BAG
BEST FOR LESS
Snap up quality products without breaking the bank
If your shopping budget makes even Primark seem extravagant, why not become a mystery shopper and get paid to exercise your consumer muscle as you check out services undercover. Rachel Hudson. business development manager at Mystery Shoppers Ltd. says applicants who sign up need to be flexible. ‘You name it, we've shopped for it.’ she says.
Recent client briefs range from simple shopping trips to home cleaning services. The more glamorous include a trip to Malaga to check the quality of in-flight service, while one group of ‘shoppers' was recently sent undercover to a London table top dancing bar. Pay varies depending on the complexity of the job, from £15 to well over £100. and can include perks such as free goods and restaurant meals. To apply go to www.mystery-shoppers.co.uk or try Field Facts (www.fieldfacts.com) or Research International (www.research- int.com).
If you're not prepared to work for it, you could swap your way to consumer fulfilment. Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have active Freecycle networks (www.freecycle.org); recent users report snapping up a palm pilot. a new mobile phone handset and some stylish wool for a knitting project. all of which would otherwise have gone to landfill. For fashion. check out the newly launched www.whatsmineisyours.com. and. failing that, go DIY and hold your own swap shop. Get your friends round and hopefully end up with armfuls of new treasures. If swapping won't cut it. check out promotional code websites such as www.retailmenot.com and www.myvoucher codes.co.uk before making any big purchases online. Offers change all the time. but by using the discount codes they let you in on, there are great savings to be made on purchases from major retailers such as John Lewis. Boots and Argos.
20 Till L181’17—31Jan 2008
NGS offers a cheap lectures package
out workshops on such subjects as how to make a film on a microhudget at the (‘(‘.-\ on 23 Jan (£2 with a complimentary drink) or the Lighthouse‘s design challenges for creative types. which are held every third Saturday of the month. For a tenner. the next session. ()Id Bag. which takes place on W Jan. will help you transform that tired old shopper into something far more glamorous. In a similarly creative y'ein. closet knitters can come out at a Stitch and Bitch meet-up. See www.
stitchnbitcli.co.uk for details of
your nearest group.
Bargain bites According to Charles Shaw. co- founder of www.5pm.co.uk. January is the best month to eat out on a budget. ‘Restaurants want to fill tables but less people want to go
out so they are prepared to offer
some great deals to tempt them.’ he says. ‘That means that you can eat a two course meal in some great restaurants for as little as £10. [I can actually be cheaper than staying in
Eat well on a budget in January
and getting a take-away.‘
(ilasgow restaurant promotions currently on the 5pm hookings w ehsite include a two-for-onc main course offer at Mr Singh‘s and L‘lll for two pi'e-theatre courses at 78 St Vincent Street. while the Michelin— starred .-\hode is offering the same deal for {9.95 while Rococo offers a pre-theatre menu for L'IS witli a free glass of huhhly.
In lidinhurgh. the Raj Restaurant has two courses for U050. the
Shore is offering its 5pm menu for
tilt) and the Bisque liar and Brasserie is giying away a free bottle of wine to couples ordering from the hrasserie menu. l)ine
.~\roiind lidinhtii'gh. a ioinl promotion hetween \isitScotland and the lidinhurgh Restaurateurs .-\ssociation. which is offering two- coiirse lunches and dinners at some til the cll_\ ls top cttlt‘l'lLW ll‘l' .l ti\ed price of US is a .lanuary highlight. l‘his yeai. .ill top restaurants are participating and the promotion w ill run until 28 l-eh. See w w w .eatscotlandy isitscotlandcoin
ln lidinhiirgh. the Mosque Kitchen at lidiiihiii‘gh ('ciili'al \losqtie is great \altie: your plate will he piled high with the curry of the day. rice or naali t’oi‘ |tist [3. Back on the west coast. go hack to hasics at the Horseshoe har with their famous three course lunch for £3.75 or a pie for a pound. hack on the menu hy popular demand.
0 something
or nothin If yoti'ye still gotqfree time on your hands. you might want to think ahotit what you can giye hack hy yolunteering. .\'o matter what your skill set or interests you‘ll he ahle to find an organisation near you looking lot‘ help.
l‘ancy helping out with drama workshops for people with learning difficulties. researching non-nuclear alternatiyes for (NI). getting inyoly ed in a community garden for people with mental health issues or men \oluiiteering with your pet to cheer tlp old people at your local care home‘.’ You could use existing skills to help your fayourite charity with fundraising. organisation or PR. The oppoi‘tllitities are all them according to Alison liielecka. programme leader of Volunteer l)eyelopment Scotland. and most should he fairly straightforward to set up. linler your postcode on w w w .y oliinteerscotland.org.uk and hrowse the opportunities in your area or drop into your local yolunteer centre for adyice. ‘And it's okay to want to get something hack from your yolunteeringf says Bielecka. ‘lt might he new skills or experience for your (‘\'. a way ol meeting new people or eyen trying out a new career.‘
\Vlto something for nothing'.’
eyeltts
says you can't get
Children take part in the SPARK project at the Lyceum Theatre