If you’re a bit skeptical about the bingle service then let me assure you that making claims is not only easy but it’s really convenient – just fill out a form online and then someone gives you a call back. My understanding is that the company is underwritten by AAMI and that one of the main reasons why their insurance prices are cheap is because they do not have the expensive services like a call centres that most other companies have. Everything is done online.

I’ve been with them for almost 3 years now and have saved quite a considerable amount of money… more cash in my pocket so why not do the same with yours. Get a quote and let us know how you went.

Visit your Estee Lauder counter at Myer or David Jones for a Complimentary Make over.

Plus receive a Free Sumptuous Mascara 2.8ml to match your new look.

Don’t have access to a printer? Not a problem, simply visit Estee Lauder counter and mention this promotion to one of our Beauty Advisors to receive this fabulous offer.

Make your gift even bigger at David Jones CBD stores.

Add a bonus** full-size Smoothing Manicure/Pedicure Treatment 200ml to your gift with any Estée Lauder purchase of $140 or more^.

^In one transaction.
*Offer available from 22/07/09 until 09/08/09, subject to stock availability. One gift per customer.
**Bonus Gift available only at Elizabeth Street, Bourke Street Mall, QueensPlaza, Rundle Mall and Hay Street Mall

Our advice: The next time you go shopping and you see a “special tag”, just have a quick peek to make sure the “special” price is actually cheaper than the normal priced tag.

Top 5 money saving travel tips:

1. Be flexible – this applies to dates for flying and accommodation as well as location. Try sites such as www.lastminute.com.au, www.wotif.com or www.statravel.com.au (especially for flights)
2. Join loyalty schemes – this applies for accommodation, travel stores and flights.
3. Use the internet – check out websites such as www.expedia.com.au and www.tripadvisor.com for information such as which companies to trust when booking through destination offices where you can grab good deals.
4. Think outside the box – this applies to getting around (walk, cycle, take the bus/metro/train and live like the locals), looking for accommodation (negotiate a better price, book a townhouse/boutique hotel, go for B&Bs, short-let apartments, univeristy campus such as CLV Smart Stays (clvsmartstays.com.au) offers accommodation in student residences in Christchurch, NZ, and Australian cities from $45 per night during university holidays or check out the hostel)
5. Read a local listings magazines – many of these magazines are free and list events that are free or where you can get discounted tickets.  The Louvre has free entry on the first Sunday of each month and on Bastille Day (July 14). The Taj Mahal is free on Fridays, as is New York’s MOMA, and museums in Berlin are free after 6pm on Thursdays. Check websites.

The top budget choices by stores included:

Myer – $100 Steve Madden boots

Wittner – $100 black ankle boots

Mollini – $200 cream/beige knee high boots

Happy boot shopping.

Squeakgal

This June long weekend I enjoyed the beautiful weather outdoors and when it got too cold I headed into Harbourside http://www.harbourside.com.au/ and found out there were great bargains to be had. The Glue store had up to 70% off and Morroco had nothing over $10! Cotton On and Cotton On Kids both had sales up to 70% off. Cupcake Fashions had 30% off selected styles and Diva had a from $5 sale on selected stuff.

There were plenty of stores that had sales so next time you go to an event don’t forget to check out the nearby stores because you might be surprised as to what you will find!

Let us spoil you with fantastic one-night-only special offers and complimentary beauty treatments including:

Mini manicures by Mandi Levanah
Make-over’s by Napoleon Perdis
Sensory Rituals by AVEDA and PReMA

Spend $150 at any number of retailers, and go into the draw to WIN a $2,000 Westfield gift card*

RSVP to rsvp@au.westfield.com All friends and family welcome

ONE -NIGHT-ONLY SPECIAL OFFERS*:

Level 3 (David Jones side)

Complimentary Sensory Rituals by AVEDA and PReMA

Zimmermann 15% off
Oroton 30% off
Scoop 20% off
Max & Co 20% off
Alannah Hill 20% off
Jigsaw 15% off
Calibre 10% off
Marcs 20% off
Mimco 20% off knitwear & wallets
MIDAS 20% off, exclusions apply
Veronika Maine 15% off
Kookai 20% off
Ed Hardy 10% off
Veronika Maine 15% off
Sunglass Hut 20% off, exclusions apply
Rhodes & Beckett 25% off suits
French Connection Spend $200 and Receive 20% off
AX Armani Exchange Spend $200 & get 20% off
Mecca Cosmetica Complimentary touch-ups
Aveda Spend $70 and receive $20 towards hair & make-up
Ben Sherman Spend $150 & recieve a free Ben Sherman polo
PReMA 10% off appointments booked on the night

Level 3 (MYER side)

Complimentary mini make-over’s by Napoleon Perdis

Country Road 20% Off
ESPRIT 20% off
METALICUS 20% off
Nine West 20% off, exclusions apply
Cue 15% off
JAG 20% off
Just Jeans $20 off all denim
MNG 25% off
Ed Hardy 10% off
Nike Woman 25% off
Seduce 20% off
Satch Men 20% off & receive a VIP card
Mollini 20% off, exclusions apply
OJAY 20% off
Guess 20% off
Portmans 15% off
Napoleon Perdis 10% off, exclusions apply
Sunglass Hut 20% off, exclusions apply
David Lawrence Buy 2 and get the 3rd FREE
Wanted Free “Party Feet” with every full price purchase
Swarovski Spend $200 and receive a crystal pen
NOVO 25%  off
Pilgrim 15% off, exclusions apply
DPO 20% off

