Captions were made with the support of NZ On Air. www.able.co.nz Copyright Able 2023 - Tonight ` planning for the silly season. We've got you covered with our final episode of 2023. - Yay, toys! (CHILDREN SHOUT) - Yay, toys! - We ask if branded toys really matter to the kids in your life... - ...compare Jandals to find out what's best for your feet... Cheap as chips, the middle man and the splurge. - ...and test which batteries will go the distance on Christmas day. To begin with, the Phillips- and Panasonic-powered trains raced around their tracks. - Plus, Pippa brings you hacks for a cheap and cheerful Christmas. - And speaking of gifts, here's my new favourite thing ` my tip for you is try wrapping with fabric. Tena Koutou Katoa. Welcome to the show. Now, tonight we're getting you all set for the festive season. and here's my first hack ` have a stash of batteries for Christmas day, because no one wants to see sad little faces when they're not included with their toys. - I can see it now. And, because we're all about cost-saving, I've put a range of them to the test to see which brands will give you the best bang for your buck. ('THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE' THEME SONG) - KAITLIN: A toy's work is never done, endlessly entertaining kids until they lose attention or Thomas here runs out of steam. (THEME SONG WARPS) It takes two triple A's to get this engine working again. Simple, right? But what type of triple A and which brand will keep it running the longest? We've got two tests lined up to find out, because we won't get far going off the labels, which promise to be anything from ` super, super heavy-duty, extra heavy-duty, long-lasting, long life, super life, ultra, intense, max. And just when you thought you couldn't top that, max plus advanced. Sounds like toothpaste. So forget all that. What you want to find out is what the battery is made from. There are three main types of disposable batteries. Alkaline ` it's become the affordable go-to battery for everyday items like toys, basic torches, wireless mouse and keyboards, and baby monitors; carbon zinc ` these are for things that don't need a lot of power, including clocks, calculators and radios; and then there's lithium ` iron disulphide ` which delivers a constant high voltage, which is great for cameras, shavers and video game controllers, but they're two to three times more expensive. Some of the packaging has clues. For example, Eveready has a picture of a remote control, a toy and a mouse on its alkaline pack, but you won't find a toy on its carbon zinc one ` it has a remote, a clock and a torch instead. So with that in mind, we're going with alkaline batteries for our first test. We've chosen four brands that range in price. A four pack of Panasonic Alkaline triple A's costs $10.50. Energizer Max was 10 bucks. Eveready Gold $7, and Phillips Alkaline was by far the cheapest ` $2.25. A number of brands also have premium options, but we're going with the ones you can easily find instore. With that, we start our engines. (TRAIN HORN TOOTS) To begin with, the Philips- and Panasonic-powered trains raced round their tracks. We recorded lap times every hour, and for the first couple, they were nearly a second faster than the others. But by the fifth hour, Phillips seemed to be burning out, like Eveready, which started off doing laps in eight seconds before slowing down to 11 seconds. They weren't the only ones needing to pace themselves. Finally, after listening to wheels churning for 10 hours and five minutes, we had our first breakdown. Oh, come on, Philips. You can do it, you can do it. But the little engine could not. 36 minutes later, Eveready gave up the ghost. But the other two kept chugging on for another three hours, the lap times getting considerably slower. Then Panasonic clocked out at 13 hours and 34 minutes, while Energizer Max pushed on for one more minute. We'll get to what that means for your wallet, but first, we got a battery specialist to help us understand our unscientifically controlled test. - There's always going to be slight differences between manufacturers and their levels of performance. - Which is why we saw the trains run at different speeds, despite all being alkaline. - It will all come down to their internal electro-chemistry, right, and the manufacturer's specific recipe. - We also wanted to compare the performance of the alkaline batteries to the two other types we mentioned earlier. Given that carbon zinc, or 'heavy-duty', batteries aren't suited for power-hungry toys, how would they go? And on the flip side, how much longer could a lithium battery keep them going for? So we bought a pack of Panasonic's Extra Heavy Duty for $4.40, Eveready's Super Heavy Duty for $6. Energizer's Ultimate Lithium cost a mega $29.50, and it sure wasted no time running circles around the two carbon zincs. - # I got the power. - Eveready's Super Heavy Duty train failed after just five hours and four minutes. Panasonic's Extra Heavy Duty struggled on for another 12 minutes. But it was the so-called 'longest-lasting battery in the world' that had us surprised ` Energizer's Lithium stopping at 11 hours and 38 minutes, two hours less than our top alkaline performers. But our battery specialist explains that's because the battery's made to put out peak performance and nothing less. - A