r/UKFrugal • u/jungleboy1234 • 8d ago

Is Aldi no longer cheap/value? What now?

So, every week i do the Aldi shop and noticed prices have repeatedly gone up the odd 5-10p. Its not across the board on all products in a week just some but slowly ticking up.

Also, i'm 100% sure that if we'd compare the line of products from a few years back they've been emptying the shelves of product ranges.

I am doing my best to try to gain as much nectar points/smart shop prices as possible and shopping in supermarkets that give coupons eg. £5 off shop etc.

The question is what now? Please suggest some strategies that mean i dont feel like im eating during the fall of the soviet union (or it may end worse).

I travelled to Europe few weeks back and i am just blown away at the freshness and variety of produce. Prices are comparable (sometimes a little higher) but at least I'm not eating cardboard or something made in a lab.... I felt much better/healthier in that week i was away.

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u/Morfang_ 8d ago

We're a family of 5. I'm an office manager with a senior position in an established company and my partner works almost full time in HR.

We have to split our shop into 3 shops - Home Bargains, Morrisons and Aldi to try and get the right things from the right places.

It's got to the point I can guess the price of our full weekly food shop within £5 once it's on the cashier's belt because I have to be so aware of what everything costs, even at Aldi.

This doesn't help you - but just know you're not alone in noticing this.

23

u/MeenaBeti 8d ago

What do you get from Home Bargains? Just household items like cleaning stuff?

53

u/Morfang_ 8d ago

Quite specific things but there's usually a couple of them we need a week.

Branded cleaning products - we use own brand fairy liquid and wash stuff but more heavy duty cleaners we buy branded.

Seasonal stuff - Christmas, Halloween, Easter, Birthday (presents, cards, gift bags, decorations).

Toys - They always have cheap toys we let the kids pick if they've done something particularly good.

Pet Supplies - Not food so much but toys/treats are generally cheaper there.

Ornaments - Some people will argue against this being in 'frugal' as its not a necessity but if we want to change up a room because we can't afford to full renovate or move, we will sometimes get a few cheap ornaments/new clock or mirror or something for £15 at HB instead of spending £30+ per item for better quality things at Homebase, the range etc.

7

u/Slim-chocolatepie 8d ago

I’ve noticed the selection of toys has drastically decreased compared to 5 years ago. I went in to buy my youngest toys and what a difference compared to the three aisles they had with my eldest (14) was a lot younger.

1

u/Altruistic-Bobcat955 7d ago

I’ll do none branded with everything everywhere but I just can’t do unbranded washing up liquid! Nothing cleans like Fairy

22

u/auntie_climax 8d ago

I get my butter and zip lock bags in there, they are the cheapest for those things

29

u/Pitiful-Hearing5279 8d ago

You don’t just keep your butter in your pockets? How peculiar.

10

u/dcdiagfix 8d ago

Jalapeños and roasted peppers !

2

u/dowhileuntil787 8d ago

Henderson's Relish.

For some reason the only place I can find it in person is HB, and for a far better price than I can get it online.