When your husband's "other" baby is a ute, and it gets damaged in some way, you better start looking for a repair shop. Luckily he did this one himself so we were off to his favourite car physios in Altona North to fix it.

They are off Millers Rd in a parallel road, you turn up McArthurs Rd between the Bayside School Library and the Millers Inn. It can be a busy road at certain times and there's not a lot of places to park as they are on an intersection. They don't have a "yard", just a big apron of concrete.

When it's early morning and you're on your way to work, they can be slow getting organised, even if you booked the car in.

But having said that, the standard of the work was very good. Where the panel had been damaged you wouldn't have been able to tell and they matched the paint well.

My husband said they were also hundreds cheaper than a couple of other quotes he'd had.

So, no nonsense work in a basic no-frills environment, but done to a good standard.

Approximate cost: $Depends on damage, but reasonably priced.

When I first went by here, I couldn't believe my eyes. A table out the front had large Toblerones for half the price I'd just seen somewhere else. And not because they were out of date or nearly.

It's an "open shop" so no doorway - all the walls are plain to view with hundreds of bags of different chocolate bars, lollies, chips and other confectionery. Naturally I went in.

Trying to stop yourself from buying one of everything is the problem in here. They often have specials such as multi-bags of treat size Mars Bars or Cherry ripe etc. for $3 or 2 bags for $5.

There is one whole wall with bagged lollies from $1 - $2 - spearmint leaves, pineapples, caramels, freckles etc

And they have the hard to find stuff like Cadbury's Pineapple chocolate for only $2.50 for a large block.

There are Chuppa Chups too and Wizz Fizz and lots of old fashioned treats. It's impossible to describe them all.

The counter is to one side, there's a couple of small aisles and then you pay as you go out. I managed to only spend $37 the first time. I was very popular with my kids when I got home. Until I told them I bought the stuff for me and not for them. LOL But I let them have some anyway.

Staff are friendly and point out specials, asking what your particular favourite is.

After you visit this shop, go to the supermarket in this deceptively large, but community feel shopping complex and buy a tooth brush and paste. Then you'll feel better about yourself.

Approximate cost: $Cheap Lollies from $1.00 per bag.

Bring a little bit of the country into the city with this reasonably close to Melbourne "everything you could want" shop.

It's huge and I really mean that. The range of products is immense from bulk cat food, to electric fence products to premium safety footwear, to water tanks, weed sprayers, etc. All you could want for developing your property or your own smaller backyard.

We were in a spot where we needed fencing in a hurry - no time for concreting in posts and nailing on pickets. We went here for a ready made galvanised steel gate and posts and a roll of wire which was easily installed in our property in half a day and has the safety and screening effect we needed.

They are a very helpful bunch, even if you don't quite know what you want, they can show you a range of alternatives and discuss options with a very knowledgeable view point.

If you don't mind the bit of travel to here, the products you can get are far superior to the "chain store" big hardware type places you might otherwise go to. Both in price and assistance as well as being the type of people who live with and use the products they sell.

So think of a list of stuff you want and have a nice day out in lovely Bacchus Marsh while you also visit this shop.

Approximate cost: $Depends on product - $33 huge pack bulk cat food, $39 safety gum boots etc

I've just dealt with these people for my son's school books and equipment and I have to say they are excellent.

We were a little late organising this, but it was no problem to them. Books were ordered on line (but you can pick them up) and arrived at our door one day later. Everything was complete as ordered, packed beautifully and of the highest quality. The prices were very reasonable too, especially for things like the calculator and safety glasses which I'd priced higher elsewhere.

Just make sure you are accurate with the ordering process - one number different can mean something else entirely from what you wanted.

They have a few other branches - Berwick, Essendon, Seaford and some further afield in Geelong and Shepparton.

They were the nicest people to deal with and nothing was too much trouble - this was a change from some others I have dealt with.

They also have a large range of study guides and reference books as well as all the booklisted ones. They regularly visit the school to follow up on support for any items and they now also supply the various formats of ebooks which are coming into use in some schools.

Very happy but ... now I finally have to do some work and label everything.

Approximate cost: $Depends on book-listed itemss

Shopping here is more than just a fruit and vegetable experience. Not that they don't have a huge premises full of raised tables and shelves laden with all types of fresh produce you know and love and many which you've never even heard of. The bargains here are fantastic - big bags of 5kg potatoes for $2 - 3, luscious grapes, crisp apples, leafy celery, delectable berries - whatever is in season and some that aren't.

So there's a huge choice here. And variety. There is also a huge section of pastas, tomato paste, spices and other packet and canned or pickled goods. A treasure trove of cooking additives and ideas. You can buy this stuff in bulk - imagine a tin of tomato paste as large as a 4lt ice cream bucket. There's other dry goods such as nuts and dried fruits.

You can wander for ages, or out on the street are barrows of the most popular goods of the day, or specials - you can spend just a few minutes grabbing some on your way home.

Finding this place is a little tricky. Come down Blackshaws Rd or Mason Street and turn into Hansen Street - "The Circle" is actually a semi-circular street which takes off from there. Along here is another fruit shop as well as bakeries and a few other little shops in this cute, hidden away place.

