ALDI & LIDL Food and Drink Worth Trying?
Discussion
another Aldi fanboy here too 
We used to shop regularly at Sainsbury's, but decided to try elsewhere just for a change.
i won't even entertain Tesco's so have never done a shop in there.
Asda was ok and i still pop in if there is anything on a special (i have a friend who works for Asda and he gives me the heads up if anything i need comes in at a bargain price, end of line stuff etc...)
not tried Lidl as yet, but there is one not too far away, so will do one day soon.
Morrisons, tried once, never again. food same as every other s/market, but the service was s
t.
Aldi is superb, even if it wasn't so inexpensive, quality of the food is excellent, bar a few items like the coffee and their crisps. the cheeses are fantastic, as is their fruit. the pino grigio is nice and the choccy is (according to the wife) delish! i bought their speciality xmas pud and mince pies last xmas and they were the best i'd ever tasted.
i can't get everything in Aldi, so i use home bargains (which is conveniently next door) for things like toilet and kitchen roll, deodorant,(the same make in the supermarkets is 3x the price just for this alone) dried herbs and spices, shower gels etc....
our weekly bill in sainsbury's used to average £160 a week (without wine) just for the weekly trip for 2 adults and a 2 1/2 year old, whereas now its less than a £100 with 3 bottles of wine and we seem to get a lot more for that amount compared to the big supermarkets.
i think eventually the big names will have to take stock and re-evaluate their pricing as the likes of Aldi and Lidl will continue to grow at a rapid rate and talking to a lot of our customers they think the same.
i've come to the conclusion that its a snobbery thing on branding/supermarkets that people still shop at the big name supermarkets, but its changing fast as more and more people get wise.
a tip tho, ask the people at the tills to give you a trolley coin. its a metal disc that you keep in your car so you dont have to hunt for a quid, and if you have a euro coin at home, use that, its the same size for the trolley slot.
We used to shop regularly at Sainsbury's, but decided to try elsewhere just for a change.
i won't even entertain Tesco's so have never done a shop in there.
Asda was ok and i still pop in if there is anything on a special (i have a friend who works for Asda and he gives me the heads up if anything i need comes in at a bargain price, end of line stuff etc...)
not tried Lidl as yet, but there is one not too far away, so will do one day soon.
Morrisons, tried once, never again. food same as every other s/market, but the service was s
t.Aldi is superb, even if it wasn't so inexpensive, quality of the food is excellent, bar a few items like the coffee and their crisps. the cheeses are fantastic, as is their fruit. the pino grigio is nice and the choccy is (according to the wife) delish! i bought their speciality xmas pud and mince pies last xmas and they were the best i'd ever tasted.
i can't get everything in Aldi, so i use home bargains (which is conveniently next door) for things like toilet and kitchen roll, deodorant,(the same make in the supermarkets is 3x the price just for this alone) dried herbs and spices, shower gels etc....
our weekly bill in sainsbury's used to average £160 a week (without wine) just for the weekly trip for 2 adults and a 2 1/2 year old, whereas now its less than a £100 with 3 bottles of wine and we seem to get a lot more for that amount compared to the big supermarkets.
i think eventually the big names will have to take stock and re-evaluate their pricing as the likes of Aldi and Lidl will continue to grow at a rapid rate and talking to a lot of our customers they think the same.
i've come to the conclusion that its a snobbery thing on branding/supermarkets that people still shop at the big name supermarkets, but its changing fast as more and more people get wise.
a tip tho, ask the people at the tills to give you a trolley coin. its a metal disc that you keep in your car so you dont have to hunt for a quid, and if you have a euro coin at home, use that, its the same size for the trolley slot.
Edited by A.C.E on Thursday 9th February 20:11
A.C.E said:
our weekly bill in sainsbury's used to average £160 a week (without wine) just for the weekly trip for 2 adults and a 2 1/2 year old, whereas now its less than a £100 and we seem to get a lot more for that amount compared to the big supermarkets.
