What a house of wonder! Chase really isn't kidding when he says it sells everything, it really does…read moresell pretty much everything you might need for your home. From cleaning products, kitchen items, DIY bits and bobs, cheap snacks, cards and so much more - they've got it covered. If you're a keen shopper/browser it's a veritable treasure chest to explore. My particular favourite is the upstairs section. Here's where the items get slightly less bargainous and become a little higher end... They've beds, lamps and all other kinds of home furnishings in a range of styles. Faux-antique right through to the more modern sleek look. I bought an awesome 'telephone box' lamp for my room at home, which is so kitsch and delightful and only set me back £15. (I can imagine it costing a ton more in a vintage shop!) My Mum was particularly overjoyed with a red painted vase that she picked up as well, of which they had many different shades! So, there's plenty to get excited about, and not too pricey as well. However, all that glitters is not gold. I did come away having purchased a few oil reed scent dispensers (the pots of oils with the wooden reeds) and they simply don't work at all. They were only a pound each, but I can see why they were so cheap as they give off no scent at all! Even so, I'm pleased as punch with my lamp so that more than makes up for it!

I was first introduced to QLM by my new wife (I change them quite often, not really if you're…read morereading this love) just after we set up home together. It was the first time I'd been in a shop which I cannot categorize by what it sells, IT SELLS EVERYTHING !! From bleach to crisps, rugs to xbox games, they have almost everything under one roof. The only thing I can say lets it down is a lack of electrical goods like TV's but if you're looking for a pack of brass tacks and a birthday card for auntie Mabel this is a good place to start........ and if you're feeling tired you can nip upstairs and pretend you're testing a bed out :)

This secret haven of bargains is yet another hidden spot that I would have never unearthed had it…read morenot been for Yelp. And, I'm glad I found it -since it really is out of the way. Basically, the chances of me randomly wandering about Mabgate (or there abouts) and stumbling upon it are zero, truth be told. Don't let that put you off finding it too though, it's dead easy to get to. Go through the car park behind the West Yorkshire Playhouse, and cross over the bridge. Turn right up the road and it's there in a minute. As you walk in you'll be confronted by a sea of knick-knacks, furniture, bric a brac. It's not tidy, it's not overly organised, but it's full and it's a proper treasure hunt. In some ways, it's similar to Poverty Aid -a huge space filled with a range of things, tons of antique cheap furniture, from wardrobes to chests to beds. There was even a piano and an old school writing desk, cheaper than you'd expect to pay as well. After all, it's still a charity shop, which means bargains are abound. The clothing section was a jumble, pretty messy, but that's where your inner explorer comes in. Seek and ye shall find, etc. I did come across a mental pair of home made harim pants, in the most bodacious blue ever, but even at a single English pound I wasn't sure I was cool enough to pull them off. There's a wee cafe too, if you need a caffeine break, and tons of literature on other local charities, events, and what Emmaus get up to to keep you clued in. Bonza. Basically, it'll always depend on what you're after as to whether you'll succeed in a shopping mission. But, it's well worth a right rummage for all you bargain hunters, treasure seekers, vintage magpies and so on. Take a wee wander, and have a look. Who knows what wonders you might find!

Emmaus is a total gem, if you manage to come across it. It is tucked away on the edge of town near…read morethe West Yorkshire Playhouse and Quarry Hill, in the kind of place that you wouldn't really go wandering around for fun unless you had a reason. Make that reason Emmaus. It is a charity shop with a difference because it is also a community that helps homeless people out of homelessness. I fist heard about it on Radio 4 a couple of years ago and decided to see if there was one in Leeds. It was set up in France in the 1940s and is now a worldwide organisation. People in the community renovate and resell furniture to develop theirs skills and help them out of homelessness. The shop part of the community in Leeds is pretty large. Most of this is dedicated to second hand furniture but there are also clothes, brick a brack and a book area around a cafe where you can get cakes and very cheap meals. It is possible to donate to Emmaus and it is definitely a worthy cause or you can support the cause by visiting the shop. I believe there is also a small branch in Leeds City Market.

Junk Again is another fantastic furniture place that doesn't require you be to snobby and rich to…read morepurchase their goods. I like Habitat, don't get me wrong, but really, why bother when you can get good quality furniture for much less. Especially if you are a student! Which is perfect for this area. Flocks of students come and go through Leeds, moving every year and needing to get rid of or attain furniture every time they do. Junk Again are aware of this and have cleverly positioned themselves not far from the postcodes that are predominantly student populated. If you are looking for a cabinet, a table, or arm chair, or are looking to get rid of, a fridge, a freezer, or chimney pot, Junk Again is a great place to go. They are slightly chaotic but that just adds to that old fashioned feel of shops of this type. Plus no-one will look down their polished nose at you as they so often do in Habitat.

