What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Feb 17th 2010, 8:48 pm
#1
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Location: Point Cook - Melbourne
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What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Hi, we will be arriving in Melbourne around Easter time and I was wondering if there was anything you would stock up on in the UK before we leave? We have 2 boys ages 10 and 5 who go through things like trainers and t-shirts at an incredible rate! 
Feb 17th 2010, 9:00 pm
#2
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Mt Martha, Melbourne
Posts: 1,199
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
With the pound at such a dire rate - then everything!
Ikea furniture is more expensive out here together with things like make-up. Stock up on fav brands which you may not get out here such as Boots etc.
There are cheap clothes but there not as well made as cheap UK clothes - even though they all come from China!
Books are expensive out here so raid Asad and Tesco's before you come (and then you can join our book swap club
).
There are lots of outlet shops here so you may pick up trainers etc for the boys at a better price.
Kitchen equipment, make sure you bring all that as that will cost a fair bit to restock.
We do find some bits are cheaper like gardening stuff in Bunnings (Hombase equivalent) but again with the dire exchange rate it may not see so cheap now!
Hope this helps but post again if you have anything more specific.
KK
Ikea furniture is more expensive out here together with things like make-up. Stock up on fav brands which you may not get out here such as Boots etc.
There are cheap clothes but there not as well made as cheap UK clothes - even though they all come from China!
Books are expensive out here so raid Asad and Tesco's before you come (and then you can join our book swap club
).There are lots of outlet shops here so you may pick up trainers etc for the boys at a better price.
Kitchen equipment, make sure you bring all that as that will cost a fair bit to restock.
We do find some bits are cheaper like gardening stuff in Bunnings (Hombase equivalent) but again with the dire exchange rate it may not see so cheap now!
Hope this helps but post again if you have anything more specific.
KK
Feb 17th 2010, 9:03 pm
#3
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Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2010
Location: Point Cook - Melbourne
Posts: 86
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
With the pound at such a dire rate - then everything!
Ikea furniture is more expensive out here together with things like make-up. Stock up on fav brands which you may not get out here such as Boots etc.
There are cheap clothes but there not as well made as cheap UK clothes - even though they all come from China!
Books are expensive out here so raid Asad and Tesco's before you come (and then you can join our book swap club).
There are lots of outlet shops here so you may pick up trainers etc for the boys at a better price.
Kitchen equipment, make sure you bring all that as that will cost a fair bit to restock.
We do find some bits are cheaper like gardening stuff in Bunnings (Hombase equivalent) but again with the dire exchange rate it may not see so cheap now!
Hope this helps but post again if you have anything more specific.
KK
Ikea furniture is more expensive out here together with things like make-up. Stock up on fav brands which you may not get out here such as Boots etc.
There are cheap clothes but there not as well made as cheap UK clothes - even though they all come from China!
Books are expensive out here so raid Asad and Tesco's before you come (and then you can join our book swap club
).There are lots of outlet shops here so you may pick up trainers etc for the boys at a better price.
Kitchen equipment, make sure you bring all that as that will cost a fair bit to restock.
We do find some bits are cheaper like gardening stuff in Bunnings (Hombase equivalent) but again with the dire exchange rate it may not see so cheap now!
Hope this helps but post again if you have anything more specific.
KK
thanks
Feb 17th 2010, 9:08 pm
#4
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Joined: Jul 2009
Location: Sydney
Posts: 313
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Yorkshire Tea! Gonna miss that when I leave.
Feb 17th 2010, 9:09 pm
#5
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,375
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
I tried however airlines have these tedious baggage rules
Seriously the only thing I found more expensive in the UK was petrol.
God I miss those shops
Feb 17th 2010, 9:19 pm
#6
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Feb 17th 2010, 9:21 pm
#7
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
From my research, for me - it'll be the good ole M&S undies and my fave brands of make up. I keep reading that clothes shops are not so great over there - my 'cunning plan' is to tell hubbie this, resulting in a few shopping trips here to stock up! Luckily, he's not a member of BE and so only reads the posts I send on to him! RESULT
Feb 17th 2010, 10:09 pm
#8
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Sheet sets! Find they're much cheaper 'back home'! Duvets for those cold winter nights (seriously! )
Boys stuff - wouldn't worry too much. You can pick up cheap tees etc here. But might be worth getting a few in bigger sizes before you come. The best thing for me is my son doesn't grow out of his shorts as quickly as he used to grow out of his trousers/trackies
Handbags! Thongs (flip flops that is!) or nice sandal-ly shoes for yerself - I think they are way over-priced over-here
cheers
shears
) Boys stuff - wouldn't worry too much. You can pick up cheap tees etc here. But might be worth getting a few in bigger sizes before you come. The best thing for me is my son doesn't grow out of his shorts as quickly as he used to grow out of his trousers/trackies
Handbags! Thongs (flip flops that is!) or nice sandal-ly shoes for yerself - I think they are way over-priced over-here
cheers
shears
Feb 17th 2010, 10:15 pm
#9
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Joined: Dec 2006
Location: Mt Martha, Melbourne
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Oh yes shoes! Shoes are sooooo expensive here - even for an addict like me! Fortunately I'm going back to the UK each year so stock up on a stop over in Singapore where they are bootiful and cheap (get more Sing bucks to your pound than Aussie $).
