Shifting from philosophical to practical - I thought I would offer some thoughts and "top tips" on the necessities of shopping for stuff. It's not my favorite activity, but it does have to happen. Unlike the US, where one or two trips to Target, Bed Bath and Beyond, or Walmart can supply you with everything, there are many more specialized stores in the UK. I spent a fair amount of time searching for 'where to get what' when I first arrived, so I'm sharing the information I've compiled in the hopes that it will be helpful to other expats/visitors on a budget. So without further ado, if you're in search of supplies:
Groceries: Sainsbury's, Tesco; upmarket: Waitrose, Marks & Spencer (M&S). Whole Foods is here as well. Pharmacy and "personal care" (what an odd euphemism): Boots, Superdrug.
Home Goods: Robert Dyas has everything from appliances to kitchenware - I very happily stumbled on one of these right at the start. Muji is great for storage; also has an eclectic assortment of pens, gadgets, bedding, clothes, etc.
Stationers/Office Supplies: I really like Ryman; it probably most closely approximates Staples. Paperchase is nice, and by nice I mean fancy and boutique-y.
But wait, there's more:
Groceries: Sainsbury's, Tesco; upmarket: Waitrose, Marks & Spencer (M&S). Whole Foods is here as well. Pharmacy and "personal care" (what an odd euphemism): Boots, Superdrug.
Home Goods: Robert Dyas has everything from appliances to kitchenware - I very happily stumbled on one of these right at the start. Muji is great for storage; also has an eclectic assortment of pens, gadgets, bedding, clothes, etc.
Stationers/Office Supplies: I really like Ryman; it probably most closely approximates Staples. Paperchase is nice, and by nice I mean fancy and boutique-y.
But wait, there's more:
Dept. Stores: John Lewis has some good, inexpensive home goods. It also has easy & free "click and collect," which is a great service that a lot of London stores offer. (USA, get on this!) Fun fact: I confused John Lewis with Jack Wills at first and was dismissive because I thought it would be too posh. Little did I know. Wilkinson is a super cheap option, and Liberty is supposed to be nice although I can't vouch for it personally yet. The same goes for M&S. (If you're looking for the upscale, tourist experience, go for Harrod's or Fortnum and Mason.)
Budget Clothing: Pretty much all major US brands have a presence here. It's London, after all! Except for some unknown reason, TJ Maxx is called TK Maxx. I haven't really had occasion to clothes-shop but Primark, Asos, Uniqlo, and H&M seem reasonable if you're looking for budget-friendly trendy. (Topshop is essentially the upmarket version of H&M.)
Electronics: Maplin; I live across from one though I haven't needed to use it so far.
Of course, there's always Amazon.co.uk. Argos is another online store that I haven't used, though it seems reasonable in pricing/quality. I hope these can smooth your path!
Love,
Annie
Budget Clothing: Pretty much all major US brands have a presence here. It's London, after all! Except for some unknown reason, TJ Maxx is called TK Maxx. I haven't really had occasion to clothes-shop but Primark, Asos, Uniqlo, and H&M seem reasonable if you're looking for budget-friendly trendy. (Topshop is essentially the upmarket version of H&M.)
Electronics: Maplin; I live across from one though I haven't needed to use it so far.
Of course, there's always Amazon.co.uk. Argos is another online store that I haven't used, though it seems reasonable in pricing/quality. I hope these can smooth your path!
Love,
Annie