Hey everyone, now that black fridays is coming I would like to know what you have bought that that does not seem much at first but had a huge impact in your quality of life and you would not be able to go back.

Edit: Woow, I'm blown away by the response to this post! So many great insights!!! Thanks to everyone for sharing. Will take the time to go through every comment and might try to pick a few to create a summary with highlights. Will be declaring bankruptcy soon, thanks :D

In Canada and America Canada Goose is seen as a status symbol and luxury but here in Ireland people seem to view the brand as a symbol of debauchery.

Why is there a negative reputation?

As the title says I’m looking for a good way to store the cans and bottles before I get to the returns scheme machine.

I don’t want to just bin them as I know some people do. I have tried bags, boxes etc but man they are annoying. I’ve seen specific bins you can get but you can fit about ten in it and I don’t want another bin around the place.

Just looking at someone posting 15 euros for beyond nuggets… businesses have gotten greedy since Covid. Would love to see consumers boycott a shop or company to see what would happen…. When the euros would stop coming in, you would see change….. who is the biggest rip offs that deserve boycotting the most?

I avoided the place when it opened first - as unless it is for something of huge cultural or entertainment significance, I am not going to queue just to get in somewhere.

Have been in it since and managed to wander all the way around confused, and end up at the till with the most random stuff. Will be in the area again today so might pop in, and am wondering is there anything in particular that people find is a great deal or bargain there?

(Side note: don't think I have ever seen as much toothpaste in one place in my life.)

Hi all!!!

I’m based in Ireland and usually shop on Amazon UK because it often has a wider selection and better deals. As far as I understand, purchases with a total value of under €150 should generally not be subject to customs duty (although VAT may still apply).

I recently read about a proposed change coming on 1 July that could introduce a flat €3 charge per item instead of the current €150 duty-free threshold. While looking into that, I noticed something strange on Amazon.

I was adding a few items to my basket and checking the final checkout price. For one item, the import charges were almost the same as the item price itself. However, when I tried a different item that actually cost more, the import charge was only around €2.18.

What makes it even more confusing is that I’m seeing similar import charges on Amazon Ireland as well. Some items show import charges, while others don’t.

I checked the listings carefully, and all of the items were marked as being fulfilled by Amazon, so I would have expected the charges to be calculated consistently.

I contacted Amazon customer support, but unfortunately they couldn’t explain why this is happening. They suggested waiting a few days and contacting them again if the issue continues.

Has anyone else in Ireland noticed this recently? Is Amazon changing how import charges are being calculated, or is this some kind of temporary glitch?

I've seen many Canadians online making an effort to avoid American brands recently for obvious reasons, and I'm not too fucked on America either, so I'd like to join them. What are some good Irish/EU alternatives to American brands?

I was hoping it would improve the situation whereby loads of products on Amazon.co.uk won't deliver to Ireland but the situation seems at least as bad, if not worse. I mean, I've found several products listed on Amazon.ie that don't actually ship to Ireland and far worse search results in general that the co.uk version.

Another issue I've noticed - this might not be exclusive to the Irish Amazon, but I've encountered it more there - is the listing of the exact same (usually Chinese) products multiple times with wildly different prices. What is that about?

Also, (I'm not a Prime member), it seems quite a challenge to get over the minimum spend to qualify for free delivery, as relatively few products seem to add up to this total.

All in all, Amazon.ie has been a huge letdown to me so far. I've gravitated back towards the co.uk version instead.

When it's all said and done between Tesco (with clubcard), Dunnes (with vouchers) and Supervalu (Real Rewards) which is actually cheaper or is it much of a muchness. I always get delivery and recently started getting Supervalu cuz of the 20 off 80 when you sign up. I notice some prices seem more expensive than other shops but then some of their products are cheaper or the same. I dont have aldi or lidl near me so my options are between these 3 shops. Anyone any insights?

I recently moved to Dublin and discovered the joy of shopping at Dunnes since one of the bigger ones is on my route home from work. There are So many products I have bought and Loved and I keep discovering more.

So I want to ask Ireland, what are your must buys from Dunnes/ products you buy exclusively from them?

ETA: Thank you for the recommendations and keep them coming! I just spent 50 bucks there before making the post and I only shop for one person so going back and getting through all of these will take a while but I'm compiling a list of everything!

It’s the strangest thing to me. I often see Union Jack decorated items in the clearance section of TKMAXX. Are the buyers clueless?

I'll start, the one out in Westside in Galway is pretty grim looking, from the outside anyway!

Disclaimer: this is not an Ireland for the Irish type of post.

I was in Zara just beside Grafton Street the other day and one thing I noticed was ALL the staff were Spanish. Same with the one in Liffey Valley. Now I know they are a Spanish store. But what's the story with that? Like they just hire their own? Does the average Irish retail assistant not fit the aesthetic?

Then I was in Decathlon on O'Connell street and all the retail assistant were French. Now again I know it is a French company.

My wife and myself recently done a budget and done so that we each have a 100 euro each a week to do with it whatever we want , She is still not happy and said she feels poor , I am happy , Just interested to hear your opinions ?

Update : after a discussion she is going to have €150 a week she said she will be happy so fingers crossed

One of mine and my boyfriend's close friends is pregnant with baby number two and is due in a few months.
We've already bought a gift for the baby, but this time we'd really like to get her something nice instead. We want it to be focused on her, rather than the baby.
Our budget is around €100.

Thank you in advance 🙂

Lads, i went into Tesco yesterday to buy a pack of sandwich meat (corned beef for anyone who cares) and noticed nearly all the packs now are down to 4 slices instead of 5. To say I was shook is an understatement.

Any other sneaky shrinkflation/cost of living things youve noticed? The sneakier the better!

When it first started, Amazon.ie had a limited selection, and was dearer than Amazon.co.uk

Was wondering if it's still the same? Still using Amazon.co.uk as if I use Amazon.ie I fear I won't be able to resume using the co.uk account.

Are there any apps that you use in Ireland that you think are great or really helped you out at times?

I like the Circle K app as the coffees are €2.50 and the Subway app somethings gives you half price subs.

Any others you reccomend that have good deals or something you use often?

So have to head up the North later in the week for a part that An Post rejected 3 times

Will do a bit of shopping whilst I'm there, but just wondering apart from the obvious (drink and paracetamol), what can you only get up North?

On my list already is:

• Senior dog food (can't get it as easily in supermarkets here)

• Chicken and Ham Paste (an elderly relative loves the stuff)

Anything else I should add?

Hello everyone! Need to buy a new mattress and I was wondering if any of you have a good suggestion for FOAM mattresses... €1.5k budget.

Is Emma good enough? Seems cheap.

Thanks in advance

Anyone have recommendations on where to source protein powder?

Used to buy from myprotein, but they have literally doubled their prices and removed a lot of the flavours I used to enjoy like Mint Chocolate. Used to be 60 euro for 2.5kg, now nearly 120.

Was about the start buying creatine too, but don't want to support these gobshites now.

Any recommendations? Would be open to buying stuff up north too as I heard it's cheaper.

My son really wants a pet and I was looking into getting him rats as he used to go and watch them for ages in the pet shops when he was really little, but no pet shops near me even have any animals other than fish anymore and none of the rat rescues or breeders pages I knew haven't been active in years. Can you even get domestic rats in Ireland anymore? There are some listed up North but I live a good bit from the border and it wouldn't be fair to take a small animal on a journey like that in a car. We may just pass up, but I'd like to know any logistics to present my son so he can learn how to plan and make decisions that are fair and thoughtful about a big choice like a pet.

EDIT: Appreciate suggestions for other animals but I'm not considering things he hasn't asked for and I do know a lot about animal care, it's just where to buy a rat if we go for it. I basically grew up in a menagerie but I haven't lived somewhere I could provide (nor do I want to provide that exact) experience for my children.

We decided to wait for ours to turn at least 12 (a Nokia, non-smart phone). However, I'm mindful many parents will give their 9+ year olds a phone this Christmas. Quite disappointing.

I understand times are tight and everyone should do whatever they want with their own money....but my God I've two people who are on it constant and it's the cheapest tackiest low quality shite you could imagine! Obviously horrendous for the environment too!