This is what I call reverse shopping and it’s a lot more lucrative than a Tupperware party.  You receive money instead of spending money – just host a Gold Party. I just did and made enough money for a week’s vacation in Mexico. Who wouldn’t want that?

What you do is invite some friends, neighbours, co-workers and relatives to your house – you don’t even pay for the party as you are given $100 toward food and drinks (no receipts necessary).  Ask them all to gather up un-worn bracelets, tangled chains, orphan earrings, school rings, ankle bracelets, broken clasps,  tie tacks, cuff links  and that gaudy necklace from the 80s.

With gold trading at a 30-year-high, now is a good time to change all that sparkle into hard cash. Gold Party Canada, a Montreal based company will buy all of their unwanted gold jewelry on the spot after quickly and expertly appraising it.

Hostesses (besides buying your unused gold jewelry for top dollar) will receive $25 for every guest who sells a minimum of $200 of gold. With your $100 food credit (they didn’t even look at my dining room), if you invite just 10 people, you can earn $350 – even if you don’t sell anything.

Guests go home with an average of $750.

www.goldpartycanada.com

Those who must follow a gluten-free diet have to spend a lot of time reading package ingredients. What a relief to be able to shop Les Glutineries and be able to buy anything fresh frozen or canned without worry.  Get ready to chow down on cereals, rice cookies, ice cream, pate, sausages, salad dressing and ready to serve meals: veal meatballs, mac & cheese, Chinese chicken & veggies and lasagne.

Location: 7800 Boul. Tascherau (inside Le Marche Village)
Corner: boul. Rome
Phone: 450-672-2919
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-7, Thurs & Fri 9-9, Sat & Sun 9-6
www.lesglutineries.com

The liquidated stock here was chosen by golf pros from 101 golf boutiques all over Québec. For the past 5 years, at this location hiding behind Taschereau Blvd.,  their ends-of-lines have been gathered together. Expect to find: clubs, shoes and clothing by the major names: Calloway, Taylor Made, Titleist, Ping, Cobra. There’s a netted area to practice your swing and upstairs is more for clothing clearouts: jackets, shorts, shirts (to XXL), shoes. For the latest lines that might be here, you’ll pay a bit  less than the major golf chain in the city. www.entreprogolf.biz

Location:  3970 Mont-Royal, Brossard
Corner: Robillard
Phone: 514-233-8113 or 450-926-8883
Hours: Tues & Wed 10-6, Thurs & Fri 10-8:30, Sat 10-5, Sun 12-5
www.entreprogolf.biz

If you think you like Montreal “barbequed” chicken, then you’ve never had Portuguese barbequed chicken. Start with the BBQ in that sentence. In the Montreal variety, chickens are impaled on a spit and  roll around on a carnival ride to cook through. The Portuguese method bbq’s the marinated chicken on a smokin’ charcoal grill where it winds up with a crispily seasoned crust and smokey flavored meat. You can get it spicier on request (I watched one slathered in chiles and cringed – but have it your way).

You’ve probably heard of the famous Romados on Rachel est with its line-ups (secret: you can order ahead and avoid the wait). However, there is more than one way to skin a chicken. The rest of the Portuguese community know about other flavourful spots to score this addictive meal. I was introduced to Portugalia by the “Montreal piano chicken pusher” across the street. He and his Dad restore and sell beautiful pianos at Montreal Piano (61 Rachel ouest).

You cannot expect to go in and just walk up and buy a take-out chicken ($11). Here it’s so busy, it’s like the “soup nazi” of BBQ chicken . You  have to call and place an order 1 1/2 hours ahead during the week. On the weekends though, it’s best to order the day before or at the very least 3 or 4 hours ahead. There are no line-ups here because if you walk in without having ordered first, you’ll be given a card and told to call.

It is possible to dine in the attached restaurant and you will get your chicken in normal restaurant time.

Portugalia Location: 34 Rachel ouest
Corner: Clark
Phone: 514-282-1519
www.rotisserieportugalia.ca

Zellers already known for reasonably priced merchandise, has made life even more fun for bargain shoppers. They have opened up a new Centre de Liquidation on Taschereau Blvd.  You will see lots of 20% or 30% off signs but they change daily.

