Need a book? Try Booko! (.com.au)

It seems here in Australia we get rorted sometimes in regards to pricing.

Take books for example.

If I ever buy new books, which I sometimes do for gifts, I wait until I get an internet coupon through my email for Borders online store. Usually I can find a coupon for 25 - 30% off and that includes free shipping.

So, I was buying a few books two nights ago with specific recipients in mind. The deal was 30% off and free shipping of course.

I was after a particular book: The last great adventure of Sir Peter Blake.

Borders have this book for $71.95 Aus. Ouch. Even with 30% off. Ouch.

Amazon US have the same book for $35.83 Aus, plus shipping of $11.19, making a total of $47.02 Aus. 

Booko.com.au sourced the same book for me for $32.49 Aus, plus shipping of $4.45, making a grand total of $36.94 Aus,  from the OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

Booko also found this book in five other locations around the world, all being cheaper than buying from Amazon.

And the top two most expensive places to buy this book? The two biggest book store chains in Australia.

What Booko does, is go out to the internet and look up book and dvd prices, it works out the shipping, and then gives it all to me in Australian dollars.

Wow, so easy!

Now, why on earth do we here in Australia get charged such extraordinary prices for books? Granted, we are a little further away from the rest of the world, but I don't think that accounts for all the price difference.

So really, I have no idea.

However, I do know how I will source any new books I desire from now on.

Booko.com.au.

Check it out.

One man's trash.....Freecycle it!

Ok, I know it should be one PERSON'S trash, but lets not quibble....

I picked up an item today from a fellow freecycler in my area:

A mini trampoline, all the rage in I-can't-remember-what-year for jumping your jiggly bits into shape.

This fine specimen, clothed as it is in brown vinyl, was lurking in someone's back room, just waiting for the loving attentions of two small energetic boys.

One of whom promptly peed on it. Yes, we're all class here aren't we?

Well, it washed up nicely and now we can finally take back the mini tramp we've had on loan from the toy library for........um..........much too long.

What is Freecycle?

Freecycle is an online group open to all who want to recycle something rather than throw it away.

Generally, you sign up online to a group in your area, then you will begin to receive emails posted to the whole group, about items people have that they want to recycle.

You can also post a Wanted request, which is what I did for the trampoline.

Follow one of the links below to find out more.

Freecycle in Australia

Freecycle in the US

Freecycle in other countries

It's worth doing, especially if you're on a budget and it's a great forum for getting some clutter out of your own home too.

Free e-book "How to bake" from The Prepared Pantry

Need a little help in the kitchen? 

Sign up for a free 250 page e-book on "How to bake", from The Prepared Pantry. 

Have you heard of Etsy.com?

Many people I know have come across Etsy, yet I still bump into the odd person who's never heard of it.
And given that I'm not a huge social bunny, the people I DON'T bump into FAAAAAAR outweigh those I do. So there's a good chance there are others out there that have not stumbled across this marvelous mecca of unique handmade and vintage items.

Etsy.com is an online community/marketplace with buyers and sellers from all over the world. There are many gorgeous and useful items for sale there and you can even search for sellers that are local to you.

A lovely way to do some Christmas shopping, stay away from cheap plastic toys, and, have it delivered!
(my favourite way of shopping...)

Just try and stay within your budget...!

Have you tried an online chemist?

When I was pregnant with my second bub, a friend told me about epharmacy.com.au. It's on online chemist store, with all the usual items you will find at your regular chemist or pharmacy. One thing I found it very worthwhile for was to buy Elevit, the recommended pre-natal vitamins. Fairly pricey, but well worth it if you believe everything the Dr says.

Now, I cannot remember exactly how much Elevit costs in the stores, but I do remember that it was cheaper to buy it online, and you have the bonus of having it delivered, which I always love. Domestic postage on orders 0-3kg is $5 Au, and even taking that into account, it was still cheaper.

There are a couple of other online pharmacies in Aus, and the prices are similar for all of them, epharmacy was just the one I used. Orders can be sent overseas, but you may want to see if there are any similar services in your own country.

Check it out, it might save you some money.

A free movie ticket on your birthday

Sign up to the Hoyts Movie Club to receive Hoyts email newsletter, and you will receive a free movie ticket on your birthday.

Join Hoyts Movie Club


What could be easier than that?!

Do you Squidoo?

Have you discovered Squidoo? Squidoo is a publishing platform and community, within which you can write and publish 'lenses' (pages) about any topic that interests you. Once you get sucked in, there is information on any topic you may think to search for and it's so easy to spend hours there, hopping from lens to lens to lens.



What is the purpose of it? Well, information sharing of course and you can also earn money off your lenses. You can add ebay and amazon links and you can use your lenses to drive traffic to your own or an affiliates site. You can write as many as you like, so the earning potential is unlimited, supposedly.

I'm having fun creating pages, I've done two so far, and it's quite a challenge to make them good ones, as far as looks and content go. Wanna see? Topics close to my heart of course...


Understanding unilateral hearing loss

and

Thermomix - Now you're cooking!

If you're wondering what a thermomix is, it is explained on the above 'lens' or check this post on my other blog. It's only the BEST EVER KITCHEN GADGET around!

Anyway, hop on over to squidoo, sign up, share your interests, look me up and give my pages a rating. Be kind! :0)

Free parent stuff, who doesn't need that?!

I've been getting regular emails and newsletters from a crowd called FreeParentStuff recently.

It was something I signed up to a while ago and I've received various free bits and pieces since then, most of which are product samples. They send out an email newsletter about once a month. Currently on offer is a laundry powder sample from ecostore, a huggies little swimmers nappy and a sample of a particular brand of toddler milk.


Free stuff, what's not to love, hey?

Are you a DIYer?

My sis put me onto this site, The Instructables, which has step-by-step how-to instructions for every imaginable activity.

From how to make cake pops

to how to fold the best paper airplane

to how to unblock your sink

how to restore old furniture without power tools

and how to make dung beetle truffles.


Cool, huh? That's just a few obviously, there are hundreds more. It's worth a trawl if you're looking for recipes, activities for the kids or a how-to tip for round the home.

I want to try making these lego shaped gummy candies



using this vegan recipe (no gelatin, gelatin being made of animal parts.....doesn't bother me overly when eating marshmallows though, so a little hypocritical of me)

So please have a look at this site, it is very useful, as well as supremely cool!

A money saving mum site

I came across the savingmum website today, which is a site filled with money saving ideas submitted by Aussie mums. Relevant of course to mums everywhere, Australians aren't the only ones that have to fill lunchboxes, or clean the toilet, or grocery shop on a budget.

You need to join to gain full access but it's all free. Well worth a read, mums are often a fantastic source of ideas and I like some of the recipes I've seen in there. Find out how other folks are able to keep their budget down.