Good value

I'm realising more and more that pound shops are simultaneously both hugely under- and over-rated. I've gradually learned that there are some things that are excellent value and should only really be bought from pound shops, but some things that are really not worth the money at all - so I thought a listing of these categories might be a useful thing to have. I'll add to these lists as and when I think of them (though given the update schedule of this blog, don't hold your breath...).

Things that are good value from pound shops

• Flexible filling blades
• Paint rollers and trays
• Vinyl bike covers
• IPhone cables. (Generic micro USB cables are available cheaply elsewhere though, so I wouldn't get those from a pound shop personally).
• Travel power adapters
• Tent peg mallets
• Superglue - but be warned, the packaging is so crap that if you don't use a tube in one go, it'll have all dried before the next time you want to use it. Also be aware that sometimes the packaging will be duff and you'll go to use a brand new tube and find that it's already dried. But when it's ~10 tubes for £1, you can't really complain too badly...
• Car sponges
• Teflon baking tray liners
• GU10 Halogen bulbs (though (a) make sure you get the twin packs and (b) you really ought to be upgrading those to LED bulbs by now).
• Sandpaper

Things that are a false economy and should be avoided

• Tools that need to be manufactured accurately to be useful - allen keys, spanners, screwdrivers etc.. Stuff like hammers are probably okay (though I've not bought a pound shop hammer before).
• Tent pegs
• Sanding blocks