The Information Magazine

This post is dedicated to all movie-buffs out there. If you love going to the movies because of the powerful visual and sound effects the gigantic screen offers but can’t visit the theatres much because of the atrocious price of money tickets these days, don’t fret. You can scope out ways in which you can enjoy screenings of your favourite movies and save your dollars at the same time.

Two weekends ago, I went to see the movie ‘Valentine’s Day’ with a few friends. One of them managed to get discounted tickets for just $7.50. This is possible when bought in batches of 10 from selected cinemas. Check with your local cinema for the latest offers.

The following are some ways movie lovers can watch their favorite shows on a budget:

·        Constantly check cinema websites for special events. Currently, Hoyts is offering a free ticket on your birthday month. All you need to do is to provide details online and claim your ticket.   AMC sometimes offers half-price movies on weekdays at select theaters. 

·        Some cinemas offer discounted tickets on Tuesdays. You can save up to $4 per ticket. There are good deals for seniors too on Tuesday specials.

·        See a movie before 5 pm to get the matinee price. After 5 pm the demand for tickets increases, and theaters can get away with charging much higher prices. At matinees, a $9 or $10 ticket may be discounted to $5 or $6.

·        Avoid buying online as you will end up paying extra for your ticket. After checking with several cinemas, I realise that patrons pay up to a dollar extra for making online bookings. It is best to visit the cinema a little bit early and purchase your tickets at the ticketing booth.

·      Check to see if the cinema offers discounts when purchased with the credit card you have subscribed to. A friend of mine always uses hers to purchase tickets and enjoys up to 20% discount. How cool is that?

 ·     It pays to be a member. Membership has many benefits such as buying discounted tickets as well as having access to advanced screenings. Dendy Cinema offers the fifth ticket free to its patron card member along with other privileges. Village Cinema is offering Member Month Special when you can bring along a friend for just $5.   

·      Buy in bulk for great savings. A bulk of 10 tickets gives you about 20% discount. The price for bulk screen savers differ from cinema to cinema so it’s best for you to check out individual websites.

And if you can wait to watch your favourite shows, the alternative money-savvy way is to swap DVDs or rent them from your local DVD library.  

Do you know of any other ways to purchase discounted cinema tickets?  

You open your mail box one day and are greeted with countless catalogues or leaflet promotions. McDonald’s, Burger King’s, Gloria Jeans, The Good Guys, Target are just some of the participating merchants in the promotion strategy.  Sounds familiar? Many of us throw these catalogues or leaflets hoping that we don’t get tempted by the irresistable offers in the junk mail heap in our hands. Ironically, catalogues can actually help us to save.  

I receive letterbox deals once every two months and the weekly neighbourhood paper that comes with merchandise promotions in the mail. A close look at the promotions reveals how we can actually save by taking advantage of such deals. Here’s how:

1. Save on meals 

The meal discount coupons from fast food outlets are great for cutting down on your meal expenses for the whole family. You can save about $10 for a family of five this way. Meal catalogues are a great way to find out promotions available in your area.  For example, I discovered that Michel Patisserie offers a good ‘coffee with hot cross bun’ deal for $3.90 from the promotion leaflet chucked in my letterbox. Such a good treat if you happen to want a pick-me-up feeling after a hectic morning at work or catch up with a friend over coffee. My favourite restaurant, Oporto has a New Grilled Wings promotion for $2.98 for a pack of 3 wings. 

2. Save on merchandise

Advertising leaflets offer good bargains for items such as vitamin supplement, baby wipes, cosmetics, apparels and services such as hair treatment and insulation for energy efficiency. Special discounts are offered if you present the leaflet or if you buy in bulk to stockpile. Big local department stores often advertise their monthly or seasonal offers via mail. If you don’t happen to receive them, check them out at the following sites:

Target USA 

Wallmart USA

Target Australia

Kmart Australia  

The next time you receive such catalogues take time to leaf through them carefully to see if there is something you actually need or may need for a good price. Bookmark the item and get back to it again after some research.   

Strategies to adopt:

1.             Wise decision-making

If you don’t need anything at the moment or for the next season, probably it is best to recycle the catalogues. Catalogues come in handy if you find items that you really need for a good price. For example, if you have just moved in to a new place, catalogues are useful in helping you source out the best deals in household appliance available. This also applies to certain items of clothing or foot ware that you need. Quality vitamin supplements or toiletries on offer are also items that are worth sourcing out.   

2.             Comparison shopping 

Avoid buying on impulse just because the item is supposedly cheap and on offer. Check out the prices of the same item online or at your local department store and compare prices before you decide to purchase the item advertised in your catalogue. Don’t end up paying for more than you should. Offers are meant to save you some cash, not lose.     

3.             Organised Filing  

File up your catalogues systematically by dates. If you happen to need something relevant, sieve through them again. Discard the ones that are at least two months or two issues old or those whose expiry dates are long due. The latter applies to meal coupons.  

Catalogue shopping avoids the hassle of going to the mall and physically finding for the item you need. Hence, a lot of time is saved. Once you know what is available from a certain store for a certain price, it is certainly worth travelling to the intended destination and department without having to spend precious time in futile. 

Were you ever enticed by newspaper advertisements that announce low prices for expensive beauty packages? Flip through the local newspaper and chances are you will come across several adverts that read: 20 slimming sessions for $189, Make-over session for half the original price – Just $49 Limited Period Only, Innovative Gold Mask Facial for $88- usual $200 etc.  

Like thousands of people out there, I was taken in by such gimmicks. Two years ago, I came across a tummy trimming advertisement that offered a trial price of just $88 for 20 sessions that covered 10 sessions of machine-enhanced massage threatment and 10 free sessions of Far Infrared Therapy on two areas of the lower body. Knowing that such treatments normally cost thousands of dollars, I took the opportunity to try the ‘oh so good to be true’ offer. During the cellulite assessment session, the consultant talked me into signing up for another treatment session called Fat Blaster costing $2200 for 20 sessions. I refused and stuck to the original deal.

That was not the end of my sales transaction with the beauty consultant. The free Far Infrared Therapy treatment did not well work on me as I felt an intense burning sensation on my tummy area hours after the session. I requested for a replacement and was recommended another treatment using a suction-pad like machine that facilitates in the draining of fatty deposits, leading to the eventual flattening of the tummy area. That cost me an additional $1500, a far cry from the original ‘sounds good’ offer of $88. The horror didn’t end there. I was constantly monitored by the same consultant who hovered around me like a hawk after each session and persistently tried to up sell the package claiming that a certain recommended treatment guaranteed more effective results. Another sales gimmick used is to get customers to try new treatments for free in the hope of selling upgraded packages to customers. Once you agree to try it, be prepared for a lengthy sales pitch by the consultant.  

      The following are gimmicks used by sales people in almost any industry:

1.       Buy one get one free 

Would you buy something just to get the same item for free? This makes sense if you use the item regularly. Such items include toiletries or household products. Beware of shelf life though. You don’t need a duplicate accessory or cosmetic item such as lip gloss or eye shadow unless you are planning to give away the free item. Would you even use the second item if you have never tried using the first? If this is the case, then forget about buying it.

2.       Buy a total of $50 and you will be entitled to a free gift

Do you want to fork out extra money just to get something free which you may not even use? Don’t be tempted by such gimmicks. It will be practical to get just get the item you need and forget about the free item and save the extra money.   

3.       Try a new treatment for a good recommended price  

If the price quoted for a package is too high for your budget, negotiate further if you are really interested in the product or treatment. Do not be trapped into being obliged to sign up or buy. This may happen if you are not interested in purchasing but mindlessly negotiate anyway, not realising that a deal may eventually have to be struck at your consultant’s persistent efforts to gain a commission. Don’t hesitate to probe your sales or beauty consultant further. If a particular slimming treatment costs an additional price of $2000 for 20 sessions, ask how long such a treatment per session will be. Would you pay $100 for a 10 minute session in the hope of flattening your tummy or getting a face lift? Do bear in mind that such a treatment will be ongoing as discontinuing it after the last session will mean getting back your bulge or sag if no alternative treatment is maintained. 

