OK pop-pickers, here's our rundown of the Shopsafe top ten shops of 2010, according to customer comments, customer feedback and number of click-throughs mixed with our own factors of web site design, style and usability:

10 Very
9. Early Learning Centre
8. Empire Stores
7. Debenhams
6. Currys
5. Argos
4. Marks and Spencer
3. Prezzybox
 2.Amazon

And at the top of the pile, it's

1.John Lewis


Wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2011.

Asda’s Bodysculpt vest has beaten a range of more expensive support garments to be named best at hiding the wobbly bits.

60 per cent of women consider their partner has a beer belly, while 52 per cent want them to do something about it.  Consumer experts at Which? tested six vests for wearability and to see how they lived up to claims to improve posture, firm the chest, flatten the stomach and narrow the waistline. The cheap version from Asda, known as a Shape Enhancer T-shirt and which promises to contour the chest and compress the love handles, came out on top

The bargain buy beat a £55 Spanx Cotton Compression Crew undershirt, judged to deliver a noticeable improvement to the chest, into second place. Two items from Marks & Spencer - the Bodymax and Bodymax Plus short sleeve vests - were said to ‘offer little advantage compared with a fitted T-shirt’ and came bottom of the league.

Get the Bodysculpt for just £7 from Asda and shape up without hitting the gym

Have you still got presents to buy?  Choose Currys and PC World’s great Reserve and Collect Service. You can reserve online and collect in store within 1 hour.  So make sure you Reserve and Collect to get all of your presents in time for Christmas!

Hot at Currys:

• CANON PowerShot A3150 IS Compact Digital Camera - £69
• NINTENDO Wii Black Game Console + Wii Sports + Wii Sports Resort and Motion Plus Controller - £129
• ADVENT Modena M100 - Red laptop - £299

Selling Fast at PC World

• SONY VAIO VPCEB3F4E/WI - White Laptop - £469
• NINTENDO DSi Handheld Game Console – black - £99
• ADVENT Modena M100 - Blue Laptop - £299

With Winter officially here, the RAC have put together some answers and tips to the most common questions about maintaining your car and driving during the cold weather:

Q. How can I keep my cars’ battery in good condition for the winter?

It’s a good idea to purchase a good quality battery charger to keep it topped up – RAC have several suitable products that can be purchased easily from racshop.co.uk or local stockists and will keep your battery in good condition all year round.

Q. How can I prevent my washer bottle from freezing?

Use a suitable screenwash additive and top it up regularly. Also, keeping the vehicle in a garage will normally prevent it from freezing. If the washer bottle has already frozen, try pouring warm water in to help defrost it.

Q. If I use my wipers to clear snow and ice from the windscreen, will it damage them?

It’s advisable not to use the wipers to clear heavy snow and ice, as it may cause the fuse to blow. This is because the wipers may not be able to cope with the weight of the snow, or may be frozen to the glass.

Q. If my locks freeze, what should I do?

Lock de-icers are available, but if you don’t have any available, use warm water poured over the lock barrel area. Also, it’s worth gently working the key in and out of the lock a few times to help free it off.

Q. My handbrake sticks on in the winter, what should I do?

It’s possible that the handbrake has frozen on. Remove the rear wheel trims (if fitted) and carefully pour hot water all over the wheel nut area. This may take a few attempts, but should help free off the handbrake.

Q. What checks should I be doing on my vehicle for the winter?

There are several easy checks you can carry out yourself such as:

• Tyre pressures (including the spare)
• Tyre tread depths
• Oil, washer fluid and anti freeze / coolant levels
• Lights are all working correctly
• Check front and rear wiper blades for wear or splitting

Q. What should I do to avoid skidding in the snow or ice? 


When you know the roads are icy or covered in snow, try to avoid any heavy braking and use the gears to slow down. Make sure you drive in the highest gear possible to help keep control of the vehicle.

Q. I know I can’t use boiling water to de-ice my windows, but what should I use?

If no de-icer is available, use warm, tepid water and try and clear the screen quickly to prevent refreezing.

