Lidl: how to save even more money on your shopping

There are already bargains galore at Lidl's stores but here are some ways to make sure you save a little bit extra.

Like its counterpart Aldi, Lidl has been winning the hearts and pockets of the UK's shoppers by offering everyday food and essentials at bargain prices but not at the expense of quality, However, there are ways to make your money stretch even further when your're shopping at Lidl.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

Pick of the week

Bear in mind that the busiest time at Lidl is on Thursdays when the new pick of the week offers go on sale. Each week, the retailer discounts four meat and fish products by 25%, while cutting the price on four fresh produce items to just 39p a piece.

For example, at the time of writing aubergines and fresh wild rocket have been cut to 39p, while you can enjoy a 25% discount on two salmon fillets with a sweet chilli marinade (now £2.01) and Braemoor garlic chicken kievs (now £1.11).

Sign up to the newsletter

Further add to your savings and sign up to the Lidl newsletter so you get a heads up on special promotional offers. But bear in mind, if you see something that catches your eye, get there quick – stock sells out fast.

Similarly, you can see versions of the latest Lidl leaflets and brochures online, which will you give you further warning of any cracking deals that are coming up.

Consider bargain booze

According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, wine prices rose 4.8% between December and January.

From claret to champers, when buying wine there's no need to scrimp on quality in order to cut costs. In fact, according to a study by Wotwine, the wine app, Lidl has retained its crown as the supermarket offering the best value wines, with 65% of its bottles delivering a decent return on consumers’ cash.

It judged value for money as wines that are priced fairly or where quality outstrips the pricing.

Worth a look is Torre de Ferro Reserva, which costs just £4.99 but Wotwine valued at a bottle worth £9.99. Brauneberger Kurfurtslay Riesling was valued at £8 a bottle but sells with a £4.99 price tag, while Navarra Garnacha Rose 2013 retails at just £3.79 but is said to be worth £6 a bottle.

The non-food offers

As well as its pick of the week deals, twice a week Lidl launches a series of special offers on non-food products covering everything from board games to blenders.

What's really useful is that Lidl will actually give you some decent notice before the deals go live. For example, we already know that on March 7 Lidl will have a series of gadget deals, including Silvercrest foldable headphones for £9.99 and USB charger for £2.99, while on March 10 there will be a host of denim deals, including shirts for £6.99 and jackets for £9.99.

Consider the award winners

Lidl walked away with 13 gold awards at the last Grocer Own Label Awards,

See if the judges were right and try the supermarket’s Valley Spire Extra Mature Cheddar, Harbour Fresh Lightly Dusted Seeded Haddock Fillets, Braemoor Slow Cooked Hickory BBQ Pulled Pork and Maple & Pecan Plait – all of which won top prize.

What’s more, according to consumer group Which?, its Formil Biological Powder and w5 Platinum Washing-up Liquid are both best buys. It found that the laundry detergent was superb at removing almost all stains while keeping whites bright.

Best of all, it only costs around HALF the price of branded products per wash.

The sweet smell of a bargain

If you have a penchant for posh fragrances, Lidl’s Suddenly Madame Glamour is worth a look. According to independent tests from The Perfumers Guild, it is indistinguishable from a £70 bottle of Chanel Coco Mademoiselle.

Bear in mind though that the Chanel scent is made from natural essential oils, rather than the synthetic oils used in Lidl’s budget perfume, meaning it should last significantly longer on the skin. But at £3.99 a bottle, you can afford to reapply Lidl's version liberally!

Get the app

Lidl has an app that works on iPhone and Android mobile devices. It boasts a nice bookmarks feature.

You can create your own reminder list of the things you want to buy before they go on sale. Just bookmark the item and then choose a day and time for your reminder to receive a notification once they are available in store. It should mean you never miss out on a cracking deal again!

Bring a £1 coin and some bags!

Bear in mind that like most supermarkets, if you want a shopping trolley you will need a £1 coin and plastic bags are only available at an extra charge.

If you forget your coin, you may be able to get one on loan from the supermarket staff, so long as you are happy to hand over your driver’s license as collateral.

Fill your boots

Like most budget supermarkets, Lidl rotates its selection, so you can’t be certain you will always be able to get everything on your shopping list.

So if you see something you really like or a household staple, be sure to stock up.

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