What do you buy?

Did you buy something in Florida you just can't get in England? Or do you buy things there that are much cheaper than over her? Do tell.... so I can look out for bargains when i'm there.

Polly

My hubby alsways buys his jeans over there. Wrangler about $15 per pair. I like the towels and bedding, DVDs and CD's - should i go on!!

We always buy jeans and trainers[msnsmile2].

My son saves up for his Gameboy games, they are about the equivalent in Dollars to pounds so saves around 45% per game.

Nearly always buy trainers too.

Golf Balls by the dozen and all the other normal stuff (jeans sweatshirts, shoes, sports socks, tools etc)

Trainers especially Reebok and Skechers, DVDs and quite a lot of christmas decorations or home decorations that are folk art based. The weirdest one is Bounce tumble dryer sheets, we brought back boxes of them last time which were 99c in Walmart and £3.99 over here, I used them on our first holiday over there and the smell always reminds me of Florida!!!![msnsmile2]

There's quite a bit of info about this in the Polls section of the forum here http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/topic_18454.asp

This is a bit of a flip-flop. I live here in Florida.
When I visit the UK I always visit Bentalls in Kingston and spend probably too much on Denby china. The pattern we're collecting isn't imported here.
Also I like Ben Sherman dress shirts. Also not available here. And my three year old is a 'Thunderbirds' fan (like his dad). So we see what new toys are around. And of course English sweets! Usually bring way too many back!

Jeans and Ibuprofen. Those tubs of 500 Ibuprofens that WalMart sell for about $7 are just amazing value.

So we aren't the only ones to have rather suspicious rattling sounds coming from our luggage, eh, Steve?[msnwink]

Towels, Ibuprofen, anything that takes my fancy:D Bill on the other hand buys cars spares.

Jeans, trainers & Advil.[msnsmile2]

Snap we bring back those big tubs of Advil and also the Migrane version plus some other cold medicine you can't get in Europe.

Aussie Mega Instant hair conditioner. It comes in much larger bottles than here in the UK and is about a quarter of the price. Oh, and a big tub of Ibuprofen. :D

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Snapper
Jeans and Ibuprofen. Those tubs of 500 Ibuprofens that WalMart sell for about $7 are just amazing value.
[/quote]

Steve I have one of those tubs they last forever!!![msnwink]

Aussie hair products, Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, A1 sauce ($1.50 in WalMart £6 in Selfridges at the Trafford Centre), Special K (Sons girlfriend is addicted and insists that the UK version is no where near as tasty) Fluff (marshmallow type stuff that my daughter loves) around $1 a jar in Wal Mart £3 in Selfridges, Van Heusen shirts as they have different sleeve lengths, Jeans, Timberland shoes $60 instead of £110, anything from Old Navy, Hershey's cookies'n'creme nuggets, bedding , towels, CD's, DVD's, White Owl cigars the list goes on and on. Of course we don't buy all this each visit as we only have a £145 allowance [msnembarrased]

You are right about the Special K Julie, it really is different. My daughter, who has just returned after a year in Florida, is missing this, too. Think we will have to bring her back a suitcase full in April! :D

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:[i]Originally posted by Jules

Of course we don't buy all this each visit as we only have a £145 allowance [msnembarrased]
[/quote]

Not any more...hooray[clap]

And of course,with a bit of careful shopping you can save a lot of your holiday costs back.Especially with the great dollar rates we are getting right now!

Old Navy gear (US only at the moment :()
Big Red gum and any of the Reese range although a few shops in Bristol now stock Reeses goods, mmmm

LOL at the Ibuprofen everbody brings back, we do too, as well as trainers/Sketchers and Golf polo shirts. Usually bring back some pancake mix too.

Janet [msnsmile]

Janet, I bring pancake mix as well,but found out just last week that if you cook them in small spoonfulls,they come out much better

I want to buy a laptop for my son and reckon I'd get one cheaper in Florida! Any pointers or suggestions where to shop! I also bought back Ibuprofen! Trainers, Gap and Nike clothes. Its easy to get large size sports clothes! Game boy and games, etc. its all cheaper than here and that was Oct 03 and the exchange rate is even better now, roll on Oct 05.

American computers do not have a pound sign on them,BM. I don't know enough to say if that can be fixed

I spent a fortune at Old Navy yesterday as they were having a sale. Buy a beach bag for $2.00, full it up and get 20% off everything you can fit inside. I got the kids some shorts, tops and other cloths we will need for Florida in April. I will go back next week without the kids and get some for myself. Can't really answer the topic question as we are not from the UK.

Do you guys do well in the stores like Pottery Barn and Create & Barrel or the bargins that much better in the clothing stores?

Anyone in Orlando, pick up the Sentinel today and find a supermarket brown bag. Fill it up at OfficeMax and get 15% off everything inside!

I don't find the CD's any cheaper in the US, Infact they are more expensive.

Electrical goods are good value due to the $.

DOM

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by domster
I don't find the CD's any cheaper in the US, Infact they are more expensive.

Electrical goods are good value due to the $.

