Lidl - best products and what to avoid (and is it really cheaper?)

Anoneemoose

Hi everyone,

As the title says, I am just wanting recommendations on people's favourite Lidl products and if there are any best avoided.

We have just had a new store open near us and it's massive, so thought I'd give it a go. I popped in earlier for some milk and other bits and I was impressed with what I saw.

I used to use Aldi, but went off them as I had more than a few issues with their fresh stuff going off, even when unopened and before their use by dates.

Also, for those who have switched from a 'normal' supermarket, have you saved money?

Thanks in advance.

VfM4meplse

Take a look through the Good and Bad Buys from Aldi and Lidl thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5394929

Anoneemoose

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Take a look through the Good and Bad Buys from Aldi and Lidl thread: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5394929

Thanks. It's a big read!:eek:

Gem-gem

I love their Italian range. Especially their bechamel sauce.

trailingspouse

Aldi opened near us just over a year ago. Prior to that I had to drive 15-20 minutes to get to Sainsbury's.

I reckon to be saving about £25 a week (£50 per week average shop compared to £75, with no loss of quality - in fact some things are better), plus it's a 5 minute drive (could actually walk it if I wasn't doing a weekly shop) which saves time and fuel too. Having said that, I go to Sainsbury's about once every 6 weeks for the things that I can't get at Aldi. Still a big saving.

so_very_confused

I shop at Aldi but I prefer to get my fresh produce from Lidl. I find it is better quality and stays fresh longer.
Fortunately I pass Lidl on the way home from work and Aldi is about 5 mins down the road from home, so I am quite lucky.

Anoneemoose

trailingspouse wrote: »

Aldi opened near us just over a year ago. Prior to that I had to drive 15-20 minutes to get to Sainsbury's.

I reckon to be saving about £25 a week (£50 per week average shop compared to £75, with no loss of quality - in fact some things are better), plus it's a 5 minute drive (could actually walk it if I wasn't doing a weekly shop) which saves time and fuel too. Having said that, I go to Sainsbury's about once every 6 weeks for the things that I can't get at Aldi. Still a big saving.

Thanks for all the responses.

This sounds interesting..I mainly shop at Sainsbury's as well, so hopefully I will get a decent saving too. I was reading another post somewhere and a few others said that the products were better in Lidl than Sainsbury's so will definitely give it a good go.

The_all_new_me_2

I'm repeatedly finding that Waitrose is cheaper than Sainsbury.

ThemeOne

Waitrose has been cheaper than Sainsburys for a long time. So you'll experience a massive saving switching to Lidl.

The only Lidl product I've not been happy with is their soya milk, but that's more personal preference rather than any quality issue.

Pop_Up_Pirate

I tried Aldi and found all their fresh stuff goes off really quickly and before the use by/sell by dates a lot of the time and hardly any of it comes from the UK

Lidl I find to be unimpressive with the same processed carp as anywhere else and the fresh stuff is also of poor quality.

I then thought about it and wondered why I would want to give my money to foreign companies when I could give it to British ones and get better products and better choice by either shopping at a British supermarket or shopping at individual shops.

snoozer

I buy all my fruit and veg at Lidl and never have an issue with freshness - and yes it is a lot cheaper, ditto the meat, milk yogurt etc. If I really want to save money I don't do a top-up shop elsewhere although when I want more than just basic herbs and spices and dried beans I have to go elsewhere (which is understandable because that's one of the ways they keep prices down by limiting the offer).