perhaps your credit card is beginning to get a little too worn-looking – there are many ways to stay strong and save your money.

 

One approach is to make the most of what you already own, instead of buying new. For example, you may have a variety of eyeliners, eye shadow palettes and lipsticks in your cosmetic bag already, but you’d really like a new look. Before you go out and treat yourself to yet more mascaras and nail polishes, why not have a look on the internet for makeup tips to help you create the face you’re looking for with the products you already have. This can also be applied to clothing: learn to accessorise and get handy with a sewing machine, fabric dye or fabric pens and you will be able to create your own unique fashion statements without breaking the bank.

 

Before you get your wallet out, it’s important to do your research, and the internet comes in very useful here. If you have your heart set on a particular pair of hair-straighteners or smoothie maker then don’t let your heart rule your head. Even if the item looks great, matches your decor and is selling at a bargain price, check the product ratings and customer reviews to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth and that you are buying from a reputable and reliable company.

 

A wish list book is a great way to keep track of those must-have items. Use a notebook or scrapbook to keep product details and pictures cut out from magazines, but make sure you wait a month before making a decision as to whether to splash out. Often you’ll discover that you aren’t quite so crazy about the hammock, rollerblades or cappuccino set as you first thought.

Filed Under: Women and Shopping Tagged With: ,

Your Favourite Brands For Less

April 23, 2012 By

We are often encouraged to visit price comparison websites to check that we are getting the best deal possible for our car insurance, broadband and gas supply. Most consumers think nothing of changing their utility company, phone company or insurer if a better deal comes up elsewhere.

The same approach can be applied to beauty therapy products, enabling you to get your favourite products for less by switching supplier. It’s quite easy to make worthwhile savings without having to change brands. High street discount stores and supermarkets give good deals on fragrances, for example, with savings of as much as 70% on department store prices, as well as good deals on many other branded beauty products.

If you have a favourite brand, such as Head and Shoulders, log on to the company’s website – details are often on the product packaging – and see if they have a mailing list or online club you can join. Members often get money-off coupons and samples sent through the post and are the first to find out about special offers, product releases and competitions.

Staying on the internet, online suppliers offer significant savings on skincare, perfumes and aftershaves, and often offer free delivery when you spend over a certain price threshold. It may be a good idea to combine an online order with friends in order to qualify for free postage and packing or quantity discounts. Frequently, companies offer discounts of up to 25% for first-time customers, and may also offer money off if you recommend a friend who subsequently places an order. If you have a particular item in mind such as a fragrance or hair straighteners, type the details into a price comparison tool and this will enable you to get the best deal currently available. There’s no need to suffer financially to be beautiful!

Filed Under: Shopping Online Tagged With: , , ,

Camping – a great reason to go shopping

March 29, 2012 By

If you’re a woman who loves to shop for shoes, clothes and handbags, the idea of going camping for a vacation may fill you with horror. But hang on a minute! You could be missing out on the possibility of doing a whole lot of shopping to get ready for that camping trip.

If you’ve got the money to spend, there’s an absolute wealth of camping equipment that you can buy in the shops today. Camping has become so popular that many stores stock all the equipment you’ll need for a trip under canvas. There’s a vast amount of choice, so you’ll be able to get everything in practically every colour.

So, if the man in your life suggests getting back to nature and a vacation in the great outdoors, grab the opportunity with both hands.

For a first camping trip, you’ll certainly need a decent sleeping bag. These come in different weights for different seasons. They are really great at folding down to a tiny size for putting in that fabulous new backpack that you’ll also need to buy. There are backpacks designed especially for women, so make sure you get one that suits your size and stature. The assistants in the outdoors stores will be able to advise you on this. You’ll also need camping stove, camping plates, mugs and cutlery and a whole selection of travel toiletries to take care of your skincare routine out in the ‘wild’.

Suitable clothing for camping opens up another whole new area of shopping. If you’re going camping, you should buy clothes made from modern, breathable fabrics; things that can dry out almost instantly in case you get caught out in the rain. Layered clothing is the best approach. You’ll need a base layer garment, which fits closely to the body but allows your skin to breathe, then a middle layer of insulation to keep you warm. Fleece jackets or jumpers make great middle layer garments. If you get too hot, you can always peel them off and stuff them in your new backpack! Finally a waterproof layer will protect you from the elements, should you run into any rain or wind on your camping trip.

Once you’ve got all the gear, it will last for many camping trips to come, so hopefully you’ll enjoy your first experience of the great outdoors and want to do it again and again.

 

Filed Under: Shopping Online Tagged With: , ,

Dream Wedding Dresses

March 28, 2012 By

What is your wedding dress going to look like? Even if you are not actually seeing anyone, never mind engaged, many girls can still answer this question and often in some detail. Getting married and being a princess for a day is something which many girls fantasise about from quite an early age, acting out weddings in the playground at primary school and picking out bridesmaids after the second date with their first boyfriend as a teenager.

