I’m a shopping expert – four items to always buy at Lidl and the things to avoid
LIDL is well known as the ‘Lidl’ in terms of prices with bargain items but some are better value than others.
The crisis in the cost of living means that saving every penny is needed now more than ever.
first
We spoke with shopping expert Karen Green, who shared her tips for getting the best bargains at Lidl and what items you should avoid.
Karen is a B2B sales professional who started her life as a retail buyer for Tesco and Boots.
Now, she uses her experience to help more than 500 SME business owners and sales teams sell more and sell better.
Here are the items you should – and shouldn’t – buy at Lidl.
As always, remember to shop around and compare prices before splurging.
what to buy?
Great taste product
Karen first suggested choosing the winners of the Great Taste award.
These award-winning products have been voted for with great taste, value and packaging.
For example, Karen suggests these:
- Luxury Parmigiano Raggiano DOP – £2.45 for 200g
- Ultimate Deluxe Pork Sausage 4 – £2.49 for 400g
- Birchwood Italian Chicken Chipolatas – £2.19 for 340g
- Strawberry Extra Jam Preserved – £1.79 for 450g
Winner of the Grocer . Award
Another way to select items to buy is to view the Grocer Prize winners.
Like Great Taste products, this is considered great tasting food.
Karen says Lidl often leads the way in these awards with items like Caramel & Sea Salt Almond Milk Chocolate (£1.99 for 180g) and Lidl Deluxe Corn Fed Free Range Whole Chicken (£4.99) He gives 1.2kg – 2.2kg) her top pick.
cabinet pins
Karen says shoppers can never mistake the staples in the discount store’s cupboard.
“Lidl is great for the basics, so always buy coffee, tea, canned tomatoes, jars of beans (they’re great.),” says the shopping expert.
The shop often sells favorites like Nutella and Nescafe coffee.
We’ve tested some of Lidl’s hoax products ourselves, including their own version of the Heinz product.
Although it’s not at the top, Lidl’s knockoffs are still impressive and cheaper.
Wine
Lidl offers a wide range of sparkling wines, prosecco and champagne that make it possible for the more expensive, luxury brands to make money.
Karen said the supermarket had “great Cremant de Loire fizz for £8.99”.
She also says that if you’re looking for a good red wine, you can get a great Aussie Barossa Shiraz for just £6.99.
These are usually much cheaper than other supermarkets, although keep in mind that inventory and prices will vary.
What to avoid
Karen said she doesn’t think Lidl’s fruit and vegetable selection is worth the money.
She added: ‘Its fruit and vegetable offering is very patchy and not always of the best quality so although I don’t avoid it I wouldn’t buy it hoping it will last too long. .
“Often the vegetables are of poor quality when they are bought on the spot, so they often don’t get the best product.
“Its freezing range is pretty terrible too so head to Iceland to find that one.”
But if you buy fruit and vegetables from Lidl, you can grab 5kg of food at Lidl for just £1.50 – this has been praised by shoppers in the past.
She said the most disappointing product on her mind was Lidl’s own branded pesto sauce – she said it was unlike anything she expected to taste like.
If you’re in need of some new bathroom staples, Karen would also avoid private-brand shampoos and conditioners.
“They make my normal, normal hair look frizzy,” she adds.
Whatever you buy at Lidl, you can save extra by using its loyalty program.
Plus, you can save cash by buying bargains with yellow stickers – this is the best time to buy them.
We also wrote about four items you should always buy at Home Bargains – and two you should avoid.
And Poundland has four items you should always avoid but four you should buy elsewhere.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk