Bagging a Bargain - be alittle thrifty.

I know that you are all like me and you want to find a bargain. But did you ever get the feeling that some people are better at getting bargains than you are.    If so, than read through the few little tips that I have picked up recently which will hopefully help you bag that bargain.

Follow your favourite stores on twitter

These stores may tweet discounts codes or give you an insight as to when the sale may start either online or in store.  

Compare prices

Compare the prices of your most used products whether it is in store or online.   I especially do this when it comes to make up.  I  can save up to 5euro a pop on my regular make up product by comparing the prices in the store and online.

Seek out discounts special

Remember if you are a student you can get student discounts.  It doesn’t matter if you are a mature student – these discounts will still apply.  Teachers get discounts also and some companies can sign up for group schemes where discounts apply.   So get up and talk to your boss – you never know what discounts that you can get.

Know what you are looking for.

Just because something is discounted doesn’t mean that it is going to be a bargain.  You have to ask yourself some questions:

• Does it fit ? i.e do you have spend more money on getting the item altered?
• Do you have accessories to go with it?  Do you need to spend more money buying some more items to go with it?
• Do you have shoes to go with it? Do you need to buy shoes to go with the dress or outfit that you are thinking of buying.
• Do you already have something like this in your wardrobe.  Knowing what you already have in the wardrobe is half the battle.

If you any of the answers from the above cause you to spend more money than really it is not a  bargain is it.

Shop off season 

Some people may shudder when I say this.  But if you are looking for those classic items that will never go out of fashion i.e. good denims, plain t-shirt and winter coats – than shopping off season will work best for you. 

What tips do you have for a bagging a bargain?  Leave a comment below and let us all know. 

S

Style Icons - What makes and who is one?

Who is your style Icon? Whose fashion do you most admire and aspire to look like?

Magazines always talk about one person or another being a style icon and when I pondered this thought myself and I discovered that I don’t really have one particular person that I would call as a style icon.

What is a style icon for me? 

A style icon for me is someone who has poise, grace and this uncanny ability to look good and be in the exact right clothes for that exact occasion. 

For me at the moment that person is Princess Catherine.  This girl cannot put a single foot wrong in my books when it comes to fashion.  Just take a look at some of her styles that she has been wearing.

Even down to her attendance at the Olympic events she has nailed it each time. 

I think that she encompasses everything I believe a style Icon should be.

Being a style icon is also to do with confidence and how you wear something.   Many women believe it is to with the money that you spend on what you are wearing.  But it isn’t.  Being an icon is about how you wear something – no matter what the cost of it is.

Coco Chanel said it best – Fashion Fades – but style remains.

In terms of other celebrities I have not come across anyone who has the perfect style that fits like Princess Catherine.  However, out there in blogger land there are plenty of ladies who have the style that fits every occasion and looks fantastic.   These girls mix and play with style that suits their body and mixes in the trends that are out there in the fashion world.    These are ladies that I draw inspiration from -  they have taught me how to dress for my body and more importantly not to worry or focus too much on what is in trend right now. Take a look at some of these styles and fantastic ladies.

Check out their blogs for more fantastic style.   Who is your style Icon and what fashion blogs do you recommend.  Leave a comment below.

S

Linky Love - Posts I have loved & adored this week

Take a look at some of the posts that I have really enjoyed this week.

Why not make someone feel special - by The Simply Luxurious life

My Job search formula by Classy Career Girl

Blooger Look of the week comes from Sterling Style

 Celeb Look of the week - its got to be Kate ( again sorry ! )

De-cluttering and organising - Mondays are a great day to start

This is something which has been a passion of mine for quite some time – but when I say this I really mean something that I have wanted to do for so long but just never got around to it. 

I have read various blogs on getting organised and how you can declutter your life in so many easy steps, but I never put any of it in to practice. That is up until recently.   I have started a declutter and organising regime within my house and my life.  Think about it – every now and again we go through our wardrobes and we give away clothes to charity that we are finished with and we tidy those wardrobes with the greatest of intentions of never letting it get that bad again.  But for me, I never really looked at other aspects of my life.  How do I declutter the rooms in my house, the thoughts in my head. How do I organise my finances?

This is what I am currently doing –   clearing things out is such a therapeutic thing to do but something which is not done often enough. So this is where I am at.  Isn’t there a saying clean house clear mind or something to that effect – so I have started tackling the house – one room at a time. 

It was a spare room / junk room / office – whatever you want to call it  - it never had a purpose.  So I have cleared it out and can finally say it actually now looks like a home office.  Bits and pieces of items are still there and need to be sorted but you know what – I can actually see the floor, which is a miracle in itself. 

If you decide to declutter and tidy here are some small simple tips and tricks that will help you.  Firstly start with a plan – know where you want to start –and just get on with it.  Starting like with anything else in life is the hardest thing to do but once you do – it will make all the difference.  I am actually sitting in my new office now writing this blog post to you guys now.  

 Note – these are not my ideas but taken from a faboulous lady in the blogging world. 

Jars – Everything has a spot right – so paperclips and tacks instead of being deadly items in a drawer can go in to a old jam jar or coffee canister. 

Labelling – it is so simple and I bet you never even thought of doing it (I didn’t)   you can simply just print out what labels you need.  You don’t need any fancy label maker.   

Filing – there is no way that you need to go out and buy a fancy tray for your filing and paperwork that you have.  Guess what you can use – a cereal box !  Look at this great idea from organising made fun 

 

This is wonderful !  Really imaginative. 

Shoe boxes - you know when you are in a store and the assistance asks do you want it. Say Yes! These are a great way to separate items and store things that you need.  I have recently used a shoe box to store cables that I found while cleaning out the junk room.   I will be honest I don’t know what the cables are for – but you know the minute you throw one out you will need it.  So I have put them all in a shoe box. 

Tissue Boxes – say what ! I hear you say. Yes Tissue boxes.  You can use them to store items from post it notes – I suddenly discovered I have a penchant for collecting post it notes of all different colours and styles and I needed somewhere to store them.   You could also use them for storing your childs crayons – or even your make up.   (remember to label which is which)

 For more ideas check out this fab lady - http://organizingmadefun.blogspot.ie/

Do you have any ideas for items around the house that you can use which will help declutter and organise your home?  Why not leave them in the comments section 

S