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Original poster

Halved my food bill...

37 replies

CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 20:54

I went to Aldi last week and my massive weekly shop came to..... £38!! Shock

I feel like I have just discovered buried treasure or something!

We had all our fruit and veg from Aldi and it lasted really well. Still got some apples, grapes and blueberries left that are still fresh.

I bought their chicken fillets, they were great. I bought their version of Muller light and thought they were pretty good too.

Their bread flour is really cheap and makes great bread. Tins of chopped tomatoes were excellent, the cheese was good and there was a big selection to choose from.

I love it. I need to do another shop now though, so the question is should I try Lidl next or quit whilst I'm ahead?

OP posts:
PonceyMcPonce · 07/02/2011 20:55

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

doonhamer · 07/02/2011 20:56

I personally prefer Aldi, I always find Lidl to not be that much cheaper.

brimfull · 07/02/2011 20:57

I thought the prices in lidl weren't that cheap last time I went.

purepurple · 07/02/2011 21:01

I have been shopping at Aldi for over a decade. we discovered it when DH was made redundant in 1998. I have shopped there ever since.
I have tried Lidl, and found that they have a bigger range and more branded products, but Aldi is still cheaper.

TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:02

What did the fruit taste like? I'm fussy about my fruit!

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:03

I bought their handwash for the bathroom and it has been fine. I also bought their cheap version of Pantene ProV and my hair still seems fine, no different really.
Bought their nappies too and am very impressed.

Couldn't buy baby formula or fruit pots, didn't buy the baby wipes so don't know about them. Still going to pop into Tesco Metro to get the Ellas Kitchen baby food sachets for when we are out, the formula and the fruit pots but otherwise got everything I think.

I'm thinking I might Aldi every week and do a Tesco shop every month to get the missing things, that will still work out massively cheaper.

I'm so pleased. It puts about £30 odd quid back in the kitty every week!

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 07/02/2011 21:05

Lidl is not as good quality as Aldi
Fruit and veg good but simple range, ie not a lot of exotics

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:07

The fruit was great. The kiwi was lovely and juicy, the bananas were good with a choice of big ones or 'fun size' smaller ones, I went for big ones (after all, size matters!).
The apples were good, went for little ones but there were a few varieties to choose from. The red grapes were really good, nice and sweet, not at all sharp. I think they were something like £1.40 for a whole punnet.
The blueberries were 69p, you can't beat that.

I was goign to post last week to say how cheap it was but thought I'd wait the week to see what the food was like before singing its praises.

Sounds like I might stay with Aldi and not do Lidl.

OP posts:
BikeRunSki · 07/02/2011 21:07

Their ready made bread and cakes are good too. Baked beans a bit horrid; frozen food fine. Nappies are fab btw!

I wouldn't bother with Lidl, although they sell more branded stuff if you are fussy about that kind of thing (McVities biscuits, Coca Cola).

TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:09

Well I am impressed with the recommendations. I think I will have a look there when I next go shopping.

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:11

BodyOf I would definitely try it, even if you don't like it its worth a try.

My DH says the fake twix bars, called Jive, are better than real twix and has put in an order for more.

OP posts:
nannynobnobs · 07/02/2011 21:12

I do love Aldi. My friend was very snobbish about it, refusing to try it insisting that their own brands would be rubbish. She finally gave in a few months ago out of curiosity and now never shops anywhere else :)
I highly recommend their cream cheese, we get through rather a lot- way nicer than Philly! I can't think of anything of theirs that has been inferior actually.

TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:13

I certainly shall. We're a bit strapped this month (still suffering from an overly-generous Xmas!) so I'm pleased to have seen this thread.

TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:14

BTW, are their fake Muller Lights fat free?

I've just told DP about the thread and he said he heard Aldi gammon steaks are meant to be really good.

lipslave · 07/02/2011 21:15

Ooh I love Aldi. Started shopping there whilst on mat leave and am hooked. It's not possible to get everything I need, but fruit and veg, cheese and meat good. And increasing range of fair-trade/free-range stuff. Also booze aisle perfectly serviceable :o

Once you shop there for a while you feel a fool shopping in sainsbury's where a lot of stuff is the same, but about 30% more expensive.

Also cereals good, and chocolate.

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:15

I feel like everything is shooting up price wise, like petrol. We decided 2 years ago that we were committed to me being a SAHM but the financial squeeze has really started and its going to get worse I think.
I'm so pleased to find somewhere I can genuinely save money.

OP posts:
cheesesarnie · 07/02/2011 21:15

ive never been to aldi.not sure theres one near me.i go to lidls for most of the weeks shop,then tescos for cheese,cat food and vegetarian bits.

TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:16

I'd find booze to suit me anywhere!

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:18

Body Yes, they said fat free on them. I had to look for them though, they had quite a lot of yoghurts to choose from. I'm on slimming world so they needed to be fat free.

I was worried about the kids fromage frais having a lot more sugar than Petit filous ones, but they both have about 12.4g of sugar per 100g so happy to get them too. I think they have more colour additives though from the look of them.

OP posts:
TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:20

I'm on SW too (although you wouldn't have known from what I ate and drank this weekend!).

Original poster
CostaLotCoffee · 07/02/2011 21:20

Body My DH has just had the gammon steaks for his dinner. He says, yes, they are good!

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TheMonster · 07/02/2011 21:23

Right, well we shall definitely be going there in the next few days then. Smile

DreamTeamGirl · 08/02/2011 22:40

Cost Just to mention, if it is the Brooklea yoghurts then they have 1 syn (no idea why)

greenlotus · 09/02/2011 14:27

It's true, a trolley at Aldi/Netto/Lidl always used to be £50ish where a mainstream supermarket is £100ish. You just have to abandon your pretensions re brands, and make the most of what they have. And once you get to be a regular you spot what is coming in on a special (e.g. icing sugar) and stock up for the year.

There's very little at Aldi I've found to be dubious except the fake Pringles Grin

reikizen · 09/02/2011 14:29

right, that's me sold. I've been humming & ha-ing for a while but now I'm going to try it (MN told me to!)