Are there any ACTUAL bargains to be had anymore?

12 comments

1. Tinned tomatoes are still under 30p and always reliable

2. Yes, but you have to look around — for e.g. keep an eye out on the likes of HotUKDeals…

3. Depends where you look, I saved £280 on Hifi gear I was going to buy anyway by using an ebay 20% voucher and buying open box/ex-demo gear.

4. I’ve found some absolute gems in second hand and charity shops for next to nothing.

5. I don’t think there is much that I’d consider ‘cheap’ which is a bargain, as this bracket is often filled up now with cheap Chinese tat which is dangerous/cheap/flimsy, but there are some thigns which I think are bargains even though the initial outlay is not ‘bargain’ prices. Here are some things which I have bought which will last for life and therefore cost me pence or a few quid each year, for a great return on investment:

   * Cast iron pan. I use it for so much and it’ll last forever. No non stick coating to chip/scrape off, the handle won’t eventually fall off, can use it in the oven and on the hob and it is generally very versatile. (Probably £70ish)
   * Le Creuset casserole dish. Built to last forever, bomb proof, does its job incredibly well. Can use it on the hob or in the oven. Will last forever and has a warranty to match that. (About £200 I think)
   * Wusthof chef’s knife. Versatile, will last forever, basically bomb proof. (£100ish)
   * A good quality chopping board. End grain maple ideally. No plastic/glass/cheap wood. Will last a lifetime and will not dull my knife anywhere nearly as fast as a cheaper one. (£120ish)

   I appreciate this is a good example of the Vimes Boot Theory of Economic Unfairness, but they’re still bargains in my view when you think about how many cheap equivalents of the above people will buy throughout their whole lifetime.

   For things which are cheap and good value the list is less, but I would say:

   * I know that prices have risen, but I still also think that posting letters is an absolute bargain. Pay what… 60p and your letter will get across the country in a day or two and hand delivered to someone’s door.
   * Costco hot dog/pizza. Their takeaway pizzas are mega. Massive and way better than Dominos. They only cost about £9 and could feed a family of 4, or 1 person if you’re me or my wife.

   ​

   >(Cossie Livs?)

   Please never say this again.

6. Not exactly an answer to your question, but another way of getting a little bonus – apps like Checkout smart, Shopmiun or GreenDjinn (sp?)

   I refuse to get sucked in to buying things I don’t need or want, however there are occasionally freebies (in fact I even managed to get *paid* to buy a bottle of non-alcoholic rum) and discounts on stuff I *would* buy.

7. Go shopping in Home Bargains. They are pretty good price wise

8. Budget airlines still have plenty of bargains (although they are getting harder to find).

   We recently had a return trip from northern UK to southern Spain for £60 each return.

9. Biscuits

   When I went to England in January, I still found biscuits to be reasonably priced. A bag of Tesco custard creams can last between 1 to 4 days depending on how greedy you are.

   I live in Taiwan, and biscuits are much more expensive here. Biscuits, your options are shitty Oreo’s for the equivalent of a quid a pack, or McVitie’s digestives for the equivalent of about 1.50 a pack.

   Oreos are utter gash by the way. I have no idea who can eat them. I took back a bunch of bags of custard creams, bourbons, ginger nuts and malted milks with me.

10. TVs, you can get a 65inch starting at around £400

    SIM only phone plans, you can get one ok for less than £10pcm

    Home broadband, unless you fall the marketing BS you can get a perfectly good plan for less than £20pcm, or even cheap out and just get an unlimited plan for your phone and use it as a hotspot

    Android phones, you can get a perfectly good one which will last years for a bit over £100

    Native veg ie carrots, parsnips, anything which doesn’t have to be grown in a heated greenhouse

11. British Heart Foundation (and maybe other charity shops) have started doing big baskets of clothes from £1 that need TLC which usually just means they’re too creased to be put on the rails and need an iron, or need a button sewing on. Our local one has a lovely bridesmaid’s dress for only £5 and there’s nothing wrong with it.

12. I’ve been eating a lot of this Nissin instant ramen. It’s 65p in Tesco but I’ve seen it for 50p in some asian markets. It’s my personal favourite instant ramen regardless of the price and it’s decently filling. Obviously not much in terms of nutritional value but if you just want to fill a hole on the cheap then you can’t go wrong tbh.