HottestOffers.co.uk - Money Saving Blog

Skinny Jeans Or Jeggings

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:24:59 GMT

Jegging’s what are they?

Just imagine that they are the younger half sibling to leggings and their other half is denim with a twist. From a far you could easily mistake them for skinny jeans but on closer inspection it becomes apparent that the item is made with a lycra/denim material. They come in virtually every shade imaginable and are now stocked everywhere. I must admit this piece of clothing is a must have for young ladies everywhere. So you may be asking yourself ‘where can I find the latest jegging’s at low cost prices? The answer is right here...

Wallis has a great selection of leggings. But under this category you will find their selection of jegging’s. They have 14 different versions from around £25 - £30. Online you can have a look and choose from a range of colours. If you’re stuck for choice we recommend the Black Angled Waistband Jeggings for around £27. Wallis Discount Here.

Dorothy Perkins has great faded jegging’s to buy. The Indigo washed Jeggings is a must and is now selling for £27. Get this item in sizes 6-22. Buy a selection of items from this retailer and get free delivery when you spend over £75.

Get £5 off the Dark Acid Jeggings from Miss Selfridge for £19.00.

Remember to buy those jegging’s that are a smaller fit as you may find they start to get loose around the waist.]]>.....

Great Discounts on Evening Dresses

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:16:05 GMT

What better time of year than Christmas to glam yourself up and put on that amazing evening party dress that you have been saving all year. Have you ever felt guilty after when you have thought about how much money was spent on that dress only to wear it a few times a year. Well wash away those emotions of guilt as here are a few pointers to finding that perfect dress for your figure.

Last weekend I had the privilege to attend a very high brow Christmas party where certain celebrities were present (I will not name names’ but as a clue he is the brother of a certain recently deceased pop star). The food and drink was excellent, the event was extravagant and the company I shared the evening with was amazing. Aside from all of that though there was this intense feeling that I had inside, the feeling of belonging. Strangely that feeling was caused by the way I looked. Particularly, it was a great dress that I had bought about a month prior to the event.

Let me tell you about this dress. It was a red satin shoulder-less evening dress with beautiful silk embroidery throughout. It flowed down to my ankles and added a grace and elegance only found in 1930’s and 1940’s film noir. I can tell you, I felt good. I felt amazingly good and when the paparazzi started to photograph me as I entered the party not one of them realized that I was not a celebrity. Well, you may be asking yourself where I obtained this incredible dress from - a fashion sample sale.

What is a fashion sample sale? I hear you asking. Every now and again designers will clear out there older designs and sell them at fashion sample sales. Its easy to find them around your local area just have some patience and use Google to search for them. At these sales you can pick up unique one-off pieces of fashion for very low prices.

I also wanted to tell you about other ways that you can find beautiful evening dresses at discount prices. At Christmas time shopping can be very expensive so finding those discount deals can help somewhat to relieving the after Christmas guilt trip. If you are preparing for your work party, family get-together, or reuniting with old friends for a Christmas catch-up then choose from one of these glamorous numbers.

There is a beautiful dress for all of us, whether you are tall, short, big or small breasted. Let’s start with styles to disguise your tummy. Littlewoods has a great range of short dresses that distract attention away from your mid range and down to your legs. The Tie Back Emily Dress is a great orange satin number, contains ahigh neck line with a neck tie. For £89 this dress will make you stand out from the crowd. If you are looking for more ruffles and going dangerously red then Boden has the ultimate Flutter Hem Dress. Again this dress is short with lot of ruffles at the bottom to take the attention away from your mid line. With a ‘V’ neck top line you will look sultry and sophisticated at your event.

If you are not that privileged on the top half then wearing something tight can do wonders with the right underwear to back you up. Marshall Ward is selling the Definitions draped front dress in a violet shade. The dress has a clever cut at the front to really give your bust the look it needs. Tight all over the dress will give you the wow factor as well as extenuate your bottom and top half in differing ways. Now selling for £49

Save £45 on the Elements Amanda Wakely Print Maxi Dress. A long and flowing dress in grey print with squared neck you will look elegant in this flattering number. If you want to keep with the Christmas theme why not buy a gold dress. Wallis has a Gold Slinky Maxi Dress. This dress is an online exclusive from Wallis. It is now selling on the site for £40 so you will save £25 off the original price.
Miss Selfridge has an excellent range for tall girls but the one that stands out for me is the Grey Fringe Chain Dress now selling for £35. This bargain gives you a £15 saving. The Fringe pattern at the side of the dress will make you look unique and different from the ladies at the party.

]]>.....

Fabulous and Frugal Hair Saving Styles

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:48:12 GMT

1 – To start with get a cool and happening hair cut. A good cut speaks for itself. With a great defined cut you can wear it in different styles and maintain it yourself which will result in fewer costly trips to the salon.

2 – Always budget for those costly trips to the hair salon. In certain hair salons clientele can go on a payment plan to pay later when they can better afford it. Ask at your local salon if they allow this.

4 – For great looking hair at special events and parties why not try opting for hair extensions, ponytails or a bun to add more depth and thickness to your hair. Always make sure that the shade matches your hair perfectly. Have a look at Dorothy Perkins they now offer silky straight extensions in a range of colours.

5 – Try to go for styles that are low maintenance. You can create new styles by yourself such as scrunching your hair and creating waves. Use gel on the sides of your hair and then scrunch the top to create a new wave / retro eighties look.

6 – Try doing a hot oil treatment at home. It is easier than it sounds, to start with shampoo you hair with the hottest water you can. Stand rinse the hair, apply the oil treatment and wear a heating cap for 10 minutes. Be absolutely sure to rinse all the oil from you hair otherwise it will leave a residue on the scalp.

7 – Make sure you maintain the moisture of you hair and scalp. If your hair gets dry, brittle and you have split ends it may be a sign of a dry scalp and hair. To combat this, get over to a salon but if you can’t make it to the salon wash it once a week with an expensive moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

8 – Be consistent with the brand of hair products that you purchase. Do not mix brands as the differing chemicals used in the different brands may have adverse side effects on your hair. Always stick with the same brand of shampoo and conditioner and any other hair products you may use. Try Natural Mango and Ginger cleaning and balancing 2 for 1 shampoo and conditioner from Avon.

9 – Accessorize with expertly positioned items such as a bobby pin adorned with rhinestones or costume jewelry. It can add the fun factor or create a stunning hair statement. Go experiment.

10 – The following tip is only for the brave! Why not try seeking out a student research cosmology school since they would be cheaper than going to a regular salon. Only try this if you have hair-surance! Get it I combined hair and insurance to create hair-surance! Haha!

I hope these tips help you and even if you just find one or two useful I have played my part in saving the world of hair… ]]>.....

A Casual Gamers History of Video Games From the 1980s to Present Day

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 23:21:30 GMT

Being dressed like a girl was becoming a constant source of deriding by my school chums and that led to me becoming increasingly angry. I started to break things as early as six years old and my mother was at the edge of her breaking point with me. So to combat my urge to break things my mother bought be my first games console. I can still remember it today - my Commodore 64. What a machine. It has 64 kilobytes of processing power and I could play full colour games on it from cassette tapes. Wow that machine literally blew my young six year old mind. Gaming on it was, when it worked, an exhilarating state of the art experience. I loved that machine - until it broke. If ever there was a broken hearted child it was me. At eight years old I had experienced the sadness and depression of loss.

For an adult loss can be a terrible concept to grasp and comprehend but for an eight year old it was the end of the world. I was constantly moping around the house and any and all efforts made by my mother and father fell on deaf ears and blind eyes. I was an 'emo' kid before emo became a fad.

My birthday was fast approaching and my mother and father decided that they needed to do something that turn me into an emotionally positive child. I came home from school one evening to find my birthday presents lying on my bed. Through all the 'crappy'' presents ii could clearly see a box that was somewhat larger than the others. I immediately threw myself at it and frantically tore at the wrapping until the packaging was clearly visible. The feeling that rushed over me was as close to bliss as an eight year old could get Jumping around in glee I could not believe my eyes. I had my own Sega Master System. But wait there was something else, my parents had also bought me Sonic The Hedgehog. Unfreaken beliveable. My parents were awesome.

I quickly ripped it out of its packaging and my father helped me to set it up on the TV in the living room. The anticipation was at fever pitch. We plugged in the Sonic cartridge and turned the system on. I was amazed by the realistic (for that time) graphics. the incredible responsiveness of the console and the incredibly quick load times on games. I played that console almost everyday for the next two years and gathered a substantial collection of games.

When I was ten I started feeling things for girls that I had never felt before. Sudden urges made me want to have a girlfriend and one thing led to another and I had my first girlfriend. Coming from a strict religious family this did not fly well with my parents who upon finding out about my childhood sweetheart immediately confiscated my Master system. I was torn between my console or my girl.. At ten years old nothing was more important to me than my console so you know what had to go. My mother promptly returned my Master system and life as I knew it returned to normal. A month later my Master system packed up and died. That night I cried.

I went to school the following day and saw my ex-girlfriend with another kid and I pondered as to whether I had made the right decision. I quickly realised I had and that an extra month with my beloved console was worth getting rid of a girl for.

One night after a few months of me moping around the house my father had enough and took me to the local video games retailer. He asked me what I wanted I quickly pointed at a Sega Mega drive. He bought it and my mood quickly changed.

tune in to part 2 coming soon but to tie you over until then and to give you some ideas for Christmas, here are a selection of some of my favourite games that are currently out.

Super Mario Galaxy for the Wii at Argos Now £34.29
Tekken 6 on the Xbox and PS3 at Game
Assassins Creed 2 on the Xbox, PC, PS3 and PSP at Amazon]]>.....

Christmas Presents for Kids

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 22:46:49 GMT

Fortunately for all us consumers it has been proven historically that Christmas has pretty much nothing to do with the birth of Jesus and more to do with ancient pagan festivities.

I say let consumerism reign, so in that path the most important presents to buy are for the kids. Kids believe that Santa Clause is real and to perpetuate the silly myth (that was created by the largest company's in the world to keep us buying their goods during the winter holidays), let's buy stuff!

Argos is currently our number one provider for almost all things, so naturally they are also our number one provider for toys. You can both buy online and have the item delivered to your door or you can reserve the item online and go and pick the item up in store. Argos has a multitude of goods and it can sometimes become frustrating to find the perfect present for your children. One great feature is that you can search by price, so you choose to only see toys with the budget you have available to spend. Use the other search choices to narrow your search down even further.

For the boys, Ben 10 is a popular children's cartoon about a school kid who finds an advanced alien device that resembles a watch. It enables him to transform into various mutant aliens to defend earth. It may sound strange but for some reason the kids can’t get enough. The cartoon is mainly targeted to 6 to 12 year olds but you may find that it has a large fan base amongst younger kids as well. So if you want to make that little boy in your life really happy why not grab some Ben 10 merchandise this Christmas.

Dora the Explorer been around for a while but is still selling like hot cakes and is expected to do well this Christmas. Dora the Explorer follows a young girl on her adventures where she learns (and the children at home learn) something new in every episode. Get the Suds and Surprise Dora item for £20.24 this Christmas from here.

Little girls love to imitate their parents and Amazon has the perfect gift that will let them do just that. Get over there now and get 25% off Melissa and Doug Play Food, now only £11.24. Let the kids cook and eat, until they can’t eat any more.

Additions direct are offering 3 for 2 on toys this Christmas. The great Clarity Karaoke set is now only £80 online, check it out right now. This set will have your little one entertained for hours.

If you want to get on the little guys’ good side then buy the Roary the Racing Car Pedal Go-Kart. It looks great and the kids will think you are cooler than Vanilla Ice (even though they probably don’t know who that is!)]]>.....

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Review

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:34:48 GMT

The game has three modes – the single player campaign, the incredible multi player and new for this edition the co-op spec-ops mode. Throughout the game-play on any of the modes you will see the small refinements and tweaks that have been made to improve on what was already an amazing game.

To start with the single player mode feels like you are playing through an action film, taking on the role of the hero fighting for every millimetre of ground. The single player mode is quite short but extremely exciting and exhilarating nonetheless. Let’s face it though most people will not be buying this game for the single player mode. So let’s get talking about that multi player mode.

In this edition there are two online modes - Standard multi player and spec-ops. Firstly, spec-ops is not just online you can also play offline with a friend. It consists of you pairing up and tackling various missions together having to co-operate to complete the mission.

Now onto the incredible multi player that makes a triumphant return with a whole host of insane goodies. Graphics have been increased an insane amount with terrain and atmospheric details being improved immensely. The new perks are insane and there is a new weapon added that adds an excellent way to kill your opponents (throwing knives for those of you who don’t know!).

To be frank this game is all about its multi player mode. If it did not have multi player this game would be no where near as successful as it has become.

Modern warfare 2 is in my personal opinion the must have game of this year and next year. You can get it at Argos for £29.59 where you can save £5 on a controller, you can also get this at Game but it works out a bit more expensive at £34.99. Get the PC version of this game at Amazon for £29.70. Get it now and start gaining those perks. See you online!!!!

]]>.....

Money for old rope

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:59:33 GMT

.....

Christmas Ideas for 2009

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:38:54 GMT

Argos has some great promotions on offer and you can get 25% off major brand such as fisher price, transformers, Bob the builder and more. The retailer also has some 3 for 2 offers where you can get the cheapest items for free.

Amazon, a popular online destination for UK consumers can deliver your item straight to your door free of charge A great item to have a look at is the Samsung NC20 Mini Notebook. You could save 25% off this item and is now available for £299.99.

Boden are still running their 10% off deal on men's jackets, coats and knitwear but if your a women looking for something new than have a look around the site. Boden main audiences are those men and women aged 25 to 35. But there are also some cool items for kids like the Teddy Button Through which is a furry coat that will make your baby look like the cutest bear on earth now £22 from Boden.

Avon has already launched its Christmas selection and you can grab some gifts for under £10 like the Far away gift set. This item gives you perfume and creams in an Oriental scent.

Bhs currently offer alcohol derived gift sets like the Bailey's relaxation gift set and Jack Daniels at home kit. This will make an ideal gift for a friend.

If your stuck on what to buy a friend then buying a good old book can really cheer someone up. Waterstones currently have a 50% off their 100 best sellers.

If your stuck for ideas for the teenagers then don't hesitate in buying one of the best racing games out now like Forza Motorsports 3

HMV now has 50% off pre order items like Leona Lewis echo album and Robbie Williams reality killed the video star.

Check out the next Christmas installment coming soon.]]>.....

Get the Autumn Look

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:56:55 GMT

Coats

This year trench coats are a must and if you don't fancy the trench look, then a Mac can be your back up. To be honest both types will not keep you from the chill but will look incredible on. Trench coats traditionally come in two main colours that are black and cream while macs are mainly made in black. If you want to go for the traditional black then shop online through Dorothy Perkins where you can get 50% off new season stock. We found a pretty black number called the Black wall fall Mac now for £35. Unfortunately there is only size 12 left in this range. If you want to brighten up your wardrobe but still looking for those autumn/winter colours then try to go a bit lighter in Purple. Wallis has a sale now on where you can buy the Purple funnel neck Mac for £45 at Wallis. It comes with puffed lower sleeves giving you a classic but modern twist. If your looking for something abit more jazzier then look no further than Boden. You can get a trench coat with a leopard print twist. Its called the Jazzy Trench Coat available online for £95. New customer you can get 10% off the range at Boden.

Tops

Get a range of tops from Dorothy Perkins for huge discounts of 50% off. They have some plain tops but also have some funky number that you could accessories with like the White Zebra Embellish tee now £15. Accessorise with the Black cross belt now £12 fro m Dorothy Perkins

Jeans

Skinny jeans are still in but try something flattering that wont stop your blood circulation. Boden has the Staight leg jeans in black, dark denim and vintage denim for £49. Jeans can be boring at times so change the look with Black Point Jersey Treggings. Very similar to leggings with a button on top. The item will also keep you warming than the standard legging. Get these from Miss Selfridge for £30 online today.

To finish the overall look this autumn invest in some classic boots. Buy the Black Suede tassel Boot from Dorothy Perkins Now £70. This item is knee length and comes in a range of sizes, Office has some classic but modern variations too. Try the Office Clippety clop black and tan leather. Again this item is knee length but comes with a flat heal and straight calf leg.

Happy Shopping

]]>.....

Read All About It

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:51:38 GMT

Yesterday I wholly expected to pick up a flimsy, gossip based, half assed version of the Standard, but to my amazement I was in fact holding a complete, well written piece of free press, which is fantastic news, literally. The worry is that costs of producing and distributing a free sheet against the advertising revenue to be made will put even more pressure on budgeting, inevitably leading to cost cutting in some form. If content has to take a hit they may soon find themselves in the same boat as the London paper.

]]>.....

Samsung Mobile Phones

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:32:19 GMT

Here are some popular Samsung mobile phones that can be a found on a range of networks

Samsung Jet

One of the best deals found on the market is on the Vodafone network. Get this phone along with the pay monthly deal and you could receive 600 minutes unlimited texts and for £30 a month. Save £5 on this deal. The phone comes with 5 mega pixel camera with flash and self timer. Get all the entertainment value out of this phone through its Java applications, games and mp3 player. Browse the internet and or simply conference call your mates.

Samsung Preston S5600

This phone has a 2.8 inch touch screen, with access to Skype and instants messaging. This phone has been designed for internet browsing and is equipment with the latest apps for entertainment. Get this phone on the Three Network with the 500 minutes and unlimited text for £25 a month.

Samsung Genio Touch

If you love chatting online as well as through your phone well you will love this exclusive deal available through Carphone Warehouse. This phone has been describe by man as the holy grail for social networkers as it offers easy access to Facebook my space, twitter and more. This stylish phone contains mp3 player, and all the entertainments feature. Get sample deals through the Carphone warehouse website.

Samsung Blade

This touch screen phone contains 3.5 mega pixel camera. The phone is available on the pay as you go deals through Vodafone. You can get 7 different pay as you go deals through this network.]]>.....

Everybody Loves A Discount Code

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:23:34 GMT

Discount codes, also knows as voucher codes are a massive part of online promotions these days and collective data from a number of high profile sources on the internet suggests that voucher and discount code searches have actually overtaken that of the price comparison search, taking discount and promotional code sites to new traffic levels above and beyond what the biggest price comps were achieving.

But are you a sucker for a code and how far would you go to get one? If a retailer has a great price on a product but no discount code, would that put you off? Would you drop that retailer's basket at the last minute and head over to a retailer that offered a discount code, even if the saving was miniscule? The question is, would a valid voucher code affect you're purchasing habits? Take your most recent online purchase for example. Did you look for a code? Did you use google as a tool to get further discount or do you belong to a site, like www.HottestOffers.co.uk where you can hunt around for a reduction before finalising your purchase?

Would a discount code, regardless of its value, tip you towards finalising your purchase? Something you must remember when devising answers to all of the questions mentioned here is that discount codes are very much an acquisition tool used by retailers to drive more traffic. In some cases the retailer will take a reduction in margin, but in many cases issuing a voucher code is a precise part of an online marketing strategy to drive incremental sales, which otherwise may have ended up going to a competitor.

Discount codes can be the consumers best friend, but they must always be treated with caution, if a product is cheaper elsewhere without the need for a discount code, then why take time to look for one and make a purchase with a brand who is no doubt highly focused on reselling and customer retention, giving you no end of gip in the future? Choose wisely my pedigree chums...

]]>.....

Free Mobile Phone Anyone

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:30:54 GMT

If your looking for a phone on any of these network then its best to hunt around for the best deal that suits your needs. Here are some of interesting deals to consider at the moment.If your looking for a sleek and stylish phone then look no further than the Samsung U600. This Samsung is very compact and contains a 3.5 mega pixel camera with zoom capability. You can transfer photo and music files with its blue tooth technology and browse the internet and download files. The phone is available on most network but the best deal we have seen is the O2 network that gives its customers 200 minutes and 200 text messages a month. The line rental is £25 a month but you will receive £300 cash back from the distributor Mobile to your Door. After the cash back the line rental works out to £8.33 a month.

If your looking for cheap deals, Vodafone has a £10 a month deal that gives you 100 minutes and 500 text messages. You will need to keep the phone for 24 months but for £10 you cant go wrong. The deal comes with an exclusive Samsung Steel L810 phone that contains quick download capability and Polyphonic ring tones,

If your looking for more minutes and text then Vodafone's 900 minutes and unlimited text may be of interest. To receive this deal you will be charged £35 a month with the option of choosing the latest handset in the market. Get the Samsung Tocco Ultra Edition that comes with 8 mega pixel camera, built in GPS navigation, hands free kit, Vodafone find and go application and more.]]>.....

Sky To Launch Digital Download Service

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:07:50 GMT

As part of the release strategy Sky broadband customers will receive a free £6.49 download credit to use against any £6.49 album available.

The big question here is, are the likes of iTunes in trouble? Well, if Im honest, and you know I like to be, then no I don't think they are. Sky is a good few years behind the game here, and like many others are sure to fail in this space. The technology in the marketplace today, i.e the ipod, has the flexibility behind it to be able to write off any competitors if they become to close to what iTunes has achieved. Apple could start to offer additional content or services in formats unobtainable to Sky and for this reason it will prove very difficult for them to make a splash in the overly competitive market.

The second reason why Sky Songs could run into problems is due to the monthly subscription model they are looking to adopt. Why would a listener pay for the monthly service when they can pick and choose individual tracks at iTunes. If Sky's only USP here is the unlimited streaming that comes with the bundle, then they have overlooked the likes of Spotify and last.fm, two already firmly established music streaming platforms.

For Sky Songs to really have a go at the download market they will need to put a serious amount of budget behind marketing, partnerships and exclusivity deals. I highly doubt the Sky Songs pot is that deep. It is my prediction that a new download platform such as Sky Songs will bite the dust inside the first year.

]]>.....

Backbreaker

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:20:14 GMT

.....

Dancing to the barn

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:59:19 GMT

If you are up for a bit of a barn dance then why no grab these great barn dancing related products to get the heart racing and the laughter rolling. Have a great one!

I love to barndance mouse matt from Amazon just £3.99

Barn Dance Shindig just £11.90 from Amazon.co.uk

]]>.....

20% off at Burton and Dorothy Perkins Tomorrow

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:17:54 GMT

Dorothy Perkins and Burton. This is a one day opportunity only so make sure you get in quick.

For future reference make sure you keep your eyes on both the DP and Burton websites as much as possible as these 2 day discount events are often trailed by a 1 or 2 day early release online to see what uptake will be like. This means more bargains on more top products. Also with Christmas coming up there has never been a better time for you to grab a hot deal for you Mum, Dad, sister, brother or anyone who you can think of that you want to treat so make sure you take a peek. Don't miss out, you have one day left, go go go.

]]>.....

Ways to Get 10% off Everything

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 23:28:37 GMT

Promotional codes offer the customer discounts once they hit the checkout page of the retailers website. The website will usually ask the customer if they have a gift certificate or promotional code. Once the user enters the code a reduction will be made on their purchase. You should always be careful when looking out for discount codes as some websites offer out of date codes. Here at Hottest Offer's we give you the expiry date so your always kept in the loop.

So what discounts are on offer at the moment?

If your looking for last-minute deals on top hotels then try Accor Hotels. They currently have a promotion giving customers up to 60% off hotels on last minute deals. If you want to plan ahead and book your hotel beforehand you can also benefit from their early booking discounts for locations such as France, Switzerland, Australia and more.
Ebookers also have some cracking hotel deals offering up to 50% off. Ebookers tend to have cheaper hotel deals in the overall market place so have a look at the website to see which company will suit your needs best. If your looking for a city get-away then grab their 25% off deal. You can stay in places like the Holiday Inn. Expedia promises its customer that they can find budget breaks from £10. If you want to stay at one of the best hotels in the UK then book 14 days in advance and get £10 off your hotel booking Through Ramda Jarvis. Fly off to some luxurious places and receive 20% off from alpharooms

If your not planning on a holiday but are doing some DIY, then upgrade your home with 50% off bathrooms and Kitchens at Wickes. They also have a great 10% off Radiators deal too. Argos also currently has a brilliant deal on home furnishing you can get a 1/3 off selected furniture,

For all garden lovers Argos has 50% off the Bosch Axt Rapid 2200 Shredder. Designed to tackle high shredding of most materials.

Planning on updating your wardrobe for the autumn. Try Boden clothings you can currently get 10% off their autumn range for a limited time only. If you looking for bigger discounts then try Marks and Spencer. They are having a 50% off sale tight now.

Computer Buy a Dell Inspiron 15 from the Dell website and save £132. This laptop contains Intel Celeron Dual Core Processor T3000, Microsoft operating system and 320GB Hard drive.]]>.....

1 2 3 Bungee Go No Wait Ahhh

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:34:51 GMT

bungee jumping to the next level, whether he knew what he was about to do is another story.

