The Good Gift Guide

Mothers Day Gift Baskets

Barbara Gordon — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:06:00 +0000

As one of the most anticipated shopping dates of the year, sending a Mother's Day Gift just makes us feel good inside. Whether treating the most wonderful mom in the world or even sending a gift to your wife, sister, grandmother, whoever, it shows that you appreciate all they do for you. Although this once a year date is called "Mother's Day", all of the wonderful women in our lives should be treated extra special and recognized for the contributions they make.

One way to treat those lovely ladies to a great treat is to surprise them with a luxurious Spa Gift Basket! Filled with items that will surely pamper her, this will earn major "thank you" points for you. If your mother is a bit more on the healthy side, you could splurge with a basket of fruit that shows you care about her health. And last but not least, for the mother that loves chocolate, we have a range of baskets that are sure to suit her needs.

Find a date for Valentines Day

Barbara Gordon — Thu, 02 Feb 2006 08:48:00 +0000

Valentine’s Day can be an exciting time to meet new people. While the holiday is often thought of as one for couples, it provides an excellent time for singles to meet new friends. Joining an online dating site is one of the best ways to find love this Valentines Day.

Online Dating

While in the past many have been, for lack of a better word, "shy" about posting a personal ad in a print publication, the explosion of online dating sites has inspired over two thirds of all singles to try online dating, so it’s more than likely that you might know someone who is dating online. There are also Web sites that cater to all interests – religious, political, social, networking, or casual dating. Odds are there is an online dating site for you. Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to test the waters.

Online dating sites may overwhelm you however. Which one is the best for your needs? I've compiled some simple tips to help you find the best site for you.

1. Establish a budget.
Decide how much money you want to devote to online dating, and set a budget. Some sites charge one-time membership fees, others automatically charge recurring monthly fees to your credit card.

2. Seek recommendations.
Talk to trusted friends, colleagues, and family to see if anyone they know has had a positive experience with a particular online dating website. If you need more information, you can always check out an online dating guide.

3. Research available sites.
Book time to check your favorite search engines for popular dating websites. Try searching terms like "find a date online", "meet someone new online", or "online personals" to generate lists of potential online sites for you.

4. Consider specialized sites.
Determine if you have any special interests or unique situations that might require a more specialized online dating website. Some online dating sites cater to customized audiences including political affiliations, sexual preferences, race, religion, etc.

5. Determine pros and cons.
Narrow down the list of potential online sites to your top three and compare them to determine pros and cons of each. Pay particular attention to monthly/yearly cost, free versus fee services, and number of website members.

6. Take a free test run.
See if your chosen website offers free trials. Look for sites that allow you to search the database for potential matches before you pay any membership fees. This allows you to fully understand the array of potential mates already signed up with the service.

7. Diversify your portfolio.
Don't be afraid to sign-up for multiple websites services or change services midstream if you are not satisfied. The goal is to meet new people and land dates. If a particular site is not meeting your needs move on before you invest more money in an ineffective dating strategy.

Some of my favourite sites

Date the UK

Save £15 on a Date the UK 6month membership with our Valentine's discount. Secure email, online chats, matching tools and advanced search for only £34.99, find a date within a few miles from you and spend this 14th Feb with that special someone. More info..

Super Eva

With superEva, women can currently go 100% free. Men can, at no charge, create a profile, conduct searches, add up to 5 photos or video clips and send messages. As a Premium member you get fast-track photo validation, can read messages and chat live with members online. More info..

Yahoo! Personals

Yahoo! Personals is the fun and friendly way to find your perfect match. Yahoo! Personals gives you access to thousands of single men and women for free. You can also make first contact with people for free or save 72% on 12 months membership at just £5.58 per month (£66.95 annually). More info..

You Can Get Me

Make the most of our Valentine's special from 30th Jan until 14th Feb and find your perfect match this year. Get access to our audio-video chats and stop the Blind dates! See and hear your other half before arranging a meeting, secure and hassel-free dating for 6months for only £34.95. More info..

Here's hoping you find love this Valentines Day.

