Posts Tagged ‘cheap’

Libraries and what they can offer you

Monday, August 31st, 2009

I’m a huge fan of the library, and it’s often amazed me how few people think to use their services when they offer so much.  It’s not just books that they have available, although this is what they’re traditionally known for, in fact libraries offer a pretty wide range of services and most of them are either free or very very cheap.

Most libraries – even small ones, offer to loan people books, dvds and cds as standard these days, and although in most places dvds and cds cost a few pence to borrow, it is a pretty small fee when compared to using other lending services.  My own local library lets you borrow a total of up to 10 items at any one time and keep them for up to 1 month for books, and 2 weeks for dvds or cds.  Mine is also a great place to find out about local events too, as they have stands of leaflets available so when I go there I often learn about other things I can do as well.

For anyone who has a larger library nearby there’s even more available, as many of these have computers available for people to use to access the internet.  Some charge a small fee again, but many allow people to use these for up to a certain amount of time per week for free these days.  Then there are reference sections to most libraries where you can access a huge amount of information about a wide variety of subjects.  These books have to remain in the library but it’s a great place to find information and the staff in these places are great at helping people to find their way around and seek out what they’re looking for.  It’s a great place for kids to go when they need to research a school project, and sadly somewhere that gets forgotten about a lot in this age of computers.

A few of the biggest libraries around the country also have other resources available such as microfiche records of all the births, deaths and marriages in the country.  This sort of information is great if you’re researching your family history.  Many also have local history and local business sections too where you can find out more about the area you live in, or what businesses are registered in the area.

It’s a wealth of resources at our fingertips, most of it available for free to us all, and yet libraries are highly underused places.  So if you’re looking for something to do that won’t cost you much, why not have a trip to your local library and see what they can offer you.

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Money Saving Gardening (Part 2)

Monday, August 24th, 2009

Back on the subject of Gardening on a budget, the other option apart from local garden centres etc is to buy online and this is where a review site like BView really come into their own I think, as checking reviews for online nurseries or Garden centres that sell by mail order can be a real boon. I have ordered from several online companies but I appreciate others might be nervous in doing so the first time, so to read a review first can make all the difference, and of course if the company are then offering vouchers or discounts via BView then you have even more of a bargain. I shopped at Crocus for the first time this year and the BView discount made it incredibly cheap.

My other tips for money-saving gardening are to use things you can pick up cheaply. This year I have cabbages and broccoli growing in old plastic storage crates that I just made some holes in, at the bottom, for drainage. They are easy to move around and hold a lot of compost which is perfect for veg. You can make your own plant food (if you don’t mind the smell!) from soaking nettles in water for a couple of weeks, and of course to propagate and get free plants, just take cuttings. I use old polystyrene pieces from parcels as ‘crocks’ at the bottom of pots which has the advantage of using something that doesn’t break down in landfill, and saves adding extra weight to the pots.
You can grow potatoes and leeks etc in thick bin bags rather than expensive planters; make your own garden accessories by threading shells onto string and driftwood or using old broken jewellery to hang in trees and twinkle in the sunshine. I am even using an old wardrobe mirror in the corner of the garden for added interest amongst the plants. At the end of the summer before it breaks or rots I will just take it to the tip where it was destined to go anyway!

Browsing gardening sites can often give you fabulous ideas that you can adapt to suit yourself. To make a small pond I just buried an old sink, surrounded it with flat stones to cover the edges and put in some rocks to give a different depth for any wildlife that might come. I found someone giving away a water lily cutting on freecycle and so there it was – a mini water feature for no outlay but my time!

So with a little imagination and by being a savvy shopper, you can have a garden to be proud of without spending very much money at all! And of course, any of the places you DO shop at, you can come back and review on BView to help others make an informed choice.

Check BView for the latest offers at:
GardenCentre.co.uk
Gardens and Homes Direct
Cotswold

Contributed by Elizabeth C

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London on the cheap

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

London, our capital city and somewhere we all think of as a bit touristy and often quite expensive too.  There are some fantastic places to visit in London, and it’s a fab place to go for a weekend away, but if you’re on a budget then you might not think of it immediately.  In fact, if you do it right, it is possible to have a trip to London that doesn’t put holes in your pocket and still have a great time and do lots.

Some of London’s sights can be expensive, that’s absolutely true, but others are a lot cheaper than you might think.  Here are a few ‘must see’ attractions that are absolutely free to visit:

Big Ben & The Houses of Parliament – Westminster
The houses of parliament’s official name is the Palace of Westminster, and it’s a pretty impressive building to look at whether you see it from afar or close too.  The clock at the top of the tower above the houses of parliament is called Big Ben, and it’s world famous chimes are known as one of the main symbols of London.

British Museum – London W1
This museum is huge, so if you go here you may want to either devote a whole day and take a picnic for lunchtime, or choose to visit just some of its headline attractions such as the Elgin Marbles for example.  If you can, take a look at their website before you go, especially if you will have limited time so you know what you specifically want to see.

Imperial War Museum – Lambeth
For those interested in war and the military this is a fascinating museum full of exhibits including much from world war one, the interior of an English home from the time, and much more.

Natural History Museum – South Kensington
An incredible museum full of collections from insects, early humans, and of course the dinosaurs.  Another museum where a visit to the website before you go can help you choose what to see.

Science Museum – South Kensington
This is definitely one that ticks the box for most people, with fascinating displays of technology and science through the ages.  There’s lots of hands on stuff for kids to do here too.

Victoria & Albert – South Kensington
A wonderful collection of decorative arts, from sculptures to paintings, and some of the most incredible collections of clothing and fashion through the ages to be seen anywhere.

Depending on the time of year you visit London, there are events and festivals from the University Boat race between Oxford and Cambridge which takes place on the Thames, to the London Marathon and the Notting Hill Carnival all of which are free to spectators.

Time Out Magazine is worth picking up before you go as it contains listings of free concerts, comedy, art exhibitions, films and it also has a weekly night pass which gives special offers to the reader and reduced or sometimes free entry to various night clubs on presentation of the pass.

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