DOM
[/quote]

We found the CD's were more expensive as well, but DVD's were a good price, especially in Walmart

I would be interested to find out about the american laptops not having a pound sign, I was hoping to buy one in October and seeing as I will be using it for my business and invoicing people, it won't look very professional with handwritten ones now will it!!![msntongue]

Always buy a couple boxes Fiddle faddle,got some in walmart in vegas last week.
Cd's work out at about £7.75 @ $1.90,when bought for $13.88 = tax.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chunkichik
I would be interested to find out about the american laptops not having a pound sign, I was hoping to buy one in October and seeing as I will be using it for my business and invoicing people, it won't look very professional with handwritten ones now will it!!![msntongue]
[/quote]As long as it allows you to set the language to UK English, another key is usually the £ sign, you just have to remember which one as it won't say '£' on the key. That's how it worked with two laptops we purchased there.

The thing to watch out for is the guarantee (or warranty) as that's often return to somewhere in the USA if there's something wrong with it. CompUSA used to do an international warranty (return paid within UK) for about $200 for a year but I don't know if they still do that.

Instead of bringing all of this back with you...why dont you just over more often ??:D:D

Have had to apologise to hubby as I thought he was mad buying the Ibuprofen in 500's! I said no-one else would buy something like that to take back home in their suitcase but I have to admit I was wrong[msnoo]. Apart from Ibuprofen we also like the trainers, sweets, linens, even brought back one of their light duvets one year [msnsmile2]

Can anyone enlighten me (maybe wiljohn) about what Fiddle Faddle is?[?]

[quote][i]
Can anyone enlighten me (maybe wiljohn) about what Fiddle Faddle is?


Fran19,to put you out of your torment,"Fiddle Faddle" a mix of peanuts and popcorn in caramel,its become a bit of a family joke,purely becuase of the name,very tasty though,can be bought at most of the usual big stores.
John.

"Usually bring back some pancake mix too."

We had blueberry pancakes with ice cream and syrup for dessert last night and just in case it's all gone before she comes home at the weekend my daughter insisted on buttermilk pancakes for breakfast before she went back to uni today.

The Betty Crocker mix here just doesn't make the same kind of pancakes and waffles.

Also bought back some measuring cups and measuring jug to accommodate the growing collection of US recipes. BTW can any of you US people tell me which oil would be classed as "salad" oil? I tried to see when I was over but couldnt see any specifically named that for a recipe for waffles I want to try.

We also always have between 1 and 3 pairs of steel toe cap trainers rather than boots as they are so much cheaper over there. (It was only one this time as we'll be back in August.

Just remembered whole set of bedding. kitchen utensils, tooth brushes and other oral care[msnscared]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chunkichik
I would be interested to find out about the american laptops not having a pound sign, I was hoping to buy one in October and seeing as I will be using it for my business and invoicing people, it won't look very professional with handwritten ones now will it!!![msntongue]
[/quote]As long as it allows you to set the language to UK English, another key is usually the £ sign, you just have to remember which one as it won't say '£' on the key. That's how it worked with two laptops we purchased there.

The thing to watch out for is the guarantee (or warranty) as that's often return to somewhere in the USA if there's something wrong with it. CompUSA used to do an international warranty (return paid within UK) for about $200 for a year but I don't know if they still do that.
[/quote]

Manufacturers guarentee's and warranties are world wide most returns have a UK or European place to send them back to - we know from experience and have never had any problems, in fact they send a courier and even the box to send it back in[msnwink]

Thanks John

Sounds lovely. My eldest says we have to try that this year! Honestly, he would try anything edible and, he says, somethings that aren't!![msnwink][msnsmile2]

Our little boy has taken a liking to Elmo products! Ourselves it's trainers and clothes, clothes such as Oshkosh or something like that for our son. Then if we have room in the case, the tylenol, toiletries and things that might seem silly but are much cheaper! At Christmas time we bring back tree ornaments and decorations that you can't get in the UK. I do know someone who a few years ago when there was a bigger difference in price bought back a BBQ and a bike!!!! Before our son was born we bought back a stroller travel system, 1/4 price than in UK and also his complete nursery bedding set. In fact I could be here all night listing things so I'll stop, but we just need to go more often - living there would be even better, if only.....[msnwink]

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by Mach 2
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by blott
<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by chunkichik
I would be interested to find out about the american laptops not having a pound sign, I was hoping to buy one in October and seeing as I will be using it for my business and invoicing people, it won't look very professional with handwritten ones now will it!!![msntongue]
[/quote]As long as it allows you to set the language to UK English, another key is usually the £ sign, you just have to remember which one as it won't say '£' on the key. That's how it worked with two laptops we purchased there.

The thing to watch out for is the guarantee (or warranty) as that's often return to somewhere in the USA if there's something wrong with it. CompUSA used to do an international warranty (return paid within UK) for about $200 for a year but I don't know if they still do that.
[/quote]

Manufacturers guarentee's and warranties are world wide most returns have a UK or European place to send them back to - we know from experience and have never had any problems, in fact they send a courier and even the box to send it back in[msnwink][/quote]I have experience of this too, having purchased two laptops in the USA, the guarantees for which stated that the product had to be returned to the USA at my expense to obtain warranty service, hence my comments above. I never had any problems with either machine so I didn't need to obtain service anyway.

My advice would be to check the warranty situation out before you purchase this type of product in the USA.

Last December we brought back, Duracell batteries, very good value in Walmart. Also a palm tree with lights, was a great talking piece at Christmas here as no one had seen anything like it. Plus all the usual trainers, socks, Timberland gear, Polo shirts and jeans (well that's him sorted)[msnwink]

Anna