Cheap shopping : Poundland, Dollar Stores and Daiso

Everybody likes a bargain. Where will your money go more? Traditionally in many countries you would go to an outdoor market to buy inexpensive food and clothing and markets still exist in many cities, often at the weekend. 

Singapore

Daisy
According to Wikipedia, the last count (2014) showed twelve Daiso stores in Singapore. The stores are located in the following malls: Vivocity, IMM Mall, Plaza Singapura, ION Orchard (Orchard MRT), Tampines 1, Rivervale Mall, Bukit Panjang Plaza, Sembawang Shopping Centre, Chinatown Point, City Square Mall, Parkway Parade and Kallang Wave.  Most or all products are priced at SGD$2.

Mohammed Mustafa
A large store, parts of which are open 24 hours, is Mohammed Mustafa, near Little India MRT, where such a large range is kept that you have a chance of finding some budget items and bins of reduced lines. Because the store started in the Indian continent rather than the Chinese continent, you are more likely to find larger sizes stocked.

UK

At least three major companies specialise in most or all products for £1, smaller items being two for £1 or a bag for £1. 

Poundland - sells homeware, cosmetics and food and garden and car and computer supplies and you can see many of the products, including seasonal lines (such as Christmas decorations) on websites. You can also buy sandwiches for £1.

To compete, you can also buy a budget range of sandwiches if you hunt for them, at Tesco and Morrisons supermarkets and Boots chemist (what is called a drug store in the USA).

For cheap clothing look at Primark. 

In addition to commercial stores, many charity shops sell donated items. Most city high streets have at least one and most have two or three or more. For example: Barbados, Oxfam, St Luke's Hospice.

USA

Look for thrift stores and dollar stores. Also note the words on consignment, shops selling second hand items, sometimes stocked on a sale or return basis.

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For more bargains, check the editorial and advertising in free newspapers which are dropped on the doorsteps of residences, or stacked up at the entrances to railway stations. London, England, has Metro and Evening Standard. You can also see some of the text and advertising online. If you search for particular stores, you are likely to be sent advertisements, and if you sign up you will be send weekly or daily emails.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, researcher, author, speaker.