 

When it comes to the reality of choosing your wedding dress however your ideas may change quite rapidly. The dress in your head may not be in fashion, you might not be able to find it or get it made, or you might try on what you think is going to be your perfect dress and it does nothing for you. As wedding dresses are nothing like any other garment you have ever worn the likelihood is that unless you try a range of styles on you will not know what suits you. Start by reviewing tips and advice on consumer websites like SuperSavvyMe.co.uk and when you go shopping make sure you take a trusted, honest friend along as well as your Mum.

 

Getting the dress right is often the start of the whole theme for your perfect big day. Perhaps you always though you’d wear ivory but actually pure white suits your skin tone better, or maybe you are going to change your hair colour and that might make a difference too. Get the Pantene out now and have your hair the way you want it before you try dresses on. A lot of dress shops will tell you to try every style on offer before you narrow it down and this is sound advice. Trust the experts and get the dress that makes you look like a dream even if it’s not the dress you dreamed of!

Filed Under: Wedding Accessories, Women and Shopping Tagged With: , , ,

Pack your bags for a country weekend

January 24, 2012 By

Deciding what to pack for a weekend away in the country needn’t be difficult.  Think about what you’re going to be doing and pack accordingly.

For instance, if you know you’re going to be doing some hiking, you’ll need to get yourself some decent hiking gear. This doesn’t just mean walking boots, you’ll also have to pick the clothes you wear carefully.

The best solution is to take yourself straight to an outdoors store like a Regatta outlet, where you’ll be able to get all the items you need.

Firstly, you’ll need to wear layered clothing – whether it’s winter or summer. If you’re going to get to any decent heights when hiking, the temperature can be very different at the top of a hill than where you’ve set out from. So, layers are vital for keeping you warm, yet allowing you to strip off as you go along.

The first layer is a base layer. These garments fit closely to the body and protect your core body warmth. In winter, you can use thermal underwear for a base layer. The materials that base layers are made of allow sweat to wick away from your skin, so there’s no danger of sweat cooling on your skin and leaving you feeling chilled.

Next you’ll need a middle insulating layer. This gives you warmth, so you might want to have two thinner garments and then you can take one off when you get warm, rather than one thicker one which you have to keep on or do without.

On the top, you need a good waterproof jacket, and if the forecast is for rain, you might want waterproof trousers as well.

That’s all you need for the walking – as well as a daypack to carry a water bottle and snacks in. As for the rest of the weekend, you might need some evening wear if you’re doing anything exciting, but otherwise you probably won’t need much else as the outdoor kit will double up for relaxing in, too.

Filed Under: Womens Clothes Tagged With: , , , ,

Essential winter clothing for women

December 23, 2011 By

So what are you going to need this winter? And are you thinking exclusively about fashion or purely concentrating on practicalities? Perhaps the smartest thing to do in this regard is to try and kill two birds with one clever stone; by which I mean; buying smart and fashionable winter accessories that are also eminently practical.

Take snow boots for women as an example of what I’m talking about here. Most so-called “snow boots” might stand up to a bit of a winter dusting in London, perhaps, but wouldn’t exactly allow you to fit crampons them if you decided to go walking in the Cairngorms on New Year’s Day!

But there are lots of winter snow boots available that would be both smart on the King’s Road – and which would get you up hill and down gentle dale safely if you were feeling adventurous enough. So why not try and get two in one? It makes perfect sense to me.

Just be careful with what you’re looking for and what you’re going to spend your hard-earned on!

Winter walking boots that double as fashion boots aren’t likely to really “cut the mustard” in truly extreme conditions. But if you’re walking out in the day time only and you aren’t planning to get to the top of Ben Nevis until April, then you should be able to take a “one pair fits all” approach.

It’s probably wisest to go for leather (or possibly plastic) here. Just make sure they’re waterproof and warm and fit your foot snugly, minimising slide. Unfortunately, it’s only possible to really find this out by putting them to a harsh test, but a knowledgeable shop assistant with a proper foot measure should be able to help get it right first time.

And with most good quality leather or heavy duty plastic walking boots, you should be able to fit a crampon if the conditions demand it.

Filed Under: Women and Shopping, Womens Clothes Tagged With: , ,

Tips on family food shopping

December 20, 2011 By

With the recession’s bite being felt up and down the country by families of all shapes and sizes we are increasingly looking for ways of saving money on our weekly shop. A search on the internet reveals all sorts of tips from people who clearly have more time on their hands than most. Although for instance it is easy to make stock from your chicken carcass and a few vegetables, which you then turn into a healthy homemade soup, this is not always practical for those of us with busy working lives and families to look after. Instead we are on the look-out for ideas for quick meals which are nutritious but best of all cheap! There are lots of recipes on the internet which fit the bill or alternatively have a look in your local bookshop for books on budget cooking.

When setting off round the supermarket it is advisable to have a comprehensive list in your hand. Plan the week’s meals and buy only what you need, rather than what you think might have the makings of a meal. It is of course important to keep a degree of flexibility so that you can take advantage of any bargains which might be on offer. If you have the time do your fruit and veg shopping at the local market.

