Price Comparison: Baby Wipes

Baby wipes is probably used mostly throughout baby's life.

Brands:

- Here I listed all I used so far for my baby girl.
- Put a comment if you like to recommend other brands.

Huggies
- Has bear picture embossed on it.
- Good, if you got money.

Curash
- I like this brand.
- Not too wet and easy to pull.

Kirkland Signature - Costco
- Larger size.
- Cheap.
- I feel it is too dry at the top of pack and too wet at the end.
- The new package was introduced (2012).

Price Comparison:

Solar Panel Systems - Free Electricity

The price of electricity is now making people interested in solar energy.  The first question being asked is whether it is worth the up-front cost.  There is no straight answer to that, but in general it would be.  Of course, there is one factor you need to consider first:

That is: Location of your home. It is important to have enough sunlight where your house is loaded. Ideally, you should have sufficient north facing roof with no shade.  The more sunlight that can be captured in the solar panels, the quicker the solar energy system will pay off your investment. For me, living in Melbourne, probably the worst city in Australia to capture sunlight. Nonetheless, my 1.5kw system provides my energy usage during summer and covers my winter usage cost, too.

2. Amount of electricity you use is not as important as many people claim (depends on how you look at it financially).  Since government only subsides up to 1.5kw system, it is wise to purchase just a quality 1.5kw system.  This way, you get the maximum return.

Calculation:

1.5kw system => $3000.
Generate $1000 worth of energy (due to government premium tariff)
Excluded the potential interest of up-front cost, 5%, the investment return is 28%.

You tell me, where can you get a solid investment with this kind of return?

Ducted Gas Heating

I installed Brivis ducted gas heating this winter for my little baby.  It is used 24-hour a day with 20c setting all the time.

My gas bill was around $60 ~ $100 every two months before ducted heating installation.  Heard from my friends paying from $300 for a couple of hours heating daily to $600+ for daytime/evening heating daily. Mine is 24-hour a day, nonstop!

It's been a painful waiting period for the gas bill to come in. It finally did today. The bill is merely $320 (for two months). That's 50% less than what I expected.  Great system, Brivis!

Here is my model details:

Brivis StarPro HX23
- External System
- 7 outlets

Tell me about the system you have and your usage cost.

Giveaways from Australian Family Magazine

Australian Family Magazine provides parenting information and samples of products to parents of children aged two to eight quarterly.


As a registered user, you will be able to enter competitions and giveaways. 


Click here to visit their web site.

Swap your Woolworths fuel savings for Qantas Frequent Flyer points

Join Woolworths Everyday Rewards program. When we spend $30 or more at any Woolworths supermarket, we get fuel vouchers for 4c discount per litre at CALTEX WOOLWORTHS / SAFEWAY co-branded fuel outlets.

Recently, Woolworths offers an option to swap fuel savings for Qantas Frequent Flyer points. Instead of 4c discount per litre, we get 2 Qantas Frequent Flyer points per litre. Woolworths has another offer with Qantas that we can redeem Qantas Frequent Flyer points for Woolworths gift cards. 750 Qantas Frequent Flyer points can be redeemed for $5 Woolworths gift card.

See Woolworths program details here.

Now here is the catch: Why would you swap your fuel savings for Qantas Frequent Flyer points?

* With fuel voucher, 1 litre = 4c discount.
* With Qantas points, 1 litre = 1.3c value. (2 points * $5 / 750)

4c vs 1.3c

It's obvious, isn't it?  Unless you are saving up points for tickets, fuel voucher is still a better deal.

What do you think?

Costco finally offers items on special!

After opening Sydney and Canberra stores, it seems that Costco has enough purchasing powers to offer members some items with further special discounts.

Here is the coupon.

It is valid between Aug 1 ~ Aug 14, 2011 only.

Costco Price List 1

Costco Dockloands, Melbourne

381 Footscray Road

Docklands, VIC 3008

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Price List:

Snack:

* Dried Pineapple 500g $3.69 ($7.38 per kg)

* Dried Mango 850g $13.99 ($16.46 per kg)

* Dried Apricots 1.3kg $12.79 ($9.84 per kg)

* Dried Pitted Dates 1.13kg $7.39 ($6.54 per kg)

* Dried Blueberries 576g $11.59 ($20.23 per kg)

* Dried Cherries 567g $8.49 ($15.16 per kg)

* Dried Cranberry 1.36kg $9.29

Bathroom:

* Macleans Extreme Clean 4 x 170gm $13.99

=> Macleeans Advanced Freshmint 170g $2.99 at My Chemist.

* Colgate Total Toothpaste 4 x 160gm $13.79

=> Colgate Regular 150g $1.99 at My Chemist.

* Oral B Cross Action Toothbrush 6ct $19.99

* Palmolive Shower Gel 750ml Pump & 750ml Refill $9.99

* Ivory Bath Bar 16x127g $9.28

* Palmolive Bar Soap 20pk $9.28

* Olay Total Effects Night Cream 3x50g $65.99

* Centrum Select 50+ Multivitamins 200ct $25.89

* Sandhurst Stuffed Green Olives 1.9kg $6.89

* Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce 907g $4.79

* Kikkoman Soy Sauce 2L $9.99

* Lee Kum Kee Soy Sauce 1.75L $4.89

* Balsamic Vinegar 1L $13.39

* Sunflower Oil 5L $14.89

* Canola Oil 5L $11.79

* John West Tuna in Olive Oil 12x185g $24.29

* SPAM 3 x 340g $8.89

* Skippy Creamy (or Chunky) Peanut Butter 1.36kg $5.89

* Nutella Hazelnut Spread 2x750g $10.79

Costco Price List - Wine

Costco Dockloands, Melbourne

381 Footscray Road

Docklands, VIC 3008

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Other price lists: 1 2

Price List:

Wine:
Yellow Tail Shiraz 1.5L $11.99

Johnnie Walker Green 700ml $57.99

Penfolds Grange 1L $1499.99

Penfolds Bin 311 2009 $29.96

Guinness Draught 24x440ml cans $55.99

Fat Yak 24x345ml bottles $46.79

Penfolds Bin 23 $29.96

We are safe for another month!

August 2nd, 2011 Media release from RBA:

Statement by Glenn Stevens, Governor: Monetary Policy Decision

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 4.75 per cent.
The global economy is continuing its expansion, but the pace of growth slowed in the June quarter. The supply-chain disruptions from the Japanese earthquake and the dampening effects of high commodity prices on income and spending in major countries both contributed to the slowing. It is still not clear how persistent this slower growth will be. The supply-chain disruptions are now gradually abating and commodity prices have softened of late, though they generally remain high. In China most indications suggest only a mild slowdown so far.
The central scenario for the world economy over the next couple of years envisaged by most forecasters remains one of growth below the pace of 2010, but at or above long-term averages. Downside risks have increased, however, as concerns have grown over the outlook for the public finances of both Europe and the United States.
Australia's terms of trade are now at very high levels and national income has been growing strongly. Investment in the resources sector is picking up very strongly and some related service sectors are enjoying better than average conditions. But in other sectors, cautious behaviour by households and the high level of the exchange rate are having a noticeable dampening effect. The impetus from earlier Australian Government spending programs is now also abating, as had been intended.