October Blog Review

This month’s blog postings have ranged from complaining to saying ‘thank you’, misleading price labelling to using the NHS, with Christmas gifts and Half Term Holiday ideas added for good measure. I even had the opportunity to feature apologies from Sainsbury’s and Greggs regarding poor service complaints.

However, there is a bit of an addition to the Greggs saga. I was pleased to receive three ‘free lunch’ (and I thought there was no such thing) vouchers from the company by way of an apology. I was a little disturbed, however, to see them presented in a laminated card folder, obviously produced en masse, containing the words ‘We’re sorry that we didn’t come up to standard.’ Does Greggs make a habit of poor service then?

The rising charges of the Dartford Crossing also featured this month, and we duly invested in our Dart Tag to cut the cost (£1.33 per crossing as opposed to £2). My husband is overjoyed, not only does he save money, but also he doesn’t have to open the car window to pay in the wind and the rain!

Amongst reviewed and recommended products this month, I looked at beauty buys, cleaning products, hair care items and budget wine.

On the subject of wine, I happened to be shopping in Tesco on the day that particular blog was posted. I picked up a bottle of their Australian Red, £3.84, which I enjoy and had recommended, when a fellow shopper with a pronounced Australian accent asked, “Is that any good?” I proceeded to relate to him the casserole saga as told in my blog ‘Don’t be a Wine Snob”. So there you have it, Tesco Australian Red – as recommended to Australians!

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Autumn/Winter Meals Made Easy

With the weather getting colder, we start to fancy warm, filling meals and comfort foods. Casseroles, stews, roasts and hot puddings beckon, but can be fiddly to prepare. So here are a few ways to make short cuts with the food preparation, without losing out on taste or nutrition.

No-Peel Veg

Frozen vegetables offer great nutrition, with the vegetables retaining their vitamins and nutritional value due to the methods involved. Sainsbury’s Stewing Vegetables (1.49 for 1kg)) are a great addition to any stew or casserole, with no preparation needed. Buy two bags of selected sliced Sainsbury frozen veg, (stewing veg included in offer) for £2.50.

Easy Potato Products

Peeling and chopping potatoes can be another tedium, so once in a while let the work be done for you. Try Tesco Spicy Potato Wedges, 59p for 750g, to add interest to your meal, or if you prefer something plainer try Sainsbury’s Jacket Wedges £1 for 1kg. Also from Sainsbury and a tasty addition to any meal, are Crispy Potatoes (a sort of cross between a chip and a mini roast potato), £1 for 750g, and both these Sainsbury products are included in the 2 for £1.80 chip and potato deal.

Time-Saving Tins

A few handy tinned ingredients are great to keep in your cupboard, whether it be as a standby or to speed up preparation of the odd meal. Try:

Tesco Red Kidney Beans in Water (no added salt or sugar) 49p for 210g, great for chillis, casseroles and soups.

Tesco Green Lentils in Water 65p for 410g, good filler for soups and stews and a great basis for a veggie chilli.

Hartley’s Fruit Pie Filling, £1.09, is great for popping in pies and crumbles, or use the apple variety to make Eve’s pudding. My favourite though is the Black Cherry. Mmmm!

What time-saving products do you use? Email  comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

Rethinking Pain Relief

From time to time you may reach for a pain relief tablet to treat a headache, twinging back or toothache, but perhaps you should sometimes think twice about reaching for the pills, and try one of the alternatives available.

Some types of pain respond well to heat, like those in the neck (just the physical not the proverbial kind mind you) and back. Try using an adhesive self-heating pad, which you can attach to your clothing and feel the soothing warmth that lasts all day – I find these a great comfort. Try Curaheat pads, £3.85 for 3 at Boots, or just as good Wilko Heat and Relief 99p for two at Wilkinson. I’ve recently noticed heat pads that you stick directly onto your skin appearing in the shops, but have yet to try these. They tend to be pricier than the version for clothing: Boots Direct to Skin Heat Patch, £5.90 for 4 or Curaheat Direct to Skin Back Patches £4.99 for 2. If anyone has tried these do let me know comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

Still on the subject of heat, a herbal heat pack may be more to your liking. These resemble small pillows and are heated in the microwave and applied to the affected area. Try Wilkinson’s Wheat and Lavender Heat Pack, £4.

