There is sometimes an element of snobbery when it comes to pound shops with a certain stigma attached to them yet what can I say? I'm a commoner, a mere peasant if you like and quite frankly you can't beat the feeling of coming out of a shop with a bag full of goodies having spent less than a tenner. I know, I know I have somewhat exaggerated using bloggers license as I'm sure other things could rather beat that feeling (why hello Mr Northman.....) yet the fact remains, to many of us shopping is a good temporary boost for the blue and surely we all love a bargain.

There are variations in pound shops such as those that lure you in under the assumption everything is a pound when actually they're not then there are the ones where actually, everything is a pound.  The latter can be further split into two groups, do keep up I absolutely understand the sheer marvel you are experiencing whilst learning about the technicalities of pound shops. There are those that are cramped squalid places where it's every bugger for themselves as you navigate around aisle hoggers and general numpties with a death grip on your spawn so as not to lose them in the sea of fuckmuppets all scrabbling at cramped shelves knocking the unsuspecting workfare victims flying as they literally devour the shop from the inside out. These places are usually dimly lit in some unsavoury piss colour lighting adding to the general sense of claustrophobia.  By the time you exit you feel like a suffocated Ninja.  Now don't get me wrong all these places sell their fair share of utter tat and to be frightfully honest absolute junk yet often if you persevere you'll find some gems.  Yet the other group of pound shops realise that just because their stock is cheap, the shop doesn't have to look like the exploded contents of a whores handbag.  These places are brighter lit, slightly airier, easier to navigate and for some unfathomable reason, not as busy.  Bloody marvellous!

I visited one such place last week and as you can see from the picture came out with a 45 piece jigsaw, glider planes, lacing animal cards and a rather retro noisy stick thing for The Toddler, two packs of grow your own cat grass for The Felines, a make your own fairy home and fairies for Thing Two and a (not pictured) giant glider plane for Thing One for the tremendously grand total of eight pounds.  Even better is that the jigsaw is actually rather good, we should know as we do after-all own about eight of these ones and they sell on eBay for nearly a fiver.  Ditto with the lacing cards, lovely, vibrant and quite decent quality.  In fact we also procured our bargain bird houses to paint from here too previously (not to mention oodles of paper, colouring books, a toy telescope, pens, felt tips, cat toys, hair clips and slides etc)

In an unaffordable world, it's sometimes terribly refreshing to get some actual value for our money.

How to survive Christmas shopping.

I know most of you are more then likely infinitely more shop savvy then me yet for those of us who aren't I thought i'd share just a few ways of getting the most out of your Christmas shopping online, or should I say the most out of your money.

1.  Google is your friend.  Never ever purchase until you've googled the item to compare prices elsewhere, you may be surprised at how a price can vary for essentially what is the exact same item.

2. Cashback.  It's free to sign up and no admin fee's are taken from your 'earnings'.  Basically you'd be surprised at how many merchants that you frequently use actually offer cashback through a cashback service.   It really is that simple, you get money for spending money.  No hoops to jump through or small print.  Just search for a merchant, make sure you visit the merchant via their link on the cashback site and jobs a good 'un.  Often it's 5% etc other times it's an actual monetary value, especially if you're changing media services, energy suppliers or mobile phone companies, you can literally get £100's of pounds free purely through going via a cashback site.

3. Discount codes.  Never complete checkout until you've googled for promotional codes.  You can often get a range of discounts varying from a percentage discount or free delivery.  It all adds up and every little helps as they say.

4.  Membership sale sites.  If you're a mum you really ought to sign up to Zulily.  Every day at 6am they release new offers on a whole range of items from well known brands from slings, toys, clothing etc for mums and babies/toddlers/children.

5. Discount stores.  Never be afraid to mooch round your local pound shops and Home Bargains.  You can often pick up remarkable bargains.  Often things you'll find going for triple the price on eBay   You can get so much more for your money on the same items you'd purchase elsewhere.  Gifts for everyone from main presents to stocking fillers.  Cheap books, gift sets, clothing and toys!  Also ideal for hampers/baskets and such if you want to make your own hampers.

6. DIY.  If you're craft orientated, seriously do it yourself.  You can make something unique and quirky that the recipient will really appreciate.  Why not do hampers? from Christmas goodies hampers to a movie night hamper or even an indulgent Christmas eve hamper.  You can fill them with bought goods or if you're so inclined home made pickles, chutneys, puddings, home brews, sweets and truffles.  Get the children involved they can make truffles, potato stamp paper for wrapping paper, do salt dough impressions..... kill two birds with one stone that way, entertain the spawn and save money.  Win.

7.  If you're not a member of Amazon Prime you may be eligible for a free trial membership.  The best time to do this is Christmas.  No more stressing about when items will arrive, especially with our rather unpredictable weather.  Free next day delivery on many items.

8. Save up your Tesco club card vouchers as they have club card exchanges at Christmas  last christmas I managed to buy £80 worth of toys for £40.  Can't be bad!