Level 4 (David Jones side)

Complimentary mini manicures by Mandi Levanah and meet Leona Edmiston in-store

Polo Ralph Lauren 25% off
Bettina Liano 15% off denim
Leona Edmiston 15% off & spend $500+ to receive a gift with purchase
Paul & Joe 10% off
CAMPER 10% off
Karen Millen $50 voucher with every purchase, redeemable during your next visit
CHANEL fragrance & beauty See in-store
Max Mara Weekend 20% off
Bally Gift with purchase
Farage 15% off
Rodd & Gunn Spend $295+ and receive a leather shave bag
Seed Spend $200 and receive a 20% off
Georg Jensen 20% off homewares

Level 4 (MYER side)

Complimentary mini manis by Mandi Levanah

Jayson Brunsdon 25% off
Peter Alexander 15% off
Country Road 20% Off
ESPRIT 20% off
Arthur Galan AG Men 20% off
Arthur Galan AG Women 20% off
La Senza 20% off
QED Skincare 10% off & gift with purchase
Crabtree & Evelyn 10% off
Queenspark 30% off
Ecco 15% off
Florsheim 30% off
Sunglasses 4 U 20% off
Maggie T 20% off
SABA Spend $300 – save $50, Spend $500 – save $100
Gazman 25% off
Ella Rouge 15% off products, exclusions apply
Diplomat 20% off Delsey and Travelite luggage
Laura Ashley 30% off fashion & homewares, 15% off floorstock furniture

Terms & Conditions

*Individual conditions and exclusions apply on every retailer special offers, including:

- Special offers on full price stock only
- Special offer valid on May 6th from 6.30pm – 9.00pm
- Special offers valid in Westfield Bondi Junction stores only

B Boutique, Level One. QVB, George Street, Sydney NSW

Conditions apply

1. Don’t go shopping on an empty belly

2. Be reward-program savvy

3. Keep a price journal

4. Stay seasonal

5. Visit farmers’ markets

6. Berries below freezing

7. What’s the plan, Stan?

8. Mind the expiry date

9. Check check, one two…

10. Lean and bean

Happy shopping

SqueakGal

Clarins Gift of your Choice – Exclusive at David Jones

Choose one of these three gifts*:

Line Prevention Gift (pictured above): Beauty Flash Balm 15ml, Renew-Plus Body Serum.

30ml, Multi-Active Day Cream 15ml, Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion 30ml, HydraQuench.

Cooling-Cream Gel 5ml, Gloss Appeal No. 4 2.5ml and a Beauty Bag.

OR

Restoring Gift: Smoothing Body Scrub For a New Skin 30ml, Hand and Nail Treatment Cream.

30ml, Younger Longer Balm 12ml, Super Restorative Day Cream 15ml, Wonder Volume Mascara.

No. 01 Black 1.5g, Gloss Appeal No. 04 2.5ml and a Beauty Bag.

OR

Firming Gift: Renew-Plus Body Serum 30ml, Advanced Extra-Firming Neck Cream 15ml,

Extra-Firming Day Cream 15ml, Younger Longer Balm 12ml, Advanced Extra-Firming Eye.

Contour Serum 3ml, Joli Rouge No. 712 1.5g and a Beauty Bag.

For Clarins, there’s no other store like David Jones.

^In one transaction. *Subject to stock availability. One gift per customer. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Happy shopping

SqueakGal

Receive your eight piece gift valued at $221* when you purchase two products from Sisley, one being skincare^.

Your gift includes: Restorative Fluid Body Cream 15ml, Hydra Global Intense Anti-Age 5ml, Emulsion Ecologique 15ml, Sisleÿa Global Anti-Age 5ml, Eye & Lip Contour Balm 5ml, Buff & Wash Facial Gel 15ml, Full size Phyto-Levres Gloss in Raisin Delight.

*Valued by Sisley. ^In one transaction. Available while stocks last. One gift per customer. Not available in conjunction with any other offer.

Happy Shopping
SqueakGal

*three samples per customer, while stocks last

David Jones – Elizabeth Street, NSW

David Jones – Bondi Junction, NSW

David Jones Bourke St Mall, VIC

Happy freebie-shopping

SqueakGal

If you know other people attending the baby shower then you can chip in and get an assortment of gifts. I like to go with picking some things from the ‘essentials’ below and then something fun like toys or nursery decorations.

Post a comment if you think there are other things that would make good presents

Happy Baby Shopping

SqueakGal

Last Saturday started off to Auburn with a trip to OFIS. For those of you that don’t know OFIS, it’s a store for stationery and office products – similar to Officeworks. I saw an advertisement which had OFIS closing down soon and offering great deals so I decided to check it out.