Buyer beware though, about half the store is still regular priced merchandise. There are 50% off items too. I scored 12 pairs of men’s sports socks for $6.72.

Location: 5000 Boul. Taschereau
Phone: 450-672-7244
Hours: Regular store hours

This liquidation center’s offerings reads like a department store: books, CD’s, clothing and shoes, computers, DVD’s, electronics, exercise equipment, health products, housewares, jewelry, watches, sports equipment, tools, toys.

Some sales items are the “Cook with Jamie” Jamie Oliver cookbook (list: $41.95, their reg. price: $9.99, sale price: $4.99); Tylenol Arthritis Pain (list: $18.99, regular: $6.99, sale: $3.49); Under Armour caps (list: $33.99, price: $9.99, sale $4.99); NFL authentic jerseys (list: $79.99, price: $19.99, sale: $9.99).

New products come in daily. I have not visited this one yet.

Location: 948 Begin, VSL
Corner: Cote Vertu
Phone: 514-332-9606
Hours: Daily 9-5
Dates: July 10-20

Union Lighting & Home opened a huge liquidation center. They offer an amazing assortment of decorative accessories, lighting fixtures (indoor & out) as well as shades and architectural hardware, knobs, pulls, robe hooks  and towel bars.  You will find lighting for kids’ rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, foyers landscape lighting.. you name it. There are some incredible finds, up to 75% off.

If you can’t find what you want in the sale section, this is the largest lighting & decor showroom in Quebec, and they constantly display the newest & latest product offerings.

Location:8150 boul. Decarie, Ville Mont-Royal
Corner: Decarie Blvd.
Phone: 514-340-5000
Hours: Mon-Wed 8:30-6, Thurs & Fri 8:30-9, Sat 9-5, Sun 12-5
www.unionltg.com

Heck this is a lot more lucrative than a Tupperware party.  You receive money instead of spending money. Get your friends to gather up broken bracelets, tangled chains, orphan earrings and that gaudy necklace from the 80s. With gold trading at a 30-year-high, now is a good time to change all that sparkle into hard cash. Gold Party Canada, a Montreal based company will buy all of their unwanted gold jewelry on the spot after quickly and expertly appraising it.

Hostesses (besides buying your unused gold jewelry for top dollar) will receive $25 for every guest who sells a minimum of $200 of gold. If that wasn’t good enough, they even give you money to host the party in style. You are give a $100 credit toward food and drinks (no receipts necessary). Invite 10 people, earn $350.

Guests go home with an average of $750.

www.goldpartycanada.com

People who follow a passion or talent to draw or paint, eventually want to paint from a the human form. Where do you find live models to stand there for hours for you so that you can practice? One choice is Galerie Synesthesie downtown on Ste-Catherine St near boul. St-Laurent. They offer three-hour weekend live model sketching sessions for $15 so the timing is  perfect if you work Monday to Friday and can enjoy your hobbies (or work!)  on Saturday and Sunday.

Location: 94 Ste-Catherine St. E. suite 7
Tel: 514-998-7625
Time: Sat 4-7 pm, Sun 2:30-5:30 pm
www.galeriesynesthesie.com

SAS, total comfort shoes, started out life in 1976 in Texas by Terry Armstrong and Lew Hayden, 2 shoe industry guys who wanted to create shoes that were so comfortable that you didn’t want to take them off. Without national advertising they turned their (originally) handcrafted shoes into a national brand and it has grown to over 300 stores throughout the US. There are now 4 outlets in Canada with the first in Quebec found in the Maxi Complexe in Pointe Claire.
The shop owners here span 4 generations of experience in footwear through the Fargnoli family and with Alan Levy from Larry’s shoes in Snowdon. They will be all able to fit you in shoes of comfort and quality because this brand comes in a huge range of sizes and widths. Ladies it’s sizes 4-12 in widths AAA to EE and for men it’s 6-15 from slim to extra wide.
Every April and October, the store offers up dollars-off coupons. This year it will be $15 coupon for anything in the store. You do not have to have it or clip it as they will automatically take it off at the cash.

Location: 6361 Transcanadienne
corner: Boul. St. John’s
Tel: 514-426-8884
Hours: Mon-Wed 9-30-6; Thurs & Fri 10-9, Sat 9-5
Coupon dates: April 16- May 3
www.sasshoes.com