- 2 weeks ago
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00:00We've all got used to supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl and the great deals they offer.
00:08But now there's another group of retailers muscling in on our big weekly shop.
00:14Make way for the pound shops and mega discounters.
00:18They're not just for snacks and party bits anymore.
00:21Pound shops and bargain stores are stepping up.
00:25Stop that now!
00:26Aiming to become serious contenders for our weekly shop.
00:30But not all of us have left the safety of our swanky supermarkets to explore the shelves at the bargain store next door.
00:37In this series we're putting bargain shopping to the test by asking families of proudly picky shoppers to take on our big shop swap challenge.
00:49Anything in the fridge that's different?
00:51Everything.
00:52We'll swap their favourite products for pound shop alternatives.
00:56Oh no!
00:58From food.
00:59Where the adventure began.
01:00To cleaning.
01:01I found it's really good. It is something that the brain would have used before.
01:04And everything in between.
01:06Smells very weak.
01:07It's a bit scratchy.
01:08We'll be running some tests and hearing from retail experts.
01:13Britain is a nation of proud bargain hunters.
01:16I know a duchess who goes into Costco.
01:19Oh!
01:20I like it!
01:21Getting insights into a new world of shopping secrets along the way.
01:27There's lots of tips and tricks of buying in a discount retailer because you're getting exactly the same product for a lot less.
01:34This is the big pound shop swap.
01:38We're going to find out if man can live by a pound shop alone.
01:42Are you going to tell James how much he'd be saving?
01:44No.
01:46Absolutely not.
01:47Bargain retailers like The Range, Home Bargains and Poundland are growing into major players in the UK market.
02:02Everybody loves value for money and everybody loves a bargain.
02:06Poundland have got a lot bigger product range.
02:08They've got a lot bigger buying power so they can get a lot of product from countries all over the world really.
02:14Cheap and cheerful has never been so attractive and acceptable.
02:20Discount retailers always presented a stigma for the British consumers.
02:25We were a bit snobby.
02:26We always wanted to shop in the traditional supermarkets.
02:30I used to love to sit outside the shop and just watch customers.
02:33And customers would come in and fill a carrier bag full of products.
02:37We're on the way out to the shop.
02:39They will put their Poundland carrier bag into a British carrier bag because a lot of the customers didn't want to know they bought pound items.
02:48It's just amazing how things have changed.
02:50There's been such a big shift in the UK consumer since the financial crisis of 2008-2009 whereby discount and bargain shops are kind of part of our repertoire.
03:02There's no shame attached at all in going into a bargain shop and they're places where you can get a steal and basically everyone even kind of investment bankers enjoy the thrill of getting a steal.
03:16With 91% of households admitting to feeling the pinch, we're on a mission to help families slash those bills just by switching up where they do their big weekly shop.
03:29I'm in Hollywood in Northern Ireland to meet a family who are ready to put their love of luxury brands to the ultimate test.
03:44Let's do this.
03:46Meet the Beamers.
03:47Originally from Canada, Amy and husband Kevin have made their home on the scenic coast of County Down with daughter Charlie and son Milo.
03:56In their household, Amy's in charge of the shopping and isn't afraid to spend to meet her exacting standards.
04:03I would do a small M&S shop and then carry that to Tesco and then do the big Tesco shop.
04:12We are, I think, what you would call an ingredient household.
04:16So it's a lot of fresh food.
04:18I would rather buy items that don't have an ingredient list at all.
04:24It seems her teenage children have inherited that taste for quality.
04:29We've always kind of gone for just nicer supermarkets and stuff just because you'd be worried that if it's somewhere you've never been before or somewhere cheaper,
04:36it's kind of that thought of, like, you are going to associate that with cheaper quality.
04:42With a semi-professional footballer in their midst, health and wellbeing are top of the priority list for the Beamers.
04:49Milo's 16 years old. He is an athlete. He is a massive fruit eater.
04:54That's just Milo trying to keep as healthy as possible.
04:58I think, like, M&S fruit would be more consistent.
05:01It would just be, like, all these people are shopping in these more expensive spots.
05:05It must be better. And I think that's probably what we do as well.
05:08Dad Kevin, on the other hand, is much simpler to please.
05:12I'm not fussy about a lot of these things.
05:15If there's shampoo in the bathroom, if there is food in the fridge, then I'm happy.
05:20And it doesn't matter to me where they've come from.
05:23With a big shop coming in at over Β£350, there's a good chance that savings could be made.
05:29I'd love to see if there's more that we can get for less.
05:32Or the same for less. That's really what we're talking about.
05:34We don't need more. We need less.
05:36And if they could save money by stepping away from their traditional supermarkets,
05:42what would the Beamers do with that extra cash?
05:45I think we're big on experiences more than things.
05:49We would spend it on some sort of holiday where we, you know,
05:55learn something about each other or experience something together
05:57and have good stories to tell at the end of it.
06:00With the kids getting older, they're kind of at that age where they're about to leave home.
06:06And I think they'll still go on holiday with us if we're paying.
06:19So why are we asking families to consider swapping their supermarket?
06:23One of the things that's been really interesting is how the bargain stores
06:27and the discounters have actually expanded to directly take on the bigger brand supermarkets.
06:34When it comes to selecting products within retail,
06:37we want to be as much as we can a one-stop shop for a customer.
06:41And of course, that's the clever thing.
