Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

Happygreen

Doc_N wrote: »

Some Lidl stores only have the large trollies, and Aldi run out of the small ones pretty quickly.

They're far more popular than the large ones, but the stores don't like them because people tend to buy less.

my experience is that I'd rather be prepared with a trolley for buying more than originally planned. I see special food offers and dishes flash through my mind, so I buy more than I anticipated. I hate going in without a trolley and the basket is too small and I have to carry stuff under my arm. Give me a trolley any time . We do live in the middle of nowhere though and I don't get out much :rotfl:

System

I do wish Aldi do extra lean mince - 4.5% fat than 11-12% fat than the lean stuff.

I get it in Sainsburys as part of the 3 for £10

Happygreen

ScarletMarble wrote: »

I do wish Aldi do extra lean mince - 4.5% fat than 11-12% fat than the lean stuff.

I get it in Sainsburys as part of the 3 for £10

I actually prefer the cheap stuff - when I cook it I drain most of the fat into a jar and keep it in the fridge or freezer until I need it for roast patatoes. Saved me a fortune on not buying duck fats for holiday feasts. I do the same with the skin of chickens if I don't need it and the nicest taste is the non-lean lamb mince for that purpose which Aldi here does sell (to get back to the thread )

mcculloch29

I found the Aldi mince a bit fatty too, but as most of the things I use it for are highly seasoned, I switched to Quorn mince, which Aldi also sell, but much cheaper than Tesco's. Good tip on saving the fat, realistically I guess it's not unlike using beef dripping.
My Mum always added the fat from the Sunday roast to the chip pan - which was just a little one, so quite economical.

mcculloch29

If you enjoy cookbooks, have a look to see if your Aldi still has the smallish hardbacks in with a cut out front cover, stickered £1.99, RRP of £8.00.
I got the Baking one, delighted with the format and the clear, sensible recipes.

muffin_man_7

To solve the basket problem at the till i put a basket into a trolley then as soon as basket full head to the till basket stay one end trolley goes with me i have done this a few times and its a big help ive a bad back and hip so have to be carefull not to get too much if im not sure i try to lift basket if i can't then i take something out till i can

Hope this helps you

Scritti

I'm confused.

You put the basket into a trolley?? So why do you need the basket?

Sorry if I'm being a div but I honestly don't understand what you mean.

mcculloch29

I think I understand. If you've got a bad back retrieving items out of the trolley can be agony, but if you put the basket in the trolley you can then lift it out via the handles, onto the conveyor belt with far less pressure.

My walking is carp due to arthritis, I use a trolley to support me as I walk round the store. I usually buy more than I intended to, but it's not a problem as I transport shopping home on the back of my trike.

tomtombeanie

PLRFD wrote: »

^^^^ The trouble with that in ours is most times the fresh bread hasn't been put out yet and the special buy's on the leaflet are not there until later.

Maybe it just depends how the individual store is run. At my local aldi, although they sometimes are still putting things out, I've always been able to get bread/rolls that have a good date & the specials are always there. As for fresh bread, although I often make my own, I do wish aldi had a little in-store bakery like lidl does

System

muffin_man_7 wrote: »

To solve the basket problem at the till i put a basket into a trolley then as soon as basket full head to the till basket stay one end trolley goes with me i have done this a few times and its a big help ive a bad back and hip so have to be carefull not to get too much if im not sure i try to lift basket if i can't then i take something out till i can

Hope this helps you

A couple of Aldis near me the staff will not allow you to take the basket past the till. One store allows it as the entrance and exit are next to each other (well on a corner) and the piles of baskets are in the area between the doors.