They had deals such as 8GB flash drives for $38, Marbig stationary – 20% off, 3M products – 30% off, Willow storage containers – 40% off plus ink cartridges, furniture, computers and printers at discounted prices. I got myself a flash drive, ink cartridge, folders and stationery.

Further along Parramatta Road I stopped off at Victoria’s Basement. While Victoria’s Basement wasn’t having a particular sale, this outlet store has regular discounts available up to 70% off. Well known brands such as Scanpan, Tefal, Jamie Oliver, Circulon, Villeroy and Boch, Wedgwood, Benzer, Royal Doulton, Circleware, Riedel, Pyrex etc. I got some great deals including several pans, a pizza stone, wine glasses and pepper grinder.

Across the road, there was the Nike factory outlet which had 30-40% off the retail price. In addition, I was lucky enough to be there when they had a surprising additional 30% off! I got t-shirts for $10, 3 pairs of socks for $10 and shorts for $10! Bargain!

There are plenty of outlets on Parramatta Road so if you are keen to check out something then head towards Parramatta.

Happy shopping

SqueakGal

That means you can watch movies like He’s Just Not that into you, Watchmen, Ghost Town, Changeling, Confessions of a Shopaholic, etc. for a fraction of the price!

This bargain price is only available for CINE BUZZ members between February 2 and March 31 2009 and only available by purchasing the tickets online.

Visit greaterunion.com.au for full details.

Please note: This $8 ticket offer is valid online only from February 2 – March 31 2009. $1 booking fee applies per ticket. Customer must be signed in as a CINE BUZZ member to take advantage of the offer. Not valid for GMAX, Gold Class or Silverscreen cinemas. Not valid for 3D, marathon or special event screenings. Not valid with any other offer, voucher or discount. Not valid for purchasing tickets to sessions outside the promotional dates.

You can spend a lot of time looking for the right dress and there is no guarantee that you’ll find it so sometimes you have to spend time just looking and dismissing which styles you do or don’t like. It is in these situation that life would be easier if you had a stack of bridal stores in one location so that you don’t have to spend so much time travelling. It also means that you have stores competing for your business so you are more likely to get a great price.

So here are a few bridal stores in one location for you to check out in Parramatta, Sydney. Parramatta has more than bridal shops, it has a huge Westfield with stores to cater for your every need and plenty of other stores outside of Westfield to keep you occupied for a day (or more) of shopping.

Park Avenue Bridal – 83 Macquarie Street Parramatta – http://www.parkavenuebridal.com.au/

Honeymoon Bridal – Shop 1, 478 Church Street, North Parramatta – http://www.honeymoonbridal.com.au/

Brides of Parramatta - 46 Macquarie Street, Parramatta

Mode for Brides - 28 Macquarie Street, Parramatta – http://www.calabrostores.com/

Vision in White - 40 Macquarie Street, Parramatta – http://www.visioninwhite.com.au/ http://www.formalimage.com.au/

Jean Fox National - 21 Argyle Street, Parramatta – http://www.jeanfox.com.au/home.php

Happy bridal shopping.
SqueakGal

Here are three tips for successfully buying on eBay. Let me know if you have any other tips.

1.      Look before you buy

Just because the item is online doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take the time to find out exactly what you are buying. Research the item to make sure you get what you want. Ask for pictures or descriptions of the item. Find out what condition it’s in and if you aren’t sure then don’t buy. Contact the seller with any questions before you buy.

Users on eBay have a feedback rating based on transactions that you have made either as a seller or a buyer. Check the seller’s feedback to see if there are any negative comments or issues. This is also a good time to make sure that you check your own feedback rating. Have you been a good buyer?

2.      How much will you be paying?

Understand the bidding system of eBay. It’s based on the maximum bid price you have placed and does not usually include postage and handling. Check to see what the cost is for postage and handling, whether you can pick up the item and calculate whether you still want to purchase the item. Use the ‘watch the item’ feature to keep an eye on the item if you aren’t sure if you want to bid on it.

Sometimes the seller will offer a discount for multiple purchases but to be safe, contact the seller and ask whether they can combine the postage costs if you buy several items. If the items have different auction dates ask if you can pay for the items after the last auction date to see if you have been successful. Good communication is the key and can save you money.

3.      How will you be paying?

Before making your bid ensure that you can comply with the payment requirements. Some sellers require specific requirements such as a Pay Pal account or they may require that you contact the seller with payment within a specified timeframe. If you can’t meet the timeframe (you may be overseas or without internet access) make sure you contact the seller with your explanation. If you can’t pay then don’t bother bidding.

Happy bidding.
SqueakGal

The article deals with websites that are offering to help stressed out consumers beat the economic blues. Check these websites out and let us know what you think.

www.dealsdirect.com.au – online department store with a huge range of goods across 25 categories.

www.squeak.com.au – website which allows you to search for the latest sales.

www.whypayfullprice.com.au – coupon website which allows you to download and print out coupons to use in participating stores.

www.getprice.com.au – shopping comparison website which allows customer to search or browse produce prices from more than 350 online retailers.

www.catchoftheday.com.au – one product available for 24 hours at a reduced price

www.offerme.com.au – list the time you want and wait for sellers to make you an offer

www.myshopping.com.au – offers several million products ranging from fashion and jewellery, health and beauty produces

www.topbargains.com.au – bargain sharing website where users can share and recommend bargains

www.dealdump.com.au – useful for browsing for a bargain

www.ozbargain.com.au – helps users obtain discounts, upgrades, freebies or exclusive deals

www.streetsmartshopper.com.au – has massive savings on top brands of white goods, televisions, vacuum cleaners and most major appliances.