Babs

Some Nookii This Valentines Day

Barbara Gordon — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 13:16:00 +0000

Add some spice to your Valentines Day

Nookii, most definitely is not your run of the mill after dinner game or even your average adult board game.

True enough it does involve shaking a dice and obeying instruction cards but that's where the similarity to other board games ends.

In short, Nookii aims to add a little pazzazz into your sex life. In its own words "Nookii is a map of foreplay, a key to a door of possibilities on a multitude of sensual interactions". How could you resist?

The basic idea of the game is for you and the object of your desire, to throw the dice, set the timer and then follow the instructions on the cards. Simple enough eh! Well the kick comes in when you see the categories the cards come under, and more to the point the instructions encompassed within those cards.

'Mmm', 'Ooh' and 'Aah' are all categories which have varying levels of sauciness, ranging from cheeky and kinky to downright rude!!! I'll leave the rest to your imagination.

So slip on the Barry White album, put up the 'do not disturb' signs, roll the dice and allow the fun to begin. Believe me, it will do!!!

Nookii

Good Gift Guide Recommendation : 4/5

Monogamy Game

Barbara Gordon — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 01:38:00 +0000

Experience a hot night in with Monogamy

Recently awarded adult board game of the year Monogamy offers the promise of a Hot Affair ... with your partner, Monogamy gives many a great evening at home with the one you love. Explore new experiences together, have fun and take each other on a sexual adventure.

Described by players as "addictive" and "a beautiful well thought out game."

"Turn the lights down low, take the phone off the hook and get ready for some truly passionate encounters - play Monogamy and your relationship will never be the same again"

It all begins with a loving gaze into each other's eyes - the last to blink throws the dice to start the game!

As you progress around the board the questions become more intimate and the challenges more steamy - opening up sexy, wild and sometimes deep conversations - the perfect beginning to an affair….with your partner.

Whatever level you play Monogamy, you'll be laughing one minute and lusting after each other the next. The game climaxes with the winner choosing to make real one of 50 breathtaking fantasies - but then, there are no losers in Monogamy.

The game contains 390 different ideas and actions at three progressive levels:

- Intimate.
- Passionate.
- Steamy.

And fifty different fantasies! with a lot more action on the way.

Monogamy provides great value and can be played many, many times with no game ever being the same.

The contents of Monogamy®, the adult board game:

Board 488mm x 488mm
His cards x 100 - featuring 300 questions at 3 levels
Her cards x 100 - featuring 300 questions at 3 levels
Fantasy cards x 50
Dice, 2 player's pieces and 12 level pieces.
Set of easy reference Rules.

Monogamy

Good Gift Guide Recommendation : 4/5

A family Valentines Day

Barbara Gordon — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 14:27:00 +0000

Valentines Day can come from the heart instead of the wallet. And perhaps more surprisingly, the holiday does not need to be the exclusive domain of starry-eyed couples. The entire family can embrace this holiday and each other.

After all of the hustle and bustle of the Holiday Season and the endless spending on toys and gadgets, perhaps each family should take some time to create the kind of memories that get pinned up on the wall for eternity.

It does not matter who makes up the family unit, whether its one parent, two parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, friends, children or pets, it is about who is important to you. No gifts necessary, just meaningful, well thought-out gestures and sincere moments of caring.

As a Child Development Specialist, character education expert and founder of the innovative online family resource, PowerfulFamily.com, Robyn Silverman, PhD, offers insight on what makes for a special family Valentine’s Day:

• Make it home-made: We all know we have enough stuff from the stores. How about setting a budget for supplies and having everyone make something for each family member? Woodworkers can whittle and aspiring chefs can create a gourmet meal. Artists can draw, paint, sew, knit, make jewelry, or stain glass.

• Take the time: No need for anything fancy. Your family wants your attention! It could be spent simply snuggling up to watch a movie or sitting at the dinner table talking about things that really matter to everyone. It is about listening and asking and enjoying. It’s about shutting off the cell phone and taking a break from the computer. This does not mean that it should be “all about the children.” It should be about the family and the value of each and every family member.