£160 a week to feed 2 and a half people? Seriously?remedy said:
Mobile Chicane said:
Bill Carr said:
Lidl's greek yoghurt (1ltr tub) is amazing - really thick and creamy and totally unlike any "greek" yoghurt sold by the bigger supermarkets. Also, the avocado's are terrific - 59p for a large Hass which is usually ripe or nearly ripe. e.g. Asda charge £1.09 for the same thing.
Lidl's crisps (Crusty Croc!) are rubbish, but their pretzels and toffee popcorn are good. Their tea and coffee (both instant and ground) is also very good.
Agree with all of that. Lidl's crisps (Crusty Croc!) are rubbish, but their pretzels and toffee popcorn are good. Their tea and coffee (both instant and ground) is also very good.
I always compare my Lidl shop with Asda online (the prices are the same online as instore). Invariably Lidl is cheaper.
People think Asda offers value for money because they're masters at the big-lurid-sticker 'price per pack' game. Anything to divert attention away from the 'per Kg' price they must state by law.
I was once behind an old couple at the tills who had clearly raided the piggy bank to buy a pack of steak for £6. This was £15.99 per Kg, when they could have had it for £11.99 per Kg at Waitrose.
I hate to see old folk ripped off - the 'per Kg' price was in such faint print they probably couldn't read it.
)The only thing I can't get on with at Lidl is the bread but then I am comparing it with Morrisons fresh, not the pre-bagged stuff like Hovis. So for breakfast I tend to buy the pancakes instead.
MC, or anyone, have you tried the Lidl salmon yet?
However the Lidl whole smoked mackerel is a steal.
Toaster Pilot said:
£160 a week to feed 2 and a half people? Seriously?
VERY seriously, included washing powder (which is very expensive for what it is) and on average 16 pints of blue top milk a week.thats why i decided to re-evaluate our buying habit, plus the amout we used to throw away was criminal.
the thing is with the big hitters, all this 2 for one and 3 for 2's is just a ploy, everyone knows that, if you need 3 then great, but if you don't, then its just throwing money away. i was guilty as most for doing it.
now, we buy what we need (maybe a bit more) but thats it. i make both our lunches for work now instead of buying it and that alone saves around 20 odd quid a week, thats over a grand a year which is alot of cash in anyones book.
Edited by A.C.E on Thursday 9th February 20:25
Toaster Pilot said:
A.C.E said:
our weekly bill in sainsbury's used to average £160 a week (without wine) just for the weekly trip for 2 adults and a 2 1/2 year old, whereas now its less than a £100 and we seem to get a lot more for that amount compared to the big supermarkets.
£160 a week to feed 2 and a half people? Seriously?
I can feed myself for £30 a week from Lidl. Healthily too. I go through at least 6Kg of fruit a week, plus veg.
Mobile Chicane said:
I'd imagine that nappies and baby stuff new parents are bamboozled by marketing to believe they need would be a fair chunk of that, but even so...
I can feed myself for £30 a week from Lidl. Healthily too. I go through at least 6Kg of fruit a week, plus veg.
nappies aren't cheap, granted, but we actually make a trip to asda for their own brand especially for them because they're the only ones we've tried that don't leak or are uncomfortable for him and they are the 2nd cheapest next to Aldi's own. but we buy 2 bales at anyone time to save time and effort go to Asda especially for the nappies.I can feed myself for £30 a week from Lidl. Healthily too. I go through at least 6Kg of fruit a week, plus veg.
we dont buy any other baby stuff now as he eats what we eat, including chillies, curries etc, in fact his first proper meal after his baby solids was chilli and garlic prawns!!!
we have another due in August and were not getting suckered into what we did first time round, and thank christ we've kept everything since Henry was little, otherwise i'd be forking out again for some useless gadget that gets used once............
Edited by A.C.E on Thursday 9th February 20:35
A.C.E said:
nappies aren't cheap, granted, but we actually make a trip to asda for their own brand especially for them because they're the only ones we've tried that don't leak or are uncomfortable for him and they are the 2nd cheapest next to Aldi's own. but we buy 2 at anyone time to save time and effort go to Asda especially for the nappies.
