Shopping Maniac

Great products, Bargains and gift ideas


You are here: Home / 2013 / Archives for June 2013

Archives for June 2013

Credit Crunch Shopping – Why Op Shops Are The Way Forward!

by

In these times of austerity we could all do with finding ways to save money and tighten our purse strings. There is very little we can do about our utility bills, rent and mortgages. But what about everything else? We still need to buy things on a day to day basis and what we spend has a major effect on the bottom line of our bank balance every month. The future surely is in thrift shopping? Here are just a few of the many ways you can save money by spending a little more time in the charity shops:

Home Furnishings

You never know what you might stumble across in an op shop! That’s the beauty of it – you will come across many things that would look lovely in your home. Kitchen appliances, rugs, pictures, crockery, cutlery, lampshades…you name it, you’ll find it in the charity shops. Of course not everything will be to your style but that doesn’t matter – just keep looking. You’ll find one-off pieces that nobody else will have in their home, and you’ll find things so unique that you’d never have found in the high street shops. Op shops are the place to pick up quirky and original pieces that your friends will think you have paid a lot of money for!

Clothing

Cast off all of your preconceived ideas about buying clothes in charity shops. A lot of people wouldn’t even consider it, but they are missing out. You never know what you might find – from everyday basics to designer labels, it’s all there. You just have to rely a little on chance! The organised shops have their stock displayed in sizes so that it’s easy for you to flick through everything that might fit you. You’ll pay a fraction of the price you’d pay for new clothing, and you’ll more than likely find something that you’d never even find in the shops in the first place! If you think style and individuality is important then you’ll thrive in the thrift shops.

Children’s Toys

We all know how long the novelty factor of children’s toys lasts for – approximately three minutes! Where’s the sense in paying loads of money for brand new toys that will be cast aside in no time at all? Take your children to the local charity shop and get them to pick toys that they like. It’s a good lesson to them if you allow them each to pick one thing they really want. It’ll cost you next to nothing, they will be thrilled, and when they are done with them you can just take them back instead of them just causing more clutter around the house.

Charity shops are amazing places! Once you’re in the swing of thrift shopping you’ll love the suspense of walking into a shop not knowing what treasures you might find once you start digging in. Check out which charity shops are in your town and spend a day getting to know them all – you never know what you might come home with!

Attached Images:

Today’s guest author, Jenny Wadlow, is a freelance blogger. She is a humanitarian and a regular visitor and of various op shops in Melbourne to donate whatever she can.

Tired Of Your Living Room? Give The Walls A Makeover

by






Does your living room seem bland or out of date? Changing the walls in your living room can make a huge difference. Best of all, there are so many options to choose from. Not only can you paint the room, but you can get creative with your own photography. So, what you are waiting for? Give your living room walls a much needed makeover.

Go Bold With New Paint Colors

Paint is something you can have fun with. Because paint is so affordable, you can take the risk to throw a bright pink or ocean blue color on the walls. If you don’t like it, you can always paint over it. Look for inspiration in magazines, fabrics, favorite accessories, etc. Also, check out the new paint lines at your favorite home improvement store.

Create an Accent Wall

If you’re afraid to make a bold change on all the walls, choose an accent wall to paint with a different color or some other type of design. The accent wall will also be the focal wall. For example, if you have a fireplace, this will be your accent wall. This can be a great way to make a big change without becoming overwhelmed. Creating just one accent wall will prevent the room from seeming too bland without making it chaotic.

Invest in High Quality Wallpaper

High quality wallpaper can be found in rich colors and unique designs with detailed textures. However, high quality wallpaper is expensive. This is why many people choose to only use it on an accent wall. When doing this, you want to match paint to a color in the wallpaper for the surrounding walls. This will give you a big wow for very little money.

Bring in a Mural Artist

If you want something truly unique, hire a mural artist. A mural can be anything that fits your personality. It might be a large oak tree and an open field or even a city graffiti scene. Always get samples of previous work before hiring someone. This will be expensive, but will give you a look that will be unique to your home. Make sure you double check with family members who are artists. You may have a family talent who can do the work for a little less than an unknown pro. You should also ask if they’ll give you a discount for allowing you to put their work into a portfolio.

Turn the Walls Into Scenery

Last, but not least, you can have photos transferred into wallpaper panels. If you have scenic photos from a favorite vacation, use them. This would be a great idea for a focus wall and would again be a very unique option. One tip though is to have the wallpaper professionally hung to get the panels even.

Your living room doesn’t have to be boring. There are so many great ways to add the wow factor and many will provide a unique look that no one else will have. Best of all, many of these options are affordable on any budget.

About the Author: Marianne Branch and her husband just remodeled their entire living room. The ordered sofas from HomeQ but they had a mural painted on the wall by a local artist. Now their living room is a relaxing beach oasis!






Get Great Style At A Great Price – Top Tips For Buying Clothes On EBay

by

When you are looking for great fashion at bargain prices, online auction sites like eBay can be incredible places to find it. Sometimes, if you are lucky, you can get something really special at an unbelievable price, whether you’re looking for cool niche clothing, unique vintage pieces, or the latest fashions for less than you’ll pay in stores.

However, there are plenty of things that can go wrong, from finding that the item you want isn’t all it seems, to buying things that don’t fit. You can also, as the auction drives the price up, sometimes end up spending more than you originally planned to. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of shopping on eBay.