On DailyMail.co.uk today there is a video of a guy that does a bungee jump of a bridge, but instead of diving outwards like he was diving off a diving board, he just jumped off the platform like he was jumping of a cliff, causing his body to snap round as the rope reached maximum length. The only problem here is that this caused the straps around his legs to simply slip of leaving this poor guy doing the biggest belly flop of all time. He is just lucky he was over water and not some pub car park.

]]>.....

Does Anyone Buy Posters Anymore

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 20:25:44 GMT

I remember when I was a kid, I could spend hours and hours just standing in Woolworths or HMV flicking through the poster rails, you remember the one's with the big white frames and a cheeky page 3 poster in between Boyzone and an image of the New York skyline. Well, it got me thinking, does anyone actually buy posters anymore? I don't even remember buying them when I was a kid and actually put posters on my wall. For the most part I just stuck up the freebie ones out of magazines, you know the sort, football players, Pamela Anderson, that sort of thing.

Well there is a website out there that seems to do a pretty awesome trade called Allposters.co.uk. Allposters have probably every single poster you can think of, whether it be your favourite band or a piece of art that you like, they are sure to have it. So no matter what age you are, if posters are your sort of thing, make sure you take a look at some of the fantastic Allposters.co.uk offers we have right here on HottestOffers.co.uk

]]>.....

2012 Trailer Thoughts

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:46:17 GMT

Movie Name: 2012

Trailer Thoughts: Wow, so its looks like the world is about to end some day in December 2012. First thoughts are that it looks like something I've seen a couple of times before, that said, it does look like it would get the old ticker racing. There is a fantastic scene at the end of the trailer that shows some kind of US navy ship being overturned by a huge wave crushing the White House as it tosses.

There is a mention of government ships in the trailer which leads me to believe that they knew D Day was coming and built ships for the majority of the US population to live on for sometime after.

The director, Roland Emmerich is named as being the man behind both Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow films, both following a fairly similar plot. It seems this Roland guy has a fetish for the world ending and following the story of a few people as the drama unfolds. The main difference with 2012 though is that things have got a lot bigger, technology has improved and effects are more powerful, so it really does look like a breathtaking, yet gut wrenching story.

Movie Rating 1-10: My movie rating based on the trailer has to be a 6 out of 10. Whilst you may not agree and this this a little harsh, I reckon it's bark is much bigger then it's bite, not a classic Im afraid, but hey i've only seen a 2 minute trailer so what do I know.

Current UK Release Status: Due for general release on the 13th November 2009

Director: Roland Emmerich

Genre: Drama

Related Products:

How To Survive 2012 - Amazon.co.uk

2012 An Awakening - Amazon.co.uk

]]>.....

Movie Trailer Thoughts Coming Soon

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:13:08 GMT

The idea will be that I watch the theatrical trailer that has been released by the film studio and as soon as i'm done, i'll jump straight on here and write a flash review on how I think the film will turn out, i'll even rate it out of ten. Then when the film gets released, i'll go see it and see how I accurate I was.

I guess this is more of an experiment then a money saving process, but hey, if I let you lot know the film is rubbish before you spend money on it, then at least someone is saving some cash. If the film has related products or a pre order available through one of the big retailers online like Play.com, Amazon or HMV i'll make sure I list the details in the articles making it easier for you to get your hands on the best film discounts should you want to make a purchase. Cheers and see you soon.

]]>.....

Ways To Save Even More Money Through Promotional Codes

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 00:16:06 GMT

1) Improving your maths skills can really help you in getting the best deal from your discount code. There are many types of savings you can receive from a discount code for example buy one get one free or save 20% off a particular range etc. By comparing these saving you could benefit from wasted spending.

2) Free delivery deals are key. These types of promotional codes are really cost effective.

3) Shopping outside of the season can really save you even more money. Most of the time you will find year long discount codes on specific ranges. Many shops will need to shift X amount of stock before certain times, so discount codes are widely available.

4) Work out the trends in your favourite stores. Often stores have regular patterns when offering discounts. Coupon codes often come around at the weekend or end of the month.

5) Use multiple coupon codes for different retailers. Never get attached to one type of retailer many a times you will find similar deals with better product offering through retailers competitors

6) Sign up to Hottest offers newsletter and RSS feed. We will keep you up to date with what's happening in the market so you will be sure to find the perfect deal at the right time.

7) Keep a track of your finances through budget control. Plan ahead on what you should be spending monthly and stick to the plan.

8) Tell your friends about the discount codes found through Hottest offers. If you keep your friends informed they are more likely to keep you in the loop of the best deals that they have found

9) Join social communities and discover the best coupons available in the high street

10) Question every purchase you make. More then likely you will find a better deal round the corner.]]>.....

This Week�s Top Ten Promotional Codes -2nd October 2009

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 08:14:20 GMT

1)One of the most interesting deals out this week is a free House of Fraser Gift Card worth £5. If you register on the telegraphs promotional page you can print off this voucher and pop to your local House of Fraser. The offer ends 18th October 2009, but the voucher that you will obtain is valid until the end of November. One of the great things is its valid on full price items. So why not try your luck and print a few vouchers, apparently they have not included the clause of only one gift card per customer plus there is no minimum spend. So all you have to do is keep going to different tills and see how many free full price items you can buy.
2)Ikea are also offering free gift cards worth £5 but the catch to this one is you have to donate 5 books to charity. They are raising money for the save the children charity so ideally Ikea are looking for people to donate 5 children's books.
3)If your feeling a little hungry then Pizza hut are giving away 50% off on their home delivery service when you spend £30 on full menu prices. Enter the Voucher Code MSE5698AE
4)Now that autumn has finally come now it the best time to get your winter wardrobe up to date. Wallis has a great 10% off deal if you sign up to their newsletter. So why not subscribe, get the discount then unsubscribe so your not bombarded with spam emails.
5)Karen Millen is the ultimate up-market (but still high street) ladies fashion store in the UK. I love shopping there but the price tag's can get rather expensive. They are giving a massive 20% off their full price collection if you pick up a voucher from the Cosmopolitan magazine. The magazine will set you back £3.30 but it is worth it in the long run. The offer is valid until the 12th October.
6)Another top High Street must have is the 25% off voucher that Coast is giving away to its customers. Again you have to buy an O magazine which will set you back around £2.60. Make sure you buy the one with Peter Andre at the front. Inside you will find the voucher that will need to be cut out and given at the till.
7)If your celebrating something special this weekend then I found the prefect 20% champagne and sparkling wine from Odd bin's. This deal is available online as well in store so grab it whilst it lasts. This collection is fabulous.
8)Don't you just love those deals where you spend money and then you receive a voucher with money off on your next purchase. Well guess what Argos has that exact deal available right now. So to get this deal you will need to spend £50 and you will receive £10 back and if you spend £100 you will receive £20 back. Offer ends 30th October 2009.
9)Mothercare are offering up to 50% off some of their clothing range.
10)The last high street must have is our good old friend Superdrug. Buy all your toiletries and get 10% off on your first order online. All you have to do is enter the Voucher Code TILL0507. This offer is valid until 31st Aug 2010.

Happy Shopping]]>.....

Crank It Up Baby

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 21:05:06 GMT

If you haven't seen any of the Crank films make sure this on on your list of things to do this weekend. There have been 2 Crank films made so far with a sure fire third soon to go into production. The story behind both Crank films is pretty straight forward, if not a little far fetched, but thats all the fun of Crank. I should mention at this point, if you don't like stupid films that are so unrealistic it's barely even possible they have been made, then do not spend any time watching Crank, but on the other hand, if it's straight up dumb fun that floats your boat, get right on it!

In Crank 1 we get introduced to hard man assassin nut case Jason Statham, who is immediately positioned as being potentially the most dangerous man on earth, this guy really is a nut job. Then we find out that he has just been knocked out by someone who has a grudge on him and injected with some crazy Chinese poison that tries to stop his heart beating every time his adrenaline level drop below a certain amount. Basically, if he doesn't do dumb stuff to keep his adrenaline pumping his heart will stop and he will die. So, he spends the entire first film trying to hunt down the nuttier who injected him and make him pay, whilst trying to think of a cure for his slightly odd heart condition. Anyway the film ends with him killing this dude who injected him and somehow falling out of a helicopter to what you would think is his death. The final scene is of him landing on top of a car then bouncing off onto the pavement. That's the end of Crank 1.

Crank 2 High Voltage starts exactly where Crank 1 left off. He is still on the pavement but low and behold he isn't dead, it's a miracle. Some other mental gangster then comes along and scoops him up off the pavement and steals his heart, because apparently the leader of the gangster mob needs a new ticker and as this one has survived so much, they reckon it must be a keeper. Obviously this means poor old Jason Statham is left with a chest full of rickety old plastic, an artificial heart that runs of batteries, can you guess where Crank 2 is going? Yep, in one. Crank 2 is basically him shocking himself with electricity to keep his artificial heart battery topped up, nuts right, but so so funny. Anyway, similar story to Crank 1, he gets his heart back but ends up in another compromising position, ready, primed, waiting for Crank 3 (I don't want to spoil it all)

So if mindless, easy to follow entertainment is your kind of thing definitely pick up Cranks 1 and 2 from your local rental store or make a decent purchase from Play.com today. Cheers

]]>.....

Eggheads Will Eat Your Brain

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 19:58:29 GMT

Oh blimey, if you ever want to make yourself look stupid then check out gameshow called Eggheads on BBC 2. It follows your standard quiz show format, two teams going head to head in question based rounds. The twist, which every great gameshow must have, comes in the form of the Eggheads, an elite group of quizmasters and brainboxes from across the country who destroy any dunce in their path. The Eggheads are the resident team and to win the cash you have to beat them. Doesn't sound too tough right? Wrong, the Eggheads are rediculously clever and seem to know almost every answer to almost every question ever asked in the history of the world. They must literally spend every waking hour reading books or munching on encyclopedias because these guys are seriously smart.

The closest I have seen a team come to beating the Eggheads wasn't even that close. The poor unsuspecting uni students still got trampled on with only a few Eggheads making their way through to the final round. If you fancy yourself as a bit of an Egghead and want to challenge your mates, then why not get yourself this supercool Eggheads boardgame from Amazon.co.uk. After just a few go's of this badboy your IQ will be through the roof and you might even be tempted to give Countdown a go. What are you waiting for brainiac, get your intellectual skates on and start learning. Have fun!

]]>.....

Happy Grandparents Day

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:03:19 GMT

Thornton's Chocolate reminding me to buy something special for the 4th October. Mothers' and Fathers' day has been around for as long as I can remember, so when they do come along you feel that it is important that you buy a gift or a card to acknowledge. When I saw the email from Thornton's I immediatelt started thinking that this was another commercial gimmick day to pry more money out of our ever tightening purses. In a way we all know it probably is but then I started to think about how my Grandparents deserved as much appreciation as my parents. There are around 13 million Grandparents across the UK alone, so there should be a lot of love to give to them. Something to think about is that if it wasn't for our Grandparent's we wouldn't be here. In my own life my Grandmother has consistently been the strongest and wisest women in my family and I have constantly turned to her for advice and guidance. Another aspect is that you can learn so much about your family history through your Grandparents.

So if your looking for a few money saving ideas, forget about buying a card why not make it yourself, they will appreciate it more then if you bought it from a shop. Thornton's Chocolate also have some great Grandparent gift ideas, so you can post a hamper to them and let them feast for the week. Thornton also has a free delivery on orders over £25.]]>.....

Saving Batman Money

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:42:57 GMT

I've been rattling my larger than most brain to come up with a few cunning ways to help the superhero cut back on his expenses and have identified a few obvious areas, and a few not so obvious areas. OK, lets get started....

You're only suppose to blow the bloody doors off…

The lovable Alfred, played by the top man Michael Caine in the more recent batman movie's, is a butler to die for. He is loyal, ethical and great at making a lovely bit of grub in the morning, but his biggest talent by far has to be his ability to keep secrets that a worth an absolute mint to the papers, the biggest one being, who is behind the mask?

As brilliant as Alfred is, I see him as a rather extravagant expense and one that Mr. Wayne could seriously manage without during these tough economical times (he must be feeling the pinch). I mean when you break it down, what does Alfred actually do? Makes a bit of lunch, a few cups of tea, stands guard over the bat cave? Does Batman, the hardest superhero in Gotham City, really need an expensive old timer looking after his pad? Not to mention the suits Alfred rocks on a daily basis, they must be a couple grand apiece, surely. Enough is enough Bruce, do yourself a favour and hand the old boy his P45, I'm sure his state pension will see him through, he must be about 96 anyway, so not long now.

Total saving from giving the old man the chop is £500,000 – see, a lot of cash to shell out on an unnecessary butler. If Brucie really wanted to save the cash he should grab himself this Deluxe Gothic Butler Costume from Amazon.co.uk and just dress up as a butler every time he is feeling sorry for himself.

You took something perfect and painted it red…..

All of this carnage that the man who dresses like a bat brings to Gotham every night must cost Gotham Council a fair whack to tidy up. He smashes window, writes of parked cars and terrorizes shopping centers all at the taxpayer’s expense. Come on man, take a little pride in your work, try and help the good people of Gotham help you by not wrecking their stuff each and every night. If you really want to smash the place up then at least make it look like the Jokers fault or something. No one likes him so put the blame on him if you have to. You're not doing yourself any favours mate. Or maybe the lovable Batman could think about brushing up on his DIY skills with this mega DIY manual from Amazon so at least he could start to patch things up in his spare time.

Total saving from showing a little love to all Gotham property – millions. Is this a quick win or what?

Na nana na na na na na na na na na nananana nana scrap it……

We all remember the crazy yellow utility belt that Batman used to wear back in the good old days of POW BOP ZAP TWANG but these days in the darker age of the batman movies, we are seeing a lot less of the so called superhero utility belt, but rumour has it he still wears it. If this is true then I think Mr. Wayne needs to seriously consider how much use he is getting out of it against how much it costs him every time one gets ruined in a scrap with the Penguin. He could at least opt for the economy utility belt from Amazon, which in my opinion looks like it’s perfectly capable of doing the job. Let's break this down a little further by looking at the utility belt favorite, Shark Repellent. I’m pretty sure I have never ever seen Batman go toe to toe with a shark in the last 15 years, but as certain as the sun rising he carries it on his belt. And did you know shark repellent has a shelf life so he has to spend a fair whack replacing it every few months. Ditch it man, you never use it, move on.

Total saving from not having shark repellent on his utility belt has got to be pushing the 100k a year boundary, that stuff is expensive!

Never judge a book by it's cover….

One of the first observations I made about our friend Batman is that he actually has very little to do with bats, apart from a funny black costume with little ears on. That's pretty much it. It's not like he was bitten by a bat when he was younger and now has the traits of a bat, he wasn't even fused with bat genes in some terrible scientific disaster, he literally picked the name Batman out of the sky and made a costume to try and back up the crazy name. Heaven knows those black suits aren't cheap. He would have been much better off calling himself Shoeman or something and just having to worry about buying a nice pair of kicks for the job, much more economical.

Total Saving of a having a less stupid name – hundreds of thousands, I mean word on the street is that Bananaman is minted because the only prop he has to shell out for cost about 7p down the market.

So there you have it folks, in a little lass then 10 minutes we have saved the caped crusader an absolute fortune. In fact we have saved him so much, he could pretty much retire and he would probably be able to fund his whole superhero lifestyle just off a few months savings alone. Think about it Bruce, don’t be a dipstick all your life.

]]>.....

The Blueprint 3 by Jay Z

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:45:49 GMT

About a week ago Jay Z put out his 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3. The hype surrounding the release of this album was absolutely phenomenal, with critics waiting, ready to rip the album into shreds with every possible column inch spare. But pens down lads, start clapping. Jay Z has done it again and I for one am not surprised. An unbelievable passion for work combined with a raw unharnessed talent has carried him through his career spanning almost 15 years, and he has barely put a foot wrong.

The new release The Blueprint 3 is nothing out of the ordinary for Jay Z, but this is extremely reassuring. As the old saying goes, if it aint broke then don’t try to fix it. So why change a winning formula? Consistent innovative production, lyrics that punch with every line and collaborations that appeal to even the most un-urban of listeners, means that Jay Z has released nothing short of the perfect commercial hip hop album.

15 tracks deep and a rumour that has us believe this is the pick of a very big bunch means that each and every tune delivers in unexpected ways. Not only lyrically, but the structure and melody behind some of the beats is unparalleled and leaves you wanting more and more, it really is a blueprint to the top of the charts.

As if to take it for granted we expect at least 3 super hot pre release singles before each iconic Jay Z album and oh boy did we get them. Tempted us into pre purchase before the launch date was the relentless street track D.O.A or Death Of Auto-tune, which combines a heavy hip hop beat with the whining of a solo electric guitar, a refreshingly deafening combination. Next up saw the collaboration of a tried and tested partnership, with Jigga and Rihanna making a long awaited return to the charts with Run This Town, a chart track with an uber catchy chorus. Thirdly, we had the awesome Mr. Hudson follow up track to Super Nova, called Forever Young. Mr. Hudson seems to have his fingers deep into the hip hop pie right now, which is quite a funny thing to get your head round considering he sings like some plum mouthed English school boy and is as pale as the sheets I sleep on, but hey if it works, and by gosh does it work, then who am I to comment.

If you caught the MTV VMA’s this year, yes the one where Kanye West decided to air his rather personal feelings about Taylor Swift and Beyonce, then you would have seen the amazing live performance by Jay Z and Alicia Keys of Empire State of Mind, another absolute classic that is situated deep into the Blueprint 3’s rugged track list.

Something that comes with being such a seasoned artist like Jay Z is the ability to work with pretty much whoever you want and the Blueprint is no different, featuring such names as Kanye West, Alicia Keys, Mr. Hudson, Kid Cudi and Rihanna to name just a few. In essence, The Blueprint 3 stands for more than just the final part in the blueprint trilogy, it works hard to set the precedent for the albums to follow leaving Jay Z with even bigger shoes to fill, but if anyone can?

Top marks for this album and I highly recommend you take a listen. If you want to get involved then grab yourself The Blueprint 3 for just £8.98 from Amazon.co.uk with free delivery. Enjoy.

]]>.....

Tongue N Cheek by Dizzee Rascal

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 22:01:58 GMT

He has just dropped his 4th studio album entitled ‘Tongue N Cheek’, and has already been labeled as his best work yet, but can it really compete with the likes of ‘Boy in Da Corner’, ‘Showtime’ and ‘Math’s and English’? Well, if the pre-release tracks are anything to go by, yes, yes it can!

The first track on the album playlist to drop into the charts was the massively commercial chart tune he penned alongside Calvin Harris called ‘Dance Wiv Me’. ‘Dance Wiv Me’ offered us more than just the Dizzee Rascal we had grown to love on the other 3 albums, it offered a super commercial, flexible, dumbed down Dizzee who knew that he had 2 sets of fans too please, the undergrounders, who are as loyal to him as ever, and the main streamers, two very different audiences. ‘Dance Wiv Me’ gave Dizzee the platform to really launch Tongue N Cheek, as it was instantly taken notice of as an album in the making. That said, the collaboration with one of the hottest producers around at the moment definitely had something to do with the success of this first track.

The second track to break on ‘Tongue N Cheek’ was the one. ‘Bonkers’ was Dizzee’s party tune. This was the song of a million summers this year and I’m pretty sure if you were on a cruise ship in the middle of the Med you would still have been able to hear the party islands banging out the heavy bassline of ‘Bonkers’. With it’s catchy lyrics and super grimey bass drop it was a sure fire winner to get Dizzee’s underground following behind this album to an amazing extent. At this stage Dizzee was flying, 2 hit tracks under his belt and the album was yet to drop. Then ‘Holiday’ happened and things just got a whole lot better!

The third and final pre-release before the official album launch is a track entitled ‘Holiday’. If you haven’t heard Holiday, it’s actually really easy to imagine. All you have to do is combine the first joint, ‘Dance Wiv Me’, with the second release, ‘Bonkers’, and what you end up with is a track that pleases everybody on so many levels. ‘Holiday’, another tracked successfully and masterfully produced by the man they call Calvin Harris, is an awesome mix of a cheesy party tune, that you would expect a band such as 5ive to release, and a tune that wouldn’t be out of place in the deepest, darkest clubs of Ibiza. Ok, the lyrics are probably some of the worst Dizzee has ever written, but the way the tune turns into a monumental club house/trance track is undeniably one of the master strokes of Dizzee’s career and is guaranteed to set dance floors across the globe on fire.

With 11 tracks in total ‘Tongue N Cheek’ makes for a quality album with some high end production running through it. Other tracks to watch out for include the mighty ‘Dirtee Cash’, which heavily samples the original tune ‘Dirty Cash’ by Stevie V from back in the 1990’s and Road Rage which takes us right back to Dizzee’s Playstation 2 production grime sound from 4 years back.

Get your hands on your copy of Dizzee Rascal’s Tongue N Cheek album right now for just £8.95 with free delivery from Play.com.

]]>.....

Fast and the Furious 4

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 21:09:01 GMT

I don't know about you, but every time I watch one of the Fast and the Furious collection I find myself wanting to spend a ridiculous amount of cash souping up my motor to race against the hardest nutter I can find. This feeling only lasts for about half an hour mind, then a sudden, and often harsh return to reality sets in and I remember that I have neither the cash or the bottle to do such a thing. But the pure fact remains, these movies make me feel good and that can only mean one thing, they kick some serious ass.

In true Hollywood style Fast and Furious 4 blows the other 3 installments from this hi-octane franchise out the water, with even more fast cars, hot girls and high speed carnage, this really is what could be a blinding end to the 4 part movie collection. As expected the plot is a little light, but let's face it, if we wanted a complex storyline we wouldn't have just slipped a Vin Diesel DVD into our players now would we? In a nutshell, Paul Walker and Vin Diesel find themselves with a common problem, and against their will, have to work closely together to get their revenge. They find soon find themselves walking on very thin ice indeed and have to drive hard and fight harder to survive.

As with all good Hollywood blockbusters this one has it's fair share of super hottie's in the shape of Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster. These familiar faces are a welcome addition to the cast and are sure to keep the fellas happy when watching this flick. I mean the ladies seem to have it pretty sweet with the two leading men, so it’s only right that the guys have something to oogle during the 90 minutes of automobile mayhem.

All in all, Fast and Furious 4 probably deserves a 6 out of 10 for plot, but a massive 8 out of 10 for effort. The camera work is as slick as ever and some of the cars featured are absolutely out of this world.

You can grab yourself a copy of Fast and Furious 4 from Play.com right now for just £11.99 with free UK delivery and the current availability means it will be with you in about 48 hours. Get the popcorn in, dim the lights and sit back and enjoy this easy to follow, action packed Hollywood blockbuster, definitely one for the collection

]]>.....

Getting Fit The Good Way With Yoga

Sun, 20 Sep 2009 14:10:00 GMT

The idea of getting a toned and healthy body is great, but the thought of spending hours slogging away down the gym quite frankly makes me break out in a sweat. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm actually allergic to exercise.

Just when I was starting to feel depressed about the thought of either dieting or buying the next clothes size up, I decided to give yoga a try. Fingers crossed, i thought, hopefully Yoga will be the answer to all my prayers. So, last night I took my first steps of commitment and screamed a big goodbye to the flab and an excited hello to the new toned me.

After about an hour of my first yoga experience, which involved holding a sequence of impossible stretches and strained positions, I felt exhilarated. But beware, although yoga looks like simple exercise, it's actually a full body workout that will leave your entire body achey, after the the first few times anyway. The next day every muscle in my body felt sore. My stomach muscles were tense, my legs and arms were screaming at me, all in all I felt pretty done in, but that can only mean it worked.

Now I'm well on my way to becoming a yoga goddess and I have noticed a huge difference in so many aspects of my life, all without dropping a bead if sweat, perfect!

If you want to get into yoga, but feel a little uncomfortable about starting out in front of a class, why not just grab yourself a beginners DVD. There are plenty to choose from and all available to order online. We've hunted out a few hot yoga DVD deals and listed them below, have fun!

10 Minute Yoga Solution DVD just £3.99 with free delivery from Play.com

Yoga for Stress Relief DVD now just £8.98 with free delivery from Amazon

]]>.....

Patrick Swayze

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:58:01 GMT

Patrick Swayze recently lost his battle against Pancreatic Cancer and on the 14th September sadly past away.

His life should be celebrated as being a great American actor, singer and dancer.

Patrick shot to stardom in the 1987's hit film Dirty Dancing with Jennifer Grey. Dirty Dancing is a romance about a young woman Jennifer Grey named Baby who goes on a family holiday in the hot summer of 1963.

Patrick Swazey plays Baby's hansom dancing teacher Johnny Castle and acts the part with natural confidence and charisma.

Baby is desperate to prove she is anything but her name to the new people she meets on holiday as is keen to show she is coming of age.

Baby has lived a sheltered life from the world by her wealthy parents and is an innocent teenager excited by all that Johnny can offer. She is over whelmed by Johnny's image and persona, and before she met John she always lived in her sisters shadow, but Johnny wakes up a refreshing confidence inside her which she can not control.

