Where to shop at a discounted price (in France)?

We’ve been living on the boat for weeks now, with almost nothing, because we’ve been going back and forth to Nico’s dad’s camping van for food.
But now that we’re on our own, we’ve realized we don’t even have basic cooking utensils.

We need to go shopping in town. Before we do, Nico is assessing everything that needs fixing on the boat so we can buy all the tools and DIY supplies in one trip.

On my side, it’s all about getting kitchenware, dinnerware, decorations, organizational items, cleaning tools, and more.

Of course, we don’t want to spend too much since it’s only for a year. So, where can we find dirt-cheap stuff?

DIY Tools

Leroy Merlin:
Usually, we’d go to Leroy Merlin for tools and supplies. It’s a bit more expensive, but it offers a wider range of products. We still went there because of the variety, though during the sabbatical, that wasn’t our priority

Brico Depot:
Instead, we opted for Brico Dépôt. It’s cheaper, mainly because the store skips fancy decorations or lighting—it’s just a big warehouse with tools and products stacked up.
Minimal upkeep is how they keep prices low. This has become Nico’s go-to store during our renovation period.
He bought most of his tools there, especially their Titan private-label ones.

Lidl:
Lidl also sells DIY tools, so we spent some time checking out their private-label options too.

Kitchenware, bakingware, storage boxes and cleaning products

Temu:
I discovered Temu while in France. It offers free and fast shipping most of the time, so I gave it a shot.
I haven’t received my items yet, but I ordered things I couldn’t find elsewhere.
It’s cheap (stuff from China) and has a huge variety—you can find anything you need on that app.

Action:

Action is a trendy discount store that undercuts prices from places like Gifi or La Foir’Fouille. The selection is limited, but the prices are unbeatable.

I got a dinnerware set for next to nothing—0.58 euros for a made-in-France plate or bowl! They also have a big aisle for cleaning products, which is worth checking out.  

Action carries DIY products too, like sanders and polishers, so Nico had fun browsing. He actually spent more time there than I did—I had to wait for him, which was just an excuse to buy more.

They also sell plastic storage boxes year-round at prices way lower than standard DIY stores, in all sizes.

Stokomani:
Stokomani is known for selling end-of-stock branded items. I bought baking utensils at Action, but later found Stokomani was sometimes half the price.
Each store’s inventory varies (unlike Action, which has consistent offerings across its network), so you won’t always find what you want. Still, for bakingware, Stokomani’s range was broader and cheaper.

Miscellaneous

Noz:

Noz also specializes in end-of-stock or bankruptcy leftovers. The store feels like a chaotic bazaar—not as inviting as Action’s clean layout. Their stock isn’t consistent year-round since they just buy whatever’s available on the market.

We didn’t find much there, except for some branded helmets we got for our electric scooters.

Food

SSurprisingly, all these stores—Action, Noz, Stokomani, and of course Lidl—offer cheap food, most of it branded, which is reassuring.

So while you’re shopping for tools or supplies, you can also grab a bottle of wine or some chocolate snacks.