Good bargain hunters will know how low prices go and how to spot a great bargain. What are your standards?
For example:
I won't buy canned tuna unless it's 50% off.
Bonds for no less than 40% off.
Toilet paper at less than 40c per roll.
Dishwasher tablets at less than 35c each.
…or your partner walks ahead/behind rather than wait at the register with you while you pay for your bargain wares.
"The sales assistant has to look… (etc.)"
Yeppers, big ups to this one… unless the checkout-chick/fella does a bit of a double-take/slight head-check, I get a slight sensation of failure.
Only buy if in special (50% off preferably)
The sales assistant is surprised that they have that item in stock and refuse to give it to you before scanning it to check that it's at that price.
Or
The sales assitant cannot give you any more discount on the item, even if the only stock they have is a display model or open box ones.
Yoghurt at $1/kg or less. Long life juice must be 100% and $1/litre or less. I know there are Yoghurt kits but not too sure it's worth the effort.
Breakfast cereal must be on special or I won't buy it.
Then again, I will happily spend over $20 eating out. Or $5 for a drink at Oliver Brown.
Oops I meant yoghurt at $4/kg or less.
Some others:
Bananas $2.50/kg or under.
Doritos at $1.80 per 170g bag or less.
Soft drinks must be under 50c/can.
Yoghurt is simple to make, but hard to make comparable to commercial stuff. The kit packets turn out ok, but aren't really any cheaper, and likely have the same thickeners and sugar content.
Using whole milk works, but the yoghurt is thin. Needs a lot of sugar/jam/strawberry flavouring etc to make it taste like ski/danone. I have heard using jelly crystals for flavour and to thicken works, but I haven't tried it yet.
Re:
"Toilet paper at less than 40c per roll."
Sometimes it can be economically advantageous to spend a bit more on bog-roll, "per roll", for a better product. And I'm not just talkin' about "differential quality between the sheets" ;)
That juvenile gag aside, we get ours from Coles-Express two packs at a time, to secure the extra 10c off per litre on petrol, thus making it about $10 for 40 rolls, and that's of the good stuff.
Re:
"Dishwasher tablets at less than 35c each."
There's also some subjective variables to consider here; mainly the quality of your dishwasher, and how much you "prepare" your dishes before you chuck them in the dishwasher. A really expensive dishwasher can effectively wash even "filthy-hippy-exposed" dishes with a pretty budget tablet (think COTD budget pack/19 cents per tab). But a pretty shite dishwasher will require pretty top-end tabs to even come close. It's for this reason that if it's for your own house and you plan to be there for a few years, buying a "BOSCH" or even a "MIELE" is actually a money-SAVING strategy, in the long-run, cause you can then spend a lot less on the tabs, forever after. And importantly, ongoing enjoyment of life is improved all the while, because you have a better/quieter/nicer-looking/ sturdier/more satisfying to use (etc.) dishwasher.
There's various other things I've decided that it's worth spending a lot more than the baseline on, in an effort to save money in the long-term. Certain types of shoes are another example. Sheets are another.
I'd be interested to hear others' thoughts on this/ examples of such things, if they have any…
Cheaper price doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality.
The more premium tp is on special at under 40c/roll quite regularly.
And it's similar with so many other types of groceries. The brand name yoghurts get below $4/kg every 2-4 weeks.
I buy milk and bread at the servo to get to the extra spend, as they are the same price as the supermarket.
I don't think I agree on the dishwasher either. My cheapest-brand-i'd-heard-of dishwasher (just checked, its a westinghouse) cleans fine on the standard setting, on the eco setting you want to give everything a good rinse first. It doesn't seem to make a difference whether I use finish tabs, or a teaspoon of savings powder & rinse aid.
I will spend a little more on some things. Work boots are an example. The cheapest type fall to bits pretty quick. The Aussie made Redbacks I have on now (after 5 pairs of Blundstones in 20 years - don't move your production to China and put your prices up if you want to retain my business!) look like new after their first year.
Also, nice bread (like cob, turkish, sourdough etc.) is much superior to ordinary white sliced.
Rexona deodorant when it's at its lowest price which around the $3.30 mark. Not a fan of roll on's.
Does anyone else check the 'Clearance' section in the refrigerated aisles at Woolies for major bargains? Massively discounted stuff like dips, dairy products, tofu, yogurts, packaged meats, containers of salads etc leftover from the deli that day (if you shop really late at night), whatever-else-that-is-normally-refrigerated, etc which is close to the Best Before or Use By?
I'd like to know the general OzBargainer consensus on stuff like that. Would you buy and consume happily, or would the thought of those products being closer to their Best Before or Use By be too far over the line / below your standards?
We always check there first. Discounted meats/yoghurts/dips etc. We'll only buy it if we're having it that day or the next.
We always buy this stuff, it is my first stop.
I don't buy any other meat from Woolies (go to the butcher) but would say we eat from the discount meat section 3 or 4 times a week.
If I can't use the meat that day, I will freeze it (even if it is just until the next day or two).
The sales assistant has to look mildly disgusted and insanely jealous when they put the sale through.