4.       Buy a product at an amazing low price while stocks last 

If you don’t need the product, be firm but polite about your stand. Don’t be pressured to purchase it after a trial treatment. If you think you don’t need the item or know where to get a better deal elsewhere, turn down the offer politely but firmly. Think of an excuse to get out of the situation if you feel harassed.  

5.       For a limited time only

This is a favourite sales gimmick used by every sales person or retailer. You will be told that the product is sold at such an affordable price just for that day.  Don’t be taken in and make an impulse purchase just because the price is supposedly low. Chances are that the same phrase will be quoted to someone else who comes in the very next day and the day after until the stock depletes.     

Beauty consultants can be persistent and annoying as they find all ways and means to strike a deal. This is understandable as part of their salary comes from commissions made per sale. Don’t get lured by those enticing advertisements as you now know that the sale does not end there. The reality is that you will be coerced into purchasing one product or treatment after another once you commit yourself to the initial bargain. Be aware of your budget and prioritise your needs before you commit into buying. If you are aware of having to spend beyond your limits, walk straight towards the door politely and tell your consultant that you will have to seriously consider signing up before parting with your hard earned cash!             

Walk into a deli or a café and you will be greeted by a delectable selection of sandwiches and rolls all neatly arranged in the glass display cases. A closer look at the prices will reveal that each sandwich costs about $8 on average, more so when the bread is of the rustic or artisan type like Ciabatta, Panini, bagel, baguette or rye. Add a handful of fries or potato wedges and a cupful of plain salad, the price goes up to $10.

Now do the Mathematics. If you eat at least a sandwich bought from the deli everyday for lunch, an average of $160 is drawn out of your pocket per month. That makes $1920 a year. You can cut down the amount spent just for lunch by half by trying out the following ideas.

The supermarket offers a variety of choices for a nutritious home-made gourmet sandwich. Artisan bread like Panini or rustic bread like rye or multi grains like linseed and soy bread can be bought for an average of $4. The shelf life of the loaf, compared to normal commercial bread, is 3 to 4 days on average. Cheese can be a tasty and nutritious base for a sandwich. So if you buy a packet of sliced cheese for about $3 (of course the better ones cost more but can still last for a long time if sliced thinly), this can last for up to 2 weeks if consumed a slice a day. 

For the more adventurous, look for spreads such as mustard or low fat mayonnaise or even dips such as avocado, baba ganoush (I have tried this in my sandwich and trust me, it tastes so good with cheese and salami), guacamole or humus. Add in some fungi like mushroom or vegetables like zucchini or even fruit like tomato or avocado or alternate your filling with salami, you have a gourmet sandwich that costs an average of $4 each. What’s wonderful about homemade sandwich is that you can even double your lunch if you choose to and still slash your lunch expenses by half. Of course, sandwich filling is not limited to the above-mentioned suggestions. With a little bit more creativity and effort, the list of sandwich ideas are inexhaustive.

Baba Ganoush and Cheese Sandwich

Ingredients

Rye bread

Sliced Cheddar Cheese

Baba Ganoush Dip

Sliced zucchini

Method

Spread baba ganoush lightly on each piece of rye bread

Add a slice of cheddar cheese

Cover the cheese slice with sliced zucchini

For variation, add salami, salmon, sautéed mushrooms or sliced avocado or tomato 

Discounting the fact that you may need to have to lunch out for formal or informal meetings, you can still save a lot on the days you eat in. The added bonus is, you get to control what you eat by eating healthily.  

Happy Valentine’s Day to all readers and happy budgeting!