• Say the words: Valentine’s Day can be a great time to say the words that we often forget to say. This may relate to a simple “I love you,” or perhaps an apology, words of comfort, expressions of respect or admiration, or a meaningful promise. Words should come from the heart without strings attached or expectations of a return declaration. And, perhaps it goes without saying - these admissions should not be forced, since that would make them empty and meaningless. Speak plainly and truthfully and attempt to make up for any lost time due to misunderstandings, chaotic jobs, or schoolwork that sometimes makes life roll on without notice.

• Celebrate: Birthdays celebrate the individual and holidays celebrate religion, heritage or patriotism. Make Valentines Day a time to celebrate the family. Praise the triumphs and the challenges as well as the strength of the family bond. Play games and laugh. You can even have a party! Invite the people who you really care about and let them know they are important to you.

• Commemorate your family commitment: What kind of family do you aspire to be? Let everyone answer this question. Perhaps words such as “respectful,” “courteous,” “loving,” “trustworthy,” and “thoughtful” come to mind. Take out a piece of paper and write down a pledge of love and commitment to the family. Have everyone sign it. Place it in an area of importance so that everyone reads it each day. After all, it is the love, not the gifts that get you through the tough spots.

According to Dr. Robyn, “Refocusing the family on the things that count after the gift-giving frenzy has died down is imperative to the soul of the family. But more importantly, your family’s knowledge of how each person feels about each other can be a gift unto itself. Perhaps it does not seem life changing, but ask the person who has never felt valued by his family, and you will discover, that is actually is.”

Are you flying solo this Valentines Day?

Barbara Gordon — Wed, 25 Jan 2006 14:25:00 +0000

The United States Bureau of Statistics says that in 2002 almost 50% of marriages ended in divorce. That percentage is rising every year. There are 8.6 deaths per 1000 people per year. With the increase in natural disasters this year, and the war in Iraq those rates are surely rising too.

Bottom line…all of us know someone who is about to face Valentines Day alone, friends and loved ones who are struggling to find their own way without a partner.

Chicago author, Cheryl Perlitz; (Soaring Through Setbacks, Rise Above Adversity, Reclaim Your Life) offers these creative and inspiring tips that helped her get through 5 Valentines Days after the loss of her beloved 1st husband and before she met her wonderful 2nd.

PLAN YOUR VALENTINES DAY AS A DAY OF SELF LOVE WITH THESE SURVIVAL TIPS

Start your day in a special way

*Add vanilla and cinnamon to your coffee grounds before brewing and set the timer so the aroma wakes you up in a wonderful mood.

*Dress in red silk lingerie/boxers under anything you decide to wear. Don’t forget a red hat. Men … try a new cologne.

*Go out for breakfast with a friend….have someone wait on you for a change.

*Bring a small gift to someone at work. Leave it on their desk but don’t sign it… and watch that person try to figure out where it came from.

Your lunch break

*For lunch, take a brisk walk outside or around your building, say hello and happy Valentines Day to everyone you see. Eat a salad and drink a tall bottle of water.

*Starting after lunch, eat one piece of chocolate (liquor filled if you can get away with it) when the clock strikes on the hour, every hour till 5 PM.

*At 4 PM stand by your desk and do some stretches or jumping jacks to get the blood flowing. Listen to your favorite CD (with headphones or low volume) between 4 and 5 PM, to put yourself in a great mood for the end of your work day.

After work
*Buy yourself arm loads of flowers on the way home and decorate your home/apartment with them… in every room. They will be there to make you happy when you return home.

*Meet another single friend for happy hour. Go to a brand new bar/restaurant that you have never been to before.

*Join up with more singles for dinner, dancing or karaoke.

*For Women: End your evening in a luxuriously scented bath, slather oil all over your skin, pin your hair up and sleep in a vintage slip.

*For Men: Luxuriate in a hot bath or shower with scented body scrub, moisturize all over and sleep in silk boxers.

Commit to at least one act of Random Kindness:

*Send someone else flowers or candy anonymously; either a crush or someone you know who is also alone on Valentines Day.

