Luxury and bargain aren’t generally two words that you associate with each other. This, however, doesn’t have to be the case. There are some great ways to take yourself on a luxury UK holiday at a bargain price; you just need to know how to look for the deals!
Imagine waking up under crisp white sheets, and looking out through your bedroom windows at a view across the sea. At a hotel such a view would demand a premium price, well outside the means of those traveling on a budget. If you were to be staying in a luxury UK holiday cottage, however, such a view would be yours to savor for a fraction of the cost! Self catering holiday cottages are a popular vacation accommodation choice in the UK because not only are they less expensive, you get so much more for your money.
Along with a fully equipped kitchen, a luxury holiday cottage can also offer you a range of exclusive facilities, such as a private swimming pool or hot tub, as well as en-suite bathrooms and state of the art amenities. In short, a luxury holiday cottage can provide all of the conveniences of a 5 star hotel, for a fraction of the cost.
Why is it a fraction of the cost you may ask? Well, holiday cottages are generally independently owned properties that are offered for part, or all, of the year for holiday rentals. They don’t have the overhead costs of a big hotel chain and these savings are passed onto you!
If you’re looking for great luxury holiday cottages in the UK visit www.sykescottage.co.uk today.
This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.
DG Jones / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The sky-high food prices are not keeping the Easter bunny away this year. According to the National Retail Federation, Americans are shelling out $4.29 more this year on their Easter meals as the average person is expected to spend $44.34! Below I share my Easter menu and how I’m trimming the cost.
For the main dish, I’m roasting a turkey breast. I know it’s not the traditional main course, but my family does not eat pork and the price of lamb was ridiculous. This is the most expensive part of our meal at $16.
This is the best time to buy holiday wrapping paper. Credit: bonnipink/Flickr
This post is brought to you by Area Vibes which can help you find the cheapest places to live.
Judee shared a quick tip:
FIY the Christmas gift wrap at Target is about .30 cents a roll right now. Great time to stock up for next year :O)
The post-Christmas holiday deals only last so long before they sell out or get cleared out to make room for new merchandise. Get on it if you haven’t already (myself included!)
Got a hot tip? Email us.
Are you ready for Christmas? Credit: boneandjay/Flickr
I’ve divided all our Christmas and holiday-related posts into five categories: presents; stocking stuffers + gift tags; things to do; extras; and post-holiday.
If you are still finishing your shopping, good luck! Got a last-minute holiday dilemma? Let the Bargain Babe help!
Presents
Best holiday gifts: gift cards + more
BaconThenEggs / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Want to save even more money on Christmas? Here are eight homemade stocking stuffer ideas you can make if you are on a tight budget. The best part is that you don’t have to be super crafty to make them.
Leo Reynolds / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
If you’re still on the look out for the perfect gift, I’ve found some awesome gift card with perks you might want to consider. I share those below. Want to save even more money? You can also purchase discounted gift cards.
AMC Theatres – Free $5 concession bonus card when you spend $30 on gift cards. Offer is available in theaters, while supplies last.
Applebee’s – Get a $10 gift card when you purchase $50 in gift cards. Not valid for digital purchases. The bonus card is good through Feb. 29, 2011.
Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free scoop with every $10 of gift cards you purchase. You can also get a $10 gift card for $5 for joining Saveology for a VERY limited time.
Free shipping day is Dec. 16!
There is scant time to finish your Christmas shopping online! Most retailers require online purchases to be completed by Dec. 16, 2011 to guarantee Christmas Eve delivery.
If you do not finish your online shopping by tomorrow, you have two options.
1. Pay a ton for expedited shipping.
2. Fight the crowds at the mall, then package your gifts, wait in line at the post office, and pay for Priority or Express shipping.
If you shop tomorrow, thousands of online merchants – 2,339 to be exact – are participating in Free Shipping Day. What that means is that these 2,339 merchants all offer free standard shipping AND guarantee your gifts will arrive by Christmas. Some have minimum spend requirements, others don’t. Most allow dollar off or percentage off coupons on top of free shipping, which is hot.
If you need gift ideas, check out the 10-day Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide for unique gifts, electronics, gift card deals, and a lot more.
If you are having a hard time coming up with a gift or finding a good deal, let the Bargain Babe solve your holiday dilemma.
When you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase by shopping through Ebates. Don’t leave money on the table!
Check out Best Buy's current holiday sale!
There are 37 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!
HOT! Last minute flight deals - Southwest has a bunch of last minute holiday travel deals when you book by Dec. 19 and travel Dec 14-21, 2011. The best flights and prices will go quickly.
Tomorrow! Free ice cream cupcake - Grab a free ice cream cupcake at Marble Slab Creamery and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery on Dec. 15, 2011 from 4-7 p.m. to celebrate National Cupcake Day.