06:43You go in for the discounted bleach or chocolate biscuits that you love
06:46and before you know it, you've filled up your basket with all sorts of other stuff.
06:50And before you know it,
06:52the bargain shops actually become a serious rival to the supermarkets.
06:57Discount retailers now start fresh food and vegetables.
07:00So if you need milk, bread, eggs, you can pick that up.
07:03At the moment, of the bargain shops,
07:05any home bargains offers a sort of a serious range of fresh food.
07:08You know, they've got actually two or three different types of apples,
07:11you know, two or three different types of potato.
07:13And in fact, home bargains have their own range of fruit
07:15and have their own range of ready meals.
07:18Can the Beamers live by one discounter alone?
07:21Well, it's worth a try.
07:30Before we can save the money,
07:32we need to work out where they're spending.
07:34So whilst this family is out, I'm going to have a little snoop around.
07:37I've got the keys.
07:43Oh, this is nice.
07:44Right, I'm going to make myself at home.
07:46Let's get stuck in, have a nose.
07:50This is the treat straw, is it?
07:52I mean, my treat straw's got chocolate in it.
07:54It's filled to the brim.
07:56I'm a very treat-oriented person,
07:59but I think my treats are potentially just different
08:02from other people's treats.
08:04Oh, I love being nosy in people's houses.
08:06I think the treats that you've trained yourself to like,
08:09dirty chai and turmeric drink, would not be my treat.
08:12There's over 100 quid's worth of supplements there in this cupboard.
08:16This year I turned 50, and just having a good supplement routine
08:20and having a good exercise routine has kind of been a main focus.
08:24Ooh, what are these?
08:28Dissolvable vitamin strips.
08:30Never tried these before.
08:32It's stuck on the top of my mouth.
08:33I don't think I like it.
08:34Ugh!
08:36Banana shampoo.
08:38Lush banana shampoo.
08:40Bit pricey.
08:43Ooh, I've seen enough.
08:45It's time to give this house a bargain makeover.
08:48Their everyday favourites are out.
08:51Our pound shop swaps are in.
08:53With my team on hand, no cupboard will go unturned
08:57and no room is off limits.
08:59From the bathroom shelf to under the kitchen sink,
09:03the bedside cabinet to the back of the fridge,
09:06it's all fair game.
09:08The Beamers don't know it yet, but we are going to swap
09:11their usual supermarket shop to a trolley load
09:14straight from the aisles of Home Bargains.
09:17Originally known as Home and Bargain,
09:19they opened their first store in Liverpool in 1976.
09:23Founded by Tom Morris,
09:25it was rebranded to what we currently know as Home Bargains in 1995.
09:33Now with over 600 stores across the UK,
09:36they're making moves into pricey postcodes,
09:39targeting savvy shoppers who like the finer things for less.
09:44The discount retailers are really thinking about positioning of their stores.
09:48For example, if they position themselves next to an anchor retail store,
09:52such as Marks & Spencers or somewhere where you know consumers are going to shop,
09:56it's going to lead to lots of consumers coming to your store as well.
09:59So it's really strategically thought out.
10:01And prime positioning has paid off for the Home Bargains chain.
10:05Home Bargains is doing so well as a company that it gave Tom Morris,
10:10its main shareholder, a dividend of Β£1.2 billion last year.
10:16You can only afford to give your main shareholder Β£1.2 billion if you are a company on fire.
10:28Ooh, they're back.
10:31Hello!
10:32Switching their big shop to Home Bargains could save the Beamers around Β£6,500 a year.
10:39That's more than Β£120 a week.
10:42Nice to meet you.
10:43Let's go and have a look and see what we've done.
10:45Come on.
10:46But without knowing that, what will they make of our bargain store swaps?
10:52I have had a little snoop around your home.
10:55Basically what we've done is we've replaced your supermarket shop,
10:58plus other items around your house for goods from budget retailers.
11:03Oh, that's interesting.
11:05Oh, that's interesting.
11:06Wait, what?
11:07If they don't stock it, then you don't have it.
11:10It's OK.
11:11First glance, is there anything you've noticed that's changed?
11:14Milo.
11:15The blender.
11:16Oh, yeah.
11:17Oh, different blender.
11:18Uh-oh.
11:19Special blender.
11:20Is this the family supplement covered, or does this shelf belong to...?
11:24Probably me.
11:25So you're the supplement queen?
11:26Yes, definitely.
11:27What do you think with the changes that we've made so far?
11:30It's all the same, all the same names.
11:33You've ticked all the boxes, so it's looking good.
11:35Is there anything in particular that I've taken away from your shelf that you're going to miss?
11:39I'm curious to see what the green powder tastes like.
11:44So you like a particular taste?
11:45Yes.
11:46And if the electrolytes hold up to hot yoga.
11:49Oh.
11:50So if I pass out in hot yoga...
11:51Oh, don't say that.
11:53Please don't blame me.
11:55Right, let's see what's next.
11:57Who is responsible for this drawer?
12:00I'll be getting me and Charlie.
12:02I mean, it's very healthy.
12:03Yeah.
12:04Which is great.
12:05I looked at a lot of the branded stuff, and we've kind of switched things up a little bit.
12:09What do you think at first glance?
12:11I think we get quite high-end nuts and dried fruits.
12:14You say high-end because you're going to go for the most expensive, so you think that maybe they're better?
12:19Yeah, that's what you base it off, yeah.
