How to save money on your Christmas shopping! (The easy way!)

I honestly don't know where this year has gone to, but what I do know is it's almost the time of the year where millions of presents across the country are being given and received! As the John Lewis & Coca-Cola adverts have been aired, I feel as though I am allowed to mention it... Christmas is under 50 days away!! And I'm so excited! However, I do know that a big worry at this time of year is always money... my reason for writing this post.

At this time of year, the shops start to get manic with people suddenly thinking 'I need to start my christmas shopping,' especially at the weekends.. So many people I know resort to internet shopping for this reason. Did you know that internet shopping can actually mean you receive money for free?!

It's all down to this website: Top CashBack

Quite a people I know are wary of these sites but there is nothing to worry about.. you simply follow the link to sign up, and before you go to the website you are intending on shopping on, you just write the name of it into the search box. There's only a few websites I know that haven't been registered on there, but you'd rather spend an extra 10 seconds typing in a website name to save you money, wouldn't you?!

Here's how to save money in a couple steps:

• Once you've typed the website name into Top CashBack, press search. You will then be shown the website if it is registered on there.
  
  
  
• If the website is there, then yay! Click 'Cashback' and you will be told what % of your own money you will receive back. 
  
• Click 'Get Cashback Now' and you will be transferred to the site you want, the only difference is that Top CashBack will record how much you have spent and automatically work out the amount you'll get back.
  
• Each site takes a different amount of time to register the money, but for the time being the amount will be in the 'pending' section of your account.
• Once it is confirmed, the retailer will get in contact with this website telling them to pay you! It is all automatically done for you so there's nothing you have to worry about or sort out.
• When the money has been made payable, you can 'pay out' using a number of different methods: Straight into your bank account (which I use), Paypal, or you can get a bit of a bonus if you transfer it into a Love2Shop voucher, Amazon gift certificate and a few others!

And that's it!
Whether you save 40p or £40, every little bit certainly does help! Especially if it means you can save more money than actually going into the shop on the high-street.  Before I signed up to this site I was a bit wary, but after a couple years and hundreds of pounds worth of savings, I haven't looked back! - I've even saved over £40 changing energy providers just going through this website first. So, from buying train tickets, to a domain name for a website, to clothing, see what you can save on!

I hope lots of you manage to save money on things you were going to buy online anyway! Don't forget to let me know how you're getting on.

Happy shopping & saving!

100 Day Spending Ban!

I've seen that a lot of bloggers I follow are doing this...I know I'm a bit late, but you can join at any time! As I seriously spend too much money on beauty products and clothes I thought this may help! I did a spending ban last summer and it worked really well as made me realise just how many things I do have and don't use!

As everyone has different weaknesses and goals, I thought I'd outline my rules below:

For 100 days, I will NOT be buying any of the following:

• No beauty products
• No CDs / DVDs / Books or Magazines
• No clothes including shoes and accessories
• I will be trying my best to take a packed lunch to uni every day to cut down costs that way too.

Exceptions:

• I am only allowed to buy something like shampoo / conditioner if I have completely run out (which I very much doubt is going to happen as I have so many things!

• I am allowed to buy any essential photography equipment as am doing a wedding in February and obviously that's essential I get it right! - Such as a new laptop which I already have most of the money saved for.

• I can spend money on Valentines Day and any birthdays, however as Liam now has tickets to The Script and I have bought Dad's birthday present, I don't think there is anything else I have to buy!

• I can spend gift vouchers sent by PR companies.

Why am I doing this?
Lots of bloggers have got different reasons for doing this, but mine is that I just need to save money. With being at uni and not getting any kind of a loan, I am finding it difficult juggling my wages with paying bills, tuition fees and then things I want rather than need. Hopefully I can save up money I would have spent to put towards a holiday in the summer to reward myself!
  
Can I join in? 
Yes! Loads of bloggers are doing it..there's going to be a weekly twitter chat using the hashtag #spendingban which will hopefully encourage all the participants to keep going and talk about how they're doing. Just leave your blog link below and I will add you to my list of people I know doing this if you're also taking part!

