I'm a big fan of online shopping. eBay is great for things like cheap DVDs and CDs, as well as cosmetics (let's face it, us girls still need to shop!).
I just stocked up on my favourite lip gloss, I bought 3 at once from an international seller so they ended up costing AUD $14 including postage each, in the shops here they are about $40 each! I know that's probably a bit of a luxury item, but if it's something you know you'll end up buying, it can be an idea to check online every now and then. Big brands like Clinique, Nutrimetics, Avon etc can all be found on eBay too. You'll also save petrol & parking!

I agree with making stuff from scratch - I've recently discovered how fun it is to make your own pizza! Buy some 'strong' or '000' flour and some dry yeast, that's all you'll need! Oh plus the toppings! Simple!