anyone shop at lidl?

[gingernutlover]

just that really!

i need to start spenidng less on the weekly shop and was wondering what other think of lidl. I went with a freind last week (didn't actually buy anything) and noticed they seem to do a good range of products at much cheaper prices.

wondering iof its worth trying - just questions marks on the quality really and whether its worth the saving

I do for some things.

In fact I'm stopping by this afternoon - there's one just up the road - to look for stocking fillers.

thanks expat - do you find they don't do everything though?

I am not sure I want to go shopping more than once

I shop mostly at the farmer's market, but I do use Lidl for specialty items, like their parmesan cheese, b/c yes, they don't do everything.

They lack some basics.

Although the larger stores carry the big bags of rice and other grains.

It's perfectly possible to buy a full week's shop from Lidl but the choice isn't as wide as a normal supermarket and can get a bit boring after a while. Now I tend to shop there every 3 weeks or so, stock up on dry goods and supplement from other shops.

okay - think I might give it a go later then - thanks.

also, is the quality okay?

I remeber my mum buying some sausgaes from lidl which were nasty but this was 10 years ago when I lived at home (feeling old emoticon)

yes I do "cook" but also do quick and easy stuff for the 3 days I work

the coffee and wines are brilliant and excellent value .

pasta bake, oven chips etc

yes dads girlfriends told me about cheap beer last nigth

Quality is fab though I'm veggie so have no experience of sausages! My personal highlights are wine, chocolate, cheese, frozen fish, mozerella and pesto pizza. The only things I've really hated from there were baked beans and soup.

okay thanks profyaffle I dont really buy much beans etc - just that dh doesn't like the idea of cheap food (he doesn't pay for it!)

yes - great when do half price fruit and veg...good for fruit juices too....have had minced beef from there and it was fine - good for basics...

also excellent chopped and plum tomatoes and pizza sauce.

right I am cnvinced sod dh and his "cheap food" phobia

I go occasionally, but its a 30 inute walk and with no car and an active 18mo its a bit difficult. I tend to do tesco cos they deliver. but lidl is alot cheaper and i'm promising myself I'll work out a routine that means we can go in one day a week.

quality alwyas seems fine and you get branded stuff sometimes for half the price of other shops

If you like convenience foods - the ready meal baltis from Lidl are good and much cheaper than Sainsbury etc.
moneysavingexpert has a 'marks out of 10' type chart for Aldi, lidl and Netto.
The veg is OK, but needs using up quickly.
chocolate is good
ham, bacon and sausage all good
cheeses good and cheap
dry goods - pasta, rice, flour, sugar v cheap and good.
bread is minging

Hi Gingernut.

I would love to shop at Lidl or Aldi as both do really good value food - and quality is same as a 'major shops' own brand and in some cases better.

Netto is another good one and they often have brand label stuff at really low prices. My only advice - if you're like me is try not to fill the trolley with yummy biscuits and snacks - just because they are a much better price, I end up spening just as much cos I got so much nice food

Should add, I dont get to go half as much as I would like as I dont drive and there are no branches anywahere near me. I have to rely on DH driving me there which he doesnt like to do as he also has a 'quality' phobia. He will only tolerate it if I tell him I have £10 for a weeks food.

I find some things really good value.
I normally buy

pesto
basmati rice
tagliatelle
olive oil
parmesaen
coleslaw
hams
tin tomatoes
bottled water
chocolate
unsalted nuts
smoked salmon

and you get to browse through the weirdy special stuff, plastic shoes and large corduroy trousers.