12:21I mean, it's not my money, so I don't mind.
12:23Yeah, I think that's just a prejudice I have.
12:27If it works the same, then if it's cheaper, it might as well, you know?
12:30Well, it's good you're up for the challenge.
12:32Bit scary, but we can do it.
12:34Are we ready, guys?
12:36Coming up, the Beamers dive into their week-long challenge.
12:39Let the adventure begin.
12:41And we set each family member their own task.
12:44It's a bit powdery.
12:45We'll try it for the week and we'll see.
12:55It's estimated UK households are spending over Β£500 a week on everything from energy to groceries,
13:02making it no surprise that we're all looking for ways to save money.
13:07The Beamers, a family from Hollywood, Northern Ireland,
13:10are testing out if changing where they shop can bring down their outgoings.
13:17So we've replaced their usual swanky supermarket haul for products from budget retailer Home Bargains.
13:26Waking up this first morning has been the most interesting.
13:29Yesterday was a flurry.
13:30We came in and Denise was here.
13:32She opened up the cupboard and said, look at this, look at this.
13:35And it doesn't say you actually get down to actual eating and actual living when you realize, oh, hang on a minute.
13:40That was taken away.
13:42Speaking of which, there is some spices way up here, I seem to remember.
13:47The ambition for many discount retailers is to become your weekly shop.
13:51And that's what the growth and emergence we can see is they're offering you such a variety and range of products.
13:58So we are trying everything, seeing what comes out the other end.
14:01I'll be honest, our family, we put a lot of stock into what we eat.
14:06They're trying to give you more of what you want.
14:10My usual breakfast will be sort of adapted, sort of a veggie omelet.
14:17But a lot of that stuff was taken away.
14:20I haven't checked out how deep pound shops go into veg yet.
14:25But I did find a couple of avocados.
14:28I found some Serrano ham in the fridge.
14:31Let the adventure begin.
14:33Fresh food like fruits and veg is by its nature something that goes off a little bit quickly.
14:38Now, that's something that has to be brought in from farmers.
14:41And it may well be that some things simply aren't grown in the UK.
14:45Which means that they become more expensive to import, to store and they go off quite quickly.
14:50We'll see how this goes.
14:51An adapted morning omelet for Milo and myself.
14:54Because when you ask Milo if he wants to eat anything, the answer is yes.
15:02Our weekly and monthly shopping habits are changing.
15:06And research shows more and more of us are throwing vitamins and supplements
15:10into our baskets.
15:12The wellness market is really big.
15:14Both, actually interesting to me, it straddles both male and female.
15:17So you kind of get gym blokes with massive whey powders.
15:21And then you get more female focused kind of endless supplements.
15:25And the well-known brands are really expensive.
15:29The Beamers take their health and fitness seriously.
15:32But are they spending more than they need to?
15:35It's like the closer it gets to us as people,
15:39on the outside or the inside.
15:40The more we care.
15:41The more important it is to make sure what you're putting on your face
15:44and what you're putting in your stomach is better in terms of the quality.
15:51Supplements and wellness products really are on trend at the moment.
15:54People like to feel better and look after themselves.
15:59You know, discounts are a really important part to play in that.
16:02And if you look at big brands ingredients and you look at sort of the ones that will discount
16:06spring to market, invariably they'll be the same or similar quality.
16:10We've switched all of Amy's premium wellness products with bargain store finds.
16:15Some similar in function, though not necessarily identical in ingredients.
16:19But how does she feel about using them?
16:22Amy, you put me to shame with your health and wellbeing shelf.
16:26I literally was looking and going, wow, you've got so many supplements.
16:31How much do you spend?
16:32Around Β£120 a month.
16:35Wow.
16:36That's a lot.
16:37It is a lot.
16:38I'm a complete nutrition nerd, I suppose.
16:42So everything that I buy, I typically have researched for ages.
16:47Like the AG1 supplement.
16:50Which is this one here.
16:51That one.
16:52That would be a very expensive supplement.
16:54When I looked online, I found it for Β£79.
16:59Yeah.
17:00Right, so I wanted to swap it for a cheap alternative.
17:02So we had a look and we found this.
17:06These greens, lemon and lime flavour.
17:08OK.
17:09Β£10.
17:10Huge difference.
17:11Β£69 difference.
17:12Yeah.
17:13A month.
17:14That's a big saving.
17:15Then I also had a little bit more of a rummage around
17:17and looked at your vitamins and your minerals.
17:19I found this.
17:20I mean, you're low here.
17:21So you've got four vitamins and minerals in here.
17:24So I was thinking, you've got a lot in your cupboard.
17:27So let's see if we could find something that would help replace it,
17:29where you get all the vitamins and nutrients that you need,
17:32came across this.
17:34This has 180 tablets with 23 vitamins and minerals.
17:38Yeah.
17:39And the price, Β£3.99.
17:43Not bad at all.
17:45In the past, I haven't gone for these, like, mega-packed,
17:49cheaper nutrient options
17:52because I worry that they're going to be full of sweetener.
17:55I worry that they're just going to be full of filler,
17:58stuff that I don't want in my body.
18:01So is there anything else that you're concerned about
18:03that I've swapped in your cupboard?
18:05I think the main concern would be the electrolytes.
18:08I go to hot yoga almost every day
18:11and I have to replace my liquids.
18:14And if the electrolytes aren't good, it can be quite risky.
18:18So what makes a good electrolyte then?
