Aspley Village Shopping Centre is a hidden treasure that I honestly don't want to tell anyone…read moreabout. Less than 3km away is Chermside Shopping Centre with its busy crowds and horrible parking situation, yet Aspley Village still remains a calm and serene shopping experience. It was always quiet, there is ample undercover parking and you don't have to battle with crowds. And this is bliss, when all I want to do is some grocery shopping. I am noticing the crowds are slowly starting to grow on weekends, but I think we've got a while before it becomes anything like Germside. The Coles supermarket is clean and new and well laid out, Patton's Big Guns has all your fruit & veg, deli and butcher needs met, there's a Malouf Chemist and a bottle shop. What else could you need? Well there's also a florist, a bakery, a fish and chip takeaway/seafood monger, a cafe, a couple of fashion stores and the complex is also home to a Medical Centre, Sunshine Kebabs and Outback Jack's Steakhouse.

Bargain City in Lutwyche is full of a whole range of cheap and cheerful products. They've got…read moreplenty of stuff from pet needs, homewares, toiletries and confectionary. You would be struggling to find anything over the price of $15, as everything is cheap cheap CHEAP. The quality, is not so bad although cheaply mass produced. I've bought plastic tumblers from here that have survived a whole lot of dropping, but are in great condition still. They've got plenty of wrapping paper for last minute wrapping needs and my favourite, cheap art supplies including canvases! The customer service here is really good. They've always got enough staff to handle the customers and they even have enough time to personally help customers out. Pretty good place for a bargain shop.

Who doesn't like a discount store that sells those little bits and bobs that you need around the…read morehome or for some random occasions? I've noticed that a lot of these types of stores popping up now in these times of purse pinching. Super Variety Discount is a store that will probably have those odd things you seek. If I've ever needed a moneybox or a set of cheap tools and I'm way shallow in the money stakes, I've gone here. Sometimes it's kind of a guilty pleasure when I've got like $2 to spare and I want to find something value for money even if in the end it's a cheap pair of pluggers that will last me a weekend. Be away though, you get what you pay for. Ok, lets be real here, the stuff that you buy here is probably not of the high standard that you'd expect from a major retailer and more than likely the goods are made in some third world country children's sweatshop. Sometimes we forget these things for the deal. Also, for those who like a good toke on the tobacco leaf, there is a cabinet full of smoker's paraphernalia. Get in there before their all gone.

Living close to this store is great all your needs in one store and at a great price too the store…read moreis well stocked and the staff know where everything is which help Keep up the great work

Ah Bargain City. It'd have to be one of my favourite shit shops. They got me in with $7 2kg packs…read moreof Radiant (I love that smell) and kept me with discount party goods, craft supplies and pet stuff. I HATE throwing a party and spending a fortune on dinky plastic plates and tiny cups. It's all half the price here (at least) and for $2.50 you get 20 giant cups which won't annoy any of your guests. I also don't see why I should have to spend big bucks on wood glue or other random crafty stuff (looking at you Spotlight, you make it cheaper to buy it already made) so I'm always pretty happy when I need to duck in here. Yes it's a shit shop, so yes there's plenty of shit to wade through (knee high concrete lawn ornaments anyone?) but if you're a student furnishing your house or just a cheap skate like me there's plenty of bargains to be found.

If you're on a tight budget, need some items and don't mind it being used, this is a good place to…read morecheck out. This one is a newer store that opened in December 2012. The other Tip Shop is in The Acacia Ridge Tip Shop (46 Colebard Street West, Acacia Ridge Qld 4110). "Brisbane City Council's two Tip Shops sell quality used, recycled and second hand products which have been salvaged before going to landfill." It's a large warehouse full of "stuff". Geebung is easier to get to is you depend on public transportation. Geebung has a train station which is only a few blocks away from the warehouse. Open from 8am - 4pm. We bought a few coffee mugs ($1.00 each), some foldable outdoor chairs ($5.00 each) with carrying case. When we went, they also had bicycles, kids toys, books, desks, shelves, kitchen items, clothes, golfing gear, tents, paintings, etc. The biggest bonus, besides your personal gain, is the fact that by purchasing items here, you're helping to support families and individuals with disabilities. The Tip Shops are operated by the Endeavor Foundation, one of Australia's oldest charities. http://www.endeavour.com.au/Our-Endeavour-Foundation/About-Us

North-West Plaza works for me as a local. Not only can I do my grocery shopping at Woolies, but…read moreyou have access to an organic butcher & drygoods store. Add to that all the essentials of a Medical Centre, Chiropractor, Travel Agent, Bakery, Bottleshop, Greengrocer, Gym, Pharmacist, The Reject Shop and a few food outlets and really you don't need much else for your week to week needs. Parking is never an issue, whilst there is a restriction upstairs of 30 minutes you also have the option of under cover which allows 3 hours. As a local shopping centre this is a well organised one with the right facilities which minimises the running around to get my chores done. For all of us with busy lifestyle's that can only be a winner!