For a nasty headache or migraine, a cooler soothing approach may be what’s need. Try Migraine Kool ‘n’ Soothe, £3.25 for 4 at Boots, or Boots Cooling Headache Pads, £2.89 for 4, adhesive strips that you apply to your forehead for cooling, pill-free relief.

If it’s toothache that’s troubling you, then a more traditional remedy may be to your liking. I recommend clove oil, applied directly to the troublesome tooth with a cotton wool pad or cotton bud. A 10ml bottle of clove oil for £2.99 is available from Boots.

Of course, should you still decide that a pain relief tablet is what is required, then do choose wisely. Supermarket brands tend to be much cheaper than big brand names but have identical ingredients (it’s the active ingredients that you need to check). 500mg of paracetamol is 500mg of paracetamol, whether packaged as Tesco’s own or costalotalol.

Let me know your pain relief tips. Visit www.shoppersjoy.co.uk

When the Heat is On

It may be getting chillier outside but things are hotting up indoors as shops, offices and homes turn the heating on to combat the cold. This may be all very warm and snug, but it can leave us feeling far from fresh, whilst drying out our skin too. Here are a few products to help combat these unwanted effects.

Fresh - but extreme!

Mitchum Advanced Control Roll On for women, available in Powder Fresh, Shower Fresh, Unperfumed and Waterlily (my favourite) varieties. A pleasant, long-lasting, high-performing deodorant - a must in a potentially sticky atmosphere. `normally retails at £2.89, but currently £2 'price drop' at Tesco. Also available in aerosol and men’s ranges.

Simple Moisture Boost Hydro Mist (£5.99, Boots) is a moisturising spritz containing lotus flower extract, which you apply to your face to combat dehydrated skin. It can be sprayed directly over make-up, so you can use it anytime, anywhere.

Body Sprays have come of age – they’re no longer just the sickly smelling variety reminiscent of the girls’ school changing room. Many perfume lines now offer co-ordinating body sprays, such as those from M&S, Avon, Yardley and Charlie. Alternatively, you can match your body spray to your shower/bath products to maximise freshness. I love Fenjal body spray, £3.46 at Boots.

To stop your lips drying out choose from one of the range of Vaseline Lip Therapy tins, £1.79 at Superdrug. Choose from the original formula, Aloe Vera, Cocoa Butter or Rosy Lips with rose and almond oil.

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Half Term Holiday Part III – The Inside Story

In my final episode of the Half Term Holiday trilogy, I look at a few indoor attractions to visit and home-based activities to keep the kids amused.

Museums

These have changed so much since my childhood, with many now offering organised activities, quiz sheets, dressing-up corners and ‘hands-on’ exhibits and many are free! I recommend:

The National Railway Museum at York, admission free. A really impressive collection of railway engines from different eras and parts of the world. Not just for railway fanatics – I love the story of the Royal Mail and the Royal train carriages – and between 27^th October and 4^th November you can join in ‘Fun with Paddington’.

The Natural History Museum and The Science Museum, London, admission free. Highly recommended are the Dinosaur Gallery and the interactive Earth Gallery at the Natural History Museum, whilst the Science Museum has some great interactive exhibits and games in its Launchpad area.

Lancaster City Museum in Lancaster (there’s a surprise) admission free. Small but beautifully put together, houses some great exhibits and offers the chance to dress-up.

York Castle Museum, York (this blog is starting to sound like the War of the Roses), admission £8.50 adults (ticket valid for a year), children free. This is a great museum with the highlight being its Victorian Street – soak up the atmosphere in this recreation of Victorian England, a real gem.

Time & Tide Museum, Great Yarmouth, admission adults £4.90 (or £4.20 if part of family group), children 4-16 £3.60. Lots of activities to have a go at on the way round, plus a recreation of traditional Yarmouth Row Houses (real ones of which can be visited in the town and are run by English Heritage).  