*Buy a dozen roses and hand them out one at a time to various NEW people you meet through the day.

*Invite another single to Happy Hour…you pick up the tab!

Valentine’s Day Myth: If You Love Me, You’ll Read My Mind

Barbara Gordon — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 11:38:00 +0000

Here comes Valentine’s Day, the hands-down winner for producing the biggest disappointments of the whole year.

Do you cross your fingers and hope your sweetheart will surprise you with that special gift or candle-lit dinner or romantic getaway you yearn for?

Sometimes it even seems to turn into a "test" with your partner flunking because you didn’t let them in on the rules.

And once again do you get disappointed?

On Valentine’s Day, the value of your relationship might be tied up in a gift. And just because you were careful to drop a hint big enough to trip over, it doesn’t mean your sweetie gets it.

Subtle hints aren’t working. Obvious hints aren’t working either. Try saying it directly: "Here’s what I’d really like for Valentines Day — a card from you, and dinner at our special restaurant."

Especially on Valentine's Day, unstated wishes and unrealistic expectations are set-ups for disappointment. And we know all too well how disappointments and misunderstandings can lead to anger and resentment.

And resentment can ruin any relationship. Think about how much space resentment takes up. It doesn’t leave much room for connection, respect and intimacy.

Relationship coach Dr. Elayne Savage shows how to make this Valentine’s Day a success by avoiding these kinds of misunderstandings and disappointments.

7 sure-fire ways to a Happy Valentine’s Day:

-1 Stop crossing your fingers and hoping your sweetie will read your mind. Try using clear communication to convey what you yearn for.

-2 Keep your Valentine’s expectations realistic and do-able. Otherwise, it’s a set up for disappointment.

-3 Remind yourself that you both grew up in different families with different styles of gift giving.

–4 Don’t mistake "not thinking" for "not caring." Your partner’s way of approaching this day may be different from yours.

–5 Ask yourself if the value of your relationship is tied up in a gift. Hopefully it isn't.

–6 Don’t try to be too “creative” in your gift giving. Just be you and be sincere. On the other hand, Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be an “afterthought” either.

–7 AND don’t take it personally – dwelling takes up way too much energy and relationship space. Leave space for connection and intimacy.

Paris launches special Valentines Day offers

Barbara Gordon — Thu, 19 Jan 2006 09:21:00 +0000

Paris is gearing up for an even more romantic February than usual by extending Valentines Day offers to the whole month.

Promotions by hoteliers, restaurateurs, travel specialists and leisure providers, normally only available on February 14th, will be valid throughout February.

Accommodation promotions include discounts of up to 30 per cent on room rates, complimentary breakfasts, and welcome gifts such as chocolates and champagne.

Restaurants will all have dedicated St Valentine menus, while cultural sites and shops have put together itineraries and events under the theme 'Paris for lovers'.

Some of the more unusual offers include tour company Explore Paris! providing a book to every couple entitled The best places to kiss in Paris.

Elsewhere, a guided tour of the Musee Maxim's art nouveau collection and lunch is reduced from €110 to €99, while a flight in a balloon for two out over the French countryside is reduced from €600 to €440 for week-day flights.

During the month, Paris will also play host to a wide-range of romantic music events, shows and exhibitions.

For more information on any of the above offers visit the Paris info website at: en.parisinfo.com and be sure to mention the promotion 'February the month for romance in Paris' when making a booking.

Click here to book a holiday to Paris.

Good Gift Guide Recommendation: 5/5

You've gotta have heart this Valentines Day

Barbara Gordon — Mon, 16 Jan 2006 13:36:00 +0000

For eight hundred years prior to the establishment of Valentine's Day, the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February - featuring a lottery in which males drew the names of teenage girls - and young men (Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those that were married) would be assigned sexual companions during the remaining year.

Thank St. Valentine's - a priest who was imprisoned for marrying soldiers in secret - that that's over with!

Unfortunately, even the most centered of people manage to lose their heads this time of year - actually, Valentine was beheaded - in profession of their undying belief that...when it comes to love...you gotta have heart!

