Bargains Galore!

Reduced, discount, bargains, half price, clearance - it all means the same. SALE! The winter sales used to start in January but more recently they've started on Boxing Day. This year the stores were slashing prices long before Christmas. All the shops were desperate to get every penny they could before the festivities and they did all they could to get the shoppers through the door. The best I saw was 70% off, who knows what they came up with for the post Christmas sale - paying you to take it away?! I guess it's a sign of the times, every penny counts. This week more High Street names have announced that they have gone into liquidation. Unfortunately, I think that it'll be common place to see more closures in the next year.

The answer to yesterday's mind play photo - It was a reflection and I posted the photo upside down. Well done to everyone that spotted it.

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Lanterns

Aren't these lanterns lovely? They represent one of the things I like about the run up to Christmas, little stalls and Christmas gift shops that spring up out of nowhere. These mosaic lanterns were on a stall that has appeared under the escalator in the Regent Arcade. The stall has all sorts of candles, lamps and glassware gifts. The lanterns are an absolute bargain, the long ones and the large round ones are just £10 each and the small round ones (like the multi-coloured one at the top of the photo) are £5 each or three for £12! I know it sounds like I work for their advertising department, but at these prices they're a steal! The problem was I couldn't think of anyone to buy one for. I'll have to go back and get one for myself...or maybe three for £12!

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Bargains Galore

We are half way through January and the sales continue apace. In the past January sales used to start on the 2nd of the month, but now they begin on Boxing Day (26th December), and the poor sales assistants are lucky to get Christmas day off. Here in the U.K pre-christmas profits for the nations high streets were up on previous years, even with the expected dip in the economy ahead. Many stores are offering massive discounts to get shoppers to part with their cash, some with 75% off. I don't normally bother with the sales, as all my money goes on Christmas, but this year I had some gift vouchers and picked up some great bargains. So in effect I got more for my money for free!