Cheaper Supermarkets

pioneer31

I need to cut my shopping bill. At the moment I shop at Tesco. I don't find them any cheaper than Sainsburys EXCEPT that they have more BOGOF's etc.

My town also has a Lidl and Aldi.

Should I try those? IS the quality any good?

Boomdocker

Hiya, you will find loads of threads on here for stores like Aldi, Lidl and Farmfoods.

IMHO I shop at Asda's for my main shop and then sporadically visit these stores to cherry pick some offers. There are some great deals to be had. I used to think that they would be cheap and nasty (sorry, but I did) yet once I ventured in was pleasently suprised. Love the crayfish and garlic sausage from Aldi. Canned mushrooms and vegs from Lidl and Aldi. Smashing freezer bargains at Farmfoods (although I am not keen on there own brand stuff). Do a search for Farmfoods there is a great thread for bargains at the moment.

Pop in and have a look. I do find that you might have to queue at the checkouts a bit as there might only be one open but otherwise they are fine.

kenshaz

No branded food ,so if you will only eat Heinz beans and Kellogs cornflakes forget it,but if you want good quality food with less choice and cheaper, use them

pioneer31

There is no farmfoods anywhere near me sadly.

I'm not bothered about branded goods, on the contrary I avoid them as the price difference between them and supermarket own brand is ridiculous.

Just as long as the food isnt stuffed full of E's and MSG.

zorber

kenshaz wrote:

No branded food ,so if you will only eat Heinz beans and Kellogs cornflakes forget it,but if you want good quality food with less choice and cheaper, use them

Lidls does some branded foods
weetabix
walker chrips
pepsi

and more but i wouldnt use them part from selected products

in_my_wellies

I was like you but now there is a Lidl very near where I work. I find myself popping in more and more. The meat is very well presented and fresh. Twice my DH has commented on how good the chicken is but I've not owned up yet - he thinks it's local butchers because he does the main shop and I top up in between and I'm 6 miles form a big supermarket.

Also they do a copy of an expensive shampoo which my fussy daughter swears is the same - MSE'er in training!

I buy the washing powder and conditioner, oh, and sardines for the cats @ 16p are very good too.

RightRevBod

The bread in Lidl is the same as Sainsburys. I was in Lidl a few weeks ago and the manager was on the phone to the suppliers. They had delivered the bread in the Sainsbury wrappers by mistake. They were going through the tills OK as they both had the same barcode.

cattie

I have to confess I used to look down on stores such as Lidl's till I joined the this site & read people praising many of their items.

Now I'm converted & whilst I still use Sainsbury's for my main shop as it's local & I like the bogof offers, I now have a range of selected goods I like to buy from Lidl as the quality is good & about half the price of comparable brand named items. It's certainly worth making the bus journey for.

garret1

I really resent shopping in tesco now as my bills keep going up. You have to constantly watch their prices, eg value oj jumped from 57p to 73p overnight and alot of value stuff is same price or dearer than own brand. I also don't trust their bogofs and think they inflate the prices. I have now started planning the meals for the week ahead and start my shopping in lidl and farmfoods and only get what i have to from tesco. i too used to be snobby about these stores but am well and truly converted.
Lidl for example have imho far superior deli products as they are all european where things like good ham, salami etc are basics not luxuries as we see them here.

newleaf

Get thee to Lidl and Aldi, I guarantee you will be pleased with quality and price.
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=110684

pioneer31

garret1 wrote:

I also don't trust their bogofs and think they inflate the prices.

I'm of the same opinion.....but I don't just think it's Tesco. Somerfield are doing it too. Fruit and Veg can often be 'reduced' but the original price is so high, I can't believe it was ever sold for that.

I think they pick a 'quiet' period where they inflate the price of an item for 28 days, then put it on 'offer' for months and months, but it's not a bargain at all.

I saw 'new' potatoes - 1kg for £1.50. Then, the other day, I went in the sam store, and saw a bag for £1.50 and it said 1kg for the price of 750g, 33% free!!