When trouble in camp occurs it gives her the perfect opportunity to step into the lime light, but she soon realises that the path of self discovery she has began down means she neither fits in with her family traditions or the lifestyle of bad boy Johnny.

This classic film is so memorable and notorious that it belongs in everyone's DVD collection. It's the perfect film to watch with a group of girls or if you are in need of a pick me up, it will have you wiggling your hips and dreaming you could jump right into the tv.

You will be repeating the classic lines "I carried a watermelon" or "hey loverboy" and grinding your hips and trying to recreate the lifts in the lake.

Dirty Dancing breaks the rules and has fun doing it and can be brought from Play.com for only £3.99 so grab it now to keep the dream alive.

Our thoughts go out to Patrick's family during this tough time, you will be missed.

]]>.....

Start Budget Tracking Now

Sun, 13 Sep 2009 13:48:43 GMT

To become the ultimate manager of your finances it is important that you recognise how much money is incoming and outgoing on a regular basis. Below are 7 reasons why we should all budget.

Discipline and Organization
Being aware of your circumstances and agreeing a budget month on month can really build discipline and organisation to your finances. Having access to this information will really open your eyes and face the situation head on. Once you are aware of what's going on your subconscious will keep reminding you of your circumstances.

Subconscious Will Remind you About Money
This will be a great benefit to your financial situation as the more time you spend thinking about your finances the more focus you will have in changing your live. By having this focus you will soon find ways of saving and making money.

Close Monitoring
Becoming more familiar with your finances will help you to understand your spending habits and eventually spot trends month on month. Once you have a fuller understanding you will find time to prevent any financial disasters from appearing.

Discuss your Finance with your Family
When your finances start to become unmanageable,discussing your problems with family members may be hard to conduct. But including others in your journey will make it much easier. Sit down with the whole family an come up with ways on how you can all improve your life day by day.

Make Sure you Measure your Success
By keeping a track of your budget and writing it down. You should be able to track your progress and calculate how much of a saving you have made. Without your budgets being quantifiable the exercise is useless.

Smarter Finance Management
By keeping track of your budgets, you will become educated in your own finance, you will have more control, knowledge and confidence to take control of you life. With this powerful tools you can then begin to plan and allocate your money accordingly.

Lower Stress Levels
Knowing where you stand can really lower your stress levels because you no longer have to worry on what you can actually afford.]]>.....

10 Ways to Start Living a More Frugal Lifestyle

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:16:38 GMT

frugal lifestyle is all about so if you want to have a more financially stable lifestyle then here are ten ways to get you on the right path.

1. The Library should be your Best friend
Buying books and movies can get rather expensive and in some cases may make you go over your monthly budget. So why not take a trip to your local library. There is one in every local area so you shouldn't have to walk for too long. Libraries not only educate your mind but I can also be an entertaining experience. Pop into your local and see the latest books and movies on offer. Many libraries actually display the latest movies that have come out in the cinema so you wont have to wait that long and remember its all available free of charge. If the library may not be your thing then your second best option is to rent. Why not try Lovefilm. You will get a free two week trial where you can rent up to 4 DVDs and then thereafter you will be charged a monthly subscription.

2. Coupons in the Super Market
The next time you go shopping have a good look at the packaging of your item. Many a times companies are giving away coupons left right and centre and the general public just chuck them away. Always cut the coupon off and have a good look to see what on offer. Make a note of the expire date and keep them in a safe place like your kitchen drawer or near to where you keep your groceries bags. On your next shopping adventure you can use them and get your discount on which you truly deserve.

3. Eat In not Out
We all know that cooking daily can be a huge task especially if your working 9 to 5. Well cooking doesn't have to take that long and there a loads of budget meals that can be made in less then 20 minutes. If you do get tired on cooking daily then try making a large meal and save it over a few days or pop half of the food in the freezer and defrost when needed. I have to admit eating out is fun, but far more expensive than eating at home. So set a target on how many times you aim to eat out and try and lower it monthly. Write down the amount your spend when you do go out and try and save that money eating in

4. Pay by Direct Debit
Most companies are now asking their customers to pay by direct debit. They do so as it ensures that they will receive payment. For you, the customer, this way of payment can be a huge time saver. You can save time travelling to your local post office or save money on paying out on stamps. It too can save you on late payment fees which can cause bad credit.

5. Car Sharing
If your travel to work or college by car then reduce the amount you spend on petrol by car sharing. If you want to reduce it altogether then why not try the government scheme of riding to work. Many companies are encouraging their employees to ride to work so speak to your employer to see what they can do to save you money.

6. Home made cleaners
There are many natural ingredients that make the best cleaners. Ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda can make your home spotless in no time. Not only will it save you money by buying these ingredients its also healthier too.

7. Freebies are Everywhere
There are so many companies begging us to give their products and try and why not I say. Have a look around many a time you will find freebies directly on their websites. Have a look on Hottest Offers as we give you a list of freebies and competitions to try.

8. Use Cold Water to Wash your Clothes
Well the winter months are soon to arrive so we will all expecting our gas bills to soar through the roof so why not try to lower your electricity bill as much as possible by washing your laundry in cold water. Believe me your clothes will come out sparkly clean, and your hot water heater won't have to work as hard.

9. Turn off Your Lights
Ever forgot to switch your bedroom lights off while sitting in the living room? well if you do try cutting this habit out. You can save up to 6% off your next electricity bill by only using the lights you really need. Switch your products off by the mains and don't leave the TV on standby

10. Recycle your Clothes
If your sick and tired of wearing the same old clothes then why not give them a revamp. Using dye can give your clothes that new edge they have been bursting for and may keep you a cut above the rest.]]>.....

Living a Frugal Life

Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:11:55 GMT

Living a frugal life means managing your money more smartly and we can only really make smarter decision once we know how much money we have in the bank and how much money we need on a monthly basis. Knowing these two essential ingredients can inform you on whether you are really able to buy the car of your dreams or take that life changing holiday. The second step to financial freedom is putting a budget in place for the next up and coming months. By putting this down on pen and paper you can begin to see what goals are achievable. Once you have all these things in place you will then be able to stretch your money. Living a more frugal life is all about knowing what deals are available and knowing which ones will best suit your needs. Combining discount codes with sale items in the shops or finding the best second hand deals will become the thing of the norm for you. A frugal lifestyle is also about rediscovering your creativity and controlling your every day life. Many people think that living frugally is about being cheap, sacrificing and depriving yourself but that's not true at all, taking a stance your life and bettering your finances what a frugal life is all about.

Having a frugal mind set is it for you?So we have covered that living a more frugal lifestyle is really about taking control of your money, becoming more creative and shopping more smartly but is it really for you? Well here at Hottest Offers we truly believe it is. If you want to better your future and increase the chances of your children's life becoming more fulfilling then start living with a certain mind set. Managing your money can really help you pay off your debts, fund your children's education and travel the world. So for this to become a reality think about what you want out of life and go for it!]]>.....

Get �2000 Free

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:05:18 GMT

12 manufacturers are currently involved in the scheme and the cost to run this is now estimated at around £300 million.

If you want to benefit from this innovative scheme you will need to make sure the vehicle is a car or small van and was registered in the UK before the 31^st August 1999. The vehicle must also be registered in your name and have a current MOT certificate. In order to receive the discount you must buy from one of the registered participates of the scheme below
Manufacturers
Allied Vehicles, Bentley, BMW, Chevrolet, Citroen, Daihatsu, FIAT, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Isuzu, Jaguar, Kia, Land Rover, London Taxis International, Mazda, Mercedes Benz, MG Motor, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Perodua, Peugeot, Porsche, Proton, Renault, Rolls Royce, SAAB, SECMA UK, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Volvo, Koelliker UK Ltd, Iveco Ltd, Chrysler, Renault Trucks UK.

The scheme will last until march 2010.]]>.....

Gift Voucher

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:58:13 GMT

What is a gift voucher?
Well like a calling card gift vouchers offer you a convenient way to spend your voucher money as often as you like. So if you had £25 on your card and want to only spend £5 then you could do so and spend the rest and a more convenient time.

Expiry
Before buying a voucher in store always enquire whether there is an expiry date. Many vouchers have them so its up to you double check when the voucher runs out. Most cards will give you up to a year to purchase an item and many a time you can roll it over.

Returns
If you decide to buy your gift voucher online then you can still check the terms and conditions to be sure. Remember that most companies do not give a refund on gift cards so you have to be certain you want to buy one. As with all presents there is always a 50 to 50 chance your receiver will hate it so if you have any gift card lying around collecting dust, then give it away to your nearest friend.

Waste not want not.....]]>.....

Saving JLS Money

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:25:41 GMT

Right then, welcome to another installment of saving celebrities money, the column that picks a celeb at random and breaks down their spending habits to see how much extra money we could save them. So far we have managed to add about 2 million to David Beckham’s bank account and a whopping 5 million back in the purse of the lovely Katie Price.

Today we are going to be looking at trying to save the lovely lads from JLS some cash. If you're not familiar with the boy band JLS, or Jack the lad swing in full, they are the cheeky chappies who smashed their way through to the x-factor finals and came runners up to Alexandra Burke in 2008. The nation was wholly disappointed when the final results were announced, but everyone pretty much knew that it doesn't really matter who wins the 1 million pound recording contract as the runners up are usually the one's to grab the last minute record deal and storm the charts.

So, lets get started with the money saving, only i feel this time it's going to be a little more about warning the fella's before it's all gone as apposed to giving them a grilling for spending to much.

Don't you know we've come to far now

Just to go and try to throw it all away.....these were the iconic lines from the legendary boy band east17 and it's almost like this line was written for JLS them selves. There are a lot of similarities between east17 and JLS, there are 4 members in each, errr thats about it really, but you know what I mean. Anyway east17 had it all and fairly shamelessly lost it all, splashing the cash on wild nights out and expensive cars etc. The worst part to the east17 story is that after the band has come to the end of their road as the UK's leading boyband from Walthamstow, they lost all their hard earned money and went back to their day jobs, roofers, brickies and plasterers. Let this be a warning to you JLS, don't splurge it on women, drugs and cars cos before you know it, you'll be back in Percy Ingle asking the old lady with the pink rinse if she wants the usual. Total money saved, who knows but i think we can safely say we have saved JLS a considerable amount of east17 style embarrassment.

Have a little patience

It's clear to the country that the boy's from Take That have truly made a massive comeback and without a shadow of doubt are infinitely better the second time around. Their style has changed, the songs are more meaningful and dramatic and I for one am a big fan of there's right now. JLS have to take something away from this. What it is, I'm not entirely sure, but I reckon there are a few obvious lessons to be learned. Back in the beginning of Take That's journey to stardom they were up for anything and everything and that to me was one of their biggest mistakes. The crazy party boy nature and fast paced life caught up with them after a few quick years and ultimately led to the downfall of the group. They had it all, took it for granted and lost the whole lot, maybe not the money for all of them, but the status, the pride that came along with being at the top. JLS need to take this on board and almost work themselves round to being a more mature band, like Take That V.2, without all the drama that TT have had. They should take notes from Girls Aloud, they really seem to have cracked it. The perfect band, without the carnage and breakups which inevitably lead to the lose of everything. Total saving, again not too sure, but cutting out the rehab, breakups and drug problems has to be a good thing. Stay grounded and chilled lads and you will go far.

Let's stay together

So far the boys show nothing but unity as a group and this is going to play a massive role in the success of the band. JLS need to hold on to that togetherness and not let it slip. It sounds harsh but they need to be mindful of girls, record label bods and basically anyone who is going to tell them how great and right they are no matter what the consequences because to those types of people, it's unfortunately all about the money. Remember this lads, it's paramount to your existence as a group, especially the women part. As soon as a girl or two get involved, the group is pretty much done, this is why you need a good run, and then just like some of the best shows on TV come to and end on a high. This is obviously extremely hard to do though because as long as you are making money, the label is going to keep the JLS machine churning until it falls flat on it's face. Be very aware of this, and make a solid decision as a group right now, before you get started. Just like a gambler must know their limits, so must any good band that wants to go down in history as one of the greats. Savings off of keeping it together, hard to measure but this advice will surely be extremely valuable in the long run.

So as expected a bit of a different slant to the normal celebrity money saving articles, but fun nonetheless. Total JLS savings include embarrassment, rehab trips and crazed girl fans trying to pull the band apart.

]]>.....

Saving Katie Price Money

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:55:50 GMT

Ok, lets see how much cash we can save Katie Price in under 5 minutes shall we, here we go.

De-chav yourself

Stop with all things chav my dear, this look must be costing you an absolute fortune and it really does not look that great. The fake eyelashes, the fake tan, the fake boobs, the fake nails, the fake hair, hold on, is there any part of Katie Price that is actually real? I'm not sure there is. In fact you could probably walk into any salon and make your very own Katie Price out of the scraps laying about after a busy Saturday afternoons service.  The cost of chaving herself is about 20k a year. We reckon Katie does have natural beauty and should let it shine through, so we are going to give her a make up budget of 2k a year, that should be plenty. De-chav saving - £18,000

Come back to what you know

As we all know Katie Price is a Jack of all trades, she likes to turn her hand to anything that provides a challenge, from singing to polo playing, you name it Katie has tried it. The trouble is she isn't much cop at anything else other then getting her boobs out, so all these experimental activities are a drain on her purse. Let's take her singing for example, God only knows how much money she has spent on singing lessons, studio time, producer costs and all that stuff when she can't even sing in the first place. Mrs. Price/Andre/Reid please put your mic down and save some cash as well as our ears. Total cost of an attempt at a music career stands at a whopping £600,000, we reckon she should make do with a karaoke machine from Asda for £50 leaving a lovely saving of £599,950 – good work Jordan.

There ain't no party like an over 35's party

Seriously now Kate, you're not getting any younger and to be honest those Ibiza pictures sprawled across the papers made me feel a little queasy. You're no spring chicken my dear, and there you are acting like a binge drinking, asbo ridden 16 year old from Dagenham. All of this late night, hardcore partying is definitely adding up. I mean one thing you rarely see the Price do is settle for a night down the Dogs with the members of Blue, she likes to live it up, and that means partying abroad, large bar bills and expensive baby sitter fees, unless she has somehow hypnotized Pete into having the kids 24/7. The total cost of the Price's clubbing habit comes in at around £450,000 a year once all cost's considered. We think this could easily be cut down to just £20,000 with maybe one fairly cheap London based outing a month leaving a healthy cash saving of £430,000. That's a lot of trips to Marbella with Dane Bowers.

Today this could be the greatest day of our lives

Finding a fellow to pair up with has never been an issue for Katie Price, she seems to go through blokes like there's no tomorrow. Obviously, this has something to do with her not exactly being shy about flashing her boobs or any part of her anatomy for that matter (search: 'Jordan Ibiza' and you'll see what I'm on about). The only thing that Jordan finds a bit of a problem is figuring out which man is the one she wants to settle down with. She keeps having kids with blokes she has known for 5 minutes and doesn't really show any sign of slowing down. The big problem here is that these little nippers don't come for free and the stupid fairy tail weddings cost an absolute bomb, so we are asking you nicely Jordan, keep them shut and stay away from any aisle's, at least until you know you have found Mr. Right or someone who you think could fill that role for longer than an episode of 60 minute makeover. Total cost of nippers and wedding about 2.5 million. Find the right man and settling for a modest ceremony with no more nippers cost about £30k adding up to a saving of £2,470,000.

So there you have it, in about 5 minutes we have been able to save Katie Price a massive £3,517,950. Sorted!

]]>.....

Replace your Cleaning Products with Homemade Products

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 22:05:42 GMT

Scientists state that most detergents could actually be binned and replace with around 3 homemade products. Well with that type of statement I think most of us could make a huge saving! There are in fact around 30 household products that you could exclude from your shopping bill. So here a few facts that I learnt that could help you on your way

Vinegar is actually a natural disinfectant and can be used as an all purpose cleaner. All you need to do is add 1 part of vinegar and 1 part of water. Pop it into a spray bottle and mix well. Use it in the bathroom, to clean your toilet, bath and sink. You’ll be surprised at how sparkly the results will be. Use it in the kitchen also and give your work counter, stove top, appliances and floor a once over.

If you run out of fabric condition vinegar can be your number one choice. Add half a cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle and notice the difference. It’s great for anyone who suffers allergies from a typical detergent too so that’s more of a reason to use it. So what about the smell you may be wondering??? well according to those who use it the smell disappears in a couple of hours so best to use it at night.

Lemons can also do wonders in your home. Use it to clean brass, copper, dishes and surfaces with hard removable stains. Lemons are best used with vinegar and a bit of baking soda. Use these three ingredients and your well on your way to a powerful cleaning paste.

How much money do you think you could save if you used natural ingredients? Write in and let us know!]]>.....

�10 Meals at Pizza Express

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:16:27 GMT

.....

Saving David Beckham Money

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:20:11 GMT

Stop with the stupid haircuts

It must cost him an absolute fortune to cut his hair so many times a year, especially as he has those crazy designs going on that are always changing, this will only be adding to the overall hair cutting bill for him. I once heard a rumour that it costs Becks £1000 every single time he gets his hair cut. Lets say he chops it up every 4 weeks, you’re looking at about 13k a year just on not so good hair cuts. Get yourself some clippers from Argos my son and stick with a crop, job done.  Hair cut saving £12,980 - £20 will get you a decent pair of clippers from Argos these days.

You can only drive one at a time

Do you really need all them cars Mr. Beckham? No, in a word, no you don’t. You can only drive one at a time so why do you feel the need to have about 50 motors sitting there doing nothing for 364 days of the year? Do yourself and your bank balance a big favour and just stick with one or two. And don’t for a second think I mean one or two of the flashy one's, I’m talking G-Whizzes and Nissan Micra’s here mate. That’s it, job done.  Price of Beckhams costly car collection, about 4 million. Price of a top of the range G-whizz and Nissan Micra, about £14k. Car saving £3,986,000

Never wears them twice

Old golden balls would never dream of being seen dead in the same pair of kicks in any 2 games. This is really having a big impact on the leather industry as well as Mr. B's wallet. It has been reported by some crazy person with far too much spare time on their hands, that a Beckham pair of boots is worth about £10,000. That’s a lot of cash to only wear them for a maximum of 30 minutes a game (he's not really getting the game time he hoped lately). Lets break this down a little – Becks plays about 60 games a year say, that’s 600k in boot costs. Over half a million in football boots every year?? Dude, when I played Sunday league it was a pair of Hi-Tec’s and they had to last - £25 end of.  Boots saving £598,500 a year – we were nice and gave Dave a fresh pair of Hi-Tec's every game

Leave it out love

Time to march straight to your wardrobe Dave and get your best pair of trousers on. Oh, wait, sorry what was that?? You can't find your trousers? You damn right you can't find your trousers, your misses is wearing them. That’s right sports fans, it’s as clear a day that the lovely Mrs. B or Posh Spice to about 20 million little kids and young adults, is the true head of the family, and by the looks of it, the yearly budget as well. Well, we reckon Dave needs to regain control of his family and become the man of the house again. In doing so, he stands to save himself an absolute fortune by putting Posh on a super tight budget to live by. Lets say she needs about 2k a month, tops! Victoria Beckham’s current yearly spend sits at about 1 million. Yearly saving of £976,000.

So there you have it, in about 5 minutes we have just saved Mr. David Beckham a grand total of £5,573,480 a year. No need to thank us Dave, just send us half in the post. Cheers guv!

]]>.....

I Don�t Need A Gym Membership

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 23:03:57 GMT

For some reason I cant get my head around a gym membership, maybe I’m just lazy, but I can never find the time in the day to go. After spending a full 12 hours each day out of the house at work, the last thing I want to do is come home and head straight back out to the gym. It’s not that I don’t want to look good or get in shape or anything like that, it’s just I don’t have the time. What do I need to do to make time? Do I have to sacrifice my online work, do I have to sacrifice time at home with my family? If you have the answers to these questions, I’d love to hear from you!!]]>.....

Save a Fortune with Promotional Codes

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:06:24 GMT

“I love telling my friends about the latest online deals” say Natasha “We all share the deals that we find via email and forward them to everyone we know”. Through Hottest offers Natasha was able to save over £400 in 2008 and is planning on beating that record in 2009.

“Last year I managed to fly to Egypt through Expedia’s promotional code”. The whole trip worked out to £209 where I was lucky enough to spend the first week in a 5 star hotel.

Promotional Codes can be found all over the hottest offers website from every category. To make the best use of coupon codes only use them when you are genuinely going to buy an item. Many a time’s consumers go out of their way to buy products that they do not need spending more in the month. So have a look through the site and share the deals with your friends. Companies are now practically begging customers to buy things off their selves. So take advantage now.]]>.....

Random Promo - Gangsta Shizzle

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:17:30 GMT

Ok we have a great new random themed promo for you, this time around it's all about GANGSTA'S!!

This random themed GANGSTA promo includes:

Amazon discounts
Burton deals
Play.com offers
Halfords promos
Dixons discounts

Jackpotjoy deals

Get colouring in like a gangsta with this Gangsta Rap Coloring Book by Aye Jay Moreno on Amazon.co.uk for just £5.49

Bop to the big tunes like Paper Gangsta by Lady GaGa MP3 Download on Amazon.co.uk just 69p

Dress like a gangsta in a black suit and dappa shoes, shirt and tie from Burton for just £99 - No Joke!

Every real gangsta has a copy of Scarface on DVD or Blu-Ray. Grab yours for Play.com for just £2.99 with Free Delivery!

Proper gangstas roll up on the hottest rims - pimp your ride with these bad boy Ripspeed Atom 17's at Halfords for just £420.97

You aint gangsta unless your watching Corrie on a 42 inch Samsung lcd flatscreen and Dixons can get you just that for only £479.99

Gangsta's love to splash the cash and what better place to do that then at Jackpotjoy - get splashing big spender!!

That's it for now - get involved with all the offers above or wake up next to a horses head! You think we're joking?

]]>.....

Make Money through Child Modelling

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:55:28 GMT

The most successful children are those who are well behaved, cute and sociable, so preparing your child early can be a great start. First steps will be seeking a professional child modelling agency. Doing your research on agencies is a must as there are many companies out there who may ask for upfront fees for portfolios with no results at the end. Signing up with a popular agency is a must and the best way to start your research is with an independent watchdog called ALBA Model. This watchdog will give you a list of agencies around the country with a breakdown of location. Here you can call each agency and ask them questions of what you should expect. You should never go out of your way to make professional photo unless you have some at home already. Many agencies accept holiday photo or general photos at first. As long as they can see your child measurements that should be sufficient.

Once the agency has a photo they may ask you to bring your tot to an interview. You will need to ensure your child is happy, clean and with a spare change of clothing. Always dress your child in the best outfits that you have to stand out from the crowd. Each agency will have a modelling book with all of their candidates in place. To get your baby in this book, professional photos will be a must with an additional fee. Once you’re in the book this will be given to companies all over the UK. Be ready for a whole load of casting, auditions and photo shoots. Most of these activities will be on the weekend but there maybe one or two days were they may clash with school.

Modelling is defiantly a great start in increasing your child saving and can be a great way to show them the value of money.]]>.....

Eat for a �1

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 22:30:46 GMT

According to food specialist the average family spends £100 a week. It is possible to lower your spend to £28 a week with the right processes. An easy way to cut your spending is to make your meals from scratch which gives your body a healthier boost.

Eat lots of vegetables
When the credit crunch first appeared meat was the first forms of food to increase. In 2007, on average chicken cost £1.96 in 2008 the prices increased by 76% to £3.50. By cutting out meat from your diet at least twice a week you can save you up to 77%. Vegetable doesn’t have to be boring in the kitchen and there are many recipes that can be found online to spice things up.

Eggs can make a lovely meal.
They really can do wonders to your meal and theirs loads of things that can be made in the kitchen. Try making omelettes, scrambled eggs, quiche and more as a few ideas. They say eggs are very healthy and low in saturated fats so excellent for those with cholesterol problems. You can pick up eggs relatively cheap from small corner shops which roughly works out to 10p a egg.

Lentils
Lentils are designed to give you protein, Vitamin B and better cholesterol levels because of its goodness. Many women are encouraged to eat more during their pregnancy as medics state that lentils lower the chances of birth defects. Buy lentils for 80p per kg and makes exotics soups, curries, and stuffed vegetables.

Potatoes
Potatoes are great for giving you low fat energy and vitamins. There are hundreds of recipes that can be found on the net like jacket, mash, boiled, fried potatoes and more. Potatoes cost of average 50p per kg and last quite long in the home.

If you’re looking to lower your costs in the supermarket check out our previous post on how to watch out for those supermarket tricks]]>.....