18:20I would say making sure it has a good potassium, sodium, magnesium balance.
18:27Right, Amy, it's time for me to take these away.
18:29And there you go.
18:31These are yours for the week.
18:33Thank you very much.
18:34We'll give them a go.
18:36Amy's premium supplements come with hefty price tags,
18:39costing more than she thinks at over Β£160 a month.
18:43But if she can stomach the swamps, including electrolytes,
18:46which are over Β£20 cheaper,
18:48all in she could bring her cost down to Β£32 per month.
18:52Another big change for her is the green powder,
18:56a supplement typically made from dried leafy greens and vegetables.
19:00It does not smell the best.
19:05It smells kind of dead wheat grassy, but, you know, we'll give it a go.
19:13It's not too bad of colour, really.
19:16Proof is in the taste.
19:20It's a bit powdery, a bit sludgy,
19:23but it is better than a lot of other green powders I've had.
19:28Not too bad.
19:29We'll try it for the week and we'll see.
19:32Amy's throwing herself into the experiment.
19:35Let's hope her teenage son is just as game.
19:39As a rising football talent, Milo burns through energy
19:43and the contents of the kitchen cupboard.
19:46Milo has a good fitness regime
19:48and so that is what impacts what we buy
19:51because he is not going to put up with junk.
19:54He does not stop eating.
19:56Like, from the moment he wakes up
19:59to the moment he falls asleep, he does not stop.
20:03So, can our home bargains, food and snack swaps
20:06give him what he needs while also saving mum and dad a few pounds?
20:10All your fruits, veg, all your healthy snacks is so important to you. Why?
20:17I play football. I'm a goalkeeper.
20:20I play for Canada under-17s and then I also play for Glentorn, which is a team here.
20:26I'm always training.
20:28Right, well, let's have a look at your snack drawer.
20:30I've replaced quite a lot of things in here.
20:32Is there anything here you think you could stick in the blender?
20:35Definitely the whey protein.
20:36We have protein but it's expensive.
20:39The big thing with protein is it does come with a lot of added sugars and stuff like that.
20:45So, if I was going to try this, I'd need to make sure it's healthy enough.
20:49Because I haven't got lots and lots of fresh fruit, will these be good for snacking?
20:53It's something quick and easy, you can just bring them in your way to training.
20:55Absolutely, and you can stick them in your smoothie as well?
20:58Exactly, yeah.
20:59One of the first swaps in this kitchen was the blender.
21:03You had one of the really well-known brands and they're not cheap, are they?
21:07No.
21:08How often do you use it?
21:09I'd say quite a lot.
21:10Me and my dad would make smoothies for the breakfast, lunch or dinner.
21:14This is smaller than the one that you're used to?
21:16It's almost half the size of the last one.
21:19And if you're using your blender all the time, have you had blenders that break down on you and you haven't to replace them?
21:25Yeah, we've had four blenders within the last year, I think.
21:29Four?
21:30Four blenders in the last year.
21:32Do you have any idea how much is spent on fruit in this house?
21:36Maybe in a week, a month?
21:38My mum said roughly Β£40 a week, which is...
21:41I know, it's a lot, yeah.
21:43Okay, so your fruit smoothies, they're costing a lot of money, aren't they?
21:47Yeah, they are.
21:48See if you can make it work for me, because I'm really intrigued to see at the end of the week how you feel.
21:53Milo's daily smoothie works for his routine, but not for the family wallet.
21:58Switching to the mega-discounters dried and fresh fruit range could halve some of their costs.
22:04With plenty of fibre and a long shelf life, dried fruit in moderation is a smart, affordable option.
22:11So we got a banana, a bit of milk, I probably had a bit of water as well, and then a scoop of new whey protein stuff.
22:18The protein powder offers a similar protein boost, though with more sugar content.
22:23Together, these swaps could save the Beamers around Β£32 a week.
22:28That's over Β£1600 a year.
22:31And the savings go beyond the ingredients.
22:34We've challenged Milo to test out a budget blender.
22:37He's admitted to being a bit heavy-handed with his favourite kitchen appliance.
22:42And at over Β£150 cheaper, it shows swapping where you shop can cut costs, even on big-ticket items.
22:50Traditionally, electrical products will carry a lot of heritage in the brand name.
22:54So, for example, if you're going to go and buy, say, a Ninja electrical appliance
23:00versus a basic generic brand that you don't know, you're going to trust the brand,
23:05because they've built up a heritage and legacy around the brand name,
23:09that doesn't necessarily transfer when you go to a generic brand,
23:12because you're worried that the product might not actually work in exactly the same way.
23:17It's going to explode all the way.
23:19Hopefully it'll survive for Β£12, because you don't really know what you're going to get.
23:24With kitchen electronics, there's a big swathe of consumers
23:27who are prepared to spend serious amounts of money,
23:30partly because it kind of looks nice on their kitchen counter,
23:33be it, you know, the KitchenAid or the mixer or the blender,
23:36but there is a big market for dirt-cheap electronics.
23:40There we go.
23:42Didn't break.
23:43Blended well, to be fair.
23:47Here's a decent smoothie.
23:48Decent.
23:50Let's face it, some of the things that we have in the kitchen
23:52and around the house get a lot of heavy use.
23:54So if you find that you're actually powering your way through
23:57far too many electrical items, then actually just go for the cheaper option.
