This year, Santa’s little helpers are in the blogosphere.

As consumers feel the pinch from high interest rates and petrol prices, shopping blogs have emerged as a great source of bargain ideas for Christmas.

So says Sara Goldstein, Editor of The Bargain Queen (www.thebargainqueen.com), Australia’s leading source of independent shopping ideas and advice.

“Blogs are a great way to find that elusive gift for Aunty Maude, without breaking the bank,” said Sara.

In recent months, a wave of Australian shopping and fashion blogs has attracted thousands of regular readers to share gift ideas, tip-offs about upcoming sales, and stories of their shopping triumphs.

Previously the domain of computer geeks and amateur political pundits, blogging has attracted a newer — and much prettier — group of writers, as fashion and shopping blogs have exploded onto the blogosphere.

Whimsical names like Camarilla, Sassybella and Coolchiq are reflective of the individual personality and authentic voice behind each blog.

“Consumers are turning to blogs to cut-through all the sales talk. Because they’re local writers, you get an honest assessment of a product’s advantages and shortcomings from people who have used it in their home,” said Sara.

According to hit-parade website Technorati.com, The Bargain Queen is Australia’s #1 shopping blog and has already made it into the top 0.1% of all blogs worldwide.

“I never expected so many people to take an interest in finding their shopping tips online,” said Sara.

It looks like this Christmas, Santa has lots of extra little helpers.

The Bargain Queen’s Xmas shopping tips:

• Make a list and check it twice.
  List everyone you will buy for and how much you want to spend on them.
  Make sure the total is within your budget. Trim the list if need be.
  (Who’s been naughty? Who’s been nice?)
• Stick to the list!
• Buy multi-pack cards. A single card can cost as much as box of 10!
• Recycle wrapping paper. If it’s nice paper and in good condition, then you can enjoy it all over again. And it’s environmentally friendly.
• Start early. The sooner you start, the sooner it’s finished — and you can avoid the crowds.
• Beat the crowds online.You can do all your shopping online now at local online retailers or Amazon.com. Buying all from one website saves money on postage.
• Left it to the last minute? Try to shop at ‘off-peak’ times such as business hours, or late at night.

Where are the bargains this Christmas?

• CDs and DVDs: JB Hi-Fi or Dirt Cheap CDs stores
• Homewares: Sydney’s Birkenhead Point or Melbourne’s Essendon DFO and Nunawading Brand Smart have money-saving outlet stores for David Jones, Freedom, Bayswiss, Country Road, Bohemia Crystal and Tree of Life.
• Xmas cheer: 1st Choice Liquor Superstore
• Leather goods: Oroton have outlet stores in Market City, Birkenhead Point and Homebush DFO.
• Fragrance and Cosmetics: online stores like Smart Poppy (www.smartpoppy.com.au), Fresh (www.fragrancesandcosmetics.com.au) and Fountain Cosmetics (www.fountaincosmetics.com.au/)
• Books: Border’s or amazon.com

More shopping secrets are at www.thebargainqueen.com

Queries, comments, photographs and interviews

The Bargain Queen
Sara Goldstein
Editor
0403 391 820
thebargainqueen@gmail.com
www.thebargainqueen.com

Who is The Bargain Queen?

Sydneysider Sara Goldstein first made a name for herself as a design professional in interactive multimedia and web design. She has applied her skills to create The Bargain Queen, based on good style, good living and good money management. Her aim is to demystify the secrets of looking good on a budget. It also helps that at various times in her life, Sara has had to make every dollar stretch as far as it could go.

Directory of Australian shopping and fashion blogs

Camarilla

Independent Australian fashion
Andy Howard
Editor
0413 345 493
andy@camarilla.com.au
www.camarilla.com.au

Coolchiq

Australia’s #1 fashion blog
Petra Sallstrom
Fashion Editor
0418 749 621
coolchiq@coolchiq.com
www.coolchiq.com

SASSYBELLA.com

Adding the Aussie to online fashion & beauty
Helen Lee
Editor
helen@sassybella.com
www.sassybella.com