Last week, we promised to let you know of our first impressions from our research of discount supermarkets.  Well, in general, we are very impressed!  We were pleasantly surprised to find some branded products (particularly in Lidl) and to find at least a limited selection of organic vegetables and free-range meat too.  On the whole, we reckon the prices are about 1/3 cheaper than supermarket own-brand products.

Have you shopped at Aldi or Lidl yourself?  If not, why not just give them a visit.  Buy a few staple items and try them out.  If you like them, buy a few more on the next visit.  Before you go, though, here are a couple of tips to save embarrassment:

1.  Neither Aldi nor Lidl accept credit cards, although they do take debit cards.  So make sure you’ve got money in your account to save a red face at the checkout!

2.  You have to pay for any bags so take your own if you can.

3.  Whatever you do, don’t try and pack your bags at the checkout.  Aldi/Lidl ettiquette dictates that you put the items quickly back in your trolly and take them to the special counters to pack at leisure.

We have a big stash of products that we are busy testing on our families and will report back fully later in February.  For now, though, if you have any great finds or disappointments from Aldi or Lidl, please let us all know about them on our Facebook page.  Bye for now!

Love

Menus4Mums xx

Don’t worry!  We know you love our regular lists of the best supermarket offers around.  You can still get these by clicking on the link on the left.

However, so many busy parents are feeling the pinch and trying to save money at the moment that we wanted to share our tips more widely.  So every week, we’re going to publish a short, informal blog post covering a particular subject matter, be it a way to save money, a product review, or maybe a guest post from another money-saving site.  (Occasionally, a link may be an affiliate link which gives us a few peanuts towards running the site – but we promise never to link to anything we wouldn’t have recommended anyway and which we wouldn’t try ourselves).

So, what’s in store?  At the moment, we’re mad busy researching the world of discount supermarket – ie Lidl, Aldi.  It’s been a real eye-opener I can tell you!  Come back next week for our initial findings.

All the best

Menus4Mums xx

Tesco

• Mission Deli wraps down from £1.75 to £1.
• 400g Lake District mild Cheddar down from £3.49 to £2.33
• 6 frozen Alaskan salmon fillets half price at £5.50
• 500ml Napolina Extra Virgin olive oil down from £3.79 to £2
• Nature’s Path Free From Organic Gorilla Munch on 2 for 1 at £2.75
• 1kg Napolina spaghetti down from £2.19 to £1
• Wall’s 260g unsmoked bacon 1/2 price at £1.50
• 1 kg Bertolli spread down from £3.70 to £2.47

The Co-op

• Danepak bacon on 2 for 1 at £3
• 200g Nescafe Gold Blend down from £6.48 to £5
• Pork loin joints 1/2 price at £4.89 per kilo
• 375g pork stir-fry 1/2 price at £2
• 700g mandarins 1/2 price at £1.35

Morrison’s

• 1l Ribena 1/2 price at £1.38
• 500g Flora Buttery 1/2 price at 97p
• Fresh herbs on 2 for £1
• 12 pack Activia yogurt 1/2 price at £2.39
• 750g Shredded Wheat bitesize 1/2 price at £1.37

Waitrose

• 4 Waitrose Paninis down from £1.46 to £1.13
• 500g Countrylife spreadable butter down from £2.75 to £1.83
• 500g chicken breast fillets down from £6.89 to £4.59
• Rankin outdoor bred sausages down from £2.69 to £1.79
• Innocent fruit tubes on 2 for £3 (or £2.14 each)

Asda

• 2kg Albert bartlett rooster potatoes down from £1.97 to £1
• 750g Gala apples down from £1.75 to £1
• 340g diced turkey breast down from £2.78 to £2
• 400g Chosen by You Alaskan salmon steaks down from £3 to £2
• 340g Sun-Pat crunchy peanut butter down from £1.78 to £1