24:01It might actually work out a little bit better
24:03and it'll save you money in the long run.
24:07But how do you know what pound shops really have to offer
24:10if, like the Beamers, you rarely visit them?
24:13And remember, while the family know we've replaced their regular shop
24:16with a big-name discounter, they don't know which one.
24:20So we're giving them a taster with a little surprise.
24:23I've got Β£10 here of my own money that I thought I'd give to you
24:29because I thought you could treat yourself.
24:31Why don't you just go to one of the pound shops?
24:33You don't have to be sensible.
24:35You can choose whatever you want.
24:36You're in and out.
24:37You've got no longer than ten minutes in there.
24:38So you rush in, get your goods, get out.
24:41Perfect.
24:42We can buy that.
24:43Yeah, that's right.
24:44Yeah.
24:45Yeah.
24:46Coming up, Charlie gets to grips with some new materials.
24:50Of all the swaps in your family home,
24:52this is the one that I'm genuinely so nervous about.
24:55True.
24:56And it's my Β£10 in 10 minutes challenge.
24:59So the melt.
25:01What will the Beamers discover?
25:13The Beamers family have taken on a challenge
25:15to see if they can save money.
25:18I'm happy to go along with whatever you've come up with.
25:22You're very lucky that I'm doing the thinking for you.
25:24Well, that's true.
25:26We've swapped their regular shop at M&S and Tesco
25:29for cheaper alternatives.
25:30And if they think it's come from discounters
25:32like Aldi or Lidl, hmm, they're wrong.
25:35We've gone one step further.
25:37Secretly sourcing the weekly essentials
25:39from somewhere not really seen as a supermarket.
25:42Home bargains.
25:47We've asked them to troll everything for a week.
25:50If they don't stock it, then you don't have it.
25:53All done.
25:54All done.
25:55All done.
25:56And so far there have been some pleasant surprises.
25:59I do like these.
26:00And some clear disappointment.
26:02It's a bit powdery, a bit sludgy.
26:06Let's do this.
26:08To make up for any bargain letdowns,
26:11we've thrown in a mid-week bonus,
26:13a trip to Poundland.
26:15Are we ready, guys?
26:16Are we ready?
26:17Are we ready?
26:18Woo!
26:19They've got ten minutes to spend a whopping ten pounds.
26:24Stop that now.
26:25Because if there's one thing we know about Pound Shops,
26:29they're big on novelty.
26:31There are two big tactics the bargain shops have to kind of get people excited.
26:37One is newness.
26:38We're obsessed by newness.
26:39If you're a shop and you only sell the same thing week after week,
26:44there's no impulse buys.
26:46And that's where the profit is.
26:47The profit is, get people in the store for the bargain,
26:50and then just kind of people get really excited.
26:52They've found treasure in there,
26:54and then they put that into their basket.
26:57Why do I want this so much?
26:59And I have no need for it at all.
27:02That is adorable.
27:03Oh, my goodness.
27:05Then you want the discovery of hunting
27:08and alighting upon something that is frankly exciting.
27:12What are you looking for?
27:14Whatever fits my eye.
27:16Shopping can be exciting when it's done well.
27:19It's that treasure hunt that they absolutely love to be able to come in
27:24to find that bargain.
27:26And then when it's gone, it is gone.
27:27So, generally, sometimes some of the offers
27:29are really out there for a limited time,
27:31and you need to be able to buy that when it's there,
27:34because it can just go,
27:35and we might be able to get that deal again.
27:37What about these?
27:39This is them.
27:40Yes.
27:41How much?
27:43Two-fifty.
27:45How do you do that?
27:48Oh, that's...
27:53Thanks, Denise.
27:54Thank you, Vivian.
27:55Thanks, Denise.
27:56You see?
27:57It turns out living a pound shop life isn't all about compromise,
28:01especially when I'm treating you.
28:03Water guns and water balloons equal lots of family fun.
28:09And there's more family entertainment on offer,
28:12with budget retailers rolling the dice on one very nostalgic pastime.
28:17One of the things that the discount retailers are great at is looking at trends and what seasonally works.
28:24And what they've witnessed is that gaming has really taken off,
28:28with board games being a huge part of family leisure time.
28:32In the bargain stores, there are some amazing board games and other games that you can buy,
28:37from the classics like chess and backgammon,
28:40right at the way to use some really fun new games,
28:42and they're cheap as well.
28:44So we've given the Beamers a stack of games to try,
28:47and Dad's taking charge.
28:49Let me just talk you through these.
28:52I mean, we got, who is it?
28:53Four in a line.
28:54Doctor, doctor, don't make the patient shake.
28:57Don't fall down.
28:58Hmm.
28:59What am I?
29:02So let's try quick draw.
29:03A card like this gets attached to this pair of glasses.
29:07Milo, you want to spin for the win?
29:09Everybody is going to draw where the pencil is pointing.
29:12It is green.
29:13Go.
29:14Is that a line?
29:17No, no, come on.
29:18That was our first guess.
29:20Oh my days.
29:21This is a drawing game that had nothing to do with talent,
29:23or nothing to do with skill.
29:25Yeah.
29:26It's like a total equalizer, because you...
29:28Well, somewhat.
29:29For some of us.
29:31This would be a lucky find, I think.
29:33Yeah.
29:34It could entertain us for a night.
29:35It's the equivalent of, you know, if we all watched a movie too.
29:38Yeah.
