Online Shopping, It's the Only Way to Go... now with added GIVEAWAY!

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post in any way. All opinions expressed are my own and I was not paid any money or given anything other than a voucher to be used for a giveaway for you lucky readers. So shut-up and be grateful! You can read my disclosure policy here.

On Tuesday I wrote a rather Ranty McRanterson post about my dislike for shopping, and in particular my hatred for grocery shopping. A lot of the comments suggested that I give online grocery shopping a go and I tell ya, a lightbulb went off in my head.

We used online grocery shopping quite a few times when it was first launched and it worked really well so to be honest, I have no idea why I stopped using it and promptly forgot all about it. Actually no, I think one of the reasons might have been because I kept forgetting my login details and had to go through all the rigmarole of setting everything up again. That would definitely be a reason why Miss Queen of Laziness over here would stop bothering!

I think another reason might be because it requires so much fore-thought and planning, re: meals for the week etc. But I am thinking I am going to give it another go. Maybe this week, just depends on if I can get Dave to sit down with me to plan a little bit ahead!

The thing is, I love online shopping. One of the things I buy the most online is books. Don't get me wrong, if there is one kind of shopping that I DO love to do, it's book shopping, but there is nothing like the convenience of reading a review of a new book and then jumping straight over to Booktopia to order a copy, or having a copy sent straight to my Kindle or iPad instantaneously.

One of the other places that I love to shop online at is group-buying websites. You know the ones with the daily deals that are massively discounted if a certain amount of people buy the product, holiday or experience? I LOVE them!

I love them so much in fact that I am signed up to all of the group-buying websites daily emails and have a special folder in my email where they are all delivered so I can go through them all in the one place.
The sweet 40x50 cm canvas print I bought via a group-buying site
You don't want to see the 50x100cm canvas prints I also got, which are bigger than I expected, so make the photos I used of Mia on them look more than a little freaky weird. Actually, that could be a whole post in and of itself!
I've bought nail polish, books, canvas photo prints, holiday vouchers, hair dressing vouchers, even a mother-flippin thing to project DVDs on to your roof (don't ask me why, I think I got caught up in the shopping fever and it was like 90% off, a total bargain and it's actually really cool but not something we technically needed) and every time I've saved a shit-load of money. It's awesome.

So you can imagine that when I got an email from a lovely man at Groupon, one of the awesome group-buying websites that I am signed up to, asking if I would like to offer you, dear readers, a $50 voucher to use towards anything you like from the Groupon.com.au website, well. I fucking wet my pants jumped at the chance.

The timing was perfect as I was actually trying to think of a few things I could offer in a giveaway to celebrate Mia's forthcoming 1st birthday. So today I am doing just that! I am giving you the chance to win said $50 voucher, to use on the Groupon website.

There are some seriously awesome offers at the moment, but one of the things I like about the Groupon website is the photography stuff they offer. They have heaps of offers for sessions with professional photographers for bargain prices, as well as the opportunity to participate in photography courses. I am always particularly interested in the offers for photography courses because, as you all know, I am a photography nut and love to learn as much as I can about my passion.

If you want to see what kinds of things are on offer then jump on over here to the Groupon website (personally I'm pretty keen to get my hands on this set of canvas prints). As I said, there's all sorts of things you can get for a great discount. If you're interested in any of the photography offers then you should pop over here to see what's currently available and what things they have lined up for the future.

To be in the running to win, simply leave a comment on this post, and don't forget to validate it using the little competition widget below. There's also a few other ways to increase your chances of winning so get on it!

So today, on this Thankful Thursday with We Heart Life, I am thankful for online shopping. I am thankful that I have a computer and internet that allows me to indulge in online shopping. I am thankful to have the money and a means of generating income to be able to indulge in online shopping. And I am thankful that online shopping allows me to keep the shreds of my sanity intact by not having to spend too much time with the hoards in the shopping centres!
What are you thankful for today? And be honest, you're totally jealous of my DVD roof projector aren't you?!? And stay tuned next week when I announce two more things I am giving away to celebrate my Mia's 1st Birthday. 
Why? Because I can that's why!

Also linking this is up with the awesome Grace for FYBF, who is currently on a sweet family holiday to Bali! Jealous!
Giveaway Terms & Conditions:
The $50 Groupon Australia giveaway is open only to Australian residents aged 18 years and over. The voucher can only be used on the Groupon Australia website, www.groupon.com.au, and is valid for 6 months. Competition closes 22/11/12, the winner will be announced here on the blog on 23/11/12 and the winner will be contacted via email within 48 hours after the end of the giveaway. The winner will receive a voucher code to the value of $50 to be used on the Groupon.com.au website.

Comments

Kel said…
I must admit, I'm a bit of an online shopping fan too. Ebay - YOU KNOW IT! I'm thankful that I get to celebrate Mia's first birthday with you guys soon, even if it has come about far too quickly :(
I love online shopping too. But I lived in the US for 11 years, and Australia has NOTHING on the US's ability to online shop. But we will get there. More and more places are embracing it now. I think it's the way of the future!
Talia said…
I love online shopping also. It's so handy to find exactly the right thing, and usually at a pretty cheap price!
Kylie Purtell said…
I know! It's not fair how quickly it's come about. I hope I don't cry!
Kylie Purtell said…
It definitely is the way of the future that's for sure!
Kylie Purtell said…
I think that's what I love best about shopping online, you can always find a bargain and a sweet saving.
Me said…
I'm a bit picky about what I shop on-line for. I like choosing my own fruit and veg and I won't shop for clothes/shoes on-line unless I have tried them on somewhere and know the size and fit.
Have the best day !
Me
I LOVE online shopping, you know cause I live in the middle of nowhere.

What I DON'T like is when I spend 5 hours filling my cart at Amazon and get to checkout and they are all 'no way biatch. We aint delivering no shit that far...'

AAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

But online shopping at Lush and T2? Awesomeness.
I love online shopping. We do our groceries online and there are certain things I will buy online if the dollar is awesome ;)

Especially if it is overseas!

Thanks for linking up Kylie x
Obviously, I love online shopping because that's what I do for a living. Personally, I do a lot of it myself as I like the variety that you can find. I like Booktopia and have bought from them a couple of times.

I used to do most of my groceries online (less impulse buying) but then it became hard to order the brands I liked and I didn't trust the freshness of the bread or fruit and vegies chosen.

I'm tempted by Modcloth and have bought from a few of the other fashion online retailers. My treasured finds are on Etsy although I'll gaze through the window at Net-a-Porter.
Tamsyn said…
I am so reliant on online shopping right now, the thought of hauling my huge belly and a toddler around westfield makes my skin crawl!
Tamsyn said…
Oh and too actually answer your question... the best thing I ever bought was one of those discounted multipacks for the local indoor kids play centre. That place is an absolute godsend!
Kylie Purtell said…
It's funny you say that because I took Mia to one of those places for the first time with Kelly HTandT and her kid on Tuesday and it was fantastic! I'd never been to one before but I am definitely going to be returning, Mia had such a good time.

And I agr, I can't imagine having to get around Westfield while heavily pregnant and dealing with a toddler. That's my idea of the ultimate nightmare!
Kylie Purtell said…
I must admit I am the ultimate window shopper when it comes to online shopping, there is nothing better than being able to sit on the lounge with the iPad and 'window-shop' with a cup of coffee in hand!
Kylie Purtell said…
How good has online shopping been with the dollar, it's excellent. I've bought so many books for the Kindle with the dollar being so good, it's such a bargain!
Kylie Purtell said…
I've only ever shopped for clothes online once and that was, funnily enough, when I got a voucher from a group shopping website and bought some breastfeeding tops and a cardigan. It was pretty good, the clothes were *almost* the right size but i don't think I'll be doing it again. I wouldn't buy fruit and veg online either, we are very picky about the quality of that too.
Anonymous said…
Oh Kylie, I am addicted to those group buying sites. How do you think I had all my Xmas presents done and dusted by October!! I think any form of shopping that delivers to your door just has to be a winner. No crowds, no parking, just joy!
Anonymous said…
Ps. The best thing I ever bought was my robotic vacuum cleaner. It does my floors whilst I work on my blog - fantastic!
Lydia C. Lee said…
Groupon? I love their karting vouchers and the jet boat vouchers...infact, I'm the voucher queen!~
Unknown said…
My local post office lady secretly hates me i'm certain of it.
I LOVE to shop online.
Love Groupon and Scoopon etc. I'm doing a shark dive next weekend with a voucher I bought online. Grays Online need a support group for people as addicted as I am.
Love shopping around for the best price on face creams etc.
That said, I was disappointed the last couple of times I did groceries online, so I've stopped doing it.
Great giveaway!
Unknown said…
I have to be honest that I haven't jumped on the online group voucher train as yet. But my bride-to-be did buy herself and her bridesmaids hair-dos for her hens party from groupon. Such a blast getting our hair done together. And given that you also have a little-un, you would realise what a lovely treat it was for me to have some pre-party girly time!
EssentiallyJess said…
Oh haven't heard about the group thing, but I have done heaps of online shopping this year. I'm currently looking for something I saw on target the other week, cause I'm too lazy to drive 20 minutes to target and see if it's still there. And when I forget log ins, I can be bothered either!
The older and more tantrum prone my children get, the greater my appreciation for online shopping. Groupon has some great bargains.
thisistracy said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
Man, I wish I lived in Australia! I'd buy that Groupon offer in a heartbeat!
Halfprice meal vouchers for my local chinese takeaway!!! We got to get 10 each!! Saved us a fortune on takeaways!
Sonia23 said…
I love shopping online, i have even started buying pizza online!

