Friday, March 23, 2012

The Advantages of Watching Movies at the Cinema

One of the most popular leisure activities of all time is movie watching. May the film genre be drama, action, fiction, documentary or comedy, watching movies is a relaxing way to break free from our daily activities, studies, work and other routines for at least two good hours.

Gone are the days when movie watching choices are limited to cinemas. The entertainment industry continues to grow by coming up with different forms of digital technologies allowing audiences to choose how to consume movies other than the cinema screens. This posed a challenge to movie theater attendance in general. Today, we can also reap the benefits of movie entertainment through the internet, home-theater technology and video rentals. While some would argue that these alternatives are becoming increasingly popular because they are somewhat economical and readily available, many still believe that going to cinemas and theaters with a bucket of popcorns and large soda is still the best way to enjoy the wonders of movie watching. Let’s find out why:


You can always rely on cinemas to always have the latest movie offerings. Be one of the first people to know the buzz in moviedom by watching the most anticipated movies as they officially come out for release by stepping into your favorite cinema. People like talking about movies as a means of socialization. Achieving firsthand movie enjoyment can be used as a social instrument to associate oneself to others and get acquainted.

Watching a movie with a lot of other people can be boatloads of fun. Sure, there will be instances that some people would inevitably talk or make all sorts of noises while the movie is still running but for the most part, experiencing varying and similar reactions from fellow viewers can be very enjoyable.
There are many home-theater systems out there that have amazing sound system and 3D capabilities. Needless to say, owning and maintaining such equipment can be pretty expensive. One can simply afford experiencing what home theater systems can offer without having to purchase one by going to the cinema. In addition, even the most advanced home theater systems can’t exactly replicate the way cinemas can make you feel like you’re part of the film. Nothing beats the giant screen, larger than life sound experience and high level of quality viewing that cinemas can offer.

Though it can’t be argued that watching movies at home by yourself or with your family and friends is still a fun experience, interacting with all sorts of people and personalities at a movie theater brings movie watching to another level. Don’t stay cooped up, get out and go see a movie today!

The Mandarin Shopping Centre houses Hoyts Cinema, one of the leading entertainment companies in Australia. It is the only place to watch the latest and most-talked about movie releases in Chatswood! Visit their website to check out current movie line-ups and to conveniently book tickets in seconds.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Grocery Shopping Tips To Stay On Budget

Sometimes, a trip to the grocery store can be a very expensive weekly chore. We all love good food and stepping into that food haven where almost everything looks appetizing can make you deviate from your shopping budget. You’ll be surprised that even the most budget conscious buyer can end up scratching their head at the counter with a filled up shopping cart.

If you’re reading this, chances are, you have tendencies of spending too much at the grocery store more than you’re supposed to. Stick to your budget and stay financially fit by avoiding the common spending pitfalls with these simple tips below:

Make a Grocery Checklist
Plan your weekly meals ahead in order to make a grocery shopping list based on the menu you’re going to cook. This way, you can control what food and ingredients are going to make it to your shopping cart on your next trip to the grocery store. It’s also a good idea to place the list on your refrigerator door and add the things you have already run out of on it so that you will only buy the stuff you really need. The additional benefit is that it will prevent you from forgetting something really important. It’s going to cost you more once realize you need to make another trip to the grocery store because you forgot one essential kitchen staple that you just can’t live without like that non-fat milk for your morning brewed coffee. The plan is to write out a grocery list and stick to it.



Use Coupons Wisely
Coupons will always make it sound like you’re going to save a substantial part of your grocery budget. This is true if the coupon corresponds to a product that you always buy. In general, you have to use coupons wisely since most of them are nothing more than motivational marketing ticket to lure you from purchasing new products that you may not necessarily need. This makes them an obstacle from sticking to your list. Try to restrict yourself from using them because it offers a nice price. Always ask yourself if you really need it and if it’s even worth buying.

Bulk Up
Buying grocery items in bulk will not only help you save money on your grocery bill, it will also help you save time (and even fuel) as well. Instead of a going to the grocery store on a weekly basis, make that every two weeks. Think of the products that will bring no hassle for stocking up like detergents, soaps, salt, paper towels and food that will not go bad within two weeks. Before you do this, also consider if you have enough place in the kitchen cabinets and cupboards to store all of them.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Shopping your Closet Dresses

            How to make that sheath dress into a more fashionable chic outfit while staying on a budget?

            The heath style dress is a timeless classic piece. It’s one of the most fashion styles that defy time. So if you don’t own one, now is the time to buy and put it in your closet. A sheath dress is a smart investment for a budget conscious woman.

            If you have a sheath dress in your closet, you can never go wrong with your wardrobe. A Sheath dress can provide you with a good clothing staple which can enhance other outfits. This season layering continues to be a solid fashion trend. Hence, a sheath dress can serve as a good starting point in using a layering concept of style.