Happy bargain shopping.

SqueakGal

Games – PSP, PS2, PS3#, xBox, Wii etc.
I’m not sure whether you want to go down this option, you might not see your man for a while, but if you are seriously thinking of a gift he’ll enjoy then you can’t go past a good game. Most places are good at recommending games based on what he’s is currently playing or one of his favourite gamegames. As long as you choose a recent release I’m sure he’ll be happy!

Something for the car
If your man is a car fanatic then it would be good to get something for his car. It’s a bit hard only because boys are very particular about their cars. Get something he’is either been looking for or find out from one of his car buddies what he’s been talking about. If all else fails, alternatively try get a gift card from places such as e.g. Repco or Supercheap Auto.

Adventure
Want something different? Is your man an adventure junkie? Then take a look at Freeman X, they offer a wide range of activities anything from a rally circuit ride to out door rock climbing. Best of all you can do it together and we’ll call it a date!

Gadgets
Boys and their toys. Have , do you seen how excited they get when they have a new toy? Check out www.zazz.com.au, www.catchoftheday.com.au, or www.gadgetcentral.com.au for some really cool toys at really good prices!

Sports gear
Guys love their sports – whether it’s playing sports, watching sports or creating their own sport., you should know what sport he follows and hopefully what team he supports. Rebel Sports online store offers a wide range of sporting equipments and offers a wide variety range of team merchandise for all types of sports. Alternatively get him to pick up a sport or upgrade his gear. It’s not only an awesome gift but a great way to show your support and keep him fit.

Hope this helps girls.

Now you might wonder why I’d be writing about a book but it’s not just any book.  It’s the book that can save you a lot of money and give you an opportunity to try something different.

The Entertainment^TM Book is a restaurant and activity guide that provides special 25 to 50% off and 2-for-1 offers from many of the best restaurants, hotels and attractions throughout Australia and New Zealand.

The best thing about the book is that it allows you to save doing normal things such as eating at well known and not so well known places or going to the movies as well as doing the touristy thing such as visiting the attractions of the city. The Entertainment^TM Book covers a wide variety of places and also allows you to save on your holidays with hotels and car hire.

For more info http://www.entertainmentbook.com.au/home

Entertainment books available for the following cities:

• Adelaide
• Auckland
• Brisbane and South East Queensland
• Canberra
• Christchurch
• Geelong, Surf Coast and Ballarat
• Gold Coast
• Greater Melbourne
• Newcastle, Central Coast and The Hunter
• Parramatta, The Hills, Blue Mountains and Macarthur
• Perth
• Sydney
• Sydney North
• Tasmania
• Waikato and Bay of Plenty
• Wellington

Give the Entertainment Book a go and save!

SqueakGal

Flowers are traditional and it might be a common and a cheesy gift but we girls love it! You can’t go wrong and there’s no excuse about having no time to go get them since you can order them online through places like Roses Only.

Perfume

Grab her a nice fragrance and she’ll mention your name every time someone compliments on her sweet smell. The Perfume Empire boasts Australia’s largest range of French and prestige men and women’s fragrances and best of all you can grab it at up to 80% off what you would previously pay at department stores. Check out the Perfume Empire’s online store.

Beauty products & Cosmetics
Trust me boys, when you buy us girls beauty or skin products we love it, so don’t think twice. Just to help you out, we love brands like Clinique, Lancome, Estee Lauder or L’oreal. Find a great selection and great deals on the StrawberryNET Gifts & Specials page!

Sports gear

Is your girl a fitness junkie? Rebel Sport offers a wide range of sporting equipment and sports clothing, why not buy her some compression gear so she can perform at her peak or get her some more equipment like shoes or a yoga mat, it’s the best way to motivate and show your support and best of all you can purchase them through Rebel’s online store.

Teddy Bears

Another gift idea where you can’t go wrong is Teddy Bears. Just think about it, she’ll hug it at night when you’re not around and she’ll be reminded of you. You can also order them online and get them delivered on the day.

Adventurous

Want something different? Is your girl an adventure junkie? Then take a look at Freeman X, they offer a wide range of activities anything from hot air balloon ride to outdoor rock climbing. Best of all you can do it together and we’ll call it a date!

Digital Photo Frames

This has become really popular in the last few years, it’s definitely a great gift to give if you’re already in a relationship and have a few photos together. You can buy a digital photo frame, load your photos and take it up a notch by playing her favorite song in the background.

