- Rice
- Vegetables
- Cereal/breakfast bar
- Bread
- Butter
- Cheese
- Milo
- Milk
- Biscuits
- Meat
- Canned food
- Toilet paper
- Detergent
Compare prices between different types of shopping outlets to save money. Many people buy food that is on special/ offer.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Groceries
Some of the things that are most people’s shopping lists are:
Compare prices between different types of shopping outlets to save money. Many people buy food that is on special/ offer.
Compare prices between different types of shopping outlets to save money. Many people buy food that is on special/ offer.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Petrol and Cars
Oil prices are relatively expensive, so unless you have a really large family, try to buy a car that doesn’t guzzle up too much petrol. Of course, it’s entirely up to your own discretion. Also, the prices are negotiable, try to bargain as low as possible.
Also, do not assume that everything will be provided for. You have to confirm with the car salesman that the car mats, mirror, reverse alert device, etc, etc is packaged with the car. And it never hurts to read the fine print to avoid possible misunderstandings later.
If you spend $30 or more ,when shopping, you will be able to get a discount of 4 cents per litre. Depending on the petrol station and the place which you shop in, you may be able to get additional discounts.
Also, do not assume that everything will be provided for. You have to confirm with the car salesman that the car mats, mirror, reverse alert device, etc, etc is packaged with the car. And it never hurts to read the fine print to avoid possible misunderstandings later.
If you spend $30 or more ,when shopping, you will be able to get a discount of 4 cents per litre. Depending on the petrol station and the place which you shop in, you may be able to get additional discounts.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
School Uniforms and Textbooks
Alright, so you’ve got a place in the school you wanted to go. Now you have to look the part of a student. So here’s where all the stuff you need to know about getting your uniform comes. Of course this is not for uni students (duh).
If you have kids who are of school-going age, or you are a student who is reading this, I only have one advice to you: Buy your uniform and books second-hand.
Okay, maybe you come from another country and you don’t understand why but I’ll explain. It’s a common practice for students to buy second hand uniforms and books. In fact, you will need to take queue numbers just to buy.
Before you turn your nose up at this suggestion however, take a look at the cost of uniforms and textbooks on your booklist. Take a real good look. And you’ll understand. Unless, of course you are one of those rich and affluent families, you will appreciate the tips I’m going to give you. You don’t want to spend more than A$500 just on uniform and books, do you?
In these second hand sales, go to the office and find out when these sales are. They are usually at the end of November but to be safe, ask for the exact date and time. Mark it on the calendar.
On the day, try to be one of the first to queue up. Don’t forget this. If you come late, there will be nothing left and this will totally defeat the purpose of going to the sales. Especially for text-books, they sell out really fast.
Usually you can get uniforms that are practically brand-new. Don’t ask me how to identify those. They will have the new look. Those that are not will have faded colours.
When buying white shirts, choose those that are white, not discoloured. Check for paint or glue and holes especially on the sleeves. Small holes are not immediately evident, especially in sweaters. If in doubt, get your parents to go with you.
Prices are usually half that of the new ones. But for newer ones, the price is usually a little higher, which is pretty worth the price.
If you have kids who are of school-going age, or you are a student who is reading this, I only have one advice to you: Buy your uniform and books second-hand.
Okay, maybe you come from another country and you don’t understand why but I’ll explain. It’s a common practice for students to buy second hand uniforms and books. In fact, you will need to take queue numbers just to buy.
Before you turn your nose up at this suggestion however, take a look at the cost of uniforms and textbooks on your booklist. Take a real good look. And you’ll understand. Unless, of course you are one of those rich and affluent families, you will appreciate the tips I’m going to give you. You don’t want to spend more than A$500 just on uniform and books, do you?
In these second hand sales, go to the office and find out when these sales are. They are usually at the end of November but to be safe, ask for the exact date and time. Mark it on the calendar.
On the day, try to be one of the first to queue up. Don’t forget this. If you come late, there will be nothing left and this will totally defeat the purpose of going to the sales. Especially for text-books, they sell out really fast.
Usually you can get uniforms that are practically brand-new. Don’t ask me how to identify those. They will have the new look. Those that are not will have faded colours.
When buying white shirts, choose those that are white, not discoloured. Check for paint or glue and holes especially on the sleeves. Small holes are not immediately evident, especially in sweaters. If in doubt, get your parents to go with you.
