I'm not sure how it's escaped me all this time, but I had no idea that Homesense was part of the TK Maxx family. Had I known that I may not have been giving it the wide berth every time I've passed the store inside Trafford Palazzo.
So when a new branch opened in Altrincham, Trafford, recently, I decided to see what bargains I could find in store. Just one step inside the place at Altrincham Retail Park and it was clear that I would be spoilt for choice.
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Much of it is taken over with Christmas decorations at the moment - beautiful ones at that - but there's everything from large furniture like sofas and tables, to candles, bedding, kitchenware and everything in between, all priced up to 60% less than RRP.
I'm still regretting not buying the gorgeous green casserole dish I fell in love with, so may have to take a trip back for that. What I did pick up, for £14.99, has already come in handy though.
Tucked in between the body creams and eye masks was the longest hot water bottle I've ever seen.
Taken in by the 'use in three ways' description, the back of the box shows how you can 'place it from your shoulder to your hip to give comforting warmth the entire length of your body', 'place it around your neck to relieve tension, aches and pains', or 'place it around your tummy to relieve pain from aches and cramps'.
It was the first use I wanted it for - and with the weather taking a chillier turn this week, it was time to give it a go. I have to say I was on the brink of turning the heating on - cue gasps - when I remembered I'd picked this up about a week before.
But with this next to me on the couch for an hour before bed and then warming up the inside before I got in it, I didn't need to.
I've never been one to use a hot water bottle before and they do make me a bit nervous, but it was so comforting and I'm sure I drifted off quicker than usual.
It was a big saving on the RRP too - as a quick look on the Hot Water Bottle Shop website, where similar ones are listed, shows them priced from £37.99.
If it can stop me using the heating and help give me a better night's sleep, it was definitely £14.99 well spent. Not sure I can argue the same with the £20 casserole dish!
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