to think Aldi/Lidl aren't THAT cheap?

[carlajean]

I go to one or the other now and again, and come home thinking 'blimey, all that food for so little money' but there is always at least one item which is disgusting (this time it was the cider - it tasted like fizzy apple juice with several teaspoons of sugar added). So, if you factor out the horrible stuff, it really isn't that much of a bargain, IMO.
I haven't got time to shop there for what IS good, and then go somewhere else for all the other stuff, and I can never get everything I need from them.
I know they're amazingly popular, but can't see why.

YABU

but it really works best if you buy mainly raw ingredients and cook from scratch - and eat limited meat

but it really works best if you buy mainly raw ingredients

no it doesnt if the veg has gone limp and mouldy within two days.

bruffin I think you have been incredibly unlucky.

I find my Lidl veg lasts as long as I'd expect (which is about 2 weeks after buying, more for potatoes, root veg and squashes), and their corn on the cob lasts far better than Waitrose's.

Aldi is brilliant for fruit and veg and I save loads of money on it. Plus all the other supermarkets have baby corn and things like that on 2 for £3 or whatever which means doing maths all the time and double checking you're within the 'offer' rules rather than just chucking what you want in the trolley. I also do Ocado but don't get fresh produce after having green bananas and going off strawberries too many times. I know they refund but I actually want the food.

I think Aldi steak is one of the best you can buy.I do like Aldi and Lidl but i find wiht 7 of us living here theres not enough choice to go every week.But i do find it very good if im a bit short some weeks.

I dont think i have been unlucky, i have been to too many Lidls for that to be the case. and there are a lot of other posters on here saying the same thing.

My local supermarkets are Aldi and Co Op. Aldi wins apart from bread and some ready to cook meals (the traybake chicken things in co op saved us when we were frantically renovating while I was pregnant.

Aldi veg fine for me and the selection is about as good as the local Sainsbury but being walkable and cheaper wins. 20 odd minute drive to big superstore and better selection.

Tend to try things and blind taste test where possible.

There are also lots of people saying that they have no problems with the fruit and veg from lidl.

I buy the majority of my fruit and veg there every week and have never had anything turn mouldy the day after I bought it. In fact I've got British grown raspberries that I bought on Saturday in the fridge, still fresh and delicious and half the price of ocado.

I've been shopping in Aldi for over 20 years and I don't think I can ever think of any time that anything has been off within the use by date. I would use Lidl equally, but don't have one close by.

I also like the lack of special offers meaning I can just buy what I need when I need it, rather than having to find something on offer to avoid paying over the odds.

I also have strawberries and raspberries from last weekends delivery british grown and still fresh. Your point is what exactly. I would have spent an hour walking there and back carry heavy shopping, not worth the few pennies I would have saved and the veg is normally poor quality.

I've found it hit and miss but never really felt like it was massively bargainous. I've had some lovely fresh produce like really sweet juicy oranges and some awful like 3 out 4 onions in a net being rotten. Cold meat and cheese always good, tend not to buy loads of biscuits but I think that's an area where you can save a lot.

I don't think YABU, everyone seems to rave about saving all this money changing from Sainsbury's/Tesco but I don't find any difference at all. Except the quality. Of all our local supermarkets Sainsbury's food is the best quality, but Morrison's is cheapest.
We shop with Tesco usually as we prefer their delivery service over everyone else but honestly the price is much of a muchness. Whenever I fancy a change and go to Aldi I spend the same, have shitter stuff and hate every moment of it.

Had bad experiences with Lydls meat and I find I come out having spent a fortune on junk and random stuff - I'll be sticking with my local butchers and Tescos I think...

Our local Lidl is truly crap, but mil goes and hers sounds different. Aldi is much better as yes it is cheaper slightly than the others Tinned tomatoes are not a pound in Sainsbury though that's nonsense and saving 40 quid er ok then ....I wouldn't.

Different supermarkets are good for different things, I think you get the best value if you use different ones.

I need my shopping delivered so it usually isn't an option for me to go to Aldi anyway.