Lidl - what's worth buying?

[jbg]

I'm tightening my belt and have decided to shop in Lidl which is close to home. I've already discovered Formil washing liquid (whites & colours) recommended by MN - its fine. Any other recommendations so i don't make any unnecessary buys.

they do cheap but lovely chocolate!
I think their fresh fruit and veg is pretty good too and there are usually some very good offers

haven't tried the olive oil or parmesan but will definitely do so now

but beware, their cheeses were on a BBC3 program about cheese from hormone affected cows in the USA.

they also had some good xmas cards, tags and wrapping paper etc yesterday when I popped in-looked good value ie not cheap looking though I didn't have much time to browse

I go to Lidl for their

W5 dishwasher tablets - £1.48 for 30 or something and they are great.

Jaffa cakes - called Orange Cakes and blardy lovely.

Pickled red cabbage in a jar. Yum.

Nuremberg pork sausages - lovely, slightly spicy.

Paprika crisps in a big red bag - nom nom nom.

Caramel slices also good.

Ditto choc brownies.

Thanks everyone for all the tips, i'm going to make a list of all recommendations for next trip.

I'm British, 43 yrs old and been living in Madrid for last 2 yrs. Moved w/work, I'm a secretary. Unfortunately, I'm ball & chained to an IVA for another 3yrs which is why I NEED to economise (got myself in debt over a no. of yrs. although by the end, half the debt was interest...). Don't know why I had a sudden uurge to tell all! Also, I'm not a mum but my friend, Shona, has been singing MN praises for ages...

Lidl is just down the road from where I live.
Yesterday, I tried their red pesto sauce and its ok - nothing special but fine for work lunch. I'll try the green one soon.

Thanks again, Can't believe I'm looking forward to my next grocery shop!

Ooh, I've just remembered something else I always buy from there (but don't tell, it's a secret ) - their face moisturiser cream is excellent, IIRC it's £1.99, lasts ages and feels really expensive. I went away for a fortnight & took something else with me and really noticed the difference. It's called Q10, and they do day & night versions.

The frozen fish in breadcrumbs is nice, but quite often has bones in.

The marzipan chocolate sweets or just any of their marzipan. It is wonderful.

Wafer biscuits.
Marmalade.
Mini stollen

Oooh I want to go now!

i went today, spent £59 on a shop i just KNOW could have easily been £90+ elsewhere. vine tomatoes are on offer, i got two bagfuls (probably about 15 toms) for £1.74. cucumbers 29p.

btw the eridanous almond nougat at 69p is TO DIE FOR and i have already 'tested' the 'da firenze' florentines which are also lovely. nice box, too, so at £1.68 a pack (for eighteen chocs) i'll buy some more to take to houses over christmas.

oh, and the spiced biscuits (i think either 99p or 1.08) are like those ones you get in coffee shops, very lush and extremely good value as there are heaps in the pack.

this makes it sound like i eat a lot of biscuits...

I don't know the name, but they have these gorgeous caramel wafer "disks" (exactly the same as those sold in Starbucks) that is worth the trip alone!

My dh likes the olives in a clear plastic rectangular tray. But not the stuffed ones! I use lidl toilet rolls, kitchen rolls, soap powder and things like oil and sugar.

do they? i've only seen them in aldi. not for me, of course... but dd LOVES them in hot chocolate when we go camping.

Apricot jam.

Stollen.

Lightly smoked ham, I buy lots of this and freeze it.

Cloudy lemonade.

Aloe vera loo rolls.

Hand cream, actually better than the Dove handcream which they also sell.

Chardonay.

It's been a few years, but their whisky is ok too.

Aitch, well, I haven't been recently, but they had last time we went. I sincerely hope they still do, as planning on going this weekend!

i'll look out for them.... if only lidl would start doing the mini bries with green peppercorns then i could ditch aldi altogehter.

Hmm, I'm tempted to try Aldi now... Have never been, but those bries do sound rather nice!

rice noodles
jasmine rice
parma ham
nappies
parmesan
cereals
fake ryvita
brioche (too nice!)
frozen tuna

The Lidl christmas pud scored more stars than Harvey Nicks's pud in today's Observer mag. Arf.

I like some of their sandwich meat... the veg can be good -round here its a monday when it comes in and is at its best.

Bratwurst

muffins etc - much cheaper

cream cheese

cream cakes

I love the frozen margarita pizza

In addition to what people have posted above: ice lollies, generic ibuprofen/ibuleve gel/paracetamol. Wine and beer are good as well as thier crisps and snacks - cheesy biscuits are yummy.

smoked salmon, gravadlax and salami are also v good.

Also really worth getting on their mailing list so they send you their 'specials'. I have got my DS a set of thermal underwear for 2 quid, some lovely slippers for not much more and some really good cycling tops for me.

lidls is great, we have been shopping there for about a year now,

all there pizzas are great, and the come in packs of 2.

all the speciality meats are amazing, i grew up in germany so its fab that i can get those things and there not over-priced.