Lidl nappies are quite good - used them for my daughter and they were as good as branded onesoldbanger said:
Lidl nappies are quite good - used them for my daughter and they were as good as branded ones
i'll give them a go this week. just told the wife and she said "you take me to all the best places"
she's getting to think the way i do now too, the first time i mentioned Aldi the face she pulled was
now she's realised that its all marketing bullst and brand snobbery.at this rate i'll be perusing the local supermarket bins soon for food that they throw away just because its out of their sell by date
Toaster Pilot said:
A.C.E said:
our weekly bill in sainsbury's used to average £160 a week (without wine) just for the weekly trip for 2 adults and a 2 1/2 year old, whereas now its less than a £100 and we seem to get a lot more for that amount compared to the big supermarkets.
£160 a week to feed 2 and a half people? Seriously?A.C.E said:
Mobile Chicane said:
I'd imagine that nappies and baby stuff new parents are bamboozled by marketing to believe they need would be a fair chunk of that, but even so...
I can feed myself for £30 a week from Lidl. Healthily too. I go through at least 6Kg of fruit a week, plus veg.
nappies aren't cheap, granted, but we actually make a trip to asda for their own brand especially for them because they're the only ones we've tried that don't leak or are uncomfortable for him and they are the 2nd cheapest next to Aldi's own. but we buy 2 bales at anyone time to save time and effort go to Asda especially for the nappies.I can feed myself for £30 a week from Lidl. Healthily too. I go through at least 6Kg of fruit a week, plus veg.
we dont buy any other baby stuff now as he eats what we eat, including chillies, curries etc, in fact his first proper meal after his baby solids was chilli and garlic prawns!!!
we have another due in August and were not getting suckered into what we did first time round, and thank christ we've kept everything since Henry was little, otherwise i'd be forking out again for some useless gadget that gets used once............
Edited by A.C.E on Thursday 9th February 20:35
You'd be amazed how much you can fit in an Elise given the will, plus I have a friend with a mahoosive Saab. Wherever there are bulk-buy deals, we're there.
My most recent raids will sort me out for the next year in terms of loo rolls, kitchen towels, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry liquid, etc.
Soooo much cheaper if you buy in bulk, plus with 5% inflation these things are only going to go up in price, so why not buy now if you've the space to store them?
A.C.E said:
admittedly, i haven't, but i'll give it a go. tried the alcafe and it was shockingly bad. took it to work for my customers instead
The cheapest stuff is on par with the cheap own brand stuff in Tesco etc ie rubbish, but the specially selected stuff is dirt cheap for what it is and is very good.Mobile Chicane said:
How big's your car?
You'd be amazed how much you can fit in an Elise given the will, plus I have a friend with a mahoosive Saab. Wherever there are bulk-buy deals, we're there.
My most recent raids will sort me out for the next year in terms of loo rolls, kitchen towels, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry liquid, etc.
Soooo much cheaper if you buy in bulk, plus with 5% inflation these things are only going to go up in price, so why not buy now if you've the space to store them?
You'd be amazed how much you can fit in an Elise given the will, plus I have a friend with a mahoosive Saab. Wherever there are bulk-buy deals, we're there.
My most recent raids will sort me out for the next year in terms of loo rolls, kitchen towels, shampoo, toothpaste, laundry liquid, etc.
Soooo much cheaper if you buy in bulk, plus with 5% inflation these things are only going to go up in price, so why not buy now if you've the space to store them?
i have a pork 944 cab and citroen c4, the mrs a c4, so the c4's boots will swollow a lot.
we do hammer the mahoosive bails of bog roll occasionally and it lasts for eons, and the wife does go hell for leather on toiletries, in fact our upstairs cupboard is like a branch of boots
A.C.E said:
the wife does go hell for leather on toiletries, in fact our upstairs cupboard is like a branch of boots
I'll confess to an expensive perfume addiction.However allow me to let you into a little secret: solid coconut oil (place the jar in warm water to melt it) is the best body moisturiser there is - a few quid from any chemist for a huge jar.
Olive oil on a damp cotton wool pad is the best makeup remover, and is apparently good on babies' bums too.
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