Sainsbury’s

• Fabulous Bakin Boys flapjack fingers 1/2 price at 75p
• white grapes loose 1/2 price at £2.49 per kilo
• 100g Brunswick ham down from £1.79 to £1
• Linda McCartney 6 vegetarian sausages 1/2 price at 94p
• 4 cans Branston baked beans 1/2 price at £1.27
• 500g De Cecco farfalle pasta down from £1.56 to £1

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Sainsbury’s

• Bag of Braeburn apples half-price at £1
• Bag of clementines half-price at £1
• 225g blueberries half-price at £1.50
• 6 kiwi fruit half-price at 62p – all these fruit ideal for lunchboxes
• 400g Lake District mature Cheddar cheese half-price at £1.99
• Petits-Filous 6 fromage frais half-price at 75p
• 721g chicken thighs & drumsticks half-price at £2
• Filippo Berio 1l mild & light olive oil half-price at £2.79
• 570g Heinz tomato ketchup half-price at 97p
• Nature Valley 5 crunchy granola bars half price at £1.19
• 500g De Cecco linguine half-price at 78p

Waitrose

• Discovery 8 wholemeal tortillas down from £1.59 to £1
• 200g fine trimmed green beans £1.59 to £1 – although frozen often cheaper!
• Bag 3 mixed peppers down from £.65 to £1.09
• 500g Country Life spreadable butter down from £2.75 to £1.83 until 21/1
• 300g mature Cheddar cheese down from £2.59 to £1.72
• 1kg Heinz beanz fridge pack down from £1.99 to £1
• Blue Dragon sweet chilli dipping sauce down to £1.36
• 750g Nestle Bitesize Shredded Wheat half-price at £1.37

Morrison’s

• Boneless pork shoulder 1/2 price at £2.22 per kilo
• 500g Kellogs bran flakes down from £2.09 to £1
• 3 cans Red Dorio kidney beans 1/2 price at 99p
• 80 Typhoo tea bags 1/2 price at £1.04

Asda

• 750g Gala apples down from £1.75 to £1
• Petits Filous 5 Frubes pouches down from £1.80 to £1
• 340g diced turkey breast down from £2.78 to £2 – ideal for stir-fries
• 400g Chosen by You frozen wild Alaskan salmon steaks down from £3 to £2
• 300g Quorn “chicken” style pieces down from £1.98 to £1
• 340g Sun-Pat crunchy peanut butter down from £1.78 to £1
• 400g cans Napolina chopped tomatoes with garlic down from £1.34 to 50p

Tesco

• Green seedless grapes 1/2 price
• 1kg Bertolli spread down from £3.70 to £2.47
• 500g Finest outdoor bred pork mince 1/2 price at £2
• Wall’s 260g unsmoked bacon 1/2 price at £1.50
• 8″ Pizza Express pizzas (Margherita and Sloppy Guiseppe) 1/2 price at £2
• 350g Quorn mince on 3 for £5 (normally £3 each)
• 1kg Nap0lina spaghetti down from £2.19 to £1
• 213g Princes wild pink salmon half-price at £1.34 – perfect for fish cakes
• 500g Nestle Shredded Wheat Superfruity Red Berries 1/2 price at £1.34

The Co-op

• 540g chicken breast fillets half-price at £3.75
• 200g Nescafe Gold Blend down from £6.48 to £5
• 2.5kg baking potatoes half-price at £1 – great lunchtime staple
• Mission Deli wraps half-price at 87p

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Tesco

• 6 frozen Alaskan salmon fillets 1/2 price at £5.50
• 400ml Cocofresh coconut milk half price at 74p
• Pack of 2x500g blocks of Jus-Rol puff pastry half price at £1.40
• 2kg Indus red split lentils half price at £1.99
• 500g Quaker Harvest Crunch tropical fruit half price at £1.19
• Tesco Finest beef steak mince down from £2.98 to £2.50 until 29 Dec.