lithium cell has a flat voltage delivery where basically it keeps going like this and like this until it gets to the end of its capacity, and then it's a cliff, and it basically just drops and stops dead, right, whereas an alkaline, or a carbon zinc cell, there's more of a curve, and it'll do the same thing, but it curves off like that. - This is handy to keep in mind when wanting a certain sound from an amp or brightness from a torch. - So a lithium battery is gonna make sure your torch is brighter for longer, OK? It's going to stay much, much brighter for a longer period of time, whereas an alkaline cell, you're gonna get a good performance, it's gonna be great, but it will taper off and get dimmer and dimmer and dimmer. - So to recap ` the Energizer Max alkaline wins the award for keeping our train going the longest, Panasonic a close second, and Energizer Ultimate Lithium in third. But before you buy, it's worth looking at how much battery you're getting for your buck. We looked at the price we paid versus the time the batteries ran for, which gave a whole new set of results. Philips Alkaline was the cheapest four pack by far at $2.24, even cheaper than the carbon zincs. So when you consider it ran for 10 hours and five minutes, we were getting almost four and a half of power for a single dollar. None of the others came near that, ranging from one hour to one and a half hours. And the Energizer Lithium comes out the worst in this ranking only giving us 24 minutes for every dollar we spent on the batteries. So before you power up your summer, get the right the battery for the job. - So much good stuff there, Kaity. And is it just me? Did everyone know that you use different batteries for different products? I've certainly learnt a lot. - E haere ake nei, coming up ` Jandals, they're a summer staple, but which ones are best for your feet? - They're freeing. I hate caging my feet, you know. I love having them exposed. - Plus, back to basics ` do toy brands really matter? - If I told you not Lego, would you believe me? - No. - Kia ora. Nau mai, hoki mai. Welcome back. Now, it is that time ` kids are making their (CHUCKLES) Christmas lists and parents are wondering how they'll afford them. - Because expectations can be very high these days, especially as some advertising now targets kids from as young as 2. - So, Gill let some kids loose in a toy store to see if brands really matter or if lower-priced alternatives also hit the mark. (LIVELY CHRISTMAS MUSIC) - GILL: Twas the month before Christmas when all through the store, the toys sat waiting for a rush through the door. - Yay, toys! (CHILDREN LAUGH, SHOUT) - Yay, toys! - Let me tell you how busy it gets ` it gets so busy that you cannot move inside this store. (JAUNTY PIANO MUSIC) - But we pick a quiet day at The Warehouse and Toy World to ask some kids for their top picks for Christmas. - Barbies. - Cole the Earth Ninja and Zane the Ice Ninja. - Squishmallow. - We're interested in why they make these choices ` and this expert in marketing has done his homework. - Well, young kids from 2 years on ` we understand from our experiments ` recognise brands. - Superman! - Do you like this one in particular? - Yeah. - Why is that? - Because it's Spider-Man. - From 5 years on, they start to recognise brands and understand the associations that brands have, Where kids think that if you have this brand, then you'll be happier, you'll be more popular, people will like you more, it's a powerful appeal. - Store managers know the big pulls this Christmas. - Even in a tough year, Lego will still see growth this year. - You are right. - Good old favourite Barbie. - Hi, Barbie. - BARBIES: Hi, Barbie. - The Squishmallow brand has been unbelievable in the last 12 months. - # More passion, more passion, more passion. # - Pokemon trading cards, Pokemon toys. - Ready to rock, Pikachu? - Pikachu! - We know that kids live in a saturated brand world. A lot of kids play games, digital games, online games, you know, and there are a lot of adverts embedded in those games. - I know these. - Oh, why do you want one of those? - Because I like` I like Roblox. - Roblox is a gaming giant... - Gabby bike. - Gabby dollhouse. - I'm Gabby. Welcome to my dollhouse. - ...and Gabby is a kid's programme. - I really like that kind of show. - They're my favourite video. - Most parents get that advertising and product positioning play a major role... - I think, overall, they understand that they're being manipulated. - ...but kids see it differently. Kids might say, 'Oh, but that non-branded version, it's just not cool.' - Yeah, I know, but if you're having` if you're starting to engage with kids, you can explain how brands are working. - And why would parents want to do that? - The mark-up is quite significant. So, you know, you are` you're paying through the nose for something that probably you could do in another way with another version. - Enter Santa's little helper. She's helping set up to test this idea out. Here's some Lego. Thanks, elf. And here's... more Lego? - This is Cobi. It's like Lego, but a little bit cheaper. - We get some experts on board. Now, there may be some different features, but we don't think they've noticed any difference, but we pose the tough questions to be sure. If I told you it's not Lego, would you believe me? - No. - No. - It kind of