When my friends and I moved house last year we opted for a grand four bedroom house that was…read moreunfurnished as it wold cost us a little less. That, sadly, was not the case in the end but that's more to do with the Estate Agent and building than anything else. However, pretty much the only thing that we required for our move was a sofa and some arm chairs. Enter: Junk Again! My old housemate had spotted Junk Again on her way through Woodhouse and suggested that we tried here for a cheap second hand suite. I was game for any bargain and so when she called me, all a fluster, to tell me about this awesome sofa, two arm chairs and a pouffe for a mere £40, I came immediately to the scene. Yes. That's right. All that for forty flippin' pounds. The friendly chap explained that he had planned to have them cleaned but hadn't yet, so was willing to let them go for that much - all we needed to do was clean them. No probs, Handy Hire in Headingley solved that one for us dirt cheap too! We couldn't have been more chuffed. Inside you'll find an array of lovely old furniture and the odd antique, for seriously cheap prices. My advice is: if you're moving look here first. I've a few more things I need myself so I'm planning a re-visit very soon...

Discount Vax is a charmingly retro-looking little shop proclaiming its specialism as many times as…read morepossible all over its exterior. 'Discount Vax', 'Dyson a speciality', 'Hoover, Electrolux, Hotpoint, Goblin', 'Vac Specialists', 'Yes we repair Dyson', 'Vax vax', 'Vax', 'Industrial', 'Sales, Spares and Repairs'. So yes, they sell, provide spare parts for and repair a wide variety of vacuum cleaners including those of the industrial variety. And they seem pretty keen on vacuum cleaners! They also include a free electrical safety test or 'pat test' on vacuum cleaners they repair. The vacuum cleaners on display do seem rather cheap, and as the staff here clearly know a lot about vacuum cleaners you feel like you're in safe hands. If you like independent shops with character and have a vacuum cleaner that needs some tlc, or want a new one all together, this shop should do the job!

I have got literally no idea why this stall is called 'Around A Pound', as nothing is any nearer to…read morea pound in price than you'd expect it to be in a shop with a variety of different products at a variety of prices! Bizarre! But despite the illogical and clumsy name which may lead to disappointment when spying a bargainous ring only to find that it is £4.99 I think this shop manages to redeem itself! It is quite large for a shop in the market and sells a vast range of jewellery and trinkets at a reasonable if not pound-proximate price. The jewellery here is very much magpie-material with endless, jewel encrusted twinkling rings and 'statement' necklaces on display. They also sell some extremely blinging fancy dress style 'ice' with pendants including dollar signs covered in plastic gems. On top of the array of jewellery they sell cute home decorations such as Chinese lanterns and wall hangings and large butterflies made from feathers. Other wares include charming little wicker baskets and a selection of scarves in a range of colours and designs. Around A Pound is a great place to come for an affordable gift for any friends or girlfriends partial to a bit of glitz, or to find pretty bits and pieces to pimp a dull-looking room!

Aras is a peculiar shop. It sells a little bit of most fashion styles: a little bit rock chick, a…read morelittle high street, some alternative, and a little bit of scally clobber, none of it at a particularly cheap price but most of it on the slightly unusual side. Have a rummage through the rails of random odds and ends, I've found some amazing leggings that I pulled out at festival time. Some of their jumpers are a nice addition to winter wardrobes too. When I've visited there's always a very warm welcome and it is nice to have such a unique shop so close to the big guns of Briggate.

I'm actually quite a fan of this quirky little fashion shop. At first glance you'd be forgiven for…read moreassuming it's one of those cheap-o fashion shops, but you'd be wrong not to step inside and give it a second chance. There are a number of hits amongst the misses and you'll never find them unless you go on in. In amongst some of the less enticing items, which is more indicative of what caters to my taste than anything else, you'll find a few elegant pieces at pretty damn reasonable prices. I spotted a gorgeous nude tartan patterned shawl (you know the ones, the triangle shaped garments) that was gorgeously soft to touch and would look fabulous on any lady. Add to that a seriously cool pair of tapered black high waist trousers and I was already getting excited. Yes, there were a few duds that I wasn't so keen on, but just before leaving (since I'd have to wait till payday for that shawl) I noticed the knitted hats. Oh. My. Gosh. Knitted animal hats, no less. This mightn't be something you'd get excited about, but it was definitely something I was positively applauding. I grabbed the raccoon version and asked how much this ridiculously cute and warm headwear must-have would be. Oh, really? Twelve pounds you say? Done. And now you know how to spot me. I'm the numpty with the awesome raccoon hat and I wear it with pride. Give Aras a chance, if you're anything like me you won't regret it!

