Is Aldi/Lidl cheaper than basic supermarket range?

[Funnyface89]

Hi there!

We are trying to cut our outgoings and I have made some progress with the shopping bills but was wondering if Aldi or Lidl are cheaper if I am already buying Sainsbury's basic range?

I tried Aldi a while back but the prices seemed much the same as the basic range so it really wasn't worth making two separate shopping trips. Apart from Sainsbury's, Aldi and Lidl I have no other main supermarkets that close to me.

[mrsmopps]

I think it depends on what you buy.
sometimes a product might seem cheaper in one ir the other supermarkets but it's a smaller pack size.
i tend to go round a few supermarkets and know most of the prices of the things I buy in them all!
Out of the 3 you have mentioned I think Lidl is the best value for money but i couldn't do my whole weekly shop there.

[Fluffycloudland77]

If you do a mock shop on mysupermarket.co.uk it will compare prices in aldi too.

It doesn't quite have the full range though but it's got most of it.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

I find it's the same price as Asda but waaaayy better quality

[littlegreengloworm]

I find lidl the best overall.

[SirChenjin]

Yes, they are cheaper - and usually better. We're saving around £15-£20 a week by doing our main shop at Aldi (family of 5). I menu plan in advance, and find there is very little I can't get there and go to Sainsburys to buy the few things I'm not able to buy.

The ranges are limited - eg 3/4 type of shampoo as opposed to 25 or whatever it is, but it's worth it to be able to a)save money and b)whizz round in about 40 minutes for a full shop.

[Mildpanic]

As already said it really does depend on what you buy.
I tend to get bulk of veg from Aldi or Lidl including frozen peas and sweetcorn, cereal, oven chips and passata/ pesto. I find I need to go to Asda or Sainsburys for more specific items. I do save a fortune but I am on Mat leave at the moment so I have time to pick and choose.
I think familiarity helps once you get to know what is best where.

[ThisFenceIsComfy]

Another vote here for Lidl over Aldi.

[Dollybird86]

We where basic shoppers we currently live right next to a lidl it's the same price pretty much some things are much nicer though dh is obsessed with the muesli and eats at least 2/3 bowls a day! There milk is 95p and they do 55p bread that's actually edible! Fruit and veg is cheaper but it depends on what you buy I do a mega shop at asda then day to day in lidl and it's very hard to spend more than £20 on a few meals and treats as well as bread milk etc but I think that's mainly because there aren't any expensive branded stuff to tempt me!

[Funnyface89]

Thanks for the replies. I cook mainly from scratch to keep costs low so lots of tinned toms, chickpeas, beans, lentils and veg. Perhaps I will give Lidl a go if the quality is better as the chopped toms can be a bit watery from Sainsbury's.

[specialsubject]

I find Lidl pricey, but most of my shopping is now Aldi. Their basics do actually cost about the same as Tesco (not Sainsbury or Morrison) but are often better.

you can't get everything there but you can get most stuff. The only pain is that almost all of their veg is packaged, very wasteful, and they are still subject to the UK law that means that veg must be sold for shape not flavour. So don't bother with the fresh tomatoes, same as anywhere.

[hamptoncourt]

Aldi virgin here - went for first time today to do a "top up" shop. This included fresh veg/salad/meat/toiletries/wine. Also included premium brand products such as Diet Coke, El Paso, Haribo.

I spent £37.55. I just put it through as a Tesco shop and it came out as £56.51 so that's £19 cheaper!!!!!

I am converted!!

[vickibee]

I went to LIDl for the first time on Saturday and felt pleased with the stuff especially fruit and veg quality and cheaper too. My only gripe is that the cashire charged me for 14 carrier bags @ 3pence each, only 42 pence I know, it is 8 miles to go back but I am annoyed... Also the individual baguette things at 15p each were yummy

[vickibee]

(BTW I took my own shopping bags just to clarify)

[Whattheduck]

I prefer lidl to aldi
Their bakery is lovely and their veg/salad and fruit is really good value and lasts alot longer than aldi's

[mandy214]

We don't have a Lidl so I can't comment but Aldi is much cheaper than Sainsburys - vegetables / fruit / basics are cheaper and much better quality.

[badasahatter]

I'm a Lidl fan. I buy their free range chicken (inexpensive), their port medallions, gammon, veg, crumpets, fresh baked bread, fruit, milk, fizzy water (dd is a fan) and squash. I used to shop at Sainsburys and would generally spend £80 - £100 a week.

Now I use Lidl at around £35 - £40 a week, supplemented by a further £15-£20 shop in B&M Bargains every couple of weeks. That ticks the box for cereal, cheap crisps, chocolate, hay and treats for the rabbits and treats for the dog, pasta sauce and baking goods, etc.

I waste very little food now. I bob into the Co-op for their cheesecake (dd's favourite), McCain oven chips and their goats cheese. I don't have time to mess about, so one weekly shop at Lidl and a bit of bobbing to the local Co-op means I shop less too.

DH popped in at the Sainsbury's local over the bank holiday and bought jacket potatoes, use by 29/5 and they had more eyes than the average Monsters Inc character. Very disappointing. And as DH said, 'that wouldn't have happened with Lidl potatoes'. Heading over there tomorrow.

[sleepdodger]

I will buy ambient stuff but not meat
I feel tht sains spends a lot of investment on food labelling ie British, organic etc which the others don't and having grown up in the sticks am v v fussy about meat so in our house its cheap veg, junk etc and premium meat!

[unrealhousewife]

Lidl fruit and veg much better than Aldi, spuds not great at either. Our corner shop does good cheap spuds.

Morrisons are now doing free range eggs for £1.00 and good hams on the deli counter which rival Aldis, their frozen veg is also a much better quality an about the same price.

I only buy specials from Tesco and Sainsbury now.

[RabbitSaysWoof]

Aldi meat is red tractor.

[calzone]

I go to Aldi for

Some veg
Ff yoghurt
49p cream cheese
Cheese
Packed lunch drinks
Bottles water
Packed lunch snacks
Fruit juices


Tesco drinks are very expensive. I mainly shop at Waitrose and buy reduced food. Actually, we only eat reduced food.