Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that Aldi/Lidl are just not that cheap?

213 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 01/03/2015 17:15

I'm always hearing people rave about how cheap these supermarkets are.

I've given them a try over the last couple of weeks, and yes some things are cheaper, and some things were just really nice but a bit more expensive.

I did an online shop and then when directly to Aldi/Lidl to price compare and there was nothing that was a lot cheaper, some of their stuff was a complete rip off. I only buy a lot of things such as cheese and beans when they're on offer anyway.

Are people just kidding themselves? I'd go again as I say some of their items were just really good quality but I wouldn't go out of my way as the few pence I save would be swallowed in petrol.

OP posts:
myusernameisusername · 01/03/2015 19:59

I think milk is very controversial subject atm none of the supermarket's pay any farmer enough for it but if you pay more for your groceries then the money will go back to the producers in theory. hopefully I'm right

wowfudge · 01/03/2015 20:00

Are you serious myusername? Yes I have been screwing farmers and producers over for years!

wowfudge · 01/03/2015 20:01

Interesting predictive text Hmm: Tesco have been screwing farmers and producers over

GokTwo · 01/03/2015 20:02

Choirmum, I think the lack of choice is a very big part of it, definitely agree with that. I find it very liberating!

ConfuddledPickle · 01/03/2015 20:04

it's because its much lower quality and pumped full of god knows what

What a load of bollocks.

Go to tesco...pick up a packet of tesco finest something. Then pick up the everyday value version and compare ingredients. I once did this with a whole shop and about 80% of them were exactly the same ingredients, made in the same place. Just posher, nicer packaging to appeal to you the snobs and double the price.

Gileswithachainsaw · 01/03/2015 20:05

See the lack of choice starts off being a good thing. then it just gets depressing and you long to see an attractive looking display that's bright and colourful and not blocked off by boxes. just once.

BoyScout · 01/03/2015 20:09

My nearest is a 40 min round trip and I've always assumed that any savings I make over the nearby Sainsburys would be lost in petrol costs. I need some kind of snazzy app to work it out and see if it's true.....

mandy214 · 01/03/2015 20:10

OP the offers dont usually apply to basics like meat / chicken / fruit and veg at the large supermarkets. So "staples" are often more expensive. And i think the cost of food has forced lots of people to menu plan and dont really shop ad-hoc based on what might be on offer anymore.

Of course there are examples where you can say cheese / crumpets etc were cheaper in Tesco but overall, as this thread demonstrates, the vast majority of people are saving.

Personally I think Tesco is dreadful and I'm not alone given their recent profitability and their value range, for most things, is dire. Yes, it might be the same price as Aldi but the quality of the product at Aldi is far superior.

Cunderthunt · 01/03/2015 20:10

I spend less in Aldi/Lidl because there is less choice I think, I can get sucked into special offers in big supermarkets on things I don't need.
I def think you can pick up more luxurious items for a steal in Lidl too.

ImperialBlether · 01/03/2015 20:11

True, Giles. I was nearly crying the first time I went to Lidl - I hadn't brought bags with me and didn't know you had to pay for them. Then I had everything thrown at me. No help from the person on the till who just sat eyeballing me until I'd put it all in the trolley.

sanfairyanne · 01/03/2015 20:12

if you only buy asda basics, it probably isnt much cheaper, just nicer

lidl has a lot of msc fish which i like. lidl costs me way more than aldi though, more choice, better quality

MkDaddy · 01/03/2015 20:13

I do find Lidl and Aldi to be cheaper, the sheer volume of items that I come out with compared to anywhere else for the same money is always larger. The problem for me though is getting everything that I want in one shop, it's not possible and generally have to go somewhere else to get the rest. My DW prefers Lidl to Aldi, I prefer Aldi because it's closer though there are certain things that Lidl do that I feel are better.

Out of the main supermarkets I really prefer Morrisons as they're not hugely expensive and like the cheaper two are great for fruit and veg at a reasonable price. 2ltr of milk can be bought for 88p, which is cheaper than anywhere else. Tesco are expensive and the only way to see true value is to shop there all year and then use the clubcard points to get a shop at the end of the year. Asda are not that great for me, lots of things for £1 makes you think it's cheap but nearly always end up spending about the same as I would in Tesco and I prefer Tescos own products to Asda. Sainsburys are good for quality but they've always been on the dear side, though for me I do pop in there on occasion purely as it's on the way home from work (I also think they have the best bakery out of the lot).

Tbh I just can't wait until I've really made it in life and get to see what weekly shopping in M&S is like!!!!!

londonrach · 01/03/2015 20:13

Ok just spend £36 in lidl. I got 3 x fresh fish, chicken, veg, fruit, organic milk (husband likes), yogs, happy eggs, 2 x bottle of wine, sandwich ham meat (husband loves the garlic ham 69p)cheese, 2 x handwash (55p each one olive, the other sensitive). Am cross with myself as forgot the apple juice and orange juice. Hubby bought the freshly baked tiger bread. Was seen following man as he took the tiger bread out of the oven. Had said tiger bread with covent garden pulled pork and beans chucky soup for lunch (soup from morrisons for 99p)..... By the way the strongest best dustbin bags are from lidl (£1.79 and very, very strong)

Vycount · 01/03/2015 20:16

Aldi chocolate cheesecake. The. Best. Ever.
Anyway, it is good that some people don't like Aldi, it's getting too busy. They'd probably make a point of carefully packing their bags at the checkout too. Grin

arthurbaby · 01/03/2015 20:18

I find aldi hugely cheaper, I usually cook from scratch and find their fresh veg etc. Much cheaper.

londonrach · 01/03/2015 20:18

Can i also report friends used to work in a certain chicken factory as uni students. (Best friend now gp). I can report that every single chicken you buy come from the same place!!!! My friends choose the prettiest chickens pieces to go in marks and spencer packets right down to the less pretty into the co op ones. All chickens came from same source and put onto same belt...

woodhill · 01/03/2015 20:19

I find lidl cheaper but also there isn't so much choice.

ImperialBlether · 01/03/2015 20:19

Never buy the piri piri chicken in Lidl. Disgusting.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 01/03/2015 20:22

Hmm well, I'm happy to be proved wrong. I want to save money wherever I can.

I'm sat comparing items online from Tesco/Aldi, and a lot of it IS really cheaper in Aldi, for example their Quorn mince is a steal, BUT I didn't see any of this stuff when I went in there.

I just had one of their corner yoghurts and I didn't like it as much as Muller, but that might be psychological.

OP posts:
GaryShitpeas · 01/03/2015 20:23

We do a weeks shop for 2 adults and 3 dc for less than 50 in Aldi. And that includes nappies and often baby milk.

I love Aldi. However, I have been shopping there for about ten years and barely anyone ever used to be in there as it was seen as embarrassing to shop there. So I hate hate hate how recently it's always crazy busy in there I just feel like screaming at everyone to fuck off out of "my"shop Grin

ghostspirit · 01/03/2015 20:25

i tried shopping in aldi/lidl i dont find it any cheaper and its impossible to do a full shop.

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 01/03/2015 20:25

Garyshitpeas I remember those days. My mum used to go there and come back with boxes as she was embarrassed.

Supermarket snobbery has now gone the other way though.

OP posts:
londonrach · 01/03/2015 20:25

Imperial just bought said chicken. Will let you know. Just enjoyed their salmon with garlic and herb butter from fresh section....

DeathMetalMum · 01/03/2015 20:26

I switched from tesco to aldi around a month or so before Christmas. My weekly shop has gone from £65-£100 to £35-£60. Depending on if I'm getting nappies/tea/coffee etc that week or not.

There is a tesco over the road from aldi so I just pick up some of the things I know they don't sell (usually spices and cooking oils) before I go into aldi.

SpottyTeacakes · 01/03/2015 20:26

BoyScout my lidl is forty minutes there and another forty minutes back. £5 in petrol for £30 saving in food though.