Toddler sale haul

I love love love sales, you can pick up some great bargains and pay a fraction of the price. This time of year is the best time to pick up things for next winter and Christmas. Yes I have bought things for next Christmas! I just put it all in a box and stick it away but it saves me a fair amount of money on things I would have ended up buying for Michael anyway. 

Mothercare

I was quite late to the Mothercare sale this year, a lot of the things I would have wanted for Michael they ran out of his size in my local store. However I did pick him up a pair of red pumps in a bigger size reduced from £10 to £3. They also had a range of other colours. I love these on Michael, they look great with jeans and shorts in the summer. Hoping they fit him when we go away in May. I also picked him up a pair of cute snowman socks for Christmas 2016. At 50p they were really cheap and he would have got a new pair of Christmas socks anyway.

Next

I really like Next clothes, I think they are a great quality and wear very well. However they can be expensive, therefore I do try to take advantage of their sales. This year I picked him up some really nice long sleeve t-shirts for next winter in the size 3-4 years. At £3 reduced from £7 and a double pack at £5 reduced from £14 they were a great price for good quality. Hopefully they will also do him good for two winters since Next is quite generous with their sizing.

In my post on a Christmas Eve box, you would have noticed I also give Michael new pjs on Christmas Eve. From Next I also picked him up a very cute pair of minion Christmas pjs that were £5 reduced from £16. He really likes the minion films and since he will be 3 in September, I think the size 3-4 years will fit him by the December. 

Asda

My local Asda reduced all their Christmas bits really quickly so all of the stuff I picked up from Asda are Christmas related. A snowman t-shirt reduced from £3 to £2, snowman socks reduced from £1.50 to 50p (I forgot I already picked him up a pair!) a Santa key that was 50p reduced from £2 and a letter writing set that was just 25p. I didn't bother doing many Santa things with Michael in 2015 because at 2 I just didn't think he was quite there with understanding it all but 2016 and at 3 years of age, I think he will understand and really enjoy the key and letter. 

Not for Michael I also bought Lego Darth Vader in Asda reduced to £10 from £25. That is the cheapest I have seen them and will be a really good birthday present for my partner in July. He loves Star Wars and Lego so two birds with one stone. Star Wars mania is everywhere! 

Primark

Last but not least was Primark and these bits I just picked up today. I am not the biggest fan of Primark for children's clothes but I had to go in there for vests and they had a lot reduced so I had a look. I am really pleased with what I bought and pleasantly surprised at the quality. Fleece pyjamas at £3 a pair, needed this week it's freezing! A tracksuit  onsie at £3 reduced from £7, a rain jacket at £5 reduced from £9 and a really cute rugby style long sleeved top at £2 reduced from £5. All bigger sizes, while I don't think they will last Michael two winters like the clothes from Next, they should last until next year.

I don't think I spent too much on the sales but I must admit that I do try and buy Michael's clothes in the sales and at a cheaper price. I have also been looking for a new coat for him next winter at a reduced price but have not yet found one I like. Perhaps when Next have their sale in the spring. All of the stuff I bought should still be available online/in store.

Let me know if you found any great bargains in the sales, or if you know of some nice coats for toddler boys let me know in the comments below.

H. 

My Christmas Challenge Update

So I have not been able to post for a little while because we have had some major internet problems. Luckily it is finally sorted(damn TalkTalk) so I thought I would update you all with my Christmas challenge.

For those who have not read my previous post, my Christmas challenge is that I cannot buy anything full price. We are struggling a little so it is essential this year to save money and actually I really do enjoy shopping for a bargain!

1. Asda. 

Asda have had some great sales recently and my local store is closing so has loads more deals.

Last week I bought these children's hooded towels for £3 each reduced from £6 The Olaf one is for Michael and there are two tangled ones for two young cousins. Really bright and useful.

I also bought these two PS3 Games for £5 reduced from £12. Daniel my partner really loves Star Wars and so this is just a fun little present for him and I think now Michael is getting older and showing an interest in the PS3 he would enjoy playing the Toy Story game now and again.

2.Primark

So from Primark I managed to find these cute character t-shirts for £2 each. As I have said in a previous blog post, I am not always a great Primark fan and only go in there now and again but I thought these were really cute. The Olaf one is for Michael and the two t-shirts for two young cousins.

3.Whsmith

Gift Tags for 18p each and a advent calender for 49p. Bargain! I was really happy to get these because I would rather pay 18p now than £1.50 later.

4. Argos

This is not a Christmas present but I thought Michael would have lots of fun with this craft box leading up to christmas. It was £20 reduced to £5 in Argos. It has loads in it! Stickers, cards, letters to Santa,door hanger, santa stop here sign to name a few so I was very impressed. While Michael will not be able to do all of it, he will get a lot of use out of it.

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchMobile?storeId=10151&catalogId=25051&langId=110&searchTerm=Christmas+craft+

I am really enjoying shopping around for christmas bargains and so far I have saved over £140! So it really does pay off shopping around and taking advantage of store sales.

Will update with more bargains soon!

H.

My christmas challenge

Ok you are probably wondering why I am talking about christmas when it is the 1st of August, but this year my partner Daniel set me a challenge that means I have have to buy early. This year any present I buy cannot be bought full price.  It was kind of a joke Daniel made because I am such a bargain hunter but I thought what a great idea. I get to enjoy shopping and also save money. Hopefully by christmas I can show people that christmas does not have to be expensive and that buying over the year can pay off! 

This is what I have bought so far in various store sales:

•Mothercare- Pretty Learning Purse. Full Price-£17. 99. Paid £8.99 (saving £9)

•Mothercare- Decorate tiara and wand. Full price-£5 paid £2.50 (saving £2.50)

•WHS-Small Snowman teddy. Full Price- £4.99 paid 62p! (saving £4.37)

•WHS- Small penguin teddy. Full Price- £5 paid 62p! (saving £4.38)

•WHS- Star Wars book. Full Price- £15 paid £2.50 (saving £12.50)

•Peacocks- Owl Scarf- Full Price-£5 paid £2.50 (saving £2.50)

•Disney Store-Doc Mcstuffins sticker book. Full Price- £5 paid £1.80 (saving £3.20)

•Disney Store-Toy Story T-Shirt Full Price-£9.95 paid £4.95 (saving £5)

•Disney Store-Star Wars Cup-Full Price-£5.95 paid £1.80 (saving £4.15)

•Disney Store Star Wars Beach towel-Full Price-£14.95 paid £7 (saving £7.95)

•Asda- Men's Star Wars t-shirt. Full Price -£8 paid £4 X2 (saving £8)

•Asda-Child's Star Wars t-shirt. Full Price £6 paid £4 (saving £2)

Savings so far = £65.55! 

I will be updating the blog on my buys and savings so let's hope I can keep up with the challenge! 

Let me know in the comments below if you have started buying or how you save money at christmas.

H.