Good and bad buys from Aldi and Lidl

GlynD

You're making a very good choice. You won't find it as alien as you think. More than anything what you'll see are familiar products with unfamiliar brand names on them. Do as SPBankie says and start small by only buying products you can identify as familiar and know you will use. Don't fall into the trap of buying Polish stuff because no matter what it looks like it doesn't always taste as nice as what our palates know. They will also have British brand names there too and you;ll have no problem with those.

Things like tins of veg, sauces, cheeses, sliced meats, chilled meats, bread, biscuits, chocolate, juices, lemonades, breakfast cereals, they'll all be familiar looking, if not by name. I'd hesitate on deodorants, shaving equipment or hair products unless they are recognisable brands. Pots and pans, ovenware and hardware items are usually of the highest quality and available at real knockdown prices. I find clothes, including underwear to be cheaply made and I wouldn't buy them. Fresh veg, you take it as you find it. If it looks good, it is good.

If you're really unsure post your shopping list here and somebody will give you yeas and nays on it.

Red_Cat

You will have to get used to not being a lot of time to pack, generally put items back in the trolley and then take your time packing away from the till. It is a small price to pay as I do some of my regular shop at Aldi and save a good chunk.

GlynD

Red_Cat wrote: »

You will have to get used to not being a lot of time to pack, generally put items back in the trolley and then take your time packing away from the till. It is a small price to pay as I do some of my regular shop at Aldi and save a good chunk.

When we were restricted to £50 a week we did our shopping in Lidl (very similar to Aldi) and we managed top live perfectly well and never did without any of our necessities. We could even afford a few little luxuries like biscuits and cakes.

GlynD

GlynD wrote: »

When we were restricted to £50 a week we did our shopping in Lidl (very similar to Aldi) and we managed top live perfectly well and never did without any of our necessities. We could even afford a few little luxuries like biscuits and cakes.

Oh, and if you're not bringing your own bags with you make sure you pick them up under the conveyor before you check out.

Red_Cat

Edwardia wrote: »

Aldi Nord owns Trader Joe's in the USA and Aldi in UK is part of Aldi South.

I think Trader Joe's in the US is owned by a trust set up by the parent group that owns Aldi Nord.

MrsE_2

GlynD wrote: »

When we were restricted to £50 a week we did our shopping in Lidl (very similar to Aldi) and we managed top live perfectly well and never did without any of our necessities. We could even afford a few little luxuries like biscuits and cakes.

Did you stop shopping there when the budget became larger?

VfM4meplse

MrsE wrote: »

Did you stop shopping there when the budget became larger?

Good point - it would make no sense. Nor would it make sense to buy more stuff if perfectly well-served before, except maybe the occasional additional treat? Which means when the budget increased, there was more money to save / use on their items?

Edwardia

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Good point - it would make no sense. Nor would it make sense to buy more stuff if perfectly well-served before, except maybe the occasional additional treat? Which means when the budget increased, there was more money to save / use on their items?

There are other reasons to shop less at Aldi/Lidl though.

I went low carb in 2010 to help my diabetes which means not buying processed food with a lot of carbs or sugar so goodbye to my favourite kartoffelsalat in Lidl for example

We decided to go organic in March 2012 after finding two additives, 11% water and glucose syrup in Tesco pork loin chops and Lidl doesn't have much organic food although getting better.

OH wanted to be greener (he works in a green technology field now) so we ditched Formil washing powder for Ecover and ASDA's eco-friendly range.

Then just recently carb-loving OH had started getting persistent digestive issues which stopped immediately upon giving up wheat and switching to gluten free bread.

So though I do shop at Lidl and still love it, I don't buy as much as I used to. Organic eggs I bought in Lidl Friday I tried Saturday morning for breakfast and taste great

VfM4meplse

Ok, the examples you give are specific. For someone that doesn't routinely buy processed food (me) it doesn't make any difference.

happy35

i tend to shop between the 2 and find the quality in both is about the same but Aldi has more choice IMO. Lidl is nearer so if I can get it there I do but Aldi is only a short distance from where I work so I do pop there as well

I use washing powder from either of them, cant tell the difference personally. I also buy tomato puree, biscuits, cheese, cottage cheese, philly cheese, baking items etc and all have been great

I also go to an Halal butcher for meat as the quality is great and it is really cheap and a fruit and veg shop in a mainly Pakistani/Bangladeshi area that has really fresh stuff at cheap prices.

I find the bulk of my shopping is fruit and veg so seem to be buying less and less at Lidl and Aldi these days, although they are the shops I go to when I need supplies