The Co-op

• 600g clementines half price at £1.25
• 750g for price of 500g (£1) of sprouts
• Beef and pork roasting joints half price at £4.99 and £3.49 per kilo respectively
• Danepak thick-cut bacon on 2 for 1 at £3
• Cadbury Festive Friends half price at 89p

Morrison’s

• Whole Scottish salmon half price at £4.99 per kilo
• Rump steak 1/3 off at £9.33 per kilo
• Pork leg joints down to £3 per kilo
• Cirio chopped tomatoes on 3 cans for £1 (normally 79p each)
• Branston baked beans on 3 cans for £1 (normally 68p each)

Sainsbury’s

• Sainsbury’s 6 deep mince pies down from £1.65 to £1
• Bag of Taste the Difference sweet clementines half price at £1.50 until 31/12
• 300g mild Scottish smoked salmon half price at £4.00
• Ben & Jerry’s 500ml ice cream half price t £2.24 until 1 Jan
• Filippo Berio 500ml extra virgin olive oil half price at £2.49 until 31 Dec
• De Cecco 500g linguine (and other pastas) half price at 78p until 1 Jan.

Asda

• Beef roasting joints half price at £4.44 per kilo
• 150g Castello blue cheese down from £1.58 to £1
• and, unbelievably, 6 hot cross buns on 3 packs for £1.50 (or 77p each)

Waitrose

• 500g Kerrygold butter down from £2.90 to £2
• Ben & Herry;s 500ml ice cream half price at £2.22
• Green & Black’s organic vanilla ice cream down from £4.27 to £2.84
• Sacla sun-dried tomato antipesto down from £2.55 to £1.91
• 240 Tetley tea bags down from £5.28 to £3.50

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Sainsbury’s

• Bag of 5 oranges half price at £1 until 18/12
• 400g Taste The Difference West Country farmhouse Cheddar on 2 for 1 at £4.15
• 500g De Cecco penne/spaghetti half price at 78p.
• 430g Heinz mayonnaise down from £1.99 to £1
• 225g Taste the Difference frozen jumbo king prawns half price at £2.50

Asda

• 1kg slightly salted Lurpak down from £5.69 to £4
• Beef roasting joints half price at £4.44 per kilo
• 2x Black Farmer/Debbie & Andrew’s premium sausages for £4

Tesco

• Fabulous Bakin Boys flapjack fingers half price at 75p
• 6 frozen Alaskan salmon fillets 1/2 price at £5.50
• Bag of Braeburn apples down from £1.75 to £1
• organic blueberries half price at £1.99
• 1l Napolina extra virgin olive oil half price at £3.24
• 400ml Cocofresh coconut milk half price at 74p
• 1kg Napolina spaghetti down from £2.19 to £1
• Pack of 2x500g blocks of Jus-Rol puff pastry half price at £1.40

Waitrose

• 1kg chicken breast fillets down from £11.29 to £7.52
• Ben & Jerry’s cookie dough ice cream half price at £2.22
• 3x130g John West no drain tuna steak down from £4.26 to £2.84
• 340g Rowse blossom honey down from £2.59 to £1.94
• 600g Dorset Cereals honey granola down from £4.26 to £2.84
• 500g Weetabix Weetos down from £2.67 to £2
• Jus-Rol all butter puff pastry block down from £2.53 to £1.89

The Co-op

• 200g Nescafe Gold Blend coffee down to £5
• 600g clementines half price at £1.25
• Beef and pork roasting joints half price at £4.99 and £3.49 per kilo respectively

Morrison’s

• 600g clementines for just 50p
• Whole Scottish salmon half price at £4.99 per kilo
• 240g Sizzlers bacon on 2 for 1 at £2.99
• Pork leg joints down to £3 per kilo
• Cirio chopped tomatoes on 3 cans for £1 (normally 79p each)

