The Spy's blog

The six weeks holidays are almost at an end and you are probably enjoying a large sigh of relief that the kids are finally going back to school, but are they ready? They'll need uniforms and stationary so make sure they're prepared but as always try to save yourself a bit of cash too. I know I recently did a Back to School blog however more retailers are now jumping on the band wagon with some pretty good savings so thought I’d update you on the latest retailer discounts to make sure we have the whole gambet covered!

Well... in keeping with tradition, it looks like this Bank Holiday is going to be a tad rainy, so if you would like to cheer yourself up with a bit of retail therapy then you really couldn’t have picked a better weekend to do a wee bit of internet shopping from the ‘dry’ comfort of your home. There are literally hundreds of special offers, discounts, promotions and voucher codes available this weekend only.

If you have kids, then now is the time to start thinking about new uniforms, bags, shoes and books, to name just some of the paraphernalia associated with starting a new school year! Thankfully there are so many back to school promotions on right now that you could take advantage of to kit your kids out reasonably cheaply. Retailers such as Woolies and Tesco’s have some amazing deals on uniforms; here are just a handful of some of the offers around at the moment.

Tesco – get a third off school clothes

If you’ve been affected by the recent troubles in the travel industry then I really do feel for you; I can’t imagine how disappointed I would be if my holiday was cancelled last minute due to a company going into administration - and sadly as the summer season ends the outcome is looking even more bleak for other travel operators too.

If I’m tempting fate then I do apologise; maybe I’m too jaded, but I have a feeling the long weekend will be a bit of a damp squib, especially judging by how rubbish the weather’s been so far this month. So, rather than moaning too much about it, I thought I’d better think of a contingency plan in case the BBQ party I’ve had planned for months isn’t going to happen. I’ve been looking around for things to keep my guests entertained with on a miserable day, and thought it would be useful to share, especially seeing as I’ve come across a few special offers.

Play board games

At the end of August we’ll be experiencing the last Bank Holiday of the year. For summer lovers this is very sad news indeed; the only way to cheer ourselves up is to make sure the last long weekend of 2010 goes out with a bang!

There are some really fantastic deals around at the moment, so if you’re in the market for some new clothes, a mobile phone, a new kitchen or a summer holiday, then be sure to read on for this week’s pick of the best deals around. The summer sales are most definitely on with many UK retailers, so you could pick up some real bargains if you take the time to shop around before you buy.

Save 70% at Debenhams

I’ve noticed that mobile phone companies all appear to be pushing some kind of special promotion or free gift at the moment, so I thought it might be useful to list the best offers around, which might help sway your decision if buying a new phone. There are some pretty decent free gifts being offered, so if you take the time to look around you could bag yourself a new free TV or games console!

Mobiles.co.uk – free gifts

It would appear that every store is holding some kind of summer holiday promotion, which is great if you’re struggling for ideas to keep the little ones entertained. You may not be able to take the kids away this year, and even if you can get away for a week or two there are still another 4 weeks or more to find things to fill their days with. So I thought it would help to write a blog highlighting all the special offers around focussing on kids’ entertainment.

Play.com clearance sale – ending soon!

If you would like to treat your children to a holiday this summer break but haven’t gotten around to booking it, then here are some amazing special last minute offers which should hopefully give you some inspiration as well as save you a packet too. No matter where you would like to travel to this summer, be it a weekend away in the UK or a few weeks away in Africa, America, Asia, Europe, or South America, you are sure to find an offer which suits your requirements from one of the great suppliers below.

Expedia's last minute special offers - starting from £11!