This along with the newly opened Stacks (Myer center) may be the only traditional dollar stores…read moreleft in the city. The Japanese $2.80 shops are squeezing them out. RS has a decent variety of goods and the quality is fine for this sorry of thing. You won't find a container whose lid doesn't fit or a hair barrette that works once. Here are some of the sections on offer: gift wrap n cards, art & stationery, bags/suitcases, containers, decor, candles/oils, frames and pictures, gardening, pets, laundry/linen, car, kitchen, clothes, beauty, phone/PC accessories, candy, tinned food...

I'm not really sure if I should be offended with the name "THE REJECT SHOP"…read more...does it make me a reject if I want to buy everything in its vicinity? ...But judging from the number of people wedged in on a weekday I am not the only reject who relies on this store. This place has saved my butt on numerous occasions, from awkward lunch date fiascos to that time the batteries in my boombox died. This store has everything you could ever possibly need in life. Novelty tins in shape of currency, oodles of stationary, leather belts, cheap candy, garden hoses, office chairs, perfume, speakers, DVD cabinets, small motorized helicopters, solar garden lights, clothing of all kinds, shortbreads, santa suits, blackboards, pottery wheels, diaries, beach tents, boogie boards, miniature drum kits AND a family pool. If you are ever in the city and feel a strong urge for a mini sewing machine or perhaps a rug in the shape of lassie I strongly recommend you give the Reject Shop a gander.

When I need some small implement for the kitchen like a spatula or vegetable peeler, I always look…read morein Homes Mart before going into Coles as it's bound to be far cheaper. Of course, if I'm looking for something that I want to be good quality, I avoid both and go to a proper kitchen shop. But Homes Mart does the trick when it's just something small you need. It's also a good place to look for fancy dress and craft items like crepe paper, pipe cleaners, glitter, sequins etc. It's a discount store, not a place to shop for good quality long-lasting things, but it's handy to have in this shopping centre with Coles. It's always kept pretty tidy and staff are eager to help you find what you're looking for.

I know this place may look a bit dubious to some, but coming…read morehere so often has given it an endearing quality in my eyes. This place is like the miscellaneous drawer in your kitchen, if you need it it will most likely be lurking in here. Growing up with a great love of discount stores and $2 shops means I also find it very hard to part with my cash if I know I can get a good bargain elsewhere. So! whenever party times are looming or I need a Halloween mask in February, I boycott the evil clutches of Coles and come to Homesmart. These guys seriously have it all novelty cigarette lighters, streamers, pipe cleaners, rain ponchos laundry baskets, gift boxes, spatulas, greeting cards and a buttload more. Next time you are in need of a vegetable peeler or an inflatable party hammer, I recommend giving these guys a go.

Variety of sizes available and very much affordable. Located in the perfect area for shoppingread more

I love Big W. I like how it is conveniently placed above Woolworths. It has escalators and a lift…read moreif you have heavy bags. I wish they would make a security system so you could take their basket trolleys (which can't leave Big W) and supply you with regular trolleys to take down to Woolworths to shop there vice versa . I hate carrying bags. I had to buy a granny's trolley for this purpose. I wish they had a underground carpark or something because how are you gonna take your purchases home? I either have to walk far to my car or catch a cab from the cab rank which is thankfully nearby. There are buses and trains but the who wants to wait at a bus stop with all their things? Also buses can be unreliable. The train station is about a ten minute walk up the hill so no go for me. If they had more parking areas and let you take the basket trolleys into the food court I would buy more and heavier things. Unfortunately most things on the Big W website are unavailable to get delivered? Almost makes me wonder what's the point, except I suppose being able to see what they sell. Big store, lots of variety, good prices but not as dirt cheap as Kmart. I would give 5 stars if they didn't always run out of basket trolleys at Big W and Woolworths! Woolworths have regular metal trolleys but usually run out too with the annoying insert coin security system. I don't know how your expected to use the trolley and then catch a cab. How are you going to return the trolly to bay to get your $1/$2 back? Oh well. There are barely any lines at Big W unlike Woolworths and they have self service checkout there. Oh, and only spread over two levels, not three.