Just becareful with bedding as Queens here are the same as King in the UK but shorter. So your UK duvet bunches up at the bottom of an Aussie cover. Plus it's called Manchester here which will confuse the hell out of you at first!
KK
Just becareful with bedding as Queens here are the same as King in the UK but shorter. So your UK duvet bunches up at the bottom of an Aussie cover. Plus it's called Manchester here which will confuse the hell out of you at first!
KK
Feb 17th 2010, 10:56 pm
#10
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Location: Woodvale, WA
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
If it were me coming again I'd buy:
Clothes for children from the likes of ASDA. Stock up on loads pjs, socks, pants, t-shirts, shorts, jeans, jumpers if you can for a couple of years. Kids clothes are expensive, ie I was looking at winter PJs for my son in Target and they wanted $20 for 1 pair. In ASDA I'd expect to get at least a 2-3 pack for less cash.
Clothes for myself but M&S do deliver to Oz.
Persil and comfort.
Books if you are a reader - I really miss Waterstones!
More of my favourite smellies when they were 3:2 in Boots. Also bring vitamins if you use them as they are expensive here.
Clothes for children from the likes of ASDA. Stock up on loads pjs, socks, pants, t-shirts, shorts, jeans, jumpers if you can for a couple of years. Kids clothes are expensive, ie I was looking at winter PJs for my son in Target and they wanted $20 for 1 pair. In ASDA I'd expect to get at least a 2-3 pack for less cash.
Clothes for myself but M&S do deliver to Oz.
Persil and comfort.
Books if you are a reader - I really miss Waterstones!
More of my favourite smellies when they were 3:2 in Boots. Also bring vitamins if you use them as they are expensive here.
Feb 17th 2010, 11:08 pm
#11
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Joined: Feb 2004
Location: Sunshine Coast
Posts: 309
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Hiya
The charity shops are really good where we live (Pelican Waters). Plus getting stuff from garage sales has been a life saver 4 us.
If I could bring anything out I would suggest Twiglets, Cheese Balls & Cashews.
J
The charity shops are really good where we live (Pelican Waters). Plus getting stuff from garage sales has been a life saver 4 us.
If I could bring anything out I would suggest Twiglets, Cheese Balls & Cashews.
J
Feb 17th 2010, 11:42 pm
#12
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
To lower the tone...
Bring a stock of your sanitary protection, the stuff here isn't as good and you have to search and try loads of different brands until you find one which suits.
I know I have opened the gates to a barage of inuendo... sorry...
Bring a stock of your sanitary protection, the stuff here isn't as good and you have to search and try loads of different brands until you find one which suits.
I know I have opened the gates to a barage of inuendo... sorry...
Feb 18th 2010, 1:18 am
#13
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Location: South Wales to New South Wales!
Posts: 3,065
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Clothes would probably be my suggestion too. You dont get the same 'buzz' over here clothes shopping as you do in the UK - especially when you first arrive as it all feels so alien for so long. Thankfully a lot of the UK shops are now delivering here... M&S included! I'm in the process of listing all of the shops that post here from the UK on the website below - the list is growing rapidly!!
http://www.uk2oz.com.au
OH and MINSTRELS... I'll pay you to bring a box of those babies!!!
http://www.uk2oz.com.au
OH and MINSTRELS... I'll pay you to bring a box of those babies!!!
Feb 18th 2010, 1:22 am
#14
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Location: Canberra
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Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Clothes, lots of clothes.
Everywhere in Australia sells the same stuff as every other store in Australia... so you always see people walking around in the same clothes (maybe just a different colour) it’s all expensive yet cheaply and poorly made and usually looks like a rainbow threw up on it. No taste in clothes over here what so ever.
I never understand those people who go to Melbourne for a weekend shopping trip and come back with stuff they can get in any other Aussie city, seriously every shopping centre in the country has the same shops with the same stuff.
So buy clothes.
Trainers/shoes here are pretty cheap and same quality/range as the UK.
Everywhere in Australia sells the same stuff as every other store in Australia... so you always see people walking around in the same clothes (maybe just a different colour) it’s all expensive yet cheaply and poorly made and usually looks like a rainbow threw up on it. No taste in clothes over here what so ever.
I never understand those people who go to Melbourne for a weekend shopping trip and come back with stuff they can get in any other Aussie city, seriously every shopping centre in the country has the same shops with the same stuff.
So buy clothes.
Trainers/shoes here are pretty cheap and same quality/range as the UK.
Feb 18th 2010, 1:23 am
#15
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Happily in Adelaide
Posts: 11,994
Re: What would you buy before you leave the UK?
Clothes would probably be my suggestion too. You dont get the same 'buzz' over here clothes shopping as you do in the UK - especially when you first arrive as it all feels so alien for so long. Thankfully a lot of the UK shops are now delivering here... M&S included! I'm in the process of listing all of the shops that post here from the UK on the website below - the list is growing rapidly!!
http://www.uk2oz.com.au
OH and MINSTRELS... I'll pay you to bring a box of those babies!!!
http://www.uk2oz.com.au
OH and MINSTRELS... I'll pay you to bring a box of those babies!!!