Money

From the best time to shop and cheap perfume dupes, 9 ways to save money at Lidl


EVERYONE knows about the “middle of Lidl” but we’ve found nine was to save some serious cash at the German discounter.

From finding coupons, to the best time to shop and even cheap perfume dupes.

 There are loads of ways to save money at Lidl

Alamy

There are loads of ways to save money at Lidl

We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know before you splash out to save you even more in the long-run.

From secret ways to get freebies to collecting coupons from its in-store magazine, we’ve got you covered.

Below is a round-up of our best tips.

Pan your meals using “Pick of the Week” offers

When it comes to saving money at Lidl, it’s all about the so-called “Pick of the Week”, Charlotte Burns, founder of Lottyearns.co.uk told The Sun.

You can look this up online before you go shopping, so you should plan your weekly meals around them.

Lidl usually slashes the price of fruit and vegetables, Charlotte added.

For example, this week it has slashed the price of leeks to 65p, cauliflower to 69p and aubergines to 45p each.

It also has an offer on salt and pepper chicken – costing £2.99 – and a 21-day cote de bouef steak for £8.50.

Other offers include two smoked haddocks for £2.49 and eight pork loins for £5.49.

The BBC Good Food website lets you search for recipes using key ingredients, which will make it easier to plan your meals.

Remember to compare prices before you hit the shops using grocery comparison website MySupermarket.com.

Look out for perfume dupes

If you’re a fan of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle, Lidl offers a cheap alternative for just £3.99 – and its customers swear by it.

 A bottle of Suddenly will cost you only £3.99

LIDL

A bottle of Suddenly will cost you only £3.99

Bottles of the real deal usually cost £50 – so you’re saving a massive £46.

It’s not a permanent product in Lidl’s stock range, but now and then they put it in the sale, and it always sells out quickly.

So if you spot it, you should snap it up straight away, Charlotte said.

Sign up to Lidl’s newsletter

If you sign up to Lidl’s newsletter, you will be emailed exclusive offers and be invited to enter competitions, said Naomi Willis of the money-saving website Skint Dad.

You’ll also find out when Lidl’s “Pick of the Week” offers launch as well as their “Middle of Lidl” deals.

You can sign up here – you’ll get updates twice a week.

Download the app

Another way to keep up-to-date on offers and other useful information is by downloading Lidl’s app.

If you’re going on holiday, you’ll also be able to access information for Lidl stores across Europe.

The free app is available for both iPhone and Android users.

The best time to shop to snap up bargains

 A Lidl store in London is the busiest around 6pm on Mondays

Lidl

A Lidl store in London is the busiest around 6pm on Mondays

For reduced items – when shops open

Unlike other supermarkets, Lidl (and Aldi) reduce their items at the start of the day, according to experts.

Lidl usually reduces products in its 700 UK stores near the use-by date to about 30 per cent of the original price, bloggers from Student Hacks have revealed.

Opening times vary from shop to shop, but most open from 7am or 8am.

You can find out your local branch’s opening times by using Lidl’s online store finder tool.

For one-off specials – Thursdays and Sundays

It’s no secret that every Thursday and Sunday, Lidl refreshes its Middle of Lidl items.

Just like Aldi’s Specialbuys, Lidl’s middle of the shop offers can include a wide variety of items, from power tools to fresh flowers.

You can find out what’s currently in stores, and what will be coming in over the next week, on Lidl’s website.

The quietest time to shop – 9pm to 10pm

If you want to avoid the crowds, you’ll have aisles to yourself in the mornings and between 9.30pm and 10pm, according to Google’s Popular Times feature.

Using the tool, The Sun found that the peak hours at Lidl in Finsbury Park, London are between 4pm and 7.30pm on a Monday.

Customers should instead arrive at 7am or 9.30pm.

Of course, this might vary from shop to shop but it makes sense that the store might is quieter just before closing time.

Collect coupons from Lidl’s in-store magazine

Lidl’s in-store magazine often contains money-saving coupons and vouchers, so keep your eyes peeled.

 Look out for Lidl's magazine when you next pop by the supermarket

Getty – Contributor

Look out for Lidl’s magazine when you next pop by the supermarket

In fact, some vouchers give you £5 off a £40 spend, said Naomi.

The magazines are usually located by the entrance of the store.

Grab a “Too Good to Waste” box

Earlier this week, Lidl rolled out its boxes of wonky fruit and veg to all stores following a successful trial.

The “Too Good To Waste” boxes weigh roughly 5kg – and they cost just £1.50 each.

They contain fruit and vegetables from Lidl’s store shelves, which have become slightly damaged or discoloured, but are still fine to eat.

They’re available to customers from opening until midday, and afterwards any leftover boxes will be donated to charity via Lidl’s “Feed it Back” food redistribution programme.

The boxes can include any items across Lidl’s entire fruit and veg range (it’s picked out by store staff), but based on Asda’s box of the same size costing £3.50, you’ll save £2 by shopping at Lidl.

Try their own brand products and toiletries

Shoppers shouldn’t be afraid to try Lidl’s own brand products and toiletries, Francesca of the From Pennies to Pounds blog told The Sun.

“They are excellent quality, have won awards and are incredibly cheap compared to other supermarkets,” she said.

For example, it has a range of hair care products that look EXACTLY like John Frieda ones. 

Plus, shoppers always rave about its range of Cien face creams.

 The boxes of wonky veg are available in all Lidl stores nationwide until midday every day

Lidl

The boxes of wonky veg are available in all Lidl stores nationwide until midday every day

Secret way of getting freebies

It’s a Lidl known secret (sorry) that when a new store opens customers can pick up a card that gives you a freebie every week for six weeks, as long as you spend £20 or more.

The budget supermarket hands out the cards – known as the Lidl Welcome Card – to local residents ahead of the stores opening.

But you can also ask for one of the cards in store, so if you’re working in the area, you can benefit from the deals too.

The freebies on offer change each week, but this week’s deal means you can pick up a box of Floralys Premium White Toilet Tissue worth £2.79 for free.

Lidl has a full list of what stores are currently running the deals.

Check the bread isle for extra discounts

If you want to bag a discount at Lidl, consumer website MoneySavingExpert claims you should check the bread aisle.

That’s the section where the budget store is running reductions of up to 30 per cent, which are usually indicated by orange stickers.

Bread is a great product to grab at a discount price, as you can easily store it in your freezer and put it straight into the toaster.

The brains at MSE also spotted some discounts in the retailer’s chilled section – including sausages, bacon and yogurts.

Last week, we revealed ways to save money at Next by looking out for scribbles on price tags to buying Next items in other retailers.

We’ve also shared eight secrets to shopping at Argos including getting discounts via eBay and where to get voucher codes.

There are ways to skip queues and find store shortcuts at Ikea – here’s a round-up of our best money-saving tips.

Sun explains best time to shop at Aldi, Lidl, Poundland and B&M


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