By far one of my most favourite thrifting events on the calendar…read moreSuitcase rummage is THE place to sell your old wares (or to pick up new ones!) This market is heaving with cheap vintage, bric-a-brac, CD's, DVD's, comics, zines and all manner of art and craft. (I can guarantee you will need to set aside a full day to adequately peruse all that is on display.) If you are thinking of joining as a stallholder be aware that there are some stringent rules in place. For one you can't just mosey on off when you get a bit bored the organisers prowl around and insist you stay put til the 5pm close. NO stands, booths or clothes rails are allowed, everything has to be sold out of a suitcase (preferably vintage, to keep up with the aesthetics.) I've had stalls here a couple of times and can vouch for the friendly, low-hassle vibe about the place. The best aspect about these markets is the range of crafting goods that are available. Ideal for home or to give as unique gifts and all at bargain prices. A definite must-do in brisbane!

It says a lot about a person who can take the drab concrete Reddacliff Place and turn it into a…read morebuzzing bazaar of vintage knick-knacks, home made arts and crafts, second hand clothing and other various trinketry. Yet, on the first Sunday of every month, Suitcase Rummage does just that. From 11am til 5 a steady stream of loyal fans, curious wanderers and first time inspectors wander the markets where not a table is in sight. From the vintage to the modern day - everyone sells from a suitcase. There's a certain buzz at Suitcase Rummage, an atmosphere that I've not experienced anywhere else. With a coffee in hand, friends in tow it is the perfect way to spend a Sunday mid-morning. Prices are ridiculously reasonable (real op-shop prices. For example, $2 for second hand clothing, $5 for jeans at one stall) and there's even tea cup candles hand made by another seller. There's live music and I think if there were a few things like a coffee cart, and a few food stalls it'd be even better. A word to the wise, don't just pass by the stalls thinking you've seen all they have. This is a market where to find the best buys you'll have to get down and dig through the lot to find the good stuff!

I have been visiting this souvenir shop every chance I get when in Brisbane. Timing is important…read moresince the bulk sale specials are random. Today was a good day to go by and select unique gifts over stores would not have or have limited selections. The daytime staff is a lot more friendly and conversational than the evening crew, probably due to age and maturity. Overall, I like the service, especially during the morning hours and would recommend people visiting during these hours.

Excellent customer service provided by them. Went out of their way to make sure I received…read moreeverything I want to order.

Not as heavily trawled through as the paddington retro stores…read more(or the Salvo's on boundary) This little op-shop is a godsent for thrifty minded people like me. You find all sorts of odds and ends at the rickety and charming St Veronica's. I know I've bought a couple of clothing gem's here over the years (a prize powder blue party dress) as well as quirky gifts for friends. (Naked Garden gnomes anybody?) Employ those eagle eyes when hunting down that perfect dress as finding treasure here can get challenging (as the photos can attest.)

This is the kind of ramshackle, 'bomb hit it', order in chaos, treasure trove op-shop that is…read morereminiscent of the outlaw op-shops I used to rummage through growing up in the far reaches of the northern suburbs. I always walk out with armloads of clothes when I visit St Veronica's. If you can spend some time rifling through the racks, both men and women will be pleasantly surprised with the findings. They also have an enviable collection of manchester, vintage crockery, books and an abundance of cheap frames (of particular mention for any artists out there). If you're on the lookout for some random domestic need, go there for a gander. Last week I was in desperate need of a tagine, and I struck gold. It's just that kind of place- full of handy wears you never knew you needed until you laid your eyes upon it. It isn't the cheapest op-shop around, but for a West End op shop, it is the most reasonably priced. You'll probably also have a higher success rate for finding gems because of it's out of the way location.