It is a supermarket’s mission to make the shopper spend. Once you are aware of the ploys used to part us from our hard earned cash it is easier to resist. For instance there is a very good reason why magazines and sweets are placed near the check out and have you ever noticed how the items at eye level on the shelf are the most expensive?

For a long time now the Americans have been very keen on money off coupons and it is catching on in the UK too. There are whole websites devoted to the art of shopping with coupons and devotees claim that they can save thousands of pounds doing this. You do however need plenty of storage space to store your year’s supply of toilet rolls!

Filed Under: Women and Shopping Tagged With: , ,

Expensive or cheap make up?

December 20, 2011 By

For anyone who is interested in make up tips and learning more about makeup and beauty, one of the biggest questions is whether it’s worth spending more on makeup, or if cheaper makeup products have their place.

It can be so tempting to spend a fortune on the latest beauty must-haves, and the costs can easily rack up. Not many of us have an endless supply of disposable cash, so do you go for quantity over quality, or invest in a couple of high-end makeup products ever so often?

Well, as with most things, the answer is: a little bit of both. Spending a bit more on certain products every now and again can be a wise idea. If you have a product that you just love, say an expensive foundation that works wonders for the look of your skin, you don’t necessarily have to compromise just to save money. Instead, you can make sure that the other makeup products you buy are cheaper to compensate.

There are plenty of cheap and fabulous makeup products out there that look just as good as their pricier counterparts. The best bet is to experiment. Try cheaper mascara than usual and see what you think. If it works well, there’s no point in spending more; otherwise you are just paying for the packaging and the brand name.

Mix these cheaper products with the odd expensive purchase that you simply feel you can’t be without and you’ll be able to create fabulous looks without breaking the bank. Another good tip is to save the high-end products for nights out and special occasions, and use the cheaper products for every day.

Finally, invest in a quality moisturiser such as Oil of Olay to provide a good base for your makeup. This will help ensure that, however much you spend on it, your makeup looks smooth and flawless.

Filed Under: Women and Shopping Tagged With: , , ,

Finding the Best Online Casino Game for you

October 12, 2011 By

Joining an online casino can be an experience comparable to roaming around a brick and mortar casino, watching and playing games.

If you can afford it, no one is stopping you from sampling each one of them. Every casino patron has probably tried out many games during his or her first casino visits. However, they only continue playing those games that truly interest them or those at which they seem to have luck at winning.

If you want to save yourself the trouble of trying various games in an online casino just so you could “see for yourself”, then here is a quick run through of the different kinds of games.

Games are classified into three categories namely: table games, card games, and online slot games.

Table games include roulette and craps. These two games are purely based on luck. Also, they have a very high house edge. It means that these games are designed for you to lose more than you win. It is good to play them once in a while but don’t spend your entire bankroll playing these games.

Card games such as poker, blackjack and baccarat can turn into skill games over time. Meaning, the more you play, your chance of winning increases. Adequate practice and knowledge of certain strategies can win you the pot money.

Playing these games frequently might actually pay-off. The payout ratio for card games is usually higher than the rest of the common casino games.

Slot machines are also a favorite online. Some have fixed jackpots and others have growing jackpots.

The payout for fixed jackpot slots is a determined amount. Growing jackpot slots’ ultimate prices increase as players bet. They are usually won by hitting the jackpot combination. It is not wise to spend all your gambling money on a slot machine because its payout ratio is low.

Written by Alex Corcoran, a fan of blackjack online and other casino games.

Filed Under: Top Products

Top casino strategies

October 12, 2011 By

Betting is the heart of every gambling activity. In a casino, it is the foremost goal for one to bet strategically.

You can win or lose but the gravity of your defeat would always be reflected back to how much you bet in the first place.

Here are some betting strategies that have been notorious for getting casino players to win.

If you’ve seen the movie 21, you should know about card counting. Blackjack players count the cards expertly and do it as subtle as possible as it is crucial that they must not be caught. All throughout, they will have a great edge at winning until casino workers and cameras realise the situation and escort them out of the casino.

However, by following the fundamental strategy of blackjack, you can increase your winning chances. If you stick with the strategy chart of blackjack and don’t guess, you are more likely to win.The same can also be said for poker strategy. It takes a considerable amount of time, practice and effort for one to be really good at poker. Some people have mastered the skills and strategies required to make a consistent profit from the game and make a living from it.

Video poker can also be mastered. With great strategy and wise decisions, you have a higher chance of winning video poker. Pick a high-payout machine to make sure that you have a positive expectation or increase on the amount you wagered. House edges can be further reduced with an honest bonus so make sure to avail them.

Finally there’s craps. Craps has a very high house edge. The irony is that most players dwell on the game even after losing many times. But craps is also known to be very affable. Sticking to Pass will get you a reduced house edge of about 1 in 100.

Written by Alex Corcoran, an avid fan of all casino games, especially online blackjack.

Filed Under: Top Products