May 2026 Grocery Challenge

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81987068#Comment_81987068

A lot of people are upset about this. (And complaining.) Lidl are reacting, though, because yesterday I got a voucher for free veg. We’ll be doing a shop there tomorrow to take advantage of that and some of the usual 15%-off vouchers.

@Elizabeth49 and @TravelCrystal so sorry about your cats. Big hugs.

I have a question about A1di. I don’t usually shop there because it’s always been a pain to get to, but a new branch has just opened up on one of my regular routes home from work. Are they doing a loyalty scheme or is their app just a glorified advertising leaflet? Secondly, do they do weekly promotions like L!dl do (for example, Greek week)?

• Pip

moginstein

@PipneyJane they don't do a loyalty thing like most of the others.

They do have weekly promotions (I think it's Sunday and Thursday offers) like gardening week, Greek week etc.

They have a "super 6" which is special offers on rotating veg and fruit.

They do sell good plants when they are on the list, I've had blackcurrant bushes and gooseberry bushes which lasted years and were very reasonable.

I like their smoked tofu blocks, but they sell them in pairs now, not individually.

I'd say have a look in when you are passing, or if you've seen something on the weekly offers, but you might still prefer Lidl for familiarity, and Sainsburys for gaming the Nectar points (I'm often buying 1 carrot, 1 red onion, 1 white onion for points!)

PipneyJane

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991037#Comment_81991037

Thanks for the info, @moginstein. I’ll keep an eye out.

Like you, I “game” Nect@r points at Sainsbug's. Even if I don’t need more carrots, buying one to get the equivalent of 20p to spend later, is a “no-brainer”. (We tend to buy our fresh veg there anyway, because they sell most of our regulars loose, not wrapped in plastic.)

• Pip

Nelliegrace

I use cheaper white granulated sugar and a dollop of molasses or black treacle, @Greying_Pilgrim . 1940s and 50s recipes were for the time of rationing and shortages of butter, sugar, eggs and dried fruit, so housewives improvised, exchanged cake recipes, and used cold tea and grated carrot, grated apple, and even mashed potato, to eke out what they had. If you add an ounce or two of marg or butter to a bara brith recipe the texture is moister.

You can replace some of the 200g of dried fruit in your bara brith with a medium sized grated carrot.

A bit of history, the page on cakes, with thanks to Carolyn at the1940sexperiment.

https://the1940sexperiment.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/cookery-in-war-time-edited-1.pdf

Greying_Pilgrim

PipneyJane said:

….A lot of people are upset about this. (And complaining.) Lidl are reacting, though, because yesterday I got a voucher for free veg. We’ll be doing a shop there tomorrow to take advantage of that and some of the usual 15%-off vouchers……

Ooooh, PipneyJane - lucky you getting a free veg voucher. I've just taken up the L app, about a week before they made the changes, and I'm thinking it's less attractive for me now. This week's 15% off vouchers are mostly for stuff I bought last week, or the week before at 50% off/free - so a) I've no need of them this week, and b) 15% off ain't as attractive as 'free'……. According to L's 'new improved' app blurb, we've all been asking for these 'changes' and they 'listened' 🙄 Sure………

Sainsb's clearly don't want me as a customer - they keep sending me offers/prices for branded stuff I don't buy, or stuff I bought once for the foodbank donation at Christmas 🙄

I hope L changes their app offering - spending £200 to claim a "free" block of halloumi isn't an incentive to shop with them. I mean, I get that points accrue, you don't have to spend lots of money every week, but even after, say 2 months, a free block of halloumi, or a jar of pesto, just ain't gonna give me "Whoohooo! I feel great to be a L1dl Shopper"………. 🙄

Greying X

Nelliegrace

May Grocery Budget at £5 a day for 2 pensioners, £155

DH bought milk £1.65.

We shopped at Aldi this afternoon.

Milk 2 x 4pt £1.65, cream £1.39, butter/ rapeseed oil spread £2.18, cheese 39% off, £2.09, British cold pressed rapeseed oil £2.49, smoked haddock 30% off £3.14, chicken drumsticks 1kg 30% off £1.50, mixed size British free range eggs 99p, cauliflower £1.15, wonky blueberries £1.19, 7 bananas 88p, grapes £1.89, super 6 offer asparagus 99p, cucumber 79p, and British apples 4 x 6 pack 59p.

I have frozen the fish, and most of the chicken drumsticks in twos. The apples will keep well, unpacked, in the garage.

£26.37p spent.

Total £47.53

Soontobeoap

@Nelliegrace what day do you usually find offers in Aldi? Ours very rarely has discounts on meat products

£3.50.spent.in Aldi today.

Nelliegrace

We try to shop when it is quiet @Soontobeoap The staff were putting out the red stickered items before the evening rush today. I check the super 6 fruit and veg offers and the price drops, rapeseed oil, 1L yoghurt, some cheeses and ham are reduced a bit this week.

TravelCrystal

@PipneyJane, re Lidl’s coupons, my DH also had a free veg offer so another bag of potatoes. I’m not sure though if this was left over from last month because unusually the offers went up to 4th May instead of month end. Thanks for your message also re our cat.

T.C

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991609#Comment_81991609

you never seem to buy a loaf - do you make your own?