I’m a B&M addict – my hack means I bag stuff for 80% off, I spend thousands a year & hoard hauls in my garage
IF you thought you were B&M’s biggest fan, you’ve got some serious competition.
46-year-old mum Susannah Greenwood is a self-confessed B&M addict who boasts an entire garage full of bargain buys - and she won’t stop.
The artist and teacher of I Heart Art Club from Hampshire first set foot in her local B&M store in 2020 and while most people pop in for the odd bargain, she sweeps the shelves almost every week.
“The first time I went to B&M in Havant I felt like a kid in a sweet shop,” she laughs. “I shell out up to £200 a month and spend hours scanning the aisles for a deal.
“The staff recognise me immediately and give me a wave as I make a beeline for the art aisle.”
In the last three years, Susannah has spent thousands of pounds on sweets, biscuits and craft supplies for her students.
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While most B&M shoppers are hooked on dupes of designer perfumes and £20 lamps that look just like The White Company, Susannah is a sucker for sticky gems.
“I’m totally addicted to buying sticky gems and will clear the shelf every week,” she confesses. “People give me funny looks when they see my trolley. I fill it with glue sticks and felt tips, canvases and colouring books.
“Before I get to the till, I’ll sweep the sweet section and buy 50 packets of bourbon biscuits and custard creams. They’ll be spilling from my arms at the checkout but I just can’t resist.”
After buying so many bargains, Susannah faces a new challenge: how to get it all home.
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“I drive a tiny bright orange Fiat Panda and often fill it up to the roof,” she exclaims. “People must think I’m mental as I squeeze all my items into every crack and crevice, but I don’t care.”
This savvy shopper saves thousands a year shopping at B&M compared to leading art stores like Hobbycraft.
She says the quality is just the same, if not better than the posh shops, but there’s an easy way to spy a tacky product.
Whether it’s bed sheets or bundles of photo frames, Susannah gives every single product a quality test before she buys it.
“The trick is to see how it feels,” she reveals. “If you pick up a photo frame and it creaks or bends, walk away. It’s the same with homeware - dump any duvet that feels rough or scratchy. It’ll ruin your skin and fall apart in a flash.”
We shouldn’t shun the clearance section either, as Susannah shares her latest steals for up to 80% off.
“I always peek at the clearance shelf for one-off craft bits and decor like scented candles. The only difference is they don’t have lids - and who uses them anyway?” she states.
After three years of B&M hoarding, Susannah has more than just a cupboard for all her buys - she’s got a massive garage.
“There’s boxes stacked up to the ceiling in my garage and everything is labelled so I don’t have to spend hours hunting for each item,” she explains. “Decorations get moved to the front at Christmas, while basics like paper and pens stay in the middle where I can find them.”
“My friends are so used to my addiction they don’t bat an eyelid at my towering collection,” she admits. “But they do learn a lot from my expertise.”
Susannah recommends shopping during school hours to avoid screaming kids and endless queues.
She’s also got the lowdown on this season’s latest stock that can’t be missed.
“Summer is coming so stock up on their tropical picnic sets. Garden furniture is back in store too, and it’s half the price compared to supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury’s,” she adds.
There’s only one thing Susannah won’t buy in B&M, and we should take heed of her advice.
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“I would never buy underwear at B&M,” she confesses. “It must be so itchy, and who knows where it’s been.
“I’d steer clear of cheap toilet seats too - the plastic will probably snap in half and cause an unfortunate accident.”