I’m a bargain hunter – four things to always buy at Poundland and the two things to avoid
POUNDLAND is a great place to find a bargain, especially if you only have a quid to spare.
With rising costs battering shoppers at the moment, it’s more important than ever to make sure your pound is spent on good value items.
We spoke to bargain hunting expert Emma Drew about her top picks at the discount store and those that might not be as worth the money.
Emma, 35, is a full-time blogger at makemoneywithoutajob.com and MrsPinch.com.
She has been running the Facebook group Poundland Appreciation Society since 2017 after her YouTube videos about her monthly top picks at the store gained popularity.
Emma told The Sun: “Poundland offers good value for money on every day staples, but you can also find the occasional gold – like big branded products for a fraction of their usual cost.”
Here are Emma’s five items shoppers should always look for at Poundland, and those you might be better off leaving on the shelf.
1. Perfume dupes
Any Poundland fan knows that some of its most popular products are from its large range of bargain dupes of big-brand perfumes.
From YSL’s Black Opium to Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl – there is a lot to choose from, ranging from £1 to £4 per bottle.
Emma said: “The Poundland perfume dupes are lovely, and much cheaper than the brand names.
“I’ve compared some of them side by side, and Lily Petals is a direct dupe of Marc Jacobs Daisy.”
Of course when buying a perfume dupe you do have to be aware that it isn’t going to be an exact replica of the pricey scent.
“It doesn’t last as long, but for £1 a bottle I’m happy to keep topping it up throughout the day,” Emma said.
2. Photo frames
Homeware bits ands bobs can be pretty expensive depending on where you buy them.
Luckily for shoppers, if you’re in the market for a photo frame to spruce up your house – Poundland is the place to go.
Plus, if you’re anything like Emma and fancy yourself a bit of a DIY-er then you could even get a little creative too.
She said: “Photo frames are always great, there’s a big selection and you can use them to make DIYs.”
Most frames cost just £1 and are pretty good quality considering the price.
Emma uses them to frame her own posters around her house and says there are various colours to match your chosen decor scheme.
3. Make-up and toiletries
More items on Emma’s top picks include beauty essentials.
The budget store even stocks its own beauty range too, which means skipping a visit to Superdrug or Boots and paying less.
And, if you prefer brands you know and love, Poundland can help with those too.
Emma said: “Always check out the make-up and toiletries – both Poundland’s own brand and other brands they have in store.
“In the past I’ve found names like Lee Stafford, Nails Inc and more.”
Previously, we tested out the chain’s make-up products that compete with branded alternatives, and they got the thumbs up.
4. Kids’ toys
Parents looking to treat their kids for less than they’d pay at big toy shop chains could also head over to the discount retailer.
Emma said: “The toys are always worth a look too.
“Before a trip to the zoo I stocked up on two for £1 animals, whereas the zoo gift shop had them for almost £10 each.”
We had a browse on the Poundland website and found action figures, dolls and educational toys all with a £1 price tag.
In toy shop chains like The Entertainer and Smyths, these can cost anything from £5 and up.
Things to avoid
As with any shop, not everything found at Poundland is worth your hard earned cash.
Emma explained why some items might be worth buying elsewhere.
She said: “I wouldn’t say avoid them completely, but just be careful with the clothes from Pep & Co sold in Poundland.”
Sometimes they don’t wash well and lose their shape, and you won’t know until you’ve worn and washed them, Emma explained.
Some tech gadgets might be best left on the shelf too.
Emma warned it’s best to avoid phone charging wires for long-term use, and stick to branded chargers/wires instead.
She added: “And also watch out for the size of items for sale.
“They might appear to be a bargain when compared to supermarkets, but you might find they are smaller than what you can find in the supermarkets.”
Meanwhile, you’ve been shopping at Poundland all wrong – here are four ways to save money.
Plus, The Sun recently revealed the bargain store that has introduced even more discounted prices to 800 shops – see our story for the reduced products.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk