NZ Bargain Champion competition

NZ Bargain Champion competition puts international spotlight on Kiwi money saving tips

Auckland, 28 October: Forget our international reputation for being a land of sheep - Kiwis are now known for weird and wonderful money saving ideas such as showering with their dog.

The Warehouse's search for New Zealand's Bargain Champion has gone global with international media highlighting some of the wacky money saving tips submitted as part of the competition.

The Warehouse search for New Zealand's Bargain Champion culminates this weekend when the five money savvy national finalists will battle it out for the top prize - a $50,000 one-year shopping spree at The Warehouse. The four runners-up will receive a $5,000 shopping spree.

To enter, customers had to submit their top three tips for getting the most out of life by making the most of their money. Thousands of great tips were received and while some were tongue-in-cheek a small number were just plain odd - odd enough to grab international headlines.

Readers of various newspapers in the United States, Canada, Britain, Asia and Australia are learning that New Zealanders recommend saving money by:

* Showering with their dog
* Cutting their own hair - to cut down on social obligations
* Living in a tent
* Confiscating their husband's credit cards
* Marrying someone rich and old
* Spending their husband's money and saving theirs

The five Bargain Champion national finalists who will compete tomorrow are amongst the thousands of Kiwis who came up with easy, smart and useful ideas. Popular tips included "plant your own vegetable and herb garden", "wrap your hot water cylinder", and "share your specialised expertise and time with your neighbors in exchange for the same".

Many entrants were influenced by recent petrol price hikes, suggesting a range of tips to save on motoring and keep travel costs down such as removing roof racks when not in use, switching off your car's air conditioning in cool weather, keeping tyres at the correct pressure for fuel efficiency and investing in some walking shoes to keep fit and save on travel costs.

The NZ Bargain Champion final event is being held at The Warehouse, Albany, tomorrow morning and will include a secret in-store shopping challenge to put the five national finalists through their paces.

ENDS

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