Biggest bargains on the high street

Consumer spending is in the doldrums - and Britain's supermarket giants have reacted by putting some remarkable deals in their shop windows. But are these rock-bottom deals all they seem? Find out as we hunt down Britain's biggest bargains

Britain’s retail giants are facing a tough autumn and winter despite the surprise 0.5% year-on-year sales increase recorded by the British Retail Consortium this month. Household names such as Next, Thomas Cook and Carpetright have all issued gloomy trading forecasts for the months ahead, and January’s VAT hike is set to see retail sales decline dramatically.

Yet Britain’s supermarkets - led by Tesco - are fighting back. The supermarket giant has announced plans to sell £15 engagement rings - and for a further £15, they’ll throw in a wedding ring too. What’s more, rival retailers have followed Tesco’s lead to try and entice us through their doors – so, without further ado, here are the biggest bargains currently on the high street.

The £15 wedding ring

The first weekend in September saw more people tie the knot than at any other point in the year, according to figures from specialist wedding insurer Ecclesiastical - and Tesco moved to cash in with a very special offer.

Last month saw the retailer launch a range of rock-bottom wedding jewellery, including engagement bands and wedding rings priced at just £15 each. The Tesco nine-carat gold wedding ring weighs 0.55g while the engagement ring is made of gold-plated silver laden with a ‘cubic zirconia’ ring. Zirconia is often marketed under the name ‘diamonique’.

The retailer claims most people - other than jewellery experts - couldn’t tell the difference between their engagement ring and a genuine diamond solitaire one. We’re not so sure - but if your spouse is game, it’s certainly a good way to help get hitched on a budget.

The £79 ‘Saville Row’ suit

Supermarket giant Asda is also looking to buck the spending slump with its launch of a new budget-priced formal clothing range by tailor to the stars Charlie Allen. The range hits Asda shelves in October and will feature off-the-peg suits for £79, tailored winter coats for £59 and silk ties for just £6.

The collection isn’t the cheapest on the high street - M&S currently has a machine-washable two-piece selling for £49, while Asda made headlines in 2007 with a polyester suit in its George range priced at just £19. Yet what sets the new range apart, according to Asda, is the quality of the fabric and tailoring and the fact that it is covered by the retailer’s no-quibble, 100-day guarantee for customers who decide the product isn't for them.  

Fashion critics appear to agree, although there are reservations about the cloth used to create it.

The £9,999 property

You could get on the property ladder without a mortgage - a £10,000 personal loan should do the trick - if you opt for another bargain from Tesco’s range. July saw the retailer launch a fully-functioning five room ‘Helsinki Log Cabin’ for just £9,999 (and an additional 19998 Clubcard points). 

The property is manufactured from high-grade Scandinavian whitewood and, in addition to the five bedrooms, boasts eight windows, French doors and a felt shingle roof. Tesco claims the structure serves as an ideal home office or lounging area, but there are a couple of drawbacks to consider - you'll probably need planning permission and you'll have to assemble it yourself.

So, is it worth it? Perhaps - although you could opt for a more conventional flat pack home (that you can mortgage against) for around 10-25% less than a conventional property.

The £9 central London hotel room

Intrepid travellers can stay in the centre of London for as little as £9 a night thanks to the launch of the new bargain-basement Tune Hotel. The company - part of the Air Asia empire - claims to offer “Five star beds at one star prices” – so what’s the deal?

Some rooms are windowless, food is dispensed from vending machines and you’ll

have to pay an additional £7.50 to have your room cleaned. A hairdryer will set you back £1, a clean towel and soap £1.50, yet the bed is free and it’s not to be sniffed at - the rooms are equipped with small doubles from Hypnos more typical of five-star hotels.

We think if you can cope in a smaller room and pack carefully, this is an absolute bargain.

And how to pay for them...

Many bargains are anything but if you fall for the many tricks retailers use to part us from our cash - so when shopping for anything, it’s worth remembering a few rules. Write a 'wish list' of items you want and take it with you when you shop and stick to it without fail. It also helps to set a budget for any item you’re after - and stick to it! You could even try and bring prices down even further by haggling.

Lastly, if you’re spending with credit cards, make sure you have the right plastic to hand and try and find a card that offers a 0% period on purchases. The current best buy is the Tesco Clubcard Credit Card, which offers 13 months interest-free purchases. Close behind are the credit card deals from Sainsbury’s Bank and Virgin Money, both of which offer one year’s interest-free purchases.

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