We have just bought a new inkjet combined printer, copier and scanner and while I was researching the best models for our needs I realised how much of your budget can be used up by refills oir replacements for your inkjet cartridges. You really need to be careful on your choice of printer and the cartridges it uses - the cost difference between the best and worst can be a hundred per cent. Once you have chosen the model for you, the cost of consumables can be reduced still further by buying generic compatible cartridges.

These toner and ink cartridges perform just as well as the manufacturer’s own, they cost a lot less and often they contain more ink than the brand name, giving you extended cartridge life from a lower cost product. You can order these online for fast delivery so there is no need to lay them in beforehand - just buy the ones you need, when you need them. There is a US based company called Inkers that sells these discount cartridges, guaranteed for a year and with a 30 day no-quibble guarantee. Check it out.

OK so I was naive - I went along with the idea that staying home and cooking for eight people was a fun way of spending 25 December: I really should know better! While I was slaving over a hot stove there were dozens of Hotels in London offering a way out, where I could be waited on and simply walk into the dining room to enjoy a superb festive feast cooked by other people. When you stay in central London you also have the chance to walk around uncrowded streets and see the shop window decorations, then of course you can stroll along the river near Blackfriars and marvel at one of the best riverside views in the world. Read more »

There seems to be a growing fashion over here for outside residential mailboxes instead of using the usual letterbox in the front door and the designs are now looking much more tasteful than they used to do. Fixed to the outside wall of the house at about shoulder height, these mailboxes make life easier for everyone who needs to deliver post, newspapers or leaflets to the house. The other advantage is for pet owners. If you have a dog or cat who is either frightened by post shooting through the door, or maybe your dog likes to eat the post as it arrives - then this is an idea for you.

The designs are much more homely than commercial mailboxes, and are available in a range of folksy designs that can be painted in line with your home colour scheme: black looks very stylish on most buildings. Mailboxes with locks are also, of course, an essential if your entrance hall is shared with other residents: then you simply unlock your mailbox and collect the mail at your convenience.

When I worked for a big employer we always used Avery labels that we used with a laser printer or copier.  They worked well - no jamming or sticking - and you can see online templates to line up your addresses.  Now I am self employed I wanted more info on how to get cheap labels, as I cannot afford to pay Avery’s recommended prices.  I found a site called Buskerdoo where you can order white self adhesive business labels to use with laser and inkjet printers. That is handy because I have just bought myself a new inkjet multifunction device.  The prices are much lower than in my local store and they are delivered quickly. They use exactly the same Avery template and they line up every time.  If you are a label user you will know how important this is!

There is still - unbelievably - one online shopping day left before Christmas and belive me, in our house we are using every single shopping minute available. You can give your home a light boost to carry you through the dark months by visiting the experts in light fixtures and save a packet against what you would spend in your local high street.

There is a massive choice at Farreys, where you can select from the top designs in ceiling light fixtures - I like the Gothic looking, dark pendant lights, preferably with upward pointing shades that will take energy saver bulbs.  I am always wary of buying light fittings that require obscure, expensive bulbs as that can cost you a fortune over the years.  Bathroom light fixtures can make a big difference to the look of the room, and make it feel much warmer by choosing the right fittings. if you are not sure what you want, make use of the product search tool and you will soon find the perfect lights for your room.

I am glad to know that my partner and I are keeping up with the trends, as we complete yet another online shopping order. The attraction of completing our present purchases without having to travel to the shops is enough, but now we have discovered the savings possible with online coupons, we are becoming quite addicted.  We decided that we also needed some essentials before the end of the year so we started shopping for a Dell keyboard and we saved more than ten per cent, with free shipping.

You can find online discount codes by searching online, or you can make it even easier at a site like couponchief, where  you will see the merchants offering reductions at a glance.  These are real savings that you would not otherwise make unless you are able to find a valid online code.  It costs nothing to join,  and this is a site with constantly updated information where members help ensure that all the biggest savings are available.  So if you need to find some calendars for the new year, check out the Shutterfly savings you can make.

My partner has been glued to the laptop screen lately, making last minute online purchases. The first weekend of December was wet and miserable, and after that online shopping has become a way of life. I had not fully appreciated exactly how many reputable merchants make a full range of goods available to buy easily from home. Buying light fixtures is a good example, there are hundreds of quality light fixtures displayed on the Farreys website and it is simple to choose the right one.

You are likely to get your lights for a much better price online, too. We are still looking for bathroom light fixtures and also kitchen light fixtures: we would really like to get some of those fluorescent fittings that shine on the worktops. It is fun choosing them, and I think most of us never outgrow the thrill of getting parcels delivered …

Christmas is coming and our goose is definitely getting fat, which is the best way to be at this time of year when the temperature dips. Here in Britain we have a number of places that are absolute top destinations for the celebrations. If you would like to see the capital at Yuletide you can see the top London shops, visit the clubs and have a look at the Royal residences.  The best London Hotels, in my opinion, are located in Fitzrovia, Soho and Bloomsbury.  These districts are well located for getting around the capital to see everything.

After Christmas everyone looks north of the border for the Hogmanay celebrations.  The Edinburgh street party is legendary and you will never forget your stay in the stone city. You must book early, though, because the best value Edinburgh Hotels get booked up well in advance and you need to get organised to find a good room rate.   The other main Scottish city is Glasgow,  fast becoming one of Britain’s most stylish cities.  If you are a serious shopper this is the place for you and you will find that Glasgow Hotels represent very good value.

I learned something new today, and that is the whole niche of wireless landlords.  These are the smart cookies who make the roof of their property available for rent by the phone and internet companies to place cell towers on top. We all know these antennae are installed although we rarely notice them, except maybe when we cannot get a signal on our mobile phones.  But there is a whole association dedicated to helping owners get the best return for their real estate by literally using every square inch.  Delivering a wealth of services – from VoIP to video – to a hungry marketplace   is forcing the wireless industry to create, innovate and deploy more efficient technologies on their towers. If you won a building with a convenient roof where a transmitter could be placed, check it out and you could add to your spending power in the new year.

I have finally got round to some serious shopping for my fiancee’s birthday and I have been looking at some of the online product review sites for mp3 players before making up my mind. You may have tried some of these comparison sites yourself: in my experience many of them exist solely to sell advertising. So I was pleasantly surprised to find a site called Testfreaks, where you can see honest brief reviews of any electronics equipment that you could be looking for. Their review of the Apple iPod Touch describes the specification: multi-touch interface 3.5-inch widescreen color display Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) Safari, YouTube, iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store 8mm thin. That is really all that most of us need to know, and next to the description is the TestFreak Score, which is 8.6 out of ten. That rating is made up of the scores for value for money, features and performance. This is a convenient way of finding the item for you without getting bogged down for hours following endless links. After all, online shopping is supposed to save time, isn’t it? Read more »