The sheath dress is versatile and it’s easy to take it off from work to enjoy a night out with your friends. Do you dare to go into casual? Sheath dress can perfectly be paired with a flat gladiator sandal or ballerina flat. Top it with a casual ethnic scarf and a large tote- then, you’re all set!

            If you don’t have a sheath dress, now is the time to buy one. Hopefully you’ll have a sheath dress because owning one would be a smart expenditure.

            Below are some of the basic wardrobes a woman should have in her closet:
·          
  •      Cropped cardigan
  • ·         Blazer
  • ·         Pair of shoes
  • ·         Jacket
  • ·         Shawl
  • ·         Ethnic scarf
  • ·         Oversized handbag
  • ·         Clutch handbag
  • ·         A variety set of shoes

Do some closet inventory

            Do some inventory in your closet. Decide wh Now, if you have a sheath dress, great cardigan, and ethnic scarf, then go ahead and buy a pair of great shoes or a new handbag. You will still save on the item's you pulled from your closet.at clothes you can add from your existing wardrobe. Always consider what item you can afford.

            Style tip:
Kathmandu Store at Mandarin Shopping Centre

            Shawl’s can be worn in so many ways in fashion. I think a shawl would be a good purchase and definitely worth every penny.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Top Ten Holiday Shopping Tips

Having troubles in keeping within your budget when shopping? Here are the top ten tips for the Holiday Shopping:

1.       Pay cash.  Paying in cash when you shop enable you to know where your money is going to. Also, you won’t find it difficult to overspend when you see how much you really have for your shopping. If you’re out of money, then you’re out of money. Credit card payments can make you lax on your spending and prevents you from keeping on your budget.

2.       Know the enemy. If and when you’re going to pay using your credit card, use the one with the most favorable terms. hat may sound obvious, but many people carry as many as five bank cards in their wallets and don't always know what the interest rate is on each card.

3.       Keep a running tally of your credit-card spending. Always check the account balance of your credit card after a day of shopping. Subtract all that you purchased from your credit limit to see your total spending. This ensures you still have enough money to pay the bill when it arrives.

4.       Have a plan for paying off your bills. If you got loose on your spending last year, now is the time to cut back. To avoid frustrations, come up with a more realistic goal.

5.       Get easy gifts out of the way early. It’s a good practice to set aside money for the different gifts you want to give on Christmas. That way, your budget won’t be overwhelmed during December shopping.

6.       Make a list. Simple as it seems but this tip definitely helps a lot. You may write down the people you want to give gifts and the stores you’ll visit for shopping. It’s a more systematic way to get things done.

7.       Think outside the box. Don’t just go for what you used to buy. Try to scout for less expensive things and you might be surprised what you can see.  There are lots of alternatives and more fun.

8.       Be creative with the kids. When your family is up for a trip or vacation, let your kids plan their excursion or itinerary. Let them help you plan for the trip. This is really exciting for them and you’ll be surprised what they will come up.

9.       Look ahead to next year. f you came up short on cash this year, start an old-fashioned holiday-club account with a modern twist: an online savings account with a bank such as HSBC Direct or ING Direct.. You can easily set up an automatic transfer from your checking account each month, earn a competitive rate of interest, and have a tidy sum when next holiday season rolls around.

10.   Count your pennies.  We may overlook this practice after we pay something. But sometimes, there are errors in change. So count every penny as possible. Remember, every penny adds up to a dollar and 100$.



Sunday, September 25, 2011

Daiso Mandarin Centre Chatswood: Not Just Another Dollar Store


Dollar stores have traditionally been one-stop shops for affordable products. They became popular among housewives, families and individuals looking for great bargains priced at just one dollar or under. Dollar stores have become popular places for finding low-priced housewares, office supplies, stationeries, decorative items and even collectibles. Unfortunately, dollar stores have gained an unfortunate reputation in some places, becoming the type of shops that people frequent when they want disposable, low-quality products. Not so Daiso Mandarin Centre Chatswood.

The Daiso magic
Daiso Mandarin Centre Chatswood is one of the many franchises from Daiso Japan, a chain of dollar stores that is the most famous of 100 Yen shops found in Japan. Daiso can indeed qualify as a dollar store but the similarity stops there. Unlike most dollar stores that chose to sell closeout items, factory surplus or secondhand items, Daiso offers only brand new product lines. That means that each time you purchase from Daiso Mandarin Centre Chatswood, the product you buy is guaranteed new - never been used, repaired or refurbished.

But what about the quality?
The unique thing about Daiso quality is that customers are always assured that while prices are so low, they do not need to be wary of the quality of the items they buy. Daiso sources many of its products from suppliers but they have stringent requirements regarding the quality. If a product does not pass their quality specifications, it does not get sold at any of the stores. Daiso also helps keep quality up by designing and producing their own brand of goods, all produced using the Daiso standard of quality.

