In this section, I am going to explain where the new-comers, especially those who come to study at the University of Birmingham, can shop reasonably in B'ham. Here when I write "station", it is New Street Station.
Supermarket
The largest supermarket from the University is Saintsbury's on Bristol Road. Near Saint'sbury, there is a large retail park where there are a big computer shop (PC World), electric appliances shop, and DIY shop. Nearer to the university, there are smaller supermarket like Tesco Express, Select and Save, and another new one of which I don' remember the name. There are also convenience stores inside the campus.
Also close to the university, there is a discount shop called ALDI, that sells mainly food for low price. Not all the goods are worth buying, but there are also very good value stuff, like pasta, canned food, cheese, yogurt, etc.
In the Birmingham city centre, there are a two-storey Tesco Metro and smaller Sainsburys. These are open 7 days a week and until later hours.
Catalogue Shops
When we get something to fill your stomach, then you would like basic househould goods. The most convenient place to go is the catalogue shop Argos. You can find almost anything you need except for food and drink. In Birmingham city centre, there are three outlets: Pallasades, Priory Square, and another one on Union Street. In catalogue shop, you cannot see the marchandise before you actually buy it: you choose what you want from the catalogue, write down the number, pay and get the stuff. It is possible that you get disappointed when you actually see what you will have bought. I would not recommend you to go there if you are desperate to buy many things in short time, but their catalogue (which is also on-line) is really useful for price comparison.
In Pallasades (New Street station shopping centre), there are two shops that sell various stuff for £1, one is Poundland, and the other is 99p Store. Not everything is good value for money, but some really are. You have to choose carefully, but before buying small household goods from supermarket, come here and check what you can got for £1.
Dishes, bed linen, home goods etc.
If you need cheap bed line, tooth paste, soap, cosmetics, DIY, you might want to try Rug Market on St. Martin's Square. There are many small stalls and variety of goods are sold here for good price. The quality of the goods varies, so choose well.
Habitat on New Street sells stylish but not too expensive dishes, cups, cutlery etc. It is worth visiting especially during the sale season. There is no Ikea in Birmingham city centre (there is one in Wednesbury), but there is one in Coventry town centre.
Another place you can find affordable dishes and kitchen stuff is Woolworth. You can find it almost on any high street, and there is one also in Pallasades. T.K.Maxx, situated between the station and Bullring sells various household goods for discounted price.
Food
For day-to-day food shopping, you will probably go to supermarkets, but it is not the only choice. For vegetable and fruits, you might want to try the Open Market, and for meat and fish, the Indoor Market (this is the only place you can get decent fish in Birmingham). The vegetable market is easily recognisable from St. Martin's Square. The Indoor Market is behind Debenham's and next to Rug Market, which is just next to vegetable market. Here you have chance to get really cheap and good quality food.
East Asian grocery can be found also in Chinatown, for example, in the Day-In Supermarket of the Arcadian Shopping Centre. You can get here various kinds of east Asian rice. There is a small Korean grocery on Bristol Rd., near Selly Oak station. There you can find also Chinese and Japanese grocery, and it is convenient for those who work or study at the Univ. of Birmingham. If you have a car, there is a big Chinese supermarket called Wing Yip a bit away from the centre.
To the other end of the shopping experience, you can find all the exotic food in the ground level of Selfridge in Bullring, and on the underground level of House of Fraser in Corporation Street. While the Selfridge is strong in pre-cooked food, House of Fraser's World of Food has also good range of ingredients, from spice to fresh meat and fish. I find the pricing of Selfridge too steep and the quality does not justify it, but I do shop sometimes at House of Fraser for the specialist ingredient, cheese and ham.
For those who interested in health food, you should visit Holland and Barrett. It is a high street chain shop, and in the city centre you can find it one in Pallasades and another one in Bullring. There is one also in Harborne. I am not a health food fan, but I visit often to buy nuts and dry fruits.
If you are after the Asian (in the sense of Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi), you can go to the so-called Balti Triangle where there is a large Asian community. There Asian towns also on Dudley Rd. and on Soho Rd. The Asian supermarkets often sell various kinds of vegetable and fruits for more affortable price than in supermarkets. I go often Pak supermarket on Dudley Rd.
Clothes
There are plenty of clothes shops, so I don't need to advise you. However, if you are on tight budget, and need to get minimal things, you should go to Primark on New Street. You get the basic stuff, like T-shirts, sweaters, underwear for very affordable price. They sell also towels and bed linen on the underground level.
Internet Shops
The Amazon.co.uk sells not only books and dvds, but kitchen instruments, videos, and cameras, often for less price than in high street shops. If you are planning to buy these kinds of things, you really should check the price on Amazon, which offers also free shipping service for the purchase above £15.
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