Love Hearts - has a great range of Valentines gifts that are centred around the cool sweets I'm sure you've all tried as a kid. Gifts range from cuddly to tasty. Check it out and see what you find for your sweetheart.

The Good Gift Guide Forum Digest

Barbara Gordon — Mon, 09 Jan 2006 13:30:00 +0000

The Good Gift Guide forum has been open a little while now and there are some great topics waiting for your input. It's free to sign up so why not drop by and let us know your views on the topics raised there. The pick of this week are:

Christmas 2005 - Did you give or receive and great gifts this Christmas? Let us know.

Giving or receiving? - do you prefer to give gifts or receive them?

Valentines gift ideas - Valentines Day is a great chance to show your loved one how much you care. Share your great gifts of the past to help others out with their gift giving.

Hope to see you all soon.

Babs

Give a Valentine's gift that doesn't cost the earth -but saves it

Barbara Gordon — Thu, 05 Jan 2006 10:32:00 +0000

Give a Valentine's gift that doesn't cost the earth -but saves it

What could be more romantic than receiving a single red rose on Valentine's Day? Receiving a whole bunch of red roses? Perhaps, until you look at the price tag for the Earth.

Each year we spend a staggering £22 million on Valentine's flowers: A single rose with gift decorations is likely to cost around £20 while a bunch of roses will knock you back something closer to £70. "So what", you might say. "It's only once a year, surely a gesture of love can never cost too much?"

Well, sometimes it can cost far, far more than you think. Most of those glowing roses in their cellophane wrappers will have travelled a long way -from places like Zimbabwe, Israel, Colombia and Kenya. Transporting these flowers contributes substantially to global warming from aircraft emissions.

What can you give you Valentine instead? In contrast to flowers or chocolate, which both give brief moments of pleasure, there is something you can give that is literally priceless and lasts forever: An acre of tropical rainforest.

For the environmentally conscious, this really is the only Valentine's gift worth considering. An acre of rainforest saved on behalf of your sweetheart costs just £25 and after the World Land Trust has purchased it on your behalf it will be protected forever by the Trust's local partners.

This is the Valentine's Day present that just goes on and on giving pleasure. And not just to you and your beloved: Your acre will be part of a luxuriant tropical rain forest where giant trees, thickly hung with wild orchids, shelter rare species of animals and birds. The tropical rainforests are the most diverse areas on Earth and the multitude of animals and plants living there rely on the trees for their survival. Not only are you saving a piece of unique wildlife habitat from destruction, you are supporting the crucial role played by rain forests in preserving the world's carbon balance. What's more, you and your loved one can even visit the forest you have helped save.

Buy an acre of rainforest as a unique, green Valentine's gift and you will receive a Valentine's card, a personalised gift certificate and a copy of the World Land Trust's newsletter twice a year. You will be giving a love token that will last forever and help save one of the most beautiful habitats on the planet.

Find out more by clicking here

Valentines Gift Ideas for Women

Barbara Gordon — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 14:52:00 +0000

Valentines Gifts for Women

Guys, Valentines Day is the one day of the year when you have to really pamper your girl, show her how amazing you think she is and how much you love her. Of course we'd all love you to show a bit of romance on the remaining 364 days of the year but we forgive you this providing you come up with the goods on February 14th.

Luckily for you the Good Gift Guide is at hand to help you find that perfect gift for the lucky lady of your life. The perfect Valentines Day gift depends greatly on your partner and what they like and find romantic. They key to your Valentines Day gift is that it makes your loved one feel special and appreciated. If they love romance then give them a day full of romance, if they feel over worked then pamper them. Only you can decide what will really work for you and your partner. To get your brain cells working I've provided a few ideas below to help you along.

Flowers

A bunch of flowers are almost a given on Valentines Day (although I'm sure you buy them at other times as well ;-) A nice bouquet of roses similar to those picture to the left is always appreciated although it pays to remember that a bunch of flowers is unlikely to be enough on its own and should act as an appetiser to the main course as it were of gifts later in the day.

