Home Bargains and Quality Save are the shops customers…

Home Bargains and Quality Save are the shops customers can't tell apart - so which one's cheaper?

When it comes to budget stores there are two that shoppers struggle to tell apart. With their blue and red signage and identical products, it's almost as if the companies prefer us to think that Home Bargains and Quality Save are one and the same.

They're not. However, Quality Save is supplied by TJ Morris Ltd – the owners of Home Bargain – which is why it stocks many of the same products and does indeed sell them for exactly the same price.

In our comparison of both stores, we thought we'd found one price difference when Pot Noodles were labelled with a Star Buy offer price of 'two for £1.20' in one shop, but just 70p each in the other - however they were still reduced at the till so it was simply a lack of signage.

Some of the stores now have fridge and freezer sections (Manchester Family / MEN)

What is clear is that their prices are cheap - in some cases cheaper than any other stores.

The six-pack of Pennine Valley Sparkling waters for instance, at 85p, are cheaper than even Aldi's 89p pack.

A 1kg bag of sugar costs 62p, which is cheaper than at both Aldi and B&M, and you can get a pack of 15 medium free range eggs for just £1.89 - 10p cheaper than Aldi's mixed weight pack.

Butter and spread are among the products that have been shooting up in price, but while you'll pay £1.80 for a 500g tub of Flora Lighter with Asda's roll back promotion, the same item is almost 25% less at Home Bargains and Quality Save, at £1.45.

And other well-known brands are cheaper here too, like the 415g tins of Heinz Beanz and Sausage, which cost £1.40 each or three for £4.

They aren't the same company, but Home Bargains and Quality Save are exactly the same on price (Manchester Family / MEN)

For many people the budget stores are a go-to for toiletries and other household products as well, with 100ml tubes of Colgate toothpaste for 89p and huge 750ml bottles of Cif cream cleaner for £1.49.

They might be no different to one other, but they're clearly a step ahead of the competition - especially now many have expanded with fridge and freezer sections too.

I think we all need that reassurance right now that if we're spending our hard earned money somewhere, it's unlikely that whatever we're buying is going to cost less somewhere else.