Clothes

This one is really hard, but if you get it right it’s like 100 brownie points. Never assume just because you like it that she will, it can be as simple as the size of the button that she might not like or the whole garment. Or just imagine you buy the wrong size? That’s like -200 brownie points. Bring her best friend out to go shopping to choose something nice, worst case you can always blame her best friend

Ugg Boots

Autumn is coming and winter isn’t too far behind. We girls love our Ugg Boots and we’ll wear them all time if we could. Grab a great deal during the off season at Ugg Boots Australia and save up to 60%.

Bookworm

If your girl is a bookworm then can’t go past Amazon for the latest or biggest range of books. If you don’t know what she wants then select one of her favourite books and then let Amazon recommend something for you. Can’t get easier than that can it?

Hope this helps boys!

Here’s a few that I know of

• Lightspeed Consumer Panel – http://au.lightspeedpanel.com it’s free to register.

Take Surveys And Win Prizes

• Paid Surveys – http://www.paidsurvey.com.au – another website that pays for people to complete surveys.
  

• Fly Buys – www.flybuys.com.au/flybuys/content Free to register.

Earn points shopping at Coles, Kmart, Target, Officeworks, Liquorland and many more and use those point to gain some fabulous rewards.

• Woolworths Everyday Rewards – www.everydayrewards.com.au/edr/wps/portal/rewards. Free to register.

Not only do you get the 4 cents discount for petrol by using your card but by buying your groceries from Woolworths you get the chance to win prizes.

• MyerOne – www.myerone.com.au/myerone/content. Free to register.

As a Member you’ll receive 2 Shopping Credits for every dollar you spend at Myer, and when you’ve earned 2000 Shopping Credits we’ll send you a $20 MYER one Gift Card.

• Qantas Frequent Flyer Program – www.qantas.com.au/fflyer/dyn/program/welcome – Once only $82.50 joining fee.

Earn points flying with Qantas and with over 350 partners including All Seasons, Best Western, Median Serviced Apartments, Novotel, Quality, Crown Plaza, Radisson, Rydges, Avis, Budget, Hertz, Thrifty, QBE Travel Insurance and many more. Use the points to get rewards from the partners or for a free flight with Qantas.

• Virgin Blue – Velocity Program – http://www.velocityrewards.com.au/content/ – Free to register.

Earn points by flying Virgin Blue and purchasing from its Program Partners including Mantra, Hilton, Holiday Inn, Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza, Vibe Hotels, Medina, Travelodge Hotels, Comfort Inn, Europcar and many more. Use the points to get rewards from the partners or for a free flight with Virgin Blue.

• CineBuzz Movie Club – www.greaterunion.com.au/cinebuzz. Free to register.

See 10 movies and get 1 free. There are also other benefits and exclusive competitions.

There are also websites such as www.rewardspalace.com.au/default.aspx, www.shopfree.com.au/, www.rewardscentral.com.au/Default.aspx and www.freagle.com.au that allow you to gain rewards from going on the internet.

If you know of any others please post a comment and share the rewards!

Happy rewarding.

SqueakGal

As some of you may know from my previous article Top 10 tips for bargain shopping in Sydney I’m a huge fan of getting great bargains in one location so here’s a quick list of the places where you’ll find a number of shops with good bargains.

Alexandria/Zetland/Roseberry/Redfern/Surry Hills

There are only a few places that are set up to permanently cater for shoppers but the best bit about this area is the one off sales or when the warehouses open up for the weekend. This is when you get great bargains and unique clothes as some places will sell the samples.

The stores that have been set up permanently include Seafolly, Bonds, Events, Puma, Ron Bennet, Reebok, Champion, Marcs, Oxford, Zambelli, Swarosvski and many more.

The places that are open on special days include Uchi, Honey & Beau and Vallen.

You can find out about these sales by driving around and looking for posters advertising the sale, subscribing to mailing lists or checking out on websites such as www.squeak.com.au.

Paddy’s Markets – Market City – www.marketcity.com.au

Great place for souvenirs! The stuff may not be unique but it is definitely cheap and therefore you can buy in bulk.

In relation to clothes and accessories there’s plenty of Australiana gear and then there’s the fashion items that will be at bargain prices.

On top of Paddy’s Markets is Market City and there are plenty of fashion stores which have been set up as the factory outlet. Stores such as Cue, Nautica, Table Eight, Champion, Cotton On, Cotton On Kids, Dotti, Esprit, Events, General Pants, Giordano, Jay Jays, Lonsdale, Ojay, Oxford, Review, Seduce, Supre and YD.

Birkenhead Point – Drummoyne – www.birkenheadpoint.com.au

The best bit of this location is also that it’s near the water and you can spend lunch outdoors in a great location. It’s also close to the city and accessible by bus and there’s plenty of parking. The other great thing about this complex is that there are stores here that aren’t available elsewhere plus you can also do your regular shopping at the same time with Coles, fresh food grocers and butchers nearby.

What you will find:

David Jones Warehouse, Allanah Hill, Cue, Ojay, Diana Ferrari, Angus and Robertson, Pumpkin Patch, In Sport, Tree of Life, Marcs, Spotlight, Table Eight, Oroton, Colorado, Canterbury, Kathmandu, Bonds, Nine West, Harts and many more.

