Fellow OzBargainers! What everyday products DON'T you skimp on?!

rawm on 04/07/2015 - 12:06
Last edited 07/07/2015 - 14:23 by 1 other user

We are all bargain hunters here! Some more than others. But what products do you feel you DONT you skimp on?
(Everyday items that are used often)

For me:
1 - Nail Clippers/Tweezers
2 - Steak Knives
3 - White goods (esp. Washing Machine/Dishwasher)
4 - Spring/Summer business shirts (i.e. Charles Tyrwhitt)
5 - Electric Toothbrush (Oral B series)

Everything else I can think of (Electronics, Clothing, Car, Food etc) for me is negotiable and depends largely on the price at the time.

Fellow Ozbargainers - think hard - how many/which products DON'T you skimp on?

Answer the poll below also please!

Poll Options expired

  • 5
    4 to 8 Products
  • 9
    1 to 3 Products
  • 25
    9+ Products
  • 52
    Everything is fair game, I skimp on anything!
General Discussion

Comments

    • rigby75 on 05/07/2015 - 09:47

      i not sure about E10 eating your valve stem seal, i have heard of issues with metal fuel tanks and eating old fuel lines.

  • kyttiekat on 04/07/2015 - 22:35
    +1
    1. Some facial care (eg cleanser + exfoliator).
    2. Sunscreen (since I use this everyday, some of the cheap SPF30+ are too greasy/white. Neutrogena is priced ok at $12/tube - not a brand name, but not a cheapie!)
    3. Some foods / chocolates (eg I never skimp on dessert, because it's a treat that I love to enjoy :) ).
    4. Keyboard / mouse (I LOVE my Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard + mouse set. As a long-term ergonomic KB user, these are the best for me.)
    5. Car dealership servicing (at the moment I only service my car at the Toyota dealer. I do make sure to check around for quotes first. If there's something wrong though, and they're charging 300%+, I'll take it to a local mechanic. But I feel better having them do the regular check-up / service. Maybe this is the naivety of a relatively new driver…)

    That's all I can think of, really.

    • rawm on 05/07/2015 - 08:14

      Good list! What brand/type chocolate do you purchase?

      • kyttiekat on 05/07/2015 - 11:27

        I tend to buy whatever takes my fancy! (without looking at cost).

        Sometimes it's Lindt or Guylian, sometimes it's just a Twirl bar, sometimes those amazing Whittaker peanut slabs… Flake, too!

        What about you? Any favs?

        • rawm on 05/07/2015 - 19:43

          Lindt 70/90% dark chocolate - I cant buy any other brand tbh!

        • antzz on 06/07/2015 - 00:35
          +1

          @rawm: try aldi moser roth 70/85%

        • Chik5555 on 08/07/2015 - 21:21

          I'm severely craving chocolate now

    • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:20
      -2

      How does Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard vs MS 4000 Ergonomic Keyboard

      I find 4000 chunkier yet customizable even though MS Software is abysmal

      • Randxyz123 on 18/10/2015 - 15:24
        -1

        Wrong thread mate

        • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 16:57
          -1

          Why would you neg me m8?

          This forum is for all item and not specific one buddy

  • cloudy on 04/07/2015 - 23:07
    +6

    I don't skimp on financial advice, that doesn't mean paying the most, just getting the right advice from someone who has integrity and genuine interest in helping you be financially better off.

    • duchy on 04/07/2015 - 23:52

      Great post mate. I totally agree. :)

    • rawm on 05/07/2015 - 08:16

      But how does i discern between the 'right' and 'wrong' advice though - there are a lot of financial advisors out there trying to get people into negative gearing, stocks, strata/property investment, managed funds - how do you know they have your interests at heart?

      • cloudy on 05/07/2015 - 14:20

        How do you know someone has ur best interests at heart is something that is very very hard to tell. It's like knowing if ur friends are true friends or people who are around coz u share the same social environment.

