Grocery Savings … I lurrrrrve it!

I have a love-hate relationship with grocery shopping which goes back forever. I love sniffing out a good grocery bargain and stockpiling, I love the colours and layout of the grocery store (yep I must be their ideal consumer!) and I love picking up items and reading the packaging. BUT I hate the time that it takes pushing that wonky-wheeled heap of metal up and down each aisle, I hate the forced polite conversation with people you feel obliged to stop and talk to (yes, you know who you are!) and I super-hate trudging the bags from the car into the house and then unpacking the damn things. Now that I have a 5 month old baby who hates everything about grocery shopping, the thought of it really sucks.
I live only an hour and a bit away from the capital city of my state and yet cannot receive mobile service in the house or ADSL broadband. Home delivered groceries??? Yerrrrrright ….. What??? Yes???? You sure??????? You are???? Wahooooooooooo! Bingo! And yes, I am amazed by simple things.

By coming up with a fortnightly meal plan, and ordering the fortnightly groceries on line last fortnight I think I saved a bomb. I know that I saved a hell of a lot of time, but also the bill seemed quite small – aha moment – there was no impulse buying – Eureka!!
Here are the 5 things that I loved most about grocery shopping online. In no particular order they are ….

1. no getting stuck for hours talking to Mrs So-and-So!
2. the ability to compare all products for value with price per 100g details listed for every item
3. the delivery bloke carried every bag to my front door – bless him!
4. it was like Christmas discovering all that I had ordered!
5. no impulse buying = big, big savings!

I’m in the middle of now doing my second order and it will be interesting to see over a period of time what savings can be made by shopping this way. Although only one of the major 2 retailers deliver to my area currently I do know that an online service is offered by both. If you are at all prone to impulse buying it may be worth checking out whether or not they’ll bring the groceries to your door too!

Bargain Beauty Buy!

While women worldwhide hunt for the fountain of youth, I'll keep happily using Rosehip Oil. This nectar has become my beauty staple and it represents serious value for money when comparing it to the potions peddled at cosmetic counters.

The old adage that you get what you pay for is not *always* true. Rosehip Oil - available from many different companies - is a product moderately priced (no it's not cheap, but then nor is it as dear as poison) but capable of delivering much more than the investment.

My skin is problematic and hypersensitive and has been even more so since having children 13 long years ago. I have a stash of creams and lotions stashed away in the bathroom that have all been purchased on a promise but then been no good. Sometimes I am able to use a product for a period of time thinking it is ok and then, without warning, WHAMMY - I'll have an absurd immediate reaction to it and need to rinse it off in freezing water before my skins burns off! Sometimes this honeymoon period can be for a month or two but often I've written a product off well and truly before then. Unbelievably I have now been using Rosehip Oil for 4 months now and love it more and more each day! Those fancy-schmancy department store brands have nothing on this honey coloured liquid gold!

The verdict is in. Skin- softer. Skin - smoother. Skin - more hydrated. Complexion - more even. Cost around $30 a bottle which lasts forever as you only use a couple of drops at a time. I'm loving it and couldn't recommend it more highly to anyone looking for a top value beauty product suitable for even the most sensitive of skins!

A lucky break with a bargain offer too good to pass up!

I'm amazed at how bargain offers can randomly stumble by when you are least expecting it. Yesterday was one of those days. The mother of SS1's mate called yesterday morning to see if I would be interested in purchasing a couple of electric guitars and an amp that they were no longer using. There was little hesitation on my part and I answered YES before she got the entire question out. Had I budgeted for these? No. So why the willingness to seal the deal?

Well, both boys of mine a very keen on their music. SS1 plays the euphonium (borrowed from the school), the trumpet (bought new but on sale with over $300 off) and the guitar (a birthday gift from the grandparents). SS2 plays the clarinet (bought second hand from a friend), the drums (cost shared with his father), the keyboard (bought second hand from a friend) and borrows SS1's guitar on occasion. They love it and I love that they are so keen about it.

For months and months and months SS1 has been nagging me about an electric guitar knowing full well that it is something that I am unable to afford immediately  .... but he doesn't always get the message and has continued to ask regardless. You can then imagine my surprise when this offer came through: $200 for not one, but two, barely used electric guitars and a little Yamaha amp worth well over $100 on its own.

Not surprisingly there were two *very* grateful and delighted sons yesterday. SS1 even had tears in his eyes as despite the asking, he never actually dreamed it possible. Me? Well, I have brought them some joy, saved a heap and have had to do some financial juggling and rearranging but hey, it's all good. Happy bargain finding to you today too!