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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think Aldi isn't that brillinat?

190 replies

ssd · 27/02/2017 15:49

maybe I just haven't got into the hang of it yet, but I've been going for a while now, and whilst some of it is a lot cheaper than say asda, I just find some of their stuff not that great and I'm having to go to asda to buy it again

anyone else like that?

OP posts:
OhSoggyBiscuit · 27/02/2017 20:44

I like Lidl and wish there was one closer so I could do a regular shop there, but I don't rate the fruit and veg quality- seemed to go off very quickly. And I thought Tesco fruit and veg was bad quality! Also the checkouts are often chaos with not enough open and huge long lines.

cowgirlsareforever · 27/02/2017 20:45

Bless your DP Frouby for getting all excited playing the guess how much game Smile

WatchingIZombie · 27/02/2017 20:46

Just for you, SoupDragon!

to think Aldi isn't that brillinat?
cluelessjane · 27/02/2017 20:48

Just did my fortnightly food shop in Aldi, there's only the very odd occasion we have to go to ASDA to find something that aldi didn't have. Spent £65 for 2 adults, don't know if that's good or not but we eat ridiculously well and that price included toilet roll and other cleaning stuff we needed. I love Aldi!!! Plus it's also the nearest supermarket to me- 2 mins walk away

TheFairyCaravan · 27/02/2017 20:50

I've never had veg with a four digit code on, it's always had the date on it. In our shop, you go in straight to the veg, then it's the bakery bit then the meat. It's almost exactly the same layout, excluding the aisle of bad decisions, as Tesco.

DH prefers Aldi crumpets to Kingsmill. I don't mind their Shreddies, in fact I prefer own brand Shreddies, they're less sweet. As a rule no one likes any other cornflakes than Kellogs. The kids eat the corner yoghurts with absolutely no complaint. DH wasn't fussed on their whole nut chocolate, but he ate the whole bar to find that out!

cowgirlsareforever · 27/02/2017 20:55

I think the malted loaf is my favourite ever bread.

Vegansnake · 27/02/2017 21:00

I've an Aldi and Lidl Near me, get them confused..no vegan chesse or soya milk..but one of them is really good at labling things vegan..it's just frustrating I can't do a full shop there.

OhtoblazeswithElvira · 27/02/2017 21:12

In our Aldi the fresh food looks good but goes off very quickly. Shopping there is a waste of money. I've had meat that was off when I went to cook it, 20 mins after buying it, well within date. So many bad experiences with rank smelling meat, I will not give them another chance. I wouldn't touch their fish with a bargepole. And to be quite honest it's not that much cheaper than the basic ranges in other supermarkets.

In terms of looks our Aldi is definitely like something out of a Communist era film... grim lighting, real vintage 70s lino floor, surly staff and weird produce that looks like rejects from another country.

LowDudgeon · 27/02/2017 21:46

WatchingIZombie the Aldis I use used to have the 4 digit date codes (which can be worked out quite easily Wink) but now, like soupdragon's have actual best before dates on.

Although the dates are pretty silly as on a given day they are the same for eg potatoes & salad, whereas spuds will keep for weeks in a cool cupboard & sald definitely won't

LowDudgeon · 27/02/2017 21:48

Ohtoblazes, IME the fish & meat from my Aldi keeps well right up to its use by date (& in the case of mince I've used it later)(I like to live dangerously)

SoupDragon · 27/02/2017 21:57

WatchingIZombie Just for you!

to think Aldi isn't that brillinat?
SoupDragon · 27/02/2017 21:59

As an aside, the carrots are best before 22 Jan and still firm and clean!

Doyouwantabrew · 27/02/2017 22:15

Their big pizzas are lovejy.

No don't worry about the chuck. I get the bags ready and pride myself on packing just as they scan.

Sometimes falls down with my baby grandson in tow though Grin

CurlsandCurves · 27/02/2017 22:22

I do most if my shop at Aldi then head over the road to Morrisons for what I can't get. This includes deodorant (brand slave to my fave), the beer DH likes. I don't like their cold cooked meats, can't get their butter to spread, the kids don't like their ketchup.

