Are these 'cheaper' shops really cheaper?

pensionpat It's truly amazing how many toolkits/sets of screws/useful DIY bits - all absolutelyessential - that DH manages to find in the centre aisles of Lidl (no Aldi near us so we don't get to one very often)!

So no, it is not cheaper shopping in Lidl or Aldi

I think the manufacturers are down-sizing but charging the same price Morgana. I bought our usual mango chutney and it looks like half the size of the jars I used to buy!

At our local Lidl, if you feel a bit pressurised because there is a long queue behind you at the till, you can pile your goods back into the trolley and there is a long counter where you can pack at your leisure.

Hooty I see you have already said that

I use Tesco for most of my bulky shopping (home delivery or instore), ASDA sometimes if I go into next Town (£3 for 3 hours parking refunded if you spend £10+).

I love M&S, their fruit & veg lasts best & I like a lot of their food.

I have a good local shop which sells mostly locally produced fruit & veg. We have a good butcher in Town. I try to buy local produce where possible. My little shop is brilliant as I can buy a couple of carrots, one leek etc if I want so no waste.

I don't like our Lidl, we don't have a local ALDI yet. I do buy some of my shopping in Home Bargains.

Morrisons & Waitrose are about 8 miles away. Sainsbury's is the least favourite of the "big 4", I find it more expensive & often can't get what I want.

I’m with annodomini. I really rate Aldi’s fruit and veg (it used to be poor, but they improved it dramatically). It does go off more quickly that the big 3 supermarkets, but I also suspect that is a good thing! Aldi individual Ciabattas are the best and half the price or less of Sainsbury’s and M&S. I buy 6 or 8 packs at a time and keep them in the freezer. Aldi’s chocolate is delicious and obviously uses the more expensive part of the cocoa - there are three grades of cocoa butter according to which part is used. Belgium chocolate and Aldi’s uses the highest grade. American ‘chocolate’ like their Hershey Bars uses a lower grade.

They have also brought out some new savoury tarts suitable for Vegetarians. Goats Cheese and Caramalised Onion and something with Spinach. Both are delicious and only £1.29. Much nicer than the slightly watery options from Sainsbury’s and M&S at £2.99!

We buy organic milk, tinned tomatoes, kidney beans etc. We shop at Sainsbury’s for these and some other things. Aldi are more limited on organic stuff (although it’s increasing. They now do organic potatoes and Milk - though only small bottles).

A friend and I have developed a great routine where we shop at Aldi, great quality and prices for most things. Then we drive round to Sainsbury to avoid parking in Aldi for more than 90 minutes. We manage to find £5 worth of stuff we can’t get in Aldi and so have 2 hours free parking in Sainsbury’s. Then flushed with our success we head for coffee at a local, non multinational coffee shop. Small pleasures! ?
PS my only failures in Aldi have been low fat mayonnaise which is watery and instant coffee. Horribly weak!

I did a big shop today in Aldi and stocked up on store cupboard basics like olive oil, flour, cleaning products, plus fresh meat, fresh flowers and vegetables and frozen foods. It came in at less than £43. The only thing that I don't like from there is their coffee and so I wait until Tesco or Sainsbury have a special offer of my favourite brand. But the quality of Aldi meat and fish is excellent and I always get their fresh boned turkey crown and ham in orange and brandy at Christmas because there's no waste on it. their stollen is divine too

Love Aldi, shop there more than anywhere else, and quality is fine. I am VERY picky with my wines, yet have never been disappointed with a bottle from there. Also adore their candle and diffuser range, smells exactly like Jo Malone only £30 cheaper!

Nanna58 I've heard that the scented candles at Aldi are similar to Jo Malone before. They're numbered 1, 2 & 3 I think. Which is the one most similar to Jo Malone?

Chewy I bought Number 2, which is called Blackberry Bay. I haven't used it yet, so can't say how good it is.

The candles don't spread the smell very far - but they do smell nice. Fine if you got small rooms like me.

I always find Aldi's flowers very good and their garden plants are usually great value.

Aldi's granary loaf breadmix is really tasty and nobody has been coughing and sneezing over it ?

