You know that moment when you're just tiring of shopping for cool clothes and realise that what you…read moreactually REALLY need is a bucket and then you find yourself enjoying bucket shopping more than you ever enjoyed shopping for said cool clothes? It is at this very moment that I head to Best Mart, a store selling a bit of everything - buckets, bins, kitchen accessories, mirrors, art supplies - at great prices from a decidedly unglamorous shop on the Collingwood side of Smith Street. Kind of like Ikea in miniature - but without the Scandinavian design sensibility and on sale - Best Mart is definitely the place to go for all things practical and prosaic. And the buckets? Brilliant. Lots of colours, lots of sizes and providing one of the most satisfying buying experiences I've had in ages. I love Best Mart.

There is nothing I like better than knowing what product you are looking for and getting it for a…read morebargain. If you are looking for Converse products such as sneakers, clothing, tracksuits and windcheaters, then this is the place to go. Authentic Factory Outlets is located furthest from the city end of Smith Street amongst all the factory outlets offering products with labels at cheaper prices than you find in regular stores. I managed to get a pair of Converse One Stars and even got some free Converse socks to sweeten the deal. It's not only Converse in this Authentic Factory Outlet, you can also get a number of other cheap shoes and other street wear at discounted products such as Tommy Hilfiger. This part of Smith Street is great for the bargain hunter and this Authentic Factory Outlets is a must.

Like any bad chef I always blame my tools for the outcome of a crappy, under-cooked meal. But…read morebecause of Superchef I can no longer do that... Damn them for stocking high quality products! However they have made the job of cooking a lot easier and painfree. I didn't realise you could cut onions practically tear-free if you have a good quality, sharp knife! They also stock a good variety of crockery and cooking utensils so even if you still screw-up dinner at least your guests will appreciate the lovely plate it came on.

As a part-time ninja I often find myself in the market for some cheap but good quality knives. Well…read moreSuperchef Warehouse has provided for me on many an occasion. As an added bonus their well priced steel pots can be melted down into ninja stars with relative ease. For those of you after cooking equipment for it's intended use there is a delectable range of cutlery, ceramic ware, wine glasses and every other imaginable kitchen item the average gourmand may desire in their kitchen.

This salubrious strip of Clifton Hill would not be complete without an independent book store for…read morethe cyclists to flick through after their coffee's. Clifton Hill Books stocks a mix of local/national authors as well as an international selection. No airport filler here, just the literary top shelf. There is a range of the cheap Penguin classics, best gift idea ever. Clifton Hill Books also holds readings from local authors, previous guests include local upstart Catherine Deveny who has read from one of her books here. Prices range from $10 to $60 for the more eclectic selection, not my regular bookstore but worth a look if you're after a tricky title.

Sacred Heart Mission's Op Shop is a welcome addition to Nicholson Village. The funky music makes me…read morewant to linger, and be vintage section is full of gems (even some new costume jewellery). The store is small so they only stock goods in pristine condition.

There are a quite a few cheap Asian shops along Smith St and Hot Potatoes doesn't really stock…read moreanything outrageously different from the others. One thing they do have that's different is the staff. I was in here last week, albeit in a funny mood with a friend and there was a party atmosphere in the store. These kinds of stores always bring out the inner child in me. There is a selection of stupid sunglasses that is always worth a laugh. For some reason I was wondering around with a paintbrush and the sales assistant was almost in tears with laughter - I think it might have been my dancing. I got a quick lesson in Mandarin and ended up buying the brush - cheap too.

I love this knick knack shop. All the things you never knew you needed are here. Paper straws with…read morered hearts? Got them. Fake bamboo stick? Yep, down the back. Gardening gloves? Yes, of course. Awkwardly shaped squishy stress ball? At the counter so you can impulse purchase and regret later! It always seems to be open as well! So convenient. Such potato.

This duel storefront on Fairfield's busy Station Street is where you will find home wares and…read morekitchen accessories in many forms. Like this review, Casa Moderna is practical and functional, not much frou frou here. Brands such as Maxwell & Williams, Baccarac, Salt & Pepper and Kitchen Aid get top billing, however you will find hundreds of brands in stock here. The store is well stocked and the sporadic sales and specials are defiantly worth checking out. Staff are helpful without being intrusive which I always appreciate. If you need something for your kitchen then Casa Moderna will satisfy all your home ware needs.

This is one of my favourite stores for anything 'kitchen'. The Team that work here are wonderful…read moreand incredibly helpful as well as having an exceptional knowledge of all their products. Fantastic, Friendly shop with quality products!

Located in the middle of nowhere you'll need some wheels to get your namaste get up on. Huge…read morewarehouse location with all your Lululemon basics on sale organised in your size which definitely is a plus when it comes to factory outlet shopping - no sorting & sifting through mess. Compared to RRP it is pretty cheap so shop till you drop into your downward dog. Namaste... "Ommmmm"

Five out of five brightly coloured tops!…read more I love, love, love Lulu Lemon. The reasons why I Iove this Canadian brand are many but here's a few: - The make their clothes out of fabrics they expect you to sweat in and chuck straight in the wash - The fabrics all feel really nice on the skin and don't chafe - They have some great colours, as well as the neutral blacks, whites etc - They have everything from tights to cool pants. My favourite item from Lulu Lemon is a pair of black pants that go to just below the knee. I can wear them to run in, or they are nice enough that I have worn them out so they are really versatile. They were perfect to wear to a work cricket match - I could run around in them but I could also go out to a cafe afterwards. Perfect! The outlet store is great as well! They stock full priced gear but they also do indeed have some bargains. I bought a jacket I had my eye on at the full priced store for nearly half the price. Sweet! My only concern is that my sister bought something from here and they forgot to take the security tag off, so she had to return it. So maybe check that before you leave. There is a bit of parking in the surrounding streets.

I was very disappointed today when I attended McCoppins and was told off by an older man at the…read morecashier for not enquiring about his day. I had recently recovered from a viral illness which affected my hearing and so I didn't hear his initial greeting. I attend this deli very regularly, have spent a lot of money within its doors and generally have been happy with the service so this interaction was very disappointing. It makes me think twice about returning.

McCoppins kind of accentuates the bourgeois middle-class elite-isms that have crept in to the once…read moreworking class Clifton Hill. They do kind of higher end produce and deli goods with boutique breads and cheeses and the likes. Obviously, their prices match the merchandise and, though it can be a great place to pick up picnic supplies in a hurry, this ain't no place for struggling artists to get their weekly groceries. That said, they're obviously catering to a specific demographic, so it's hard to begrudge them what they do. They do stock some good sourdoughs and ciabattas, so if bread's your thing and you can't be arsed walking to the North Fitzroy bread emporiums, McCoppins probably have the best Cliffy Hill has to offer. I hate that they don't use the possessive apostrophe in their signage as well. Maybe they speak of many McCoppins.