Q. When should I use my front and rear fog lights?

Fog lights should only be used when visibility of the road ahead is less than 100 metres and switched off as soon as visibility improves.

Q. What should I be carrying in the car for a winter journey?

A must-have list for your winter car kit should include: a torch, blankets, wellies, an ice scraper, de-icer, battery jump leads and a first aid kit. These are all worth keeping in the car all the time, but especially in the winter. For long journeys, it’s always worth having a flask of warm drink just in case the worst happens and you get stuck or break down. Make sure you have plenty of fuel before you start out, in case you get stuck in traffic.

By carrying out a few basic checks motorists can potentially prevent a breakdown. RAC advises motorists to make the following checks:

• Check tyre pressure (spare tyre too!), tread depth, at least 3mm is advisable in winter conditions, and oil level
• Check all lights are working correctly and remember to keep them clean
• Check front and rear wiper blades for wear or splitting
• Screen wash additive should be added to prevent freezing

Happy, and safe, driving.

On our Christmas shops page we always list the last delivery dates for Christmas, so you can make sure you order your Christmas shopping in time. But with mail deliveries only just getting back to normal after the backlog caused by the snow, and more bad weather forecast for this weekend many retailers are unable to give a last Christmas delivery date, putting many Christmas gift deliveries in doubt.

Traditionally, you could order right up until a couple of days before, but families are facing disappointment this year, with millions of goods that have already been bought still not delivered. As of 1.30pm yesterday there was a buildup of four million items still with private couriers. And with another four million a day expected to enter the delivery system, Santa may not be able to deliver all those presents for Christmas.

It's not all bad news though. In Scotland, some traditional retailers are expecting a bumper Christmas after Tesco suspended deliveries. With the bad weather subsiding some areas are anticipating a last minute rush to the real shops.

If you walk though your local high street, or shopping centre, you might be surprised that with still nine days to go until Christmas, so many shops seem to be having sales.

Call me old-fashioned, but I remember when the Boxing Day sales started on Boxing Day. (I even remember when they were January Sales!) The recession and the weather seem to have had such an impact on Christmas shopping that we're now seeing pre-Christmas sales with over a week still to go, especially in the clothing and fashion arena. Some notable sales right now:

New Look - get up to 50% off
Dorothy Perkins - 20% off everything and free delivery
Debenhams - up to 40% off and free delivery
Coast - save up to 50%

See more Sales on now. (And they may not be called "sales", but there are some pretty hefty voucher codes available, to save you a pretty penny.)

We wrote a blog a couple of weeks ago called What Kind of Christmas Shopper Are You? where we said:

If you wait until a week before Christmas, you are truly asking for it...

It occurs to me now that if you wait until a week before Christmas all you are asking for is a discount. For those of you yet to start your Christmas shopping, big bargains await! Happy shopping.

Will X Factor winner Matt Cardle be the Christmas number one? We hope so, we've bought the single already, have you?

You can get Matt Cardle, X Factor Winners Single: When We Collide (CD Single) for £3.99 from Play.com. Put it in someone's stocking...

There are a few things that people get for Christmas should have never been put in that box and wrapped. Some presents just aren't suited to the spirit of Christmas. Sure, Christmas is all about giving and receiving. There isn't much of a better feeling than giving. However, some people just get confused as to what they should give.

The biggest no-no for any Christmas present is that of a cleaning implement. You, as a husband or as a wife, do your fair share of the work around the house. Giving your significant other a tool that is used for cleaning, such as a vacuum, is a slap in the face. It's basically saying "Here's your toilet bowl cleaner. Enjoy it and make sure you clean the toilet on a weekly basis!". You may need a new vacuum or a new toilet bowl cleaner, but those can always be bought after Christmas. No bloke wants to be reminded of how much of a pain it is to keep the house clean.

Another Christmas present that just doesn't cut it are certain types of clothing. Sure, if you know the style that the receiver of the present wants, then you can get them a sweater or a shirt. However, there are some boundaries that just aren't meant to be crossed. For example, if you're a parent that is getting clothes for your High School daughter, you should reconsider your plan of action. High School females are very particular when it comes to buying clothes. There's nothing wrong with being particular, they just have their own style of clothes they want. Parents rarely buy the right clothes for teenage children. Socks are also another thing that not many people are going to want. Sure, if you're husband is an avid skier then a nice pair of skiing songs would be absolutely perfect. However, the day to day socks that everyone wears just shouldn't be given for Christmas.