Direct Factory Outlet (DFO) – Homebush – www.dfo.com.au/homebush/

Similar to the DFO’s around Australia, this is the place where the stores will send the discontinued lines and also the stuff that has been around for a while so you know it will be discounted. It can be a bit of hit and miss and it is recommended that you go here often to see what’s new.

What you will find:

Portmans, Cue, Seduce, Pumpkin Patch, Oxford, Ojay, Polo, Jigsaw, Charlie Brown, Sketchers, Oroton, Wanted, Lisa Ho, Politix, Sandler, Sheridan, White Vanilla, Waterford, Nine West, Witchery, Puma, Charcoal, Colorado, Diana Ferrari, Frat House, Brands United, Jag, Peter Alexander, Jay Jays, Misako, Giordano, Rivers, Strandbags, Cotton On, Table Eight, Men’s Avenue, Marcs, Bras n Things, Aquilla, Converse and many more.

Happy shopping!

SqueakGal

The intent to save as much as possible doesn’t help when special occasions like Valentine’s Day come around (14^th of February for those that forget!). Not only are you going to want to make your Valentine feel special but you don’t want to end up in debt doing so!

Now there are plenty of tips that I could write about which detail which shops or items are great gift ideas such as amazing gifts from www.FreemanX.com.au (Cooking classes to Sailing cruises, V8 racing to Skydiving and more), Tiffany and Co (http://au.tiffany.com), Louis Vuitton accessories, flowers from places like www.rosesonly.com.au, www.interflora.com.au and www.flowers.com.au, gadgets from places like www.jbhifi.com.au, www.dse.com.au, www.binglee.com.au, chocolates from places like www.maxbrenner.com.au, www.lindt.com.au, www.guyliancafe.com.au, www.haighschocolates.com.au or dinner at a nice restaurant.

Instead here are five creating ways in which to make your Valentine’s Day memorable without breaking the bank.

1.      Treasure Hunt

Why not make Valentine’s Day about your Valentine’s favourite activities or locations. Leave clues and hints for your Valentine to follow and leave little gifts along the way. They can be handmade or meaningful rather than expensive and your Valentine will remember the journey as much as the gifts themselves.

2.      Your own music CD or collection of pictures on CD

While I’m not suggesting that you infringe any copyright protection out there, how about making a CD of your Valentine’s favourite songs or why not attempt to sing the songs and change the words to fit with your story? To make it that bit more special, why not include a blurb or story about why you choose the song? You can also create a CD of pictures or movies of you and your Valentine. All those pictures you took on your holidays or special occasion will come in handy. Add a few songs in the background and you have one unique and special gift.

3.      Picnic at the beach or park

Instead of taking your Valentine to a fancy restaurant why not head to somewhere special (and free) like a park or beach? Pack some snacks and a bottle of wine (or two), bring some music and a blanket and spend the day with your Valentine. Play games or just enjoy the day out. A special treat is to make your own special dessert such as chocolate dipped strawberries.

4.      Scrapbook – pictures, notes, keepsakes

This does require a bit of effort and a bit of creativity but the end result can be spectacular. It can be as elaborate or as simple as you want it to be. It can include pictures of your favourite moments with your Valentine or it can include funny stories of your time together. Include postcards of places you’ve been to, movie tickets of films you’ve watched, throw in a poem or two but most of all let the gift come from the heart. If you aren’t the soppy type include some comics or funny mementos of your time together or of the future.

5.      A book of IOUs

Now we know that sometimes we take our Valentine for granted during the year. This gift idea is perfect to let your Valentine know that they are special not just on Valentine’s day but throughout the year. It also means that the cost can be spread throughout the year.

Ideas for the book of IOUs include monthly activities that you and your Valentine will do, your Valentine’s favourite activities (that you are also willing to enjoy) that your Valentine can choose to use at any time, or vouchers detailing the household chores you are willing to do for your Valentine (wash the car, do the dishes). You can be as creative as you want!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

SqueakGal

Go – Paddy’s market, Haymarket. Offering great prices on a range of products including fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers clothing, homewares, CDs, sunglasses, jewellery and more. Open 9am to 5pm Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays Mondays.

Get – Up to 60% off leading brands in ladies wear, lingerie, kidswear, menswear, surfwear, Manchester and accessories. Shop 19, ShopSmart Outlet Centre, Zoe Place, Mt Druid. Monday to Friday, 9am to 5:30pm, Saturday, 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm.

Bargain tips

Visit www.lastminute.com.au for cut-price deals on luxury hotels

Join Club Darling Harbour’s free membership program: you’ll be sent special offers for dining , entertainment and accommodation. See www.darlingharbour.com

The Chemist Warehouse is great for picking up seriously discounted beauty products, particularly perfume and after-shaves from names like Calvin Klien, Versace and Elizabeth Arden. See www.chemistwarehouse.com.au

Love the opera, but can’t afford the pricey tickets? Pack the caviar and champagne on ice to enjoy the Mazda Opera in the Domain, which is presenting two free Italian operas – Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci – at 8pm on January 31.

