Smart Strategies: How to Save Money When Shopping Online

In the era of digital convenience, online shopping has become a go-to for many consumers. However, finding ways to save money while indulging in retail therapy is always a welcome bonus. From utilising discount codes to leveraging browser extensions like Honey, here are some savvy tips to help you cut costs and maximise your savings when shopping online.

1. Hunt for Discount Codes:

One of the simplest and most effective ways to save money while shopping online is by using discount codes. These codes can offer significant price reductions or additional perks like free shipping. Here's how you can find them:

Search Engines: Before completing your purchase, conduct a quick search for discount codes related to the specific store or product. Simply type the store name or product along with "discount code" or "promo code" into your preferred search engine.

Coupon Websites: Dedicated coupon websites compile a variety of discount codes for different online retailers. Popular options include RetailMeNot, Coupons.com, and Groupon. Browse these platforms to discover exclusive deals and promotions.

2. Leverage the Honey Chrome Extension:

The Honey browser extension is a game-changer for online shoppers. Here's how it works:

Automatic Savings: Honey automatically scans the internet for the best available discount codes and applies them during the checkout process. This means you don't have to spend time searching for codes manually.

Price Tracking: Honey can also track price changes for specific items over time. If an item you've been eyeing drops in price, Honey will notify you, ensuring you never miss a great deal.

Honey Gold Rewards: The Honey extension offers a rewards program called Honey Gold, allowing you to earn points for purchases made through participating retailers. These points can later be redeemed for gift cards.

3. Sign Up for Newsletters for Introductory Discounts:

Many online retailers offer exclusive discounts to customers who sign up for their newsletters. While it may mean receiving promotional emails, the potential savings make it worthwhile. Here's how to make the most of this strategy:

First-time Purchase Discounts: Retailers often provide a one-time discount for new customers. By subscribing to the newsletter, you may receive a code for a percentage off your first purchase or free shipping.

Exclusive Offers: Subscribers frequently receive exclusive promotions, early access to sales, and notifications about upcoming deals. Keep an eye on your inbox for these opportunities to save.

Customised Deals: Some newsletters tailor promotions based on your preferences and shopping history, providing a personalised shopping experience.

4. Use Auction Sites

Utilising auction sites, such as John Pye Auctions, can be a savvy approach to saving money online. These platforms offer a diverse range of products, from electronics to luxury goods, at potentially discounted prices through the auction format. 

Participating in online auctions allows consumers to set their maximum bid, ensuring that they stay within their budget. Reputable sites like John Pye Auctions provide a transparent bidding process, allowing users to track their bids and compete for items of interest. This dynamic online marketplace can be a treasure trove for those seeking cost-effective deals on a variety of items, presenting an exciting and engaging way to shop while keeping a keen eye on one's budget.

Shopping online doesn't have to break the bank. By implementing these smart strategies, you can save money, uncover hidden discounts and make your online shopping experience more enjoyable. Whether it's through discount codes, browser extensions, or newsletter subscriptions, the internet offers a plethora of opportunities to cut costs without sacrificing the joy of finding the perfect item. Happy shopping and saving!

Factors To Consider When Selecting An Engagement Ring

Are you getting married? Congratulations to you both! When you are in a whirlwind of wedding planning, whether you are going big or keeping it low-key, you still have a number of things to do. One of which, and arguably one of the most exciting tasks at hand, is selecting the perfect engagement ring for you. If you are uncertain of how to go about it, keep reading for helpful advice.

Image c/o Pexels

How to choose the right diamond

When buying a diamond, there are several important factors to consider, often referred to as the "Four Cs": cut, colour, clarity, and carat weight. These factors help determine the overall quality and value of a diamond. Additionally, you may also want to consider the diamond's certification, shape, and fluorescence. Here's a breakdown of each factor:

Cut: The cut of a diamond refers to how well it has been shaped and faceted. It's crucial because a well-cut diamond will reflect light beautifully, creating sparkle and brilliance. The cut is graded on a scale from Excellent to Poor.

Colour: Diamonds are graded on a colour scale from D (colourless) to Z (light yellow or brown). The less colour a diamond has, the more valuable it is. However, some people prefer warmer tones, so this can be a matter of personal preference.

Clarity: Clarity measures the presence of any internal flaws (inclusions) or external blemishes (blemishes). Clarity grades range from Flawless (no imperfections visible under 10x magnification) to Included (imperfections visible to the naked eye). Higher clarity grades generally mean a more valuable diamond.

Carat Weight: Carat is a measure of a diamond's weight. Larger diamonds are rarer and usually more valuable, but the overall value also depends on the other three Cs.

Certification: It's essential to buy a certified diamond. Certifications confirm the diamond's quality and characteristics.

Shape: Diamonds come in various shapes, such as round, princess, emerald, and more. The shape is a matter of personal preference, and different shapes can affect how light reflects within the stone.

Fluorescence: Some diamonds exhibit fluorescence, a glowing effect when exposed to ultraviolet light. While faint fluorescence usually doesn't affect a diamond's appearance, strong fluorescence can make a diamond look milky or hazy. It's a good idea to view the diamond in various lighting conditions to assess its appearance.

Remember that personal preferences play a significant role in choosing a diamond. It's crucial to find a balance among the Four Cs based on your priorities and budget.

What size gemstone would you like?

You probably already have an idea of the gemstone size you would prefer. If you have friends or family with large diamonds, you may admire their three-carat diamond ring designs and may be considering selecting one for yourself. It is easy to see the allure of the way light catches on the diamond and reflects its beauty back at you.