        But over time u know who ur true friends are, similarly so u can tell over time whom are truly honest advisorsand those who sold u a product where there was a conflict of interest.

      • Bunnyburger on 05/07/2015 - 16:40

        I'd like to know that too. The best safeguard I know is finding someone that has a fiduciary (legal) duty to act in your best interests, I just repeated myself there lol.

      • guestgulkan on 08/07/2015 - 16:58

        Always use a financial advisor that charges a fee. Avoid free financial advisors. They are selling you a product to advantage them, not you, and it's a conflict of interest.

      • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:25

        Hmm.. Good point. I reckon some financial adviser might either not be wise or got sponsored by some adverstiment to refer to their product. Profit is such a good motivator

        I reckon we should encourage OZbargain quality helpful advice forum like this. I personally found it to benefit people mostly. You can consult with us as we motivated by + vote and not by profit (cause we ain't got none profit)

  • duchy on 04/07/2015 - 23:57
    +1
    • Food
    • Alcohol
    • Cosmetics
    • Dental products
    • Whey protein

    (Anything that can keep my body functioning longer or better is worth its price)

    • Finance - your accountant, business/investment mentor and finance broker. Anyone that can get you more money should also get their fair share.
  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2015 - 00:07
    +1
    • Skincare/Makeup
    • Usual meal plan food (not organic but lots of vegetables regardless of price)
    • Sport shoes
    • Bras
    • Clothes (quality over quantity)
    • Anything health related
    • Watch/jewellery
    • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:27
      -1

      Sport shoes = vibram

      "Bras"
      kek.
      giggidy

  • Tech5 on 05/07/2015 - 00:40
    +3
    1. Internet
    2. Internet
    3. Internet
    4. Internet

    I am nothing without internet

    Also, shoes

  • rolypoly on 05/07/2015 - 01:50
    +3

    Computer + computery things
    Internet
    Washing machine
    Screwdrivers
    Speakers
    Phone
    240V electrical devices
    Car
    Skincare products
    Food
    Bicycle
    Bedding

    The definition of skimp that I have in my head may not match everyone else's here.

    • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:30

      What you basically saying is everything.
      Some which I didn't own

      "240V electrical devices"

  • airzone on 05/07/2015 - 01:51
    +2

    tea bags

    • fryandlaurie on 06/07/2015 - 17:04

      Any recommendations? Isn't it better to go for loose leaf tea as it is often higher in quality and quantity too?

      • loiloi on 07/07/2015 - 09:44

        Loose leaf is also better for the environment :)

        • fryandlaurie on 07/07/2015 - 11:17

          Any recommended stores or websites for getting started purchasing loose leaf?

        • loiloi on 07/07/2015 - 11:49

          Depending on what type you are after, I really like Zee Tea (which happens to also be organic).

          http://www.zeetea.com.au/buy-tea/organic-black-tea.html

          I'm sure there are plently of other good quality places - I just try and steer clear of T2!

      • airzone on 07/07/2015 - 11:31
        +1

        Yes, the best tea I have had was while on the tea plantations in Malaysia.

        My only tea bags are Dilmah extra strong, and happily enough, one of the VP's at my company feels the same way (so that's what we get).

  • jonathonsunshine on 05/07/2015 - 07:16

    Bread

  • parisienne on 05/07/2015 - 10:22
    +2

    The four "will never skimp on" items at home for me would have to be:

    1:Bread…Baker's Delight is still edible 3 days later (and super crusty just bought)

    2:Pet food…they are our kids,so we treat them as such (they eat better than us most of the time,but they are worth it)

    3:Body wash…if you knew what hubby and i get on us each day from work,you'd want the best antibac wash money could buy as well.And finally,

    4:Loo paper… because hey,if we are going to be shafted daily by the workplace,we need something soft and 4 ply to ease the pain after right ?

  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2015 - 11:35
    -2

    Drugs. Generics often feel slightly off, any small savings is not worth an inferior product. Occasionally there is no difference as generic is acceptable.