North-West Plaza is a handy spot in a central location. It has your essentials like Woolworths, a…read morePharmacy, Greengrocer, Butcher, Bottle Shop and ATM's but then it also has unexpected gems. The Rejected Shop is a great addition, it is a rare find in nowadays and you'll be surprised at the useful products they provide on the cheap as well as having my all time favourite Sushi Train 'Crazy Fish Sushi' which is quite new to the location. You can't lose shopping at North-West Plaza PLUS it saves you driving to Brookside, Chermside or Stafford!

While there has always been a strong South Asian presence at the Nundah Farmer's Markets, it's been…read morejust two weeks since the Indian Food Stall set up shop. I love the fact that South Indian fare in particular is the focus of this stall. Managed by two sweet South Indians who also have a stall at a market in Sunnybank, I tucked in knowing that whatever's on my plate comes from knowledgable hands. Their sambhar and chutney were delicious and went along just right with the freshly prepared dosa and potato vegetable. I hope they include more South Indian fare in the future as Brisbane is sorely lacking in this style of wholesome cuisine. Right now, cholle puri, polas, sada (plain), masala (potato stuffed) & onion dosai are on their menu, apart from gulaab jamun (soft, deep fried flour balls soaked in sugar syrup) & something else I can't remember.

These really are the little sister of Brisbane markets. Sandwiched in between (what looks like)…read morelong car-demolition building and the Nundah train station, the stalls continue in a short strip for about 200m, before suddenly ending in a carpark. It's curiously quiet for a market and also for the location: none of the hustle and bustle one usually associates with them. The stalls are typical market fare: a few cupcake stands, a few coffee places, a number of stalls selling fruit and vege. One interesting stand that we've seen a couple of times is simply three people sitting around, praying for people those who ask. We mainly go to satisfy our Sunday morning gyoza cravings at Zagyoza. If you're in Nundah, it's great to have the markets come to you (and presumably some of the small stalls are run by locals, so should be supported!), but otherwise, most of these stalls appear at other markets in Brisbane.

First up, this is one of the funniest and to the point bargain shop names I've ever seen. And, as…read morethey promise, they are always a bargain. Sure, maybe only a bargain for the 3 weeks the product lasts, but this is one of those treasure stores so beloved of students. Need a washing basket? Don't pay $10 in the supermarket, get one here for $2. How about weird bathroom objects? Check! Going through a gardening phase but can't afford to buy from legit stores? There's actually quite a good range that will get you to a foam box full of parsley in no time. Be prepared to wade through mountains of crap, but there's actually quite a few little gems buried in this cheekily named shop.

This shop is popular with girls aged between about fifteen and twenty-five. They sell a large range…read moreof cheap dresses, skirts, and tops from factory labels you've probably never heard of. They definitely have some cute stuff, and the prices are low. The staff do tend to be fairly unhelpful and the clothing is generally poor quality. I've bought items from Melrose Ave that have fallen apart after only a couple of wears, and yes it's cheap but not cheap enough to justify the lack of quality. Last time I went to Melrose Ave, I tried on a dress ($40) that was the last one in my size. After I'd tried it on I decided that I liked it and wanted to buy it, but as I was about to take it off and pay for it my friend pointed out a large stain on the back of the dress. Since this was the last dress in my size and I still really liked it, I took it to the counter to alert the staff to the stain with the assumption that they would offer me a discount. They made no attempt to offer me a discount so after double-checking that this was the last dress in this size, I decided to take a more straightforward approach and asked if they would be willing to give me a discount. They weren't. A few days later I returned to the shop and saw the dress hanging back on the rack in all its stained glory waiting for some poor girl to buy it (for full price, of course) without realising that there's a massive stain on the back. Experiences like this really turn you off a place, and even though Melrose Ave has some nice clothes I won't be shopping there again any time soon.

The shop is great with many if the newest styles and what's in season and isn't too expensive. I…read morehave to say the sales assistant was pretty rude to me considering I bought some of the clothes. As I was in the change room trying in things the lady asks if I need a bigger size and this if fine but afterwards adding on saying. "Are you sure Hun it looks a bit tight" and I said. I'm sure I'm fine and she walks away saying umm ok very un surely as well. Although I loved the clothes hated the attitude of the employees. Overall it was a pretty awkward experience.