Don't forget to CHECK FIRST!

As you will be aware from my previous post, I am prone to enter the odd competition lol! Well fair's fair, I have invited my 'Better' half to pass comment as well and as she is reluctant to involve herself on the 'pooter' beyond Facebook and Tweeting, I have interviewed her.....and guided her....I swear to god it's like pulling teeth sometimes.....

A MUMMY PIGGY TALE

This is an entry for the Brit Mums and Virgin piggy bank comp featured here sponsored by Virgin Money

Well Mrs Elvy, Mr Elvy has entertained us with his stories of comping fun, what do you see as a great way to make money go further in the Elvy household?

Firstly, stop talking like a smarmy w****r and trying to act all sophisticated (I have faithfully typed her responses). The comping that you do may have led to a few trips and a nice little bonus at times BUT it is me that has to watch the pennies day by day, put food on the table and clothe the girls.

Okay, I accept that, but what exactly do you do to save those pennies?

(A little swearing takes place at this point, before Mrs Elvy calms and composes herself)
Saving money is something that you do everyday! You might think nothing of going to Morrisons or Tesco and piling food in the trolley, but those vouchers that can be collected through the month can easily knock £20 off a monthly shop...EVERY month. The odd coupon in a paper and a quick check online. Companies have facebook pages most of the time and you can often pick up free product vouchers from their pages!

So you can save money shopping, and I agree that this is all helpful, but printing off a few coupons and vouchers wont really make that much difference will it?

(Mrs Elvy muttered a little before continuing)... It is NOT just for shopping. When you go into town for the day with the children, a check on various voucher sites will get you half price dinners or 2 for 1 offers in various pizza, burger or restaurant chains. Also now, other sites are popping up and these 'group' sites will often allow you to take up some amazing deals on everything from haircuts to theme parks and adventure places.

So that trip last week to Carmarthen?

We went on Wednesday because I could take advantage of the 2 for 1 cinema offer from Orange, this meant we paid £12 instead of £24. Then we also ate at Pizza Express and spent £15 for all four of us instead of £25! (Orange Wednesdays again). We stopped in WHSmiths to pick up a book for Amy, free with a voucher from the Newspaper the week before...and we stopped at Tesco on the way home to pick up a couple of things for the kids (Clothes) because I had some Clubcard vouchers to spend! Typical day really, but by organising a little and thinking ahead, maybe a little prompting and making everyone think it was their idea, I saved over £40 without really trying.

So did you really fancy pizza then?

(A lot of laughing) I didn't really mind pizza, but convincing you and the girls that you wanted it....that's the easy part!

I then let my wife return to her coffee and early evening television. I now have to think carefully whether I really am in control in this house? or am I really so easy to manipulate?

Piggy Bank Tale

There is an interesting competition via Britmums and Virgin Money. You can read the details here and all they are looking for are some money saving tips and some insight into how you make your money go further in every day life!

Now in our house we all have ways to help the pennies go further and make life that little easier, so here I give you the Elvy family approach to finances. I'll start with me....

A DADDY's PIGGY TALE

Now believe  it or not I am a Letting Agent in day to day life, yes, that's right, I am a suit wearing, smooth talking office type. But you know what they say about dark horses or Still waters lol.

I have an addiction, under control but only just. I am addicted to comping. The image of compers cutting out coupons, scouring supermarket aisles for entry forms are far removed from modern day reality. Todays comper could be anyone from a car salesman to a checkout girl. A modern day comper will always have a wicked sense of humour, be willing to have a laugh and most importantly....we all enjoy life to the full.

The main benefit of being a comper is of course the prizes, which of course save you buying items and sometimes provide great experiences which would normally not be affordable. Being a busy guy hasn't stopped me filming some great videos last year that won various prizes...

This video won me a great trip to watch Arsenal play football....

Other videos won Wii Package (Click for vid link)  or Holiday breaks but as you can see, win or lose, they're great fun to take part in and film!

Prizes last year that sit in our house now include a TV, Trampoline, too many toys to mention, Wii, Phones, gadgets, gizmos and various other items. That doesn't include £000's of vouchers for supermarkets (including £300 Morrisons and £70 Tesco) or other high Street stores (£500 John Lewis, £100 Argos). 

The wife will tell you that her careful shopping, canny surfing and endless comparing saves a fortune, or the children will argue that recycling makes a great difference and growing vegetables not just saves money but makes you one with the earth (or something similar), BUT having fun, saving money, getting great prizes....

THAT'S COMPING!