    • xsacha on 06/07/2015 - 08:06
      +4

      How could generic be any different? They only have a cheaper filler or different shape but the active ingredient is the same.

      • iridiumstem on 06/07/2015 - 09:33
        +6

        Placebo?

      • twinbag on 08/07/2015 - 17:04

        i used to think like this until I was on a long term drug. The generic wasn't as effective as the brand.

        so yes, the theory is that they are the same, in practice they are not

        • iridiumstem on 08/07/2015 - 17:15
          +2

          From: http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/Questions…

          A generic drug is identical — or bioequivalent — to a brand name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, performance characteristics and intended use.

          It's probably placebo effect (that said, placebo effects can be significant enough to show differences).

        • xsacha on 08/07/2015 - 20:19

          Effective as in they used less of the active ingredient? These details are in huge font on the front of the packet.

  • [Deactivated] on 05/07/2015 - 16:30
    -1

    Toilet paper
    Women

    • banzini on 06/07/2015 - 14:41
      +1

      the expensive ones give better results, in both cases listed above

  • banzini on 05/07/2015 - 16:33

    chose to fly virgin/qantas - not tiger
    happy to spend retail on apple products (at 10% off) - they last twice as long as the others out there
    internet (still have a 5% discount though which is nice)
    pillows
    shoes (need to try them on, have bought online many times for varied results)
    football membership

    • rawm on 05/07/2015 - 19:44
      +1

      Pillows is actually a good one. Not sure about Tiger tho - ive flown with them 6+ times and never had a problem!

      • banzini on 05/07/2015 - 21:47
        +1

        I just spent $107 on a memory foam pillow which I tried out in Myer, felt amazing.
        Little did I know when researching memory foam it's made from polyurethane (google it).
        I aired it out for a week and it still smelled - gave it a test one night. Woke up with a headache, bad sinus and sore throat.
        So, my lesson was spending over $100 on a pillow that is now on the floor wasn't the best result.
        It feels amazing though but the health risks is something to be concerned about.

        • xsacha on 06/07/2015 - 08:08

          Unless you have allergies, is there anything wrong with duck or goose down pillows? They last for so long and are extremely comfortable. Nothing made with foam/plastic/artificial fiber ever comes close.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 06/07/2015 - 10:03
          +1

          @xsacha:

          I'd choose goose down over duck, just sayin'.

      • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:38

        FOr pillow I would reccomend the one with gel as it cools you and make it easier for you to go to sleeping state.

        This might help but I wouldn't reccomend as the gel pillow I bought peeling off.
        I also found that memory foam surprisingly harder than conventional/tradiitonal pillow. WHich pillow would you reccomend?
        Also this might sound abit asian-ish but I found big fat long Bolsters to be extremely helpful to get you sleep.

  • shanghaistar on 05/07/2015 - 16:37
    +1

    Food.

  • financialwar on 05/07/2015 - 16:39
    -1

    Sex. I always waste a lot of money on overpriced drinks so that I could get laid. Wish there is a deal on drinks on Ozbargain, like the box of condom I bought.

    • antzz on 06/07/2015 - 00:39
      +1

      There is something called prost*****

      • banzini on 06/07/2015 - 15:00

        alain prost?

      • toffee on 06/07/2015 - 19:57

        Prosthetics? That's disgusting.

