A frugal life is an easy life!

Want a faster, safer and more convenient way to shop online? You got it.

This is the marketing bumph that google checkout tells the internet world.

I am taking part in a "secret santa" - where I can by a friend over at Chatgames (chatgames.com) a surprise gift for Christmas.
Luckily for me, the limit is just $20, anymore than this and the farce I have had to put up with, would have cost me more money!

I visited an American website to purchase a gift, as my secret santa friend lives there.
This allows me to pay for a gift online, but more importantly, have it delivered in time for Christmas, as they only deliver within the USA.
Ever heard the term "global economy?"
It doesn't exist!

When I tried to use my visa debit card to pay for the goods via google checkout, not only did the company state they could not deliver the product as it was to be delivered to an address outside the USA (Wrong - it was an USA address) they would issue a refund via google checkout.
Google checkout took 2 days to issue the refund, but more importantly, took more than they refunded.

Nice work if you can get it google, refund/payment is with held so it can be taken when the exchange rate favours google.
I have just paid out 40p MORE than I should have (not counting the £1.50 oversees fee!) for products that are for a USA address and been stung 40p for the privilege, my friend doesn't have their gift and google is up on the deal.

My frugal gene works overtime with christmas approaching, the "fatastic sale" prices have to be negotiated, the triple layer marketing campaigns targeted at us have to be avoided, the common sense approach to present buying has to be applied.
One area where I always try to make an acception, is the work's Christmas party.

Now in my 40th year, I am always aware of the costs involved with a simple night out, wether it be a meal or a night on the lash.
Do I spend £40 for a meal and drinks, knowing that the food is often not fresh and overheads for the company selling me the meal are to buy as cheap as possible ingredients and concoct a variety of sauces to disguise it?
Do I spend £3 per bottle of VK ice, which I know is a low budget drink, which has aquired a high cost price and brings in good profits for the pub/club selling it?

The work's Christmas party is always one exception.
It is guaranteed that my shirt will be of poor style and taste - I will without doubt spill (or have spilt on it) some kind of sauce or gravy - yes I will wear a silly hat that makes me resemble a monkey last seen having it's picture took on Blackpool pleasure beach in 1978 - and finally, once the three pints kick in, I will be up dancing like a right wally!

The reason my frugal piece of brain switches off, is purely because, it is Christmas!
I love this time of year, I get all my family's presents on Christmas Eve afternoon, using the £10 limit) not to just save money, but to get great value, to not overspend and the atmosphere is fantastic.
Wearing a Christmas hat in Christmas week is a pleasure, I love sending out Christmas cards and good wishes, I love giving presents, I love the white hillside around where I live (on the rare occasion we get snow) I love the great food, our friends and visitors and of course, I love all the excitement and buzz the kids get.
The work's Christmas party is the one time of the year where nothing matters, it is simply about having fun and letting what hair I have left, down.

How ever you are celebrating Christmas via your work's party, have a wonderful time.
Don't worry about the pictures that will be taken, just deny all knowledge!

Some things are so simple to do and can save you real money, time and effort.

Protecting your wiper blades from the harsh conditions of winter is one area you can do all this.
Ask yourself:

• Are you any good at changing a wiper blade? (Halfords charge you money to fit new ones!)
• How long would it take you to visit a car accessory shop, buy and then fit new wiper blades?
• Do you have streaks on your windscreen?
• Why is visibility through your windscreen reduced as soon as the real winter temperatures start to bite?
• How much is a new set of wiper blades for your car? (Don't forget to add on a few pounds extra if you have "spoiler" wiper blades!)

The reason is...
SALT - When the temperature drops, even by as little as 3 degrees, the levels of salt that land on your car and its windows more than trebles!
Not only does this cause older cars to rust, it creates a problem with visibility when driving.
Most wiper blades are affected by this combination of factors.
The wiper blade rubbers are exposed to snow, ice, icy cold winds, at the same time as being wet then dry then wet, then they are dragged across a screen 40-50 times, on your way to work. Add salt from the roads on to your screen, it is no wonder your wiper blade rubbers start to dry up, cracking and then perish!
Providing your wiper blade rubbers are not split, take neat vinegar on a clean cloth, lift and hold your wiper arm, so your blade is away from the screen (but DO NOT let go, wiper arms are spring loaded and will smash your screen if you are not careful) and wipe along the rubber using the vinegar.

Make sure you get plenty on.
This not only cleans the salt off the rubber, it also penetrates the rubber, kind of lubricating it, so it will reduce the chances of it splitting or cracking.
Then fill up your screenwash, around 30% neat screenwash to 60% water should be ok for UK weather conditions.

Repeat this process about once a week or fortnight as needed. A frugal but effective tip for reducing the costs of motoring and keeping yourself safe!

Using a simple potato, you can save petrol!

Frosty winter mornings, don't you just love them!
How much petrol is wasted each morning, whilst you defrost your car?

Cut a large potato in half - using the "inside" side, each night wipe over your windows with it whilst your glass is dry - it will not stop your windows from freezing up, but it will stop the ice sticking to your glass.
When you wake up to white windows the next day, the potato will have stopped the ice from fixing itself to your car windows, allowing you to easily and quickly remove it.

Cutting the time you need to spend de-icing your car, saving you petrol as well!
This technique used to be used by the army to de-ice their vehicles.

The top ten search phrases for google have been announced.

1. Facebook
2. BBC
3. YouTube
4. Hotmail
5. Games
6. eBay
7. News
8. Google
9. Yahoo
10. Bebo

The most puzzling one is at number 8 - who visits google to search for google? How bizarre :yes: