Before you get caught up in a shopping frenzy, there are some products you should avoid, even if they’re massively discounted. Sure it’s hard to pass up a bargain, but these products just aren’t worth it, no matter how tempting the sale price may be.

糖心Vlog has done the hard work for you so you don’t end up with a dud in the sales. Our expert testers put household appliances through their paces in our labs so we know which ones are the good buys, and which ones to avoid. 

Plus, we have tips for how to save money on new appliances in the EOFY sales, as well as extra advice for shopping the EOFY sales.

On this page:

• Fridges
• Washing machines 
• Mattresses
• TVs
• Robot vacuums
• Dishwashers
• Coffee machines
• Dryers 
• Air fryers
• Stick vacuums

Fridges

A fridge is often a grudge purchase, made hastily when your existing fridge dies.

But if you’re thinking ahead and want to upgrade your current fridge with a good deal from the sales, take a breath before you get swept up in the bargain fever.

If you shop without researching, you could end up with a fridge that’ll cost you more in the long term in the form of big power bills and food that’s gone off too quickly. 

You’ll also lose out twice over if you buy an expensive fridge that performs poorly. Two doubly disappointing fridges are a $4000 Smeg fridge and a $3000 French-door Bosch, which both scored a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of just 43%. That’s a big price tag for poor performance.

Their biggest sins? A temperature stability score of just 13% for the Bosch fridge and a shocking 0% for the Smeg fridge.

This metric measures how much the fridge temperature fluctuates. A low score means you can expect things like your ice cream melting and refreezing, your food spoiling or not staying at safe temperatures to prevent food-borne illness. 

So for the low, low price of $4000, you can expect spoiled food or a delightful case of food poisoning.

Lowest rated fridges in our test:

• Hisense HRSBS649SW: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 40%; Price: $1599
• Smeg FAB32RPB5AU: 43%; $4290
• Bosch KFN96VPEAA: 43%; $3299
• Haier HRF420BHC: 43%; $1399

Washing machines

Let’s be real: there’s probably a thousand things you’d rather spend your money on than a washing machine. But if you’re going to buy one, you might as well make sure it’s good. 

A lacklustre washing machine won’t only fail to make your whites whiter and your colours brighter, it’ll chew through electricity and water 鈥� which will cost you (and the environment) even more in the long run. 

Check our washing machine reviews to make sure you’re buying the best. 

Lowest scoring washers in our test:

Top loaders:

• Chiq WTL64FDB: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 57%; Price: $399
• Westinghouse WWT8084J7WA: 59%; $1199
• Haier HWT60AA1: 61%; $639

Front loaders:

• Electrolux EWF1243R7SCS: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 68%; Price: $1099
• Solt GGSFLW60: 68%; $499
• Hisense HWFS1015AB: 69%; $999
• LG WV6-1409W: 69%; $1099

Mattresses

A mattress should last you about eight to 10 years.

If you’re clocking up the recommended eight hours’ sleep each night, that means you’ll be spending more than 29,000 hours up close and personal with your mattress. 

And some of the mattresses we’ve tested cost more than $5000. This is one purchase you definitely don’t want to mess up.

We use high-tech labs in Europe to test mattresses, assessing things like comfort, sagging, stabilisation, sweat resistance and more. 

One of the mattresses at the bottom of the heap costs nearly more than $2500 at full price, so it just goes to show there’s no correlation between price and performance. 

In fact, all of these mattresses scored worse than a $200 foam mattress from Kmart, which really demonstrates the value of doing your research before buying. 

Lowest scoring mattresses in our test:

• Original Mattress Factory Refresh: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 62%; Price: $2798
• Slumberland Soho: 65%; $579
• Suparest Affinity: 66%; $599

TVs

Poor sound quality, so-so standard definition picture quality and humdrum high-def picture quality are some of the delights that await you if you buy a TV that performed poorly in our expert tests. 

You don’t necessarily need to spend top dollar for a top TV: five of the 65-inch TVs that our experts recommend cost less than $2000, and you may be able to pick them up for even less in the sales.

If you want to dodge a B-grade box, here’s the ones that landed on the bottom of our latest test. Best to fast forward on these ones.

Lowest scoring TVs in our test:

• Ffalcon FF32S55 (32 inches): 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 64%; Price: $199
• ChiQ U65M10F (65 inches): 66%; $699
• TCL 32S5K (32 inches): 66%; $299
• Hisense 65Q6QAU (65 inches): 67%; $1099
• Philips 32PHT6529/79 (31 inches): 67%; $299

Robot vacuums

A robot vac sadly won鈥檛 free you completely from the vacuuming, but it is a good way to stay on top of it in between deep cleans.

They鈥檙e not cheap, though, so it鈥檚 extra important to choose one that鈥檚 worth the money.

Even if you find these bots heavily discounted, we suggest you look elsewhere 鈥� we found these machines just didn’t compute for a good clean you could count on.

• Kmart Anko Robotic Vacuum: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 36%; Price: $169
• TP-Link Tapo RV20 Max Plus: 55%; $499
• Eureka E20 Plus: 56%; $1071

Dishwashers

A good dishwasher will save you hours of slaving over a full sink. A bad one will create even more work for you and will empty your wallet. 

Our kitchen experts have tested almost 70 currently available dishwasher models, comparing them side-by-side on their ability to handle dried-on foods like egg yolk, spinach, butter, oats, rice starch and more. 

We’ve been doing this for decades, so we know exactly what makes a good dishwasher and what will leave you elbow-deep in greasy washing-up water. 

There are three Haiers in this list, but don’t write off the brand altother: others scored better in our testing.

Check our detailed dishwasher reviews to see which ones are better buys.

Lowest scoring dishwashers in our test:

• Omega ODW101W: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 58%; Price: $799
• Haier HDW15F2S1: 61%; $1299
• Haier HDW13F0S1: 62%; $749
• Haier HDW15F2S1: 64%; $999

Coffee machines

If you’re as serious about coffee as our experts are, then you’ll know how important it is to buy a coffee machine that ticks all the boxes. 

Whether you’re looking for a manual coffee machine so you can geek out on grinds, dosing and tamping, or you’re a lazy coffee lover who just wants a caffeine hit at the press of a button, it’s important to get it just right. After all, is there anything worse than a bad coffee first thing in the morning? 

When we test coffee machines, we enlist industry experts to blind taste test coffee from each machine, and we also assess ease of use, milk frothing and temperature consistency in our testing labs. 

To make sure you don’t end up with a dud machine that’ll leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth, check out our pod, semi-automatic and manual coffee machine reviews, and our automatic espresso machine reviews.

Lowest scoring capsule machines in our tests:

• Espressotoria System Piccolo: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 39%; Price: $125
• MZBG Etika Capsule Machine: 42%; $129
• L’OR Sublime Compact (LM9012/60): 52%; $89

Lowest scoring semi-automatic machines in our tests:

• Sunbeam Prima Latte: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 54%; Price: $299
• DeLonghi Classic Manual Coffee Machine (EM450.M): 55%; $189
• Breville The Oracle BES980: 60%; $2749

Lowest scoring manual machines in our tests:

• Kmart Anko Compact Espresso: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 57%; Price: $79
• Breville Duo-Temp Pro: 59%; $429
• Contempo Espresso Machine: 64%; $79
• Kmart Retro Espresso Coffee Machine: 64%; $79

Lowest scoring automatic coffee machines in our tests:

• Dr Coffee H1 Automatic Coffee Machine: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 46%; Price: $1315
• Gaggia Anima Prestige: 51%; $1599
• Gaggia Cadorna Prestige: 55%; $1899
• Saeco Royal OTC SUP060: 55%; $1999

Clothes dryers

The key to shopping for a clothes dryer is to find the sweet spot between quick drying and low energy use.

There are a few different types of machines on the market, so if you’re not sure what’s best for you, here’s how to buy the best clothes dryer . 

There’s also a little more to using a dryer than just chucking wet clothes in and pressing ‘start’: check out our laundry expert’s tips to avoid dryer disasters.

One word of advice from our whitegoods experts: “Don’t splurge on an expensive heat pump dryer if you don’t use your dryer very often 鈥� they’re more energy efficient than a vented dryer so they cost a lot less to run.

“But because they cost so much more to buy, unless you’re using it regularly you may be better off overall buying a cheap and cheery vented number, as you might never make back the initial outlay.”

Lowest scoring dryers in our test:

• Bosch WQG24200AU (heat pump): 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 63%; Price: $1749
• Haier HDV70AWW1 (vented): 65%; $689
• Beko BDPB904HW (heat pump): 67%; $1649
• Bosch WTH83001AU (heat pump): 67%; $899

Air fryers

The kitchen appliance du jour is on many people’s EOFY shopping list. 

Converts rave about their convenience, ease of use and ability to cook foods that previously could only be done in the oven 鈥� think marinated chicken wings, roast pork, chicken nuggets and more. 

Their running costs are also cheap as chips (air fried ones, naturally), so if you pick up a bargain air fryer you’ll save at the till and hopefully on your power bill, too. 

However, not all of them live up to the hype. Here are the ones to avoid in the sales, even if you find them cheap. 

Lowest scoring air fryers in our test:

• Kitchen Couture Dual View Stainless Steel Air Fryer: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 67%; Price: $200
• Sunbeam Multi Zone Air Fryer AFP6000BK: 68%; $299
• Sunbeam 22L Multi Function Oven + Air Fryer: 69%; $299

Stick vacuums

A good stick vacuum can make quick cleans a breeze, but poor performers can give you the rough end of the stick and leave you doing more laps at home just to bust all the dust. 

Our experts thoroughly tested more than 50 popular models, and found these sticks that you should give the flick. 

Lowest scoring stick vacs in our test:

• LG A9 Ace: 糖心Vlog Expert Rating: 51%; Price: $399
• Makita 18V Mobile Vacuum Cleaner Kit: 56%; $149
• i-Vac Animal S50 Stick Vacuum: 58%; $299

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The post Products to avoid in the EOFY sales appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

But fortunately, there’s something to take your mind off the looming paperwork: the end of financial year (EOFY) sales.

Retailers are keen to offload their old stock and shoppers are keen to nab a bargain. It’s a win for both parties 鈥� as long as your hot deal doesn’t turn out to be a discount disappointment.

There are definitely some EOFY buys that we suggest you avoid, but you can often find sales on products that 糖心Vlog experts rate highly, so if you do your research you can pick up a superior product for a song.

Here are some EOFY sales tips for savvy shoppers to help you get the best deal for your dollar. Plus, exclusively for 糖心Vlog members, we’ll reveal which products are worth your hard-earned money.

If you just want to get straight to the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

Smart shopping tips to live by

Before you hit the sales with credit cards blazing, there are some key things to keep in mind. 

1. Expensive doesn’t always mean better

Our product test results regularly disprove the age-old adage that ‘you get what you pay for’. Our experts often see pricey products underperform, while cheaper, lesser-known ones shine. 

That’s why it pays to do your homework and check our reviews.

Head to our list of聽overpriced and underperforming products聽for further proof of expensive fails.

2. Good brands sometimes make poor products 

It’s another unexpected result our experts see all the time in our tests.

A brand can boast some of the best performing products in a category… and some terrible ones too. 

It all depends on the build quality and design of each product, which is why individual product reviews are so vital. 

3. Don’t believe everything you read

Sure, one site is offering 20% off its usual price, but was it more expensive to start with compared to others? 

Before you ‘add to cart’, it’s worth playing the field and sizing up the best deal 鈥� and assessing delivery costs and times, too. 

Here’s what you need to know for the 2026 EOFY sales. 

The best from our tests: What to buy in the EOFY sales

We test hundreds of products in our labs each year, so our experts know what’s worth spending your money on.

A 糖心Vlog membership can save you money by helping you avoid overpriced duds and choose the best products for your budget.

Only members can access our detailed testing data. If you鈥檙e not yet a member, join 糖心Vlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews

Or if you’re already a 糖心Vlog member, you can see the top-rated products for each category in one easy-to-read rundown below.

The post EOFY best buys: Member exclusive appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Our research shows there are some good bargains to be found 鈥� if you shop smartly and strategically. But there are also often discounted duds that should be avoided at all costs. 

EOFY sales also come with a few well-practised retail tricks 鈥� designed to make you feel like you鈥檝e bagged a great deal and saved money, even if you鈥檝e spent more than planned, or you’ve bought a poor-performing product that鈥檚 been languishing on the shelf for a reason.

With so many retailers competing for your cash in less than scrupulous ways, it pays to shop with one eyebrow raised.

Here are the EOFY sales traps that catch shoppers out every year 鈥� and how to make sure your next purchase is genuinely good value.

1. Discounted duds

We consistently see retailers using the EOFY sales to clear out old and unwanted stock. The shine of a big discount usually dulls when you realise they鈥檙e just giving you money off a product no-one else wants.

Undercover 糖心Vlog shoppers have already spotted a host of products that were poorly rated by experts in our testing, now being spruiked in the sales at discounted price.

Remember, just because something is advertised at a reduced price, it doesn鈥檛 mean it鈥檚 a good buy.

2. Fake urgency

Messages like “Only 2 left!” or “Must buy, sale ends soon!” are designed to create pressure and reduce comparison shopping, even when stock levels aren’t genuinely limited and sales periods can be extended at any time.

After last year鈥檚 Black Friday sales, 糖心Vlog found two major retailers overstating how good their offers really were and how long consumers had to take advantage of them.

鈥淩emember, the end of financial year sale is just one event on a jam-packed sales calendar,鈥澛� says 糖心Vlog editorial director Mark Serrels.

鈥淭here鈥檚 no need to panic buy, because we continue to see heavy discounting happen more regularly across the entire year. Last year we saw EOFY sales extend into July in some cases.

鈥淚t鈥檚 better to take your time to do your research and ensure you get a good deal,鈥� he says.

3. Brand blindness

Do you know someone who always buys an iPhone, consistently swears by Smeg appliances, or refuses to try an alternative brand of coffee? 

Brand loyalty is the tendency for consumers to repeatedly choose the same brand over competitors, whether it鈥檚 because they鈥檝e had a positive past experience, the brand is familiar or has earned their trust in some way, or they have a perception of quality or an emotional connection. 

糖心Vlog experts warn that this 鈥榖rand blindness鈥� during a sales period like EOFY can get in the way of a good deal, and ultimately cost you money. 

鈥溙切腣log testing consistently finds that products from the same brand can vary wildly in performance 鈥� we see this with many big brands like Breville, Smeg, Dyson, and more,鈥� says Mark.

鈥淏uying on brand name alone without doing your research could mean you end up with a dud product. Make sure you check expert product reviews on an independent site like 糖心Vlog before you buy.鈥�

4. Unnecessary extended warranties and other costly add-ons

Ever get to the instore checkout and a super chatty salesperson convinces you 鈥渋t鈥檚 a good idea鈥� to buy some 鈥渆xtra protection鈥� in case something goes wrong? These extended warranties (sometimes also called 鈥減rotection鈥� or 鈥減roduct care鈥� plans) cost extra, but most of them aren’t worth it.

鈥淓xtended warranties are often no more than a sneaky sales tactic that make you pay more for protections you already have under Australian Consumer Law,鈥� says Mark.

鈥淎sk the salesperson: ‘What does this give me in addition to the rights I already have under Australian Consumer Law?’ And read the fine print before signing up.鈥澛�

When you鈥檙e shopping online, be aware of any 鈥榓dd-ons鈥� that might automatically be added to your cart at checkout. Online sites often offer added 鈥減rotections鈥� such as extra shipping protection, shipping insurance or transit cover policies.

Policies tend to range in cost from a few dollars up to $25. What they provide and how it鈥檚 sold to you varies widely, so make sure you read the fine print to see if it鈥檚 actually offering you anything of value.

5. Scam shopping sites and unscrupulous online marketplaces

When buying anything online, ideally use familiar retailers and make sure you鈥檙e on a genuine website. Scammers are notorious for creating fake websites that imitate popular retailers in order to steal money and information from shoppers. These sites often look very similar to those of legitimate stores.

鈥淏e wary of unusual URLs, red flags like lots of pop-up windows, requests to use an unusual payment method such as money transfer, or prices that seem too good to be true,鈥� says Mark.

鈥淚f you鈥檙e unsure, you can enlist the help of fellow consumers who might have had previous experience with the outlet.

鈥淵ou can find reviews of websites on services like Google or Trustpilot, as well as on social media. If the website you鈥檙e using is a scam, there鈥檚 a chance victims might be using these forums to warn others.鈥�

Read our guidance on 6 ways to spot a scam website.

You should also be wary of buying potentially unsafe or illegal products. 糖心Vlog recently sounded the alarm on the scale of harm being caused by unsafe products sold online by retailers such as Shein, Temu, AliExpress and more.

Know the products to avoid before you shop. Get our free guide and buy smarter.

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The 2026 end of the financial year (EOFY) sales are here and retailers and manufacturers are dropping prices on lots of products in the lead up to June 30.

In the past few weeks, we鈥檝e seen major retailers such as JB Hi-Fi, Bing Lee and Amazon, and manufacturers like Samsung and Lenovo, cut prices on their stock by as much as 70%.

Every day brings more sales, and while we have seen quality products selling cheaper than normal, EOFY can also be a chance for retailers to offload unpopular items, leading to dud products getting mixed in among bargain stock.听

In fact, some of the most attention-grabbing markdowns we鈥檝e seen so far are on products that have performed poorly in our reviews.

So how can you avoid ending up with one of these poor performers? 

As an independent expert tester of many of the products being slapped with EOFY markdowns, 糖心Vlog is uniquely able to shine a light on the actual quality of what鈥檚 being sold.

Read on to find some of the best prices we鈥檝e spotted so far for products our experts have tested and recommend (available exclusively to 糖心Vlog members).

But first, we鈥檒l reveal the deals you’d be smart to avoid.

On this page:

• EOFY deals to avoid
• EOFY deals worth considering

EOFY deals to avoid

Even at their lower EOFY prices, you might find these products are outperformed by cheaper alternatives in our tests.

However, some of these items could have unique strengths that suit your circumstances, so check our reviews for the breakdown of the pros and cons we found for each.

Rejected robo vacs

The Eureka E20 Plus might look like a good EOFY find, going for almost half price at Amazon, but this model didn鈥檛 make it anywhere near the top of the table when our testers put it and 19 other robot vacuum cleaners through their paces.

Our testers concluded it might best be put to use as an expensive amusement. It visibly struggled to negotiate furniture, rugs, carpet and pets, often knocking into the same object over and over again.

When it eventually got around to cleaning, it couldn’t do that very well either, recording the worst mopping score of any robo vac we tested.

Meanwhile, anyone perusing clearance sales at Myer and Betta may have noticed these retailers trying to shift the iRobot Roomba 205 DustCompactor Combo out of their stores by way of discounts as high as 42%.

But consumers are the ones who should be moving on: this robo vac has middling performance in many areas. To make matters worse, our testers found that the app you need to operate the device was buggy and difficult to use.

Over at The Good Guys, another Roomba, the Plus 505 Combo, has been branded a 鈥淭op Deal鈥�  鈥� a label incongruent with its bottom-level performance.

This model came close to last in our latest robo vac review, marked down for being bad at picking up dirt and mopping, as well as being noisy and suffering regular glitches.

Ho-hum heaters

Perfectly aligned with the start of winter, EOFY is a great time to grab a heater. But steer clear of these models, whose mediocre performance will leave you shivering.

Coming equal-last in our latest electric heater review, with a rating from our experts of just 53%, it鈥檚 no surprise the Rinnai PEPH-22PEW has ended up among the clearance stock at Bing Lee.

It was labelled one of our heaters to avoid last month, marked down by our experts for having borderline performance and only one heat setting.

On the larger side of EOFY discounts, the DeLonghi Dragon 4 is going for $200 less than usual at Myer.

But you certainly will get less with this heater: our testers rated its performance as only ok, and found its settings difficult to use.

Dodgy dishwashers

Two Haier dishwashers 鈥� the HDW15F2S1 and HDW13F0S1 鈥� are among the crop of EOFY deals at electrical retailer E&S, going for 25% cheaper than normal, according to the company.

It might sound like a deal, but beware: both of these models featured in our recent rundown of dishwashers to avoid after we found them to be bad at cleaning plates and expensive to run.

The HDW15F2S1 tries to compensate for this by being Wi-Fi-enabled, but whether that鈥檚 more useful than actually getting clean dishes is debatable.

Washed-up washing machines

The washing woes continue for Haier. There are two top-loader washing machines from the manufacturer marked down by our testers among sale stock at E&S, Betta and Harvey Norman.

Already notably cheap at full price, the HWT60AA1 and HWT75AA1 are now going for even less, 25% in some cases.

But these low prices will come back to bite you: we found both models expensive to run, due to poor water efficiency.

EOFY is just the latest chance for these washers to prove themselves deserving of the title cheap and nasty. They were less gentle on the test fabrics we used in our recent washing machines review than other models.

Mediocre mattresses

Don鈥檛 get lulled by the 50% off EOFY sale from mattress retailer Snooze: the Sealy Posturepedic Crown Jewels Reims Flex is among those getting the half-price treatment, but you鈥檒l probably be able to find a better mattress for even less.

This Sealy came in towards the bottom of our latest mattress review, getting an overall rating of just 67% from our experts.

The Slumberland Soho is also enjoying an EOFY discount at Snooze, but this might be another deal worth sleeping on. We found this mattress relatively uncomfortable and it had the lowest stabilisation score of the almost 50 products we tested.

Testing tech

EOFY is synonymous with home office appliances, but here too lie dangers to your dollar.

The Acer Aspire Go 15 laptop is currently $100 cheaper than usual at Harvey Norman, thanks to the retailer鈥檚 half-yearly clearance sale. But it鈥檚 worth noting this model scored relatively poorly in our latest laptop review.听

Despite some good points, it could become a source of frustration in your home office, due to poor audio quality and having a keyboard that can鈥檛 be backlit for easy use in the dark.

A stick vac that sucks

You want your stick vacuum cleaner to suck, but not in this way.

During testing, our experts noticed the Black & Decker PowerSeries+ BHFEA515J was prone to leaking some of the dirt it had just sucked up. Hardly surprising, then, that it did a poor job of several cleaning tasks.

Our testers also gave it low marks for not having a battery you could swap out and replace.

These factors landed it towards the bottom of our latest stick vac review, but you wouldn鈥檛 know that looking at the product on Amazon.

There, it鈥檚 being given 鈥淎mazon鈥檚 Choice鈥� status and a 7% discount as part of the company鈥檚 mid-year sale. This sucker might be Amazon鈥檚 choice, but it definitely wouldn鈥檛 be ours.

EOFY deals worth considering

Only 糖心Vlog members can access the following information on top-performing products featuring in this year’s EOFY sales.听

If you’re not yet a member, join 糖心Vlog to get instant access to all our expert, independent reviews or log in to unlock this article.

These are some of the best prices we鈥檝e seen so far on products we recommend in the EOFY sales.

The post Best and worst deals of the 2026 EOFY sales appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

At 糖心Vlog, we’re the last people to endorse frenzied sale shopping, but it’s true that the end of the financial year (EOFY) can be a good opportunity to grab a bargain.

Helpfully timed to break up the months between the Boxing Day sales and the Black Friday discount block in November, this run of bargains in the middle of the calendar year can serve up big deals on a broad range of items, not all of them work-related.

This guide breaks down what these sales are, when they start and end, how you can get a bargain and what you should avoid.

On this page:

• What are the EOFY sales?
• Who has deals?
• When do the sales start and end?
• Where can you find a bargain?
• Are the EOFY sales worth it?
• Your consumer rights during the sales
• What to avoid at EOFY

The EOFY sales are a recurring round of discounts leading up to the end of Australia’s financial year on 30 June. They regularly attract billions in consumer spending.

Sales happen at this time because many retailers want to improve their financial position by the end of the fiscal year and clear out old stock to make space on the shop floor for new items.

This need to shift older products is why you鈥檒l see some retailer deals at this time of year advertised as 鈥渟tocktake鈥� or 鈥渃learance鈥� sales.

However they’re branded, these events also come at a time when many of us are thinking about which of the year’s purchases we’ll be able to claim back on tax, as we turn our minds to lodging our tax returns.

Recognising this, many retailers take the opportunity to present us with deals on products that could be a last minute work-related, claimable purchase 鈥� such as laptops, smartphones or printers 鈥� to lessen our levies or even help us get a tax refund.

That’s why you’ll often see a lot of financial jargon, promises to help “smash” your taxes and invitations to “claim everything you can” mixed in with sales promotions from retailers at this time.

But just because a retailer says you can claim a purchase doesn’t always mean you actually can. What we’re able to deduct from tax varies from person to person, so consider your personal circumstances before buying something you plan to claim.

Who has deals?

This focus on pushing goods that you can claim as a tax deduction means you鈥檒l often see deals on tech and appliances at EOFY.

The 2026 sales kicked off this month with deals from tech retailers like Bing Lee, Officeworks, Vodafone and Kogan, along with discounts from manufacturer brands like Lenovo and HP.

But it鈥檚 not just about the home office 鈥� you can also look forward to deals from big names in clothing, toys, furniture and homewares 鈥� think David Jones, Myer, Koala, Appliances Online and Amazon.

So far, this year鈥檚 discounts have averaged 5鈥�50% off, but it鈥檚 still early days.听

As more retailers join the fray, we tend to see EOFY discounts average 20鈥�50% on selected items (not all stock), while some reductions reach as high as almost 90%.

When do the sales start and end?

EOFY officially falls at the end of June, but many brands start their sales in the weeks (or even a whole month) beforehand.

This year has been no exception, with several retailers dropping EOFY deals in the first two weeks of May.

But most major vendors are holding back and haven’t started their sales yet 鈥� expect most to unveil their EOFY, clearance or mid-year deals later this month or in early to mid-June.

Once they鈥檙e here, these EOFY offers can last anywhere from a few days to weeks, depending on the retailer.

Sales by major brands will often last for up to a month, but are rarely truly site- or store-wide, despite sometimes promising to be.

Big businesses can chop and change which products they’re actually discounting during a long sales period like EOFY 鈥� your favourite product discounted one day may return to full price the next, or vice versa.

In previous years, we鈥檝e seen retailers extend their sales beyond their originally advertised end dates by up to eight days, ensuring deals last into early July.

So with start and end dates and discounts not set in stone, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on your favourite retailers by following them on social media or signing up to their email newsletters to see what’s being discounted and when.

Even if they haven鈥檛 started yet, many outlets already have webpages set up ready to share their EOFY offers, so bookmark these and start checking them from now throughout June for extra information.

Where can you find a bargain?

EOFY deals are available both online and at physical stores, although some may be online-only.

So if you spot a bargain, check where it’s available and if there are any other conditions before heading off in pursuit of a purchase.

Some outlets also provide price matching, so consider asking about this if you see another shop selling the product you want for cheaper.

Are the EOFY sales worth it?

Even though you can find significant discounts (up to almost 90% in some instances) on popular items during the EOFY sales, this run of bargains isn鈥檛 the be-all and end-all and some discounts may not be as good as they seem.

We often see EOFY deals on products our testers have found to be poor performers (as well as decent offers on products they do recommend) and the ACCC has previously accused retailers of misleading consumers by over-promising how big their sales are.

Even when deals are legitimate, we鈥檙e seeing more and more sales periods crop up throughout the year and some of these come with discounts just as good as those on offer during EOFY sales.

On top of recent additions to the established sales calendar, such as Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday, individual retailers are also having their own flash sales on an increasingly regular basis.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has picked up on this trend, observing “weaker than usual” spending during previous EOFY seasons due to there being more and more sales in the lead up to this traditional sales block.

In other words, in a lot of cases, you don’t have to wait until June to get a good deal, so it pays to follow your favourite brands on social media to catch offers as they come up.

Your consumer rights during the sales

Australian Consumer Law (ACL) gives you certain rights when you buy a good or service from a business selling in Australia, whether it be a physical store or online.

Companies can’t take away these rights with anything they do or say, even during sale periods.

Under the law, retailers must provide a remedy (refund, replacement or repair) for a faulty product, but they’re not obliged to give you a refund or exchange if you just change your mind or find that something doesn’t fit.

Find out more about what you’re entitled to with our guide to using your consumer guarantees.

What to avoid at EOFY

Dud products

There鈥檚 no point saving big bucks on a product if it鈥檚 a poor performer and as mentioned above, we see plenty of duds mixed in with EOFY bargain stock.

Whether you鈥檙e buying a TV, headphones, a smart speaker or a home appliance, check 糖心Vlog reviews and sign up to our regular rundowns of products to avoid to ensure you鈥檙e getting a good deal.

Dangerous items

If you’re browsing this year’s EOFY sales for kids’ toys, it can be hard to resist light-up or singing novelties going for bargain prices.

Before you buy, it’s worth remembering many of these contain small button batteries which have proven fatal in cases where children have been able to extract and swallow them.

Luckily, Australia now has rules (that 糖心Vlog helped to bring in), designed to make these batteries harder to access. But unfortunately we still often see toys being recalled for failing to follow these safety standards.

Therefore, we recommend not buying any children鈥檚 toys, baby safety items or electronics from cheap overseas websites 鈥� these products are the least likely to meet Australian safety standards 鈥� and checking to make sure what you鈥檙e purchasing isn鈥檛 currently subject to a recall.

E-scooters, e-bikes, hoverboards and other e-rideables powered by lithium-ion batteries will also feature in this year’s sales. These products have caused fires in the past when users settled for cheap batteries or chargers and left them plugged in unattended.

Only buying e-rideables, batteries or chargers from reputable Australian businesses (and not from overseas via the internet) is a good way to stay safe. 

Charging these products outside your home, away from beds, sofas or carpets, and only during times when you can keep an eye on them (not overnight) is another smart strategy.

Extended warranties

Extended warranties are extra guarantees about the lifespan of a product that retailers commonly offer on expensive items.

Sometimes also called “protection” or “product care” plans, these add-ons come at a cost, but most of them aren’t worth it.

This is because they often carry the same or weaker protections as your existing (and free) ACL rights, which decree that expensive products should last a reasonable amount of time, such as a few years.

If staff are trying to upsell you to one of these plans, ask what rights it will give you beyond the ACL.

Scams

We often see scammers trying to siphon off consumer spending during the sales with dodgy websites designed to steal money and information from unsuspecting shoppers.

To make matters worse, we鈥檝e previously spotted social media companies and search engines allowing ads for these sites on their platforms.

Incoming regulations requiring tech companies and other big businesses to prevent, detect and disrupt scams will hopefully reduce the chance of this occurring again, but it鈥檚 still worthwhile getting familiar with the common shopping cons scammers may deploy this year.

Learn how to spot nefarious copies of well-known retailer websites with our guide to spotting a scam shopping site and get up to date with a recent trend of scammers trying to pass themselves off as small local boutiques.

While you鈥檙e shopping, you may also find yourself the target of other scams commonly circulating around EOFY.

For example, tax scams often peak around this time of year, so you might receive messages claiming to come from the Australian Tax Office or other government agencies trying to get you to hand over money or information. Learn how to spot these phishing attempts with our guide to the most common tax scams.

The post EOFY sales 2026: Everything you need to know appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Does the sight of Ikea’s bold blue and gold send a frisson of retail-related pleasure down your spine? Or perhaps you’re offended by the thought of paying money for furniture you have to assemble yourself? 

Maybe you just go there for the meatballs. (A valid choice.)

Whatever your thoughts on the Swedish Temple of Homewares, there’s no denying that Ikea often hits the mark with its range of great-value, functional products, and there are probably few homes that don’t have at least one piece of Scandinavian flat-pack furniture.

However, our product experts have found that Ikea does have a few dodgy buys among all the Hemnes, Hovags, Bjurstas and other unpronounceables.

Whether you’re furnishing your home, preparing for a baby or just love dropping cash on things you didn’t know you needed, here’s our round-up of the best buys and the scandi-lous (sorry) rip-offs.

On this page:

• Ikea good buys
• Ikea products to be wary of
• Ikea products to avoid

Ikea good buys

Ikea mattresses (mostly)

糖心Vlog experts have put a range of mattresses through their paces and they say that Ikea mattresses are definitely worth considering.

But some are better than others, so just make sure you’re buying the best that the Swedish retailer has to offer.

“Ikea typically makes middle-of-the-road mattresses 鈥� most aren’t the best on the market, but some do rank among our top performers,” says 糖心Vlog mattress expert Peter Zalzuny.

“The rest aren’t bad for the price so, depending on what you’re looking for, an Ikea mattress can be a solid choice.

“Ikea’s free trial period of a year is three times longer than Koala’s or Sleeping Duck’s. Their warranty lasts a whopping 25 years for some models and it’s easy to try each mattress instore before entering the free trial period. 

“Plus, they have quite a few models to choose from.”

The seven Ikea mattresses we’ve tested range in price from $249 to $1399 and two of them are recommended by our experts. 

But be wary 鈥� three of their mattresses rated just OK overall. 糖心Vlog members can access our full reviews for all Ikea mattresses.

If you do need to exchange, it’s important to know Ikea doesn’t have free delivery or pick up, and you’re only eligible for one exchange under the trial period.

Pillows

With some pillows costing $150 or more (we tested four that cost $250+), it seems people are willing to pay big dollars in the pursuit of a good night’s sleep. 

But what if you don’t have that kind of money to spend?

If you’re on a budget, you can rest easy: in our tests, most of Ikea’s memory foam pillows held their own against premium-branded pillows that cost many times more. However, not all of them scored highly, so check our reviews to make sure you’re picking up a good one. 

Ikea stocks a range of pillows in various materials and at various price points (we tested ones ranging from $10 to $80). As comfort is particularly subjective, it’s a good idea to check out pillows instore if you can. 

Our pillow review can also help you to ensure you get the right pillow for your needs and budget. 

Ikea cot mattresses

We test cot mattresses for safety, which includes firmness and accuracy of dimensions. We recommend the vast majority of cot mattresses we review.

We tested four Ikea cot mattresses in our 糖心Vlog labs and they rated from very good to excellent. To find out which mattresses scored the highest, see our full cot mattress reviews.

Ikea high chairs

Our latest detailed high chair testing included three Ikea models in a range of styles and materials. 

The iconic Ikea Antilop high chair you see in so many households and cafes across the country didn’t score as highly as other high chairs in our tests, but at $25, it’s hard to deny that this is a bargain buy that does the job. 

It’s cheap, lightweight and easy to clean, although our testers did note some downsides:

• the harness has no shoulder straps
• the harness isn’t permanently attached, so could pose a safety issue if you lose it
• the high chair isn’t foldable
• it has no footrest
• the tray is very hard to remove.

A 糖心Vlog member said: “The Ikea [Antilop] high chair is simplicity and function rolled into one affordable piece of baby equipment. Everyone I know who has purchased a cheap Ikea high chair as a ‘back-up’ at granny’s, or for a holiday house, has soon discarded their fussy, expensive chair in favour of this one.”

Reassuringly, all three Ikea high chairs we’ve tested (the Antilop, Bl氓mes and Gr氓val) passed our key safety tests.

Wall ovens and cooktops

Although none of the Ikea wall ovens we tested earned a recommended rating in our wall oven reviews, they all scored quite well, especially given their relatively low price point.

Likewise, 糖心Vlog testing shows that Ikea offers quality options when it comes to its gas, induction and portable induction cooktops, and our experts have been impressed by their performance for a relatively low price. 

Again, most of them didn’t score highly enough to be recommended by our experts, but several of them missed out by just a few percentage points. 

Some models definitely perform better than others, so check out our full cooktop reviews to find out which ones scored best.

Dishwashers

Ikea sells a number of integrated dishwashers, ranging in price from $599 to $1499. 

The models we’ve tested in the past have been hit and miss: some have scored well, with two scoring high enough to be recommended, while others haven’t been much to write home about.

The top scoring Ikea dishwasher delivered very good drying performance, but is relatively noisy and the display doesn’t show the time remaining for the cycle. For the price, though, it’s definitely worth considering.

Cookware

Ikea might not be the first place you’d think of to buy a good frypan or Dutch oven, but maybe it should be: some Ikea pots and pans have really impressed our kitchen experts.

A cheapo non-stick frypan from the Swedish shop outscored pans from fancy brands that cost hundreds of dollars more, and a $99 Ikea cast-iron Dutch oven only just missed out on being recommended by our experts by one percentage point.

While plenty of expensive saucepans, frypans and Dutch ovens do perform well in our testing, our test results show that you shouldn’t always discount the discount products when you shop.

Ikea products to be wary of

Change tables

None of the Ikea change tables we’ve tested have performed very well 鈥� the highest score any of them achieved was 65%. 

They did pass all our key safety tests, but all of them had one or two minor safety failures.

Of note is the Myllra change table which comes with nearly 300 individual pieces. It took our experts (who are no slouches when it comes to assembling flat-pack furniture) nearly two hours to put together!

Microwaves

The Ikea microwave in our current review performed quite well, with our experts rating it as “good” overall. 

It was deemed “excellent” for cooking vegetables and “very good” for defrosting mince by our experts, but unfortunately didn’t make the cut to be recommended.

“The Ikea Tillreda is a very basic microwave with manual controls that are not very accurate,” says 糖心Vlog home economist Fiona Mair.

While they’re definitely cheap, we’ve tested similarly priced microwaves that performed better, so make sure you check our expert microwave reviews to help you pick up the best model for your money. 

Ikea products to avoid

Ikea Nedkyld fridge

糖心Vlog experts haven’t been great fans of Ikea fridges in the past, and one of the Ikea fridges tested in our most recent reviews hasn’t done much to sway their opinion. 

We awarded one Ikea fridge a  in 2019: The Ikea Nedkyld fridge received a raft of poor scores in our testing, with an overall rating of 39%. It bombed out on pretty much every test and our experts couldn’t find a single good thing to say about it.

Fortunately it’s since been discontinued.

We’ve also tested the $1299 Ikea Medgang 302L fridge (currently listed at $1099 on the Ikea website), and while it wasn’t as bad as the Nedkyld, it didn’t impress either, scoring just 51% for temperature stability 鈥� which means its temperature is likely to fluctuate, potentially leaving you with ice cream that’s melted then re-frozen, and food that goes off faster.

The $599 Ikea Lagan 257L fridge performed even worse for temperature stability and temperature evenness 鈥� it’s rated as “poor” by our experts on both these aspects. It scored a lukewarm 49% overall.

These fridges may be some of the cheapest on the market, but even at these low prices they’re still not great buys.

Check our reviews to find the best fridge for your budget.

Air purifiers

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of spending hundreds of dollars on an air purifier, you might be tempted by Ikea’s $199 Starkvind model.

Our advice? Don’t be.

It scored just 59% for smoke removal, 60% for dust removal and just 17% for VOC (volatile organic compound) removal 鈥� in short, it was pretty ordinary at doing all the things an air purifier is supposed to do. 

It’s not the most ineffective air purifier we’ve ever seen, but it’s still just an OK performer compared to other models on the market.

Unfortunately, it looks like you do need to spend a bit to get a really good air purifier: the cheapest of our recommended models is $399. However, even if you only have a small budget, there are other super-cheap models that score better than Ikea’s offerings.

Our detailed review will help you find the best air purifiers for your money.

Wireless speakers

The Ikea speakers we’ve tested over the years have never really impressed our experts: the highest scoring speaker is rated an underwhelming 62%. 

The lowest scorer (which is now discontinued) received a 糖心Vlog Expert Rating of just 27%.

With a price tag of only $20, no-one would expect high-level performance from it, but boy did it exceed expectations 鈥� in the worst possible way.

As for currently available speakers, even spending a bit more won’t give you better sound: a $99 and a $249 speaker scored pretty much the same in our tests, despite the $150 difference.

Unfortunately not many of the cheaper speakers we’ve reviewed have performed especially well, so you probably won’t get great sound quality at Ikea prices 鈥� but if you keep an eye out in the sales you’ll be able to pick up something better than these woeful wireless speakers.

Our detailed wireless speaker reviews have all the details on the best models.

The post Ikea: Best buys and what to avoid appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

Here are some of the left-of-field places our staff have scored an amazing deal.

Op shops

Shoes

“OK, it may be true that in my guide to op shopping I directly counsel against buying shoes second-hand, but that鈥檚 only if you鈥檙e an op-shopping novice.

Personally, I have had amazing luck finding shoes at op shops. Some of my favourites? My Jadon Hologram platform Doc Martens ($25), my white Blaire Doc Marten sandals ($4) and my vintage-look New Balance trainers ($3).

Plus, for my kids I鈥檝e scored both pink and purple Converse hi-tops ($2 each), Blundstone boots ($2) and countless pairs of Adidas and Nike sneakers in near-new condition.”

鈥� Grace

Designer clothes

“Last year I attended a wedding in a thrifted designer dress (Bassike) that retailed at $460 鈥� scored for $15 from my local op shop. I also get lots of compliments on my Stella McCartney swimsuit which I picked up for $3.”

鈥� Grace

鈥淚 once scored a Jeremy Scott biker jacket from Vinnies.鈥�

鈥� Ren

Kids鈥� toys

“Last Christmas I scored not one, but two VTech Kidizoom cameras for my son and daughter, one in pink and one in blue. They retail for $99 each at JB Hi-Fi.”

鈥� Grace

Facebook Marketplace

Bookshelf

“My son鈥檚 book collection was getting out of control, so I managed to score him an enormous bookshelf on Marketplace for $40 (it takes up his entire wall and currently houses hundreds of books).

When we went to pick it up, the woman was so happy that it was being used for a child who loved reading that she gave him $5 to buy more books (our local op shop sells books for 50c a pop, so he was stoked!).”

鈥� Grace

Kids鈥� bikes

“Anything that kids grow out of is always possible to pick up for a bargain, and kids bikes are such a good example. We bought my son a high quality Trek bike with a trendy helmet included for $50.”

鈥� Grace

Furniture

“I bought this Parker bedroom suite (dressing table with mirror, chest of drawers, and wardrobe) for $250 years ago and ended up selling it for $1100. Turns out it’s a 1953 design 鈥� probably could have sold it for even more!”

鈥� Alice

Waste Not, Want Not/Trade groups

Trampoline

“We picked up a giant Vuly trampoline someone was giving away for free on our local Waste Not, Want Not group.”

鈥� Grace

Wooden drawers

“When my daughter needed a set of drawers for her bedroom, we scored this solid wooden set someone was giving away for free and painted it Barbie-pink.”

鈥� Grace

“This mid-century stoneware crockery is from an English brand called Denby. I had bought the green pieces from Facebook Marketplace, but it wasn’t a full set.

Then someone on my trade group (where people swap things with no money involved) posted an entire set of the brown ones. Their aunt was getting rid of them, and she only wanted some yarn as a trade so she could make blankets for a charity.”

鈥� Alice

Gumtree

“I scored a beautiful extra-long parker sideboard from a minister’s wife in Mosman on Gumtree for $150. When I went to pick it up she was genuinely surprised about how many enquiries she’d had about it.”

鈥� Jane

Dumpster diving*/council pickup/side of the road

“A friend of mine found two original Featherston chairs on a hard rubbish chuck out, but could only fit one in his car. They鈥檙e currently worth $3鈥�10k each.”

鈥� Tracy

“My partner scored a huge Brett Whitely painting retrieved from a dumpster in the Surry Hills Street they both lived/worked on. He chucked it, she found it.”

鈥� Ren

鈥淚n a share house a long, long time ago, we would dumpster dive the day after Easter for hot cross buns. Hundreds of bags 鈥� all clean, wrapped, and fresh-ish 鈥� thrown into the freezer to fatten us up over winter.鈥�

鈥� Mark

“I found a cute cane side table and tiger cane plant stand both on the side of the road.”

鈥� Alice

“I found a mid-century saucepan in the skip bin next to my house. I later found another similar looking one left out on the street near my house 鈥� it鈥檚 made in Yugoslavia! Below are the goodies from dumpsters, side of the road and op shops displayed on a plant stand, which was also found on the side of the road.”

鈥� Alice

“Our son finds lots of furniture on the side of the road and saves it to gift to people when the time comes. He gifted us this outdoor table.”

鈥�&苍产蝉辫;础苍诲测

*We don鈥檛 necessarily recommend dumpster diving for food. It鈥檚 risky from a food safety perspective and it鈥檚 also a legal grey area. But you can definitely find great stuff in dumpsters. 糖心Vlog staffer Alice recommends simply asking for permission if you鈥檇 like to check a bin that鈥檚 on private property. 

Online bargains

Holiday

“At the risk of sounding like an advertorial, I cannot plug the value of the Sea World Resort ‘Stay Play and Save’ deal hard enough. Every year during ‘off’ season (usually August), my husband, two kids and I take a holiday to the Gold Coast. For $299 we get one night鈥檚 accommodation for all four of us, two full days of entry to Wet n Wild, Sea World and Movieworld (the day of check in and the day of check out) and one buffet breakfast.

I challenge anyone to find a cheaper way to visit three theme parks for two days! Unfortunately Sea World does not pay me a commission to spread the good word, but if they did I would be rich from the number of people I have put onto this amazing deal. The deal changes slightly each year but keep an eye out once the weather starts to turn.”

鈥� Grace

Refurbished tech from Reebolo

“We’ve purchased all my extended family’s iPhones, AirPods etc through Reebelo at a fraction of the new cost, and they come with the same one-year warranty you would get when buying new. 聽

I had to test my warranty recently when one of my three-month old AirPods stopped working and the process was very smooth and satisfying. Recently, we bought two 128GB iPhone 13s for our parents for $470 each, and delivery’s included.”

鈥� Alana

Workplace free table

At 糖心Vlog, we have a “free to a good home” Slack channel, and a table in the office where people can leave items for others to take. It鈥檚 a rich hunting ground for freebies, especially for parents looking for items other people鈥檚 kids have outgrown. It鈥檚 a great thing to suggest at your workplace if you think it might work.

Kids鈥� books

“I picked up a massive collection of Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid books that my kids are now obsessed with off the 糖心Vlog free table.”

鈥�&苍产蝉辫;笔谤耻

Clothes

“I am still wearing a number of pairs of jeans/leggings etc that a colleague donated in an office clothes swap many years ago 鈥� great quality.”

鈥� Alana

“I nabbed a pair of pink Doc Marten boots for my daughter.”

鈥� Ren

Have you got an amazing bargain to share? Send them to choicecheapskate@choice.com.au.

Things worth buying new

Getting things second-hand is not only great for your bottom line, it鈥檚 also good for the planet.

But as much as we love a bargain, there are plenty of things the savvy staffers at 糖心Vlog would only buy new 鈥� usually for safety reasons, but also in some cases it鈥檚 simply the more frugal choice, when you take into consideration product warranties and customer support for certain items.

Certain appliances

Buying second-hand appliances can definitely be a good idea in certain situations, but when it comes to shopping second-hand, there are certain appliances that it really makes sense to buy new.

Big ticket items that use a lot of electricity (and will gobble up enormous quantities if they鈥檙e not running properly) such as fridges, dryers and washing machines are usually worth buying new 鈥� although you should always try to grab one on sale.

For smaller appliances like toasters, kettles and sandwich presses, you need to ask yourself why the seller is getting rid of the item 鈥� people rarely upgrade these items if they鈥檙e in perfect working condition. 

The appliances that you鈥檙e most likely to be able to pick up for a bargain second-hand are novelty appliances that people may have bought on a whim or received as a gift and never ended up using. Things like slushie machines and ice cream makers, for example. 

Baby items

When it comes to babies, safety and hygiene are extremely important. You can certainly pick up some items second-hand 鈥� prams, cots, high chairs and baby carriers are all good candidates, as long as you check they comply with the relevant safety standard.

Make sure you can see the model number so you can check it online for recalls, safety failures and warnings, and of course, read the relevant 糖心Vlog buying guide for each product before you commit 鈥� we usually offer guidance on what to look out for when buying second-hand.听

Other items are definitely worth buying brand new. Anything that鈥檚 going to go in your baby鈥檚 mouth (toys, dummies, bottles) should be new.

Cot mattresses should also be bought new, as older ones can be full of dust or mould and they may be too soft and saggy to be safe.

And you should never buy a second-hand car seat off a stranger 鈥� buying one off a friend or family member is OK if you are 100% sure it has never been involved in an accident.

Power tools

Faulty power tools can cause serious injury or death, so it鈥檚 really, really not worth taking the risk buying these  second-hand.

Mattresses

Considering you may spend a third of your life on your mattress, and a second-hand one has likely absorbed a heck of a lot of sweat from its previous owner (and possibly some mould, dust and鈥� other bodily fluids), it鈥檚 usually worth buying a new one if you can afford it.

Our testing has shown some of the best performing mattresses are quite affordable 鈥� one double our experts recommend even costs under $300.

Your consumer rights when shopping second-hand

Your consumer guarantee rights under the Australian Consumer Law may not apply when buying items through second-hand platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree because the transactions would probably be characterised as private transactions, not made in trade and commerce.

Nevertheless, platforms like these do have some statutory obligations. For example, the prohibition on misleading and deceptive conduct and false or misleading representations would apply.

Other potential risks for using peer-to-peer buy, swap, sell and sharing sites include the user damaging or losing a borrowed or rented item; people not picking up or returning items when they say they will; and sellers misrepresenting what they鈥檙e selling.

Always read the group鈥檚 rules and guidelines so you understand your rights when using these platforms.

The post The best places to find freebies and second-hand bargains appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

If you follow retailers on social media or get their newsletters, you鈥檒l probably notice sales seem to be happening more often these days.听

No longer are Boxing Day and the End of Financial Year events the undisputed jewels in the sales calendar crown 鈥� open your inbox or feed any time of year and there鈥檒l be a posse of promotions swarming your senses.

These sales go by a range of novel names, like Black Friday, Click Frenzy and Prime Day and they sometimes even recur multiple times in a single year, making them hard to keep track of.

鈥淭here鈥檚 often a sale around every corner these days, so you shouldn鈥檛 feel too pressured by ‘buy now or miss out’ marketing tactics,鈥� says 糖心Vlog editorial director Mark Serrels.

鈥淏ut knowing which sales pop up at certain times throughout the year, and what deals you can expect lets you plan your spending and avoid being rushed into an expensive case of buyer鈥檚 regret.鈥�

Having kept an eye on these sales for a few years now, 糖心Vlog is well-placed to let you in on this info. Here鈥檚 our guide to the 10 most common sales events worth looking out for this year.

10 biggest sales and when they happen:

• 1. Black Friday (狈辞惫别尘产别谤鈥揇别肠别尘产别谤)
• 2. Boxing Day (顿别肠别尘产别谤鈥揓补苍耻补谤测)
• 3. End of Financial Year (惭补测鈥揓耻濒测)
• 4. Click Frenzy (May, November)
• 5. Afterpay Day (March, August)
• 6. Amazon Prime Day (July)
• 7. Flash sales (ad-hoc)
• 8. Clearance deals (ad-hoc, often January, May, June)
• 9. Mid-season sales (ad-hoc, often March鈥揂pril, September)
• 10. Special events (ad-hoc)

1. Black Friday

Australia鈥檚 biggest shopping event, the Black Friday sales run from early November until early December.

But some brands may not join the fray until just before Black Friday itself (the last Friday in November), which marks the high point of these sales. The following Monday is known as Cyber Monday and may attract its own deals.

We鈥檙e seeing more retailers and manufacturer brands jump on the Black Friday trend every year 鈥� if your favourite outlet only holds one sale a year, it鈥檒l either be at this time or around Boxing Day.

You can expect most Black Friday discounts from big retailers to range from 20% to 50%, though in rarer cases you might see reductions of up to 70鈥�80%.

Such markdowns are broadly in line with what we see from retailers during other big sales events.

鈥淏lack Friday deals are rarely 鈥榯he lowest price ever鈥� or 鈥榦nce in a lifetime鈥�,鈥� says Serrels. 鈥淵ou might get a deal just as good or even better at other sales throughout the year.鈥�

2. Boxing Day

Although it has now had its title as the biggest sale event of the year taken by Black Friday, the Boxing Day sales remain Australia鈥檚 most well-known discount event.

In line with the current trend of big sales lasting longer every year, many Boxing Day deals now drop before the day itself, and often even before we鈥檝e reached Christmas.

Last year, we saw brands flick the Boxing Day switch as early as December 15. Most deals then lasted a few days into the new year, but some stuck around as late as the middle of January.

Discounts from major brands on Boxing Day tend to range from 30% to 50%, although bigger markdowns are possible.

Note that some retailers may refer to sales they hold at this time as 鈥淓nd of year鈥� or 鈥減ost Christmas鈥� sales.

3. End of Financial Year

The End of Financial Year (EOFY) sales are another mainstay event familiar to many shoppers, occurring in the lead up to the end of Australia鈥檚 financial year on 30 June.

Recently, we鈥檝e seen EOFY deals dropping as early as late May and staying in place until the first week of July.

A rush by businesses and consumers to get their financial affairs in order has led to this period becoming synomynous with sales.

Some retailers drop prices in order to clear old stock in time for the end of the fiscal year, while others compete to target shoppers looking for last minute purchases they can claim on tax.

You can therefore expect businesses to roll out discounts on work-related products like laptops and smartphones, along with promises to help 鈥渟mash鈥� your taxes and invitations to 鈥渃laim everything you can鈥�.

But just because a retailer says you can claim a purchase doesn鈥檛 always mean you can 鈥� acceptable deductions vary from person to person.

4. Click Frenzy

Like Black Friday, Click Frenzy is another relatively recent arrival on the sales calendar, first surfacing in 2012.

The initiative was originally started by e-commerce company Global Marketplace and many retailers have since jumped on the bandwagon to drop prices for short periods of time at different points throughout the year.

The most reliable Click Frenzy sales occur in May and November, but some brands participate in smaller events in March and August.

Compared to the other sales we鈥檝e covered so far, fewer retailers take part in Click Frenzy events and the sales themselves are fleeting, often lasting only four or five days.

Most Click Frenzy discounts we鈥檝e seen over the years haven鈥檛 been as competitive as those offered during bigger events, usually sitting around 30%, but sometimes reaching as high as 70%.

Click Frenzy events have previously been held in partnership with cashback platforms. Beware of how much information you鈥檙e being asked to hand over if you take up a cashback offer 鈥� these platforms have previously been known to collect large amounts of shopping data and personal details.

5. Afterpay Day

Another bi-annual sales event, the Afterpay Day sales drop every March and August.

The event is organised by Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service Afterpay and many major retailers who let customers pay with Afterpay regularly take part.

You don鈥檛 need to use Afterpay to buy products at these sale prices, but you may need to engage the service to be eligible for separate reward schemes run by the company.

Like Click Frenzy, these sales can come and go in the blink of an eye, often only lasting for a few days.

It鈥檚 worth noting that users of BNPL services like Afterpay have found themselves in significant debt in the past, due to fewer regulations and consumer protections applying to these platforms.

But times have started to change 鈥� following campaigning by 糖心Vlog and other consumer advocates, these companies now have to comply with credit laws and be members of an independent dispute resolution scheme.

6. Amazon Prime Day

The Prime Day sales are run by e-commerce behemoth Amazon for several days every July.

Unsurprisingly, these sales are exclusive to Amazon鈥檚 shopping platforms and, what’s more, you may have to be a member of the company’s Prime service to get goods at sale prices.

While Amazon鈥檚 own products have previously made up a significant part of sales inventory, products from other manufacturers are also usually included.

Along with its main Prime Day event, Amazon has occasionally held a separate 鈥淧rime Big Deal Day鈥� in October.

7. Flash sales

These sudden, time-limited discounts that can crop up at any time are a leading example of how the internet has changed the way we interact with brands.

With email and social media giving businesses a way to reach us any time of the day or night, retailers have capitalised on this access and sought to keep us engaged by occasionally dropping prices for 鈥渇lash sales鈥�.

These can be as short as 24 hours. Discounts often rival those we see during flagship events like Black Friday, but their fleeting nature means they can be easily missed.

8. Clearance deals

Clearance sales can also be unpredictable, but on the plus side, they last longer than flash deals and some large retailers host them reliably throughout the year.

For example, we often see large outlets like David Jones, Myer and Harvey Norman drop prices in the name of clearance in January, May and June. 

Some retailers may roll their clearance sales into or out of big sales events like Boxing Day and Black Friday.

Clearance sales can bring some uncharacteristically big discounts 鈥� for example, mattress brand Koala鈥檚 Black Friday and EOFY discounts tend to hover around 25鈥�30%, but a clearance sale the company hosted last year saw it reduce prices on some products by half.

But it pays to remember what 鈥渃learance鈥� actually means 鈥� retailers festooning their stores and websites with this message may be attempting to offload unpopular stock. 

Check 糖心Vlog reviews and compare prices to make sure you鈥檙e not being handed a poor-performing product.

9. Mid-season sales

Another sales trend with no set timeframe, we see these events pop up periodically throughout the year.

Pay attention during March-April and September 鈥� this is when we most consistently see mid-season discounts from major brands.

10. Special events

If that鈥檚 not enough, retailers have previously been known to host sales to coincide with Mother鈥檚 and Father鈥檚 Day.

But 糖心Vlog experts recommend checking if the products involved are actually being discounted.

鈥淭hese 鈥榙eals鈥� might be an attempt to re-package products to appeal to shoppers in a hurry,鈥� says Serrels. 鈥淐ompare prices to see if they actually represent a decent discount.鈥�

If you keep an eye on a retailer鈥檚 emails or social media, you might also be given the opportunity to take advantage of birthday sales marking the anniversary of the business鈥� founding.

For example, last year retailer Appliances Online claimed to offer 鈥渉uge savings鈥� in celebration of its 20th birthday.

Finally, we鈥檝e also seen retailers jumping on some sales trends that are relatively unknown to Australian consumers. 

In 2024, David Jones picked up on a trend among Chinese businesses and offered a ‘Singles鈥� Day’ sale, with discounts on beauty products.

Tips for shopping the sales

• Stay informed: Follow your favorite brands on social media and sign up to their email newsletters to catch sales as they’re announced.

• Look for the fine print: Look for details at the bottom of emails and promotions for any information on how long a sale will last for, to avoid being pressured to make a quick purchase.

• Compare prices: Consider using price tracking tools to compare prices and see how a sale discount compares to a product鈥檚 previous going rate 鈥� this will let you know if you’re actually getting a deal.

• Do your homework: Check 糖心Vlog reviews of a whole range of popular products to avoid buying a dud.

• Check return and delivery policies in advance: While retailers have to give you a refund, replacement or repair when a product is faulty, you鈥檙e not guaranteed a remedy if you simply change your mind.

• Avoid expensive add-ons: Don鈥檛 spoil your bargain by paying for accessories that could be cheaper elsewhere or an unnecessary extended warranty or shipping protection policy.

The post The 10 biggest sales to look out for this year appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

With the Boxing Day sales having only just wrapped up, hot on the heels of Black Friday, the last few months might have felt like a non-stop frenzy of deals, ads and promotions urging you to spend.

In the midst of sales fever, we picked out deals on products good and bad, but in the wash up, we鈥檝e examined retailer claims and found some brands were overselling how good their offers really were.

At 糖心Vlog we’ve seen plenty of sales and inflated ‘deals’ over the years, so here’s our tips on how to avoid getting sucked in this year.

Bigger spending, longer sales, more ads: Black Friday 2025

Last year鈥檚 Black Friday was another big one: according to the Commonwealth Bank, Australians spent $23.8 billion over two weeks during the sales period, which runs for most of November.

That鈥檚 $1 billion more than what the bank recorded in 2024 鈥� a rise in popularity reflected in our own research, which in 2025 found that more consumers were planning to take advantage of what鈥檚 become Australia’s biggest shopping event.