Prices are usually half that of the new ones. But for newer ones, the price is usually a little higher, which is pretty worth the price.
Friday, January 11, 2008
To get into a school
First, you have to get a house which you can either rent or buy, in the zone that is drawn by the school, to get a guaranteed placing in the school. The size of the zone may decrease with each passing year.
Fill in a form at the school office and after about one week, you should get a response from the school admission officers.
Payment of school fees should proceed after discussion of your child's subject combination. if you do not pay, your child is not considered as a student of the school. You have to pay first before you can get your student ID which immediately qualifies you as a student of the school.
Fill in a form at the school office and after about one week, you should get a response from the school admission officers.
Payment of school fees should proceed after discussion of your child's subject combination. if you do not pay, your child is not considered as a student of the school. You have to pay first before you can get your student ID which immediately qualifies you as a student of the school.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Landlines/ House phones
Sign up with a any phone company who gives you the best plan for your needs. If you are not a frequent caller, you should go for the basic plan. Decide on the plan that suits you. Of course, you have to look at the price as well, so go ahead, compare prices and don’t be afraid to upgrade your plan if you think that you need to.
By this I mean that as you go along and you feel that you are making more calls per month than usual, you have to upgrade or it will be a little expensive. The more common phone companies are Telstra, Vodaphone, Optus and 3. There may be more companies out there but these are just the more popular ones.
For handphones, a source has informed me that if a phone that subscribes to 3 calls another phone subscriber of 3, the call is free. Of course, I have no idea whether it’s true or not so I’d advise you to check up on that. There could also be better handphone plans from the other companies as well so just check up on them as well, like virgin mobile?
By this I mean that as you go along and you feel that you are making more calls per month than usual, you have to upgrade or it will be a little expensive. The more common phone companies are Telstra, Vodaphone, Optus and 3. There may be more companies out there but these are just the more popular ones.
For handphones, a source has informed me that if a phone that subscribes to 3 calls another phone subscriber of 3, the call is free. Of course, I have no idea whether it’s true or not so I’d advise you to check up on that. There could also be better handphone plans from the other companies as well so just check up on them as well, like virgin mobile?
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Weather:
Weather in Melbourne can be unpredictable, though the weather forecast is accurate. Summer isn’t what it’s supposed to be. During the summer, it can plunge as low as 12 oC! Sweaters are definitely a must.
However, there are hot days and you should prepare for those as well. For the really hot days, the temperature is in the 40s. Poke your head out in the morning to judge how the day will be like. Mornings are usually chilly but it gets warmer later on.
If there are clear skies, the day promises to be a hot one. Bring out your shorts and t-shirts, but don’t forget to pop a sweater and an umbrella into a bag if you’re going out.
If it’s cloudy though, be on your guard for rain or even thunderstorms later on. From personal experience, it can start raining at about 1 pm and continue until late into the night.
For really bad thunderstorms, public transport can be disrupted and streets can be flooded (Yes it can happen!) For your own convenience, try to get home as soon as possible if you see looming black clouds. It’s a sure sign that the coming storm won’t be pretty.
At about 6 am, the skies already start to lighten up and it doesn’t get dark till about 9pm.
Most guides don’t prepare you for the onslaught of flies that appear in the summer. They are only active during the warmer parts of the days, so be prepared to do a whole lot of frantic hand- waving to keep them off your face. They are quite irritating too.
The best thing about the hot days is that no matter how hot it becomes, you’ll never sweat! Why? Throughout the whole day, there are cool winds.
Also in summer, there can be pretty heavy rain, so don’t forget your umbrella!
However, there are hot days and you should prepare for those as well. For the really hot days, the temperature is in the 40s. Poke your head out in the morning to judge how the day will be like. Mornings are usually chilly but it gets warmer later on.
If there are clear skies, the day promises to be a hot one. Bring out your shorts and t-shirts, but don’t forget to pop a sweater and an umbrella into a bag if you’re going out.
If it’s cloudy though, be on your guard for rain or even thunderstorms later on. From personal experience, it can start raining at about 1 pm and continue until late into the night.
For really bad thunderstorms, public transport can be disrupted and streets can be flooded (Yes it can happen!) For your own convenience, try to get home as soon as possible if you see looming black clouds. It’s a sure sign that the coming storm won’t be pretty.
