Purchases, Melbourne, Thrift

I did declare another Frugal Feb at the beginning of last month but I wasn't so involved this time around. After all, my main expense - stuffing my face at every opportunity - was already covered by work while I was in Melbourne, and I'm trying to cut down on shopping.

Having said that, here is some stuff I acquired during Frugal Feb:

 

Windsor Smith black patent wedges, $64 (was $129.95) - DFO

Witchery pink jeans, $40 (was $99.95) and Witchery Kids leopard print belt, $7 (was $19.95) - DFO

 

I have wanted a skinny leopard belt like this for ages but the adults' ones are too big for my waist. I was so happy to find this one, especially at that price! From now on I'm doing all my accessories shopping in the kids' department.

This bracelet was a Valentine's Day present from Jimmy so it was free! Thanks James, I love it!

 

Our Man In Havana is borrowed from Jim and thus also free.  Watermelon came from the Salvo's store in Altona, I think it was $2.

 

Cotton On Body bras, $5 each - DFO. 

 

The Cotton On shop at DFO South Wharf appears to sell things from their stores overseas as well, because unlike the regular Aussie stores, this one had heaps of size 8 bras.  So if you're always searching for them like I am, you know where to go!

 

Target leopard print dress, $8 I think - Salvo's Altona

 

Howard Showers black dress, $40 (was $189 or something equally crazy) - DFO (Charlie Brown store)

 

I wore this dress three times while I was in Melbourne, i.e. once a week - cost per wear!  The first time was with black peeptoes and silver & diamante jewellery, to dinner with James.  The second was with the same shoes and the leopard print belt above, to Rockpool.  The third was with gold & black enamel earrings and my leopard shoes, on our awesome last night out.

 

You can't see it in this picture, but I'm pretty sure I wore my bee ring as well.  Buzz buzz.

 

Alcohol was another of my few expenses - I wasn't that restrained, but I did buy this on special!

 

Pilgrim navy camisole, $4, and Jacqui E raspberry knit, $6 - Salvo's Altona

 

Trying to pack light meant I bought most of my toiletries down there, then left them behind when I came home.  All of these were on sale, especially the body scrub ($3 I think, from DFO), the OPI You're A Pisa Work polish ($10) and the Hair Academy products from The Reject Shop.

 

I really liked the smell of the Herbal Essences shampoo.  The Taft hairspray is a new favourite, as is the Hair Academy pump action hairspray.  The Nivea lotion was like applying sunscreen, but gosh it worked well!

 

The body scrub smelled like the air fresheners in a shopping centre bathroom.  The John Freida hair stuff works pretty well but doesn't prevent static at all, and as the most expensive of the lot I really do not think it is worth a repurchase.

 

I bought these Kmart earrings for $6 (not on sale, that's just how much Kmart charges for earrings!) to wear with my black dress on our last night out because I was sick of all the jewellery I'd packed.  The J necklace is from Gloss, my favourite cosmetics and accessories chain - I think it was about $2 on sale.

 

 

So that's the lot! I am pretty happy with my purchases. I think I was pretty restrained considering, and quite practical too as I've worn/used almost everything already.  The total cost of all my clothes/accessories/cosmetics shopping plus two bottles of gin, three magazines and a few other sundries was about $330-$350 for the month.  It wasn't exactly the Struggle Street scenario of last year's Frugal Feb, but I'd call that pretty thrifty!

 

I was less thrifty with club entries, taxis and drinks when I went out, but I still reckon I would've spent about $300-$400 at the most.  It's a lot more than I'd spend normally but $100 a week for socialising isn't very much really, and for the amount of fun I had it's an absolute steal.

 

Last year I had lots of thrifty tips.  This year my advice is get a job at my work! (Disclaimer: the partying to working ratio will end up being like 1:100 - still beats most jobs!)

The Expect Cowgirls Christmas Gift Guide

Sick of this sort of thing? Me too. So I've decided to be the change I wish to see and the world and create a gift guide of my own! One that might actually help you in your Christmas shopping and won't require a personal loan.