How does Daiso keep prices so low?
As mentioned, the products outsourced by Daiso are imported, so suppliers and producers are chosen carefully not just for the quality of their items but also for their prices. Plus, they also supply hundreds of their stores from these producers so they can readily keep prices at affordable levels by purchasing in bulk. With the high volume, the company is always assured that prices are kept at manageable levels. It also helps that since the company purchases directly from sellers, they do away with markups from middlemen. Whatever savings they get from these then gets passed on to customers.

And of course, there’s the variety. Daiso Mandarin Centre Chatswood, like the hundreds of Daiso stores around the world, offers a wide range of products from kitchenware to personal care to gardening to arts and crafts. And yes, for customers looking for Japanese products such as chopsticks, bowls, dolls, fans and decorative items at bargain basement prices, there’s no other store that can meet their needs but Daiso.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Lower Your Risk in Online Shopping


            Every year, the number of people who shop online increases steadily.  Also, the trend of shopping through a mobile device is increasing rapidly. Whatever people do, they can easily access the internet and purchase things online.  How convenient is that?

            Although there is the hype in online shopping, there are also some risks associated with it.  Number one is security. Some people, who are not used in shopping online, are worried that their purchased products will not be delivered to them or the product delivered is not the expected item shown on the website. But with today’s internet shopping revolution, more and more people are doing business online efficiently and honestly.  According to a recent research, only 1 out of 4 buyers considers the risk in shopping online.

            So, how can we minimize the risk when shopping online?

            In order to lessen or get rid off of the risk is to deal with reputable sellers. Shopping sites such as eBay, sellers are awarded as they do more successful transactions with buyers. They both give feedbacks to each other ( seller to buyer and buyer to seller). One thing to put confidence on a seller is that they have complete contact information if you want to ask for any details and clarification, they a clear return policy if you wish to return your product, have appropriate shipping policy, the seller have a set of positive feedbacks from previous customers and transactions.  And check appropriate documents regarding your product.

             Another way of minimizing the risk in shopping online is to check the authenticity of the website or store. Don’t be fooled with the enticing product presentations, images on the website.  Double check the listings of the products if they match. Most shopping sites have ways of letting the customers view the products through images and description of the products.  For the payment, check for third-party payment systems such as Paypal, Alertpay, Payment or equivalent. These payment sites have more security in payment processing than paying through credit card.
         
          With the internet revolution, comes the advent of online shopping. Virtually, you can do many businesses online. And that includes, purchasing products on the web. In order to avoid the risk of fraud, learn the simple reminders of double checking the website and before transacting with a buyer.  And eventually, you’ll get rid the risk of online shopping. 


Sunday, August 14, 2011

The Beginnings of Daiso Japan Store


            Daiso Japan Store is one of Japan’s most popular and largest retail stores. It is known to be the largest 100-yen store in Japan that is owned by Daiso Sangyo Corporation. It originated in Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima Prefecture. Over 100,000 products are on the store, 40% of which are imported and many of 
them are from China. But most of the products are their own brand.

            Daiso is far different from other similar retails stores because they prefer not to sell closeout factory second merchandise. Instead, they keep the prices of the products low by purchasing directly from 
manufacturers in very high volume, a strategy often compared to Wal-mart.

            The store uses store parlors such as pachinko for their retail outlets. Pachinko is a popular gaming device in Japan that resembles a vertical pinball machine. The company spends a lot of money on shelving and fixtures to come up with better marketing strategies to compete with more- high end store retailers. The stock  
of items at each store is varied frequently to in order to increase repeat customers.

            Daiso categorizes its own-brand products on sale using the morpheme za, the Japanese representation of the English word “the”. This helps in the ease of product arrangement and avoids customer confusion when looking for products.

            In 2004, Daiso started selling products priced at multiples of 100 ye, such as 200, 300. 400, and 500 yen. Products vary from children’s clothing to large toys.

            The Daiso Japan has 2,500 stores in Japan alone, and over 500 branches are overseas: Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, Canada, UAE, Indonesia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Macau, Malaysia, New Zealand, Russia, Romania, Australia, and USA.

            In December 2003, Daiso opened a 2,400 square meter branch in Aberdeen Centre in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. Most items in the store is sold at 2CAD$ each.

            Two years later, the store opened its first branch in the US in Alderwood Mall located in Lynwood Washington near Seattle WA. This store is much smaller than the previously opened store in Canada. All items range from 1$- 2$ only.

            A total of twelve stores in the USA: three in Washington and eight in California. The largest Daiso store in the USA opened in Union City, California. In August 8, 2007, it opened its 17,760 square foot store. A total of 15 to 20 locations are planned for the entire San Francisco Bay Area in the future. Daiso has also opened its store branches in several other California cities such as Daly City, Berkeley, Cupertino, Milpitas, Newark, San Jose, Mountain View, and San Francisco's Japan town.