I am loving all the discounts on offer at the moment. On Thursday I braved Marks and Spencer's one day sale. With 20% off all clothing and Christmas gifts it was too good an opportunity to miss. The Preston store has only been refurbished earlier this year and it looks fantastic. It was a perfect opportunity to do most of my Christmas shopping and it seemed I wasn't the only one with the same idea. People had hundreds of pounds worth of clothes and Christmas gifts piled high in their shopping trolleys.
What I find fascinating with sales is how women's behaviour completely transforms. Sale time makes shopping a serious and dangerous venture. Gone are the polite, civilised ladies. They turn into savage rottweilers. Prepare to be pushed out of the way, jostled, elbowed and rammed in the ankles by shopping trolleys. Shops become an obstacle course. Negotiating around seemingly oblivious shoppers blocking every aisle and exit becomes impossible. They are masters in the art of standing in such a way that you cant get round them or reach the items that you want. Politely asking them to move falls on deaf ears. God help you if you pick up the last bargain cashmere jumper in a size medium and you are confronted by a nostril flaring, red faced middle aged women who claims that its hers.
It is the middle aged women who are the worst culprits. They have had decades of fine tuning their ruthlessness in order to get the best bargains. I am yet to find a man who loves fighting his way through the crowd to sift through reams of crumpled clothes which have been ripped off the hanger and thrown on the floor.
Most men I saw in M&S fell into one of two categories. The first had a glazed look of boredom etched on their face. This 'vacant' look is a telling sign that the men are in their own little world, thinking about anything but the uncomfortable situation they are in. The second are the angry men who stand huffing and puffing, veins throbbing in their temple as their wives or girlfriends amble through the aisles oblivious to their pain. These are the ones who have been dragged along specifically for their credit cards. So they have the double whammy of being in the last place they want to be as well as costing them a small fortune.
I believe Debenhams has 25% off its clothing at the moment so I may go and have a browse with boyfriend in tow. (He falls into the first "vacant look" category). I think it will do him good and I am not bothered if he is bored, I like the company. After all I am a rottweiler in training.....
Saturday, 22 November 2008
Sunday, 9 November 2008
Horses-unwitting victims of the credit crunch
As a nation we love to have a good moan, be it complaining about the weather to the sorry state our country's finances are in. But just pause for a moment and think about the animals that are suffering as pet owners can no longer afford the 'luxury' of keeping them.
One of the most expensive animals to look after are horses and consequently they are most likely to be given up. A charity which looks after unwanted horses have been overwhelmed with calls from equestrians who can no longer afford their upkeep. In the past month 640 requests to retire horses has been received by The Horse Trust. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7714802.stm
I am shocked at the sheer scale of it. It is a sad state of affairs when people are cutting back their expenditure and decide that their horses are the first to go. Why not get rid of that gas guzzling 4x4 and replace it with a smaller, cheaper car or even better buy a bicycle? Why not cut back on the amount of holidays or long weekend breaks taken? Why not sell some of your bric-a-brac on ebay?
I may sound cynical but I am under the impression that if you can afford to buy a horse, stables, riding lessons and everything that goes with it you are not short of a bob or two. Animals should be a commitment for life, become part of the family, not given away because money is tight.
There will come a point where the Horse Trust cannot cope and will have to turn away these lovely creatures and then where will they go? Some may have to be shot if they cannot be re- homed. Of all the blunders and mismanagement of the financial crisis surely this abandonment of horses is one of the worst?
One of the most expensive animals to look after are horses and consequently they are most likely to be given up. A charity which looks after unwanted horses have been overwhelmed with calls from equestrians who can no longer afford their upkeep. In the past month 640 requests to retire horses has been received by The Horse Trust. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7714802.stm
I am shocked at the sheer scale of it. It is a sad state of affairs when people are cutting back their expenditure and decide that their horses are the first to go. Why not get rid of that gas guzzling 4x4 and replace it with a smaller, cheaper car or even better buy a bicycle? Why not cut back on the amount of holidays or long weekend breaks taken? Why not sell some of your bric-a-brac on ebay?
I may sound cynical but I am under the impression that if you can afford to buy a horse, stables, riding lessons and everything that goes with it you are not short of a bob or two. Animals should be a commitment for life, become part of the family, not given away because money is tight.
There will come a point where the Horse Trust cannot cope and will have to turn away these lovely creatures and then where will they go? Some may have to be shot if they cannot be re- homed. Of all the blunders and mismanagement of the financial crisis surely this abandonment of horses is one of the worst?
For adults eyes only
Vue cinemas have introduced adult only screenings on some of their films. Even though Quantum of Solace, the new James Bond film has a 12A rating, those aged 18 and over can choose to go to a screening which prohibits youths from watching. Other films scheduled for adult audiences include Yes Man and The Day the Earth Stood Still.At last! I can go to the cinema in peace and not have my film spoilt by noisy children and chavy teenagers. There is nothing worse than trying to watch a film with kids talking, texting, munching noisly, kicking the back of your chair and having popcorn fights. I have long given over going to the cinema on a Saturday for that very reason.
Its just a pity Vue have not introduced it in all of its cinemas. Lets hope other cinema groups follow suit. Vue is asking customers to enter any other films they would like restricted to adults on its website www.myvue.com/voteover18s
At least now when I watch Quantum of Solace I can drool over Daniel Craig in peace.
What do you think? Will you be going to an adult only screening or do the children not bother you?
Saturday, 8 November 2008
Christmas bargains galore
Apparently Christmas shopping will be far cheaper this year. According to the Daily Mail on Saturday, many major retailers are set to slash their prices by up to 75%. So stores such as Debenhams, Miss Selfridge, Curry's and House of Fraser are reducing the cost of some of their popular items.
Hooray! As an impoverished student I was wondering how I was going to afford buying Christmas presents this year. Family and friends always seem to have great expectations when it comes to presents and I always spend far too much. I am certainly pining for my Marks and Spencer discount card this year.
Retailers are set to introduce massive savings and discount vouchers this weekend and promise to be the best bargains in over 30 years. In the present economic climate this move will undoubtedly be a welcome relief. Although, it is nothing new, shops have always had good offers to entice us in. Where would we be without the three for two offer in Boots?
As a self-confessed shopaholic I had noticed that Christmas stock this year is ridiculously cheap. Buying Christmas cards, wrapping paper and an advent calender for the dog won't leave a massive dent in your wallet.
I am tempted to be really thrifty (some may say cheap!) and buy all my presents in Primark and Wilkinson's. I asked my mum if she wanted some pyjamas from Primark to which she replied I only wear Marks and Spencer. That's £25 out of my budget then........
Hooray! As an impoverished student I was wondering how I was going to afford buying Christmas presents this year. Family and friends always seem to have great expectations when it comes to presents and I always spend far too much. I am certainly pining for my Marks and Spencer discount card this year.
Retailers are set to introduce massive savings and discount vouchers this weekend and promise to be the best bargains in over 30 years. In the present economic climate this move will undoubtedly be a welcome relief. Although, it is nothing new, shops have always had good offers to entice us in. Where would we be without the three for two offer in Boots?
As a self-confessed shopaholic I had noticed that Christmas stock this year is ridiculously cheap. Buying Christmas cards, wrapping paper and an advent calender for the dog won't leave a massive dent in your wallet.
I am tempted to be really thrifty (some may say cheap!) and buy all my presents in Primark and Wilkinson's. I asked my mum if she wanted some pyjamas from Primark to which she replied I only wear Marks and Spencer. That's £25 out of my budget then........
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