Buy Cheaper Theatre and Concert Tickets

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 22:19:45 GMT

When a big star announces their tours the first people on the scene are ticket touts. There people are organised and willing to make a quick buck so they buy the ticket and sell it on a distributor website or face to face. A ticket is never really worth paying more than its actual value. Imagine if you bought your ticket from a tout and the performer cancels the show? You will more than likely lose the money you paid and never see the seller again. So what do you do to ensure you get your ticket at the right price?

Organisation

get organised and find out a list of up and coming events that takes your interest. Have a look at the artist’s official website, they will usually write a note informing fans. Once you have figured out the dates try and find out the main distributor. Ticketmaster has grown from strength to strength over the years and currently are one of the main distributors in the UK. If your choice in entertainment swings more to theatre productions then prices usually have a more diverse range of structures dependant on the seating position. Sometime theatre sell cheap tickets first thing in the morning so contact them directly to see if there are any particular deals you can take advantage of.

Always shop around before making a commitment in buying you’re the ticket sometimes you may find cheaper deal through sites like Ebay or Gumtree but remember to be cautious as again you may not be covered if the concert or theatre tickets get cancelled for any reason. ]]>.....

Make More Money and Find a New Job

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 21:44:13 GMT

Finding a new place of work can be both liberating as well as a fresh start. There are a number of ways to find the most suitable position for you. First of all it’s always worth contacting your local job centre or careers advice on positions out there for you to try. If you’re looking for a complete career change then the centre can help to identify your strengths and analyse your personality traits.

Here is a list of some useful sites that can help you on your way of breaking free

London jobs have a list of jobs available from all industries. Many are reliable companies who list their positions in the hope of saving money by cutting out the middle man. Usually these companies are agencies who act on their behalf. If you can’t find anything on this site then try the guardian online. They have a column dedicated to finding the perfect job from anywhere in the UK.

Monster first founded in the US and now servicing the UK have a huge list of positions across a variety of industries. Monster allows you to save your CV via their website that can then be viewed by prospect employers. You can also read advice on the market, how to conduct interviews and everything else that you can think of related to finding a new job.

Total jobs are also a part of the totaljobs group whom are very similar to monster. Through the site you can create email notifications on specific job alerts, saving time.

If you’re looking for a bit more face to face contact then try contacting specialist recruitment agencies. Agencies are particularly beneficial in speeding up the turnaround time in getting to that first interview. In addition to this, agencies may have close relationships with key companies in the industry. You’re more likely to find yourself in an interview before it as actually been publically advertised.

Before you start looking for a new role it is best to revise you CV. A CV should be very concise and straight to the point. Professionals tend to recommend that a CV should be no longer then two pages. Everyone’s CV style is different but if you’re looking for a more familiar CV template then start of by providing your name and contact details. Give a brief overview of your education starting from the most current level. Next, enter your last job role and a brief description with values you have learnt whist there. Follow on with your interest and referees at the end.]]>.....

Grab Free Money from Grants

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 18:42:55 GMT

Education

education is the place where most grants are available it doesn’t matter if your young or old as there are grants out there for all. If you are in full time education there is some financial support available. If you pay the full tuition fee of £3,225 then you will be eligible to apply for a maintenance grant. This grant is for those who are suffering from financial hardship. Your university will give you £319 bursary but in some cases you could be in a position of receiving more as £800 is actually available. I would recommend that anyone should try to apply for this grant as there are no special rules on what hardship actually is. You will of course need to supply proof that you have no money so be prepared to show at least three month worth of bank statements. All universities have a scholarship fund that encourages student to work that little bit harder. Most universities have at least twelve different scholarships available so if you’re planning on going to university for the next academic year or currently in university then find out what’s available and how you can work towards receiving this money.

Current students thinking about studying for part of their course abroad could do so through Erasmus scheme. It allow you to take part in one of the 30 European countries so essentially you get free money to travel and learn about a new culture while you’re there.

Over 16 learning Grants
the governed also grants those who wish to continue their studies. You will need to be from a family who earns less than £32,300 a year but if successful you will receive a cheque of £30 a week throughout your academic year. For those over 19 who have not entered higher education before an Adult Learning Grant is available to encourage you to stay. Again you get paid £30 a week. You could also take advantage of the Assembly Learning Grant who may pay up to £1,500 for you to study. You should take note that not all college participate in these schemes so before applying find out the nearest educational institute that does. In addition your local council may offer an educational grant so find out from them if there is any scheme available whist applying.

Individuals

if you are over 25 weeks pregnant then you will be entitled to £190 from the Health in Pregnancy Grant. In addition to this you could be eligible for The Sure Start Maternity Grant.
For those who have low income or have lost their jobs and have dependants under 18 the Save the Children charity have a few grants available that will give you money on a weekly basis. There is money that can help clothe your children for school and some extra money for milk and school dinners etc. If your family earns under £66,000 a year then there are some grants available to find out further details pop down to your local job centre to see what your council provides.

Check out the next post of grants available in the UK soon.]]>.....

Make Money through Surveys

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:21:48 GMT

If you take part in a survey a company may be willing to pay you 10p to £3 for your answers. Usually they will package this as gift vouchers or via PayPal to ensure you receive the money safely. It’s important to note that some survey may be very detailed and you may be required to complete more than you have bargained for. But at the end of it all if your keen to give it a try you can earn around £200 a year. Once you receive your vouchers you can use them as extra presents for Christmas or birthdays.
So if you’re thinking of giving it a go then the best thing to do it set yourself up with a new email account. You will be in updated with many surveys so none will go missing with your new email address. There are many different survey sites to choose from and some may ask for a registration fee. I would advise that you stay away from these types of companies as you’re not guaranteed that what you put in, you will get back, plus there are loads to choose from so why pay? As soon as you make some money and reach the threshold, transfer your money to your bank account and enjoy the money. A lot of survey companies tend to close down so making sure your transfer your money as soon as you can.
When filling out survey always be honest, as you will be more valuable to the company. In addition keep a record of all the survey you do complete just in case the company miscalculate your commission. Most of the commission may be tax free unless you start making some serious money. If that’s the case the tax man will take a third of your commission.

So here a few companies worth checking out

If you’re looking for a company that payout fast then try Lightspeed. They have a low threshold of £1 and survey take around 20 minutes to complete. If you’re looking for smaller survey then the best one to try is OnePoll. They tend to ask quite fun questions and all you have to do is log onto their site daily to answer surveys. Panelbase is another great company to try they have a threshold payout of £10 with really short surveys.

So make some extra income through surveys.]]>.....

Swine Flu and Travelling

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:11:46 GMT

High temperature over 38 degrees
chills
muscle ache
sudden cough
sore throat
diarrhoea and stomach upset
runny nose and sneezing
loss of appetite

Contact your local GP and stay indoors to limit the chances of affecting others. Your GP will send a qualified doctor or nurse to confirm the symptoms.

If you already have the virus it is not advisable that you travel. Currently many airports have introduced a screening. BA and virgin were the first to introduce this and have the right to refused travel for those who have symptoms.
If you’re preparing for your holiday you need to ensure that you have protected yourself financially

Travel Insurance

it’s always best to have one. If you buy your travel insurance before contracting the virus you will defiantly be covered. Take your policy out straight away if you decide to purchase single trip insurance. This covers you for one of holiday. If you have annual insurance which is a policy that covers you for a year’s worth of travel, make sure you start your policy at least two weeks before you go away!

Whether you have a single or annual policy, check that the policy covers you for cancelation and Pandemic Exclusion. The swine virus is classed as a pandemic virus so it’s vital the pandemic exclusion is a part of your policy.

For those who are travelling to European it is advised to apply for an EHIC Card as extra protection. This card entitles you to discounted medical cover in EU hospitals. Pick up and application from your local post office.

If you have already caught the virus and are preparing for a holiday then contact your insurer. They will need official proof from your doctor that this is the case. ]]>.....

Ways Not to Overspend in the Supermarket

Sun, 26 Jul 2009 15:10:41 GMT

Before you leave, have a look around your cupboard and make a note of the items that you have not used as yet. Many a times you may have tins that are stuck to the back and forgotten about. These lonely items are usually the ones that may pass its sell by date if left any longer, so placing it at the front of the cupboard and making a note of the next dish you could incorporate it in will be useful. Once you have done this make a new list of all the items that you will specifically need from the supermarket. Once you have made a list of the essentials keep to this list and try not to buy anything more. Supermarkets have their own sales technical so look out for a few highlighted below

Buy one get one free
These may seem like great deals but are they really? If you’re not so good at numbers why not take a calculator with you and double check these promotions, you may find that another brand actually works out cheaper than the buy one get one free deal. Supermarkets tend to have their own brands in store and most times these brands are cheaper than their competitors and many a times they taste exactly the same.

General Promotions
Sometimes you find certain items being promoted that not actually in the category along the aisle you would expect. These items with their promotions are designed to lure you in to buy that bit more.

Extra items at the till counter
While you’re waiting to pay for you goods you may realise that your counter is filled with extra goodies likes sweets, chewing gum and magazines. This is usually the supermarket extra sale to get you to purchase one last item before paying for your good.

Supermarkets can be very convenient buying everything under one roof however many of the items can actually be purchased cheaper from your local markets and newsagent. When possible give your local markets a chance. Most of the time your fruit and vegetables will look much healthy and last that bit longer.]]>.....

Loyalty Rewards Scheme Top Tips

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:56:40 GMT

There are hundreds of loyalty card schemes out there and finding one that suits you best is a choice that only you can make! You have to think about if you are actually going to benefit from the collection of points, in other words, will you spend enough money in the store to make it worthwhile collecting the points and actually be rewarded appropriately. The standard loyalty scheme works off the default premis that the more you spend, the more points you collect, the bigger the saving you make come redemption time. My only issue with the bulk of loyalty schemes out there is that you have to spend a hell of a lot more than you can ever save. In this article ill outline a few simple steps to make sure you are getting the most out of your chosen loyalty card. However, one thing that you must be aware of before entering into any loyalty agreement is that, this is not just a tool that rewards you the customer. The respective retailer also stands to make a lot of incremental revenue out of having you as part of their loyalty program. How? The obvious is that they make more money because you keep coming back and spending money at their stores. The not so obvious is that they are able to gather large amounts of information from your shopping habits and purchasing data. They can see what you buy and when you buy it, so they can target you with relevant offers in the future.

One of the first steps to making sure you are getting the most out of your chosen loyalty scheme is to look for the deals that actually benefit the customer higher than normal. So pick out the products that give extra points if you buy them. To be a successful loyalty card user you cant really afford to be attached to a particular brand, as you need to be able to alter your buying habits to make the most of your reward card. For example, lets say you are keen on a certain type of shampoo but that shampoo is not on special offer with additional points, however its direct competitor is. In this case, if you are serious about collecting as many points as possible, you should opt for the competitors brand of shampoo.

The second step to making sure you get the most out of your loyalty card is to see if they reward you for spending outside of their normal partners. Most of the loyalty schemes running today have a web based platform which enables you to collect points at hundreds more retailers online, possibly even one's you didn't know you could collect at. So the second step is to check with your loyalty provider and see who they are partnered with online. A great example of if this is Nectar Estores. Nectar have a rather famous relationship with Sainsburys, and this is where most people collect their points at. But thousands of Nectar users are being much smarted than that and actually collecting points online at Nectar Estores with the likes of Play.com, eBay and many many more.

The third tip, is to make the most of the partner card option. If you are married or have a relationship with someone, you can start collecting as a team, meaning that you have twice the buying power and greater potential to earn points. Most loyalty schemes have the option to link a second card to your account, which acts as a partner card. This is a really great, free way to boost your earning potential in the blink of an eye.

So to summarize, make sure you buy the products with the largest rewards attached. Look at the loyalty providers website for any partnerships you were unaware off, you never can tell which retailers you can earn at without checking their website. And finally, if you have the option to add a second card to your account and have a willing partner than make sure you take this opportunity to increase your earning potential. Thats all for now, good luck and happy shopping.

]]>.....

Invest in your Future

Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:44:56 GMT

When you do retire the state will give you a helping start but it really won’t help that much. In 2009 the current weekly allowance for a pensioner is £90.70 and £145.05 for a couple. If you compare that to your current earning, you will defiantly have to cut back on your spending. In 2010 the government are changing it regulations on qualifying for a full state pension. The changes that they propose you enforce will actually benefit most of the population as now they will be lowering the amount of years you will need to contribute to your pension to only 30 years.

A lot of pensions companies are now reassessing they pension packages and what may have been quite generous before may not be so in the near future. Many pension companies may calculate your pension based on a percentage of your salary, multiplied by your qualifying years of work. These pensions are best known as final salary schemes. If you are a new member to a pension company you may be introduced to the scheme named contribution pension scheme. You company pay contribution a certain percentage like 5% and you will contribution the rest some companies cab the amount you can save by up to 15%.

If you are unsure what pension scheme is available to you ask your employer straight away. If a pension scheme is not available seek help from a financial advisor who will be able to recommend a private pension for you to join.

]]>.....

Make Money and Turn 20p into �50

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:23:56 GMT

I’ll be hunting high a low just in case.]]>.....

Dont Get Your Wallet Bitten This Summer

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:19:13 GMT

This summer's heat wave has been fabulous and a real welcome change to the past couple of summers that we have had in the UK. However us Brits can't help but whinge about one think or another and the current topic on everyones lips has been that the temperature and would you beleive it - it's too hot for us to handle. Whether we are complaining about the trains reaching boiling or we are too sticky and hot to sleep blar blar blar etc. These moans seem incredibly petty and I am sure that other countries must think we are never satisfied and love a good whine. Well there is one thing that I have to complain about and it's something that this hot weather has brought on... It's the annoying sound of buzzing, no not a medical issue, a wasps nest next to my bedroom window! Imagine my horror when I was woken by a wasp buzzing in my left ear - Aghh I have never jumped out of bed so fast. Now my bedroom is south facing which means I have the sun beating on the windows all day and it gets stuffy and scorching in there and sleeping with the windows closed is not really an option. The fan is not a good solution as its loud blows my hair in my face stopping me from nodding off, so not only am I hot but, I am seriously bothered at the moment.

The more people that I speak to about my wasps nest have said that they know of someone else with a similar problem and that pest infestations are becoming much more common. One thing to be thankful for is that I don't have an infestation of rats, cockroaches, mice or flies like some people are having problems with. In fact the government estimate that thousands of people will be effected by pests this year and it will cost homes hundreds to get rid of them. They also believed that there are an estimated 70 millions rats in Britain and 80 per cent of these live in sewers ie just a few meters away from doorways.

If you have discovered a nest of unwanted creature, then call your local council for advice and information on how to get rid of them. The council will be able to tell you how much this will cost, note if you are on benefits then you can get a massive reduction in the cost, for example it would cost £15 to get rid of a rats nest if you are on benefits as the normal price is £98. I have booked in to have an exterminator to spray the wasps nest outside of my window, I was concerned that at £44 at this might be fairly expensive as I suspect I have morethen one nest, but fourntunately the cost is one off per property. If you can't afford to get your wasps nest removed straight away then I recommend fixing some netting to the inside of your PVC window. This cost me a couple of pound and has allowed me to open the window letting the air in and pests out.

Preventive measures for the future include, sealing up possible hiding places for pests to make homes, fill up any small gaps in the brick work, keep rubbish in the bins, replace broken drain covers to stop rats coming up from the sewers.

Good luck and remember don't panic if you find pest have made home in your house there are plenty of products that B&Q have that you can buy to get them out!!!!

]]>.....

Making Money Tips

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:23:58 GMT

Believe in yourself.

The first most important thing when approaching this subject is confidence. Believing in your abilities and the value that you bring to your company should be the first start. If you do not believe in your abilities then why should your employer?

Plan ahead.

Before approaching your employer, it is always best to do a little research. Finding out what you should be entitled to is always a good plan. By contacting recruitment agencies and looking through job vacancies you can get a pretty good idea of what other candidates are being offered. This will give you a benchmark on what salary you will aim for and negotiate with your employer.

Your accomplishments

remember you would have built up a lot of strengths since joining your company so you will need to home in on all the tasks that you have completed and interesting things you haven’t learnt that a newer employer couldn’t possibly know. If there are anything that stands out that has made your company more money them take note of those achievements too.

Set up a meeting

Timing can be ever so important at these times. If you have recently impressed your boss, strike whilst the iron is hot. Approach your manager in a professional way and put a meeting in the diary. Once you are in the meeting remember to stay focus. In your opening speech I would suggest you tell your employer how much you have enjoyed working for the company, and then highlight the skills and value that you are bringing to your company. As a closing statement you should ask for a pay reconsideration. Always state what you are expecting to receive so your manager knows and doesn’t have to guess.

Stay positive

Sometime companies genuinely cannot afford to give any extra money, so you could be faced with a no. If that is the case, request a timeline of when your employer feels money maybe available so you can both revisit the subject. If your employer feels that at this current moment they would like to decline the offer, again ask for a plan of action to work towards your pay rise. What extra abilities would your employer like to see from you? Together you can make a work plan to achieve these goals. Your employer may decide that the answer is yes so be appreciative of their commit to you. Whatever the outcome stay positive.]]>.....

Helpful Tips to Keep Your Food Fresh for Longer

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 19:35:21 GMT

Here are some useful tips to keep our food staying fresh and healthy.

The Freezer is defiantly your Friend

When in doubt freeze your food. Some of the obvious items that go off in most homes are the loaf of bread. I use to be a big loaf waster until I realised that each and every week I was chucking more than half the bread away. When you buy your food always look at the sell by date and assess on whether you feel you can eat it. If not, your freezer will do a tremendous job of preserving it for you until you’re ready to eat it. Keep these steps in mind and you will see the benefit of the change you have saved in your pocket. Another help tip for those we over cook, place your leftover food in a container and pop it in the freezer it will taste brand new the next time you take it out.

Preserving Milk

By placing your milk in a glass bottle it actually helps it to last that bit longer. That’s why you find that your milkman’s milk always lasts a little longer than the supermarkets brands. If you don’t have that luxury and buy your milk from the supermarket, then gently remove the milk and place it in a jar. Another good tip you should know is always place you milk on the shelf and not on the door. Milk needs a constant temperature so when you do place this on the door you tend to find the milk may give off a funny smell, indicating its coming to the end of its life.

Jars

if you ever open a jar and do not finish the substance then pop it into the fridge. To preserve your substance from going mouldy place the jar upside down and stand it on the lid. This will trap any air inside limiting the mould to appear.

Honey so sweet

have you ever found that when you have honey that has been laying in the cupboard it may go harder and sugary? Well, if you do, just pop it in the microwave to give it that runny consistency again

Longer lasting vegetables

don’t wash them!!! It may sound disgusting but your vegetables only need to be washed when you’re actually going to eat them. For example lettuce is one of the main culprits that once washed, turns bad within days. Vegetables like this come in bags from the supermarkets. These bags have been designed to preserve them as long as possible. Keep it in its original packaging until you need to use it, and if you do not use it all, pop it back exactly the way you found it.

Happy preserving]]>.....

Limit Your Hay Fever Suffering and Spend Less

Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:57:40 GMT

Before deciding on the right drug, a list of precautions should be made to limit your suffering. We suggest
•    Keeping windows closed when you're indoors and overnight.
•    Don't mow the lawn during high pollen counts
•    Use wraparound sunglasses to keep pollen out of your eyes.
•    Have a shower when you get home and change your clothing.
•    Put Vaseline around each nostril to trap pollen.
•    Wash your hands and face regularly.
•    Avoid hanging clothes outside when pollen levels are high.

There are three types of ways you can combat hay fever. This is done through the use of tablets, nasal sprays and eye drops. I personally think tablets are the best way to go, as it combats all symptoms in one, however everyone is different and so are our reactions.

Year on year I stock up on the latest hay fever tablets which can become very costly but this year I decided to try and find the cheapest hay fever tablets that still cured my illness. My doctor tends to proscribe the cetirizine tablet which works rather well for me. The drug is call antihistamines and can be found in all chemists. Zirtex uses the same ingredients and can cost around £7 for 7 tablets. By shopping in boots you could actually buy their own brand with the exact ingredients for 96p for 7 tablets. Another main brand found in most chemists is Clarityn. This brand costs around £8.99 for 30 tablets. Again, boots sells their value tablets for around £4 for 30 tablets. If you’re more of an eye drops user then ingredients such as sodium cromoglicate, tend to work quite well and sell for around £4.69 in the shops.

For more natural ways to combat these symptoms try Qu-Chi acupressure bands Users say they help tremendously so pick this up at Amazon for just £9.95. Natural remedies such as local honey, nettle tea, and vitamin C can also be a big help.

All remember you may be entitled to receive free prescriptions if you are a student, unemployed, retired or on a lower wage. So all in all identifying the ingredients that work well for you can do you wonders in finding those cheaper unnamed brands who use the exact same ingredients.

Good Luck]]>.....

Halfords Sale Now On

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:51:12 GMT

.....

Hottest Offers Discount Shopping Live

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:45:49 GMT

.....

Save Money on International Calls

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:33:03 GMT

Recently the EU banned all roaming charges enabling mobiles customers the chance to save 31p a minute. For a typical call you will now be charged 37p a minute. Vodafone were very vocal about stopping roaming charges in EU from this summer. So if you’re thinking of using a provider we would recommend this network for now. This promotion will finish on the 31st August and if you are currently a Vodafone customer then you have to opt in to receive free roaming. Contact Vodafone for more information on this.

International Sim Card

These Sim Cards have been in the market for five years now and are gaining in popularity. The main reason for this is you can receive calls for free and in addition you are charged a fraction of the cost of making a call. The card uses a global provider so calls are much cheaper than mobiles and national providers. Buy one on the cheap from Carphone Warehouse

Don’t forget you can still use the traditional way of calling home through a phone card. You can buy all sorts of cards in the UK and it’s the same abroad. But knowing which one to buy can be the tricking thing, so try looking out for the planet phonecards. This company is quite big in the market and is seen in most countries. They are competitively prices so you know you’re going to be getting the minutes you would suspect.

Use the Internet

Using the internet is probably the cheapest form of communication there is. Through VOIP technology users can talk to other PC users for as long as you want. Once of the best known companies that provide this service is Skype, the sister company of eBay. You can call other Skype members for free and see each other via your webcab. It’s very similar to msn but the technology gives a much clearer picture and sound quality.

This is the best time to start calling your family and friends if you’re heading to Europe so don’t forget they have lowered their charges!]]>.....

Keep Entertained on the Cheap This Summer

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:10:58 GMT

Relaxing in the sunshine always makes me happy and if you’re stressed from life challenges then some good old UV rays can really help to fix your blues.

I'm really thankful for the hot spells we have encountered over the past two weeks and I’ve really made the most of them on a tight budget. So here’s hoping we have some more great weather and if you’re stuck for ideas then here a few to get you in the mood

Family and Friends Picnics in the Park Celebration

I would have to say I have quite a busy life especially on the weekend and like most of my friends it sometime hard to see each other on a regular basis So why not make a effort once a month and take it in turns to organise a get together. It really does work for my friends and I and if you’re in the same situation, try organising a big get together in the park this month.

With such warm sunshine last weekend we couldn't resist but to have a picnic in Regent’s Park as the grounds are so beautifully huge. So grab all your friends and friends of friends and head down for some relaxation. To make things cheaper, organise for everyone to bring a dish so it’s a real homemade picnic on the cheap. To finish your day off have some competitive fun like a game of rounder’s I was surprised at how much fun it really was.

Summer festivals and events

On the 2nd August 2009 Burgess Park located in south London are hosting a Latin American Carnival Procession. It will be full of fun, colour, traditional food and lots and lots of music. On the 9th August 2009 head down to Ealing to hear some south Asian music. There will be lots of stalls to buy food and clothes. Listen to the traditional bhangra music and really feel the bollywood theme.

UK Beaches

If you really want to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life then the UK has many beautiful beaches to visit. I took a stroll up to Bamburgh, Northumberland which according to the independent newspaper is one of the best beaches to visit in the UK and I would totally agree with that statement. The sea feels amazingly clean for the UK and the beach is as smooth as anything. If you’re thinking of visiting, then stay at the local B&B’s. Many are located on the seafront and have a starting price of £35 a night.

Hopefully all is not lost with the British weather and we regain the beautiful sunshine.]]>.....

Review of The Lovely Bones By Alice Sebold

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 22:59:49 GMT

This book has the power to capture any reader from the first line to the last. With it's truly moving story it makes you shiver with fear and cry with sadness but also smile at glimmers of life. Above all after reading Lovely Bones you will appreciate life and treasure every moment that passes seeing it with fresh eyes. This promises to be a great read.

The Lovely Bones is written from the perspective of Susie Salmon an innocent 14 year old girl, who has her whole life ahead of her, until she was rapped and murdered. Chillingly Susie trusted her killer and had no idea of the unspeakable crimes that this person had committed and would do to her. The murderer had planned every part of her death and left no evidence, accept for her elbow which fell from their bag of her body parts, as she was carried to her lonely grave - Yes "body parts" Sick Guy!