Christmas

• Cadbury’s medium selection boxes half price at £1.49 at Morrison’s
• Tesco Finest xmas stollen laced with brandy down from £6 to £4.80
• Tesco yule log half price at half price at £1.15
• Tesco 907g Finest matured xmas pud half price at £5 until 27/12
• 5kg Tesco Finest frozen bronze turkey half price at £20 until 27/12
• Selected crackers half price at Sainsbury’s and the Co-op
• 5kg Taste the Difference free range frozen turkey down from £24 to £21 at Sainsbury’s
• 750g brussels sprout tree at Sainsbury’s down from £1.79 to £1
• Sainsbury’s large Taste the Difference cognac laced xmas pud half price at £6

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Sainsbury’s

• any 2 for 1 on a variety of fruit, including blueberries, pears,  apples, clementines
• Coeur de Leon brie down from £1.65 to £1
• 250g mature grated cheddar down from £1.72 to £1
• 500g Kerrygold spreadable down from £2.90 to £2
• 430g Heinz mayonnaise down from £1.99 to £1
• Encona Hot Pepper Sauce (or Thai Sweet Chilli) down from £1.79 to  £1

Asda

• Mission Deli wraps down from £1.59 to £1 – nice change from  sandwiches
• Any 2 for £2 on variety of fruit, including pears, satsumas, apples
• 340g turkey stir fry down from £2.63 to £2
• 2x Black Farmer sausages for £4
• 4x400g Heinz chopped tomatoes half price at £1.50
• Any 3 for £5 on variety of Quorn products, including mince &  sausages
• 34g Sun-Pat smooth peanut butter down from £1.78 to £1

Tesco

• Fabulous Bakin Boys flapjack fingers on 2 for 1 at £1.50 – great  lunchbox treat (until 29/11)
• 6 frozen Alaskan salmon fillets 1/2 price at £5.50 (until 5/12)
• Bag of Gala apples down from £1.69 to £1 (until 4/12)
• 125g organic blueberries half price at £1.99 (until 5/12)
• Tesco vine-ripened tomatoes down from £1.70 to £1 until 4/12
• 1l Napolina extra virgin olive oil half price at £3.24 (until 5/12)
• 2 for 1 on 160 Tetley teabags at £3.88

Waitrose

• 2x 500g chicken breast fillets for £8 (normally £6.89 each)
• 430g Aberdeen Angus meatballs down from £3.49 to £2.30 until 29/11
• 2x500g Yeo Valley organic spreadable for £4 (normally £2.85 each)
• Yeo Valley organic frozen strawberry yogurt half price at £1.74
• 1l Filippo Berio extra virgin olive oil half price at £2.99
• Pizza Express baked dough balls down from £2.50 to £1.48

The Co-op

• Danepak bacon on 2 for 1 at £3
• 500g parsnips half price at 50p until 29/11
• 500g swede half price at 50p until 29/11
• 4x185g cans Princes tuna chunks half price at £3.49

Morrison’s

• 2kg King Edward potatoes down from £1.78 to £1
• 600g satsumas for £1
• Fresh whole side of salmon fillet half price at £6.49 per kilo
• 3x 400g Cirio chopped tomatoes for £1 (or 79p each)
• 350g Cathedral City mature Cheddar half price at £1.99

Christmas – for those who like to stock up early!

• 454g rich fruit Xmas pud 1/2 price at £1.25 at the Coop
• Half price Gammon joint at £3.49 per kilo at Morrison’s
• 120g Grants Oak smoked salmon half price at £1.79 at Morrison’s
• Gressingham whole duck (approx 2kg) half price at £7.48 at Waitrose
• Tesco has Cadbury 6 mini Yule logs half price at £1.14 until 29/11
• Mr Kipling iced top mince pies down from £1.79 to £1 at Tesco until 29/11
• Tesco 907g Finest matured xmas pud half price at £5 until 29/11
• 5kg Tesco Finest frozen  bronze turkey half price at £20 until 27/11
• 750ml Dow’s Trademark Finest Reserve Port 1/2 price at £6.49 at Tesco
• 100g Extra Special smoked salmon down from £2.98 to £2 at Asda
• 2 for 1 on Mr Kipling mince pies at £1.79 at Sainsbury’s
• Sainsbury’s has 900g box Jacob’s biscuit for cheese down from £6.50 to £4.33
• Sainsbury’s chocolate log down from £2.30 to £1
• Sainsbury’s large Taste the Difference cognac laced xmas pud half price at £6