The biggest way to tell if the present you're about to give is good or not is to ask yourself if you'd want to receive it or not. You must dig deep down and try to imagine yourself opening said present Christmas. If you imagine yourself feeling disappointed in the slightest, get a different present. If you're completely unsure what to give, then just ask. It's better to ask then to give a bad present.

With Christmas season quickly approaching, you have probably found yourself looking ahead and already designing your Christmas shopping game plan. It really does make sense when you consider how hectic and confusing preparing for the holiday season can be. Organization is an absolute must. Planning ahead can really help you keep all of your holiday commitments and help make your Christmas experience more enjoyable overall.

For many people, the Christmas season can be very expensive. Between just dinners, parties, and presents, you can rack up quite a bill. A family of only four members can expect to spend over £2,000 on holiday related expenses. With the economy being as questionable as it is, everyone seems to be interested in saving as much money as they can this Christmas season.

A great way to save some money during this expensive holiday season is to make use of voucher codes for your gift purchases. Many people avoid using these voucher codes at Christmas time for fear that using these money savers will make them look like a Scrooge. However, using these money saving vouchers for gifts may actually have the polar opposite affect.

When you use a voucher code to purchase a gift during the holiday season, it makes you look extremely intelligent because you are saving money. Everyone is interested in finding ways to save money all year long, Christmas is no exception. If people do notice that you have used a voucher code for a gift, they may want to try to save some money themselves by using these cash saving codes too. Don't be surprised to find some financially minded friends asking you for advice on obtaining or using vouchers. You may even want to mention this Christmas cash saving tip to anyone you think might be interested in saving a little holiday money too.

Making use of voucher codes for gifts also makes you appear organized, experienced at budgeting, and overall like you know exactly what you want and how you are going to get it. You simply have to be an organized individual to even consider using a voucher to purchase a gift. You can expect to have to keep track of the actual voucher, finding a store that carries the gift you want and will honor your voucher code, and timing this process perfectly so you do get the gift in time for the Christmas celebration.

In our lifetimes, most all of us will receive an unwanted present for Christmas. There are several solutions on what to do with these unwanted gifts.

The receiver can take the unwanted gift back to the shops for a return. If the present was given with a receipt, this makes returns an easier process. Without a receipt, some shops will not issue cash refunds, but will offer a credit note or the opportunity to exchange the present for a similar item in the shop. Beware, without a receipt or a gift receipt, many shops will not offer a full return price, but will give the customer returning the item a refund in the amount of the new, post-Christmas sale price on the item.

The person who received an unwanted present can sell the present on the Internet. For instance, e-bay is a popular auction site where the seller can list items for sale in auction style listings or at a fixed price. Amazon.com has a sellers' area where the individual can list the unwanted gift at a fixed asking price. There are fees to list goods on both of these sites. One can also save the unwanted present and try to sell it at a local car boot sale.

The unwanted Christmas present can also be re-gifted to another person. First, make sure any indications of the gift's second-hand nature are erased (for example, gift tags are removed), and that the gift looks in good shape, including the packaging. Repackage or wrap the gift and present it to another person as, perhaps, a belated Christmas gift. Ensure that the present is not re-gifted to the person who originally gave it, or his or her immediate family members or friends!

The receiver can also donate the unwanted Christmas present to a charity shop. If the individual provides the shop with his or her taxpayer details, the shop can use GiftAid to claim back the taxes, thus increasing the charity shop's take on the item.

If all else fails, why not have an unwanted gift exchange with friends? Invite family members or friends over for a post-Christmas unwanted present exchange gathering. Either avoid inviting the person who gave one's unwanted gift in order to avoid hurt feelings, or ensure that everyone attending has a good outlook on such a gathering and will not be offended if a gift they gave shows up at the exchange.