      • mad__llama on 08/07/2015 - 23:48
        -1

        The dude speaks truth. There is no *****itute for prost*****

      • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:34
        -1

        Plastic girlfriend ?
        Like Fl*shlight

  • 2025 on 05/07/2015 - 16:40
    +3

    Batteries, chargers and powerboards
    Whitegoods, household appliances
    Cutlery - the only way to stop myself using knives as screwdrivers!
    Screwdrivers haha
    Printer ink and photo paper
    Memory cards, blank DVD/BD
    Tomato Sauce
    Lens cleaning fluid
    3M Tape
    Paint
    Cameras and lenses
    TV and sound

    • fryandlaurie on 06/07/2015 - 17:05

      Lens cleaning fluid

      Any recommendations? Dad recently got glasses and might as well keep them clean/

      • ajs900 on 07/07/2015 - 18:58

        I think they're talking about contact lenses

      • 2025 on 07/07/2015 - 21:52

        Zeiss stuff works well. I'm talking about camera lens stuff though, but I don't see why the same juice wouldn't work on glasses

      • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:41

        You know what I do with my glasses to keep it clean?
        Every time I took a shower I always take my glasses and clean it as well.

        GOod habit to keep your glasses clean also a bargain way to maintain your glasses

  • expertreader on 05/07/2015 - 20:28

    Shampoo, conditioner, skin creams and food. Don't wanna get bald or develop skin troubles.

    • WatchNerd on 06/07/2015 - 16:43

      News flash, nothing is going to stop you going bald if that's what nature intended.

      • expertreader on 06/07/2015 - 17:10

        True but don't want Cleaning products to be the cause. I know they all use chemicals but trust the big brands to have better quality control than unknown small players. It doesn't take much to make it bad for your skin and hair.

  • snajper on 05/07/2015 - 22:03

    Food, car tyres, eneloops, coffee….

  • ju2au on 05/07/2015 - 22:54
    +1

    Bed
    Pillow
    Coffee
    Underwear

    • rodinthink on 18/10/2015 - 15:42
      -1

      Bolster
      Fl*shlight

  • dlakers3peat on 05/07/2015 - 23:39
    +1

    clothes(everything designer label, cheap clothes do not fit me right)
    shoes
    electronics and white goods
    electricity( i dont care how much electricity is if its hot/cold the a/c comes on)
    petrol only 98ron
    food i never ever eat maccas, kfc, hungry jacks etc

    • rawm on 06/07/2015 - 08:45
      +3

      Wow, that almost sounds like a list of an anti-ozbargainer!
      You should try H&M, Uniqlo - even ASOS have good clothes at a reasonable price.

      • crazyLad on 07/07/2015 - 14:58

        I would steer away from H&m and Asos tbh.

        • rawm on 07/07/2015 - 17:03

          Why?

        • crazyLad on 07/07/2015 - 21:21
          +1

          Majority is trendy clothing and cheap quality.
          I prefer to have clothes that are somewhat good quality, mainly for comfort/durability reasons.
          Never pay for full price though.

        • fruit on 08/07/2015 - 12:13

          @crazyLad:
          Both have been fine for me.

  • Donaldhump on 06/07/2015 - 10:08

    razor blades and coke.

    • rawm on 06/07/2015 - 10:44
      +2

      Coca-Cola the drink yeah? If not, your combination of coke and a razor blade is a little concerning :P

      • Donaldhump on 06/07/2015 - 10:48

        ROFL…. thats funny… yeh coca-cola ie i dont by aldi coke…. and the homebrand razors that your mum buys you when you go to visit.. no thanks.. i need gillette…

        but i guess if your talking coke the drug, i probly would stick to the good sh*t… once i had come across it…

  • Donaldhump on 06/07/2015 - 10:08
    -1

    and airlines, dont get people who fly air asia… pilots probrably pay to fly the plane…

  • brownbag on 06/07/2015 - 10:53
    +2

    I don't skimp on anything but I still like to get quality items for the best price possible.

    • rawm on 06/07/2015 - 11:18

      Anything? Quality is a relative term. One person may find a $50 Watch 'quality', while another wouldn't settle for anything less than a Swiss made $500 timepiece.

      • antzz on 19/10/2015 - 21:10

        Real Swiss timepiece and not quartz watch will start closer to 3000usd just sayin..

  • [Deactivated] on 06/07/2015 - 11:10
    +1

    Every day stuff would be certain foods, but the main one I stay on track for quality gear is tools.