This book is a real thriller, your adrenaline levels with be sky high, desperation to guide her family and the police to the clues and avoid getting killed in the mean time. Alice Sebold transports you to life in the 1970's and the characters jump off the pages at you and you imagine family life 30 years ago. I can't recommend this read more, I was blown away by it and my body was shaking with nerves when reading it!!!!!! This book especially touched me as I lost someone very close to me 6 months ago and found their death very hard to accept and let go of.

Reading the Lovely Bones allowed me to feel close to this person and understand that are now well and at peace. While reading this book a strange thing happened to me. One evening (after a mega stressful day) I was standing outside a bar in a circle of pretentious stuck up people when I felt a strong distinct push on my arm, I asked the person who I was with if they touched me and they said no. A moment later I felt the same push on my arm and again asked the person with me if they touched me again they said but look offended and as if i was going slightly insane. This happened a total of 4 times and I felt this strong feeling that it was the person in my life who had died pushing me away and telling me to leave the bar and go home. In the past if I had ever felt something like this I would have put it down to a weird muscle twitch and nothing more. After reading the Lovely Bones I could not help but wonder if it could be or might be a sign that the dead never really leave us and life goes on?... Spooky yes before you read this book but after its a comfort.

I really hope that you read The Lovely Bones and enjoy it as much as I did! You can buy it now from Amazon for £4.92.

Also Watch this space as in December Lovely Bones is being turned into a Blockbuster starring Mark Walburg!!!!!

]]>.....

Discounts, Deals and Sales Round Up 7th July 09

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:18:18 GMT

Hello and welcome the the new weekly (or sometimes more often) round up of the very best deals and discounts posted on the HottestOffers.co.uk webite. The purpose of these blog posts is to make it nice and easy for you to see the hottest deals that we currently have from the biggest retailers online in the UK. This week we have entried from Ann Summers, Amazon, La Senza and many many more. So don't delay, read on for more information on our biggest deals this week.

First up we have this cracker from Ann Summers offering you the very best in Ann Summers Discount Codes, then we featured some amazing savings from Amazon giving you great deals like this - Cheap Amazon Swingball and Amazon Ben 10 Discounts. We also had some really cool deals from La Senza including Buy 5 La Senza knickers for £5 and a massive 10% off the Pussycat Dolls range at La Senza.

We have hundreds of other great deals including 50% off electricals at Asda so make sure you check back with HottestOffers.co.uk before you buy anything online!

]]>.....

Save Money Don't Fall For The Online Dating Promise

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:52:29 GMT

Guys and girls need to read this because it's a really quick money saving article that is sure to save you a packet on online dating and keep you a little safer! If you're thinking about taking a look or even subscribing to one of the better known dating services online then make sure you have all you're facts straight. It's NOT a sure thing, and know matter what's the adverts say, it really is quite difficult and potentially dangerous to find the person of you're dreams over the internet. It's not impossible, but is most definitely a long shot.

A lot of men and women are being persuaded into joining these dating services by all kinds on advertising promises, some including money back guarantees after a certain period of unlucky in loveness and some boasting to have so many men or so many women subscribed that they need you too join just to balance the numbers! These employed tactics are obviously extremely effective for them as one of the more popular online dating websites is now running the same advertising campaign again.

Now, im a taken fellow so I understand it's easy to comment from my position, but all I am asking is that you show a little caution when dating online, and are looking to spend a lot of money doing it, as there are so many people out there looking to take you for a ride and exploit you for anything you have, trust me, I have seen it first hand and it's an awful shame for the victim involved! Here are a few tips to help you along the way:

Make sure you know what you are signing up to - some of these services may have hidden charges or rolling trails that automatically start charging you after a period of time.

Take care with who you meet - just verifying them on facebook or some other social network is not enough as these profiles are easily forged. Make sure the dating service has varified the ID's of all invovled including age and image, and yes that means you to. If the service doesn't ask you for any valid ID, then that shows just how easy it is for any random to join under a different persona.

Finally make sure if you do commit to meeting with someone, you meet in a busy, public place, even think about taking a friend and ask your date to do the same. You really need to be 100% comfortable that you are meeting in a safe environment. Make sure there are plenty of other people around. Meet in a busy bar, dont leave your drink unattended and arrange with a friend a time that you will be back, and make sure your date knows someone is expecting you.

These are all steps that will save you money and keep you safe in the big world of online dating. Take care and have fun!!!!

]]>.....

Travel cheaper around London

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:35:36 GMT

National Express is another great site to use when looking for those cheap deals. They too have those lovely £1 deals so book your coach seat anywhere in the UK and if your luckily you can find those dream tickets. In addition Nation rail give their customers many promotions throughout the year so if you sign up to their newsletter you will find out first.

I have been told with everything you have to be very quick as they get snapped up pretty fast but still the opportunities are defiantly there. If you aren’t quick enough for the newsletter lucky dip then sign up to their family deals called 2plus2. It is an annual pass for £16 a year that allows two adults and two kids to travel and the kids travel for free. You can also go for the rail card that works out to £26 for the year and gives two adults up to a third off and 60% off children’s fares.

Virgin has a great promotion on travel from London to Manchester. Get a ticket for £8 one way, so you can shop during the day and go clubbing at night. If you are a current Virgin credit card holder then you will be entitled to 10% virgin train fares at any time. Virgin also states that if you are traveling in a group you can save up to 85% off your travel so work out the best times and book your ticket early to get those rock bottom prices.

If your thinking of traveling across Europe and want to find a ticket supplier to purchase tickets before-hand then try Rail Europe, they sell tickets for most European countries including cheap tickets for Eurostar. They also have great promotions sometimes unrelated stuff like discount vouchers for clothes so while on holiday why not shop till you drop. If you book online you can save £8 off your deal through them.]]>.....

Money Saving Ideas For Some Me Time

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 21:14:56 GMT

Us girls do enjoy our treatments, its what makes working worth while, for once a month or so to treat ourselves to a new hairstyle, make-over, pedicure, manicure etc etc. It is total relaxation and a guilty indulgence especially in these times where money is tight and we have to make what we have go further. So although it hurts us to admit it but these treats are the first things that have to go as are seen as not a necessity but a pleasure.

Although one could argue that this is a matter of opinion, in my view these treatments are a necessity and I am sure I am not alone in thinking this. They keep us going and motivated for the long working hours of the month ahead, they make us easier to live with and more pleasing on the eye.

Because of all of the above I was pleasantly surprised to learn that my local Hair and Beauty College have just released a leaflet explaining what treatments they have on offer and a price list. They also operate an appointment system from Monday to Friday. Fantastic news for us girls as the treatments on offer are at a fraction of the cost although the students that carry out the treatments are fully supervised by a qualified trainer and are also in their final year so will be let loose on us all soon anyway.

The treatments include facials including steam facial massage and mask for £10, would be £30/£40 usually.

G5 body treatment; which is a vibratory massage to help break down cellulite for £5. A full body massage for £12, and a full set of nail extensions for £10 to list just a few.

They carry out skin tests where required 24 hours before tinting and perming, and use all well known good products

It is definitely worth checking out and seeing if your local Beauty College works a similar system, then try out I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised as I have been, and no more feeling guilty!

]]>.....

The Revival of the Car Boot Sale

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:08:07 GMT

Car Boot Sales were born in the 80`s/90`s and for me reached their peak quite soon after they appeared. I haven’t been near one for many, many years until today. The reason for staying away was due to the amount of junk that people were trying to sale, items that the majority of us would throw away, and these kind of stalls or boots of cars were on the increase.

Today I was persuaded to attend a car boot sale at Leysdown in Kent, after many deliberations I agreed. It was a fantastic sunny morning and I was quite happy to go along for the ride more than anything else.

I was pleasantly surprised when we arrived and I found good quality of items on at least 75% of the stalls. Obviously people have woken up and realised you cannot just palm off undesirable merchandise; it has to be of good quality and appealing to most.

My interest grew as we moved up and down the rows of cars, and I started to think actually I could get myself a bargain or two here. In this day of tightening our belts and those dreaded words that just seem to role off of everyone’s lips whatever the topic “the credit crunch”, a bargain is definitely not to be sniffed at. Suddenly my mind started wandering and I was imagining all kinds of reasons as to why I should have whatever was being sold. You really can get carried away but luckily I snapped out of it and only bought items that I actually needed.

First of all I hit the plant stalls, I love plants and needed two to finish off a particular part of the garden. I couldn’t believe the quality and the price. I bought two large new guineas of bright pink which are ideal for what I needed; £1 each what a bonus, these would be at least £4 to £5 in a garden centre. I then found two brand new camping lights that I needed for my Gazebo – 2 for a £1 unbelievable and they work perfectly. My bargains continued with a very stylish sun curtain for the kitchen door and lastly the best buy of the morning a very trendy bright orange large, chunky pottery vase, it is fabulous and £1 to boot. As you can tell car boots have gone up tremendously in my estimation and I will definitely be going again.

]]>.....

Pest Problems - Who You Gonna Call

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:09:17 GMT

For the great price of just £40 your local council will come round and take care of those nasty wasps for you so you can live comfortable in your own homes! But its not just wasps that the councils will sort out for super cheap prices they also sort out a mice problem for just £30 with OAP getting it sorted for half price at just £15. Fleas and Ants can be taken care of by the council too for the great price of only £30 and again OAP's get concessions of half price on the council pest control services.

If you have Carpet Beetles or the vicious little bed bugs then you know who to call as the council will get these little problems sorted for you for just £30.

The best of all the money saving creepy crawly tips from the council has to be the price for them dealing with your Rats and Cockroaches. They will exterminate those evil little bugs for the great price of nothing!!!! That's right absolutely free! So if you have a rat or cockroach problem then make sure you make your first call the council.

It's also worth mentioning that we have had a quick look around at some local private exterminators and they want a fair bit more for the same service as what the council are offering, so get stuck in and why not, thats what the council tax is for.

]]>.....

Smashing Tennis Money Saving Tip

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:04:51 GMT

Ive been to Wimbledon on many occasion and nothing can match the buzz that you get from live court play on centre, but when the chips are down and not many people have a thick wad of spare cash in their back pocket, its most definitely a luxury you can go without. The hawkeye tool makes it even more fun from home, giving you some amazing stats a breakdowns, as well as the player challenges that you see in all their glory, it really is more than just a game of tennis these days.

The commentary is top notch and really makes the difference when you just want to sit back and have a pro tell you how it is. I mean this heatwave has made it so uncomfortable to be out there all day watching the matches, especially when Ivo giant man comes and smashes the sets to bits in a few minutes with his huge mountain top serves!! Ive seen the court on tv when Murray has been on and alot of seats are empty, not because they havent sold, but because the people who are suppose to be filling them are under a water fountain somewhere trying to rehydrate, its mad.

Unfortunately now that Murray is out, i think we all know where this is going to lead. King Federer will surely reign on for something like his 6th Wimbledon title, the guy is just awesome. Now he's a player i would pay good cash to see.

Lastly, id like to make one more comment to Tim Henman, it's definitely not your hill anymore man, its time to give it up. It was only your hill when you were playing the actually game, now that you have gotten to old, its time you pass it on, and Murray has got to be the fellow to claim it! Im sure he'l' be back next year and do some serious damage, that's if my wildcard application gets turned down. If i get it, oh boy, watch me go!!!!!!!

]]>.....

Make Money This Summer

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 11:02:08 GMT

If you’re a little green fingered why not put your hobbies to good use by maintaining your neighbours’ or friends gardens for a fee. During the weeks leading up to the summer grass and weeds can have quite a huge growth spurt, so it can be quite a task to maintain your garden.

During the summertime most people enjoy sitting out in their gardens and having the occasional Barbeque. These would make great potential customers so why not write a list down of some of your closest friends, work colleagues and neighbours who you can target for gardening jobs. If this doesn’t work then target your local area. Vistaprint offer a free business cards service so you can promote yourself on the cheap. If you’re an active gardener than you may have some of the necessary tool’s already, but if you don’t have the right tools for the job check out Screwfix, B&Q and Halfords as they have a huge range of excellent quality and most importantly cheap tools.

If you really like the outdoors then you could use some skills that you already may have like swimming. If you’re a strong swimmer then try becoming a life guard. Once you get your qualification you can work for your local leisure centre, private club or on a lovely UK beach somewhere. To become a lifeguard in your local centre you will have to pass The National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) or equivalent. To be beach life guard you will need to pass a qualification call RLSS National Beach Lifeguard Qualification or similar. Find out more from your local job centre for the opportunities available in your area.

In the summertime people tend to go out for light drinks in the evening. If you don’t mind hanging out with kids for the evening then try your hands at babysitting. If your currently a babysitter and most of your jobs come from friends or family, why not extend your services and advertise in your local area. You may find that working parents are more likely to contact you especially during the summertime, as they may not have many opportunities to take time off work. Why stop there when you can make around £15 an hour to walk a dog or look after someone’s pet. Put your advert out around the local area or join a agency like Nards.

If you like to be at one with nature then fruit picking maybe the way to go. Fruit picking can earn you quick cash and it’s especially a good time now as there is such a shortage of fruit picker’s available on UK farms. Farmer’s will be crying out for your services. Fruit picking doesn’t have to be strenuous as fruit picking doesn’t just involve taking the fruit from the plant or tree. There are alternative positions available checking the condition of the fruit and weighing it for packaging. To get a feel for what you could earn travel down to your local farm to speak to the owners there. You could earn around about £5.20 an hour for your services or be paid based on the amount of fruit that you pick.

If you want to sit back and let the cash roll in then try renting out your car parking space. You need to register with companies such as park let. This company lets you advertise your parking space to targeted audiences. By renting your car space you can set your own chargeable prices. Customers need to have their own driving license, MOT, and valid insurance.Hope you find these points useful and will quickly be on the way to rolling in the cash.]]>.....

How to Detect a Scam and Thwart the Evildoers

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:12:00 GMT

To the normal person the spoils of some scams may not even be considered substantial amounts of money. For example I was on the train and a lady came up to me and stated that she needed a pound to get home. I, thinking someone was in need and having a generous nature, gave up the pound she asked for. The following day I was sitting on the same train and the same lady walked up to me and asked me for a pound again. To my surprise the lady didn’t even remember me. I realise it was only for a pound but it was the fact that the lady had lied to me to get that pound. I had worked hard for that money and I could have given it to thousands of more deserving people than a scammer on the train.

I was horrified to have witnessed the outcome of a scam perpetrated on a little old lady a couple of weeks ago. The little old lady was a family friend who was distraught as she had just been scammed out of £120. I enquired as to how this scam had been perpetrated and was told the story.

A couple of days beforehand a friend of this old lady had told her about this nice man that she (the friend) knew. This man ‘apparently’ bought and sold electrical goods and had a television and a laptop for sale. The little lady, thinking that she could buy these items for her grandchildren willingly handed over her money and expected to receive her items. The man in question arranged to deliver the goods to a friend of the little old lady. So far so good but is it all sounding a little too good to be true? Well it certainly was because instead of bringing this little old lady into the 21st century her goods were nowhere to be seen.

The man, now to be referred to as the scammer, had delivered the boxes to the friend’s house and had made his excuses and left before the items could be removed from the boxes and checked. The friend thinking nothing of it left the boxes untouched and waited for the little old lady to come around and check her goods herself. When the little old lady arrived and opened the boxes to her surprise they were filled with cardboard and broken VHS players.

Remember handing over money before you know what you are buying is never a good idea especially if it’s not from a reputable retailer. If you are buying something that is not from a registered company always remember to inspect the goods first. You have a right to see the goods and insure they are in full working order. A genuine sales person wouldn’t mind but those who have something to hide will.

A month ago I received a call from a lady who told me I was the lucky winner of holiday in Portugal for four. Apparently I had filled out a questionnaire and was entered into a prize draw. Well that kind of sounds like me as I try and enter every competition under the sun in the hope that I might one day win. So of course I was delighted and was told to call a 0800 number to claim my prize so I thought to myself what could possibly go wrong with this number. As soon as I told work colleagues about my luck they told me that it was a scam and that I shouldn’t get too overly excited until i confirmed that it was real.

I decided to do a little research on this company and on the telephone number that they gave me and found out that there were entire forums dedicated to exposing these scammers for what they were. The company asked people to attend a timeshare sales event and you only received your ‘free’ holiday once you had actually purchased a timeshare (if you don’t know what a timeshare is and the perils and pitfalls please research it online NOW so you don’t fall into that trap).

Always remember if something sounds too good to be true it normally is. If you are thinking about spending your money on something that may be a scam then tell as many people about it as soon as possible. The more people who know about it the more advice you may receive. If it does turn out to be a scam, at least you would have prevented any other people that you know from falling from the same scam.

Ebay has also been a breeding ground for scam artists If you are thinking of using their services always use Paypal to make your payments as your money will be protected. Never send money directly to a seller’s bank account because you will never get it back. If your thinking of selling items on Ebay and prefer for the buyer to pick the goods up personally then never allow the buyer to purchase the good via paypal as they could claim the money back and say that you never sent the goods.

I hope these tips have been useful in avoiding a scam and made you just a little wiser... ]]>.....

Festivals this Summer

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:49:52 GMT

Festivals are great if you want to really let your hair down, meet exciting new people from all walks of life and dance till you drop then a festival is the place to be. There are a huge range of different events happening around the UK, so I have compiled information on a few to get you started on your festival planning.

Glastonbury - starts this Wednesday 24th June until Sunday 28th Jun 2009, it’s a five day event so staying for the whole show is not for the faint hearted. There will be hundreds of thousands of people attending this year, with musical acts from all over the world. If you have never been to Glastonbury then here are a few tips on what to expect from this awesome event,

This year the line-up of acts is incredible, here are a few -
N*E*R*D, Lilly Allen, Fleet Foxes, Bloc Party, The Prodigy, Black Eye Peas, Jamie Callum, Cold War Kids and more.

At any festival you are going to constantly be in the midst of a huge number of people, but this is particularly true at Glastonbury. If you do not like to mingle and don’t count yourself as a particularly sociable person then Glastonbury probably isn’t for you.

The best way to survive Glastonbury is to stay away from trouble and to not get involved in any altercations. If it is inevitable that you must get involved then call the relevant authorities to ensure that the situation gets resolved as soon as possible.

Once you get to Glastonbury there will be no reception, so if you can’t live without your beloved cellular friend then try replacing it with an older model just in case you misplace it. If you are going with a large group, then organise to meet your mates at a central place throughout the day.

Make sure you become friendly with your neighbors’ as you will be camping out together for the remaining five days Becoming buddies and keeping them happy will benefit you as you will be able to ask them for favours such as looking after your tent and gear whilst you go to the toilet, etc. Remember there are limited numbers of toilets, so be prepared to get down and dirty and pack a lot of clean underwear. Take your wellington boots and outdoor dry protective clothing as the weatherman says it might rain which means mud and lots and lots of fun!

If you need to do some last minute shopping Amazon have some cheap deals
Outwell Montana 6 Tent Canopy Now for £69.99
Campus Tunnel 2 Tent now £34,95
Coleman Canyon 6 Tent Now £119.19
Ladies yellow festival wellington boots Now £13.99
Aztec Rectangular Cotton YHA Sleeping Bag now £6.39]]>.....

Cheap Days out at Themes Parks this Summer

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:47:38 GMT

If you’re looking for family deals then Chessington world of adventures might be right up your alley. They have a great offer on at the moment for a family of four to get admission for only £49. This offer is currently available from the GMTV website so head over there right now for further details.

We also found a further deal for Legoland where kids can go free. All you have to do is pop into Asda and buy selected Greens cake mixes. On the cake mix packs you will find familiar cartoon characters like Tom and Jerry, Dora the explorer and Thomas the tank engine. Cake mixes start from £1.49 so you have already made a huge saving before even setting off to Legoland. The coupon is valid until the 30th June 2010.

Remember to take a light lunch for the family so that you save money by not having to buy the food from the park at their extortionate rates. This will also stop your kids from eating all the junk food that they happily provide at theme parks that in turn leaves your kids being sick after they have been on a particularly stomach turning ride! Happy planning parents!]]>.....

Smartphones: Im Ready to Give Them A Try

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:56:17 GMT

The W890i in its hey-day was a must have but as we know times and situations change so now for me it is out with the old and in with the new. If you have a Sony Ericson phone especially this model it has been known that the major fault is random switching off. I thought it was just my phone that had this problem but from reading masses of blogs on the net it seems to be a wide known fact that Sony Ericson may look sexy but shut down constantly. I’ve tried out all the brands that the market has to offer now and I think I may need to go back to a good old reliable Nokia. I still have my very first phone which is a Nokia 402 (the one with the interchangeable face) that actually still works perfectly to this day. So in my personal opinion if you have a good experience with a brand why not go back to that brand.

As a 21st century women my life at times can get pretty hectic so keeping up to date with business commitments and storing information when I’m on the move has become really important to me. So now I’m really interested in trying out some of the Smartphone’s on the market. Being on the 3 network obviously limits me to certain phones but they do have some great phones on offer at the moment.

According to user reviews one of the best is the Nokia e71. It has great features, a stylish body and has brilliant email support. The e71 contains a qwerty keypad and slim line design with an outer chrome finish. Making the phone look sturdy and sexy as far as Smartphone go. Consumers have rated this phone quite highly and an important factor for me is that it fits into pockets comfortably. There have been rigorous tests on this phone for its longevity once it is dropped and thankfully it has passed the waist height drop test which is a test that I regular make my phones endure. If you love browsing the net then this phone uses HSDPA which allows you to connect almost anywhere and everywhere. The entertainment factors aren’t as amazing with Smartphone’s versus entertainment phones but this one contains some of the basics like a 3.5 mega pixel camera with video recording, polyphonic ringtones and more. Buy it offline for over £200 alternatively get this on 3 on a monthly contract for £22 a month on a mix and match deal. You will get 300 minutes or text and 300 3 to 3 minutes and Skype usage.

Another phone on the market at the moment is the Nokia N96. However even though this phone is quite popular the reviews aren’t exactly great. If you’re thinking of using the internet then you’re stuck using a typical phone interface. The entertainment functions are excellent on this phone with its built-in stereo speakers and 5 mega-pixel camera. Get this phone offline for around £470.

The blackberry Bold 9000 has been a very popular phone on the market. You could buy this phone offline for around £500. This phone is mostly described by many as being the comeback to the Nokia e71 but geared for those who’s purely into keeping updates on their business requirements. The great thing about this phone is its wide screen face allowing you to watch video and view documents easier and clearer than normal phones. Its icon features have also been upgraded since its previous model giving it a very sleek finish. Apparently setting up your email on this phone is the easiest thing to do which is a big plus point.

Personally I’m going to go for the Nokia e71 it’s been a long time coming but I can’t wait to get onto the Smartphone frenzy.]]>.....

Guide to Buying the Right Sofa Bed

Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:34:18 GMT

We have had a few request from customers wanting to know what our thought’s were in buying the best sofa bed so I have had a look around the market to see what is on offer. Here are some recommendations in the hope that its makes your choice a little easier.

Most sofa beds are the traditional kind; they pull out from the seat. These types of beds have been known to be the most reliable and most popular in the market. The quality of your bed will depend on whether the sofa contains a real mattress as opposed to a foam mattress, and has a metal frame as opposed to a wooden frame. If you are looking for the modern designed bed then have a look for those sofas where the back pushes down. These are easier and quicker to use and most come with very stylish finishes. Retailer’s now offer many varieties of foam based sofa beds but beware as it has been known that these types of sofas often are not the most popular customer choice. Reasons are that they don’t last that long and aren’t that comfortable if you’re looking for a good night sleep. Most beds are now around 194 cm long so if you need more room keep hunting around.

Argos has some great sofa beds on offer at the moment. For around £300 you could pick up a bargain. They have a trendy make called Clic Clac. There a few varieties but you can pick up the Ramsay Clic Clac sofa bed for £320. These brands sell well from Argos but again if you’re looking for quality most Clic clac sofa beds come with foam cushioning. If you are looking for a bed that may be more reliable but not as expensive have a look at Lucy Large Metal Action Sofabed. Currently Argos is running a £44 off promotion on the item so you can now pick one up for £396.35 online.

Marshall Ward currently has a 70% off sale online but you can pick up a sofa bed bargain and save up to £50. Online they have a miller sofa bed in the Clic Clac style made of leather that comes in a varity of colours like black, cream, chocolate and red. The bed is now only £199.

Furniture123 has a few different sofa beds. Their best range is the Supra sofa bed in leather. The sofa is on sale now and is priced at £282.98 which gives you over £20 saving. This brand is very sleek and comes with matching cushions which are ideal as pillows for your long awaited rest. However you can purchase the same sofa bed in Amazon for £207.50 so that is a further £75 saving.

Hope you found the column useful. Please keep the requests coming and thanks for your support!]]>.....