At about 6 am, the skies already start to lighten up and it doesn’t get dark till about 9pm.
Most guides don’t prepare you for the onslaught of flies that appear in the summer. They are only active during the warmer parts of the days, so be prepared to do a whole lot of frantic hand- waving to keep them off your face. They are quite irritating too.
The best thing about the hot days is that no matter how hot it becomes, you’ll never sweat! Why? Throughout the whole day, there are cool winds.
Also in summer, there can be pretty heavy rain, so don’t forget your umbrella!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Renting or buying a house:
Yup, as promised, here's my take on how to go about getting a house...
Look at prices on the property market. Some questions to consider are:
It is up to you whether you prioritise cost or quality of the house.
For example, a weatherboard house with no central heating rents for $320 per week. It is only equipped with a radiator.
On the other hand, you are also considering a brick house which is more modern with central heating/cooling included. However, the more modern house rents for $440 per week.
Also, you need to consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms each of the houses have.
Which will you choose? Personally, I will choose the modern house as weatherboard houses tend to be rather damp especially after a storm. As it also has no central heating, the house can be quite cold in winter. But of course, there are people who choose the weatherboard house.
As I have said, the choice is entirely up to you and not all houses are the same.
Also, in order to buy/ rent a house, you will need to have the 100 points, which simply just means that you need a track record before the landlord is willing to rent it out to you. If you are in another country, it is rather difficult to rent a house. Otherwise, we can help you to look at the house and do whatever’s necessary... ...for a fee, of course.
When you move in, there are two important items your property agent needs to give you:
1. The condition report, which is a report made by the agent who has inspected the house and written out all the flaws in the house. ( this only applies if you have placed a bond with the landlord)
2. Landlords and Tenants Rights –This is a book that contains all the information about your rights.
You, as the owner of the house must not take it for granted that the agent has written down everything; no one is perfect. You will have to check and double check for yourself. For example, if there are scratches on the floor, then, write it down. If the oven timer is not working, write it down.
If there is any damage, not due to wear and tear, you risk having your bond forfeited.
Usually you will have two weeks, after which, you will return the condition report to the agent.
Look at prices on the property market. Some questions to consider are:
- Is the house in the zone of the school you want?
- How far is it to the nearest shopping centre?
- Do you have a car?
- Are your children able to walk to the school?
- Does the house have central heating/ cooling?
- Is the house a weatherboard/ brick house?
- Are you able to afford the price?
- Are the rental/ selling prices above your budget?
- Are you looking for a single storey or double storey house?
- How many toilets/ bathrooms?
- Is it close to the main road/ freeway?
- Is the house in a low-lying area?
- Is the house in danger of getting flooded during heavy storms?
- Are there many trees near the house? Is it close to a natural reserve?
- Neighbours?
- Security?
It is up to you whether you prioritise cost or quality of the house.
For example, a weatherboard house with no central heating rents for $320 per week. It is only equipped with a radiator.
On the other hand, you are also considering a brick house which is more modern with central heating/cooling included. However, the more modern house rents for $440 per week.
Also, you need to consider how many bedrooms and bathrooms each of the houses have.
Which will you choose? Personally, I will choose the modern house as weatherboard houses tend to be rather damp especially after a storm. As it also has no central heating, the house can be quite cold in winter. But of course, there are people who choose the weatherboard house.
As I have said, the choice is entirely up to you and not all houses are the same.
Also, in order to buy/ rent a house, you will need to have the 100 points, which simply just means that you need a track record before the landlord is willing to rent it out to you. If you are in another country, it is rather difficult to rent a house. Otherwise, we can help you to look at the house and do whatever’s necessary... ...for a fee, of course.
When you move in, there are two important items your property agent needs to give you:
1. The condition report, which is a report made by the agent who has inspected the house and written out all the flaws in the house. ( this only applies if you have placed a bond with the landlord)
2. Landlords and Tenants Rights –This is a book that contains all the information about your rights.
You, as the owner of the house must not take it for granted that the agent has written down everything; no one is perfect. You will have to check and double check for yourself. For example, if there are scratches on the floor, then, write it down. If the oven timer is not working, write it down.
If there is any damage, not due to wear and tear, you risk having your bond forfeited.
Usually you will have two weeks, after which, you will return the condition report to the agent.
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