Is lidl actually cheaper?

[FunctionalSkills]

I have been trying to shop at Lidl a bit to save some pennies but I'm rubbish at remembering what things cost across supermarkets (or for more than about 5minutes anyway).

I noticed the other day something that was cheaper in asda - is lidl actually cheaper on the whole than asda?

I do quite like the small shop though!

Overall it's cheaper.

www.which.co.uk/reviews/supermarkets/article/supermarket-price-comparison-aPpYp9j1MFin#which-is-the-cheapest-supermarket-in-2022

Supermarket
Average basket price
Aldi
£77.21
Lidl
£78.57
Tesco
£87.60
Asda
£87.66
Sainsbury's
£89.85
Morrisons
£93.49
Ocado
£96.09
Waitrose
£104.11

As a pp said, overall it's cheaper.

That's really helpful!

Very shocked at the tesco/asda similarity. We were asda shoppers and I really felt the difference the times I went into Tescos!

Lidl is generally cheaper overall.
Other shops tend to have things on offer to draw you in but everything else is more expensive.
One good thing about Lidl
/Aldi is that they are small and you tend to buy what you need rather than swayed by promotions and multibuys.

I tend to buy budget brands, so I find going to Asda or Tesco ends up costing about the same as Lidl overall

I think it's much cheaper for own brand goods and the quality is far superior to the "value" lines in the other supermarkets.

There's not so much difference for branded things.

Ah scrolling down the article when they compare a larger shop of over 100 items asda seems quote a bit cheaper than lidl most months but they don't put aldo/lidl in that comparison (presumably as some of it is branded?)

I wonder if I buy less in lidl due to less choice. I certainly find it less exhausting than "big" asda or tesco.

The one that surprised me from the above list was Morrisons. I always think of it as a cheap shop, but it obviously isn’t!

I'm looking mainly at meat/veg/cheese which isn't really branded and very happy with a copy for cereal /snacks.

I do like their posh tomatoes - they taste so good but quite pricey. So I guess I spend more on those. But they're really good!

We dont have many morrisons but the ones I do see I think of like coop- not cheap but not waitrose/m and s territory either.

I think it depends on what you buy. I found Asda really reasonable for quite a few things I regularly buy, but it's too far away for me to use so only go occasionally when I'm with my friend who drives.

Within 10 mins walking distance I have aldi, sainsburys, tesco and Iceland so i tend to stick to these. I find the best thing is to try and remember the expensive things prices. Eg wash powder and toiletries and make sure I buy in the cheapest place. Things like value tins are all pretty similar in price in all the supermarkets.

From a pure 'cost at checkout' perspective I find them to be slightly cheaper than Tesco or equivalent, but I no longer shop in Lidl because I find their fresh veg goes rotten within a day or two of purchase, whereas the exact same items bought from Tesco often last weeks, or even months when stored no differently.

This is important because I live alone, so I don't want to have to be throwing away 2/3rds of even the smallest bags of potatoes, tomatoes etc.

It really depends what you buy and your local Lidl store because some seem to have very different standards of quality (I think down to delivery dates and staff) However, I do find that pretty much every time I shop at Lidl, I throw something away- often meat- that is just rancid when I open the pack. Their fruit and veg is almost guaranteed to have at least one inedible item in each pack, no matter how well I check the bags before buying. In my Lidl I regularly have to point out that items are out of date, and often things have short dates that won’t last the week.
I now do Asda, I like their points scheme and I like being able to buy branded items on offer that are similar price to own brand/Lidl items.

Is that a recent decision? It definitely used to be the case, but I've found it much better for several years now.

@thenewaveragebear1983

Yes, I've also had that experience with packaged Lidl fresh meat. Chicken breasts, bought from the store and taken home and refrigerated within 30 minutes. Opened with still 4 days before the 'use by' date, slimy as hell, stinking, and quite clearly unfit for consumption. It's another reason I stopped shopping there.

My partner has had all the same issues with Lidl food that I have experienced, and that's from a totally different branch in a different town.

Yes. I first experienced it two years ago in the branch most local to me. I've since moved, and the branch that is now my 'local' is exactly the same.

My partner shops in yet another third branch of Lidl and they have all the same problems with veg going rank within 24 hours of purchase and meat being off with days still left before 'use by'.

It's not cheaper on brand names, but their own brands I find are cheaper or better quality/more for your money for a similar price.
I like that it's smaller with less choice, you don't lose an hour looking at stuff!
I can't stand Asda, I find it quite expensive in general with less own brands. Seems to be for people who have to have the Heinz, Kellogg's etc. I very rarely buy a brand name, don't see the point!

I've never had a problem with the meat or fruit and veg from Lidl.

Own brands are great in Lidl but we're having real stock issues in ours at the moment - no eggs, bread or potatoes recently meaning I've had to go somewhere else as well.

Wow I've never had a problem with fruit/veg/meat in lidl. In my head I'm imagining it as slightly better quality than asda tbh! Could be the subliminal marketing though 🤔.

I dont retain much in my head (I'm not as stupid as that makes me sound!) I'd like to become a more canny shopper.

Good point about comparing the more expensive items.

Yep I agree. Lidl fruits always soft and semi rotten...and never taste nice (e.g. taste almost watered down!).
Tesco for me all the way. Clubcard discounts help pls the loyalty vouchers. I like to get organic produce where possible and local Lidl never has organic things.

Agree with @inappropriateraspberry and I find the bakery section both lovely and decent value.

I like some of their world food promotions good too.

I don't buy brands there as its a rip off. Household products often very expensive too. Prefer aldi for that.

Yes love their pastries!

I love Lidl but only for certain items - I have a list on my phone of what to buy there, mostly staples and things like Greek yogurt, granola, dishwasher stuff, nappies, baking ingredients, their pizza and cheeses are good.

I don't buy their meat or fruit any more. As PP said the fruit often goes off and the meat can be hit and miss. Any saving is swallowed up by throwing half a pack of something away.

I do sainsburys online for most things, and while it's more expensive than Lidl we use up everything we buy, so less waste and better value.