29:45Beyond games, value shops are stocking up on everything you need to keep busy.
29:50Aiming to be a go-to for all kinds of hobbies.
29:53Discount retailers are amazing for arts and crafts.
29:56If you've got the children home and it's a rainy day and you want something to do,
29:59get yourself to a Home Bargains or a BM Bargains or a Poundland,
30:02because they have crafts at incredibly cheap prices.
30:06And while some of us simply want to pass time,
30:09others are in the market for quality supplies.
30:12There's a range of arts and crafts goods, and this is really, really good,
30:15because it's not just stuff for the kids.
30:17But can these shops stand up to the ultimate test in the hands of an expert?
30:22Charlie has such a passion for art.
30:25Since she was, like, a tiny girl, we are always getting art supplies.
30:31If we could find a way to get cheaper versions that are of the quality,
30:36I'd be completely up for that.
30:39A National Art Prize finalist with a sale already to her name,
30:43the tools Charlie use really matter.
30:46Out of all the swaps in your family home,
30:49this is the one that I'm genuinely so nervous about.
30:52Well, because I know that you're a really talented artist.
30:55I mean, your art's everywhere, it's incredible.
30:57Thanks.
30:58It's such a passion for you, isn't it?
30:59I've been doing art since I was young. Yeah, that's my thing.
31:02And I know that you're very particular about what you use,
31:06because a lot of the brands, they're quite expensive.
31:08What do they give you when it comes to your painting?
31:10I mean, I think if you get cheaper paints and stuff,
31:12the pigment's going to be less in them.
31:15And, like, especially with oil paints as well.
31:17From my experience, I could tell the difference between, like,
31:19the works or, like, a nice one from the art shop.
31:22Specialist art products were among the very few items
31:25I didn't source at home bargains.
31:27But another budget store, The Range,
31:29they had exactly what was needed for Charlie.
31:32Well, you know, we've done a swap.
31:34Yeah.
31:35And we've changed your spray paints down there.
31:36Oh, OK.
31:37We've swapped them over.
31:38We've got some new acrylics here as well.
31:39Yeah, oh, wow.
31:40Got you loads of new paintbrushes there.
31:42Oh, that's great.
31:43I run out of paintbrushes so quickly.
31:44Yeah, we've filled your pot.
31:46Nice.
31:47But the oil colours, I know this is the thing
31:49that you really need to have right.
31:52So I'm really hoping these do work for you.
31:54These are three times the size of your others.
31:57Yeah.
31:58But a pound less.
31:59Oh, awesome, OK.
32:00So they should go a long way, I hope.
32:03Yeah.
32:04How do you feel?
32:05I think it will be a test of my skill as well
32:06to see if I can, like, tell the difference between them.
32:09Have you got anything in mind
32:10that you're thinking that you could paint?
32:11I was actually thinking I could paint you, if that's OK.
32:14Me?
32:15Yeah.
32:16Really?
32:17Yeah, I think that'll be fun.
32:18I wish I'd have done my hair more.
32:19What do we need to do?
32:20You're going to need...
32:21I'll need to take a photo of you, if that's OK.
32:22And if we can maybe take it outside as well,
32:24so it's good lighting.
32:26That's nice, I like that one.
32:27Yeah.
32:28Perfect.
32:30Charlie's enthusiasm for art
32:32is matched by mum Amy's commitment
32:34to her favourite activity, yoga.
32:37Practice daily in 40 degree heat.
32:40And with expensive kit involved,
32:42we've tasked her with testing some affordable alternatives.
32:46New yoga mat.
32:47This is going to be, I think, the hardest swap for me this week.
32:52I've also got some yoga pants to try out here.
32:58They're pretty good.
32:59I mean, I will say they're stretchy.
33:02They're kind of slippery.
33:04So we'll see if they, you know, fall down or anything.
33:08All right.
33:09We're ready to go.
33:13Three, two, one.
33:16Hold the top of the press up.
33:17Let's do it one more time.
33:18The mat did not hold up well.
33:21As soon as I started sweating, I started slipping.
33:25The thickness actually seemed okay.
33:28It didn't bother my knees at all.
33:30I think the mat would be really suitable for a standard yoga class.
33:34It's just not one if you're sweating buckets.
33:38As for the yoga pants,
33:41I think that these actually seem comparable
33:45to other more expensive brands.
33:47I would buy these.
33:49They did the job.
33:51Stretching Amy's mindset on the supplements
33:54is a different matter entirely.
33:58So we've set up a call with registered dietitian,
34:01Laura Clark,
34:02to explore some of Amy's doubts about making the switch.
34:05Hi, ladies.
34:06Hi, everyone.
34:07Thanks so much for all of the questions.
34:09Hi.
34:10Hi.
34:11Lovely to meet you.
34:12The challenge with vitamin supplements generally
34:15is that apart from vitamins A, D, E, and K,
34:19all vitamins are water-soluble.
34:21So the body will take what it needs
34:24and it will just simply get rid of what's excess.
34:28I always think we can't out-supplement our diet.
34:34We have to look there first.
34:36We have to take that food first and break.
34:38I know the team have sourced alternative vitamins for you.
34:43And I know that there was perhaps some concerns about how good those are
34:49in terms of what might be put in the tablets.
34:52In the supplement industry,
34:54using things like fillers and binders is quite normal
34:57because we have to create or they have to create a stable product,
35:02you know, that's got a shelf life to it.