Great Gift Ideas For Fathers Day 21st Jun 2009

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:10:25 GMT

Start now and plan the day. You could take him to a restaurant, or plan another activity that you know your father will enjoy. Let him know just how much he means to you by buy buying him a gift that he will find useful. Every time he uses it he will remember that it was bought by his son or daughter who love him a great deal.
Here are some great gift ideas that I thought could get you looking along the right lines.

If your father is a D.I.Y enthusiast and it looks like some of his tools might be a little knackered why not buy him a Bosch 2kg SDS 240V Hammer Drill and Free Drill Driver Set at Screwfix that is currently on sale at a 50% reduction at £99.99. Let your Dad know you care by buying him one of the top names in the tool industry. The hammer drill itself is powerful enough to break through wood, steel and masonry. Screwfix has some great discounts at the moment so make it easier for your dad to finish the D.I.Y projects that he been promising to do for ages.

Another option is to buy your father a new wardrobe and bring his clothing into the modern era. BHS is a great place to start as the clothing is made very plain so people who scorn at the latest high street fashions will be able to find something wearable at BHS. Currently they have a great deal where you can get two pairs of casual trousers for £30. Other trousers start from £14.40 so you will definitely find something for your older, more discerning father.
Is your father’s watch on the brink of death and he could use a new one. Why not get him the ultimate cool watch from Casio. Their website shows of some of their more expensive lines which consist of G-Shock’s, Chronograph’s, Combi Ana-Digi, Analogue and classic watches. Have a look today as I haven’t met a man yet that doesn’t appreciate a new watch.

If your dad is not quite adept with the latest computer technology or has not learnt how to use the internet then bring him into the 21st century with a huge saving from Dell and buy him a laptop or computer. Save £219 on the Dell Inspiron 15 inch laptop. It has everything he could need in one tiny laptop and you could book him internet and computing classes so you don’t have to worry about him learning how to use it.
I hope those few ideas were of some use to you and that you will choose to treat your father on Father’s Day!]]>.....

Obsessed Film Review

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 07:22:06 GMT

‘Obsessed’ to put it simply is more like a limp noodle than Fatal Attraction. I personally spent most of the movie laughing at how inept the script was and how one dimensional the characters were. Beyonce portraying the all action heroine of the movie comes across as completely incapable of portraying any of the range of emotions needed to play a wronged housewife.

To sum up the storyline in a phrase - A family are almost torn apart due to a femme fatale stalker who has set her sights on the father of the family. The movie stars Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba and Ali Larter and contains scenes of violence and sexuality.

Beyonce spends most of the movie with a chip on her shoulder due to her husband’s new secretary and the remaining part of the movie running around beating people up.

The movie seems to be written from beginning to end to get Beyonce to fight, but fails miserably as beyonce does not fit into the role very easily.

From the outset you realise that you are watching a cheaper rip-off version of fatal attraction.

Elba, who is best known from the HBO series ‘The Wire’, plays a strong lead as the husband wrongly accused of infidelity. His friendly attitude can easily be read as flirtation.

Larter, known for her role on Heroes plays the stalker and has an emptiness in her eyes that shows her character had no real dimension. When she does face-off against the mother it leaves you wondering why it takes Beyonce so long to kill this woman who should have been fairly simple to remove.

The movie turns into a giant cat fight between the two leading ladies by the end and Beyonce looks like a caged animal unleashed as she tries to stop Larter’s character.

To sum up it seems that the lady has her sights set on being fierce but ends up being contrived, basic and worst of all blunt.
]]>.....

Keep Clothes for Life or Make Some Money out of Them

Tue, 02 Jun 2009 23:18:35 GMT

Number one rule never mix colours with whites. But what happens when that sneaky coloured piece of clothing is hiding under the pile???
The guilt I felt when the clothes came out was unbearable as I had just turned my husband’s white shirts pink.
I wouldn’t mind so much if they were my clothes ruined but would my partner feel the same now that his designer clothes were baby pink? I couldn’t see it happening so plan B had to be executed fast.
If you want to save money and get your clothes looking good again try some good old bleach in boiling water. Dependant on the stain you should be able to lighten the colour. Once done try buying a product called Colour Run Remover by Carbona. Follow the instructions and put your load back in the wash. Make sure to add a Colour Whitener to your washing as this helps to get those colours back to normal in a flash.
Alternately if the above doesn’t work for your load then try dying your beloved clothes in a different darker colour. Dying it gives your clothes a new sense of life and you will be amazed at the amount of people who actually think it’s a new top you’re sporting.
So having this little mishap happen to me I thought i would have a good tidy of all the unworn clothes/ old bags and shoes that were pushed to the back of my cupboard collecting dust.
I think it’s a great thing to recycle old clothes and give them to a charitable organisation. Apparently 97% of used clothing is actually still recyclable so even if you have the oldest torn up shirt don’t chuck it away but head down to your local charity shop and spread the love. If your one of those people who think charity starts at home then have a think about selling some of the items that you think maybe a worth a bob or two. After my incident with the washing machine I decided to try selling one of my old bags on eBay. Within the first two days I had 4 watchers and with 5 days it was sold for £30 what a bargain!!!! Now imagine what else I could sell in the pile of clothes that are eBay maybes.
Moral of the story is that what you think is complete rubbish; another person might adore. So don’t throw anything away until you realise its second hand value.]]>.....

The Sky Is Not The Limit

Sat, 30 May 2009 12:30:52 GMT

If you are like me you have been teetering with the idea of Sky TV for some time, not years, but i've heard several different people, from friends, family and colleagues say that it is fairly expensive and potentially something that the kids and I could live without. This put me off for sometime, but just recently I got sent over the latest Sky deals and their latest offering is a free Sky + box with only a £30 installation fee. Now this sounds like a cracking deal, so I jumped right on it. It turns out that not only are they giving the Sky plus box away for free at the moment, but it's also only a minimum of £16.50 a month to get involved. That in my opinion is a great deal! Most mobile phone contracts are more than that a month. Bear in mind that is only one entertainment package, but that still gives you more than enough great channels to watch. Anyway the free channels that come with any free-view digital or Sky system now are amazing, from e4 to itv2, there are so many top TV channels out there.

So i've gone for one package, but with well over 100 channels or something like that so its perfect, plus sky + was free, so i can pause, rewind and record live TV at the tough of a button.

This is definitely one of the best offerings i've seen for sometime and it really puts to bed all the rumors that getting Sky TV has to be expensive. If you make the right choices and limit what you subscribe to then it's actually really affordable and fun. Obviously if you want to get the movies and the sport channels then you're looking at a larger bill, but thats to be expected. My advice is go into this buying decision with an open mind and you'll do just find. Remember you can always upgrade your subscription at anytime should your financial situation change.

Hope that helps a little, don't forget though that Sky TV deals are constantly changing, so make sure you check back on Hottest Offers to see the new hot Sky deals that come out.

Cheers!

]]>.....

Turkey The Ultimate Holiday Destination on the Cheap

Sat, 30 May 2009 08:57:24 GMT

If you are having trouble finding a good hotel in Turkey here are some that have been tried and tested.

Hurriyet Hotel - from “Lateroom” they are offering a double bedroom for £33.28 a night. If you look on some of the review sites this hotel has been rated with a 4 out of 6 rating. The service is known to be good, efficient and the rooms are always kept clean and have really friendly staff.

Grands Ons Hotel - from “ebookers” is another favourite. It is a three star hotel that has incredibly friendly staff. The Breakfast has been described as basic but the rooms and communal areas and clean. Overall rating for this hotel has been 4 out of 6. Stay here from £36.19.

Golden Crown Hotel - from “Alpharooms” has been described by many as being located in the perfect place. On average the rating for this hotel from customer reviews has been 4 out of 6. Stay here from £39.44 a night

You could fly to Istanbul from £135 return with ebookers on a direct flight. Direct flights take around 4 hours.

Turkey makes an ideal holiday destination on the cheap as it is packed with culture, history and religion. Based in Europe, Turkey lies in the border of the Mediterranean so there are many influences from its neighbouring countries which is evident in its food and surrounding. Many describe the country as the ultimate east meets west with its cosmopolitan population and gorgeous weather.

Turkey is surrounded by eight neighbouring countries travel to Bulgaria, Iran, Syria, Greece, and more to absorb the real flavour of the area. Plan some further exploring by booking a quick flight or ferry across. It will get you there in no time.

If you have limited time then here are some places to try and visit.

The Blue Mosque - built in 1603 this mosque is tiled from top to bottom all in blue and is one of the most beautiful pieces of classical Islamic architecture.

Aye Sofya - was originally a church but is now a museum. Aye Sofya hosts some of the oldest items found on Turkish land. Learn the history of the Turks here.

Topkapi Palace - is another tourist must see. Shop till you drop in the Great bazaar. You can get your haggling skills in tune as you walk down the street and make a huge saving.

Ancient sites - there are many remaining roman ruins placed all around the roman city of Ephesus so this will take at least half a day up.

I hope this brief guide to where to stay and what to see in Turkey is a great help to any of you who are considering visiting this wonderful and beautiful part of the world.]]>.....

Apple TV I Wonder If It Is Worth It

Fri, 29 May 2009 23:09:18 GMT

A few days ago I was buzzing off the thought of running to my local Apple store and picking up the next generation Apple TV. I knew it had to be better than the last attempt and I was keen as mustard to give it a go.

When I got to the apple shop the first thing to hit me was the price of the new product. There it was, staring at me on the shelf with a whopping great big price tag of £200! Two hundred pounds!!!! Can you believe that? Now I no I should have just checked online to see how much it was beforehand, but I was well prepared and walked in thinking if I spend £150 ill be happy, but 200 quid on what appears to be a money spinning appliance for Apple takes the mick a little, don’t you think?

Anyways I cast my tightness to the side and picked up the 40gb off the shelf, yep just 40gb for 200 notes, not even the top of the range model!!!! So I grabbed it, shot home and got it set up on my TV, I was ready!

Next move, grab my macbook pro and get the two speaking nicely to each other, which I have to give it to Apple, was a piece of cake!   So my Apple TV is set, its all hooked up wireless to my network and my macbook pro, I’m ready to rock and roll.

That’s when major major major disappointment started to kick in! I decided to order the new Eminem album from the itunes store on the Apple TV, so I could be all flash and listen to the new tunes on the flat screen. I navigated through the menu, selected Relapse (5 stars btw, good work!) and purchased the album. 24 HOURS LATER the album was still downloading, slow wireless connection I hear you cry, but no, I’m running a n rated router pumping out mega fast broadband, its either a slow/busy itunes store connection or a dodgy Apple TV, who knows?

So once I finally had the Eminem album all downloaded I was good to go, but I must say the near 30 hour download for one album really done my head in.

The next biggest disappointment was that you have to pay for almost everything else that you want to do with the Apple TV, it just feels like I paid £200 only to pay even more and more and more and actually not get that much back. Yes, ok I can stream music, photos and movies from my itunes library on my macbook, but to do this not only do I have to have my macbook turned on, I have to be running itunes too. So as my macbook is kept upstairs, every time I want to stream music through my £200 Apple TV I have to run upstairs, start my macbook up and open itunes, and leave it charging, which I’m sure is no good for the battery.

Shortly after a few dodgy connections with my macbook itunes library I decided to unhook the Apple TV, repackage it and take it right back to where it came from. I got my money back and I was extremely content that id given the 2nd generation Apple TV a decent trial but unfortunately it didn’t make the cut, which really is a shame as I so badly wanted it to blow me away and change my streaming life forever.

I don’t want you to read this and write off the Apple TV, its one heck of a technological achievement and really is a cool piece of kit. Maybe I had one from a dodgy batch or maybe I simply didn’t give it enough of a test, but please do make your own decisions about this product. One thing to bear in mind though is that had It been about £60 to £80 cheaper, I would have definitely have kept it. Here’s hoping the price comes down.

Cheers!

]]>.....

Parking Tickets Pay up quick or get silked!

Wed, 27 May 2009 20:41:20 GMT

Ever parked on a double yellow for about 6 seconds only to come back to a big yellow sticker on the front of your windscreen. Another £60 down the drain, or leave it a week or so and that soon changes to one hundred notes burnt along with the pizza you were buying. My advice is pay quick, not for fear of the larger bill in a few weeks, but to avoid the new parking penalty at all costs.

In Holland they don't get the pleasurable option of a parking ticket, they get their cars silked instead. If you haven't seen this yet, its hundreds and hundreds of tiny silking caterpillars that spin webs of a silk like material when they are on the hunt for food, sort of like a big, sticky net they leave behind just in case an idiot fly or daddy long legs decides to walk into it, thats dinner sorted for the way home.

One poor driver in Holland left his car for a few nights on what he didn't realise was a no parking zone, upon his return he found his beloved motor gone, and in its place a huge ball of silky stuff and about a million wormy things. Not a good look!

Rumors are flying about like crazy, from conspiracies over the dutch council just buying a container load of these creatures for this very purpose, to the more realistic option, a nest of the sticky little so and so's right next to this poor fellas wheels. Probably the more sensible theory :)

So, my money saving tip for today has got to be, if you get a parking ticket, remember the poor gent from Holland who just came back to a ball of silk, smile to yourself as wide as you can, and get online and pay the silly thing off as quick as possible to prevent getting more fines. Unless of course you think the ticket has been issued in error, then you should definitely check out our other article called – How to appeal a parking ticket!

Bye for now!!

]]>.....

This is Music to Our Ears

Wed, 27 May 2009 20:35:47 GMT

Are you a big fan of downloading music?? Lets face it who isnt, we all love to pick up our fav tracks from the biggest artists in the world, but sometimes it can get a little bit too pricey, with albums now coming in at about £8 online, and single tracks about 80p, its a squeeze to keep up, regardless of the fact that you dont even get a cover, case or or the actually cd, in my opinion these prices are a joke, oh well enough of that.

Here's some good news for you all, the cost to a company of selling a single track is set to be massively slashed, from around 22p a track to just 8p a track, meaning that the prices we pay should also come right down, probably to around 50p a track and i'd guess at about £4.99 per album, which is much more reasonable.

The reason behind this current price cut is to try and stop the illegal downloading of music and uploading to file sharing and video sharing sites. Some more well known sites really are starting to get theirs hands slapped and it's about time too in my opinion.

So the money saving tip for this article is, hold off on your downloads for a month or two as the prices of digital downloads should be coming right down in the near future.

Ta for now!

]]>.....

Save Pounds and Go Natural for Radiant Skin

Tue, 26 May 2009 23:45:12 GMT

Your Precious Skin
Your skin is a very important organ known as a two way membrane designed to absorb and eliminate toxins to and from the body. We export toxins through perspiration and absorb everything else that we place on our skin. So placing harmful chemicals on our skin can do lasting damage. There are many over the counter products that are known to give your body a glow but in reality these products will only have a small percentage of the key natural ingredient in them. Now your main question should be “Where can I find products that contain the key natural ingredient in 100 percent concentrated form?”
Great Ingredients
Aloe Vera - Has been known to relieve burns and speed healing. It’s also been proven that it can limit aging and help support the skin structure. So why not grow your own plant. Aloe plants are great at being kept in-doors. They grow quite fast and has cactus looking features. Pick off the leaf, cut out the juicy insides and rub on your skin to see its true benefit.
Water - You may find thousands of articles in newspapers, magazines and on the TV about the benefits of water. Well everything you have read thus far is absolutely true. Water is one of the best emollients that you can place on and inside your body. It helps to keep a sealant on your skin keeping it moist and limiting dryness. Boil your water at home from the tap and place through a filter jug to remove all the impurities. It is the cheapest natural product around.
Soybean oil – soy is a great plant found in Asia that has been proven to increase the health of your hair and skin. The plant produces soy beans in grey and black which are a great source of vitamins, minerals, proteins and oil. Soy beans help to restore your natural glow and help tone the skin.
Vitamin E – has been long known to be the ultimate anti-oxidant which keeps and maintains your natural glow. Use this as an anti-aging procedure and protection from sun burns and sun treatments.
Buy a bottle of vitamin E oil and soy bean oil for a pound in your local hair shop. Mix that with some aloe vera extract from a plant and see the benefits it will give you.
Typically in high street stores you will find products that state they contain these natural ingredients. However if you were to look more closely at the ingredients you will find that the extracts are usually lower than 1%. There a certain chemicals found in these products that are really not good to be constantly placing on your body. Here are a few to keep an eye out for -

Glyceryl Stearate is vegetable derived and Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride (glycerine-derived emollient ) have both been shown to cause allergies and dermatitis.

Methyl Paraben and Imidazolidinyl Urea has seen a rising number of incidences of breast cancer.
So I hope these few tips and tricks will help keep your skin, mind and soul free from unnatural ingredients.
]]>.....

Top 5 Xbox 360 games to look out for in 2009

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:56:43 GMT

First of all ‘do you play console games religiously? if the answer is yes go to the next question. ‘Are you bored of playing the games you already own? if the answer is again ‘yes’ proceed to the last question. ‘Do you own an xbox 360? if your answer to this last question is ‘yes’ then this article will be right up your alley. Not there, man some people have dirty minds.

Well read on faithful xbox 360 gamer to find out my top 5 picks for the remainder of
2009.

Halo Wars
Well let’s get things kicked off with one of the most hotly anticipated RTS’s ever. Halo, long established as a first person shooter series, has now been adapted by Ensemble Studio’s to (what looks like) an awesome RTS. From everything I have read so far it seems that Halo is going to contain insanely intense combat and will fill us all with that all consuming rage that gamers know so well (ending ultimately in broken controllers). On a lighter note it will require an intelligent strategist to complete levels rather than a foul mouthed urchin with a trigger happy finger as seen in previous Halo games.4. Red Faction: Guerilla
Since the earliest days of my gaming career I can remember watching the surroundings of game environments either take no damage or damage that would disappear after a matter of seconds leaving behind perfect buildings and surroundings. Ahhhhh! My frustration has finally come to an end. Gone are those days and with this title comes pure adrenalin fuelled destruction of EVERYTHING!!! Hoorah!!! I can finally walk around and destroy anything and everything with a giant Mech. My wildest dreams have been answered.

Assassin’s Creed 2
In my most humble of opinions the original Assassin’s Creed is one the finest games to have ever graced the Xbox 360. So to say I am eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel is an understatement. According to some leaked info from Michael Patcher it will be set in the 1700s during the French Revolution. Bring on the Flintlocks, muskets and all other manner of weaponry that will help me get the job done. All I have left to say to the bourgeoisie is ‘Off with their heads!

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty has widely become known as one of the greatest multiplayer series’ of all time. An honour not lightly bestowed. Modern Warfare was a landmark of gaming history and incorporated everything that was perfect, right, good and awesome about multiplayer gaming. Even the single player mode was life consuming (for a short time at least). Since then World at War was released, in itself not a bad game, but in comparison to Modern Warfare a step in the wrong direction. Now we are on the verge of Modern Warfare 2 gamers everywhere are hoping that Infinity Ward will put right everything that Treyarch got wrong.

Halo 3: ODST
I am a huge fan of the Halo franchise (red vs. blue being one of my favourite online ‘toons), so its no surprise that there are two Halo games on my list. This one however is a true sequel to the series and takes place during the events of Halo 2. You take the role of a lone UNSC soldier in Kenya… Yeah I know no Master Chief? What the F?!? But remember it’s a Halo game so I am sure that even without Master Chiefs abilities (and bad ass armour) this will still be the best game of 2009. I look forward to giving the Covenant another ass kicking that they are likely to never forget

]]>.....

Sell your Car for more than it�s Worth

Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:56:46 GMT

Clean your car

First and foremost its essential to present your car in the best possible light. So get cleaning and get out the car polish to breathe a new lease of life into your vehicle. You want to portray to the customer that your car is the ultimate must have so to remind them what it looked like when it was new is a good start.

Advertising

Like most car companies you need to advertise your car in as many revenues as possible. If your thinking about selling online than classified sites and ebay are a great option. Post a note in your local newsagent and newspaper and don’t forget to give your contact details to arrange a viewing.

Features

Make a list of the key features that will attract potential buyers your way, things like low mileage, airbags, air conditioning, model, engine sizes will set your car out from competitors.

Pricing

Before you price your car have a look at what other models are priced at and base your car around this pricing level. Many people use the Parker Price Guide so have a look online for further details.

Auctions

If you’re looking for a quick sale and don’t want the hassle then have a look at your local auctions. Auctions are typically focussed to benefit the buyer but if you have run out of options then give it a try.

Dealerships

This isn’t the most recommended option but one that guarantees you a quick and easy sale. You probably come away with less then two thirds of what your vehicles value but dealerships also give you the option to part exchange your vehicle to upgrade to a newer model.

Selling your Car couldn’t be easier if you follow these simple steps.]]>.....

Dating Doesn�t Have To Be Expensive - A Few Tips To Add The Wow Factor

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:16:52 GMT

So you have met the women of your dreams but unfortunately your pockets are half empty well the important thing to remember is to plan, plan and plan again. The more planning you do the better, so start by visualising the date, researching and then recording what you are going to do and tis will all help your cause.

Now I truly do believe that a man should pay for the first date, the reason being is that it set’s the tone that your potential leader material and that you are interested in this girl.

Let’s go through the date -

Meeting

First thing is to decide where you are going to meet this girl? Well I must say women love guys who drive a nice car; again it’s the wow factor. If you don’t own a car then think about borrowing a friend’s car for the evening. If you haven’t been able to get your licence then you must make sure that your meeting place is near to where your date lives. Believe me she won’t be impressed if she has to travel half way across the country to see you.

Answers

Your date will obviously bombard you with questions so have a think about how you would answer a few simple ones regarding where you work, your friends and family. The more you make her laugh the more she will like you so if you can crack the occasional joke or two you are climbing the ladder to date number two.

Roses

Do flowers really work? It may seem a bit over the top so it really depends on what type of girl you’re dealing with. Personally give me a bunch of roses and I’m the happiest girl alive for a week ;-) If you don’t want to waste money at the florist a nice little touch would be to pick a rose from a rose bush whilst you are walking your date. So what if there are no rose bushes around? Well that’s where the planning before the date helps. Make sure there is a rose bush in proximity and tell her you knew there was one here and you wanted to see her reaction at receiving the rose. By this time you should have scored double points.

Restaurants

If you decide to take your lady friend on a traditional date to a restaurant then plan which restaurant before. You will have time to have a closer look at the menu and double check that you can afford the starter, main and desert. Make sure to make a reservation. If your first choice is not adequate keep looking before your date until you find the perfect restaurant. Italian places are always a good option as they know how to set the romantic tone.

Romance

At the end of the day we are aiming for the ultimate romantic experience. After your meal walk your date down a lighted park or take her somewhere that she will enjoy. Make sure you choose a place with candle lighting and compliment her on the way she looks and how impressed you are with her.

I-phones

I-phones or any phones should really be banned on a date unless you are actually ringing your date before hand. If your mate decides he wants to have a chat to tell him you’re busy and you will call him tomorrow. Women don’t like to be made to feel second best.

Acting

Even though I would never really suggest you should lie on a date I think acting bubbly, happy and seeming interesting will always help you in the long run. This is the first date and everyone loves to be around outgoing people, so if you need to embellish the truth a little do so just not too much otherwise later on down the line it could back fire.

Grooming

This should be the time you get your best shirt and trouser out. Women love a man who makes a massive effort and the ones who smell great, so have a shower before your date, shave and pamper yourself.

End

Always drop your date off to her house to make sure she arrives safe and sound. If she insists that she wants to make her own way home double check with her just in case she is being polite. If she insists then let her go her own way. Call a cab for her and tell her to call you when she gets home to double check she is safe. Girls love to know you care.

So follow these simple points on your first date

Meeting - Pick her up at the designated meeting place

Answers - Remember her answers to your questions

Restaurants - Pick the right restaurant

Romance - Be her Casanova and sweep her off her feet

Instincts - Trust your natural instincts

Acting - Act confident and respectful

Grooming - Make sure you look ‘dappa’

End – Finalise the date by showing that you care

If you follow the rules outlined above precisely you defiantly will make a great impression, possibly even resulting in MARRIAGE to the girl of your dreams. Now he cries. Well maybe not!

]]>.....

Car Boot Sales - a Great Way to Make Money

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 00:16:05 GMT

Spring is here and along with it come some fantastic ways to make money. They say that spring brings everyone out in force and over this period you find that people are happy to be out and about and looking for those rare bargains.

This could be the ultimate way to do a full spring clean of your house. Instead of tidying up and putting unwanted goods in plastic bags run through this list to see if like thousands of others you could benefit from selling second hand goods.

So where should you start? Anywhere and everywhere, I would recommend you start by searching from the top to the bottom of your house. If you have a loft with junk in it then get looking because there are bound to be some unforgotten gems in a box waiting to be sold. Electrical goods are always a crowd pleaser so if you have any old TV’s, radios, Hi-Fi’s, printers, cameras or if you’re thinking of upgrading your home then you’re bound to make a bob or two.

