Bargain Hunting Buzz

I love bargains. I love bargain hunting. I'm not too proud to say it, and in fact I would shout it from the roof tops! Nothing gives me greater pleasure than finding something at a great price and I usually tell everyone about it! When I became a mummy after my maternity pay finished I went back to work part time but when we found out we had to relocate for my baby daddy's job that was the end of that. Since moving down here I haven't worked really. I did 6 weeks at Next over the Christmas and sale period, just a few hours a week more to get out of the house than anything! But due to the high cost of childcare when Christmas shopping hours subsided and my partner couldn't have my son my only option was to pay a childminder which ate up all of my wages. Hence no more Next.

Now it's my choice not to work. We have to watch our money, very, very closely but we manage just about. So when it comes to shopping-in any sense my bargain hunting skills have become razor sharp! I am a pro in this field! I not only enjoy bargain hunting myself, but I love hearing about other people's prized purchases too! I read a blog a few weeks ago and the author had bought a whole collection of nearly new children's board books for £1 from a car boot. I can't deny it, I was jealous! In the summer me and Josh would walk to our local car boot on a sunday morning for a mooch around to see what we could find. We wouldn't go every week but if the weather was nice it was a lovely way to spend the morning while daddy had a lay in and occassionally he would come with us which was nice. At the moment with us being in winter (obviously) and thanks to the buckets of white stuff that KEEP falling from the sky, carboot's aren't common and to be honest there is no way on your nelly I would drag myself round a concrete car park in minus five just for a bargain. I love bargain hunting but not that much people! So until spring we have put our carboot sunday walks aside. Boo.

So I've had to get my bargain hunting buzz elsewhere are my little secrets are these- 1.) The Poundshop. I'm no snob, I will admit I shop in here and I am continuously amazed at the brands you can buy here. I get all of my cleaning products here and save loads on them. From dettol cleaning wipes to my Mr Muscle kitchen spray-they are all here and cheaper than the supermarkets. I can also fill our 'naughty' cupboard here for far less too! Cadbury Mini Rolls, Wotsits, cookies-the choice is amazing. Jams, spreads, fizzy drinks, toiletries,haircare etc it's all here. Johnson's baby wipes here too for £1 a pack whereas the supermarkets retail then at £2.44+! Johnsons make these packs with 6 wipes less to be able to sell them in Poundland but for 6 wipes less?! I'm still happy! So if there is one thing I would recommend it's getting down there, you can get EVERYTHING in there and when you're saving the sort of money I do just by going-it's worth putting any snobbery aside!

The second place I've found some great bits and pieces it TKMaxx. I never ever find anything for me in there but for my son it's great. (Although not long ago I got 3 OPI nail varnishes in ther for £10 which is cheaper than one bottle bought normally!). When baby All Saints wen't bust last year TKMaxx ended up selling the clothing which meant I managed to buy my son some designer t-shirts for less than £5 each! Better price than the highstreet! They also have a well stocked clearance area in the children and babies section and I've managed to pick up all sorts there-a baby blanket as a gift for a friend for £4 reduced from £14.99 and a box of designer 'Trumpette' socks for £6 (RRP. £20+). The children's books here are the best though. I manage to regularly get my son the nice board style books he loves for £2.99 a pop-FAR cheaper than the likes of Waterstones etc. So get down to your nearest store and if you have the time and can look you won't come out empty handed-I never do!

If you like shopping online then my best piece of advice is to check out 'Top Cash Back'. It's a website that literally gives you money! It's not a con, I can vouch for it as I've so far earnt over £100 in 4 months just through shopping online. The idea is that everytime you want to buy something you go to their website first. Say you want to buy something from Boots website. Go to 'Top Cash Back' and put 'Boots' in and go through to the website as directed. Complete you order and voila. You get cashback for buying! Most brands big and small are part of this and it's great-even ebay do it! Just from buying items I was going to buy anyway I've managed to earn £100 just for doing so-and they usually have voucher codes too for money off! So check that one out too! Visit the website HERE

So that's my love of bargain hunting explained, what about you? What do you do to help keep your purchases in line with your pocket? I would love to hear about it in the comments below!

Love Chloe xx