looks like the same. - Possibly not. - They actually do look the same. - We saw the Cobi set ` 330 pieces ` for between $29 on sale to $69. A similar Lego set ` 340 pieces ` is selling right now for 55 to $80. Would you buy the cheapest one, or would you buy it just because it's Lego? - Lego. - (CHUCKLES) - CHUCKLES: Awesome! - I've got a whole box full of it. - Oh! Seems everyone knows its name. - Lego. - But then it does have deals with other loved brands... - Relax, everybody, I'm here. - Bat Man?! -...and TV shows and movies. - Pretty much, I think we've lost the battle about keeping kids away from brands. - His research shows parents aren't happy. - 80% of parents said that there should be restrictions at least; I think maybe 50% were saying that it should be banned altogether. - As a dad of four and granddad of one, Rob knows fighting brand mania is an uphill battle, but says he's always countered it with some good old-fashioned DIY fun. - How do you think we did with this one? Probably not the best example, is it? I think once they got over the embarrassment of that when their friends were around, they all kind of joined in. - Still, some argue the big brands are worth it because they're well-made. - The branded suppliers spend a lot of money in research and development, but also quality-testing. They make sure that drop tests occur so that they won't shatter into pieces. - And that's really important, but low price doesn't necessarily mean low quality. Plus, just because things are expensive... - Do we think that they give you more entertainment or more enjoyment or more creativity? Definitely not. - You could say the proof is in the playing. And what do you like about that one? - Because I can probably use my feet. - The big brands didn't actually have a monopoly in our tests. (CHILDREN GIGGLE) Who would you play that with? - My brother and sister. - I like basketball. - Two guns?! - (CHUCKLES) - It's a kite. I like it because it looks cool. - Happy kids and happy pockets. So it may be big brands are for you because that's what your kids are after. But don't forget, basic stuff can also be great for laughter. Dress-ups can be funny, and everyone loves a ball, but whatever your thing... - CHILDREN: Happy Christmas! - To all. - Ho-ho-ho. - Aww. They are so cute. - Cute! And a big thanks to those kids from Baverstock Oaks and Glenfield Primary, because they did a great job. - Great day at school, that one, I have to say. E haere ake nei, coming up ` can you handle the Jandal? What to look for when you're choosing this Kiwi classic. - Not necessarily all brands produce good Jandals. You've got to go based on knowing what's best for your feet. - Plus, some good old cost-saving Christmas hacks. - Because Santa might need to tighten his belt this year. - Kia ora. Nau mai, hoki mai. Welcome back. Now, Garth and I don't always see eye to eye on fashion, even though today you're looking pretty good, but we do agree nothing says 'summer' like a pair of Jandals. - That's right. They're the next best thing to bare feet, but are they all created equal? - We give the humble Jandal its time in the sun. (CHILL MUSIC) - Well, it looks like we're in for a hot, dry summer, Aotearoa. It's out with the sweats and in with the sunnies. And when your feet need to beat the heat, we've got you covered. Or rather, uncovered. Garth, what in the world? - Safety first. - Look ` here, early Christmas present. - Oh. Let's go. - They are our summer staple, but can our feet handle the Jandal? - Oh, they're just, like, the easiest, most convenient thing to wear. - I switched to slides when I got older, yeah. - They're freeing. I mean, I hate caging my feet, you know. I love having them exposed. - Yeah.(LAUGHS) - Yeah. And I love the tan line that it gives me too. - I'm not against Jandals at all. I wear them when I go to the beach. - Podiatrist Sarah Saadat says it's all about balance. - If you can, try and wear like, closed footwear that's got proper support; you're much better off than wearing Jandals. - Because here's what happens to your feet when you wear them. - Because you don't have sufficient arch support, generally, your foot rolls in, so your ankle rolls in, and that leads to straining the ligament underneath the arch, that also puts pressure on the back` the Achilles tendon. - Oh man, what a bummer. - No, no, no, you just got to take care of the arch support, the cushioning, the straps and the friction. - Look at you. - Go for quality. - But what about price? Does the amount you pay equal quality? - Well, I paid 40 for these, but they've lasted me, like, six years. - I'd probably spend $100. - I think these were, like, a two for $10. (LAUGHS) Two for $10, if I'm being honest. - Fair Go asked the expert what she thought about some common types of Jandal. Three pairs, three price points ` cheap as chips, the middleman and the splurge. The verdict ` - I wouldn't wear it. What stands out is the strapping is not great, lack of support in the arch area. Yes, it's quite thick in terms of shock absorption. It's a no. - Fair Go got in touch with Kmart about these Anko Jandals. We're yet to hear back. And our middle man. - When I'm touching this, this is like concrete, guys. So obviously, when it's like concrete, you don't buy that. Nothing wrong with the strapping; it looks good. - So the friction is