Shopping Guide – How To Save Time And Money

Furnishing Your Home

Unless you have found a very reasonably priced furnished home (which are few and far between) or are shipping all your belongings from the UK (enormously expensive unless of course your company is paying for your relocation), then changes are that you will need to purchase the majority of your furniture and home appliances. Potentially this will make a huge dent in your savings, and if you do not have a job to go to immediately you may be reluctant to spend a lot of money unnecessarily. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars just by knowing where to shop.

If you are looking to purchase new items but at good prices then there are a few places that can save you both time and money.

Stores To Know About

For crockery, cutlery, towels and all the little bits and pieces that you might need such as bins, pots and pans etc, K-mart is hard to beat for value and prides itself on guaranteeing its customers the lowest prices. Two other stores offering fantastic value on an enormous range of everyday household items and clothing (amongst other things) are Target and Big W. All have stores in major towns and cities and are hugely popular in Australia.

For those with more generous budgets Bayswiss stocks a beautiful range of furniture and accessories including vases, candles, crockery and cushions. Their stores have an upmarket feel to them but are still affordable and they have fabulous sales throughout the year. Some of their stores also have delis with wonderful foods, which you can eat in or take away.

For opening hours or to locate a store refer to:

www.kmart.com. au

www.target.com.au

www.bigw.com.au

www.bayswiss.com.au

If you are a DIY enthusiast or want outdoor furniture for your new home, trying Bunnings Warehouse which is the Aussie equivalent of B&Q and Homebase.

www.bunnings.com.au

Electricals

There is a wide range of stores stocking electrical goods that have branches nationwide including Bing Lee, Dick Smith and The Good Guys. All stock a wide range of goods for the home including TVs, irons, fridges, computers etc. Prices will range so do shop around.

The Electric Discounter aims to offer the most competitive deals across Australia and it is worth checking out their website to see if they can offer you savings.

www.theelectricdiscounter.com.au

Supermarkets

Australia’s two main supermarkets, Coles and Woolworths, are also good places to pick up cheap and cheerful household items and offer both convenience and value. Within the cities there are smaller metro stores offering a more limited range but there’s sure to be a store close by. You can also shop on-line for items for delivery. Of course they also cater for all your grocery needs.

Whilst the supermarkets are great for stocking up on store cupboard items, it’s worth noting that in Australia most people shop daily in order to fully benefit from the wonderfully fresh produce on offer. There is an abundance of quality butchers, fishmongers, bakers, fruit and vegetable stores and delicatessens, which are frequented by people on their way home. They are well priced and convenient for both cooking and entertaining, or for picking up dinner to share with friends in the park, which is common in the summer months.

www.coles.com.au

www.woolworths.com.au

Department Stores

David Jones and Myer are the main two department stores in Australia, and both offer consumers a wide variety of high quality products including men’s and women’s clothing, cosmetics, jewellery, home furnishings, etc. David Jones is more traditional in feel and can be compared with John Lewis in their commitment to ensuring consumers the best in service, value and range of products.

In some David Jones stores you will also find the most wonderful food halls offering an incredible selection of exceptional fresh produce including meats, fish, cheeses, sea foods, deli items, cakes and pastries, not to mention a good selection of fine wines. The food halls are well worth a visit to pick up dinner on your way home or just to stop and have a quick bite to eat or even a glass of champagne at the oyster bar. To find a store near you or check product lines check out their website.

www.davidjones.com.au

www.myer.com.au

Myer has recently undergone an image and name change. Believe it or not until 2004 it was called Grace Bros, which of course was the name of a well known seventies British sitcom! Since its re-launch the brand has a more youthful feel to it and the stores reflect this, offering consumers a modern, broad range of items including everything you would expect a large department store to stock.

Secondhand

A great way of picking up bargains is to buy your household goods secondhand. This is a common way for migrants to furnish their homes as there is a constant flow of people in and out of the country therefore many people sell their goods on when they leave.

The most common ways to purchase used goods is via ads in the local newspapers, The Trading Post (see below) or garage sales. Of course ebay ( www.ebay.com.au ) is an increasingly popular way of buying and selling secondhand goods and is worth surfing for bargains.

The Trading Post

The Trading Post is a nationwide publication which offers a comprehensive range of new and used goods including cars, electrical, home furnishings and pets. It enables you to search by location and price and is a great place to pick up bargains.

www.tradingpost.com.au

Garage Sales

These are an Aussie tradition and tend to take place over weekends. The term refers to when people sell items from their house either as part of a spring cleaning or moving home sale. You will regularly see sings displayed in local shops or newsagents with a time, date and address. People tend to get there early in order to pick up the best items at dirt-cheap prices.

Charity Shops

Australian high streets would not be complete without a St Vinnies charity shop. They are generally of a good standard, selling secondhand clothes and items, and are worth popping into on a regular basis to see what gems are on offer.