A BARGAIN hunter has found the “UK’s cheapest market” – with prices that rival much-loved supermarkets.
Queen’s Market in Upton Park, East London is a budget-friendly place to shop – you can even get a large bowl of fruit and veg for £1.
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Prices are even said to compete with big names such as Aldi, Lidl and Asda.
The bustling market is known for its impressive fruit and veg selection, but also boasts an array of low-cost gift shops.
Plus, it’s widely regarded as the cheapest market in London, MyLondon reported, adding: “The bright red stickering on items all seem to reach a maximum of £3-4. Fruit and veg was around £1 for a large bowl as well!”
So it’s likely to be the cheapest in UK too, with its bargain prices and budget-friendly goods.
The sprawling market has hit headlines before, too.
One famous market seller, dubbed the ‘One Pound Fish’ man, rose in popularity after a YouTube video of him in Queen’s Market was posted.
Muhammad Shahid Nazir went viral after the video of him singing to sell fish plastered the internet.
So how do prices compare with the big brands?
Ayokunle Oluwalana from MyLondon shared some of the bargain deals he found at the buzzing market.
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But how do the prices compare to big supermarkets like Aldi, Asda and Lidl?
He said you can pick up a big bowl or punnet of fruit or veg like strawberries for just £1.
So how does that compare?
While a small punnet of strawberries at Asda can be found for as little as £1.49, the larger punnets can cost between £2.70 and £3.
At Aldi, they can range from £1.49 to £3.89.
You can also find fish at Queen’s Market for around £2.50.
Meanwhile at Aldi, two boneless salmon fillets could cost you £3.69, while two cod fillets at Lidl will set you back £2.75.
Makeup prices start from £1 at the East London market – while one of Asda’s best makeup prices is Collection’s Kohl Eyeliner pencil for £1.98. Still a bargain, though!
How to save money on your groceries
Visiting cheap markets is not the only way to save on groceries.
There’s plenty of other ways to slash bills, particularly as the cost of living crisis continues to hit the UK.
Grocery price inflation has even reached a record 17.1%, figures show.
Here’s some easy ways to save cash.
Get a loyalty card – save up to £1,000 a year
Signing up for a supermarket loyalty card can often help you to get cheaper prices on essentials.
If you have a loyalty card, you may find you can get extra points or discounts, particularly if you buy petrol from the same supermarket.
The Sun recently compared the best supermarket loyalty cards in this handy guide.
Asda is the latest supermarket to promise shoppers extra perks, bringing it in line with Lidl, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco.
But it’s worth comparing loyalty schemes – and remember you don’t have to stay loyal, despite the name.
Households can save up to £1,000 a year thanks to the exclusive deals offered to loyalty cardholders.
Swap to own brand – save up to £800 a year
Ditching items with labels like “finest” in favour of “own” or “value” can be worthwhile.
The Sun regularly tests supermarket own-brand products to see if they can beat the big brands.
M&S’s own brand custard creams cost just 35p and beat other supermarkets’ own brands to be crowned the best by The Sun.
You can also try checking frozen alternatives to fresh fruit and vegetables and looking on the lower shelves where customers are known to find better deals.
Households can save up to £800 a year by buying cheaper own-brand groceries.
Shop wonky – save up to £150
Strange-shaped fruit and vegetables taste the same but cost less.
For example, Morrisons sells wonky veg products from 39p, while Lidl’s £1.50 Too Good To Waste boxes contain a whopping 5kg of fruit and vegetables that may be slightly damaged or discoloured but is still perfectly good to eat.
Households that switch to buying wonky fruit and veg could save £150 a year.
And there’s plenty of other top tips to help you out.
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