I find their fruit and veg lasts just fine. Shower gel is great, bubble bath is very good and lasts a heck of a lot longer than branded stuff, and I do know my bubble bath! DH is a cheese nut and says the basic Aldi mature cheddar is one of the best he's tasted.

MikeUniformMike · 27/02/2017 22:23

I buy veg there and it is fine.
I like the hummus, eggs, cheese (goes off quite quickly once opened), veg, toiletries, washing powder, chocolates.
Cat loves the cat food and it's heaps cheaper at £1.75 for 12 100g pouches.
Haven't been to Lidl for ages since they stopped selling the green Cien shampoo.

I also like Waitrose and most of what I buy there is cheaper than Tesco. I pop in to Tesco quite often for basics. Not been to Asda for years as there isn't one locally - I used to like the clothes.

Limitededition7inch · 27/02/2017 23:17

Nope, I don't like it either. It's cheap but I get annoyed having to finish off my shop at one of the other supermarkets.

Mind you, I don't get the Waitrose hype either because I much prefer Booths so really, I shouldn't even be on MN.

LowDudgeon · 27/02/2017 23:27

Oh Booths! Blimey!

DH bought mince there on Saturday because that's where he was & we needed some.

500g of ordinary cheap 20% fat mince cost £4.50

I nearly fainted when I saw it. It's £1.59 at Aldi & £2 at Sainsburys.

Shock
Limitededition7inch · 27/02/2017 23:37

It's not for the faint hearted price wise, is it?! I go to my local one when we have guests up and I need nice bits of food. I love all their Christmas stuff.

Limitededition7inch · 27/02/2017 23:38

But it is by no means a regular shop!

LowDudgeon · 27/02/2017 23:43

Not for the faint-hearted, no! Grin It is nice for treats, & we did buy a rib roast & loads of canapes at Christmas. I always get things like dry-cured bacon, interesting drinks & vine tomatoes there too.

He goes every Sat morning & spends the min £10 to get the free paper & coffee. The reduction fridge stuff is still quite expensive, but even so he blanched at the price of the mince!

SoupDragon · 28/02/2017 07:15

When did we change into needing to get all our shopping in one shop? I remember shopping with my mother when I was little and we would go to the supermarket and several other shops. It is interesting how things change.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/02/2017 07:23

I guess people are just busier now.

There is also a difference between getting most of what you need and picking up one or two items else where that aren't urgent and can just be got on way back from work one day and literally having to do half or 3/4 of your entire shop elsewhere which is what we had to do.

Between jobs and school homework and general things to do having to shop then go home and put stuff in freezer then either going back out or setting aside another largish chunk of time to get what you need to last you the week.

I also can't be doing with the unreliability of a shop of which aldi is the worst by far round here for

I expect to go shopping and perhaps find that they sold out of one brand due to an offer however there are own brands and alternatives to choose from. I expect to not be able to get one or two items.

However walking into a shop and discovering there's little or no fruit or veg or salad and what is there is walking to the skip itself in desperation and then being unable to source something basic like a cab of coconut milk or a bag if flour which can be found pretty much in the smallest most run down corner shop really made me question why I even bothered.

Plus imo savings are negated by having to spend petrol or cab fares or bus fares and the sheer extra time taken.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/02/2017 07:25

Spending the money going back out or visiting alternative shops that should say.

SoupDragon · 28/02/2017 07:34

Not sure why my comment prompted that rant! 😂

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/02/2017 07:37

It wasn't a rant Smile

I know why you mean I remember being taken to markets and stopping off at the local newspaper shop fir 10 pence worth on the way home from school.

But I do remember also spending hours in tesco with my dad refusing to let my mum.buy anything cos it was too expensive he must have sent hours reading labels Grin

I do mine on line. Soooo much easier and I can drink Wine while I do it.