GRAPEVINE’S PURCHASES THAT JUSTIFY EXISTENCE

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Used books Mál og Menning might be the biggest bookstore in the country, but that doesn’t mean that you’ll always pay top dollar. There are frequent clearance sales where you can buy paperbacks from all genres, generally all priced under 1000 ISK each. Keep your eyes open for tables full of books stacked in no particular order. Mál og Menning. Laugavegur 18, 9:00-22:00 weekdays, 10:00-22:00 weekends.
2
Fruit! Fruit is usually pretty expensive in Iceland but 10-11 offers generous portions of grapes, melon, or a fresh fruit mix for 299 ISK. Now you have no excuse for that bad case of scurvy that’s been alienating you from your roommates. 10-11, locations around the country.
3
Nicotine Depending on which country or state you live in, you might normally need a doctor’s prescription to buy cigarette alternatives. But in Iceland, you can buy nicotine gum, the patch, nicotine pills and even the nicotine inhaler (which we must warn you, might as well be crack), all over the counter. These products can be pricy, but aren’t nearly as expensive as relapsing into your habit. Available at the pharmacies Apótekin, Lyfja and Lyf og heilsa. Locations around the country.
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The Hagkaup Music Bin Advertised here as “where Icelanders find it most fun to shop,” Hagkaup certainly isn’t lacking in, well, nearly anything, however expensive it can sometimes be. But the bargain music bin – with most titles under 900 ISK – is worth sorting through. We found our copy of Duran Duran’s Rio there. Ah, sweet nostalgia. Hagkaup. At Kringlan, open Mon.-Weds. 10:00-19:00; Thurs. 10:00-21:00; Fri. 10:00-19:00; Sat. 10:00-18:00; Sunday 13:00-17:00.