I probably go to the Queen Street Mall too often. At some level, I feel lame for not exploring…read moreother options or areas. However, it's just too easy. It's well located and has just about everything one could want. There's food, drinks, movies, food, drinks, clothes, mobile phones, banks, etc, etc, etc. The current construction is a bit annoying, but it's hard to knock improvements being made. The result is a bit of a bottleneck with the huge crowds walking around on weekends. This is a problem when you walk faster than basically any other human in existence and are incredibly impatient. So, it's probably more of a problem just for people like me, which thankfully, I don't believe can be found in abundance. I like that there is often music and the people watching is tremendous.

I find Queen Street Mall a very convenient place to shop and to eat at some point. Luckily I found…read morethe bag I am looking for and its here, I also get to watch some movies after.

Ashgrove is a bustling little shopping strip, in large part due to Ashgrove Fresh. I've been…read morecoming here for years and years due to their good quality produce at very cheap prices. They always have pre bagged specials outside such as red and brown onions for $1.99 per kilo bag, and are usually the cheapest and best place to buy tomatoes. The owners make sure they buy what is in season, so you may find locally grown mini roma tomatoes, so sweet they could be in a fruit salad, or crunchy peas grown and picked outside of Brisbane. Free range eggs are also significantly cheaper and fresher than the supermarket brands. There is also a very good deli selection of both dry and fresh goods. Fridges groan with imported cheeses, meats and olives and there are some great dried deli items available that are usually only seen in specialist import shops. The best part of shopping at Ashgrove Fresh is the staff, it's a family run business and it shows. I'm greeted by name and have occasionally walked out with a free bunch of flowers (they're already open Sun, take them!). I'm pretty sure THAT has never happened in a chain supermarket...

Has Ashgrove Fresh Fruit Markets had a make-over? I feel like their rocking a brand new look and as…read morea result they've taken the fresh-fruit offering to another level. There's fresh produce, deli cabinets of Roza's dips and sauces, loaves of fresh bread and several shelves of suitably smugtrolley ingredients. And it's still got that family-owned feel. There's a friendly face greeting you at the counter. It matters. It makes it a welcome place to shop, to stock up on fresh produce as you need it. Prices are pretty easy on the back pocket, too.

I can't really give a thrift store less than a 3 star rating, because morally it would just be…read moreplain wrong! But please bear in mind the rating is based on the items found inside the store not the charities they support. That said if you need clothes, come to the YWCA thrift store. Because there are SO MANY CLOTHES in such a small space. The clothes are nothing special, very casual stuff (including swim wear....no comment), no bedding or electrical items, a fair amount of worn books, some toys and games, and a very limited amount of home wares. But the clothes, oh goodness the sheer amount of clothes! More often than not I have walked out of this store empty handed. But every now and them I find a dress or top that is great and practically begging me to buy it, and these are real thrift store prices: $5-$15 an item, and the $15 price tag is pushing on expensive. The YWCA thrift store does have an interesting collection of retro sunglasses and pins near the front counter which I love looking through. And on occasion you can also find some pretty interesting jewellery on display as well, but again this is a 'sometimes' event. If you need some casual clothing for super cheap, this is the place to go. For everything else.....well, you may get lucky.

I love a thrift store that's off the beaten track, that doesn't sell "retro" or "vintage" apparel…read morewith over-inflated price tags, and that still holds the promise of a bargain. Tucked away in a little arcade in Toowong, the YMCA Thrift Store is just this. It has no pretences of being something classier or appealing to a certain market--it is simply a shop full of old clothing, old home ware, old shoes, old books, old everything. I found a few decent puzzles there, but am yet to find a real gem. Unfortunately, in Brisbane, there are probably people from the aforementioned "retro" stores who scour all the old op shops for things of value and appeal to stock their stores, leaving no bargains for the rest of us. But, alas, one can hope.

Loved daiso n ses clothing at catindale n in the city Brisbane etc. Where. Did they all go. Miss…read morethem so much. Great rice milk skin care n make up, herbs n spices. Sosve saving knick knacks n aloe vera pulp drinks.

Gotta love Daiso for quirky items at cheap prices, they always have a great range of stuff you…read morenever knew existed, that you end up buying. Polite staff.