Great 'What to Buy in Pound Shops' Hunt. What should and shouldn't you grab?

Teresa_Small

Ellie2758 wrote: »

Do you stick them to the door? What is it that makes them light up? They sound great, just cant understand how they work!

thanks

The ones I purchased required batteries [ not supplied ] You just push the front to activate them.

Philycheesesteak

I find the tools (esp the screw drivers) aren't great, they wear quicker than the screws.

But there are many other good bargains, blank CDs and CD/DVD cases.

Certainly toiletries, etc are good value. I got a nice traditional piggy bank recently.

I must say however no disrespect to pound shops but there is a chain by us called Homebargains and another Bargain Madness which is even better value!!

Quick anecdote. I was in a pound shop looking for a shower curtain riffelling through looking for a peach one (don't ask), and I was wearing my ID badge from my work and an old dear bent down and asked me how much an item was. I looked up and said "Sorry I don't work here but I'm guessing as it's a pound shop...."

Finally we have a pound shop which sells some items like extension leads for £1.25?? "Everything is a pound" (Except a few things???) I guess maybe they couldn't fit it on the sign.

SALOPMAN

My wife works in Poundland and gets really annoyed when people ask how much it is lol, also PLEASE go regularly,my wife says that stuff comes in and out all the time,a lot is bought for a song and are "one offs" so when its gone it really has gone,Books are a good example,my wife does stationery and loves her section,she says the Jiffy bags are really good value and are three times price elsewhere,and good make. Please help them though,people just because its cheap treat them a little shirty at times,my wife says would they do the same in ASDA? but on the whole the concept and very good and worth supporting.They were on the BBC local news here last week in midlands saying how they were bucking the trend and doubling profits and opening 30 stores a year as posh peeps now go to Poundland cos of the crunch!!

Taz_Sutton

I bloomin love poundshops. I get allsorts of great bits and bobs from there, packs of A4 card which I paid £2.80 for 25 sheets in Osbornes, and I got a pack of 60 in poudland. I too use their jiffy bags and tape for posting out all my ebay and amazon bits. I recently got some student diarys, A4 hardback notepads, Wall.E pens, Milky Bar selection boxes, multi drawer storage boxes, and scented candles etc. These will all be going in christmas presents. They have some really lovely bits and pieces in for christmas as well.

The 99p shop http://www.99pstoresltd.com/ is also fantastic for bargains. I've managed to get Nair waxing strips, Nivea body Cream, and even a glue gun from there.

The other half and I always try to get each other a pounshop present for christmas, last year I got him a pack of fancy dress moustaches, which provided more amusement than he let on lol.

I agree with what someone else previously said though, if you see it when you're in there make sure to get it then.

kar999

I go for the electrical/computer stuff.

The SD card readers are SDHC compliant and some of the USB, ethernet modem leads are branded ones like Philips.

The USB hub, maybe the one guy posted early about, was only USB 1 not 2 but if it doesnt work properly they'll take it back.

naked40lady

I always buy the Cadbury Brunch Bars - £1.59 in Tesco's and the kids eat them like they are going out of fashion !!:jBuy 3 and it's like getting one free !!!!!

Teresa_Small

I would also like to say TOASTIES. These bags are so so good. In other shopping stores the price can range from £3.99 - £6.99 !!!! I do love toasted sandwiches. My only problem was that I had to purchase a new Toaster with the wider slots. It made it easier. There is an addy on telly for these bags, £3.99 !!!!!!

look_after_the_pennies

I have to admit that I was a bit of a snob when it came to pound shops, but due to the current economic climate and after reading this thread, I'm dying to check out my local store for bargains!!!

full-time-mum

I love our 99p shop but you do have to filter out the trash to find the bargains.

I brought 10 bags of wheat-free pretzels a few weeks ago. They had a very short use-by date but at 10p each, they were a bargain - they cost over a £1 a packet in the supermarkets. Even if I waste a few, they are still good value.

I also buy a lot of paper packs for the children to colour on or for use in party bags/birthday presents but I don't recommend cheap felt pens as they don't last.
They often have boxed sticker sets which are £5 in places like woolies. They are probably feature last years 'in' characters but most often they are still recognisable such as Dora the Explorer who doesn't seem quite so in vogue these days.

I think it is a case of using common-sense. Often they are selling off end of lines so, for example, if a well-known face product company improves their recipe, then you can often get the older version at a knock-down price.

I've seen kinnerton chocolate advent calenders - they still have a use-by for after Xmas 2008. I guess that if you look else where, the use-by dates will be Xmas 2009 - who needs advent calenders that last until next Xmas

My FIL buys the multi-packs of button batteries. His logic is that they are so cheap that if some don't work or last quite as long as they should then he is still in pocket. Haven't tried them myself.

I'm wary of cheap unbranded cosmetics.

I buy all my hanging baskets there and sometimes seed packets but do check the use by dates. I have brought plants in the past but you do need to pick them over as they are often left unwatered.

Food products are usually OK although they sometimes have foreign language labels so you need to take care if you have allergies. A product which is, say, nut-free over here is not necessarily nut-free abroad even if the packaging looks identical.

sarahemmm

I trawled the pound shops in Norwich (Anglia Square, in case you want to go) for stuff for a big party in September. Got various large size tupperware type containers and some plastic salad bowls (3 for 99p) and a huge roll of kitchen towel which I am still using.

My shopping now is: visit pound shops every couple of months for toothpaste/shower gel/bathroom stuff. Weekly, go to Lidl first, then go upmarket for what I can't get there. Can't imagine how much money I save!