    Also I'm finding tech I'm always not looking for a bargain but get the most out of my cash.

  • umoddbro on 06/07/2015 - 12:58

    Mainly bathroom products such as shampoo, toothbrushes, toilet paper.

  • SupeNintendoChalmers on 06/07/2015 - 15:04
    +1

    Batteries. if you buy the cheap, crappy ones they corrode your toys. I always use Vartas for toys and Eneloops for anything else.

  • arislan on 06/07/2015 - 15:16

    TPs… once you go soft you can never go back… kleenex cottonelle ftw.

    • fryandlaurie on 06/07/2015 - 17:07

      I prefer quilton 3-4 ply. The haul from that woolies deal just got depleted :-(

      Now I have to use the Aldi ones until a similar deal comes along/

  • tik tok on 06/07/2015 - 17:25

    Food. Especially organic nuts (cashews/almonds etc). The select stuff tastes bad and probably doesn't have the nutrients.
    Everything else in my shopping cart essentially has some or the other discount applied to it.
    If you shop smart you can save on white goods too. We bought all our white goods on the boxing day sale. JB Hifi gives complementary extended warranty on goods above 500. And stored our stuff for a few months. IME most stores including GG and HN will haggle and settle for a lesser price.

  • jellykingdom on 06/07/2015 - 17:27

    1. Screws, nails - i did that once……what a total stuff up. Spend your money on going to Bunnings and pay an extra 2c per item

    2. Toilet paper - i still go cheap but i always go with a particular minimum ply and brand

    3. Mattress - a shtty bed is a shtty nights sleep. I have one at our rental place (work rents a small house for work related travel to one of our sites) and it has the worst springs and I barely sleep a wink for an entire week

    4. Sheets and towels - they seem 4x as cheap but then just fall apart and you replace 4x as often.

    5. Sneakers and cheap dress shoes - ditto

    I'm sure there are more…

  • vroomkroom on 06/07/2015 - 18:00
    1. Food ( Including eating out/regular groceries )
    2. Drinks ( Beer/ Spirits )
    3. Toiletries - Including toothbrush and regularly change the Oral B electric head once every four weeks
    4. Contact lens + cleaning solution ( Use only bausch&lomb/ RENU which I think is not popular in OZ but happy to pay more for this )
    5. Toilet Paper ( Refill stock from Costco )
    6. Kitchen towel ( Refill stock from Costco )
    7. One coffee/day from the cafe 5 mins from work which is 50C more than the cafe on the same building but will happy to pay that 50c for better coffee
      Not everyday but
    8. Car Safety ( More than brand )
    9. Insurance ( Home/ Car )
    10. Lately flying DIRECT by paying more if possible
    • Many more

    Life is too short to Skimp on certain things. The older I get it seems to have some effect in my standards. For e.g, was happy drinking RED LABEL in early 20s but not will not drink RED LABEL now and likewise my taste/tolerance has evolved. In-fact, Life experiences has thought a few things !! LOL

    • rawm on 06/07/2015 - 18:59
      +3

      Massive list - amazed you're even a fan of ozbargain! - What DO you skimp on?

      • vroomkroom on 07/07/2015 - 13:49
        +2

        Things I skimp on everyday,

        1. Ride to work - Savings of 150$/ Month + 65$/Month savings on gym membership
        2. Make my own sandwich for Lunch @ work - Savings of roughly 8$/ Day and roughly 1800$/Year accounting occasional Friday lunch with colleagues/friends.

        To be honest,I have ONLY been doing these for last one year or so and worked out the savings are around 4500$/year for me by implementing the above two changes religiously. This has allowed me to not skimp on other essentials I guess !!

        Things I am working on (to Skimp),

        1. Cut the daily morning coffee
        2. Eat simple but healthy food ( Simple = Less packaged food for e.g, trying to avoid pasta sauce )

        Before I buy something, I check in Oz bargain for the best price. Basically, try to pay the best price for anything electronics , phones, computer etc… and get great ideas from this community.

