HI everyone, I have decided to edit this advice slightly to see if I can't raise the ratings on it. I apologise if it pops up as a new article, its not what i am intending
A while back I had a phone call about whether or not I
would like a voucher book to raise money for a radio station. It would cost $95
i decided to get it as it had a car service and we really needed one. that alone would pay for the book.
It basically has a lot of freebies. real freebies. not buy one get one free stuff. jsut free. and it was all local businesses, just giving you free stuff to promote themselves. so after looking through it i found ALOT of stuff was from beauty salons and hairdressers.
Today i had my first ever haircut that was done by a real hairdresser! There is one for every month. it was great. I can get my nails done, and eveything else that you can have from these places!
Its great for being pampered without having the guilty feeling of spending money, because it doesnt cost a cent!
i love it an will be getting one of these books whenever i can!
Having said that, it is all jsut free stuff, from bread, to haircuts, tyre rotations, anything you can think of.
I found that I felt really guilty taking the haircut (not like anyone else ni my household could use a female style cut anyway!) but then remembered: I am not jsut a mum. I am a person. I am a princess (as my husband says Im a QUeen) I DESERVE to be pampered. I think everyone deserves something like this once in a while, and it should be GUILT FREE. But this is not the only way to get pampered on a budget. If someone asks what you would like as a present (my hubby is still working out what to get my for my birthday and xmas) suggest maybe a coupon for a dayspa or something like that. Something that would make you feel SPECIAL. maybe a weekend without the kids. Whatever works for you!
Just be careful with buying books the way I did, you have to make sure that you aren't getting ripped off as these people usually take your credit card details and it is all over the phone. I have some tips for safeguarding yourself against this.
1. Carefully take down the name of the company, the person your talking to, the company they are representing 9in my case they were selling on behalf of a radio station) their contact details etc.
2. Look up this companies name and phone number in the yellow pages or online. view their website if they have one. Check that they have an ABN
3. Call THEM back. And not the same day. Ask to speak to the same person you spoke to last time.
Then call the company they represent to ask about it. make sure the phone numbers werent similar!
4. See if you can organise some kind of COD arrangement instead of credit card or upfront payment. Or maybe you could go into their office to do this.
5. Be VERY wary of giving out your credit card details, especially over the phone and internet. There are many scary programs and systems peopel (and legitimate companies for that amtter!) can use to rip you off and give you a bad credit rating and a nasty debt.
I actually remember of hearing of a certain company that put black marks against yur name if you shopped around over the phone alot. Ie, ring this person who was registered with that company for a price, then ring another company etc. NOt nice.
Of course the best thing you can do to protect yourself from credit card fraud and identity theft associated with credit cards is not to have one!
I hope this has been bale to help someone. Most of this is basic common sense though.
(August 2006) (