Want to drive a luxury car, even just for a day? Turn heads by visiting Luxury Car Hire at www.luxurycarhire.com.au or phone 1800 775577. Go on, find an extra $500 in your budget and get a (temporary) Porsche Boxter. Call on Friday for mates’ rates (25 per cent off for the weekend.

Drink and dine

The Hiltons Hotel’s majestic Marble Bar is a Sydney institution that hosted a celebrity-filled arter-party for the 2008 MTV Awards with guests including Mischa Barton, Eve, Wyclef Jean and Juliette Lewis.

Bargain I: Sign up for the free Marble Bar VIP membership program by visiting www.marblebarsydney.com.au/register.aspx. You’ll get a free drink and 15% off all beverages after that, plus special invites.

The Wagamama Japanese restaurant chain has four central-Sydney locations for healthy, cool and delicious dining.

Bargain II: Wagamama’s frequent noodle card is free. Just pick up a card from Wagamama outlet and visit www.frequent-noodler.com.au to activate it. You’ll automatically have 50 points, and will earn one point per $1 spent. With 100 points, you’ll receive a free meal.

The definition for a Netbook from Wikipedia is: “A netbook is a light-weight, low-cost, energy-efficient, highly portable laptop suitable for web browsing, email and general purpose applications. Netbooks trade features, processing power and the ability to run resource-intensive operating systems — to achieve their small form factor, low weight and affordability.”

The typical netbook weighs approximately 1-2 kilos, has a screen size of 7 to 12 inches, offers a wireless Internet connection, runs Microsoft Windows XP or GNU/Linux, uses an Intel Atom chip, doesn’t have a CD or DVD rom and costs less than $1000^.

Netbooks are geared towards users who spend alot of their time on the web — also known as Cloud computing. In general most of these users use applications such as online gaming, social networking sites such as Facebook, free web applications such as Google Calendar or photo-hosting sites such as Flickr.

Hope this helps!

The learning from this was that it definitely pays off to shop around and find out which places are running sales, remembering that you don’t have to go to the big retailers to grab a good deal. The small stores can compete! So the next time you’re looking to buy a gift or something for yourself, make sure you take a look at whose running a sale on Squeak.com.au and make sure you grab it at the best price.

I’ve managed to get some really good bargains, saved myself a lot of money and had a fantastic time shopping. I’ve shared my knowledge with my friends and in the spirit of the good shopping karma I thought I’d share some tips with you for how to get the most when bargain shopping in Sydney.

1.    Check out websites that list sales

Get on the internet. There are a lot of sites that provide you with details of sales in Sydney. These websites do the hard work for you because they get the details of a number of sales in one location.

Each website is different. For example, www.squeak.com.au covers not only fashion but also electronics, travel, home, furniture and books.  It’s basically like a search engine just for sales.!

Other websites rely on word of mouth because not all sales are listed online. This is where good karma comes into play. If you list a sale on a website you are letting other shopaholics know about this sale and in turn you’ll receive good karma points! Some websites like Squeak will even reward you for sharing your knowledge.

Bookmark these sale websites and check them regularly. If the website has an option to subscribe to an RSS feed and then include this to your RSS reader – you’ll get notified as soon as the website gets updated.

2.    Sign up to mailing lists

There’s always two ways to be informed of sales, either you can find the information or you can be told.

While you will get a lot of spam, signing up to mailing lists of your favourite brands will ensure that you are the first to know about sales and special offers available to loyal customers.

To avoid getting the spam in your normal inbox, set up a special shopping email account and use that to sign up for mailing lists. If you do this, remember to check this account often!

3.    Know what you are looking for or be flexible

Unless you know what you are looking for you’ll be inundated with information about sales that are happening around you. You’ve either got to be flexible about what you want and enjoy shopping for random items or be specific and look for particular brands or items.

If you know what you are looking for you can tailor your search and concentrate your time at specific locations or stores. If you aren’t sure then it might be best to hit places which have the most number of bargain stores. For example, DFO in Homebush, Birkenhead Point in Drummoyne or Brand Depot in Parramatta are good places to start.

4.    Expect the sales

Most brands have sales every few months or once a year and usually they occur at around the same time. If your favourite brand or store usually has a recurring sale, then keep an eye out for it and save your money for a big spend.

Also remember the seasonal sales, while it doesn’t sound like fun, you can get real bargains when it comes to swimwear in winter and coats in summer so be prepared to think outside the seasons to grab a bargain.

If a business is having a sale, check to see whether their competitor is doing the same or see if they’ll price match.

5.    Don’t be scared of vouchers and discount codes

Sure, you might think it’s a bit embarrassing using a voucher or a discount code but think of the savings!

There are all sorts of vouchers available. For example Borders has regular vouchers that it sends via email to its mailing list and you can save 20%. Some websites like www.frockyou.com.au offer discount codes to loyal customers.

The best way to find out about the vouchers/codes is to register on websites which regularly lists sales.

6.    Shopping online

There are little quirks to online shopping so here are some tips to making sure you get the best possible bargain.