        • rawm on 07/07/2015 - 14:01
          +1

          Making your own Lunch is a MASSIVE saver/skimper. It is better for your diet, stops last minute runs to the local cafe ($20 easy) and ensures you save week on week at least $40 IMO.

          Simple foods are also a good way to skimp. Buying generic brand Oats (99c for 750g) for brekky (use Greek Yoghurt, Honey, Bananas, Sultanas etc) will also help give you energy for your ride to work and save you stacks!

          Thanks for sharing!

  • DeWalt on 06/07/2015 - 19:26
    +2

    Some great posts. Thanks for sharing.

    Mattress (sealy posturepedic)
    Toothbrush (Colgate 360)
    Cereal (muesli)
    Shoes (rock ports - but last pair were bad)
    Winter clothing (warm/waterproof)
    Crockery & cutlery (spoil yourself every day)
    Phone (Apple & Android)
    Car (Toyota, except their terrible service)
    Lounge (must be comfortable)
    Dishwasher (Bosch)
    Range hood (must be quiet)
    Socks (no polyester)
    Stainless steel kitchenalia (eg. Sieve)
    Olive oil (Cobram - avoid the bozo brands from Spain/Italy)
    Food (nothing Chinese made - don't like melamine - it's toxic and builds up in your system until you die)
    Buttersoft (mainland)

    A few cheap suggestions I really like
    - Coles $2 multigrain (clear wrapper with white sticky label)
    - Coles generic ice blocks
    - woollies tasty cheese

    • rawm on 06/07/2015 - 19:51

      Love the post, esp. the suggestions are great! What about Aldi products, ever used them?

  • ge on 06/07/2015 - 19:52

    hs

  • citybargainhunter on 06/07/2015 - 21:01

    Car, toilet paper, dress shoes, shirts, suits, watches, and house.

  • letthiswork1 on 06/07/2015 - 21:20

    Why are people so obsessed with screwdrivers?

    I still use my $15 set from ebay for 2 years now and they are great. Magnetic tips and all

    • WatchNerd on 06/07/2015 - 21:22
      +3

      Professionals like screwing I guess.

    • rolypoly on 06/07/2015 - 21:43
      +2

      Bad ones strip the screw. Good ones arent very expensive. And they don't seem to ever wear out (very much) or become obsolete. It is just something where if the correct purchase is made it may never have to be made again for life (or decades). Although this is just based off my small sample size of two or three bad screwdrivers and one good screwdriver that I have used for seven years.

  • babylon on 06/07/2015 - 23:02

    Motorcycle gear. I went all Italian for helmet and leathers.

    And heeled shoes. If you get the cheap ones made of fake leather and don't come in half sizes, your feet will regret it.

  • yessum on 06/07/2015 - 23:22

    Anything hygiene related eg toothbrush, shampoo, detergent

  • loiloi on 07/07/2015 - 09:54

    My top items:

    • 1000 thread sheets. In saying that, I always buy them @ 50% off or more!
    • Skincare products - in particular Clarins. Much more expensive but you use much less (or that is what I tell myself).
    • Tomato and bbq sauce products - including spaghetti sauce. You can't go past the brands.
    • Western Star butter. If it isn't Western Star, it isn't butter.
    • Panadol or Nurofen - no generics.
    • Cheese. I'm yet to find a decent cheaper alternative to Bega/Mainland. Any suggestions?
    • Mouthwash. I use Colgate or Oral B.
    • Apple computers. They're worth the money since they last 5 times longer!
    • Stock - Campbell's only.
    • rawm on 07/07/2015 - 17:02
      +1

      'Cheese. I'm yet to find a decent cheaper alternative to Bega/Mainland. Any suggestions?'

      Aldi's Tasty Cheese (not necessarily Cowbelle, but the 'premium' brand - cant remember name) is actually pretty good and is around $7 for the 1kg block.

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