Of course, many towns and cities have local museums that you can visit for little or no cost, so do check out your area. Strangely it is often the attractions on our own doorstep that we ignore. Libraries often hold activity workshops and story-telling sessions during school holidays so do be on the look out for these too.

Staying at home? Put away the computer games for the afternoon and revert to some more traditional pastimes: gather together all the old card, paper scraps, material oddments etc that you can find and make a colourful collage or fun model; bake or buy a batch of plain fairy cakes, then see who can come up with the most fun and creative topping; dig out the old board games for a change - don't have any? - visit a car boot sale and snap up bargain old favourites. 

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How To Get The Most Out of the NHS

Have you ever left your GP’s surgery feeling that you didn’t quite get the outcome you’d hoped for? Don’t despair; there are ways to get the most out of those precious few minutes with your doctor.

- Be clear about your symptoms in your own mind and jot them down so that you remember to mention them all.

- Include the things that ease or worsen your symptoms, such as warmth relieving pain and certain movements increasing it.

- Think of any questions you may want to ask and jot them down too.

- If your GP suggests tests, be sure that you understand them and check how long the results may be expected to take.

- If medication is prescribed, ensure you understand how and when it is to be taken and that you know why you are to take it.

- If you are given a hospital referral, be sure about which department you will be seen by and what outcome is hoped to be gained.

If after your appointment you feel that you have forgotten to say something important, or are not sure about everything that you were told, then ring the surgery to request to speak to your GP (a later telephone appointment may be arranged) or write a letter requesting that symptoms you forget to mention be added to your notes – I have done this myself and it has worked.

Should you be really unhappy with the outcome of an appointment, you can seek a second opinion by requesting an appointment with another doctor at your surgery, or get advice from NHS Direct at www.nhs.uk/nhsdirect or call 0845 4647.

If you are referred to a hospital consultant, you will probably be given a ‘choose and book’ letter, telling you which hospitals you can opt to attend. When making your decision don’t just consider the distance you will need to travel, but also research the hospitals involved and talk to anyone you know that may have experience of them. With this booking system you are able to agree to a date and time that suits you, so do have your diary/calendar available when you call to arrange your appointment.

Prepare yourself for your hospital appointment in much the same way as you did to see your GP, noting down points to raise and questions to ask. If your are unhappy with the result of this appointment, you can return to your GP with your concerns or consult the Patient Liaison team at the hospital you attended.

You can always think laterally! Some NHS departments now offer a self-referral system, for example my local authority offers physiotherapy via self-referral (Medway Community Healthcare www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk 01634 821560). As a former patient of my local physio department, I presented myself there with back pain (having had a disappointing consultant’s appointment) and was offered acupuncture, which started within 24 hours!

So, to get the most from the NHS, be precise about how you feel and what you would like to be done, but also be prepared to help yourself and explore all the options available.

Email  comments@shoppersjoy.co.uk

Christmas Gifts Episode II – Return of the Shopper

Christmas cards and wrapping paper, boxes of chocolates and festive goods have been in the shops for weeks, but now the gift guides and catalogues are hitting the shops too. I recommend that you arm yourself with a good selection, in order to get ideas, compare prices and cut down on the time that you spend trawling the shops.

Some stores are having introductory Christmas gifts offers, last time I mentioned Tesco, which has a 1/3 off gifts until 29^th October, but Superdrug is also offering 1/3 off in store until 30^th October.

Choosing xmas gifts can be a prickly business

3 for 2 offers are back in Boots, which can work out a good deal, depending on precisely what you are buying, but beware. Are you buying 3 items just to make up the numbers or is that offer swaying your choice? Depending on what you are buying and the quantity you really need, cheaper prices can sometimes be found for individual items elsewhere. For example, Charlie Enchant Gift Set costs £8 in Boots, but just £5.50 in Wilkinson.

Wilkinson are also selling selected Dove, Nivea and Olay gift sets for just £5 each, or any 3 for £10. This offer includes the Dove Silk Indulgence duo, which retails at £6.50 in Boots.

So get collecting those catalogues and hunt around for the best deals, to ensure that you keep to your Christmas budget.

I’ll be back…

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