But with the sales lasting longer and longer as more brands jump on the Black Friday trend, the flood of ads and promotions is prompting scepticism from shoppers.

When we surveyed 1009 consumers to get their thoughts on the event last year, 52% said they thought the discounts they were being offered during Black Friday weren鈥檛 always genuine.

Questionable claims uncovered

A close look at some of the promotions we saw during the 2025 Black Friday sales suggests few of those shoppers will be changing their minds any time soon.

We uncovered dubious promotions from two major appliance retailers who had made it appear as though their Black Friday sales were lasting longer than they really were.

The 鈥渆xtended鈥� sales that weren鈥檛

Winnings Appliances joined the Black Friday fray early last year, unveiling discounts and deals on products from several brands in an email to newsletter subscribers on 1 November.

Among the offers was $500 cashback on selected ZIP HydroTaps and 10% off selected AEG appliances 鈥� the fine print at the bottom of this email noted these 鈥渆arly access鈥� deals would both run until 1 December.

Fast forward a month, and Winnings subscribers received welcome news 鈥� an extended Black Friday sale!

This missive contained several new discounts, along with the same offers on ZIP and AEG products as the 1 November email.

Winnings claimed these deals were among those granted an extension, but a check of the fine print confirmed both were still set to finish on 1 December.

In other words, the email claimed these two sales had been 鈥渆xtended鈥� at the last minute to a date the retailer had already said a month ago that they would end on.

Winnings told us it wasn鈥檛 trying to mislead customers and that it takes the clarity and accuracy of its promotional communications seriously. The retailer says the 鈥渆xtended鈥� claim had been applied to the ZIP and AEG deals in error.

Winnings says it reviews its internal processes in cases where there is the potential for 鈥渁mbiguity鈥� in its promotional messaging.

The sale that came back from the dead

January may not be a month many associate with miracles, but that鈥檚 what we got this year from Bing Lee, by way of the sudden re-appearance of a Black Friday sale that was already meant to be over.

Rewind to 28 November last year, and the retailer was bringing sad news to its email newsletter subscribers. 

With an announcement on a black background befitting the somber nature of the news, it announced the imminent end of its Black Friday sale, with 鈥渙nly four days remaining鈥�.

It capped off a noble effort from the brand, which had kept discounts in place since the beginning of the month and timed its deals to end on 1 December 鈥� the day most retailers call quits on Black Friday. 

Bing Lee said at the time that its sales could be extended, but when 1 December came and went without any fanfare, we considered the company鈥檚 participation in Black Friday 2025 as kaput.

Imagine our surprise, then, when the retailer sent an email out of the blue over a month later on 4 January, announcing 鈥淏lack Friday ends today!鈥�

Caught off guard by this news of the sale that seemingly lived twice, we quickly searched Bing Lee鈥檚 online channels for a further glimpse of the miracle deals, but couldn鈥檛 find any.

Accepting the inevitable, we asked the company鈥檚 representatives if its 4 January announcement had been sent out by accident, but heard nothing back.

If Bing Lee鈥檚 sale had somehow lasted until the new year, it would easily be the longest we鈥檝e ever seen a retailer stretch Black Friday 鈥� quite a milestone, considering the trend of businesses starting these sales earlier and ending them later every year.

What to look out for this year

Our observations in the case of the Winnings sale highlight how retailers may be giving away more information than consumers realise.

Next time you receive an email promoting the launch of a new sale, scroll past the big claims of grand discounts and time-limited deals, right down to the bottom to see if there鈥檚 information provided on when the sale is expected to last until.

While it is possible for discounted products to sell out early, we usually see big brands stick by these guides during major sale events.

Arm yourself with this information to pace your spending and take the time to check 糖心Vlog reviews and compare prices from different retailers to save yourself from paying too much for a poor performing product.

The post The strangest deals of Black Friday 2025 appeared first on 糖心Vlog.

And I hate the idea of skimping out on my friends and giving them a sub-par experience reminiscent of our uni days (I can no longer stomach black beans cooked in tinned tomatoes and curry paste).

I want the event to feel special, and the food to be enjoyable, but I simply can鈥檛 afford to drop hundreds of dollars on a dinner party, especially since we have them so regularly.

So over the years, I鈥檝e curated some ideas that allow me to be the hostess with the most-est, without going into credit card debt.

Food

Nibbles

Instead of making a grazing platter of brand-name snacks, impress your guests with homemade delights that are actually pretty easy to make and miles cheaper than packaged goods. 

Some ideas include:

• Popcorn 鈥� add custom-made seasonings or homemade caramel for a fancy touch.
• Hummus and other homemade dips 鈥� just whizz up cheap ingredients like beans along with the requisite seasonings and any herbs or veg you have laying around. Cut up a bag of Lebanese bread and toast for bountiful, rustic crackers.
• Home-baked treats 鈥� a tray of freshly baked cookies, sourdough bread (see how I make the laziest-ever sourdough bread) or muffins always has a wow factor.
• Cheeses near their use-by date 鈥� if your local supermarket reduces items nearing their use-by date, this is a great way to pick up some fancy cheeses for a salad or cheese platter that feels elevated.

Main course

The trick to a low-cost, high-impact meal for a group is to choose something that takes either a long time or a decent amount of effort to cook. This makes the meal feel special and conveys care and generosity of spirit without a high price tag. 

Some ideas include:

• Curry made from scratch (or at least add some fresh spices and aromatics to a curry paste) 鈥� serve with rice and homemade naan bread.
• Pulled pork or chicken made in the slow cooker 鈥� serve with slaw, jalapenos, sour cream and soft tacos for a Mexican feast.
• A roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings 鈥� add a couple of homemade sauces for an extra special effect.
• Chilli con carne 鈥� serve with corn chips, rice, sour cream and guacamole (if avocados are affordable). A vego chilli will be even cheaper.

Dessert

Dessert obviously isn鈥檛 essential, but the fact that you鈥檙e serving it at all already conveys a decent amount of effort to your guests. Here are some low-cost ideas that you can make ahead of time that will make your guests feel special.

• Pavlova 鈥� yes, Christmas is over but pavlova is damn impressive any day of the year. It鈥檚 also surprisingly cheap to make and if you make it the night before, it鈥檚 very easy to serve up with some cream and defrosted frozen berries.
• Poached fruit 鈥� grab whatever fruit is cheapest and simply poach with water, sugar and some aromatics. To level up, you can turn it into a crumble by simply topping with oats, flour, butter and sugar.
• Baked goods 鈥� as above, anything home-baked feels special. Jam and cream sponge and cheesecake are two of my favourite cheap and cheerful options.

If you have any fresh herbs growing in your garden (or a friend’s) use them for garnishes to highlight how fresh and homemade your meal is and to give it that extra touch.

Wondering where to shop for the best grocery prices? Our latest supermarket basket survey compares prices on entertaining essentials from Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and IGA.

Drinks

Serving some pretty non-alcoholic drinks is a super-cheap way to give your guests a restaurant-level experience. Fancy glasses are a must, so if you don鈥檛 have enough, grab some from an op shop for a few bucks ahead of time (op shops are absolutely bursting with unwanted glassware). 

Here are some options:

• Ice tea 鈥� go traditional or do a pretty pink iced tea using berry tea bags and a fresh mint garnish.

• Signature mocktails 鈥� choose a cheap seasonal fruit or use tinned or frozen fruit as your base and whiz together with some sugar syrup and mint, and top with sparkling water or kombucha.

Decorations

Decor is the key to making an event feel special on the cheap. Here are some simple, cost-effective decorating ideas that will make your efforts in the kitchen shine.

• Fresh flowers 鈥� head to your garden or take a walk around your neighbourhood and take some cuttings of fresh flowers or foliage and prop them up in jars and vases around your home. 

• Tealight candles 鈥� you can get a pack of 100 for under $5, but if you pop them in some empty jam jars and dim the lights you suddenly have restaurant-level ambiance.

• Thrifted linen napkins 鈥� you鈥檒l need to keep your eye out for these as they aren鈥檛 necessarily easy to find, but once you nab some they鈥檒l be the gift that keeps on giving in terms of lending elegance to your events (and they鈥檙e way more eco-friendly than paper napkins).

• Name cards 鈥� if you鈥檙e handy with a pen, taking the time to write out some beautiful name cards always gives guests a thrill.

• Fancy platters 鈥� I recently served a friend some hummus and corn chips. Far from fancy. But I served it on such a nice platter that she couldn鈥檛 stop exclaiming about what a nice spread I鈥檇 put on. The moral of the story? A fancy platter makes everything look expensive. The best bit? Op shops are absolutely full of stunning serving platters.

The post Cheap and cheerful dinner party hosting ideas appeared first on 糖心Vlog.