35:05And the general consensus is that they're not harmful in any way.
35:10Around your rehydration, you do your hot yoga
35:14and then you're obviously looking to kind of replenish those electrolytes.
35:17I know that the team have found you, you know, a cheaper version.
35:21It doesn't give anything different just because it's cheaper.
35:25You know, it's still giving that rehydration focus.
35:28OK. Well, thank you so much.
35:31It's been good to chat.
35:34It's really interesting to hear that the less expensive products
35:39may not be any worse than the more expensive products.
35:44I think I need to kind of revisit my own prejudice
35:47against those cheaper products.
35:49The experiment is shifting the family's mindset in how they shop.
35:57And one reason some people hesitate over choosing bargain buys
36:01is the worry lower prices might mean lower standards.
36:05What discount retailers will be following
36:07is what are the consumer trends.
36:08And we know sustainability and ethical consumption
36:11is important for some consumers more than others
36:15where they won't make sacrifices.
36:17We used to use a very expensive banana shampoo
36:21and this is really nice
36:23and I think it's actually vegan and cruelty-free.
36:27And hence they will supply a range of ethical products
36:30or sustainable products to actually capture that demand for the consumer.
36:34It doesn't mean that all the products are ethical.
36:36It doesn't mean that all the products are sustainable.
36:38But what it means is you've got a choice.
36:40There's so many manufacturers now who are really good
36:44and about being transparent about how they make their products.
36:48You can buy some fantastic environmentally friendly brands
36:52that aren't premium that you can get from the bargain shops.
36:56What we're witnessing is that consumers have a lot more power
36:59and influence in the way that they shop
37:02because they're more informed and knowledgeable.
37:04It certainly made me more willing to try products that I see like this.
37:13If the Beamers were happy with all the replacements in their bathroom,
37:16they could potentially save around Β£95 per month.
37:20That's over Β£1,000 per year.
37:23Coming up, I grill the family over their individual spending.
37:29But you're still not giving up your favourite product.
37:32And it's the big reveal.
37:34How much could they save if they were willing to swap their shop?
37:37Oh, my God. Yes.
37:39Yes.
37:46This week, the Beamers family have been taking part in an experiment.
37:51Replacing their regular big supermarket shop with a budget retailer,
37:55though they've no idea which one.
37:58It's a bit powdery, a bit sludgy.
38:01We'll try it for the week and we'll see.
38:03But can they handle the change?
38:05I like that. It's got protein in it.
38:08And it tastes nice as well, so yeah, it's good.
38:10And save themselves some money.
38:13We would spend it on some sort of holiday
38:16where we have good stories to tell at the end of it.
38:25The family have been living the bargain store life for a week,
38:28but I've given them one last challenge.
38:31To throw a barbecue for friends and neighbours,
38:33using items and food that we've sourced from home bargains.
38:38What do we got?
38:39A couple of iceberg lettuce. That'll work.
38:42Because let's face it,
38:43it's one thing living the pound shop life behind closed doors,
38:46but serving it up to friends and neighbours,
38:48oh, that's a whole different story.
38:51I was going to make chicken skewers.
38:53We've got some stuff for a Greek salad, beef burgers.
38:56We'll give those a shot.
38:58We've got some cheese.
38:59Oh, that'll work as well. There we go.
39:01So let's see how they're getting on.
39:03And I'm here to help with preparations.
39:05Hey.
39:06Hey.
39:07Welcome back.
39:09Good to see you again.
39:10And you, this looks amazing.
39:11Yeah, it's all stuff we had in the cupboards.
39:13I love it.
39:14Thanks to you.
39:15How's it all been going?
39:16How are you getting on?
39:17It's been going really well.
39:18Yeah, yeah, we've been taking it all into stride.
39:21Let's put it that way.
39:22Right, is there anything I can do to help?
39:24Milo's in the midst of a Greek salad.
39:25Maybe give that a shot.
39:26I've got a job.
39:30But Milo, how have you found this sweet?
39:32Because I know you felt a bit apprehensive about doing the swap.
39:35I've stayed full enough, which is always good.
39:37We know you get hungry.
39:39I do get hungry, yeah.
39:40One of the things you were most nervous about was a protein powder.
39:43Because you said, like, you were a bit worried about what's actually in it.
39:46How have you found it?
39:47It's, I don't think it's for me, no.
39:50Why?
39:51It doesn't taste good.
39:52Like, the aftertaste of it is really, I don't like it.
39:55But then again, with all the other things, like the protein water and the protein bars,
40:00it wasn't an item that I really needed.
40:02So we don't need it now?
40:03I don't think we do, no.
40:05I know one of the things that we did talk about was the blender.
40:08The noises it was making were really weird.
40:10But for a Β£12 blender, it did hold off very well.
40:13So I can't really complain on that end.
40:14It's great that you've enjoyed our swaps.
40:16But do you want to know how much you'd save a month if you swapped now?
40:20It's quite a lot.
40:21I was even surprised.
40:22I can imagine, yeah.
40:23It's Β£139 a month.
40:26That's a lot of money.
40:27I mean, if you save Β£139 a month, think of what else you could buy.
40:33But it's not just Milo who's been sampling the new product.
40:36Earlier this week, we introduced Mum Amy to a new supplements regime, including her favourite green powder.
40:43But now the week is out, it's time for her verdict.
40:48How did you find the difference?
40:50I didn't love the taste.