Things to think about when you’re selling at a car boot sale -

Pricing products

Price your products accordingly and never over price items. Remember your customers are there to pick up bargains so the more attractive the offer the better the result. A couple of days before the car boot sale have a look online at classified listing websites or auction sites to see how much others sell their products for. You can get a great idea of what price bracket to start with. Sometimes selling items in a bundle will get a better response than selling items individually. So get searching!

Stationary

Remember to take a marker pen, paper or card with you on the day as you may need to adjust your prices depending on what your customers reactions are like. You never know you may find you have overpriced your items so you will be ready to increase your prices.

Change

Always make sure you have some change on you. Keep a bag full of coins on you so you always have change to give. A major mistake most car boot sellers make is not having change so instead offering a discount to round off the amount. Major no no!

Thieves

Car boot sales can be a very busy time to sell especially if you are doing this alone. Unfortunately sometimes this can attract unwanted pick pockets. Keep an eye on your products and if you can keep everything as close together as possible.

Smile

Everyone loves a smiling face so get chatting, smile loads and remember to have fun

]]>.....

Bride Wars a Great Chick Flick?

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 00:31:15 GMT

Bride Wars stars Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway as two best friends who get engaged at around the same time. Their whole worlds have been geared up for this moment so as soon as the question is popped to them they can’t wait to put their wedding filled dreams into action. They both decide to have their wedding at the prestigious Plaza Hotel were there is a mix up in the wedding dates. Well from here is where the ‘wars’ in the title begin as both girls cannot rearrange their dream wedding dates. And so starts a prank war where either party is trying to destroy the others wedding.

I would definitely rate the best moment in the film to be when both girls have their hen nights at a strip joint.The dancing is hilarious and for anyone with stiff hips you can pick up some dance moves.

Personally I wouldn’t recommend going to the cinema for this flick it’s defiantly one of those films to buy on pre-order and watch at home with the girls over pizza.

Girls if your looking to secure you man in the future watch this film to know what not to do when trying to get that ring on your finger.

I would give this film a 6/10]]>.....

How To Appeal Parking Tickets Part 2

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:00:08 GMT

If you believe your fine is unfair the appeal process is in place for you to fight back. Firstly you have the right to appeal if you believe that the council is in the wrong or secondly if you have mitigating circumstances surrounding the occasion when you broke the rules.

Here are some general guidelines to follow when wanting to appeal –

Never pay the fine unless the parking company has clamped or towed your car away as this is an admission of liability (check Part 1 for more detail).

Be prepared for a long drawn out battle that could potentially take months. The length of time depends on who issued the ticket and how far along the appeal process you have to go. There can be up to three stages t an appeal; the informal, formal and if you have to see the appeal through to the end you will have to go to an independent adjudicator.

You have nothing to lose by making an informal appeal (1st Stage), as even if you lose at this stage you will still be given 14 days to pay the fine at the reduced rate (but we can not guarantee you this).

Make sure you get everything in by the deadlines or you will lose automatically. Don’t stress if other official channels take their time to respond as this will not affect your case. If you are lucky and don’t hear anything for 56 days you will usually win anyway.

At every stage re-submit all of your evidence as you will probably be dealing with a different adjudicator every time who will not have a clue what you have sent before.

Now you have to write out an appeal. Always remember to follow this single simple diamond decree…

It will be a human being deciding your appeal, so ensure that your writing is concise, friendly and firm in portraying your stance and the wrong that has been committed against you. If you are rude or your anger comes through in your writing you will throw your chance away.

Your appeal will usually consist of writing separate letters to different parties but most of the content will be identical. Keep a copy of your original letter and then alter the introduction and a few other parts and send it to anyone who needs to see it.

I hope this two part article helps you to get your money back. Here’s hoping that parking fines and tickets are abolished and become a thing of the past.

]]>.....

Home Remedies For Tackling The Flu

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:19:24 GMT

I’m sure we all know how the flu feels but what is it exactly? Well influenza, most commonly known as the flu, is a virus that attacks the upper respiratory tract. Doctors say there are around 200 different variations to the bug but overall you get two types. The flu bug will affect your throat, nose, lungs and middle ears, along with this, you will find that you body will also start to ache. Typically flu lasts for around 12 days and your cough can last for another week after that.

To beat this bug you can take flu vaccinations and if you’re over 65 you can also get free jabs.

So here are a few remedies you can try the next time you are hit by the flu virus. I haven’t tried all of them but all have been known to help.

Honey and lemon. Honey and lemon is always a good starting point when trying to beat the cold or flu. Lemon consists of vitamin A,B,C and P and also contain potassium, magnesium and folic acid. Honey has been around for ages and was used in Chinese remedy from day one. It also acts as a natural expectorant to keep the flow of mucus moving in the body.

Special Tea
Tea has also been known to be a good source of avoiding flu symptoms but it doesn’t stop there. Once you make your tea mix in

1 tsp bayberry
1 tsp grated ginger root
½ tsp cayenne power

mix these ingredients together and let it sit for about 20 minutes in boiling water.

Vitamin C
The next piece of advice might sound basic but eat lots of fruit and drink juice that is high in vitamin C. Vitamin C helps you produce white blood cells and increases your immune system. If you also have a chest cough it can encourage you to bring up the mucus which can be suppressed by medicine bought over the counter.Garlic Eat lots of garlic apparently they decrease the growth of the virus.

Fresh Air
Keep the window open as often as you can. The fresh and moist air will kill the bug and stop it from travelling to other people. The fresh air will also help you to feel more alive and awake.

Drink Soups and Broths
If you don’t feel like eating, drink soup or broths. Broths contain the best nutrients keeping your body hydrated and pumping vital red blood cells around the body.

Mustard Platter.
It has also been know that mustard works miracles. If you have some mustard in the cupboard open it up as mustard contains antimicrobial and anti inflammatory properties. Apparently its great to get a quick sniff and if you have more time on your hands or if your not feeling two weak make yourself a mustard platter by getting 1 table spoon of mustard, 3 tablespoons of flour. Mix with a white egg and warm water until you form a paste. Get a handkerchief and smear the mustard on. Dab some olive oil on your chest and plaster the handkerchief on your chest and leave for a few minutes. Keep checking your skin as mustard can burn. After a few minutes wash the mustard off your skin and hopefully you will feel much better.

So now that I researched all this information it is time to put it into action. Using home remedies is not just healthier but it will also save you pocket change which can then be used for indulgencing yourself.

Good luck!]]>.....

Why You Should Use a Credit Card During the Recession

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 23:12:11 GMT

In the 1970’s a law was passed on section 75 called the Consumer Credit Act 1074 stating that if anything should go wrong with your purchase that the credit card company is liable for the bill. So if you were to spend something in the region of £100 to £30,000 lets say like a plane ticket and the company went bust then you could get your credit card company to refund the money. This is also extended for purchases that may have not been delivered to your address or faulty goods. A consumer may also be covered for larger purchases like car loans but you will need to make sure in all agreements that the party has signed the agreement under section 75 otherwise you may find it harder to claim.

To take full advantage of these protections you should make sure you pay off your credit card in full each month. Credit card companies charge huge interest rates. If you can find a good cash-back credit card you will save further. Never withdraw cash from your credit card as this protection will no longer be valid even though you may use the money to purchase goods. You will also be charged interest on the cash as soon as you withdraw even if you pay the outstanding amount in full.

If you are ever buying goods from retailers that do not accept credit cards then pay using companies such as Paypal, Google check out or world pay. All three companies have their own clauses regarding refunds so most times your money is secure leaving you worry free.]]>.....

Pensioners Saving Tips

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:53:17 GMT

If you’re a pensioner today then there are £65 billion pounds worth of benefits available to you, so its worth reading on if your unaware of every penny that you could be entitled to.

This winter was one of the coldest recorded in 30 years. On top of this in the last 10 years gas and electricity prices have risen to extortionate prices. Even though many companies are now lowering their supplies to their customers these prices are still way over the amount that is paid by companies such as British Gas and Eon. Customers are still losing out in a big way. If you are 60 years old or over you may be entitled to an Annual Winter Fuel Payment which will give you money towards helping out with your gas and electricity bills. If you haven’t already claimed for this you will need to check out the pensions service government website and fill out an application before the 30^th March 2009

If you are aged over 70 years and have little insulation in your home then you could be entitled to free loft insulation that could save you hundreds. Check out the National Insulation Association website for approved installers in your local area.

If you are 60 years and over you are entitled to free prescription for an illness. Also if you are under 70 years of age you can take advantage of receiving two eye tests for free within the year. If you are over 70 you can only receive one eye test. But on top of this many large spectacle chains offer further discounts for pensioners. Try Spec-savers who give up to 30% off on glasses.

Unfortunately if you live in England free dental prescriptions are not valid however over in Wales you can receive free dental treatment.

Two words that everyone hates in the U.K. are T.V. license, but if you are over 70 you no longer need to pay this. That’s a great saving in itself as a typical licence for a colour TV costs £139 a year.

If you are currently claiming for the basic state pension you may also be eligible for the pension credit. If you qualify for this, other benefits could come your way such as housing benefit, council tax benefits, cold weather payment, funeral payments, free NHS treatment and community care grants.

I hope this helps our readers, for further information check out the government websites.]]>.....

Save Our Planet Invest in a Bike

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:45:35 GMT

Sometimes it’s best to actually go to a specialist bike shop to view the products available these shops will allow you to try before you buy. Many times you can then seek cheaper deals at places such as Halfords, so always take a note of the make and model number. Many standard bikes can be bought for around £100 if your looking for a mid range model then you are looking to spend around £200-£500.

Bikes attract thieves so be very careful where you store your bike. Invest in the best locker you can afford. If your bike has easy release wheels then lock your wheel to something as well. Always make a copy of your keys for your lock and chain just in case you misplace them and never keep your copies with the original key. Get insurance to cover yourself if your bike is stolen. The easiest way to insure your bike is to add your bike to your home insurance. But if you want specialist cover that give’s you peace of mind then look out for insurers who only deal with bikes.

The government brought in a new initiative called cycle to work. This scheme encourages employers to buy bikes for employees. Once bought payments will be taken out of your pay slip each month.]]>.....

Handy Tips To Help You Increase Your Credit Score

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 18:43:40 GMT

Firstly always check what you’re up against. Do you have a credit problem or not and how big is your debt? Websites like credit expert allow you to check your rating usually with a month’s free trials. Once you have done this start looking at getting credit yourself. Try taking out a phone contract or a credit card. These type of things will dramatically increase your credit and get you on your way. One of the first things banks like to look at is whether you’re a stable person. Have you lived in the same area for a long time do you have a land line. Are you registered on the electoral role?

I am now going to list a few things that I would not advise you do if you’re looking to take out a large loan or purchase. Do not submit multiple applications for loans as the more credit searches that are done within three months the lower your credit score becomes. If you currently have credit that is maxed out make an arrangement to add more credit to your account. In the eyes of the banks a person whose account is over its limit will look bad especially if the account bounces. If you are in a lot of debt do not ask for more, banks have really tightened up on their lending so your application will more likely be denied. If you can help it, do not miss any payments as this will counter act any further applications that you may decide to make.]]>.....

How To Appeal Parking Tickets Part 1

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:00:51 GMT

Most motorists have experienced parking fines in one form or other so I have put together this article to give you some general guidelines on how to appeal those ‘unfair’ parking fines.

Parking laws are meant to benefit us all and to help traffic flow. The purpose of this guide is to help you to overturn a parking ticket if it can be seen to be ‘unfair’, but in most cases where the blame rests squarely on your head this guide will not be able to help you at all.

Parking tickets can either be official from local councils or police or they can be from private companies. If you have a private parking ticket this guide is not for you, but if you have an official ticket then read on.

Paying tickets is always the responsibility of the vehicle’s registered owner and not the person driving unless the vehicle has been hired. In this case it is the responsibility of the vehicle’s hirer.

As soon as you get the fine act immediately so that you can gather the necessary evidence and also due to fines increasing the longer they are left unpaid. Remember that if your car hasn’t been towed away do not pay the fine as it is admitting that you are liable.

Usually if you pay a fine within 14 days you only have to pay half of it. If you do start an appeal and it is unsuccessful a majority of the time you will be allowed to pay the discounted rate even if you are outside of the 14 days.

The most important factor to remember when trying to appeal a fine is that evidence is ‘king’. Without it you have no case, so from the moment you receive your ticket you should start to gather it. Take photographs of any signs that may have been put up, make sure that the signs are valid. (occasionally signs will have other street names on them which nullifies their validity). Also take pictures of unclear bay markings or yellow/red lines; lack of markings that you think should be there; take a picture of the area surrounding your car if you intend to dispute that you were parked legally; photo’s of parking meter’s if they still display the time your paid parking expired. Also keep any parking meter tickets.

If you return to the location where you parked your car and it isn’t there you first need to establish whether it has been towed or stolen. Contact local police or the company that runs the car park if on private land. If in London you can call trace, the 24 hour car location service on 02077474747.

Gather any documented evidence that you may have. Anything you have that proves your part of the story is helpful. This includes proof of mitigating circumstances. If your vehicle was stolen get a crime reference number and keep all correspondence from the police. Gather witness statements on the scene to corroborate your story. Any and all correspondence from all parties involved.

If you have been towed pay immediately to get your vehicle back. Paying if you have been towed or clamped is not an admission of guilt so you can still appeal. Do not attempt to remove clamps yourself as that will be classed as criminal damage.

Also if your car is in a compound everyday it is there your fine increases. Eventually if not collected it will be destroyed and you will be charged for this.

When you collect your vehicle from the car pound remember to take your driving license (both parts), the vehicle registration and a utility bill or bank statement with your address.

Tune in tomorrow for part 2 of how to appeal parking tickets. ]]>.....

Make the Right Choice with Your Mortgage and Heres How

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:45:41 GMT

There are a few questions that we get asked here at Hottest Offers repeatedly so here I try to answer those questions and lay them to rest once and for all.

Should I go for fixed or discounted rate?

Fixed Rate Mortgages

A fixed rate mortgage is a very popular choice for first time buyers. The reason being is that it gives you piece of mind that there will not be any surprises in the first few years of your loan. Once you start looking around you will find that fixed rate mortgages are normally higher than discount rate or tracker mortgages.

Discount Rate Mortgages

The interest rate that will be charged to you at a discounted rate to what the lender is charging on their standard variable rate.Therefore for a few years you will be able to take more advantage of potential interest rate cuts. For example if your lender’s variable rate is 4% your rate may be 3%. Some banks offer discounted rates off tracker rates. A tracker takes its rates from the bank of England base rate of 0.5%

So the question is which one should I go for? Can you afford your mortgage comfortably month on month? If so then the discounted mortgage will be your path to a smarter choice. If things are tight month on month then stick to a fixed mortgage rate for peace of mind.

After narrowing this down lets look at the influences that will affect what a bank will lend you money. The two main factors that bank’s look for is the deposit and pay packet. Many banks are denying customers with a 10% deposit. Your income is a very important factor to the next decision process and within these criteria they run a full examination. Banks will also look at your monthly outgoing. If you have a crest card or any other loans that need to be paid off or considered a low treat to your mortgage.

The first thing to do is to shop around as much as possible. Many banks will be more generous then others which can make the difference of purchasing your dream home. Looking at the market the most generous lenders are Woolwich, Cheltenham and Gloucester and Halifax. The least generous lenders are HSBC, First Direct and Yorkshire Building Society. Just remember the banks who lend the most money may not necessarily be the ones that charge the most competitive interest rates. ]]>.....

It's ISA Time Get Ready to Save

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:39:41 GMT

So why are they so interested? Well it is coming up to the end of the tax year and bank’s want to sell their ISA accounts.

so what do they do....They offer attractive deal’s to tie your money away. It really isn’t the best time for a saving customer but never the less you should always look around to assess the best deal that is on offer in the market. So before we begin to explore your choices, for those of you who haven’t come across an ISA or may have heard the hype have a look at our previous breakdown of what an ISA account actually mean here.

With the base rate falling to 0.5% in reality our savings may not stretch that far but it is now time to make sure we all have the best deals available regardless of the economic climate. A year ago most customers could have taken out an ISA account with interest of around 6.27% but now you will be luckily with a rate of 2% so where should you look I heard you cry, here is the top three banks to open your account with.

The first bank with the most attractive ISA is good old Barclays. You can open this account for a little as £1 and gain interest of up to 3.61% variable. The ISA account is called Barclays Golden ISA and is a great one to open if you don’t have a large deposit to open.

My second choice would be Natwest Cash Plus ISA. This account gives you 3.51% interest with instant access to your saving.

The third most attractive on the market is the Abbey Reward ISA with a 3.50% variable rate.

This year is defiantly worth switching your accounts as the interest is so low you need to be super smart when it comes to choosing your provider.]]>.....

High Gas and Electric Bills? Switch now and Here's How

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 21:53:38 GMT

But those all important utility bills are hidden somewhere in the bundle. You look down at the bill addressed to you - will it be a shocker or could it be a pleasant surprise? Oh no just what I thought a shocker. Help….

If these particular events haven’t happened to you that’s a big round of applause for you as it means you probably monitor your utility usage. But if you’re just like me then read on.

This winter has been an absolute freezing nightmare so no wonder we all wanted to get indoors to a perfectly warm and cosy home. If you’re like me being cosy in your home has to be the ultimate must. So layering yourself with clothing to save on heating is a definite no no. When that time comes that I do win the jackpot I can’t wait to keep the heaters on all day and all night. But for now where every penny counts these types of luxuries need to be ironed out with a fine tooth comb. So how can we lower our gas and electric bills? Here a few steps that will help save you money.

Switch your Supplier

By switching your energy supplier now you can save a heap but it takes around three months for the complete swap. The sooner the better if you want to tell your current supplier they are the weakest link, goodbye…..

Direct Debit

Switch your payments to monthly direct debit billing. A typical saving from month to month will save you around 10% on average.

Do your Own Meter Reading

Do your own meter reading each month once your bill has landed on your door step. There should be no nasty surprises this way and if you have been under-billed you will be more prepared for when the provider realises they have under-billed you. Believe me they are ruthless and will never ‘want to’ reimburse you if they over-billed but if they have under-billed you they will be screaming till the early hours of the morning.

Scrap any Pre Payment Meters

If you on a prepayment meter then stay clear these meters actually charge you more then a monthly, quarterly or annual bill]]>.....

How To Save Money On Your Mobile Phone Bill

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:28:45 GMT

9 out of 10 people in this world now have a mobile phone and have had it, or at least the contract, for many years. Im here to shed some light on how you can save a decent amount of cash every month, whether it be on your line rental or the call charges. The idea is really simple, if you have been a loyal customer to your network for several years then you should get and deserve a discount the next time your contract is up for renewal. Read on to find out exactly how to negotiate your discounted contract rates.

Here's how it work's. If you have been with a network for a certain amount of years then some network rules state that you are eligible for a certain amount of discount. Lets take 02 for example, 02 state that if you have been with them for 5 or more years then you can receive anything up to 40% on your line rental. Think of it like a car insurance no claims bonus, but for mobile phones. The longer you have remained faithful to a network, the more discount you can be rewarded. Obviously, there are some stipulations and it depends on what handset or contract you are upgrading too, so be sure to ask as many questions as you need too to get the deal thats right for you.

The most essential part to this entire money saving tip is the department you speak to at the network when negotiating your deal. If you call through on the default telephone number and speak to someone regarding an upgrade, they will list all of your upgrade options, including the multiple free handsets on offer and the new line rental deals available, but they will not mention or be in a position to negotiate any discounts for you. For this you need to ask to speak to the Customer Retention Team. The Customer Retention Team are the people who have the power to discount your tariffs and add credits to your account. They can say how much discount you get and they can even add additional minutes to your calling plan, you name it, these guys can pull the strings to do it as there job is exactly what their name suggests, Customer Retention.

Be sure to remember this handy tip the next time you are due for an upgrade or a contract renewal as you may just find that it saves you a tidy bundle for the next 12 to 18 months.

]]>.....

Why BOGOF Deals are Pure Money Saving Genius!

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:47:50 GMT

Or in other words Buy One Get One Free, I love that phrase and sends me reeling into one of those light bulb moments, I want to go spending but haven`t much to spend so why not go shopping with a friend at half the cost. Curious? Well read on........

What a fabulous idea, picture this; call a like minded friend who has exactly the same taste as yourself in all manner of products ranging from deodorant to orange juice, and persuade him/her that they needs and cannot live without all the same products as you need, then set out to descend upon your favourite shopping venue stocked full to the rafters with said items.

From clothing to toiletries, from food to drink, all these things and more can be purchased on a buy one get one free basis. Therefore the cost is shared between the two of you which gives you a full shopping basket for half the cost. Its a Brilliant money saving idea and cannot fail. Some of the shops that indulge us in this way and help us to fulfil our objectives, are Dorothy Perkins, Boots the Chemist, Sainsburys, Tescos to name just a few.

The other thing these retailers do is change the products regularly that are on buy one get one free, but you can use this to your advantage, your purchases can reflect this for example; if shampoo is on offer one week that is what you buy, whereas the week after it may be hand soap. Ultimately you will end up with a cupboard full of needed items, at half the cost.

For more hot money saving tidbits make sure you read through the rest of the Hottest Offers money saving blog posts to see just how you can cut costs and save pounds!!

]]>.....

Massive Money Saving Credit Note Tip

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:11:10 GMT

Like quite a few of the money saving tips and hints that appear on hottestoffers.co.uk, this one might, emphasis on the might (i'm not a policeman so i don't no for sure) not be 100% legal, i don't know for sure but have to tell you that you cannot try this incase its not just a loophole. Don't try this at home.

The idea behind this little cash keeping treat is to save you money on a big purchase that you have to make in the way of a credit note worth more then what you originally spent. Interested? Then read on and learn how this neat money saving trick works.

If you have a big purchase coming up from a major retailer then this tip can really help you save a nice amount on the final price of the item. For the purposes of this post lets say you have £500 worth of flooring to buy from a well know hardware retailer. By going through the process of this post you will get yourself about £100 of free goods, without a retailer discount or them taking money of the final price.

Here's how it works:

Step One:

Wait until the major DIY store is in sale, something like 20% off all products is perfect. As soon as you hear the promotional message head over to the store and purchase all of the flooring that you need. Please bear in mind that this is a credit note based tip so any money that you spend will still actually get spent at the store, its just that this tip will help you get a higher amount credit note.

Step Two:

So you have bought your £500 worth of flooring, but you got it at the 20% discount rate of £400 as the retailer in question was running a 20% off promotion at the time. At this point your thinking, what the hell, this isn't money saving, this is money spending!! But stick with it, keep on reading! Now all you need to do is wait until the sale ends, lets say its a long sale and ends in two weeks.

Step Three:

Two weeks later the sale has ended and you have purchased £500 worth of flooring for £400, no real money saved yet, but this is the good bit. Most retailers honour a 30 day money back guarantee, no question, no quibble, and most will honour this without a receipt. The only stipulation here is that you will get a credit note as apposed to a cash refund. Now take your £400 worth of flooring back to the store for a refund, but don't take your receipt. You will notice that the flooring has gone back up to its original price of £500 and as you don't have a receipt, the retailer cant tell if this flooring has been purchased at a discount rate or not and will therefore give you a credit note for the full £500.

And there you have it, £400 spent,£500 credit note in your hand. You have successfully managed to get £100 extra added on to your credit note just by forgetting your receipt. The great thing about this money saving beauty is that the more you want to spend originally, the more you get for free at the end.

Once again, i must repeat that this is a theory and not been tried and could well be dodgy, so don't do it, just enjoy the fact that it can be done :)

]]>.....

Cheeky, Possibly Illegal, Hot Money Saving Supermarket Tip

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 00:21:29 GMT

What im about to explain is a really simple way of getting things for free from supermarkets. Please note, you will read this money saving tip and in your head you will be thinking "There is no way that would work", but im here to tell you that it does as i "accidentally" got away with it the other day. And may i add at this point as soon as i had realised what i had done, i confessed all to the supermarket in question and done the right thing, wink wink ;0).

Basically, the idea is that whenever you see a BOGOF offer or promotion (BOGOF stands for buy one get one free for those of you feeling slightly offended right now) you can get one item of the product for free, without paying a penny. Heres how to do it....

Lets say that it is buy one get one free on lynx deodorant at your local supermarket and you really want some lynx cos you have a hot date tonight, but you need all your cash to wine and dine the girl of your dreams and make her fall head over hills for you. Simply go to the supermarket and do your normal weekly shop, buy all the standard items you would normally purchase and make sure you pick up the lynx on buy one get one free, so you have two bottles in your trolley.

When you are at the checkout, load you're shopping onto the conveyor in the normal manner, but place one of the lynx bottles near the front of the shopping and one near the back. This part is the key to the whole thing, if you don't separate out the items there is a really high chance this trick will not work at all, so make sure you split them up, nice and far apart. The reason for this is so that that appear far apart on the receipt.

Once you have paid for you're shopping (note at this point you have paid for the buy one get one free lynx bottles and are yet to save a penny) proceed to the customer services desk. On arrival, look for the part timer, you know the kid i'm talking about. The spotty weekend worker who really does not want to be there, the one with his shirt untucked and his tie wonky, pick him, there is many in every supermarket up and down the country.

Proceed to explain to this fine chap that you bought the lynx in error and need a refund, take out one bottle of lynx from your carrier bag and show him clearly on the receipt the solo bottle of lynx near the top of the receipt. I kid you not, without even a glance at the other several products on the receipt, including the free bottle of lynx of which the details of the promotion are right down the bottom, he will then continue to refund you the money you just paid for the bottle of lynx, which does indeed mean you are away with a complimentary bottle of lynx.

So there you have it, it's a tried and tested theory and it works like a charm although no doubt highly illegal so do not do it!! Remember the key to the whole money saving tip is to separate out the products, whatever they may be, so that the promotion details don't appear on the receipt until right down the bottom, which give the spotty teenager less chance to see that the product is actually on offer.

Don't do it, it's naughty ;0)

]]>.....

Mothers Day Sunday 22nd March 2009 Gift Ideas

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 23:16:25 GMT

Don't forget Mothers Day this year as it's right around the corner, so make sure you grab your gift now. If you buy early then you can really take advantage of some of the great deals, discounts and mothers day voucher codes. Through Hottest Offers you can save money at your mums favourite stores. Think about all the kind and generous things your mum does for you and don't be shy to spash the cash on your loving and devoted mum this year.

Picture your Mums face when you give her that perfect present instead of a drooping dead up bunch of flowers from the petrol station. Spend a few minutes and put some thought into your gift, be creative and come up with something that your mum will really love. At Hottest Offers you can really get some amazing offers and save big bucks on all your presents. Have a look at the discounts on offer at all the popular places for your mum and you are sure to save yourself a nice tidy sum meaning you can either get your mum something extra this year or treat yourself to a little something at the same time. Get ideas and presents for your mum at affordable and honest prices.

We have listed a few different Mothers day gift ideas see below. Don't forget to search the full hottestoffers.co.uk site for all of the best mother day discount codes and promotional codes to save the most cash.

- Clothing (Nice top, scarf, bag or shoes) - Wallis Voucher Codes

- Flowers (Brighten up the home) - Eden for Flowers Voucher Codes

- Jewelry (Bracelet, earrings, necklace) - Links of London Discounts

- Perfume (Classic smells or new flavors out) - Superdrug Voucher Codes

- Chocolates (Assortment of confectionaries)- Asda Voucher Codes

- Make up (Multiple eye shadow pallets or lipsticks) - Avon Discount Codes

- Vases (Fine glass and pottery) - Marks and Spencer Discount Vouchers

- Wine (Tasty reds and white wines or a bubbly champagne) - Oddbins Voucher Codes

- Weekend Breaks (Cheap UK or Europe holidays) - Expedia Deals

- Picture frame (Digital photo frames of all the family holidays) Currys Voucher Codes

- Pampering (Spa lotions and bath oils) - The Beauty Room Offers

- CDs and DVDs (Old favorites or new albums and films) - Amazon Voucher Codes

- Books (Romance, comedy, thriller, action, fiction or non fiction) - Waterstones Discount Codes

If you really appreciate your mum then make sure you show her just how much by spoiling her this mothers day. Make a note of the date now so you don't forget and snap up your online bargains early to make sure you get the gifts delivered in time. Happy Mothers Day 2009

Grab mothers day deals, mothers day discounts and mothers day voucher codes this year from hottestoffers.co.uk

]]>.....

Does Living by a Motto Save You Money? - Part 2

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:02:04 GMT

Welcome back to part 2 for this motto madness where I have to live my life by the rules of He Who Dares Wins, and other crazy mottos, to see if living by a motto actually saves me any cash or not.  

Yesterday sees me £10 down from a dodgy shot choice during a game of killer. Obviously I wouldn’t have taken the tough shot, but seeing as I’m living alongside a new life motto, I though, what the hell – he who dares wins. If you have no idea what I’m on about, check out part 1 then come back here to catch up.  

So, I found myself driving home from the office and still a good few miles out from my house. During the rush hour we have these really annoying traffic control barriers that shut and close between the peak hours in the morning and night to stop millions of cars cutting miles of their journeys by bombing down little side turning and short cuts. The tricky thing is that sometimes the fella that comes to open and close the gates comes early and I’ve seen a few occasions where I could have made it few about 25 minutes early.  

Well as is always the case, I’m driving past the road that leads me to the traffic control barrier about 20 minutes before its due to open. Usually I keep on going, I take the long, extended route and add about 20 minutes on to my journey time cos of these stupid barriers. But, today is know ordinary day, I have a new spring in my step, a new lease of life, today I have a motto. Within a flash I had gone hard on the brakes, slammed on the left hand indicator and shouted out nice and loud “He who dares wins” and headed straight for the barriers to chance my luck.

As I turned the next corner I waited in anticipation, was the barrier open, had I just save myself not only a shed load of time, but also a decent amount of fuel. Yes, my luck was in, the old boy was right in front of me, opening the gates and making me the first motor of the night to speed on through them. Good shout, a tidy saving! That single decision based on the new life motto meant that I shaved about 20 minutes of my journey which is easily £3 in petrol, leaving me £7 squid down.  

So far, this motto lark is doing me in, its only been a day and I’m still short of change cos of it,. Oh well I’m sure tomorrow will hold some more interesting challenges, fingers crossed there motto money savers. More to follow…..

]]>.....

Cut Back With These Money Saving Beauty Tips

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:44:52 GMT

This time of year can be really harsh on your skin and hair, this is caused by a combination of cold weather and central heating, which means your face and hair may be extra dry and screaming out for some TLC. If spending money on a facial is not your priority at the moment, but you really need a pick me up then try some of these HottestOffers.co.uk handy beauty tips.

To save money on facials you could try some diy treatments using natural products.

Honey is a good antiseptic and works well to cleanse the skin.

Exfoliate the skin on your face and body with Sugar or salt and olive oil. A few drops of olive oil in the bath helps to condition skin and a few sprinkles of salt helps heal.

Natural yogurt is also good to cleanse and neutralize the skin.

Cucumber under the eyes helps cool and relieve puffy, tired eyes.

Egg on the hair increases protein and stops split ends, although this is a bit slimy, the results can really help bring out the shine.

Beer on dark hair makes is gleam and Catherine Zeta Jones has been know to do this.

Porridge oats, honey and banana makes a perfect facial mask. The oats help exfoliate the skin, the banana feeds your skin and the honey is a natural antiseptic and help keep the skin in the best condition possible.

Please note these tips and treatments are just suggestions and are by no means clinically proven or tested. If you try any of these suggestions you obviously do so at your own risk.

]]>.....

Do You Need to Earn More Money?

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 07:41:22 GMT

The temptation to shop is everywhere at the moment because of the increased special offers and super deals. Bringing great value to the people is what Hottest Offers is all about, I recently brought a new Dell XPS M17330 Laptop through Hottest Offers and saved £270 from the original price! This great value shopping is better then ever and the bargains are bigger then before too.

So to help top up your savings (just in case things do get a little rocky in the future) you need to earn some spare cash. If you have ever thought or discussed getting spare cash most people suggest buying a lottery ticket or joke about walking the streets. know one ever thinks or says about obvious practical ways to bring in spare cash. Even if it is a few pound notes. People forget that good old fashioned hard work is what's needed and not sitting around moaning or visiting the governments benefits system.

So how about getting active and trying some old fashioned hard work to get extra cash. Try and work out the jobs that people in your area would pay for and think about the time of year and if this changes the demand. At the moment the weather is dark and cold, people would rather pay about £6 - £12 to get their car washed then do it by hand in the cold weather but this is also a good job in the summer as people like to show off their cars in the sunshine.

For Spring and Summer odd jobs you could help a neighbour and cut their hedge or grass. Other jobs that you could do would be running errands, taking dry cleaning to the cleaners, buying a paper or lottery tickets, putting bins out, house work such as ironing or cleaning and washing up. You could also grow your own fruit and vegetables and trade these with a friend for variety. How about dog walking, shoe shinning, a paper round, peeling potatoes for a local restaurant or cleaning reachable windows? These are just a few ideas of how you could make some spare cash while helping out people in your community. So start offering a useful service and you will soon have enough pocket cash to help out with finances.

Good luck and have fun.

]]>.....

Does Living by a Motto Save You Money? - Part 1

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 23:15:45 GMT

I’m keen as mustard to find out if living by one of these crazy statements can actually make a difference to your bank balance, so over the next few weeks I’m going to be living a few days at a time by a new life motto. Ill be going about my business in exactly the same way as I always have done, except when faced with something that my life motto applies to, I have to honour it.

For example, my first life motto is going to be the old Del Boy classic “He who dares wins”, meaning that if over the next couple of days I’m challenged or dared in anyway, I have to apply the rule he who dares wins and see if I have saved or lost cash. Got it? Good, lets see how I get on…..

Lunch break, playing pool with the lads. We generally have a little wager to turn the heat up a little and I’m always getting involved, cos without sounding to arrogant, I’m pretty handy at with a cue. Anyways, the stake is a tenner a piece and its 3 life killer. 5 players, 50 beans up for grabs. I’ve managed to get down to the final 2, both of us on 1 life each. The next shot is mine and the black (pot this get an extra life) is still in play, but it’s by no means an easy pot. I have an easy option, which would see me through, but sinking the black would bag me an additional life and almost certainly bring home the bacon. Then I remember my new life motto – He who dares wins – meaning, I have know choice, I have to take the black! So, I go down for the shot, line it up, slide the cue back……and smack. No good, it rattled in the jaws and cost me not only the match but also my £10 stake money, or as a real gambler would look at it, the £50 notes I could have won. So far, the new life motto has put me £10 down. More to follow…..

]]>.....

Ways to Save Money

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:59:25 GMT

The first point of call for a consumer is to check out the latest discount websites. Websites such as Hottest Offers gives you the latest voucher codes, discounts and competition news across many categories. You can buy car insurance, headphones, dishwashers, clothes and more all in one place.

Buy all your grocery online. Buying your groceries online will encourage less over spending. We have all been there in the shopping queues when the checkout girl tells you your fait. Shopping in the comfort of your home enables you to budget better and relax while you shop. Places such as Asda give you free delivery so there is no added expense.

Start rounding up your monthly bills and assess where you can save on your monthly outgoing. If you have a telephone line, broadband and cable for example sometimes it maybe best to change your package and go for a bundle package. If the price still works out to be dear then call up your local provider and haggle for a better deal. The majority of the time they will cave in. Remember the customer is always right.]]>.....

No Takeaways Please

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:48:04 GMT

So from these answers I gathered that what my mum was really trying to say was to utilise what you have in the cupboard but if you get board of looking in the bland cupboard and sometimes its just not practical. Then you need guilt free shopping, the ideal money saving place is through some of the great new offers at HottestOffers.co.uk whether you need to replace your TV, save money on your summer holiday, replace some car parts or household items, or even if you want fancy a change of wardrobe or to buy entertainment for some cosy nights in.

]]>.....

How to Become a Celebrity in 2009

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:37:12 GMT

Ever wondered how much cash these celebs make and if they actually brought those designer shoes and bags?

Well it all depends on how big a celebrity you become or how high you climb up the ladder of stardom. For some celebs its all a fake image, borrowing jewellery and renting posh bags etc. When you reach pap status you can often get freebies galore, even free holidays are on offer, but of course with all star freebies including holidays you must always smile at the camera even if you are having an off day.

So is it easier to become a celebrity now then years ago?

I bet you have invested a lot already in the start of your career and the essential grooming items that you will need. Remember the rules of becoming a celebrity and first do you have an actual talent to sell. Don't get disheartened if you are not the best singer, actress or dancer. What will make you stand out from the rest is attitude and determination.

Another main celebrity factor is image and whether your image is sellable. Think of what makes those photographs of celebrities sellable time after time and why we never get bored of seeing the both the good and bad images. Celebrities groom themselves to appeal to the masses through obvious stereotypes. Take Jordon for example she grew her fame on the typical playboy image, perfect figure, enhanced breasts and long blond hair, full make up and a big gleaming smile and full pout. Selling this image over and over made Jordan a fortune and she is famous for confessing that her enlarged breast made her wealthy beyond belief. To top off Jordon's image she showed the public Katie Price a Mother and wife. Jordon has also had a series of money spinning occasions, reality TV, Perfume, Books, Horse clothing range and lingerie. All is fame and wealth developed from modelling topless!

Even once you have achieved your celebrity status image it is a constant journey to reinvent yourself and keep one step ahead. A celebrity can never be content with image and must always maintain a picture of desirable health and wealth.

So why are we all so fascinated by celebrity culture and what is it that draws us to be obsessed with all celebrities?

The magic of a celebrity is a fiction, we create a sense of respect and desire, almost a feeling of trust and love to support and promote a celebrity which in hand creates them. Our curiosity to see into others lives and gorge on pictures celebrities fashion, daily and nightly activities.

So to make your fortune and celebrity status then think about what you could do and how comfortable you feel in yourself. Be warned being a celebrity is not an easy way to the perfect life. If you have a talent then harness it, if not then perfect that you don't have one apart from being confident in yourself look at Paris Hilton - no talent apart from posing!

So to push your status think of something original, not plastering your image on Face Book or You Tube, get out and about use your voice and network and don't take no for an answer.

Good luck and what ever mask you put on in front of the cameras remember to keep you feet on the ground.]]>.....

Must have Jackets this Winter

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 23:10:12 GMT

Well it could be time to change all that and pop down the shops to find some spring colours. Celebrities such as Lilly Allen have been doing just that. We have seen her in the past few weeks strutting her stuff in a Chanel tangerine dress and a bag to match. If you pop down the local high street or shop online you will find that hunting for your ideal winter jacket may be a bit of a waste of time as now trench, leather, and mac coats are back on our racks. With these light coats and jacket comes colour too. Now you will find colours like cerise pink, coral and cobalt blue, so follow the trend. Try and buy accessories like belts, earrings and the right heals to team up with your choice of coat to get the overall colourful spring look.

Littlewoods Direct has a cute little number - a double-breasted French Connection jacket that falls down to the hip. It has dropped £28 and is now £111 online. They also sell a South Single breasted canvas Mac in yellow now only £45.]]>.....

Celebrities: Who Goes, I Decide!

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

Celebrities are on my thoughts for this weeks 101, I can't help but feel a bit fed up with the hype over Posh's new hair cut, I mean does it really matter how she cuts her hair? Although I must say that I would put Posh's new boy like hair style as the worst yet and a big mistake so watch this space until the hair bleach and extensions can come out. So Sorry Posh I am putting your haircut in the 101 bin.

My other celebrity 101 in the bin is Kelly Brook, this week she is really annoying, did anyone else agree that on Jonathon Ross all she did was giggle. Also if you saw the new pictures of her and her new guy then you must agree he looked totally bored and fed up with kelly giggleing to herself in every pic. But I must confess to be feeling a little confussed, I mean... Billy Zane together, break-up, together, break-up then back this new guy on the block is it all just a PR spin off to boast kellys poor excuse of a career.

Britney is still in my 101 bin I know that she looked on top form at the MTV awards and back to her old former self but I am not convinced that 1 night of appearing fresh faced and in a sparkly designer dress makes her a responsible person. What was it her mum said this week to get sympophy "Britney drank at 13, took drugs at 14 and lost her virginity at 15" well I think that have been screwed from the start. She really needs to keep up with the glam look and hopefully she will continue to give herself respect and be out of my 101 soon.

Star tatoos should I put them in my 101 this week? Hum I am in 2 minds about this one becasue I know some people with really funky looking ones that make me think wow thats pretty cool art work. Then for every good tatoo are a million bad ones and with tatoo fashions once the chavs latch on its all downhill. So at the moment I am saving star tatoos from my 101 one and saying people who have them can only look cool because not everyone in the world has one yet. So please stop now if your thinking about getting one because its becoming far to common so be a bit creative and design something else and let the stars shine on the people that have them already. Also while i am talking about Tatoos and celebrities Jodi Marsh what are you doing??? If you are reading then please luv stoppppppppppppppppppppp the ink no more I beg you, take a look in teh mirror, you now look rougher then Amy Winehouse and I really dont think that image bounds too well with the whole glamour model look that you desire.

Anyway I hope this weeks entery was not too bitchy - I just had to vent a few celebrity issues that were annoying me at the momoment.

Ta xx

]]>.....

The Dragon's Den on BBC 2

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

The Dragon's Den on BBC2 is such a fantastic show and I really like the way the dynamics of the show work. One minute all of the Dragons are really excited about the next idea to come, and the next minute the idea's been squashed and all of the dragons declare themselves out. It's amazing to see the way they follow each other now, one minute they're all well up for it and then one of them turns round and says "no sorry this is a terrible idea" and they all drop like flies.

I've noticed over the past few weeks all of the Dragons are getting extremely competitive with each other. Not only are they cutting each other out deals, but they're also being very selective with which of the other dragons they would like to work with. You never used to see this in the series before, but now you'll see the likes of Theo and Duncan are not wanting to work with each other on almost every show.

I'm not exactly sure what James Khan has down over the last few episodes, he has seemed to bumble his way through the shows, never really making any big calls on any of the ideas presented in front of him. I think Peter Jones has to be the best dragon on the show, as he always seems to know whether or not an idea is a great one and he certainly does not mince his words.

If I were to go on the Dragon's Den with an idea that they were to invest in, I would definitely want Peter Jones to be the one to invest. If not Peter then it would have to be Theo. I'm also not too sure on Deborah, she seems far too evil to be any good. What I mean by this is that if she was to invest in your company, would it become the kind of company that you would want to work for, I'm not entirely sure it would, therefore Deborah, Im out.

The Dragon's Den is about to star on BBC2, so make sure you turn over and tune in because it's the final episode this season and proves to be an absolute blinder.

Until then... Sean

]]>.....

Work From Home

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

The rat race has had its day, in fact its well over due that the rat race disappears for good. there is no need for people to rush around like headless chickens day in day out, its a joke and just makes everybody stressed and up tight. Imgine a life where you didnt have to rush, you could work at your own pace, you could be your own boss, your incharge of how much money you make, and when you get paid it. its an ideal world, its a perfect dream, its something which you still beleive is unachievable, or just for the more fortunate. well im hear to tell you that its NOT make veleive, its not unachievable, its not impossible for you to turn your mad working days, into chilled out, relaxed, short and enjoyable working pleasures. All you have to do is believe. Believe in your self, believe in technology and believe it can work and take it from me it does.

think of a household name, for example Expedia. Now Expedia spend millions and millions of pounds every year on paying people like you and me, for sending customers there way. Its quite unheard of to joe public, but trust me it happens in thousands of ways everyday. If your on the internet, its extremely likely that if you shop online, its not just the company who make money from your purchase. Your total spend is divided and spread across a number of channels, and one of those channels is normal people who send traffic to these sites. Its almost like you sending your mate to Expedia and them telling Expedia that you told them to shop there. In return, Expedia shares a percentage of the money made from you mate back with you - a commission for generating them a sale. So if you can repeat this process and keep sending them, or any of the big brands you can think if in this world, the money keeps coming, and you control how much you get out, not by how much money you put in, but how much time you put it. With Hottest Offers, it costs you absolutely nothing to get these customers to the merchants, all it takes.

Heres how it works in 3 easy steps

1) Open your hottest offers account here

2) Look online for a good offer to post - it can be anything from Free Delivery or Buy one get one free

3) Post it on the Hottest Offers site

4) Your done! Thats it, you now have an ever lasting chance at making money on the internet.

Your offer will be posted on the front page of Hottest Offers and within up to 2 categories. Once anyone of the thousands of visitors that visit the site see your offer and click out to the retailers site. You are highly likely to make money. The actually money is made once the customer makes any purchase on the retailers site, then the process of them dividing up the revenue begins and your cut comes to you via your hottest offers account. Simple.

So if its free to do, ask yourself, what have you got to lose? You have absolutely nothing to lose, but unlimited cash to gain. Escape the rat race, leave your old stressed, fast paced, up tight life behind, and make the most of working at home, with the kids, in the garden, at the coffee shop, and seeing your account balance go up and up and up. Its free, go for it! No spam, or data problems, just an email address and your away.

Enjoy yourself,

Sean - Hottest Offers money maker!

PS - my current account balance is £2879.78 in 3 months!! I spend 1 hour a day posting deals i have seen online.

]]>.....

Old People

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

Hey all, about a week ago old people would have definitely gone into Sean 101, but today its a very different story. Last night I had possibly one of the funniest nights of my life, I visited an old peoples home, but not just any old peoples home, one for the slightly mental old person. I went their to visit a family member who has recently been moved their from a hospital ward, and it was just as i expected it to be.

I'm I'm honest, I had a mental image in my head of what it would be like. I expected it to be like a mix between "One Flew Over The Cookoo's Nest" and "Silence of the Lambs, and in a way I was spot on. As I walked down a long narrow corridor, with rooms of both sides, I heard moans and groans, saw a guy asleep on his face and an elderly lady asleep in her room, but listening to scissor sisters.

Now the reason why i say it was the the funniest night of my life is because of a couple of old ladies who were fantastic. One of them had no teeth whatsoever and didn't make any sense at all, and the other new what she was saying, but tried to tempt me up the other end of the corridor for a hot drink. They would not leave me alone, grabbing my arms at every opportunity and singing old songs at any given chance, they were brilliant. I must admit though, i felt so guilty as i couldn't stop laughing when they were talking to me. I had one pulling my arm saying "fancy a hot drink, fancy a hot drink" and the other singing old songs and making every word start with the same letter due to having no teeth, what a way to spend a night.

If you have an elderly relative in an old peoples home and haven't bothered to go and see them yet, i highly advise that you get yourself over there and mingle with the occupants. Not only will you have a great time, but you'll also realise just how cool old people actually are.

See ya - Sean!

]]>.....

Bouncers - Grrrrr!

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

When i was a teenager i was, like most kids, in and out of clubs and never once did i come across a nice, friendly, smiley bouncer. Now, all the girls reading this are probably thinking, WHAT??? and totally disagreeing with what i'm writing, but thats because bouncers are not only horrible, arrogant and vain, but there also the most flirty, slimey animals that your likely to come across. It makes my blood boil everytime i see a nice looking set of girls go up to the front of the que, kiss the bouncers and walk straight in. Some people would say its jealousy but its not, its annoyance. If only it was the other way round, lots of girls standing in a que with a load of fat women bouncers not letting them in, but kissing and huggin every guy that walked by and letting them straight in the club, the clubs would go bankrupt in a few weeks - no girls, no boys, no club.

Not only that, but bouncers are cocky f**kers - they need to understand they don't rule the world, just a small piece of velvet rope!

]]>.....

Rogue Restaurants: Shut them down!

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

I don't get it, I'm sitting here watching rouge restaurants, and its absolutely disgusting! They are revealing massive pub chains and smaller restaurants that have no hygiene standards whatsoever, and obvious rodent issues. Lol i think a mouse is actually running around as they are cooking!! They are serving food thats been on the floor and refrying fish!!!! I'm wondering who is eating this stuff though, cos the guy dropping it on purpose is working for the BBC, but what about the poor people who ordered the food? do the BBC let them eat it? What do you think? I think they shouldn't mes about with the warning etc, if you have hard evidence - shut them down!!!!!

]]>.....

What is Hottest Offers About?

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

Ok, so just a quick one to tell the people reading this, who dont already know, what Hottest Offers is. Hottest Offers is a platform to aid the communication of offers and deals from major online retailers. But this is just the beginning, Hottest Offers is also a great new way for anyone, with a computer, to make money on the internet.

If you join Hottest Offers for free right now and posted any deal that you saw from one of hundreds of retail partners, you would then be in the running to make some money from your post. So if you posted a buy one get one free deal from expedia.com and someone clicked through to expedia.com from your post (which gets front page exposure for free), if they bought anything from expedia.com over the next month or so you would make some commission from that sale. Its as simple as that!

So why not give it a try and join Hottest Offers today, put a post up and see how much cash you could make. It really is that easy, its know joke, give it a try!!

]]>.....

Welcome: This is Sean 101

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 21:54:10 GMT

Aside from that its also an area for you to shout out exactly what you would like to see from the site. At the end of every post there is a "Post a comment" button that allows you to have your say on whatever post you feel passionate about. So dont be shy or hold back because if you have something you would like to see from Hottest Offers then we really want to know.

Its also worth me mentioning that this Sean 101 section will be used for me to really shout about a great offer or deal that we come across. I think its really important that all offers get the same chance on this site and dont just get posted and then disappear into oblivion, but i also think its important that the best deals get the recognition they deserve, so if you come across a deal and you know its gonna be huge then please please let me know so that i can shout about it for you, and get others to do the same.

With that in mind, im not entirely sure that everyone reading this knows what Hottest Offers is all about, maybe ill post that in a minute. Time for dragons den......]]>.....