My favourite item was my zaggora hotpants that i bought from Groupon! They helped me lose 9 kilos :)
Ash M said…
I'd love to see schools books for sale on a group buying website. They are such a rip off and so hard to afford especially just after Christmas.
The best thing I bought was a really cheap meal for two at a great restaurant. It was delicious, so I posted on the companies Facebook page saying how satisfied I was with the purchase and they credited my account $25 for the positive feedback! (Dianne Childs on rafflecopter)
Liz said…
I've been a bit wary of buying from group websites so far, but hope to get some for a cheap dinner out soon!
Unknown said…
Oooooh I love love love Groupon. Most recently I bought a wooden iPhone cover on there - BARGAIN! Only $24, and with wooden racing stripes. My phone is now a tree that goes fast!! I am SO very eye-catching now when I talk to people, since that is totally what I'm going for, rather than just completely a sucker for a bargain and pretty things.

Kim maxwell said…
There was a deal going at my local Indian takeaway, a takeaway container of whatever you like for $5. Each container would feed me for two meals with rice! Who gets restauant food for $2.50 a meal? I brought 6 and treated myself every week, it was unreal!!!


Kim m galwayst@hotmail.com
Kristin said…
The best deal I bought from a group buying site was a fishing trip for my Dad for Christmas. I'm signed up to all the group buying sites I can find because they are perfect gift ideas for all those out there who have everything already. I would love it if they did one to our local zoo, the kids love it there but a discount to get in would be great.
Kim said…
I love shopping online and have done for many years.. save a ton of money by not being tempted in the shops too
Kim said…
following on twitter, subscribed to email
Unknown said…
Haha - I'm new to your blog - Just LOVE your sense of humour Kylie!! I have bought a few vouchers from Groupon - you save so much!! I love online shopping - I work in retail so the last thing I want to do when I finish work is to go and shop!! :)
Unknown said…
Ooops forgot to tell you about the best thing I've bought online! LOL
Hands down it was a voucher I bought last year to Long Island in the Whitsundays. I had never been and had always yearned to go. We spent 5 nights on Long Island for $399 for the two of us!! An amazingly cheap holiday and a fantastic relaxing break for hubby and I.
Unknown said…
Best voucher I bought was for 'ALL you can Eat SUSHI' yummmm! Prior to this, I can never afford to taste a huge variety of sushi just because it is costly. With the voucher, I tasted Paradise when the sashimi just melts in my mouth!
Unknown said…
I have subscribed!
tan_ying_ying@hotmail.com
MelissaJ said…
The best deal I've bought is $2 Whopper from Hungry Jacks, which saved me lots of money. I bought many vouchers and gave some to my friends and neighbours.I like buying meal vouchers on group-buying site. Save time save money but still spoil my taste buds and stomach :)
MelissaJ said…
Have subscribed: lindtar@gmail.com
Cynthia said…
The best deals I have bought have been outings for my family, I love that group buying sites make taking the family out more affordable!
sayanything said…
I bought accommodation at an island resort in Queensland as a 21st gift for my best friend - I took her to hand feed wild dolphins :) I never would have been able to afford it as a gift for her if it hadn't been for the group buy site and that was also what gave me the idea! I use them quite frequently as they often have great bargains and also great ideas for things to do and buy :)
Anonymous said…
I haven't shopped online yet, but I can't wait to start, it looks like a heap of fun :-)
Anonymous said…
I brought 30 pairs of near new designer label shoes on ebay for just $180
arballantyne@dodo.com.au
Joselle said…
Am a bit addicted to online shopping... not sure if it's the bargains or the packages arriving I like more!
Joselle said…
Joselle Griffin :)
Joselle said…
Am a bit addicted to online shopping... not sure if it's the bargains or the packages arriving I like more!

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