I'm always on the look out for ways to save a few pennies, as I was brought up that if you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves. So when I hunt out my basic toiletries, or even creating gift hampers, I'll always look for the cheapest place to buy them. For the last couple of years, one of my regular stops has been Savers, which is a funny sort of shop, that seems to be a cross-between the local chemist and Boots (only without a pharmacy). And now I'm going to tell you what I like (and don't) about the shop….

---The Location---

The store I visit is located in Basildon, in the Town Square next to Dixons and not far from Boots. I'm not sure if this location was deliberately planned, to catch those who have just paid Boots' rather higher prices, or whether it was just the only available unit at the time. In either case, I find it positioned in a such a way as it's pretty convenient for comparing prices, between here, Boots and Wilkinsons.

---The Layout---

Even before you enter the shop, you can tell this isn't going to be one of those fancy modern places, there aren't even any automatic doors, and the manual doors are often closed, especially in the winter. This can make it awkward to enter when pushing either a buggy or wheelchair, and this theme is continued throughout the shop. I personally find the whole shop to be rather crowded and claustrophobic with boxes often left in the aisles.

---The Goods---

So what do they sell, well lets take a quick look. As I said it's rather like a downmarket version of Boots (or Superdrug).

--Toiletries--

There are rows of toiletries, a few big name brand, but the majority cheap versions that you would find on a market stall or in a pound shop. The big name brands are often significantly cheaper than you would find in Boots or the major supermarkets, but are about the same price or a little dearer than Wilkinsons.

Among the decent brands, you will find Radox, and Imperial Leather at around 50p cheaper than Boots (I'm not going to quote prices as they seem to regularly change the offers available). In the cheaper ranges, there are gift sets that are very cheap and cheerful, but to be honest they are a similar price in Wilkinsons.

--Hair Care--

There is a huge range of hair care products, ranging from hair colouring products at very cheap prices for well known makes, to shampoos, conditioners and styling products. I find the no-name brands of styling products are cheap and cheerful, and regularly use the 40p tubs of hair gel on my daughter's hair to help keep it in a ponytail through the school day.

The named brands are normally cheaper than Boots, but again on a par with Wilkinsons, but there is perhaps less choice than in the other two stores.

--Baby Care--

The baby care range is pretty good and as well as the well known (Johnson's & Johnson's) brands there are cheaper versions (that to be honest aren't very nice). I must say their prices for Johnson's wipes and baby baths is very good, and this is the main shop that we buy those particular products from. The nappies, however, do not seem to be as good value, and we never actually bought them here, they were about the same price as other shops.

They also sell a range of baby food, bottles, feeding equipment and dummies. As I don't actually buy these, I can't really comment on the prices but I can't really say the range is as comprehensive as you would find in Boots or a supermarket.

--Household Cleaners--

The range of household cleaners seems to have increased lately, and they sell everything from toilet cleaners to bleach and washing powder. To be honest, I rarely buy any of these products from here, as they are normally better value either on the market or in other shops.

--Toys/Novelties--

There is a small range of toys and novelties, which to be honest, while cheap are often out of date or tatty looking and I never really bother looking at them.

--Cosmetics--

There is a fairly small range of cosmetics, that seems to be aimed more at the pre-teen and young teenager, with cheap prices, novelty packaging and often garish colours. There are a few bits that make nice editions to Christmas hampers, but I very rarely buy anything here, and never for myself.

--Medication--

As with all the other products, you will find cheap packets of such medication as ibuprofen and paracetamol stocked next to the expensive named versions. Although the no-name versions are very cheap, I find them harder to take than supermarket versions of the same product (which are a similar price). The cheap plasters that they stock, are really not worth buying as they don't stick and are very small.

--Other Goods--

Behind the counter you will find a display of perfumes, which again I don't actually buy although the prices do seem reasonable. They also have a photograph processing service, which again I've never used (I have a digital camera). Occasionally they also sell mobile phones from Three, at what at first glance is a very cheap price, until you notice that you have to buy a top-up card and it is actually the same price as is available elsewhere.

---The Staff---

While the staff seem fairly friendly and willing to help, there is never actually enough of them manning the tills and there always seems to be a long queue when it comes to paying for your goods. Sometimes I will give up and just put my goods back as I really can't see the point in queuing half an hour for something that only costs a couple of pounds.

While I'm on the point of the tills, I'll point out here that this shop uses some of the oldest tills I've ever seen. All prices are entered manually, and there are no scanners, so your receipt will not be telling you which goods you bought at which price. For me this sums the shop up completely….very old fashioned.

---My Overall Opinion---

When this shop first opened, I was quite interested in looking round and at first glance the prices were very good. But once I started comparing them with the local market and Wilkinson's I began to realise that they were not only often beaten, but the range was pretty poor.

The shop itself feels very basic, and unwelcoming (almost like a pound shop) and I must say I don't enjoy shopping here at all. In fact as there are only a few products that are genuinely cheaper I now very rarely pass the door and even when I do I often end up leaving without buying anything as the queues are so long. If I actually need any of the products that we do buy from here, I send my husband in, while I wait outside, that's how much I dislike the actual shop.

So my recommendation is that if you have a market or Wilkinsons close by, then give this bleak store a miss, as any savings really aren't worth the effort. Of course, if you only have the choice between here and Boots or a supermarket, then it's probably more worth your while to enter, just don't expect an enjoyable shopping experience.