Free Christmas music download - Get a free Christmas song from Tim McGraw to the tune of “Christmas All Over the World.” Unclear how long this will last.
There are 37 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!
HOT! Free movie ticket - Buy three movie tickets at AMC theaters and get the fourth free Dec. 9-15, 2011. This deal is valid on ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, THE MUPPETS, HAPPY FEET TWO, and PUSS IN BOOTS. Print the free movie coupon. Present the coupon at the box office to get your free ticket (not valid online or with free movie passes). All four moviegoers must see the same movie at the same time.
Free photo collage - Now until Dec. 11, go to any Kodak picture kiosk and print out an 8 x 10 inch photo collage for free from photos you have uploaded on Facebook. Cool beans! “Like” Kodak on Facebook to get a coupon for CVS, Bartell Drugs, or Drugmart.
Free acne treatment - “Like” AcneFree on Facebook to get a freebie trial size of a sulphur mask.
This code expires today!
Eating out is one of my favorite things to do. But aside from fast food joints, restaurant coupons are rare. I use Restaurant.com to drop my tab by 25-40%, an incredible savings. TODAY ONLY, you can get a $25 gift certificate to a restaurant of your choosing for $2, plus earn 30% cash back through Ebates – which means you pay just $1.40!!! Coupon code below.
We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, mens’ shavers, gifts for teens, unique and quirky gifts, and All You mag gifts. Tomorrow’s edition covers gifts for men and women. We’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with the best overall gifts.
If you’re new to this site, here’s how Restaurant.com works. You have three gift options on Restaurant.com:
Top 10 most shoplifted items below. Credit: kate*/Flickr
This list of the Top 10 most shoplifted items of the season was compiled by Yahoo! and based on info from AdWeek. Yahoo says that “one in every 11 people walks out the door with at least one item they didn’t pay for.” That is truly shocking. More stats:
- Shoplifting is up 6% this year
- Retailers will lose about $119 billion of merchandise to shoplifters in 2011
- 75% of shoplifters are adults, most of whom have jobs
The top 10 items most stolen items are not what you would think! My guesses included iPods, kids toys, and clothes. Yahoo says (my comments in italics):
What's a great white elephant gift? Credit: col&tasha/Flickr
Maureen has a pressing question that I’m sure many of you share!
Do you have any ideas for a white elephant $10 gift limit?
It’s for a work party. I was perusing online for creative/humorous and would love to hear ideas. So far I have liked buy a loaf of bread and jars of peanut butter and jelly (the food theme). Or buy a bunch of batteries and add a note “gift not included” (humorous).
I hope you get to blog on it soon, our party is next week!
Maureen’s ideas are snazzy. I might even use the battery one myself! Here are a few more ideas that I found online of what to give and where to find a great white elephant gift.
Bzzzt. Kills flies with this fun $5 gift!
Unique and quirky is the theme of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 6. We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, kids’ toys, mens’ shavers, and gifts for teens. Coming up are gifts for men and women. We’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with a roundup of the best overall gifts.
Don’t forget to enter to win a $100 Sears gift card as part of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide! ENDS TODAY, DEC. 5!
We have a gnat
This $100 Sears gift card could be yours!
This is your last chance to enter to win the $100 Sears gift card! SO far only 235 people have entered so your chances OF WINNING ARE REALLY GOOD! Sears donated this awesome prize as part of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide showcasing hot gifts in the Sears Holiday Catalogue. Here are all the holiday and Christmas gifts I’d love to buy at Sears. Make sure to use the following coupons when you shop at Sears!
Sears coupons:
- RealJoy gets you free shipping on $99 or more through Dec. 19. If you’re in a rush, chose in store pickup to get your item the same day!
- SEARS2011 saves you $5 off $50 (unclear when it expires)
- STOYS20 gets you $20 off $200 in toys through Dec. 31, 2011
- ELEC05 saves you an extra 5% off consumer electronics through Dec. 31
To enter to win the $100 Sears gift card, visit the Sears Wish Book and tell us what you wish for from the Wish Book. Comment by Dec. 5 to be eligible to win!
This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.
This laptop is on super sale at Office Max today only! Credit: Office Max
There are 31 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!
THIS WEEKEND! Free museums with B of A card - On the first full weekend of every month, get into more than 150 museums nationwide with your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as part of its museums on us program. The freebie includes general admission and excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events. Only the cardholder gets in free.
$25 mag credit - Join the online magazine newstand Zinio and get a $25 credit that you can use to buy any of their 5,000 titles. It’s all in digital format, so you can read your mags on your Kindle Fire, iPad, Android, and many more. Ends March 2012.
Free holiday music - Amazon has plenty of free holiday music to download. Check back because the selection changes frequently.