Romantic Experiences

The best way to spend Valentines Day is with the person you love so a shared romantic experience is perfect. There are plenty of great experiences that will be sure to make this Valentines Day one to remember. Some of the best include:

Romantic Champagne Hot Air Balloon Trip for Two

Ceroc Dancing Experience

London Eye and Dinner for Two

Romantic Gifts

Romance is the key to Valentines Day and spoiling your loved one with romantic gifts is a great way of showing them just how much they mean to you. If you're stuck for inspiration try and think back to what your girl has found romantic in the past and use that as a basic for your romantic gift. To help you along are some suggestions:
Chocolate Fountain

Red Heart Photo Frame

Pampering Gifts

All us girls work to hard throughout the year looking after you guys whilst you watch the football so a bit of pampering is a welcome treat every now and then. We would be quite happy with breakfast in bed and absolution from the days cooking and cleaning but if you want to go the extra mile then some of the gifts below might serve you well:

Professional Makeover

Flotation Experience

Shopping Consultation Day

For more help with buying that perfect Valentines Gift don't forget to consult the Good Gift Guide: Romantic Gift Ideas section. Hope you have a fab Valentines Day and don't forget to come back and tell us how your gift was receieved and the kind of day you had at the Gift Guide Forum

Babs

Valentines Gifts for Men

Barbara Gordon — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 09:48:00 +0000

Valentins Gifts for Men

With valentines day just over a month away time is pressing to get the man in your life a great valentines gift and show them just how much you love them. Akward buggers that they are however the valentines gift market offers very little in the way of traditional valentines gifts for your man. Thus I have devised the following guide of more mainstream gifts that, whilst not having much in the way of romance will probably keep your man happy.

Driving Experiences

If your man is into his cars then a driving days gift would be right up their street. There are over 20 different driving experiences to choose from (not forgetting all sorts of flying, sporty & adrenalin experiences) like Ferrari Racing / Rally Driving / Tank Driving / Race Car Trial. You name it, you can drive it. For a more detailed guide to a driving day gift check out our driving day gift article.

Gadgets

Most men dream of being James Bond and having the latest gadget to play with (not to mention the girls). This prevarticle I wrote before Christmas told you about the must have gadget for 2005, the Apple iPod Nano. Online retailer Gadget Stuff stocks hundreds of gadgets that will get your man purring with excitement. The gifts range from the cute to the absurd but this is men we're talking about here so there's bound to be something there :-)

Home Electronics

Whilst similar to gadgets there are also many electrical products that your man will love for their 'cool' factor, whilst you may also benefit from their practical uses. Good examples include digital cameras and dvd players. If you want to go for purely boy's toys then a playstation 2 is always popular.

Empire Direct (usually the cheapest)

Curry's

Celebrity Fashion

Men, bless them, generally don't have much of a clue about fashion so a fashion related valentines gift would benefit both of you. As Seen on Screen specialise in celebrity fashion, so you could kit your man out in the clothes worn by the stars. So if you wish your man would be more Brad Pitt than arm pit this site is a godsend. For a more detailed guide to a celebrity fashion check out my celebrity fashion article.

Fun and Games

The naughty weekend is officially back in vogue and now you and your man will have the opportunity to live out your own naughty weekend, devoid of any Benny Hill style taboo's. The naughty weekend kit comes complete with Blindfold, Ostrich feather, Body dust, Kissing glaze, Massage oil, Honeycake soap, Love soak (x 2), Scroll of instructions. All you need is a ready and willing partner and away you go and that shouldn't be hard because as a visitor to the good gift guide you're bound to have more than your fair share of wit, charisma and sex appeal.

Best of luck with your Valentines gift buying and don't forget to tell us all about the great gifts you've bought or received at our gift guide forum.

Babs

New Gift Reminder Service

Barbara Gordon — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 13:02:00 +0000

The Good Gift Guide Reminder Service

I'm pleased to announce another new addition to the tools available at The Good Gift Guide - an email reminder service. I know that keeping track of all the birthdays, anniversaries and other special occasions is a tricky business so this tool should be ideal for you.