Re their garden plants: I bought a small clematis plant from Aldi about 6 years ago for £1.49. It's grown into a stunning plant that completely covers the porch over the front door in big beautiful purple flowers, twice a year. I've lost count of the number of people who ask me what variety it is and where I got it. Best £1.49 I've ever spent!

I also have a couple of Clematis from Aldi that have grown beautifully. This, unlike the expensive one of the same variety bought from Gardeners World Live ?

Flowers bought in Tesco last Friday - dead. Flowers bought in Lidl ten days ago - fine. I like Lidl for most things (it's a new one) bit I agree that the fruit and veg doesn't always last as well. I hate our Aldi (it's old and tired and the manager is rude!) but if the fresh meat is as good as everybody says I might just have to grit my teeth.

Mini choc ices are brilliant from Aldi and Lidl, just right for the GC (and me), the chocolate is good and it’s something like 10 for £1.59. And the big Cornetto type ones are handy to have in the freezer. We like them for a dessert. The fresh squeezed orange juice is good too. I’m a big fan of both L and A.

I think that certain chocolate bars are now down to 90g from 100g.

I bought a pack of Hovis crackers in Waitrose the other day and was very surprised to see how small it now is. About 25% smaller pack than it once was, I estimate. One thing from Aldi that has disappointed me. I am a fan of salted caramel and seized on a carton of salted caramel ice cream which turned out to be neither salted nor caramel, with a slimy consistency and small chunks of what might have been toffee. Beware! On the other hand, Waitrose's salted caramel choc ices are delicious and definitely not suitable for a low carb diet.

10 years ago when I lived in England I found Aldi to be better than Lidl but I couldn't gwt all my shopping from there. This summer we were in England and Aldi now sells so much more that I could do most if my shopping there. We bought bacon and gammon joints from Aldi to bring home and they were delicious and much cheaper than the equivalent in Tescos etc. The bacon did not give off that white liquid that so much bacon does when fried. Here in Portugal the Aldi and Lidl supermarkets have the same protection for the fresh baked goods that Spain has so no germs spread. The vegetables are very good and at least I can get brussel sprouts in Aldi and celery and English style cucumbers in Lidl. But I couldnt get all I want in them. Obviously the food here is directed the Portuguese although Aldi do a very good strong cheddar. My DH does like the middle isle though...

Flowers bought in Tesco last Friday - dead.
They usually have a 7 day guarantee at least Carol - go and get your money back!!

Two years ago i bought an apple tree in aldi which cost £3. (Similar size at the local nursery cost £30 ). There was a choice of tree and i chose a james greaves a favourite of my late mum. Well that same vyear we had 3 apples and this year a whole tree full. Very happy with it.

I shop in Waitrose for my family food but also shop for a charity and have to be mindful of cost .
That ' basket' of shopping rarely changes and I have shopped in Tesco and Sainsbury's and Aldi . The Aldi basket is consistently 10% cheaper than the other 2 shops .
Whilst I'm there I stock up on washing powder , dishwasher tablets bleach etc and I can't see the point of paying Waitrose prices for non food items .

Today I popped into Lidl, as I had a voucher. I ended up spending a fortune. My best buy was a toaster at £20. For months I have been trying to find a toaster which could take Warburton's bread, but the only ones I could find were extortionate. I couldn't believe it when I spotted it. We also bought excellent wines and champagne to give as gifts. I was delighted with my bargains.

I'm an Aldi convert, although I admit I top up at Sainsbury's for items that Aldi don't stock. Aldi is great for excellent cleaning products and toiletries; I also buy their eggs, coffee, tea, biscuits, butter, cheese, salmon, coleslaw, icecream, milk, chocolate, beer, wine .... most things really. If they offer more than one range, I usually go for the pricier one - it will still be as cheap as Sainsbury's Basic but better quality. The meat and bread are a bit limited, and the fruit and veg not always as fresh, but OK if you check what you're buying. The main problem for me is the temptation of the assorted non-food items - I go in for groceries and may come out with a hairdryer or a wok as well!

Cheap shops, eh? Only this morning I shopped in Aldi and parked next to a Maserati in the car park. Just sayin’