When choosing your gemstone size, it is important to consider how you will wear it on a daily basis. If you feel comfortable with a larger gemstone and that is what your heart desires, you should go for it! The great thing about choosing a three-carat diamond or other stone is that you are getting exactly what you want instead of waiting 20 years for an upgrade. Why not start your marriage with the ring of your dreams?

What colour metal do you prefer?

After you have decided on the gem size, it is time to move on to the precious metal for the engagement ring band. The first step in this phase of selection is to take a look at what types of jewellery metal you already wear. Do you like to keep your metals in one family, such as gold or platinum? Or is mixing and matching more your style?

There are several popular precious metals used for engagement rings, each with its own unique characteristics. Here are some of the most common ones, along with their pros and cons:

Platinum:

Pros:

• Durability: Platinum is a dense and durable metal, making it an excellent choice for everyday wear.
• Purity: Platinum is naturally white and does not tarnish, maintaining its colour over time.
• Hypoallergenic: It is a hypoallergenic metal, making it suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.

Cons:

• Cost: Platinum is generally more expensive than other precious metals.
• Weight: The density of platinum makes it heavier than other metals, which some people may find less comfortable.

White Gold:

Pros:

• Affordability: White gold is often more affordable than platinum.
• Versatility: White gold pairs well with various gemstone colours and styles.

Cons:

• Rhodium Plating: Most white gold is plated with rhodium to enhance its whiteness, but this plating can wear off over time, requiring re-plating.
• Allergies: Some individuals may be allergic to the nickel alloy used in white gold. Look for white gold with palladium or other hypoallergenic alloys if allergies are a concern.

Yellow Gold:

Pros:

• Timeless Appeal: Yellow gold has a classic and timeless look.
• Warmth: The warm colour of yellow gold complements many skin tones.

Cons:

• Prone to Scratching: Yellow gold can show scratches more easily than harder metals like platinum.
• Not as Popular in Modern Styles: Some individuals may prefer more contemporary metals.

Rose Gold:

Pros:

• Unique Aesthetic: Rose gold has a distinctive and romantic appearance.
• Versatility: It complements a variety of gemstone colours.

Cons:

• Copper Allergies: Rose gold contains copper, which may cause allergies in some individuals.
• Limited Availability: While becoming more popular, it may not be as readily available as other gold colours.

Palladium:

Pros:

• Lightweight: Palladium is lighter than platinum, providing a comfortable wear.
• Hypoallergenic: Like platinum, palladium is hypoallergenic.

Cons:

• Less Durable than Platinum: While durable, palladium is not as hard as platinum, so it may show wear over time.
• Limited Design Choices: Palladium is less commonly used than other metals, limiting the variety of available designs.

When choosing a precious metal for an engagement ring, consider factors such as budget, personal style, durability, and any metal allergies. Additionally, be aware that some metals may require maintenance over time to preserve their appearance.

If you are uncertain of what to do, bring in some of your favourite jewellery when you visit the jeweller. Try them on with a few different engagement ring metals that already include a gemstone of your liking and a setting similar to what you have selected. This will help you get a clear visual of what the jewellery will look like when you wear it together. Alternatively, you can play with new metals that will complement your engagement ring when you select a wedding band to go with it.

Some parting advice.

After you have put in your time, money, and effort into making the emotional decision for your engagement ring, you want to keep your beautiful investment in the best condition possible. In order to do that, you need to keep it clean. Your first step should be to ask your jeweller for pro tips on how to care for the ring. Next, watch this helpful video for at-home tips on the best ways to take care of and clean your jewellery. 

By making educated decisions regarding your engagement ring, you will ultimately choose the best one for you. Find the perfect carat size, gemstone, and precious metal to suit the unique person you are. Get ready to stare at your ring finger all day long.

Hiring & Onboarding Your First Employee

When you have a small business, it can often be quite a while until you actually have a need to bring in anyone to help you. But once that does become necessary, you will then really need to make sure that you do it right. After all, hiring employees and going through the whole process of onboarding them can be really important to get right, and there are a few things that you will need to make sure you are focused on here. Let’s take a look at what those might be and how to keep on top of them.

Image c/o Pexels

Know What You Want

In terms of the actual hiring process, you do need to make sure that you first know what you actually want from an employee, otherwise you might struggle to hire the right person. This is something that is going to be really important to consider, because you will really need to make sure that you have the right person working by your side. So make sure you know what you want and that you are actively looking for it when you are trying to hire your first employee. It really will make a huge difference overall.

Take The Recruitment Slow

You should also make sure that you are taking it quite slow and easy in general when you do the recruitment process. That’s vital because you need to make sure that you are not rushing anything and ending up with the wrong person, which can very often happen here. You need to take it easy, give yourself plenty of time and you will hopefully therefore end up with someone that you can be really happy with on the whole. That is something that is going to make a huge difference to your business in general.

Set Up Payroll

One area that you will always need to get right in order to keep your employee happy and on board is the pay. And once you have even one employee, you need to set up a payroll process that you can rely on, and that is something that can take time to achieve. Nonetheless, as long as you work at it, you should find you can do it. To make it easier, find a payslip template and use a software that seems easy to use. This is going to help you a lot with all of your payroll needs.

Training

There might be areas that your new employee needs training in. Some of these will probably be legal things, such as health and safety, and some will be more to do with certain tools that you like to use in your company. In any case, there should be a period of training before you get them working for real, and this needs to be done in such a way that they are going to be ready to work for you confidently. Make sure you don’t overlook this vital part of the whole process, as it is really important.