40:53So what I found was that I wasn't looking forward to having it as much as I was my other green powder.
41:01But then I thought, well, what if I do a half and half?
41:05So what if I take the new one and mix it in?
41:09That's a really good idea.
41:10Yeah.
41:11And you know you're going to get a saving that way.
41:13Yes.
41:14But you're still not giving up your favourite product.
41:16Yeah.
41:17How about the electrolytes?
41:18They were perfectly fine.
41:20I was worried that the fizziness of them was going to cause problems in class when you're kind of upside down and stuff.
41:27It was fine.
41:28No upside down problems?
41:29No upside down problems.
41:31I'm going to keep on going with those.
41:34If you swap your electrolytes for the ones that we've suggested you have, guess how much you'd save a month?
41:40I'm going to guess Β£20.
41:43Just a bit above that, Β£23 a month.
41:46That's me and one of the kids going out for lunch.
41:48If we had convinced you to change everything and do the big ultimate swap, you would be saving Β£134 a month.
41:59That's brilliant.
42:00I think that's worth trying.
42:02I think the key for me is going to be to try to find a middle ground.
42:06So it's balance.
42:07Well, your guests are going to be arriving soon, right?
42:10So we ought to get ready for the party.
42:12Let's do it.
42:13Let's get our glad rags on.
42:14Yeah.
42:18With the party in full swing and everyone enjoying the secret bargain store goodies,
42:23it's time to gather the family for some big reveals.
42:27Your first solid food.
42:29First up, the family are keen to know where we sourced this week's low-cost products.
42:34Apart from a couple of items, everything we swapped in your house comes from one store, Home Bargains.
42:40Oh, really?
42:41OK.
42:42That's really surprising.
42:44Some exceptions were a few of the board games and Charlie's replacement art materials which came from the range.
42:51But how did they fare in her painting challenge?
42:53I've never really tried out like really cheap oil paints because I've always stuck to the kind of the ones I have,
42:58but they were really good when I used them. I really enjoyed it.
43:01So do you feel like you could make this change now?
43:03Definitely, yeah. That would be one of my most surprising ones I think that I probably could, yeah.
43:08That's great.
43:09Yeah.
43:10So if you're prepared to make the swap, you could save around 50 quid a year.
43:14OK, that's pretty good.
43:16So the more you paint, the more you save.
43:20Yes, I love it!
43:22Thank you so much.
43:23Woo!
43:25Well, I'd call that priceless.
43:33Now all that's left for me to do is to deliver the news we've all been waiting for.
43:38How much could the Beamers family save a year if they really embraced the bargain store life for good?
43:44If we got you to swap everything that we changed in the house, your annual saving would be over...
43:536,500 pounds!
43:56Oh, my God!
43:57Oh, my God!
43:58Oh, my God!
43:59That's insane!
44:00That is insane!
44:01Like, just think what you could do with over 6,500 pounds. What would you do?
44:05I need a car.
44:06No!
44:07A trip to Africa.
44:09Yes, that would be so cool.
44:11A family holiday.
44:12I think family holiday, absolutely.
44:13Yeah.
44:15Absolutely insane savings.
44:17Crazy.
44:18I was really expecting that.
44:19I don't know anywhere near that about it.
44:22It's a huge figure, but there are some brands the Beamers just can't give up.
44:27So what if they only stuck with the changes they genuinely liked?
44:31So based on what you said you would swap, you've got a family saving of over 5,000 pounds a year.
44:36That's crazy.
44:37Yes!
44:38That is good.
44:39That is good.
44:40Yes!
44:41You can actually make a lot of changes and save a lot of money.
44:43This week, like, loads of the skincare stuff, I've liked it and everything.
44:46We've really enjoyed it.
44:47Yeah, I've loved it.
44:48Yeah.
44:49I do love trying new things, but I've always kind of veered away from trying discount things.
44:55So I'm going to turn my quest for new products to the discount stores and see what I can find.
45:01My work here is done then.
45:03Yes!
45:04That's good.
45:06And the Beamers friends are pretty happy too.
45:09The food was absolutely gorgeous.
45:10Yeah, absolutely stunning.
45:11The spices on the chicken.
45:13Yep.
45:14Tasted delicious.
45:15It was quite a chili and a nice deets.
45:17I didn't see any different party or anything.
45:19The food was lovely.
45:21What I have learned is that I'm happy enough with what we've received from home bargains,
45:25that if I need to stop in somewhere, that's a good place as any.
45:29Just because something costs more, it doesn't necessarily mean that it's a better product,
45:34that I can get really exciting beauty products, food products, home products at some of these stores.
45:44Cheers!
45:45Cheers!
45:47The Beamers have been an amazing family for this experiment.
45:49They've got properly stuck in.
45:52You don't realise when you're just spending.
45:53You shop out of habit.
45:54You go to the go-to things that you know and you love.
45:57But actually just making those small changes can make a massive difference.
46:00And it's definitely got me thinking of the changes I can make at home.
46:04And you too.
46:05Look at what you could save.
46:06Well, nothing but premium levels of joy and sweet relief here next Tuesday evening.
46:14Bake Off will be back hot and fresh at 8pm.
46:17The return of a BAFTA winner next tonight putting due process itself on trial in a new series of The Jury coming up next.
46:26In Episode 46.
46:27The E Π²ΠΎΠ·ΠΌΠΎΠΆΠ½ΠΎΡΡΡ for the
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