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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Charlotte Roszko

I compared the cost of shopping at Home Bargains and B&M today to a year ago

With the UK in a cost of living crisis, the price of many popular products has risen considerably.

Research by the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD) found that food inflation is likely to reach 15% this summer, with monthly food bills set to rise by another £43 per month for an average family of four - meaning food inflation is estimated to reach its highest level in more than 20 years.

Budget stores such as Home Bargains and B&M are popular for their low cost items, so I decided to compare the price of 10 of the much-loved branded products on the shelves today to the price you'd pay for them last year. Not only was I interested in finding out if the items had changed in price, but I was also keen to see which store came out as cheapest overall.

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It is worth noting that there is some variation in terms of some of the items, but I have tried to do a direct comparison where possible. Here's the results of my findings, as compared to prices taken from this article published in June 2021:

Home Bargains

Heinz Salad Cream - £1.99 for a 425g + extra bottle in 2021. In 2022, a 570ml bottle costs £2.50.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Giant Chocolate Buttons - in 2021, a packet cost 85p in Home Bargains. Today, the same packet is available for £1.09.

Aquafresh active fresh toothpaste (125ml) - priced at 95p in June 2021, which was the same price in Home Bargains today.

Bliss Salted Caramel Whip Bars - these cost 99p last year and can be bought for the same price today.

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250ml) - cost £1.99 in 2021, which was the same price it was available for today.

Domestos bleach original (750ml) - a bottle cost 99p in June 2021. The same size was not available in my local store, but you could buy 1.25L of Domestos original for £1.49, or purchase 750ml bottles of the pink, citrus or unbeatable strength Domestos for 99p.

Fox's Party Rings minis multipack - this product cost 75p in June 2021. Again, my local store didn't have the multipack in stock, but you could buy a twin pack of two 125g packs of Party Rings for 79p.

Yorkshire Tea (80s) - A pack of 80 Yorkshire Tea teabags cost £1.99 in June 2021. The Yorkshire Tea pack of 80 wasn't an option in my store today, but you could buy 72 Tetley teabags for 99p.

Heinz Beanz - a tin was priced at 79p last year. I picked up a 300g tin for 59p.

Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps (6 pack) - Cost £1.50 in both comparisons.

Overall cost (June 2021): £12.79

Overall cost (August 2022): £12.38

B&M

Heinz Salad Cream - In 2021, a 425g + extra bottle cost £1.99. A 570ml cost £2.50 today.

Cadbury Dairy Milk Giant Orange Buttons - £1 for a bag in 2021. Today, the orange flavour wasn't an option in my local store. However, for comparison, the same sized bag of original Dairy Milk buttons came in at £1.25.

Aquafresh active fresh toothpaste (125ml) - this cost £1 in 2021, which was the same price it was priced at today.

Bliss Salted Caramel Whip Bars - cost £1 in both comparisons.

L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil Nourishing Shampoo (250ml) - cost £1.99 in both comparisons.

Domestos bleach original (750ml) - cost £1 in both comparisons.

Fox's Party Rings minis multipack - cost 75p in both comparisons.

Yorkshire Tea (80s) - priced at £2 in 2021. As with Home Bargains, I couldn't find an 80 pack of Yorkshire Tea. I did, however, find a box of 72 Tetley teabags for £1.

Heinz Beanz - a tin cost 79p in 2021. I could only find a 415g tin in my local store, which cost 85p.

Walkers Prawn Cocktail Crisps (6 pack) - £1.50 in both comparisons.

Overall cost (June 2021): £13.02

Overall cost (August 2022): £12.84.

Verdict

Overall, Home Bargains came out as cheaper on both occasions. Surprisingly, the items I added up today were cheaper than the equivalent products that were bought last year in both stores, which was a pleasant surprise.

However, I think it's important to consider that some items couldn't be as accurately compared due to differences in product availability- for example the teabags. Overall though, I was impressed with the cost of products in Home Bargains and B&M and would definitely shop at them both more in the future.

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