The UK's 10 best bargain retailers

As consumers tighten their belts amid the credit crunch, business is booming for many discount shops and businesses. So where is everyone going to snap up bargains? Here is a list of ten increasingly popular places…

1. Aldi – “For those who need a store with piped music, a choice of 42 yoghurts and who can't pack their own shopping bag, then maybe Aldi's not for them,” admits Paul Foley, head of Aldi’s UK stores. Nonetheless, the German discount supermarket has seen sales rise by 25 per cent in the last six months.

Bargain: The St Emillion Grand Cru 2005, winner of the 2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition, is at £8.99 – it normally retails at around £15.

2. Primark – There were scenes of carnage at Primark’s opening of its Oxford Street store, where shoppers mowed each down to grab the last £2 bikini. But the cheap clothes shop has generated a 22 per cent profit increase over the six months to March 1 2008.

Bargain: five pairs of socks for £2, jeans for £8, men’s polo shirts for £2.50… the list goes on.

3. Premier Inn – The budget hotel chain has always focused on value for money rather than fancy furnishings and high prices – a policy that is now reaping it rewards, as last month sales grew by 10.5 per cent over the previous year.

Bargain: A family room at Bournemouth Central Premier Inn, which is within walking distance of the beach and pier, starts at just £18.75 per night. It can accommodate up to two adults and two children. 

4. Oxfam – The charity shop has reported a “substantial increase in sales” this year, particularly after it opened three high fashion boutiques in west London.

Bargain: At Oxfam’s bridal departments, where designers donate unworn dresses worth over £1,000, shoppers can snap up a dress for under £250.

5. Ikea – With the summer sale starting on June 19, the usual hoards of people are expected to fill Ikea stores, undeterred by the credit crunch.

Bargains: A glass vase at 39 pence, white plant pot at 29 pence and a 16 piece stainless steel cutlery set for £1.99.

6. Online dating sites - PlentyMoreFish.com said that it has seen a fourfold increase in new members joining in the past month. "We have come to the conclusion that people are looking for other ways of meeting people that do not involve going out on the town every night," said Steve Moylan, manager of the site.

Bargain: At PlentyMoreFish.com, you can view other members' photo and profile, and post your own, for free - but if you want to make contact, membership is £14.95 per month.

7. Ryanair – With experts predicting that the era of cheap air travel may soon be over, there is no time like the present to snap up bargain deals. Ryanair’s winter sale is now on, with 2 million free seats (“no taxes, no fees, no charges”) if you travel between October and January. Offer ends midnight, Monday June 23.

8. Cash Converters – The pawn broking franchise has recently seen its profits soar by 68.4 per cent, as increasing numbers of people desperate for cash pawn their belongings.

Bargain: A Nikon Cool Pix P5000, which retails at around £295, is for sale on the Cash Converters website for £179.99.

9. Megabus – The price of train tickets may be rocketing, but coach travel seems to be getting cheaper and cheaper.

Bargain: A ticket from London to Sheffield booked on the same day of travel costs £7 – a train ticket would cost around £50 and only takes about an hour less.

10. Poundland – “The price has been the same since 1990 - Poundland are fighting inflation so that you don’t have to!” the company proudly declares. With everything from pet food to gardening tools, Poundland is full of useful bargains.

Bargain: Seven non drowsy hayfever tablets, Flash multi-surface spray, Nivea sport shower gel... yes, all £1.

List compiled by Lauren Thompson

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Comments

[Gibbs]

Sad as it is, child labour is a way for the poor to supplement their famiy income, not forgetting child benefit and social security don't exist in most countries. Are we helping by stopping our consumption of their products or depriving them further?

[Live in the real world]

I never understand the argument for avoiding clothing made in sweat shops these kids and their parents would despise you for taking this work away from them. Not buying the clothes doesnt fix the problem and how many people actually care anyway. If manufacturers think being ethical will sell more products and give them a larger margin they will lie about the conditions these products are manufactured in anyway.

[Richard Hay]

Where is ebay on this list?

[Charlotte]

Or you could try PlentyOfFish.com which is free

[Ellie]

I used to shop in Primark too but after learning about their dealings with child labour in India and clear violation of their own 'ethical' trading policy, I just can't bring myself to shop in there anymore. Yes it's cheap, but the human cost behind keeping the price down is sickening.

Moreover, Primark shops are typically messy and disorganised. The queues for both the cashiers and fitting rooms are horrendous. The clothes are made of really poor quality material as well and probably not worth the cost (however cheap it is).

On the other hand, New Look, also a cheap high street store, though not offering as broad a range as Primark, is cheap and getting increasingly ethical.

[Howard]

Plentymorefish.com - "We have come to the conclusion that people are looking for other ways of meeting people that do not involve going out on the town every night"

Or maybe that society is increasingly seeing partners as dispensable rather than for life?

[Martha Marsupial]

I'm sure the children stitching Primark's clothes in dank basements in India will be delighted to hear that they will have more work to do, now that we are all 'suffering an economic downturn'.

[Don]

2. Primark

Five pairs of socks £2. Yes go there if you like your clothes made by Indian children.

[Daniel Stewart]

Number 6.

Perhaps people aren't looking for cheaper ways of meeting a partner, but are in fact just looking for a wealthier partner? I know, i'm a cynic...

[JPL]

Premier Inn in Bournemouth quotes at least £63 today - "starts at just £18.75 per night" is very misleading. When does it apply - late January when booking 2 years in advance?

[A Hippy]

Love is free

[M Jones]

My old grandmother used to say, buying cheap is a false economy, etc.