What bargain shopping can you do in Britain's towns and cities? Let's look at Watford (which is on the Euston to Watford line if you are starting from central London).
Before setting off from my home office, I had researched online for letter trays. I have piles of paper which cascade whenever you move them. The answer is either letter trays or box files. The cheapest letter trays were in the Post Office or one of the One Pound shops. To my surprise and delight, Watford, where I was going anyway, had not just one, not just two, but three bargain stores which I had never visited, although I am a keen shopper in Poundland of Harrow which has poppy plates, dinner plates, side plates, bowls and mugs, at only £1, beating the price at many supermarkets.
Before setting off from my home office, I had researched online for letter trays. I have piles of paper which cascade whenever you move them. The answer is either letter trays or box files. The cheapest letter trays were in the Post Office or one of the One Pound shops. To my surprise and delight, Watford, where I was going anyway, had not just one, not just two, but three bargain stores which I had never visited, although I am a keen shopper in Poundland of Harrow which has poppy plates, dinner plates, side plates, bowls and mugs, at only £1, beating the price at many supermarkets.
BOOTS
Walking towards the shops from Watford High Street station (not Watford Junction station) on the Lower High Street you pass Boots the chemist on the way to the Intu shopping Centre. In Boots you can pick up a sandwich for £1. Choices were tuna or egg. Surprisingly the egg was slightly higher in calories.
When I got home, I realised I had had in my pocket a previous receipt which I had kept because on the back was printed an offer for 30p off a meal deal - valid most of this month.
Walk through Boots and you come into the lower floor of the Intu shopping centre. In the shopping mall are a free water fountain and free toilets.
Go up on the escalators one level. You find the second level information desk, which often has a bowl of free fortune cookies. For inexpensive clothes, look at Primark.
WILKO
Walk up the shopping centre which is on a slope. Take the escalator down and you will see Wilko outside, ground level. This big store has £1 sandwiches. More £1 sandwiches: Chicken and stuffing (the stuffing is pork, in case that bothers you); Cheese and tomato.
The stationery and arts and crafts sections are excellent. I could have bought a Reeves Scraperfoil board with a pen for scratching off the black to reveal a gold animal picture for £1.50. I bought a putty rubber for only 25p.
Box files for £2.50.
The Wilko receipt tells me that I should go to www.wilkohaveyoursay or call 0845 5280 200 and give them feedback for a chance to win a £100 Wilko Gift card.
99p
The stationery and arts and crafts sections are excellent. I could have bought a Reeves Scraperfoil board with a pen for scratching off the black to reveal a gold animal picture for £1.50. I bought a putty rubber for only 25p.
Box files for £2.50.
The Wilko receipt tells me that I should go to www.wilkohaveyoursay or call 0845 5280 200 and give them feedback for a chance to win a £100 Wilko Gift card.
99p
Walk out to the High Street. A few steps left brings you to the 99p shop.
The 99p shops sells a pack of orange for 89p, a box of small, sharp-tasting seedless grapes for 99p, a box of hair colorant for 99 p, a clipboard for 99 p, and instead of a bulky, heavy box file I buy a light half depth plastic box file. A tool for getting weeds out from between garden or patio paving stones seems handy, at only 99p.
The 99p shop receipt receipt tells me that for a chance to win prizes I should go online and sign up to their newsletter.
Poundworld
I then walked right and only a few yards further on was the Poundworld, which was shut late on a Friday evening.
The 99p shops sells a pack of orange for 89p, a box of small, sharp-tasting seedless grapes for 99p, a box of hair colorant for 99 p, a clipboard for 99 p, and instead of a bulky, heavy box file I buy a light half depth plastic box file. A tool for getting weeds out from between garden or patio paving stones seems handy, at only 99p.
The 99p shop receipt receipt tells me that for a chance to win prizes I should go online and sign up to their newsletter.
Poundworld
I then walked right and only a few yards further on was the Poundworld, which was shut late on a Friday evening.
Poundland
Poundland was just shut by the time I got there.
Linens Direct
Linens Direct
Returning towards the station I passed one of my favourite shops, Linens Direct. I pass the one in Harrow often. I always look longingly at the beds with matching curtains, and nets co-ordinating with drapes.
Back to the station, Watford High Street. Never mind if I have to wait. I have a £1 sandwich to eat. This morning I picked up a free copy of Metro to read on the train. Sometimes I have two newspapers to read, because the Evening Standard is also free.
So if you're on a budget, or looking for bargains, search online for these bargain stores. Apparently there's also a Poundshop.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3158577/Mrs-Poundland-world-s-thriftiest-millionairess-buys-clothes-Sainsbury-s-husband-rid-flash-Lamborghini-snaffles-free-hotel-shampoo.html
So if you're on a budget, or looking for bargains, search online for these bargain stores. Apparently there's also a Poundshop.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3158577/Mrs-Poundland-world-s-thriftiest-millionairess-buys-clothes-Sainsbury-s-husband-rid-flash-Lamborghini-snaffles-free-hotel-shampoo.html
Angela Lansbury, author, travel writer and photographer, speaker.
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