Bargains, rip-offs and sales.
A steal
City breaks: Aer Lingus is having a "massive summer sale" on hotels until midnight tomorrow. The 10 per cent discount is not massive, whatever way you look at it, but it's better than paying the full whack. See www.aerlingus.com.
Creme cracker: An inexpensive alternative to Creme de la Mer and an excellent emollient body moisturiser is Ovelle's Aqueous Cream, which at €4.16 for a fat 500g tub represents real value for money. Fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skins, it's in most chemists.
The long recycle: You're not obliged to go to your local recycling centre, and you might save a few quid by driving to that of a nearby county council. For example, Ballyogan Recycling Centre, in south Co Dublin, charges €50 per trailer of household rubbish; the centre in Ringsend, Dublin 4, charges only €20. And packing your waste into a car, instead of a jeep or van, can save a few bob, too.
Prices for parents: The usually expensive Pampers baby wipes - of which parents of young children use so many - are half-price at Superquinn until Tuesday. Bulk-buy now.
A robbery
Caveat emptor. Bedding plants may be cheaper in supermarkets than in garden centres, but they're seldom as well looked after. Also, being kept indoors makes them vulnerable; as soon as you put them out, they can get "burned", turn yellow or get shocked into stasis from sudden exposure to the elements.
Blow the SSIA
Once, a fridge was something that hummed under the counter while the lettuce quietly wilted in the bottom drawer. Now it's all brushed-chrome US fridge freezers with ice makers,
digital displays and enough room to qualify them as walk-in units. The Amana Alaska promises "state-of-the-art food preservation for discerning customers". And those customers will have to dig deep. Starting price: €11,999; €13,299 for the version with stainless steel panels. Kal Kitchen Accessories (01-4136400) in Dublin has a list of stockists. They call it Amana. We call it Arm-and-a . . .
Contributions from Catherine Cleary, Deirdre McQuillan and Jane Powers. If you spot a bargain, a rip-off or a sale, e-mail salestalk@irish-times.ie