What a gorgeous shop! Situated in one of the more run down arcades in Leeds, Upstaged Vintage is a…read morewelcome addition to the thriving vintage scene. The thing that makes this one distinctive for me, is I could tell that the owners are very selective when buying stock. In many vintage shops, it seems evident that a large order has been delivered from wholesalers, and it doesn't always seem completely genuine. There is an old-fashioned, celebratory feel on entering the family run local business. With bunting and fairy lights decorating the place, and an iconic washing line hanging from the ceiling displaying 50's style lingerie, it feels special. I can't speak highly enough of the pieces on sale. The faux fur coats and numerous jackets are absolutely stunning. I tried on a classic pilots waistcoat and jacket. Complete with gold buttons and a stripe on the cuffs, it was beautifully tailored to fit a women. Collections of tea dresses and evening gowns from the 1930's to the 1980's adorn the interior. There is an interesting shoe section of the shop, with some truly unique pairs on show. Upstairs, there are further delights in store. It is a burlesque pin-up boutique; filled with a wide range of corsets, gloves, burlesque accessories and pin-up style lingerie. Dita Von Teese would be in her element. The woman running the shop was absolutely lovely, she was patient and attentive whilst I dithered over what to try on. There is a men's section of the shop and they also sell goods online. Although Upstaged Vintage is not in an obvious location, the treasure you uncover when discovering it, is reward in itself.

Who would have thought that tucked away in the Grand Arcade was a shop that is some kind of vintage…read moreheaven? No, not me, and so imagine my surprise to nip in the other day and discover it?! According to the guys in there people often say that they had no idea that it existed, which is really quite shameful, since it has been here for over a year! Imagine that. And all the delights that I have missed. The ground level shop space has two changing rooms, which you will need, and all the glorious vintage items that you could possibly wish for. There are beautiful eighties puffed sleeved dresses, glorious gorgeous full length coats - one in particular which was absolutely divine but sadly a size wrong for me. They also have some beautiful classy hats, gloves, scarves, shirts - you name it. It's hard to actually describe the amount of beauty within, you really must go and see it for yourself. The people in there are lovely, friendly and vintage fans themselves so you won't be short on advice either! Prices are ranging, but considering they are selling high end clothing for a fraction of the original price I would call it bargainous - investment pieces. The upstairs section also deserves a special mention in its own right. Set out as a burlesque boutique it has a number of beautiful items especially collected for ladies who perform burlesque acts. There are fitted corsets galore, of the finest quality, in a range of sizes. I couldn't sing louder about such a cool and exciting place to shop. It's beyond fancy dress in every sense of the word 'fancy', it is divine! You absolutely must visit, if only for a browse.

Pound Plus is an odd little shop selling a slightly random-seeming range of products. Their wondow…read moredisplays are about as nonchalant as they come, with two large sale signs and a pile of boxes and packets of bedding. Bedding id one of their main products and it's pretty damn cheap, with a covered duvet costing a mere £6. How pleasant it would be to sleep under though I can't be sure. They also sell plenty of sheets and duvet covers, mats, wall hangings, toiletries, toys and stationary. I know it's a very cheap discount store but they could put a little bit more care into displaying their wares...it kind of looks like they've just moved in and are still unpacking their stuff. (If this is the case I apologise!)

I'd walked past this lingerie shop a few times and been amused by their shop window. Today, the…read morechafing and bad fit of my current bra led me to crossing the threshold. Inside this cosy "bodouir" styled shop, live two very competent ladies. I was warmly welcomed and quickly assessed by eye. Within 5 minutes, the girls were out and I was being fitted into the most comfortable bra I've ever worn. My girls are winched up beyond belief and the nagging ache in my lower back is already starting to ease. Bearing in mind I'm not a regular size, they actually had a bra in my size! Quite impressed by how matter of fact the fitting was, no embarrassment at all being topless in the fitting area. They have 15% off when you buy 4 and I did straight away. At no time did I feel pushed or pressured to buy, and the advice given was sound, bra's will need refitting every 6 months or so. So do your bust a favour and give the ladies a try. I promise you won't regret it.

Extremely disappointing - serious concerns about consent, pressure to buy, and rude customer…read moreservice My recent visit to Fit to Bust in Chapel Allerton was shockingly poor from start to finish. I was fitted by Karine, who was friendly, but the fitting itself crossed clear boundaries. A professional bra fitter should always ask for consent before touching breast tissue. That did not happen. There was no explanation of what she was about to do, and at one point she lifted my breast very close to an intimate area without asking and made a strange "popping" noise. I haven't had a fitting in years, but the lack of communication made the whole thing feel inappropriate and uncomfortable. I also felt pressured into buying a bra for £145, and on top of that, they tried to sell me a £500 bra scheme. Only afterwards did I discover the exact same bra was cheaper on the PrimaDonna website and available for around £70 from another online retailer. When I returned to discuss this, Sally refused to give me a refund. She also made it clear she doesn't like when people come in for the free fittings the shop advertises, and even told me she wanted to get me out of the shop quickly. Her attitude was extremely rude. She didn't seem to know how to use the card machine, and the way she spoke to me was unfriendly and dismissive -- I genuinely felt judged and looked down on. Between the uncomfortable fitting, the pressure to buy, the inflated pricing, and the unprofessional customer service, this was an awful experience. I would strongly advise others to approach with caution. I will not be returning.