Saving money without being a scrooge can sometimes be a hard balance to strike. But the good news is that in 2010, being thrifty is cool!

Until the recession kicked in, we had become a nation of spenders who thought of shopping as a leisure activity and had the credit card bills to prove it. Cheap and easy to access credit meant the tills were ringing wildly every weekend as consumers demanded more and more. Products became cheaper and more disposable as households tried to keep up with the latest fashions for home design, clothing and technology.

Luxury became the order of the day and 'special' lines at supermarkets were standard fare for many shoppers. A whole generation was splurging on credit without any thought for the consequences. Indeed, it became almost a badge of status to have as many credit cards as possible! The economy was overheating; house prices escalated, banks lent 125% mortgages, retail parks boomed and online shopping surged. Britain was on a spending frenzy with little thought for what might lay ahead.

Since then the credit crunch and recession have bitten deep and lessons have been learned. With bankers bonuses and politicians expense scandals hitting the headlines, living a life of excess is scorned rather than celebrated.

So does that mean living like a scrooge is acceptable now? Not entirely. It's all about keeping a balance and using some common sense. Examples of common sense advice include keeping some money aside for emergencies, spending within your means, avoiding the lure of credit and thinking about what is really an essential before you buy.

If you are in debt, be harsh and cut up those credit cards. Avoid minimum repayments unless you want a life of penury and find ways to overpay on debts to clear them quicker. See a financial advisor or seek free help from your local citizens advice bureau.

Even if you're in the black, learn to budget so that you have control of your finances. Review your direct debits to make sure you're not spending money on products or services you don't use. Create a budget that allows you to live a little but try to put something aside in a savings account each month so you have something for a rainy day.

It is still possible to have a social life whilst saving money - look out for voucher codes for restaurants and shops and try to think of things to do that don't involve spending money. Think walks in the park, trips to free museums or outings to the seaside in summer.

If you're keen to expand your social circle, try to meet new people by joining projects and groups rather than via expensive socialising and nights on the town. And seek help where you can. Advice and strategies from those who manage their finances successfully can help you enjoy life and save money without becoming a scrooge.

The Christmas season is supposed to be one of peace and giving, but for many holiday shoppers, it is anything but that. Not only can Christmas shopping damage the balance of your bank account, but it can also damage your health. The damaging health effects of Christmas shopping are directly related to stress, your body's response to physical or emotional internal and external factors. Studies have shown that stress is the greatest contributor to premature aging because of the many health problems that it can cause.

For many people, the stress of the holidays is more than enough to increase their blood pressures and to send their heart rates soaring, both of which are factors that put you at an increased risk of having a deadly heart attack or a stroke. Even if you only have a slightly elevated blood pressure reading, you could be setting yourself up to develop long term, chronic problems like kidney disease, eye problems, migraines, and circulation issues. The symptoms of high blood pressure are very difficult to detect, which is why it has earned the nickname the silent killer.

But how does Christmas shopping actually increase your stress levels and your blood pressure? For many people, thinking and worrying about finding the perfect gift for a loved one is enough to lead to a rise in blood pressure and heart rate. It may seem silly, but a lot of people worry for days over the smallest things such as if the gift will fit, if the colour is right, or if the gift will be liked. In an effort to avoid disappointing a loved one with a Christmas gift, many people are driving themselves to an early grave. Not only does worrying and panicking over gift giving increase a person's stress levels, but also the physical aspect of shopping itself can take its toll on the holiday shopper. Finding a parking space during the busy Christmas shopping season can be a real source of anxiety as you have to fight off all the other shoppers that are competing for only a handful of parking locations. After that, you have to deal with the crowds, the loud noises, rude sales associates, and scouring the stores for what you want. All of these factors can put you on edge, which will increase your stress levels, blood pressure, and heart rate.

In recent years, however, many Christmas shoppers are turning to online shopping to meet their holiday gift giving needs. Shopping online doesn't take away the mental stress of finding the perfect gift, but it can help with the physical aspects since you can search for your gifts from the comfort of your own home and at your leisure. In the end though, it's important to remember the old saying that when it comes to giving gifts, it's the thought that really counts.