WILKO can be a guaranteed source of bargains if shoppers know where to look.
The budget retailer has something for everyone, but that doesn’t mean everything needs to come home with you.
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We’ve searched high and low to reveal what you should and shouldn’t buy.
Wilko was originally called Wilkinson Hardware Stores, but fans know you can get a whole lot more than just tools for your garden shed in the shop nowadays.
You can still pick up a lot of DIY products, but there’s also homeware, cleaning products, stationery, kitchen and bathroom goods, as well as snacks to add to your shopping basket too.
You can browse and buy all of these online, or in person at one of the brand’s 408 stores.
You can find your nearest shop by using the store locator tool on the Wilko website.
It pays to be a bit frugal about what you do add to your basket on your visit.
Not everything is a massive bargain – and you might be better off picking it up someplace else.
Here are the do’s and don’ts of shopping at Wilko – including everything you should buy when you visit the store, and everything that needs to be left firmly behind on the shelf.
What to buy at Wilko
Something sweet
Wilko always hosts a massive half-price Pick and Mix deal every time a Bank Holiday or special occasion rolls around.
The sweet deal has cropped up on easter before, and shoppers have been able to snag a discount on Valentine’s Day too.
Pick and Mix can often be an expensive way to fill up on a glut of goodies as sometimes it’s priced by weight or the size of the tub.
Usually, a regular portion would cost Wilko shoppers £2 but it’s been slashed to just £1 in the promotion in the past, saving them 50%.
A medium cup is normally £3, but during each limited run it’s only been £1.50 to buy, and a share cup is normally £2 in the deal, down from £4.
You don’t normally get long to cash in though, so if a new offer does crop up next bank holiday set your alarm as you’ll only have about a week to get down to the store and stuff your tub.
Something for the sunshine
Wilko has something for every part of the house, but this time of year most consumers will be focusing on doing up the garden.
Wilko has a three-piece bistro set, for example, that’s just £70 – making it much cheaper than versions from rivals like Argos, Asda, and Aldi.
The store also has bargain fire pits on offer that are cheaper than the posh store, John Lewis, with prices starting at just £55.
Exclusively online, shoppers can also get 30% off on selected garden storage right now too, meaning an even better bargain for your backyard.
Something to do it yourself
As well as its extensive range of homeware, Wilko has all the tools you need to crack on with that DIY project you’ve got in the pipeline.
The endless stock of paint and wallpaper means you can save yourself a trip to the local hardware store.
You’ll find that a lot of the products on the shelf are much cheaper as well, and they’re just as good quality.
What’s more, shoppers can get 2 tins of paint for £22 online and in-store right now.
The deal includes coloured emulsions for ceilings and walls as well as interior wood paint and exterior wood stain.
What to get elsewhere
Something for a furry friend
Forget food and snacks for humans, Wilko even has something for man’s best friend.
But you might be better off doing your cat’s shop along with your own grocery shop as you’ll probably find cheaper products on the supermarket shelves.
For example, a 10ltr bag of Wilko Lightweight Cat Litter costs £3.75.
Meanwhile, Tesco shoppers can bag the supermarket’s own product for £1.80 less – at just £1.95.
Something to clean up
If you’re looking to give your home a quick spring clean you might want to stock up on household products elsewhere.
Wilko has a great range of discounted products, so you should steer clear of the branded bits.
Experts say that’s exactly the way to save some pennies in your wallet.
For example, the cheapest branded surface cleaner the store stocks is a pack of 30 Dettol wipes for £1.
But Wilko shoppers have pointed out that the same product can be bought from Wilko’s own range for just 75p
We also reveal why you’ve been shopping at the high street store all wrong in the first place.
And here’s everything you need to know about the massive change that came in at Wilko branches earlier in the year.
