How to Set Up a New Home Without Getting Ripped Off

Recently, over a game of poker, my mate was talking about his new home and he said that all the small things are adding up to a huge amount – this was to the point that he only had $20 left in the bank account after all the purchases! From sponges to cleaning liquids to brooms. He did not understand why a broom from Bunnings would cost $20! This was the exact moment that the two girls (including myself) chimed in “Who buys their broom from Bunnings?!” My mate (a guy of course) stared at us wide-eyed as if he committed the crime of the century. From that moment on, I realised that not everyone knows where to shop especially if they have never moved out of home. With years of being at University and not living at home, I have combed Sydney to find the cheapest places where you can find all that you need to set up a new home (by the way, did I mention that I’ve moved a grand total of TEN times in this lifetime and I don’t think that this will be my last one!)

Having lived through my uni years as a poor student, being broke so many times after the numerous moves and living like a pauper during the initial start-up years for my business, here are my top places for household essentials.

Canley Heights - It is only in recent days that I found out about this place. For those of you who live on the side of Sydney that classify Broadway as the West, Canley Heights is the cousin of Cabramatta. It is a suburb with predominantly Vietnamese and Laotians. There are plenty of nice restaurants there. I go there to do my groceries and buy my household essential items like brooms and tissue paper. You can expect to pay only $6.50 for a big bottle of Tresemme, $1 for an Oral B toothbrush and 79c for a box of tissues (it could be even cheaper when you buy in bulk). I bought a splatter (one of those things that prevent oil from splattering all over the place) for $1.50 and they sell that for $3.50 at the IGA down the road. A smaller splatter cost $2.00 at The Reject Shop in Parramatta Westfield.

The Reject Shop – This is heaven for the living Frugals out there. You can get anything from canvasses to washing liquids to Pringles from here. For those who are unable to make your way to Canley Heights, it would make sense to shop at your local Reject Shop to grab the home essentials. No point in spending $3.50 on one sponge from Woolworths or Coles when you can get 3 sponges for $2!  Brooms, mops and buckets do not need to cost a leg. You can usually pick them up for less than $10 as compared to $20 in K-Mart, Bunnings or Woolworths. Last month, I even bought a set of mugs for my home from there and had great comments from my friends who thought I had spent a fortune on those mugs.

Discount Shops – Anything with a name such as “Top Bargains”, “Hot Dollar”, “$2 Shop” is always a great place to pick up home essentials. These shops are great for getting candles, place mats, mugs, vases, glass bowls and everything else you can name under the sun.

Online Variety Stores – If you love the internet and only do your shopping online, you should be able to grab bargains from places like the following:

• www.salespot.com.au
• www.dealsdirect.com.au
• www.oo.com.au
• www.oztion.com.au
• www.crazysales.com.au
• www.petersofkensington.com.au
• www.ebay.com.au
• www.graysonline.com.au

These online stores are great places for getting your crockery, cutlery, furniture, tape dispenser, knives and etc.

Spend your money smartly and avoid getting bitten by the retail giants who are not kind to your pockets.

~Jess

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