Tween Girl Who Likes Katy Perry

 

Chemist Warehouse Beauty Case, $14.99

 

One of my most loved gifts when I was 13 was a purple beauty case.  I thought I was so sophisticated and I still use it now.  They have red and purple too.

 

At that price you could buy a few extras to pop in it, like this Models Prefer glitter nail polish.

 

Priceline, $5.99

 

 

 

Fancy Lady Who Likes High Tea, Kittens And Hair Ornaments

 

 

Lush Macaron bath bombs, $6.50

 

 

 

Fancy-ish Lady Who You Don't Know Much About, or For Whom You Are Shopping In A Terrible Hurry

 

 

Lush gift sets, various prices from $9.95. 

 

The Christmas Candy box is particularly charming.

 

$34.95.

 

 

 

High Schooler Who Reads Mostly Popular Stuff Like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games

 

 

Life of Pi by Yann Martel, various prices at various bookshops (Big W is normally cheapeset!)

 

If you are a cool aunt or uncle you could pop a movie voucher in it too so they can see the film after they read it.

 

 

 

Female Friend Who Kind Of Seems Like An English Teacher

 

 

Big W, I forget how much but surely pretty cheap

 

 

 

Kid Aged Eight Or Under

 

 

The Reject Shop lolly dispensers, $4

 

I think basically all little kids are amused by these little toys, which poop jelly beans.  Yeah it's tasteless but also it will keep the kids amused for a while, which is kind of a Christmas gift for everyone.

 

If you really want to keep them occupied, buy them a giant bubble wand at Kmart for $1.  Then tell them they can only blow bubbles in the yard.

 

 

 

Lady Who You Like But Who Is Hard To Buy For

 

 

Khaya candles, from $10

 

These handmade soy candles are really beautiful and smell fantastic - I actually prefer them to brands like Glasshouse and Ecoya.  They are great for someone you don't know well, like an office Secret Santa, but are also really lovely to give to someone close to you.

 

They don't have a store but you can check their Facebook page for info on where they have stalls set up.  The man at the stall also told me I could contact them to place an order.

 

 

 

Youngish Woman Who Likes Etsy, or Crazy Old Aunt Who Wears Zandra Rhodes Stuff

 

 

Teacups and teasets from T2, various prices

 

People who are into the tea trend (as Etsy lovers always are) probably have this stuff already, but they probably need more so they can have a special set for every kind of weird tea they drink.  I just drink regular kinds of tea out of a regular mug so I'm just guessing here.  Ask the salespeople if you're as confused as I am.

 

T2 do lovely giftwrapping for free as well.  You have to wait a while for it, so visit T2 first then do the rest of your shopping.

 

 

 

Youngish Woman Who Drinks Cocktails

 

 

T2 Chill Pack, $55

 

People who aren't into Etsy but like delicious fruity chilled beverages will probably enjoy this kit for making fancy iced teas that just taste like a posh refreshing mocktail.

 

This flavour combination isn't my favourite but it's all right.  I bet if you tasted some of the samples in the shop and liked one of them better, the salespeople would help you make a kit for that instead.

 

 

 

Kid Who Doesn't Seem Too Dumb

 

 

Games & Things card games, various prices (roughly $10-$20)

 

These are especially good for kids who are going on holidays after Christmas.  Some are fun for adults too - I love the Trivial Pursuit one. 

 

 

 

Nerdy Boyfriend

 

 

Eurogames, various prices (approx $50-$100)

 

TIP: Meganerds might enjoy the Game of Thrones game (ask the nerdy friends he plays games with if you don't really know what to buy)

 

WARNING: Don't buy an expansion if your boyfriend doesn't already have the original game!

 

 

 

Trendy Lady Who Loves Shopping

 

 

Sequinned cushions, $10-$20 at various shops

 

This funky one is from Hot Dollar.  Target has some in solid festive colours, Kmart usually has something similar, and department stores probably do them too but they would be more expensive.