It's a supermarket atmosphere - grab a basket and serve yourself, only going to the counter at the front of the shop when you're ready. But if you want some help, just ask.

Well worth a look, you never know what you're going to find.

Approximate cost: $Cheap fruits and veg. various prices

I'm in this place a lot. I mean A LOT. I love stationery of all kinds and I need to buy stuff for work and school anyway, so I've got an excuse to be in here.

The range of papers, inks, folders, pens and art supplies, storage containers, office furniture, computers and printers and everything else you could possibly want in an office environment is truly staggering.

The aisles are wide and nicely laid out in a logical order of like items in one place. You can sit on the furniture and try it and see the computer equipment and ask questions about it. If you manage to find a staff member cause there a bit scarce, you can ask questions and they usually know the answer.

They also have coffee, toilet paper, cleaning products, and even lollies for your office kitchen.

Boxes of paper stretch on a wall - a range of choices from $19.00 a whole box (5 reams). The other great thing is their photo machines. You can print your memories here for 9c ea and pick them up in 20 mins or so. Even new machines for you to directly print you own.

At Christmas time they had bargain gifts and recently I got some excellent priced storage boxes. They even had a free barbeque out the front.

So go for a wander in here and try and not be enticed by all the pretty erasers, lovely shelf boxes and radical headphones, even if you only went in for a boring toner. LOL

Approximate cost: $Cheap paper and photos. Good prices everything else

This is a huge shop off Ballarat Road and is almost like a day's outing in itself. There is a huge floor space here with everything and anything you would need for pets - food, equipment, bedding, homes, toys, leads etc.

In one way this is a drawback because it is so large and takes a long time to walk around. By the time you've found a staff member, you've forgotten the question. Staff seem to mainly be at the front counter.

There's a real cocky at the front which greets you and the kids enjoyed this a lot.

The prices of the large cages and guinea pig runs we were looking at seemed a bit high, but they are all assembled etc. and no shipping charges if you buy from somewhere else.

They had a good range of water bottles and other feeding dishes etc.

There are glass cases of reptiles and other creatures - bird eating spiders etc. so be warned if you're squeamish.

Worth a look, but shop around as well. You might end up coming back here for the convenience of taking it away now.

Approximate cost: $2 storey guinea pig run - $245 - many styles and prices on other things

Everywhere you turn in this shop is another wonderful rug or carpet which attracts your attention. The range of colours, sizes and patterns is truly amazing.

There are room sized rugs of all types - smooth pile, loop, modern swirls and traditional bordered. It all depends on your needs for your house design and taste. But I'm sure you'd find something to suit.

Went shopping here for a smallish room rug for a child's room. I had been going to choose a smaller size, but they had a wonderful special on with the larger size for the same price. Very happy with the quality and value. Cats are enjoying it too.

It's a large place with piles of neatly stacked rugs/carpets and some enticing racks out the front. They often also have quirky little additions for a short time such as funny shaped chairs or cushions, even seen cookware there as well.

A very useful place. The saleslady was particularly friendly and asked my child which he liked for his room, and actually listened to his answer.

I'll be back for sure.

Approximate cost: $15 small rug

This is a place you're always popping into. They have a wide range of computer games, X Box 360, Playstation, Game Boy - DS etc. There are many, many game types here, don't know them all.

They have new games of course, at a reasonable price and they also always have bargain table of either reduced games which might not be popular any more and then a range of traded in, checked second hand games which are often a real bargain. Around $10 for a game which might have been $50 or 60 a year ago. My son is always looking in here.

You can still find some Playstation 2 games as well as the new stuff and the DS games wall is huge. Lots to choose from.

They also sell the consoles as well as some checked traded in consoles. And there is a warranty period in case of problems.

You can be a member and get notifications when things come in and this also gives you discounts.

I've found the staff to be knowledgeable about their products and willing to answer questions.

It's a bright and busy shop with attractive displays and posters as well as other gaming merchandise such as collectible figures.

Always good for a browse with your gaming enthusiast.

Approximate cost: $Varies - new games and second hand, various prices.

There's two sides to K Mart and if you are aware of it, and use it to your advantage, then it's okay. I find they are quite cheap with most items - clothes, shoes, stationery,electrical goods, camping equipment, tools etc.

Then there's a range of more highly priced items. I find the toys here to be expensive, and some of the homewares.

But the main catch is, there seems to be a wide range of things to choose from but there's not. From the cheap things to the more expensive, they are all still of the same quality - usually made in China or India and the standard of durability is the same i.e. not very long.

I've bought my son shoes here for $4 and $34 - only difference is the styling or the colour. Both ripped from their soles, wore out at the heels and lost eyelets in the same manner.

The clothing meant to be sized for "larger sizes" is only large on the people who made them. So 5XL is what would normally be only a L in Australian size terms. The buttons fall off, zips break and they sag when washed.

If you want a quick purchase of an item for not much cost and you realise it won't last long, then K Mart is perfect. If you actually want a range of different (and higher) quality for a range of different prices, then shop elsewhere.

Approximate cost: $Varies with the item.