Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Home bargains - not such a bargain

27 replies

Wherecanitbe · 28/10/2021 14:21

I occasionally go to home bargains to stock up on toiletries and cleaning products and have always found them to be cheaper than elsewhere.

I went yesterday and bought several (branded) items: Zoflora, Tresemme ,cillit bang etc. As I walked around I realised the prices were not so cheap.

I arrived home and went online to compare the prices to Tesco :
Zoflora (large bottle) HB £3.99. Tesco £4.
Tresemme conditioner HB £1.99. Tesco £2.
Cillit bang HB £1.99 . Tesco £2.

From now on I will just order everything from Tesco. After driving to and from HB just to save 1p doesn't seem worth it. I am really disappointed because I love a bargain.

OP posts:
LawnFever · 28/10/2021 14:23

I’ve also noticed that a lot of the bottles in HB tend to be smaller too, so you think it’s a good deal compared to other places but you’re getting less anyway.

ThesecondLEM · 28/10/2021 14:23

They are the same price as the supermarket they just add in a load of cheap crap and call it bargains.

StarryNightSparkles · 28/10/2021 14:53

I've never understood why some people drive to different shops for different items. The time and desil surely cancels out the savings.

I personally really like Tesco as they match Aldi prices and you get clubcard discounts and points.

Sorry bit of a waffle op. I agree with you HB and BM have lost a bit of shine for me lately also for the same reason as you. It's either not that much cheaper or cheap tat.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Cost of living General food
00100001 · 28/10/2021 14:56

Depends on what you get I find.

The food stuff can be cheaper, plus you can get things you can't find anywhere else

SeasonalNamechange · 28/10/2021 14:57

they need the big brands to keep them afloat

thats not what the 'bargains' part refers too.....its the other stuff thats the bargain part

katienana · 28/10/2021 14:58

I like home bargains for all the random stuff they have, I agree cleaning stuff is probably priced similar to Tesco.

Goldi321 · 28/10/2021 14:58

They are really sneaky and often the items are smaller than what you get in other supermarkets.

00100001 · 28/10/2021 15:02

@StarryNightSparkles

I've never understood why some people drive to different shops for different items. The time and desil surely cancels out the savings.

I personally really like Tesco as they match Aldi prices and you get clubcard discounts and points.

Sorry bit of a waffle op. I agree with you HB and BM have lost a bit of shine for me lately also for the same reason as you. It's either not that much cheaper or cheap tat.

Our B&M, Home Bargains and Asda are all on the same retail park and then Aldi is in the way home anyway.

Need Asda for the stuff I can't get at Aldi (organic whole milk, organic butter, salt & vinegar snack a jack's, certain condiments, fish, chocolate, staple clothes etc)
I get the reduced bread, crumpets etc, from B&M as it's always 20p at ours for some reason. Every so often, you can get real end of line bargains.
I have managed to get 5 tins of salmon in B&M at 10p each, some storage baskets for 20p, a Funko Pop figure for £3 for example.

AngusThermopyle · 28/10/2021 15:12

The poundshop/poundland is the same. Most of their £1 cleaning products, which aren't usually'proper' brands can be bought in Sainsburys etc for less than a pound.

woodhill · 28/10/2021 15:21

I hate the queues in BM.

Never enough staff

jamandmarmalade · 28/10/2021 15:30

I've noticed everything everywhere has gone up in price. Sainsbury's Raspberry Jam 0.75p earlier this year. Now £1.25p. not that i am biased or anything Grin

Just ordinary everyday things that we used to get in bulk sizes in Home Bargains or B&Ms or Wilko. Everything seems to be levelling out.

I'm not even going to mention the B word. Petrol I saw go up 2p overnight here in Home Counties.

I'm not so sure bargain stores are bargains anymore just a penny or 2p cheaper than everywhere else nowadays.

SirensofTitan · 28/10/2021 15:36

I go to Home Bargains most weeks, I don't buy branded cleaning products so can't comment on the price of those but the unbranded/own brand stuff always been about the same price as Aldi or Lidl and cheaper than Tesco

I buy a lot there but only if I know it's cheaper than my supermarket shop, it's on the way to whichever supermarket I'm going to so the cost of pulling into the car park and restarting the engine is nothing compared to what I know I'm saving

tanstaafl · 28/10/2021 15:41

YABU.

Every month that shop will save you 48p over the year. Wink

mumofthemonsters808 · 28/10/2021 15:45

It used to be a really good budget store, but the prices have started creeping up and you can buy certain items cheaper elsewhere.Although, I’m noticing price increases across the board now I’m only buying items as I need them because my wages sure ain’t increased.

JudgeRindersMinder · 28/10/2021 15:48

It used to be worth going to home bargains for some stuff, but like you I’ve noticed a huge increase lately. I just save my time and bung it all on the Tesco order to be delivered

Chickychickydodah · 28/10/2021 15:50

I went in home bargains and wasn’t impressed. I like Asda or B& M for my stuff most of the time. I nipped into sainsburys today , they are so expensive. 🤦‍♀️😡

Rummikub · 28/10/2021 15:52

Washing power much cheaper
And dish washer tablets.

Some things are similarly priced but it’s the random home wares and toys that are the bargains..

jamandmarmalade · 28/10/2021 15:54

Look at the unit cost of items then you'll know if you are getting a real bargain or if you may aswell get the same as your Aldi shop.

It's only a bargain if you need it.

Mochudubh · 28/10/2021 17:01

@woodhill

I hate the queues in BM.

Never enough staff

Same here. I walked out of B&M once after queuing for 20 mins, only to be told when I got to the till that it was for Returns only (After Christmas) and I'd have to join the queue for the only other till open which had at least 10 people in it already.
Roselilly36 · 28/10/2021 17:06

I go to Home Bargains & BM every few weeks, I find them to be great value for money. Never need to queue for long in my city.

TuftyMarmoset · 28/10/2021 17:08

Save £3.50 by ditching the zoflora and using vinegar instead! These shops lure you in with bargains but most of the things are things you don’t need anyway, which doesn’t make them much of a bargain imo.

Sparklingbrook · 28/10/2021 17:15

I have a love/hate relationship with that shop. I agree that a lot of stuff doesn't seem like a bargain but then I wander into the edibles section and they have those nice yoghurts that are really cheap and Drumstick ice lollies for £1.29 etc.

FromMumToMeAgain · 28/10/2021 17:27

I love HB! I go for kitchen roll (£1.99 for three big rolls, similar sized ones in Tesco are £4), loo roll (£6.49 for 32 rolls, similar in Tesco £9), shower gels, big bottles of handwash, soaps, toothpaste and herbs which are all cheaper.

We used to constantly run out of loo roll (6 person household) and kitchen roll before I started going there as routine and picked up a couple of packs a time.

They also do the blue Pears soap in my local one which I love and can’t find anywhere else, and Himalayan pink salt. Also stock up on sweets for DC!

I only go once a month or so and definitely save at least £20 a trip compared to Tesco prices so the 10 minute drive is worth it. I go before they close at 8pm so no queues.

woodhill · 28/10/2021 18:24

@Mochudubh

Yes I prefer the systems where everyone gets served in turn like Wilkos

BM is always dreadful whatever time you go

TokyoSushi · 28/10/2021 18:27

I'm literally just back from Home Bargains and noticed it's definitely not so cheap anymore!