 

 

 

Guy With A Big TV

 

 

The Dark Knight Rises DVD or Blu-Ray, or the whole triology if he doesn't have the others already.  Available basically everywhere, prices vary but about $20 for the DVD and $25 for the Blu-Ray.

 

 

 

Little Kid Who Lives A Long Way Away

 

 

Big W Christmas card with DVD, $1

 

Yes, one dollar! The novelty of getting a DVD in their Christmas card is probably more fun that the film itself but whatever.  If you are sending a card to an adult, send this as well for their kid.

 

 

 

Humourous Kris Kringle Recipient Who Is Travelling Over The Christmas Holidays

 

 

Hot Dollar Luggage Tags, $2.99

 

If you can't see, they say "I am young, handsome, faithful, millionaire and single!".

 

 

 

Girl Who Is Into Fancy Labels But Can't Actually Afford Them

 

 

Kate Spade mugs, $20 at David Jones

 

 

 

And there you have it!

 

If you have any other types of people for whom you need to buy gifts, or some other gift-related dilemma, let me know and I'll do a second list.

 

Merry Christmastime!

Bits and Bobs

My parents went to New Zealand over the weekend and brought me back some lovely gifts!

 

This is a tea towel:

 

 

I think it looks quite festive in a modern way, I will use it all the time but especially at Christmas.

 

 

This one was beautifully wrapped, which always adds to the fun.

 

 

It's Hibiscus and Lime scented shower gel and body lotion, omg it smells so good.

 

Thanks Mum and Dad!

 

 

Here's Mila Kunis in a Dior ad:

 

 

I have always liked her.

 

 

This little stand in the Southgate shopping centre had this sign showing off their posh nail polishes:

 

 

But here's the actual nail polish:

 

 

They are mostly those Maybelline mini Colorama thingies.  I'm sure they are less than $10 in Australia.

 

Since when is Brazil known for having special nail polishes anyway, and what does "handpicked" even mean in a polish context? It's not fruit!

 

 

Speaking of nail polish, here is mine:

 

 

I keep it in a gift box (purchased cheap at Australia Post in January, in a set of four).  The mini box in the back has all my extra things, like my excellent Clinique Deep Comfort hand cream and this very clever glitter polish remover device.

 

Almost all of the colours are shades of pink or red - I'm adventurous like that - and I nearly always use Ulta3 as it is my fave, but last night I had an urge to use this Satin polish in Number 33 instead.

 

 

The quality's not as good as Ulta3.

 

I bought it last Summer, when I went up to Coffs Harbour with my family for my cousin's wedding.  I had my nails done in OPI Feeling Hot Hot Hot while I was up there with my family, then they came home and Jim and I had our own little trip in Forster for a few days.  While I was there my polish started to chip and I realised Mum had taken the nail polish remover home with her!

 

 

I went to the chemist to buy some, then realised it would be better to buy a $2 polish in the same colour and fix it up, saving me a few bucks and giving me several more days out of my manicure.  I rummaged for ages without much hope, then came upon a single bottle of  Number 33, which was a PERFECT match. Amazing!

 

That bee ring's pretty good too hey? I bought it from the markets at uni for $5.

 

 

And now for something completely different, here's an amusing gift bag I saw in Hot Dollar:

 

 

Mike Jackson RIP.

 

English High Tea

 

I'm not dead! I've just been busy slash lazy. Thanks to everyone who left kind comments and such, you know who you are and I appreciate it very much!

My parents are from England, and when my Mum hangs out with her English friends (there's a whole bunch of them, like some kind of exclusive club) they, for reasons unbeknownst to me, eat 1970s food off Union Jack plates. This must be where I get my love of naff food.

 

Anyway, last night the English Girls came round for high tea! Amy and her family are from England too, so naturally her mum came.

We didn't introduce our mums to each other. They just hang out independently, because all English people apparently know each other.

 

 

There was loads of food.

 

My aunty came too and brought me a present! Lucky me!

 

 

What a lovely evening.