I have to confess, I am in love with Daiso. There is every little knick knack you could possibly…read morewant and then some! Not to mention the whole Japanese inspired theme given it is part of a big Japanese chain. This store is a "$2 shop" lover's dream - keeping in mind everything is $2.80 here. As a bit of a beauty fanatic I was enthralled by the range of face masks, bath products, and false lashes on offer. There is also a wide range of other beauty products but check the product listings carefully (most are in both Japanese and English) - ingredients such as palm and mineral oil are low quality... Then again given that everything is $2.80 one must have realistic expectations! Ladies a nice range of stockings and knee high socks was available when I went in as well as tonnes of great hair clips and other accessories. There's also a heap of great home stuff available too. No one is left out, there is even stuff for pets. :) Grab one of the shopping trolleys when you enter as a hand held basket is simply not enough! As much as I love this place, I am kind of glad there isn't one in my home city as I'd probably be in there daily (and broke as a result!).

Need new bike lights? Daiso has it. Need crockery for new apartment? Daiso will have some. Need a…read morecreepy outfit for your teeny tiny fluffy dog? Guess what, you'll find it at Daiso. Daiso is basically the Ikea of everything you can't find at Ikea. You walk in needing new ice trays and walk out with three bigs full of stuff that you're not event quite sure what it is. Everything is $2.80 (everything) and you'll find stuff you never even knew you needed. I go to buy cute little homewares such as crockery or the aforementioned ice trays, as well as things like silly cards or gift bags. The point is, if it exists, you'll find it at Daiso (for the low low sum of $2.80.)

When I was shopping in Coburg I took a wander through the aisles of this large discount shop. Along…read morewith the usual discount shop range of toys, kitchen ware and stationary this shop also has a lot of discount sweets and a few other groceries. It seems to specialize in cheap seasonal decorations. The window is currently full of Xmas decorations, last month it was Halloween and soon the Easter eggs will be filling the shop.

Have been here several times whilst doing the rounds of local bargain shops in the area, and it is…read morenow my first stop because they usually have a very good range of incense at cheap prices. Besides the incense, i've bought a few pieces of glassware, stationary, and cat products here because they have a good range of these that seems slightly better quality than the average imports. Very little in the way of hardware, electronics, or home maintenance compared to nearby stores, but i'm heading down there tonight to raid that excellent range of incense and buy a new drink bottle.

TwoDollarsEighty! I love knick knack stores and especially…read moreJapanese ones. Yes you will find random products in this store that will last all of 3 minutes but there are also kind of cool things like plastic stylish glasses, great for outdoor entertaining. Kitchen goods, Stationary products, Sushi making utensils, cute tote bags, mittens and socks... The store is HUGE and if I have $100 on the day I went I would have made that money go in a flash. Daiso is definitely worth checking out. Especially if you are planning a party and not keen on using your 'good stuff'

Daiso in Melbourne CBD is huge! It's a bargain galore full…read moreof stuff you don't need. It's a bit like Japanese Ikea really. Umbrella for $4 is pretty cheap and comes in handy when you're caught in the rain, but you really get what you paid for and some purchase here is a bit of a lucky dip. As in, wow that didn't break in first go, so lucky! i bought a packet of lollies here and the said umbrella. Although the first umbrella broke as the shop assistant opened it, but the second one didn't so i feel like a winner already.

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.

Lots of great outlet stores at the DFO! Adidas, Nike, Cotton On, a few shoe stores.. I can't name…read morethem all but I've always enjoyed coming here. The layout downstairs confuses me a bit and I get a little turned around when trying to find a store I've been to countless times. They have a food court downstairs has a really good selection of cuisines and are all reasonably priced.

Great place for a bargain and they have all the great stores for everything for the the family from…read morehats to shoes and everything in between

As far as gift/homewares shops go, I think Urban Attitude is the most fun. Filled with so much…read morestuff that absolutely no one will ever 'need', but is fun to have. Makes it a great place to go gift hunting if you're unsure what to get someone. I love their collection of designer cards. They're a bit out there and random, which is how I like my gift cards. No soppy Hallmark greetings for me, thanks. The stuff you can find here is genuinely fun/random/hipster, not like the cheap knock off/trying-too-hard stuff you find at other larger stores *cough* Typo *cough* The staff are lovely to boot and will help you track down something quirky be it poster art, wallets, toys, kitchen ware or maybe a T-Rex lamp.

I love love love this store! Full of super cute, fun and quirky things, Urban Attitude is great for…read morebuying gifts, finding unique things to fill your home with, and taking everyday things and turning them into something special. Take for example the best knife block holder I' ve ever seen...Its a silhouette of a person ( I like the one in fire engine red) with six or seven slits throughout the body, so when you put your knives in they look like they are going through the body..... okay, I just re-read that, and now I sound like a crazy person who thinks stabbing people is awesome. AWKWARD......But seriously its really cool. When you walk into the St Kilda store, you feel off balance, until you realise that it is the shelves and design of the store that is off balance, not yourself. I think it really suits the concept they are going for. Definitely go check it out.

Love my local shopping centre has coles and Kmart for purchases a couple of two dollar shops, smoke…read moredude some indian and Chinese cafes - I think three. And my fav take way store hot chicken not sure of name only new have gr8 egg and bacon rolls 3.70 wtf coffee cost more. The centre has two nail places two hair dressers and this is only outside but Santurary lakes bottle shop for all your alcoholic purchase ... You know who u are plus a new juice place, indian restaurant and real estate more shops on the out side and subway plus the best souvlaki especially mixed yum yum yum xx

Love a bargain? DFO Essendon has a pretty good selection of brands we all love, plus it's part of…read morethis huge homemaker - like centre. Here you'll find: Freedom Furniture (massive must be full range store) the Good Guys (massive store), Nick Scali Furniture (massive), Spotlight (massive store with plenty of stock), Dan Murphys, Beacon Lighting, Adairs...you get the idea. Every store here is massive. Fashion wise, I reckon they do stock, apart from last seasons threads, current season too (hello Industrie?) which I suppose caters to all manner of taste and seasonal needs. Heck, grab some summer Quickie Rippie t- shirts in winter for summer and you're all set for what's coming next. The DFO complex is huge and there's two mid-sized food courts and a few cafes dotted throughout the place. This DFO has one main entrance and exit unlike the other DFOs which makes it less confusing to navigate a mammoth complex. Look at the map as you enter and then either go clockwise or anti-clockwise works both ways. Restrooms are in alleys between the shops just look above for the navigation signage. Plus points are tenants seem to be clustered together according to type of merchandise i.e. kitchenalia and dining are next to each other, homewares and decor, professional workwear labels are beside each other, streetwear and surf labels etc. Makes for good price checks and comparisons. Ample parking, and walking a little bit won't necessarily kill you. Just watch out for cars reversing in and out. That can get pretty hairy. Service is pretty good from almost all the shops i went into, considering its a bargain depot of sorts. Some of them were really helpful too. DFO is one of those places you can never leave without getting something anything.

This is a shopping wonderland, but also a greta place to get sick of other shoppers and leave with…read morebags full of discounted clothing/kitchenware/linen etc you may not need. Ther eis an impressive selection of shops, with almost anything available, including furnature, whiteware, electronic goods etc. Also Alcohol and stiiock feed in the area. No/poor public transport access, but there is a large car park. Bendigo Bank ATMS.