• Check where the item will be shipped from – postage and handling can be a hidden cost
• Check whether the shop/website delivers – most popular American brands do not ship internationally so you may have to look at paying for a middleperson located in the United States who will send you the package (at a cost).
• Sizing is difficult to gauge – ask for exact measurements and check the website’s refund policy. Sometimes it pays to go to the store and try the item on and then purchase it online for the cheaper price.
• Check the method of payment – most online retailers prefer PayPal these days however there are also other options available.
• Check the terms and conditions – refunds and exchanges are unlikely if the item isn’t what you were after. Usually you’ll be out of pocket for the postage and handling.
• Buy from a trusted seller – get in contact with them if you are unsure about whether they are legitimate
• Impulse shopping is a lot easier when you are doing it online so give yourself some time to think about the purchase before clicking the checkout button
• Search for other online businesses and don’t just stop on the first page  – you may find that another similar website sells exactly the same product for a cheaper price

7.    Planning the big shopping trip

This does depend on what kind of shopping trip you are planning. If you are headed to a regular shopping area then you’ll know where you can eat, whether you need comfortable shoes, where to park and how to get there.

If this is your first time, make sure you have the phone number of the shop that you are planning to visit (this is especially important if you are headed to their warehouse or factory) because you can always give them a call if you get lost and they’ll be happy to direct you.

If you are planning to hit several sales in one day think of the following things:

• what time are the sales on – this is important towards the end of the day because if you don’t know that the sale ends at 4pm you may find it closed if you head there
• where are the sales located – hitting the sales closest to each other before moving to the next suburb or location is always a good idea
• how popular is the sale going to be – if you know it’s going to be a popular sale then you know there’s going to be a queue. Heading to the Peep Toe Shoe sale this year there was an hour wait and this was before the sale had even started!
• what are the priority stops – you need to prioritise so that you know which sales you can give a miss if you run out of time

8.    Morning or afternoon?

This does depend on your availability. Some sales are on during the weekdays and if you work then this makes it difficult unless you happen to work nearby. However, the best time to shop for bargains depends on how popular the sale is going to be and how much time you are willing to spend waiting in line.

Most die-hard shopaholics will turn up before the sale starts and try to get the best bargains so be ready for a stampede if you head out early but then be prepared to miss out on stuff in your size if your size is usually the first to go such as size 6 and 8!

9.    Check out the markets

Shopping for bargains isn’t limited to sales but you can grab a great bargain at the markets. There’s also the chance you’ll grab something truly unique. There’s the Glebe Markets, Paddy’s Markets, the Rocks Markets, Balmain Markets, Rozelle Markets and Paddington Markets to name a few.

10.    Get out of your comfort zone

This will mean that you need to be flexible about where you go to shop and transport plays a key part.

Sales occur in places that you may not expect and sometimes this may involve some travel. For example, Lindt chocolate lovers have to head past Blacktown for their yearly chocolate sale.

Other times the sale may be in a place without public transport so you have to plan ahead or get a bunch of friends together and car pool.

Sometimes after travelling all the way to a sale, it may not be what you expected so to get the best of these kinds of experiences it is essential not only to plan ahead but also find out what else is out there. There may be other sales in the area but at least find out if you can grab a bite to eat nearby and make it a day trip.

Yours Truly,

Squeakaholic

Looking at the stores you’ll notice that the Christmas decorations are already up and they probably have been up for a while. Now, I’m not usually one of the ones that is organized enough to buy presents throughout the year so seeing the Christmas decorations around does bring on a bit of panic.

The next big question is what do you get?

It’s not always easy to buy gifts especially for the people you may not know very well or for those that seem to have everything. So here are a few suggestions:

1. Money can’t buy experiences – or can it?

You must have seen those Mastercard advertisements. There’s always a price for buying goods but the experience is PRICELESS.

Websites such as www.redballoondays.com.au and www.totalexperience.com.au are great for picking up a unique gift. You can choose the experience or you can buy a voucher and let the person choose. Experiences include cooking lessons, shark diving introduction, day spa treatments and many more.

2. Food for thought

If you have a ‘foodie’ for a friend – have you considered getting them a hamper of yummy goodies?

These hampers can be bought already packed or you can have fun and get the stuff yourself.

If you have the time, how about heading to a country town nearby such as Berrima or Farmer’s Markets and getting locally produced jams and goods? Not only will you be getting great quality produce but you’ll get to see a bit more of Australia.

3. One of a kind?

One of the best places to find the unique kind of presents is at the markets.

Now I’m talking about markets as in the crafts markets where craftspeople sell their goods. These can include things such as leather goods, paintings, jewelry, clothing and woodworks among many other things.

Getting something from the markets ensures that the gift is unique, you put some thought into the gift and you are supporting local craftspeople.

4. The weird and the wacky

Sometimes the gift that you need to get needs to be fun and light and the best kind of gifts for these you’ll find on the internet. You’ll be amazed at what you can find.

On the other hand sometimes it’s good to make your own gift based on what you know of the person. This can include a collage of funny photos, a treasure hunt to get the gift or a book of funny IOUs.

You need to think outside the box for this one but the end result is worthwhile.

Enjoy the great Christmas Sales on Squeak and have a great time with your Christmas shopping

Yours Truly,

Squeakaholic