The number of people making online purchases had increased by 11 per cent since 2009.

Online sellers are paying an extra $39 to have their listings feature for just a couple of hours on the Trade Me homepage. And some of them say the way the "homepage feature" option is described when a new listing is loaded is misleading.

Rainbow Springs is great for a family 'splash out', says Dionne Christian.

Kiwis are increasingly becoming "convenient consumers" as they choose to shop and watch TV when it suits them.

Gemma Shields can't remember the last time she bought clothes in a store.

Outlet malls often have great bargains. If you're lucky, you can find branded goods for 50 to 70% off the normal retail price.

Aucklanders in some of the city's most expensive suburbs don't just pay a lot more in house prices for the privilege - it even costs them more to buy groceries.

With expanded floor space and a cluster of boutique retailers, Mt Eden's BLOC collective is now a one-stop design destination.

Kiwis lifted spending on their credit, debit and charge cards last month, led by consumables such as food and liquor, and fuel.

It may still be only establishing itself on home turf but The Shopping Channel has already struck a deal to move into Australia.

Many people say it's London, Paris or Munich. But the most exciting shopping is in Bangkok. The air conditioned and squeaky-clean trains stop right at the entrance of the most important shopping complexes on the lively Sukhumvit and Rama I roads.

The chance to bring down a building, buy space on a woman's bottom and change someone's name were among the most-viewed Trade Me auctions of the year.

The future of the new Shopping Channel, launched with enormous fanfare this year, is in doubt.

New Year's resolutions are often difficult to stick to and require some upfront investment. But, as John Weekes reports, they can turn out to be money-spinners.