Looking after your money.

This article reports that there has been a surge in consumer confidence across the Asia Pacific region, and four out of five Australians are optimistic about the economy's performance over the next 12 months. With retailers now forced to compete with discount outlets and Internet sites, shoppers are being wooed into stores with regular sales, loyalty programmes and price wars. It was found that once people have covered essential living expenses and serviced their credit card debt, expenditure on travel at home or abroad was competing strongly against luxury items such as entertainment, new clothes, new technology and home improvements. Australian shoppers in general have an eye for a bargain, but appreciate quality and aren't interested in cheap, shoddy goods. Many of Australia's largest retailers, such as Sheridan, Rip Curl or Freedom, have a warehouse outlet and while visiting it may involve trekking to an unfamiliar suburb, the average savings of 30 to 70 per cent can make the trip well worth the effort.