The Gift Voucher

Having birthdays does have its bonuses. Not sure what to get me, send me an Amazon voucher.

They keep me occupied for hours. 

So, there I was happy with a birthday Amazon voucher ready to peruse a Sunday afternoon away.

Funny how you want so much when you haven’t got cash, but when it’s grasped in your hand….something's always not quite right.

Today’s shop - just for me - was to be a heart silver funky pendant on a leather necklet. It sounds easy - but, no, it's not. 

I got men's necklaces, I got kiddies. I found that 'silver-coloured' is not silver: it's steel; it's titanium; it's silver plate; but it's not silver. 

So I refined. 

I tried to sub-categorise and still the naff things popped up – no I really don’t want a solid steel skull on a chain that would only do justice to holding a bath plug. 

Finally there it was, quite funky, quite nice really – and it had only taken me 2 hours !

I was well impressed – this is it, funky, a little different, only £30.99 plus postage, hang on postage is almost a fiver, and wait a minute, its only silver and gold metal…..but its sooo nice! 

Maybe I’ll just check the feedback/reviews. Hmm: no reviews. That’s not what I wanted to find.

Is it my bad taste, or has everyone else thought, 'Oooh £35 for a bit of metal and a leather string is a little on the steep side'?

Maybe I’ll come back tomorrow, maybe I’ll find 10 items from China for £30 that I've needed all my life?

After all we may be the only house in the street that doesn't have a bath plug on a skull metal chain.

But will I miss not having one?

Judge for yourself.

The son's wedding: on-line shopping

'Mum, we are getting married.' He tells me at the end of January. 

'It's going to be the 11th of April and it’s a Tuesday.' 

Right. I need to help. Am I rich? Nope, But I still launch in and say 'No problem, I will sort the cakes and a few other bits.'

'Thanks a zillion mum, I'll leave you to it.'

Having taken many wedding photos in the past, luckily I have a few contacts. 

I make contact with a cake baker via Facebook (social media, I do so like you). Using the name of a mutual friend, I tell her what is needed and get a two tier cake (Choc and madeira sponge), iced and simply decorated for £57.50 – need to get a topper for it, but no problem good old Amazon and my partner's credit card will assist. 

Picture of dress colour provided, she will match the iced flowers, and a simple cream fondant to cover, with baby blue ribbon to complete the chic simple look.

Next the online wedding order (TV off, tea close to hand and list on the table), quite a few bits on the list. 

Need invites. 

After two hours ooohing and aaahing via FB personal chat, the invite design is agreed/chosen – big blip though, they only do packs of 50 – email duly sent asking can they split – with 20 invitations for the day and 30 for the night, 

24 hours later the answer, yes no problem. 

Come the order day more blips – 100 character letter count. We are over…oh dear. 

We eventually go to their website and liaise through that – so much easier and in no time, one very helpful email, one five minute phone call, one letter count expanded to 200: all issues resolve. Invites ordered.

Following the sheer panic of the invites saga, the easy bits left to order were a doddle.

15mm x10m personalised baby blue ribbon – tick; 48 mini champagne wedding bubbles – tick; 100 serviettes 3 ply, baby blue personalised – tick; cake topper personalised – tick; cellophane bags for welsh cake table favours (which is why we needed so much ribbon) – tick. 

Order time for all less than 4 days for delivery – Amazon I love you.

The Shiny New Car

Need, need, need a new car. What to do?

Hey presto! My dad in law is getting shot of his due to ill health ! 

It’s big; it’s shiny; it’s really not what I require. It’s engine is too big; it’s tax is too high; it’s insurance is quite high; and it’s not even a tad green (actually its blue).

But oooh it’s shiny and a dream to drive. I’m buying it, because I’m driving it and it’s shiny and new!

Say hello to my new car, my £3000 Hyundai Tucson! 

Groceries next, need to shop very carefully, just bought a new car and that’s left my bank account pretty weak – Lidl’s it has to be then – Tesco has very tempting offers but with a new car and a now tight budget sensible budget head has to be on. 

No, no, no! None of them big posh brand names: and who cares if the beans and sausages are not branded? I have a budget to follow (but oooh my car is so nice – shiny, too!). Lookee here! The chicken is reduced – will be fine to cook tonight; and, ooh, let’s get another one and pop it in the freezer for another day. 30% off the full Lidl price – what a bargain. Large bag of potatoes next – no need for frozen chips or ready mash – big bag for under £3 will see us through the week and then some.

Seriously…should I have bought my shiny car?

Next more essentials; OK I could shop for super cheap for toilet rolls, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. Some essentials you just cannot scrimp on: Charmin you’re safe in my budget food trolley.

What with my bargains, my essentials and all the necessities – I have kept this weekly food shop down to £44!

Woo hoo! Perhaps I can get a cup full of diesel for my car on my way home.

Did I mention it was shiny?

Birthday Blog Blues: an 11 year old’s birthday on a budget

How are you supposed to budget for an ever changing scenario…….next week is Lily’s 11^th birthday, I want a bowling party….no no no, can me and my friends all go to the cinema…..no no no what about Folly Farm?

‘I know,’ I said ‘Lily, would you like a Pamper Party?’

The big light bulb above her head was on full strength – yep! Oh yes, the decision had been made. 

Right, Jane needs to book a pamper person – thank heavens for college friends – experienced beautician booked and fee agreed (£25 for 2 hours blooming bargain)! Then there’s the goody bags: something a little different. A quick scout online reveals the funkiest neon coloured LED hair strand clip on – free delivery and if you buy 10 then just about 50p each – what a bargain!

Thank you Amazon; also I got the funkiest glitter for the face.

11 year olds don’t need make up, but glitter and lip gloss was going to be a fair compromise.

Then onto Home Bargains, low prices, well known brands and a carpark right on the doorstep a busy mum’s heaven.

Bars of Freddo chocolate, chewy sticks; some colour lip pencils; mini cans of some copies of ladies’ perfume (not the greatest aroma, but to an 11 year-old its divine - and only 99p for 3).

Just to finish the goody bags throw in some of those balloons that have whizzer noisy attachments (why should the other parents have all the peace?). ‘Frozen’ Disney bags a snip at 99p for ten and the goody bags are complete.

Home Bargains also came up trumps on the price of face packs 3 for £2 – 6 were purchased.

Next comes the food. It’s amazing how an 11 year old can be steered: pizza and hot dogs for 6 – no problem (and for under a fiver – thank you Tesco plus mum gets points on her card)…….cake left to buy, not too big but has to be to Lily’s liking – plus she wanted a chocolate cake.

After a lot of umms and aahs and maybes the chocolate caterpillar was decided upon.  

The party came and went – for 4 hours nails were painted, face packs were used, with cucumber for eyes, food was eaten, songs were sung (very loudly by 6 x 11 year olds) and the night was rounded off by sparklers in the garden (left over from bonfire night).

The whole night came in at under £50 – a very happy birthday – best party ever in the words of the girls…not bad for a budget party!