Given the rising cost of living has anyone started shopping regularly in cheap supermarkets, if so . . . ?

Question

How do you rate them?

I'm off to Lidl tomorrow - the last one I went to smelled of rotting food but this one is in a better area so here's hoping!!

Answer 1

Your fridge never looks as nice when its filled with Aldi/Lidl as when its stuffed with Tesco/Sainsburys.

I know ~ I've tried, but I never feel as satisfied.

The boxes of wine are OK though, £9.99 for 3 litres, and it was a 13% cab sauv. Try one of those.

They do below par veg and fruit in my opinion.

Answer 2

I tried it out, but didn't last that long.  I tend to cook a lot of different foods and found that I couldn't get everything I wanted from Aldi and had to also go to Sainsbury!  If you have time to do that though its worth it.

Most of the stuff in Aldi and Lidl is very good quality, and you can also now get some big brand names that they didn't used to stock.  The prices are far better than the normal supermarkets.  For example things like pasta, cleaning products, jam, yogurt, nuts etc are all fine and much cheaper.

However, there are a few things I have found to be not so good - the ginger, garlic and onions tend to go off quicker when bought from Aldi, so don't buy too much of those!  Also there is not a great selection of meats, and those that there are don't specify whether they come from the UK or elsewhere which really puts me off.  If you are going to get fruit and veg - check the packets carefully because everything is pre packed and it's quite common to find one rotten apple in the bag!

I tend to go to Aldi every few weeks now and pick up the basics on top of my normal shop, but I get my meat, fish and most of my fruit and veg elsewhere as well as the random things not stocked in Aldi.  It probably does end up saving me some money.

Answer 3

Living in Spain for the last 6 years we don't have the luxury of shop such as marks or waitrose most os the supermarkets are aimed at expats or other europeans and are very expensive with the exception of Lidl and Aldi which I find to be excellent value you just have to be-aware of sell by dates and check the fresh food carefully.

Why do people assume your a snob if you shop in an upmarket store ?duh

Answer 4

Hahah, you don't sound like a snob, you sound like an educated person who wouldn't shop in a dirty market.

I still shop at Pick N Save, but I use TONS of coupons now, and I buy more generic stuff. And, embarrassingly, I do shop at Wal*Mart sometimes, too! I'm really frustrated with the whole economy for so many reasons, and I hate Wal*Mart for so many reasons, but would I rather pay for schooling and buy cheap food, or have to drop out of school because I don't have any money?

I think I'll just move to Canada. Haha.

Answer 5

Lidl have great fruit and veg. The cheese is also good  

Answer 6

OOH c**p  No tha nks   Stick to Tesco and Asda    

Answer 7

I went to Aldi for the first time a couple of months ago. It WAS better than I thought and certain things were great such as jars of pesto for 99p. They don't give you the origin of anything on the labels they just say ' produced for Aldi stores' That puts me off that.

Overall though I honestly don't think it works out that much cheaper and I was well pissed off at the way they throw your shopping at you going through the tills ...

I think Stormy has worded it really well there, I also felt a bit 'dissatisfied'. I just do it on line at Sains now and I'm rigid with my budget and not as tempted as when I go to the shop.

Answer 8

Lidl, Asda & Aldi are the cheapest ones going, have fun exploring =]

Answer 9

Yes i buy all my frozen food in Aldi for very cheap. i find the fresh food in the cheaper shops dont last as long as the dearer stores

Answer 10

I have never shopped at just one supermarket, i always shop around and get the cheapest deal i can find, i also get lots of bargains at places like Asda, Somerfield, Tesco, buy one get one free, or things that have to be used that day which are less than half the price. I always have been a devil for getting bargains if possible and rarely pay full price.

I do find Lidl and Aldi handy for certain things but not everything.

Answer 11

Lidl and Aldi are good shops, they just stock foreign food.. i.e mainly non British brands

you just sound like a snob!.. maybe you should stick to waitrose!

Answer 12

Some of the supermarkets are lowering prices and giving special offers.. I am shopping around at the moment.  Asda frozen items lots of special offers.  Sainsbury's basics fruit and veg, many lines @ 40p.

I too quite like Lidl and Aldi for certain items also Netto, but they have loads of family packs which are too much for us, (just a couple)

I think you have to consider your expenditure and it also lets these supermarkets know we will spend where the best prices are.  In turn that should make them lower prices.  They can well afford it having had vast profits for years.  

Answer 13

started going to aldi, good quality food , vedge is always great, I rate them quite highly , no more impulse buying like I did in tescos

Answer 14

We have a lidl local to us which is excellent and i shop there quite often.