Finding Deals, Discounts & Free Products

Everyone is feeling the pinch after Christmas. I've been brainstorming ways to save money and did the usual, switching utility providers and making a meal plan, but I still wasn't satisfied.

I was on Facebook a few days ago and saw one of my friends had liked a couponing page, so I had a look and watched one of their YouTube videos about printing an using coupons in the supermarket.

I decided to give it a go myself. I printed some off and used them today and they ALL worked.
So I thought I would share what I got and how you can get them to. Click the links to go to the vouchers.

Deal 1

I found vouchers on this website and looked on the Tesco website to see current prices. Tesco is where I shop, but you can look in any supermarket. The vouchers I printed were only redeemable in store. Usually I do an online shop, but as it's my birthday, I was going into town so thought I would take a trip to Tesco.

Here's what I got:

Voucher 1 - £1 off Johnson's bedtime range. In Tesco the bedtime lotion was on offer for £1, so I ended up getting this for FREE!

Voucher 2 - £6.50 off Always discreet underwear. These were also on offer in Tesco for £6.50 so these were also FREE! Now I don't wear these but I think once I have my baby, they may come in handy, or I will donate them.

Voucher 3 - 75p off Oral B Pro Expert. This was £2 so I got this toothpaste for £1.25.

Voucher 4 - 50p off Ecover washing up liquid. This was on offer for £1 so I got this for 50p.

Some other bargains I got were:

Herbal Essence £1 reduced from £2
Nuby Teething Ring £1.50 reduced from £2.99
Baby Stacking Toy £4.90 reduced from around £9


Deal 2

If you have a cat then go over to the Royal Canin website. Sign up to their site and you can get a voucher for a free 400g bag of cat food. The usual price is £4.49 and today I got it absolutely free and no fuss at the till.  You just need to print it off.

https://www.royalcanin.co.uk/login-register/

Deal 3

Frankie and Benny's is one of my favourite restaurants and visit there a lot, so any discount I can get is great.
If you sign up to their app they will send you a £10 voucher to spend on your meal. The app will also give you offers like 50% off your bill after 5pm. It is well worth it.
Another great perk is they give you a free meal voucher when another main meal is purchased in your birthday month. It's my birthday today and I used mine.


So today was a good shopping day. £9.75 saved by using vouchers. Three items for free and the others significantly discounted.

Please let me know of any deals you have found. If I find anymore I will be sure to share!

Throwing a Green Baby Shower

Throwing an eco-friendly baby shower isn't as hard as you may think. You can keep your celebrations green without giving up the fun. Organising the party doesn't have to be hard, but there is a lot of work to be done. So let's start with the guests.

Invitations

Once you have decided who to invite to the shower you need to send out invitations. Email, text message and social networking sites are a great way of doing this. If these options are not possible then why not create your own postcard invites out of recycled card and soy ink, then no envelope is needed. Encourage your guests to RSVP via the same methods. Or you could try the new trend of using plantable paper to create your invites. 100% recycled paper is embedded with flower seeds. Once your guests have finished with their invites they can plant the paper, which naturally bio-degrades and beautiful flowers then grow out of the seeds.

Decorations

Use organic, reusable and recycled products to decorate your shower. Weather permitting, then why not have your shower outdoors. If your garden is big enough then hold the party there. If you don’t have a garden then why not go to your local park. Having the shower outdoors brings everyone closer to nature. There will also be plenty of natural decoration provided by the flowers, grass, trees and sky.

If your shower is being held indoors then decorate the space with potted plants and freshly cut flowers and pots of herbs. Place soy candles in used baby food jars or other fire-proof recycled containers. Organic green apples, or pine cones and dried leaves in a glass bowl can also make great decoration pieces.

Games

Keep your party fun by playing a few enjoyable games. Ask your guests to bring a photograph of them as a baby. Number the pictures and get your guests to write down on a piece of recycled paper who they think each baby is. The person with the most correct guesses wins a prize, such as a packet of seeds or a soy candle.

Another great game is ‘Guess the size of mummy’s tummy’. Each guest cuts a piece of cord or wool to a size they think will fit around mummy’s tummy. The person with the closest measurement wins.

Food

Try to source as much food as you can from your local farmers market. If you grow your own fruit and vegetables then use them. If any of your guests do then ask them to bring some along. You can use your green theme in your food also.

Here are some green foods you might consider:
Apples
Kiwi
Avocado
Grapes
Salad leaves
Cucumber
Basil

A buffet style meal would be ideal. If you are having your shower in the park then a buffet is easy to transport .Make food that can be stored and eaten at room temperature. This saves on heating and refrigeration costs. Use linen table cloths and napkins as well as real dishes, glasses and cutlery. It means more washing up but less waste.?

For drinks you could offer organic wine, beer and freshly made fruit juices. You could even make your own signature mock champagne:

MOCK CHAMPAGNE
2 litres Apple Juice
2 litres Ginger Ale
Grenadine Syrup (optional)

Pour apple juice and ginger ale into a punch bowl. Add enough grenadine to make a light pink colour. Serve with ice cubes in each glass.