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Sainsbury’s

• Bags of satsumas down from £2.19 to £1
• 500g packs of trimmed leeks on 2 for 1 at £1 – ideal for leek & potato soup
• 200g organic grated Cheddar cheese down from £1.85 to £1
• McDougal’s 1.5kg plain or self-raising flour £1.79 to £1.19
• 1kg Napolina spaghetti down from £2.19 to £1
• 225g Taste the Difference frozen Jumbo king prawns ½ price at £2.50 until 15 Nov

Asda

• Mission Deli wraps down from £1.59 to £1 – nice change from sandwiches
• 2.5kg Desiree potatoes down from £1.90 to £1
• 340g turkey stir fry down from £2.63 to £2
• 2x Debbie & Andrew’s sausages for £4
• 500g Anchor spreadable down from £2.90 to £2

Tesco

• Fabulous Bakin Boys flapjack fingers on 2 for 1 at £1.50 – great lunchbox treat
• 6 Alaskan salmon fillets 1/2 price at £5.50
• 500ml Borges or Napolina extra virgin olive oil 1/2 price at £1.89
• Princes 4x tuna chunks in oil 1/2 price at £3.49
• 600g Nestle Cherios 1/2 price at £1.37

Waitrose

• 2x 500g chicken breast fillets for £8 (normally £6.89 each)
• 430g Aberdeen Angus meatballs down from £3.49 to £2.30
• 150g organic blueberries 1/2 price at £1.99
• 125g organic raspberries down from £3.29 to £2.29
• 2x500g yeo Valley organic spreadable for £4 (normally £2.85 each)

The Co-op

• Danepak bacon on 2 for 1 at £3
• 4 Scottish salmon fillets (skin on) 1/2 price at £3.75
• 2.5kg white potatoes down from £1.35 to £1

Christmas – for those who like to stock up early!

• Mr Kipling mince pies 1/2 price at 89p at Morrison’s
• 1 kg salmon side 1/2 price at £10
• for those who like to get cooking them early – 2x500g sprouts for £1 at Tesco
• Cadbury’s Festive friends biscuits 1/2 price at 89p until 15 November
• 454g rich fruit Xmas pud 1/2 price at £1.25 at the Coop
• 1.1kg British gammon joints 1/2 price at £5
• 750ml Dow’s Trademark Finest Reserve Port 1/2 price at £6.71

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

Tesco- valid until 24 Oct

• Garlic down to 19p each
• Peppers down from 70p to 63p
• 2.5kg Maris Piper potatoes down from £1.74 to £1.39 – perfect for fluffy mash!
• 6 medium free-range eggs down from £1.48 to £1.30
• 500g Healthy Living extra lean steak mince down from £3.30 to £3
• 1kg Tesco frozen mixed veg down from £1 to 80p – a great freezer standby

Morrison’s

• 4x410g Branston baked beans half price at £1
• 1l Ribena half price at £1.38
• 4 chicken breast fillets half price at £3.25
• Giant pineapple half price at £1.25
• Young’s 10 Omega fish fingers half price at 99p

Asda

• 8 Chosen by You tortillas down from £1.28 to £1 – great change from sandwiches
• 400g mild Cheddar cheese down from £2.76 to £2
• Sharwood’s 10 Puppadums down from £1.34 to £1
• 4x400g Branston baked beans down from £2 to £1
• 1l Prince’s orange juice (and apple too) down from £1.10 to 70p