All you have to do is sign up (for free) and enter in all the dates you'd like to be reminded of. You then enter in how long before you'd like us to email you a reminder and Bobs your uncle. We'll then send you a reminder so you never have to forget a birthday or anniversary again.

To get started simply visit our Gift Reminder Service at the following url:
http://www.Good-Gift-Guide.co.uk/email-reminder/

Babs

Shopping in the January Sales

Barbara Gordon — Tue, 27 Dec 2005 00:02:00 +0000

Shoppers will spend £1.4 billion in the post-Christmas sales as stores cut prices to clear stocks after a sluggish December, researchers claim.

More than 11 million people are expected to join the battle for bargains, spending an average of £130 each, a survey of shoppers found.

The research, carried out for Travelodge, found that 76 per cent of adults will trawl the shops for up to five hours to find the perfect bargain. The top three purchases will be shoes, clothes and gadgets.

Retailers are hoping for a rush to the stores to make up for a slow week before Christmas when shops reported a three per cent fall in the number of shoppers compared with last year.

FootFall, the retail analysts, said that visitor numbers on Saturday were 15.4 per cent down on the previous Saturday, suggesting that more and more people were opting to do their Christmas shopping online.

A spokesman for the New West End Company, which represents London retailers on Bond Street, Oxford Street and Regent Street, remained optimistic, claiming that a record 500,000 shoppers had visited their stores on the Saturday and Sunday before Christmas.

"Retailers have been very pleased with how the sales have gone so far. The feeling is that trade will be very successful over the next few days and in the new year."

A record number of shops launched sales online yesterday in an attempt to attract customers away from their normal festive routines.

Comet, the electrical goods store, said it was expecting 100,000 Christmas Day customers to log on to its website in search of bargains.

Other stores that launched sales online yesterday included Dixons, Currys, PC World, The Link, Virgin Megastore and HMV.

Tesco said that record numbers of shoppers had bought presents and food over the internet this year.

More than a million customers had shopped at Tesco.com for gifts, food and alcohol in November and December.

At peak times, the website took 5,000 orders an hour as it benefited from the growing number of people shopping online.

Laura Wade-Gery, its chief executive, said: "More people have opted for a Christmas of convenience this year, and for Tesco.com that has meant, for the first time, one million customers have shopped with us online.

"We know how busy families are in the run up to Christmas, a factor which has encouraged more than 100,000 customers to do both food and Christmas present shopping with us."

Bargains a plenty in the January Sales

Christmas has been and gone and shoppers everywhere are flocking to the shops to make the most of the great offers available in the January Sales. Online shops are no different to their high street counterparts and there are loads of great gifts available at amazing prices.

Gifts don't have to be for other people

Don't forget that it is importatnt to spoil yourself every now and then so if you didn't get exactly what you wanted for Christmas then the January Sales are ideal to help pick you up.

So without further ado I bring you some of the best offers currently going in the January Sales 2006.

The Good Gift Guide

Mothers Day Gift Baskets

Find a date for Valentines Day

Online Dating

Some of my favourite sites

Some Nookii This Valentines Day

Add some spice to your Valentines Day

Monogamy Game

Experience a hot night in with Monogamy

A family Valentines Day

Are you flying solo this Valentines Day?

Valentine’s Day Myth: If You Love Me, You’ll Read My Mind

Paris launches special Valentines Day offers

You've gotta have heart this Valentines Day

The Good Gift Guide Forum Digest

Give a Valentine's gift that doesn't cost the earth -but saves it

Give a Valentine's gift that doesn't cost the earth -but saves it

Valentines Gift Ideas for Women

Valentines Gifts for Women

Flowers

Romantic Experiences

Romantic Gifts

Pampering Gifts

Valentines Gifts for Men

Valentins Gifts for Men

Driving Experiences

Gadgets

Home Electronics

Celebrity Fashion

Fun and Games

New Gift Reminder Service

The Good Gift Guide Reminder Service

Shopping in the January Sales

Bargains a plenty in the January Sales

Gifts don't have to be for other people

The White Company

Hewlett Packard

Charles Tyrwhitt Shirts

John Lewis

Boots

Game