We tested Poundland’s essential bargain buys against B&M, Savers, Wilko and Home Bargains – which one is REALLY cheapest

POUNDLAND is one of Britain’s best-loved budget stores – but more than half of its stock no longer costs a quid.

The chain’s owner Pepco Group has admitted that 58 per cent of items sold in the year up to September 2022 were outside its signature £1 price point.

Chris Balcombe

Poundland is one of Britain’s best-loved budget stores – but more than half of its stock no longer costs a quid. So it is still the best place to bag bargains?[/caption]

The revelation came as shoppers face further squeezes on their finances, with a recent Which? investigation finding that some basic groceries have now gone up by nearly a third.

So is Poundland – which launched its first store in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, in 1990 – still the best place to bag a bargain? 

Or can you get more for your money at rivals B&M, Savers, Wilko or Home Bargains? We hit the aisles to find out.

CADBURY DAIRY MILKBAR 95g

Chris Balcombe

 Poundland: £1

 Wilko: Not in stock

Savers: £1.25

B&M: £1.25

Home Bargains: £1.09

VERDICT: Poundland wins at £1 a bar – 9p cheaper than Home Bargains in second place.

QUILTED TOILET ROLL (4-pack)

Chris Balcombe

Poundland: £1.75

Wilko: £2

 Savers: £1.69

B&M: £2.49

Home Bargains: £1.65

VERDICT: Loo roll was cheapest at Home Bargains, with Poundland mid-priced.

COLGATE ANTI-CAVITY TOOTHPASTE 100ml

Chris Balcombe

Poundland: £1

Wilko: £1.20. Not in stock – substituted with Colgate Triple Action 100ml 

Savers: 95p

B&M:95p

Home Bargains: 89p

VERDICT: Home Bargains wins again with 11p saving, while Savers and B&M also came in cheaper.

 BOTTLE OF BASIC BLEACH 750ml

Chris Balcombe

Poundland: 70p

Wilko: 60p

Savers: 59p

B&M: 55p

Home Bargains: 55p

VERDICT: A joint win for Home Bargains and B&M, at 15p cheaper.

RICH CLASSIC COFFEE GRANULES

Chris Balcombe

All things considered, B&M was best value for coffee[/caption]

Poundland: £2 for 100g jar

Wilko: Do not sell coffee

Savers: £3.89 for 200g jar

B&M: £3.49 for 200g jar

Home Bargains: £5.49 for 300g jar

VERDICT: A tricky one as every store did different sizes, but B&M was best value at £1.75 per 100g. 

FAIRY WASHING-UP LIQUID 383ml

Chris Balcombe

Home Bargains wins again – but only just for Fairy[/caption]

 Poundland: £1

 Wilko: £1

Savers: £1

B&M: £1

Home Bargains: 99p

VERDICT: Home Bargains takes it again, this time by a slim 1p margin.

McVITIE’S TASTIES DIGESTIVES 300g

Chris Balcombe

B&M wins by a mile for this pack of Tasties[/caption]

Poundland: £1

Wilko: Biscuits not stocked

Savers: 79p

B&M: 59p

Home Bargains: Did not stock it – substituted with Gullon Sugar Free Digestives, 400g, 79p.

VERDICT: B&M wins by a mile at almost HALF the price of Poundland.

TY-PHOO ONE CUP TEA BAGS x 100

Chris Balcombe

Another one bagged for Home Bargains[/caption]

Poundland: £1

Wilko: Do not sell tea

Savers: £1

B&M: £1

 Home Bargains: 98p

VERDICT: Home Bargains came in 2p cheaper than all other stores.

CAREX ORIGINAL SHOWER GEL 500ml

Chris Balcombe

Home Bargains offered the best-value branded shower gel[/caption]

Poundland: £1

Wilko: Not in stock – substituted with own-brand product, 90p. 

Savers: £1

B&M: £1

Home Bargains: 99p

VERDICT: Home Bargains offered the best-value branded shower gel, with a saving of a penny.