Getting Ready for Christmas 2010...the GH way!

Oooh does anyone have Novembers Good Housekeeping? I had to get it as it had Nigella Lawson on the front, and although I know lots of you don’t like her (probably for the reasons I do, remember, I liked Sophie Dahl’s show), I just adore her!

Any way, good old GH has an A-Z of ‘saving money this Christmas’, which although we read every year in various magazines, blogs, free supermarket mags, hear about on tv and the radio, I really do like feeling more organised, even though I can be a million miles from it! So far I’ve written the lists of what to get everyone, and I’ve got a few bits n bobs for stocking fillers, but I do feel more at ease when I have a list to work off of, then I wont buy two big presents for the same person, and nothing for the next!

Here are a few of the tips (in plenty of time too):

1. Get organised-online shopping may be easier, but the postage costs can mount up. Check out how much you need to spend to get free delivery, if it’s a big store then you may have needed to buy those other things anyway. Don’t waste on ‘next day delivery’, get organised so you don’t need it, or get free delivery in store. The same goes for posting cards, if you need to do it, get organised and post with a 2nd class stamp!

2. Get rid of the clutter-its almost as if this one is also to do with the first tip, as you get more things you need to get rid of the old! Well…pre-empt it and start clearing the way and cashing in at the same time. Have a look at ebay, amazon and play….(although you won’t catch me getting rid of any old books!)

3. Download this great toolbar from http://www.getinvisablehand.com/ Browse your usual shopping website and if the product is available cheaper elsewhere (48 stores, including john lewis and amazon) it alerts you and gives you a direct link to that site!

I always like to check out all of the free events organised by the council at this time of year too. There is always loads of FUN things to do round about now, so I hate to waste any time doing boring stuff. Being organised isn’t bad, bad is scouring the shops-I hate that! Hopefully you’ve got on top of your lists anyway! AND read GH, it’s a really good issue!