Remember That Only the Seller Can Cancel Your Bid

It can be tempting, if you see several items you might like that are similar, to bid on all of them, assuming that you won’t win them all and this way you should at least get something. However, remember that you can’t cancel your bid, so if it ends up that you are the highest bidder in each auction you are committed to buying all of the items. This may not be what you actually meant to do if the items are all basically the same.

Say you really want a pair of designer sunglasses, and there are five pairs currently on sale which would be suitable. You probably don’t want all five of them, so you should start with the one that ends first. If you win it, you have your sunglasses and can stop bidding. If you don’t, you can start bidding on the others, in order of finishing time, as your maximum bid gets beaten. This way you should win one of the five pairs and aren’t risking having to buy them all.

Really Check Out the Description

Good sellers give very accurate descriptions as they don’t want buyers complaining if things aren’t exactly what they were expecting. Many people who sell clothes do it as a business and rely on that good feedback. You should therefore be able to see things like what the item is made of, its care instructions, and its exact measurements on the item description. This is important, particularly if you are buying a brand you have never tried on or a vintage item – sizes can vary hugely but measurements in inches are absolute. If the measurements are equivalent to a dress, pair of trousers or shirt you already own that fits, then your new purchase will probably fit too.

Factor in Shipping Costs

If you are buying something really cheap, like a bargain dress you have won for $5, remember that shipping could cause it to cost more than double. People tend to be conservative in their shipping pricing, so it’ll often be more than the actual cost of shipping. Other sellers offer free shipping. There are all kinds of variations, so look at the shipping price as well as how much the item is going for before you bid and make sure it still represents good value.

Attached Images:

Today’s guest author, Jenny Wadlow, is a freelance blogger. She is a fashion enthusiast and often gives out fashion tips in her articles. She often advises her readers to try rockabilly clothing and experience the vintage look.

The Perfect Gift For New Mums!

by

If somebody you know has just had a baby and you’re planning to visit, you won’t want to go empty handed. Grab a gift that your friend will love and they just may swap your bundle for theirs and let you have a cuddle! When someone has their first baby they are showered with presents such as baby-grows, toys and flowers. Get them something a bit different and they will always remember it.

The very best thing you can get for any new mum and their fresh little bundle of joy is a hamper, thoughtfully packed out with everything that they’ll ever need in those precious first few weeks. We’ll show you how to build a baby hamper that will make your friend’s life a lot easier in the early days.

Step One – The Hamper

Choose a box that can be reused – a plastic square box is ideal as it can be used for storing toys or baby toiletries in the early days. Line it with some beautiful tissue paper and tie a ribbon around the sides to make it look extra special. Add a tag and write something meaningful on it.

Step Two – For the Baby

When filling the hamper, think ‘practicality’ first. Choose items like baby wipes, nappy bags, a packet of newborn-sized nappies, a packet of muslins, some talcum powder and some baby bubble bath. These are all the things that your friend and her newborn will need in the first few weeks but that they might not have stocked up on already. Add one toy – she will probably already be inundated with baby toys but one more won’t harm! Another great thing to throw in is a formula dispenser. She probably won’t need it straight away as she may be breastfeeding, but once the baby switches to formula she’ll be using it every day! If you buy a baby-grow, then choose one that is for 6+ months. Loads of people buy newborn clothes so she’ll have lots already, and they grow so fast she’ll appreciate having clothes for when they get a bit bigger.

Step Three – For the Mum

In the excitement of a new baby arriving, a lot of people forget that the mum has been through something pretty big herself. She’ll be feeling tired, sore and emotional after the birth. Spoil her rotten by adding a few luxuries to the hamper. Body lotion and moisturiser are a great idea, perhaps a facemask and some gorgeous-smelling soap and definitely a lush box of chocolates! A few sachets of hot chocolate and perhaps a bottle of her favourite perfume will go down a treat too.

By giving your friend some practical things for her baby and some luxury items for herself, you’re giving a gift that is the best of both worlds. She will be especially grateful that you have thought of her as well as the baby and she’ll find herself dipping into the hamper daily for useful bits as well as the odd treat. Finally, when she’s ready, take her out for a well-earned glass of wine!

Attached Images:

Today’s guest post author is James Wilson. He works at Gift Wrapped Up, providers of <a href=”http://www.giftwrappedup.com.au/“>christmas hampers</a>, baby gift baskets, chocolate hampers, corporate gift hampers and more. He believes that writing is a great way to share his work and experience with readers.

Shop til we drop

by

A friend of mine called me the other day and we made plans to get together this weekend and go out shopping. She’s getting married this summer and she wants some help with her wedding plans. I’m certain she has just about everything planned already but she’s still tinkering with things.

I know one thing that she definitely wants my help with and that is picking out her diamond wedding band. You see I used to be a jeweler and I still have a lot of connections downtown in the jewelry trade. So … we’re going to see a few of my old jewelry contacts and get her a custom made diamond wedding band. I think she’d going to have a custom made band made for her fiance as well.

I have a feeling that we’re going to be so busy this Saturday that we’re going to Shop ’til we drop! Ah oh well, we’ll finish with a nice dinner and have some fun.

Meta

Pages