to be scared of real supermarkets

[idiuntno57]

A couple of years ago I switched grocery shopping from mainstream (Ocado/ Sainsburys/ Tesco etc.) to Lidl. Entirely financially driven as we are the archetypal corset wearing squeezed middle). Problem is that I now cannot cope in real supermarkets: too much choice, too expensive, too scary....

Means I can't buy a tin of tomatoes unless it is shoved on a palet and selling for 32p.

AIBU to think that when the great squeeze lets of I won't be able to function in the real world?

[natwebb79]

Oh I hear you! We switched to Aldi a few months back as we were getting sick of the same amount of shopping costing more and more. We had to nip into a massive Tesco to get something the other week and we couldn't get out quick enough. Hell on Earth!

[MrsGeologist]

I only head to other shops to top up what I can't buy from Aldi. Stuff like lentils and cous cous

[WandaDoff]

I do most of my shopping at Lidl, because it is 100yds away. I have to walk past it almost daily, so I tend to go there pretty often.

I do a Tesco order about once a month, mainly for nappies, though I tend to bulk buy any useful offers as well.

I ended up having to go into Asda for the 1st time in a couple of months yesterday & it was Terrifying.
Too noisy & bright far too much choice. I ended up just buying what I'd gone in there for & leaving.

[noisytoys]

I do most of my shopping in Lidl because I live opposite, it's cheap, my DD who has ASD doesn't have a meltdown because of smells, lights, noise etc its great

[Szeli]

I wish Aldi delivered.

I don't drive and can't be trusted to do a weekly shop so online is the safest option so I don't get suckered in and don't have to pay for taxis but things are so much better and cheaper at Aldi AND Aldi nappies are the only nappies that can't contain my pee happy son's offerings.

Roll on moving nearer to the parents so I can bob to Aldi with them more regularly x

[newfavouritething]

Another aldi fan here, it feels like shopping in another country if I go to a big supermarket now. I will confess to sending dh with a list of bits of stuff that aldi don't do to get from tesco, but that's only once every few weeks.

[StealthOfficialCrispTester]

I do still shop in all but went to sainsburys last week which was hell on earth then to lidl and I relaxed as I walkdd through the door It never used to bother me bjt its tbe time. I used ti lose whole half days and half my salary in sainsburys and tesco. No matter how leisurely and how much impulse buying in lidl, im out in 30 mins and under 70pds

[idiuntno57]

only downside is the evil looks I get from other shoppers when I start to lead my weeks shop for six on the belt. I just let them go in front though - chilled by the stress free Lidl environment

[idiuntno57]

load

[IShallWearMidnight]

I want to live closer to a Lidl or Aldi than 30 minutes drive . The extra fuel costs would wipe out my savings.

[fossil971]

What are you driving, a lorry? I reckon that Lidl/Aldi are good for a third cheaper than normal supermarkets. On a full trolley that's easily £30.

[BackforGood]

There was a thread on similar lines recently, asking if people would still shop at Lidl / Aldi and in charity shops once we come out of the recession. I think the vast majority agreed, it's habit forming. You get into a mindset of thinking "HOW MUCH?" when faced with what many would consider an 'average' price for something. You get a 'buzz' for how much you've saved when you first start, but then it gradually morphs in that being the "normal" price and what you paid happily for years before that being considered expensive.

[BackforGood]

I Agree with Fossil, IShall. At the very least it would be worth going once a month and stocking up with all your non-perishables.

[Asteria]

I feel your pain OP, but never fear, I have recently made the transition from Lidl to Waitrose and it wasn't as bad as I had expected. To be fair the transition was greatly assisted by a rancid Chicken I bought, which smelt so bad that we had to vacate the house and open all the doors and windows.
I do occasionally go back to Lidl (their salamis and the like are so good) but my diet is so much more varied and exotic thanks to Waitrose!

[SoftKittyWarmKitty]

Is it lots more expensive though, Asteria?

[FBmum]

I was a Lidl-lover, but recently I've found that I'm migrating back to Tesco because most of their Value range is cheaper than Lidl stuff now.

Trouble is, my weekly shopping is now taking 3 hours over the sheer AGONIES of working out the best deal for sausages (3 for £10, 2 for £7 or BOGOF? Which to do?), combined with the pain of wanting to buy good quality stuff but trying to stick to a budget.

Hence I have to endure the sheer hell that is a big supermarket, although I completely avoid aisles for the ready meals etc as they are from an former lifetime . I am wondering about whether I should switch back to Lidl for all my stuff, therefore missing out on the value range stuff but perhaps protecting my sanity?

[idiuntno57]

I think it is unlikely my little bit of sarf London will get a Waitrose any time soon and anyway I think I'd probably have an apopleptic fit when it came to paying.....

[Asteria]

Not really SoftKitty, I buy the basics - which work out cheaper and far better than Tesco (no great surprise) - and some of the more luxury items from time to time. To be honest I am happy to pay more for good food that is more likely to be sourced within the uk, I like that the own brand fish is ethically sourced and I appreciate a check-out where you get eye contact and a conversation rather than food flung past as quickly as possible!

[infamouspoo]

we are getting an Aldi
Whats their fresh fruit n veggies like?

[Szeli]

Aldi has the only nappies that can* contain my sons pee even.

Veg is generally fairly good at Aldi

[BackforGood]

infamouspoo - great in my Aldi (they do tend to vary from Aldi to Aldi, but generally I think good. Our Aldi also has 'deal of the week' type thing on it's fruit and veg - so today I bought a cucumber for 49p, a net of 3 lemons for 49p, and there were 4 other 'offers' on the fruit and veg. I think last time it was a tray of 8 kiwis for 69p for another example. All very nice.

[MrsMook]

I started at Lidl for the nappies. Then started buying a bit more of this and that so start my main shop there for the basics then top up in Morrisons. I actually managed to keep going to supermarkets at 39wks pg as Lidl was small enough, then I could by-pass half of Morrisons as 2/3s of the shop was done.

ASDA gives me the heebie jeebies. The carpark, trawling past the random stuff, by-passing voluminous clothes for people with twiglet arms (they do not fit me, they do not fit me) trudging past numerous aisles dedicated to fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate and either facing the self-check out or queuing 3 mega-size trollies deep for a regular till. When I went at 38wks pg a nice trolley man offered me use of a mobility scooter as I labouriously trekked from a P&C space towards the entrance. I declined as I was half-hoping to traumatise myself into labour.

[BenjaminButton172]

Our aldi is good, u get some good bargains but the customer service is shocking. U dont even get a hello, u get 'cash or card'. They have opened the till and are getting ready to scan the next customer before u even open ur purse.

[Iwantmybed]

I've noticed this myself. If I have to go to Asda or Tesco I have to gear myself up for it. I hate the big stores and choice its headache inducing.

[BackforGood]

See, I leurve the customer service at our Aldi's. Cashiers / all staff always helpful, and the service being so quick is one of the real bonus's of going there. I get quite irritated now if I have to go to another supermarket and wait for the ssssslllllllllllllooooooooowwwwwwwwww passage through their tills.