OK? - The friction is not bad. It does not have arch support. And when it comes to cushioning, not the best. So it's a no. - But iconic Kiwi Jandal company NZ Jandal says... - The original Jandal contains natural rubber, which is harder and more durable than cheaper plastics. This iconic Jandal has been designed for casual wear, so it doesn't have arch support like some of the orthopaedic varieties. - And if you're feeling fancy, Sarah although it doesn't have the arch support... - If I have to choose between the three of them, I would go with this one just because of the fact that the strapping is quite nice. It's got a good cushioning, it doesn't have support, but, yeah, this would be my go-to. - Summer Supply, supplier of Havaianas here, says ` - Jandals flip-flops are a lightweight basic-use option for short distance ` beach and back, small walks around the home. - So in this case, price does equal quality, but Sarah is expensive is not always good for our feet. - Not necessarily all brands produce good Jandals. You've got to go based on knowing what's best for your feet. - This is the best thing for my feet right now. - Tell me about it. Garth, where are the Jandals I gave you? - Piggyback? - Oh well. See ya! - Garth's just dashed off to find his Jandals, but he'll be back really soon. - Now to Christmas, the most magical time of the year, but also one of the most stressful and expensive ` add to that a cost of living crisis, and we have a perfect storm for a stressful silly season. - Yeah, so With just five weeks to go until the big day ` five weeks today ` I've compiled a list of tips to make it a little easier. (JAZZY CHRISTMAS MUSIC) It's a Christmas list but not as you know it ` no naughty or nice here. To get on this list, you just have to make Christmas cheaper or easier, because Santa might need to tighten his belt this year. - We thought coming out of Covid that 2023 was gonna this year where everything got easier, and actually, it hasn't been like that for most people globally, locally. It's been a really, really tough year. - And since Christmas is all about sharing, we got you lot to share some of your best money-saving hacks. - You've got to look at your finances and know that you can't afford to buy for everybody. - We tend to do the one where everybody gives somebody a mystery present. - Our Facebook friends had some great ideas on making your gifts work harder. - (READS POST) - (READS POST) - (READS POST) - A pretty generous gift too these days. I tell you what, speaking of gifts, here's my new favourite thing ` my tip for you is try wrapping with fabric, just get off-cuts or old scarves or what have you, so many plusses here ` obviously, you can reuse it time and time again, really good for wrapping unusually shaped things, you don't have to worry about the Sellotape, but my favourite thing about this is that is so much faster than wrapping with paper. Given that food and entertaining are such a big part of our Christmas celebrations, we thought who better to call on than Destitute Gourmet Sophie Gray. - Talk to the whanau, talk to everyone who is involved and decide how you want to do it this year. Just because you've always done it the same way doesn't mean that you have to. - Don't be afraid to mix it up. - One of the things I've observed is that we eat a lot of meat; there tends to be multiple, multiple choices. Have a little bit of a think about what is the thing that's really important, make sure you have that; and if you're buying things because you just always buy them, perhaps there are some things that you can drop off there. - And always shop around. - Nobody is gonna notice whether you bought the supermarket brand flour to make the pastry or whether you bought the named brand ` it's all going to taste the same in the mix. I would also suggest that you try not to buy anything you can realistically make yourself. - When she's not wearing her Destitute Gourmet hat, Sophie is the operations manager at the Good Works Trust Food Bank, making her well aware of just how tough it'll be for some this December. - We're seeing people reaching out to food banks for support who have never needed to before, and that's alarming. - And she says if you can help, now is the time. - Your little makes a difference when it's grouped together with everybody else's little ` it makes a lot. - It's Christmas, right, a time for giving and also a time to remember what really matters. - Perfectionism is the robber of joy ` that's the thing that makes you worry, lie awake at night, spend more than you need to. It doesn't need to be perfect. Aim for fun and have what is really important, chuck out some of the rest. - Santa, if you're watching, a big packet of chocolate biscuits for me, please ` Tim Tams. - I will take the cheese. - Right, that's it from us for 2023. But if you only caught part of the show, you can catch all of it on TVNZ+. - That's right, our programme is all about you, so do stay in touch, because we'll still be checking your emails over summer. - And we're on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram. - You can email us at fairgo@tvnz.co.nz - Or write to us and send us a Christmas card ` PO BOX 3819, Auckland, 1140. - Do have a wonderful festive season. We'll be back again in 2024. Thanks so much for watching. Until next year... - ALL: Po Marie.