I will be doing a weekly update on this letting you all know how I am doing and at the end of each month I will try to do a monthly empties showing what I have managed to finish off and a review of each item.

So there you go! Wish me luck! 12th January - 22nd April

Gina xoxo

(Images from Google)

 

Weekly Ins and Outs...

Ins:

Have had a great time the past week enjoying the tiny bit of sun we have had and catching up with friends and my boyfriend. 

Gorgeous blue sky we get once in a long while!

On a walk with Liam in the village x

Tuesday night I went to my friends house for a BBQ with all of her family. She has a few older sisters all with young families so was nice to catch up with them all..and we took part in a little bit of face painting...maybe didn't help that they were the face painters so we just had splats of paint all over our faces! Nevertheless, it was a great evening and nice to see them all.

Wednesday after working 6am-12, Liam and I drove up to Manchester as we had tickets for the first group game of the GB Mens football at Old Trafford for Thursday night. I had such a lovely time away with Liam, was so nice to just be us for a change and everyone seemed to be so happy as the sun was out, lovely weather, but of course all cheering Great Britain on!

Ice Lolly in Picadilly Gardens before getting the tram, London2012 sign, Outside Old Trafford, Line up and crowd singing National Anthem

I didn't think I'd get so into it as I have been, but on Friday night I was at Liam's and we all watched the London 2012 opening Olympics ceremony. In my opinion, it was a great ceremony. Although I didn't really enjoy the beginning showing Britain in history, I know it all appealed to all different age groups. I loved the music, Mr Bean and the spoof with the Queen however, my Gran loved the bits I didn't so there was definitely something for everyone! It has been so exciting watching all different sports..especially the gymnastics today which was so exciting!

Outs:

Last week was a bit gutting...I have accepted my place on the course in Manchester to do a 2 year foundation degree. However, having rung student finance last week I then found out as I have already done a degree I get no funding whatsoever. Not one penny. Yet a man I spoke to the week before said I'd get max everything and even wrote on my notes that I would so some poor woman had to break it to me on the phone. I actually have no idea what to do at the moment.. am trying to save every penny I have and work out a way. But, I need to save £5,400 just for the first years fees let alone living costs...eek! So I will soon be having blog sales, many ebay sales, and also advertising spaces coming up..so let me know if you would like to be a part of it. - Details will come on a later post. Luckily this news came before going to Manchester, so at least I had a pick-me-up to look forward to!

Does anyone have any tips on how to save any money or earn money quickly, either with my blog or just in daily life?! Any tips would be greatly appreciated!

Have a good week! 

Gina xoxo

Who loves a discount?!

This bit doesn't follow straight on from the title but you'll get the jist! I had a wisdom tooth out yesterday and as the dentist said, tomorrow I might I look like I've been in a fight with Mike Tyson!...I do! Although the process didn't actually hurt, obviously the injections to numb it did and once it had worn off it did, as was not as simple a procedure as they first thought it might be :(

In the mean time, in between popping what feels like about 100 tablets a day I have been looking for presents for Liam, friends and family for christmas! 

I will put up a little wishlist of what I have found and am lusting over in another post in case anyone was feeling really nice and wanted to buy me anything! Haha.

Whilst looking, I came across one particular website..I know lots of different ones are advertised but I had heard good things about this particular one and I urge you to use it! 

There are simple instructions:

1. Create an account

2. Think of a present you want to buy someone or yourself

3. Log on to topcashback.co.uk and type the website you want to buy from onto their website search.

4. If they offer discounts / cashback/ vouchers for that website, the details will appear on screen

5. Click on the website through topcashback to start earning rewards!
6. You can take the money out of your account at ANY time, even if you only have 10p in there!

As soon as you have claimed £10 back, I will get a reward for referring you...and you can do the same with others! :) so please visit the website using my own link here

Thank youu to anyone who does! and Happy saving! xx