WhiCh is 'better'.... Lidl or Aldi ??

[belcantwait]

In your opinion? Got to start budget shopping, the weekly shop depresses me no end and we seem to be forever broke so off to Lidl or Aldi tomorrow but want to go to the 'best' one so it doesn't put me off!

Fanks!

Pleeaaassssse x

I'm an Aldi fan but probably because Lidl is a bit further away from where I live. You will save a fortune in Aldi - can't really comment for Lidl.

I like Aldi - some really good quality items, I use them quite often. I have been in a Lidl and was not impressed.

There's only one way to find out...fight!!

No, but Aldi is better for food quality.

They are good for different things, but both are great value.

Lidl great for fruit & veg, especially organic. Also if your local one has a bakery, the products are amazing. Especially the apple pastries .

Aldi good for everything really but their fruit & veg section isn't great in my local store.

Ok so 2 votes for Aldi
thanks!

What stuff isgood? Is it all own-brand ?? and, most importantly, will the dcs notice the difference?

I love Lidl, but that's probably because Aldi is in the back of beyond for me.

I think they're both probably very good for different things IYSWIM.

I like aldi better, seems more choice and more stuff I'd actually buy/eAt. Local lidl is a bit grubby.

There's another thread running re what to buy in Aldi if you do a search

Twoifbysea... That's what dh said!! Gotta love Harry hill!

Hmmmm don't think our Lidl has a bakery. Went there years ago and it seemed to be mostly odd bits and bobs ( thermal vests and screwdriver sets!!) though idid notice a whopping veg section. Hmmmm how well does the veg/fruit last from these places??

Lasts much longer than the veg in tesco.

Does it really ????? Gosh fancy that! Thatseven better then! Can't bear doing loads of top-up shops

Agree Lidl fruit and veg good. They don't always have as much stuff as stores line tesco, but I tend to look at what's nice and work my menus round that.

Their pitta, part bake bread, dried pasta, tinned tomatoes, sweetcorn and tomato puree are all good. Plus chorizo, ham, potato salad,kids love their yoghurts; all much cheaper than other shops. Their chocolate and biscuits good too. Plus offers on cereals, tho I reckon their own brand ok as cereal pretty rank anyway.

Small bottles of beer ok too, and they did delicious mulled wine at Christmas

I prefer Lidl, but just cos there's no Aldi near me I think. I find the best things are stuff like cold meats and cheese (they have a massive selection), biscuits, cosmetics and household cleaners, bread, herbs/spices, fruit and veg, breakfast cereal (get the choco cups, they're delicious and unhealthy as hell)...they normally have a lot of the normal tins of food too. They always have tons of German chocolate that costs about twice the price in other supermarkets.

Bought some mince there before Christmas. It was NOT NICE. Went really really dry.

I do find that I need to buy other stuff from Tesco and Sainsburys but then I love cooking. If you're not that into it, you could probably get by just on Aldi/Lidl

Yes. I don't buy all my list in aldi/lidl but i do have time to shop around as I'm within walking distance of many different shops. I still use tesco more than I like as Im a sucker for some brands. However, I never buy meat, fruit or veg in tesco anymore as I find the majority of it really bad quality. There are some great threads on here with lidl/aldi best buys. Have a peek.

I prefer Aldi, and I have a Lidl close by too.
Aldi's mostly own brand, but I can do almost a full week's shopping there, which I find I can't do it Lidl.
Fruit n veg are good
cleaning products-brilliant, think a couple of items have won good Good Housekeeping or Which awards
meat-couldn't fault it
dairy-fantastic selection of cooked meats, v reasonable prices
toiletries-think it's just toothpaste we have left to try, but liquid soap, shaving gel, shower gel, make up wipes are all great

Ooh thanks for all the tips

Is it VERY sad that I'm almost looking forward to it?!
Now tell me, is it a complete faux pas to load the stuff into bags at the checkout or do I just dump it all back into the trolley first?

you MUST dump it back into the trolley-'tis the law of Aldi

I prefer Lidl- much more European food than Aldi. Aldi always seems a bit vanilla to me. I like the exoticness of Lidl.

Aldi is closest to us but I've found the fruit and veg I've bought from there to be really good, lots of good offers on their fresh stuff too. The nearest Lidl is a bit grubby looking tbh.

Fantastic for art supplies when they're doing the special offers though!

Both have really good own brand cleaning products - from washing up liquid to bin liners I've not been disappointed. Used Lidl nappies on my dts and they were as good as the pricier named brands.

Good selection of dried pasta in both. Lidl jam is really nice.

Lidl here as no Aldi.

Tips - take £1 for trolley and don't forget your bags!!!

When waiting in (tediously long) queue at checkout, prepare bags in trolley to dump heavy stuff straight into bags. Then sort out the rest after checkout.

Like washing powder (which? best buy), fruit, veg, tinned stuff, packets and dairy. Copious amounts of treats there too. Don't go when hungry!!!!!

Don't like meat, fresh or frozen or toilet roll!!!!

Enjoy!!!!

I go to aldi, my dh was bought up in a house where brands are the norm but he happily eats there tinned peas (sigh) and baked beans, he bought Heinz beans on Sunday and hated them.

I don't like the ready meals but everything else has been nice.

The frozen turkey breast with stuffing and bacon top is a favorite here.

There's another thread on credit crunch for £5 off a £30 shop inthe mirror this Thursday.

I think Lidl is great but ours is so dark and quite depressing.

I load my shopping into the bags in Aldi (shame on me, shame on me). But I organise the shopping on the conveying belt so it makes no difference,

Do they say card or cash at your Aldis? Mine does.