Waitrose

• Yeo Valley organic Yeo’s tubes down from £1.67 to £1.33
• Yeo Valley organic Little Yeo’s 4 smooth yogurts down from £1.67 to £1.33
• 450g pots Yeo Valley organic selected yogurts down from £1.39 to £1.11
• Ben & Jerry’s selected ice cream down from £4.45 to £2.50
• 400g Rankin outdoor bred sausages down from £2.59 to £1.72
• Old El Paso 8 soft flour tortillas down from £1.68 to £1.12
• Old El Paso 12 Taco shells down from £1.64 to £1.09 – both ideal for a Mexican night!

Sainsbury’s

• Taste the Difference 800g wholemeal multi-seeded loaf down from £1.35 to £1
• 3 for £1 on small packs of Whitworths dried fruit (eg dates, mango, apricots) – great for lunchboxes
• 225g Taste the Difference frozen jumbo king prawns half price at £2.50
• 12 woodland free-range medium eggs down from £2.65 to £2 – great for baking afternoons!
• 4 baking potatoes down from 70p to 60p – ideal for a Saturday lunch
• Bag of 6 kiwis down to £1
• Medium pineapple down to £1
• 2 for 1 on bags of satsumas at £2.19
• 2 for 1 on large mangoes at £2
• Revilla 110g chorizo half price at £1

Ocado

• 2 x 200g Waitrose soft cheese for £1.50 (normally 85p each)
• Black Farmer sausages and chipolatas down from £2.79 to £2.37
• 500g Waitrose organic couscous half price at 49p until 31 Oct
• 250g Waitrose apricots half price at 99p until 31 Oct

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?

• Bag of 6 Cox/Gala apples ½ price at £1
• Pack of 12 Sun-Maid raisin mini snack boxes down from £1.53 to £1
• 400g Taste the Difference English vintage reserve Cheddar cheese on 2  for 1 at £4.25
• 2x 4 packs of Heinz baked beans for £3.50
• 675g Shredded Wheat (30 biscuits) on 2 for 1 at £2.75
• Birds Eye 12 omega 3 fish fingers ½ price at £1.24
• Taste the Difference sausages down from £2.59 to £2

Ocado/Waitrose

• Bags of pears on 2 for 1 at £1.99
• 2x 500g chicken breast fillets for £8 (or £6.89 each) – worth stocking up the freezer
• 2x 350g Quorn mince for £4 (or £2.97 each) – ideal for veggies.

Morrison’s

• Tins of Heroes less than ½ price at £4.49 – stock up early for Xmas
• Bags of Cox apples ½ price at 95p

Asda

• Mission 8 soft tortillas down from £1.56 to £1 – great change from sandwiches
• 2 bags of Granny Smith apples for £2 (or £1.50 each)
• 2x 800g easy-carve beef joints for £10 (or £7.18 each)
• 2x 400g Debbie & Andrew’s sausages for £4 (or £2.58 each) – some of our fave sausages!

Tesco

• Discovery 8 tortillas down from £1.59 to £1 until 2 Oct
• 2 for 1 on 500g Clover spread at £2
• 2 for 1 on Countrywide lighter butter at £2.68
• Petits Filous packs of fromage frais on 2 for 1
• Danepak bacon on 2 for 1 at £3
• 1.5kg Finest pork leg joint ½ price at £5.98 – ideal for a Sunday roast
• Jus Rol 2 x 500g puff (or shortcrust) pastry on 2 for 1 at £2.60 – ideal for pies or sausage rolls

The Co-op

• 500g Flora Buttery 1/2 price at £1.09
• Weetabix Weetos 1/2 price at £1.27
• 1.5kg Maris Piper potatoes 1/2 price at 75p
• Mackie’s ice-cream 1/2 price at £1.64
• Danepak bacon on 2 for 1 at £3

If you like bargains, why not give our meal plans a go for just £6.95 for 4 weeks?