Gifts

When you send out your invites don’t be scared to specify what gifts would be appreciate and those that would not. Not everyone you invite may be eco-aware. Encourage them to shop online where possible. You can also request they wrap presents in blankets, newspaper, towels or organic cotton sheets rather than traditional wrapping paper.

Here are a few gift ideas to consider:
Make a donation to a green charity.
Plant a tree in honour of the baby.
Wooden handmade toys.
Reusable nappies.
Homemade book of parenting stories and experiences.
Guests can sign up to make a home cooked, freezable meal for the mummy after the baby is born.
Homemade voucher for a massage, manicure etc.
One night free babysitting.
Guests could write a message on an organic baby grow that could be framed.
Get your guests using their imaginations.

Party favors

At the end of an enjoyable celebration why not send your guests home with an eco-friendly treat.
Some ideas include:
Handmade soaps.
Handmade soy candles.
Organic fruit baskets.
Potted plants. (Why not give them the ones you used to decorate the party with)
Packets of seeds to plant in honour of the baby.
Fairtrade chocolate.

After the party

Clean up after your green party using non-toxic, biodegradable household products. Send any leftover food home with your guests to avoid waste, or freeze where possible. Remember to recycle everything you can.

And most importantly of all, enjoy your eco-friendly shower.

Useful Resources:

Plantable paper: www.plantableseedpaper.com
Cleaning products: www.ecoshopdirect.co.uk
Soy candles: www.busybeecandles.co.uk
Charity: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

They Didn't Tell Me That!

There are many wonderful changes that can happen to your body when you are pregnant, like glossy hair and nails, soft supple skin. But many people neglect to tell you the not so wonderful changes that can occur.

Here are 5 not-so-nice changes to your body you may have noticed.

1. Are your gums bleeding when brush your teeth?

Gingivitis or gum disease as it is more commonly known, affects most people at some point in their life, but pregnancy can make you more prone to it. Pregnancy hormones can cause your gums to swell and become inflamed, which leads to them bleeding when you brush or floss.  To help relieve the bleeding, continue to brush and floss regularly. You may have been avoiding brushing the areas that are bleeding but  leaving the plaque to build up at the gums will only make them more irritated.

Use an electric toothbrush. Various studies have shown them to be more effective than a manual brush. You should floss or use interdental brushes at least three times a week and visit your dentist for regular examinations. Dental treatment is free on the NHS while you are pregnant and up until your baby is one. Your dentist will also be able to advise a mouthwash that is safe to use during pregnancy.

2. Morning sickness doesn’t just happen in the morning.

Although it can be worse at this time, sickness can occur at any time of the day and night.  The cause of the sickness pregnant women can experience is unknown.  It is thought that it could be due to hormonal changes that happen in pregnancy.  It usually starts around the 5th or 6th week of pregnancy and can last up until your 16th week. Some women get Hyperemesis Gravidarum, an illness which can make you dehydrated, sick and ill all the way through pregnancy.   As long as you are able to keep some food down and drink plenty of fluids it should not affect your baby in any way. To help with your symptoms you should make sure you are getting plenty of sleep, as tiredness can play a big part in morning sickness. Try eating dry cereal or crackers before getting out of bed. You may find eating small but frequent meals helps, but avoid spicy and greasy foods which can  make the sickness worse. Drinking peppermint or ginger tea may also help.If you are worried at any point then contact your GP for advice. You can also contact the charity Pregnancy Sickness Support if you would like some advice.

3. Have you noticed you have developed varicose veins, or ones you already had look worse?

This is due to your growing uterus putting pressure on your pelvic veins. This increases blood pressure in the leg veins causing varicose veins to develop or worsen. The good news is you may be able to prevent or minimise them. Keep your legs elevated as much as possible. Don’t stand for long periods of time and when you are sitting avoid crossing your legs. You may also want to invest in some support tights. They are not very sexy, but may be worth it if they help prevent unsightly veins.

Once your baby is born the varicose veins may disappear. If not, you can have surgery to correct them, but you may have to pay privately for the procedure.

4. You may have noticed itching and bleeding coming from your rectal area (your bum)! 

If so then you probably have haemorrhoids or piles as they are more commonly known . You’re not alone. Up to 50 percent of pregnant women suffer from them. Pregnancy makes you more prone to them because of the increase in blood circulating around your body.  You can avoid getting them by eating a high fibre diet and drinking plenty of water. This will help you avoid constipation which can cause you to develop haemorrhoids.

Once you do have them you can help get rid of them by taking regular warm baths, which will help alleviate the itching and pain. Ensure you clean the area gently and thoroughly after a bowel movement. Avoid sitting and standing for long periods and sleep on your side not your back.  They usually disappear once pregnancy is over. But if they do persist or are painful see your GP.

5. Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or run?  

Around 4 out of 10 pregnant women suffer from stress incontinence. The great news is you can stop it. Various pregnancy hormones cause your pelvic floor muscles and tissues to stretch, which can lead to a weakness in the muscles that release urine from your bladder. Doing regular pelvic floor exercises will help with the weakness. If you find you are still leaking after several weeks of regular exercises then have a chat with your Midwife or GP. They may refer you to a women’s health Physiotherapist.

What changes were you not told about?