You order coffee from Gloria Jeans and are issued with a Frequent Sippers Card that allows you to redeem one free regular size drink after 10 punches on the card. You are in a shopping frenzy for shoes at Charles and Keith on one occasion and your $150 purchase entitles you to a 10% discount loyalty card on subsequent visits and 20% off any purchase on your birthday month. You sign up for Myer’s loyalty programme in which you can earn two shopping credits for every dollar you spend at the store and receive a $20 Myer Gift Card once you’ve earned 2000 shopping credits. You can’t resist Kinokuniya Book Store’s 20% storewide discount on its products every quarterly for just a small fee that can be renewed yearly. These are some examples of loyalty programmes that retailers offer to win customers and establish a long-term relationship that keeps them coming back to the store. But do customers gain from these loyalty programmes? This post looks at whether such programmes offer a win-win situation for both parties.

So what’s the purpose of the loyalty card? The loyalty card tells us we belong, we are special, we are entitled to discounts, points and freebies. It’s a sign that those retailers are finally recognising the importance of their customers and giving something back. And if we also recognise it as a marketing ploy, to keep us coming back, well, we’re savvy enough to understand it’s a deal and have the liberty to choose which loyalty card we’d like to keep on using.  

Loyalty cards are worth keeping if they encourage customers to save through discounts or through reward programmes. Such cards issued by stores that you frequent come in handy as this means you can take advantage of discounts or VIP sales. You save each time you purchase something you need from the store. Alternatively, points can be chalked up and then redeemed. I know of a friend who gets David Jones vouchers from points redeemed so she can buy a dress for a special occasion or new linen. I’ve recently registered my new Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards Card that allows me to accumulate Qantas Frequent Flyer Points each time I make a purchase. This benefits me since I fly twice a year anyway. Now isn’t that great? This is what I call a win-win situation. When Woolworths’ Everyday Rewards card scheme linked to the Qantas frequent flyer program in June 2009, per customer purchase at the supermarket increased “almost overnight”, according to the Woolworths’ chief executive Michael Luscombe and reported by Australian Food News. This scheme benefits the supermarket as well as customers.

However, if you don’t shop frequently at Woolworths but begin shopping there though it is several bus-stops away from a rival supermarket just to chase your dream of a free flight by earning the frequent flyer points you are then not using the programme wisely. This is true if you have to spend around $55 000 to collect 22 000 points to win a return ticket. It also doesn’t make sense to swipe your card for the $0.04 discount on fuel and drive six blocks away to the nearest participating petrol station just to save $1.20. So before you decide to establish loyalty with a certain store, weigh out the pros and cons of its loyalty programme.  

I have reservations about Frequent Coffee Sippers or Frequent Eater cards. Coffee or food joints issue cards offering free coffee after 10 punches on the card in the hope of establishing loyalty among customers. Hence people will come back to the store for more coffee just to get the free cup of coffee or side dish as promised. This leaves me with the question of whether this encourages one to save or to spend more. I believe that it is advantageous for those who partronise such outlets daily and get rewarded in the end. Hmmm hang on……don’t such habits discourage savings? For those like me who visit such joints once in a while, such rewards just don’t work. Don’t fall in the trap of being lured to the store just to have a drink or some food for the sake of a free drink or meal.

Loyalty programmes are good, as long as they are used in a disciplined manner. If you do extra shopping because you’ll get a loyalty program discount or shop just because you want to use the loyalty card, then it might be time to think twice because you’re not saving anything. If you are using it for purchases you would have made anyway, then you’re probably getting a pretty good deal. It always helps to ask yourself if you need the item before you feel tempted to purchase anything.     

To sum up, do loyalty programs save you money? As a consumer, if you use your loyalty program well, then it will indeed save you money. The best way to save yourself some cash is to research loyalty programs and sign up with the ones that suit your spending patterns. I’ve done my research and have signed up for membership cards offered by Priceline and Fly Buys Programme by K-mart. What are your views on this?