My month at Aldi experiment

[Pippioddstocking]

So after reading so many threads on here about Aldi I decided for a month to swap from my usual combination of asda and waitrose to Just Aldi . I brought all my usual things and have just done my final shop for the month .
It's been AMAZING . I've saved nearly 250 pounds and quite frankly I think the food has been nicer and better quality . I'm a total convert .

Anyone else found this ? I just can't get how the other supermarkets get away with charging so much more ?

When people say they can't do a full shop at Aldi I always wonder what else they need to buy that they can't get in Aldi. The only things I but at tesco now are chicken stock pot gels as I don't like the Aldi stock cubes, custard and Maggi chicken sheets and occasionally legs of lamb if they are on offer.

I converted to Lidl about 10 years ago. To begin with I felt it wasn't possible to do a full shop but the range has expanded and with time you adapt so you don't need the stuff they don't sell anymore (which also saves money). I agree most stuff is better than Tesco, especially if you look at similar price points.

Dh conned persuaded me to go back to Tesco last weekend because he'd seen some beer on offer. I spent the whole trip going "how much?" and the minuscule amount of shopping we got for £70, compared to what I could have got in Lidl ruined my whole day.

The range of tinned pulses is limited Dame. I wanted Cannelini beans not so long ago and they didn't have them. I prefer branston baked beans to Aldi's (I think it is more what you are used to, rather than anything being nice/not nice) so will get a pack or two when in another supermarket.

The 'not selling absolutely everything' doesn't matter to me though because I don't do a regular weekly shop, but shop for the storecupboard instead. Anything that can't be bought in Aldi stays on the list and when I am near another supermarket or decide other things are needed I will go to another shop instead.

Oh actually, I stock up on butter beans and cannelloni beans too-I buy loads in one go so I forget they don't magic themselves into my cupboard

I fucking love aldi! About £30 a week saved and shopping done in less than half an hour. Oven chips are shit though

Have you tried the chunky fancy finest chips? They're lovely! Cheaper ones are horrible though.

What don't Aldi sell? Well I like Flash Bathroom and they don't sell that. Nor do they stock the dentistix I buy for the dog, or Zoflora, or thick 0% fat Greek yoghurt, a full range of herbs and spices or plain couscous. But they have the majority of the things I want and, like I stated in my earlier post, it's across the road from Morrisons so I just go there afterwards.

Also, I shop on Friday after work and sometimes Aldi is getting its delivery so there can be gaps on the shelves. No big deal. The savings at Aldi are well worth it.

They don't sell AFAIK-

Felix As Good as it Looks
Heinz Tomato Ketchup
Cillit Bang

They dont sell giant yorkshire puddings

sparkling- I always see that as Clit Bang and think "ouch"

I don't get on with aldi and don't find it cheaper.

I shop very cannily anyway, and go to three supermarkets to eek out the best deals. I have a running tally of prices in my head, and do my meal planning depending on where's cheaper, and what deals are on.

I have a lovely butchers, and green grocer, and cook everything from scratch. My weekly shop is for fresh foods, and my monthly shop is for store cupboards- tesco is as cheap for tinned toms etc, has more variety, and delivers.

I wait for specials on things like dishwasher and washing powder and buy in bulk.
I found the aldi brand detergents to be very poor in comparison with Persil, or finish.
The skin are stuff I'd ok if you don't mind the smells, but I don't buy expensive high end stuff anyway- I prefer organic skin are and no sls or parabens.

I don't like the knock off booze- tasts nasty to me. I prefer to drink less of better quality.
And who needs the brioche? It's just cake

Aldi? Meh.

Very much like Aldi. The OH loves it.

Most stuff is great, one or 2 things I have to get elsewhere.

I still like Tesco (always been my store) and I feel comfy shopping there.

Also like Asda for everything except their fruit and veg; Asda`s fruit and veg is atrocious - looks rotten in a day, never had any good stuff from there. So on that count Aldi wipes the floor with Asda.

Bakes

Think I found that out the other week. Tiny yorkie puds only at Aldi.

People who buy ready-made yorkies have no business trying to pretend they shop frugally

3 giant Yorkies at Asda or morrisons were £1 I think Alias. terribly dear.

Aldi ready made Yorkies are 50p

The tiny ones are delicious, much nicer than aunt Bessie ime.

Giant ones Dame? Really?

Y'see I have to have the giant ones and put the stew in them.

Lidl doesn't sell sugar-free peanut butter, wholemeal bagels or sliced unimproved bread, custard tarts, aerosol cream, toilet limescale remover, or brown rice, and will usually have sold out of some general basic item like eggs, milk, or carrots.

However the fruit and veg are 2/3 the price of Sainsburys, ditto the excellent cheese, deli meat, eggs, ready meals, frozen food, and then dishwasher, laundry and cleaning products, And nappies are half the price or less.

So if I just need " food for a week" and similar, Lidl is great. Instead of 70 a week at Sainsburys, it's now more like 25 at Lidl and 20 at Sainsburys. I can get a trolley-worth at Lidl into my shopping trolley at cashier speed!

Aldi DO sell 0% fat Greek yoghurt. Most of their cleaning products are the same or better than brand stuff, I'm convinced they come off the same line with different labels.

Ah now I'm going to have to get on my high horse Sparkling. £1 for Yorkshires is really expensive.

15 eggs = 1.25
1.5kg flour = 45p
4 pints milk = £1

1 egg 8p
75g flour 2.25p
75ml milk 3.3p

Total less than 15p

Even if you need to make double for 3 giant ones, £1 is not cheap.

Obviously, you are at perfect liberty to spend your hard earned on the exact Yorkshire puddings you prefer but people who argue processed food isn't more expensive are kidding themselves.

£1 for 3 is fine by me Alias. No way will I be making Yorkie puds myself.

The only things I think I will have to continue to get else where are bottle green cordial for dh ( he won't drink the other types but he doesn't drink alcohol so I don't begrudge him that ) decaf filter coffee and tinned pulses.
Everything else I have managed to find ok.

Now I love Aldi but they categorically don't sell the thick 0% fat Greek yoghurt that's like Total or Liberte. It is like natural yoghurt and not the same texture by a country mile!