The Thrifty Gifty Girls 'n' Guys 2009 (Organised & Money Neutral for All Occasions)

loveday69

Hi All,
Can I ask you for your opinions on whether you find shops that do points the cheapest option? i.e. boots points may be a good idea but does it work out better than buying from a cheaper shop i.e. the pound shop or superdrug when you calculate the savings you get from the points? does that make sense? I rarely go in these shops even though I've got the cards as they seam to be that much more expensive. I did go into boots yesterday just to check the prices to see if I was mistaken and spent £9 on me!! (well nobody picked up on my hint for a particular perfume so I got it in a gift set half price in the sale)- bad bad bad - I'll have to recoup that somewhere else.

furrypig

loveday69 wrote: »

Hi All,
Can I ask you for your opinions on whether you find shops that do points the cheapest option? i.e. boots points may be a good idea but does it work out better than buying from a cheaper shop i.e. the pound shop or superdrug when you calculate the savings you get from the points? does that make sense? I rarely go in these shops even though I've got the cards as they seam to be that much more expensive. I did go into boots yesterday just to check the prices to see if I was mistaken and spent £9 on me!! (well nobody picked up on my hint for a particular perfume so I got it in a gift set half price in the sale)- bad bad bad - I'll have to recoup that somewhere else.

i think that boots isn't always the cheapest so if you see the same item that costs £1 in Boots for 90p elsewhere you are better off getting it elsewhere!

In theory I guess that you could then say you've saved 10p and put that towards your money neutral stuff (well that's what I'm planning on doing!!)

I'm sure the Jamster will be here soon to explain things betteras she is our money neutral leader!!:rotfl:

mum2one

loveday69 wrote: »

Hi All,
Can I ask you for your opinions on whether you find shops that do points the cheapest option? i.e. boots points may be a good idea but does it work out better than buying from a cheaper shop i.e. the pound shop or superdrug when you calculate the savings you get from the points? does that make sense? I rarely go in these shops even though I've got the cards as they seam to be that much more expensive. I did go into boots yesterday just to check the prices to see if I was mistaken and spent £9 on me!! (well nobody picked up on my hint for a particular perfume so I got it in a gift set half price in the sale)- bad bad bad - I'll have to recoup that somewhere else.

I dont know if your on pay and go or contract with ur mobiles, I top up my mobile and the rest of the family at Boots as its 4p back in the pound, unless theyve got better offer on. Most of the other items can be sourced cheaper from elsewhere. x

jamtart6

loveday69 wrote: »

Hi All,
Can I ask you for your opinions on whether you find shops that do points the cheapest option? i.e. boots points may be a good idea but does it work out better than buying from a cheaper shop i.e. the pound shop or superdrug when you calculate the savings you get from the points? does that make sense? I rarely go in these shops even though I've got the cards as they seam to be that much more expensive. I did go into boots yesterday just to check the prices to see if I was mistaken and spent £9 on me!! (well nobody picked up on my hint for a particular perfume so I got it in a gift set half price in the sale)- bad bad bad - I'll have to recoup that somewhere else.

This is definitely a personal decision and largely based around Boots bonus points and the vouchers they give out in my opinion.

I never used to shop in Boots as it was always more expensive than superdrug or the pound shop but they do some fantastic bonus points offers and offers on gifts particularly in the run up to Christmas and certain weekends of the year. The advantage card machine also offers bonus points for spending over a certain amount in store and there is always a voucher to be given out....spend £5 and get a £5 no.7 voucher or £2 haircare voucher or suchlike. Over Christmas I was getting £27 back in points on a £60ish spend online which I think is pretty good. I know I have to spend the points in Boots but I always manage it through the year if I want £5 vouchers for no.7 or whatever they are giving out, I'll probably buy the necessary bits in Boots so that I get the voucher. It all depends how you feel and what you want really. Hope that Helps

jamtart6

furrypig wrote: »

i think that boots isn't always the cheapest so if you see the same item that costs £1 in Boots for 90p elsewhere you are better off getting it elsewhere!

In theory I guess that you could then say you've saved 10p and put that towards your money neutral stuff (well that's what I'm planning on doing!!)

I'm sure the Jamster will be here soon to explain things betteras she is our money neutral leader!!:rotfl:

Hi Furzy you can do whatever you like for money neutral. I personally won't be counting any extra pennies saved in the way you explain above but again it is up to you. My Money Neutral cashpot comes from :

• Vouchers from surveys/trading old mobile phones in
• Clubcard/loyalty points
• Quidco, Cashbackrewards and Topcashback cashback sites
• money I have made by selling old things on eBay

It is totally up to you how else you do it

[Deleted User]

Oh well, my budget for the year is already blown. My dog got really sick at about 3am and we had to drive to the nearest 24hour vet (£170), and is now in surgery and having tests (estimate so far £700), I do have insurance, but we have to pay the first £100 plus 10% of treatment costs. Not that I care, I am just so desperate for him to home and well, I'd sell the flat if I had to. Feeling very upset and keep bursting into tears (probably lack of sleep as well as worry). Please keep everything crossed for him. Thanks

jamtart6

Cash
Profit from Boots gifts: £10.50
Quidco (Dec 08) £43.75
Onepoll £23.60
Cashbackrewards £20.99
Topcashback £17.83
eBay £0.00

Total Cashfund : £116.67


Vouchers/Loyalty Points

CD WOW 1.00
Boots points £175.52
Boots Voucher £30.00
Tesco Clubcard ?
Nectar ?
Waterstones 0.87
Toluna Points 25200.00 (about £8)


Hope that gives someone some idea of what I mean. All these can now be spent on gifts for birthdays and Christmas this coming year

jamtart6

goochie wrote: »

Oh well, my budget for the year is already blown. My dog got really sick at about 3am and we had to drive to the nearest 24hour vet (£170), and is now in surgery and having tests (estimate so far £700), I do have insurance, but we have to pay the first £100 plus 10% of treatment costs. Not that I care, I am just so desperate for him to home and well, I'd sell the flat if I had to. Feeling very upset and keep bursting into tears (probably lack of sleep as well as worry). Please keep everything crossed for him. Thanks

Aww get well soon goochie's doggie. It is horrible when a pet is poorly We will keep everything crossed for you

pinkladymel

Sending you my love and warm wishes Goochie I hope your doggie gets better but please remember he is in the best hands now and there are a lot of nasty bugs going about at the moment. No matter what is wrong with your doggy you can rest knowing he is in no pain because the vet will be sorting him out xx

I am not very good at keeping a record of everything and I have got so much to do so I don't think money neutralising is going to be possible for me BUT I will still join in and tell you all the deals and just try to get my gifts as cheap as I can and also earn as much money as I can online. I don't know how you do it and keep it all to hand Jammy but I guess that is why you are the money neutral expert xx

My little girl started school yesterday, I have blogged it if you want to see so that I don't ramble all over the thread again LOL. http://pinkladymel.blogspot.com

pinkladymel

This thread has reached over 1000 posts so it needs to be closed. Please find the new one here:
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=17363667#post17363667

Thanks xx