I’m tight so I always go to Aldi – I did a bougie M&S trip, there’s a section that’s 10 times better for the same price
FROM electricity bills to food, the cost-of-living crisis has resulted in prices skyrocketing.
But one self-confessed “tight Yorkshire girl” decided to put two supermarkets to the test to see if “bougie” M&S is really as cheap as Aldi.
In a clip shared to TikTok (@lucyappleton21), Lucy begins: “As a tight Yorkshire girl, I feel like I’m a savvy shopper so I’m going to go in M&S and do my weekly food shop…”
She explains that she normally goes to Aldi but says a lot of her social media followers gave suggestions about things she needs to try in M&S.
“Ok so the first thing I’ve seen that’s a similar price is grapes, and strawberries are the same price too – and I just bought some yesterday so it’d be good to compare the quality,” she claims.
“All of this fruit and veg is either cheaper or the same price as Aldi – the peppers (£1.65) were actually the best deal.
“Ok I can’t even lie the choice of fresh fruit and veg is 10 times better than other supermarkets – there’s so much more choice on the shelf.”
Lucy then notes how she came across her first meal deal.
“I can’t even lie – that’s going to feed me twice and it’s £8 so that’s actually really good value,” she says, before doubting herself and asking: “Is it or am I being conned?”
She then proceeds to pick up some duck, rice noodles, tenderstem broccoli and garlic, and plum sauce to recreate a Chinese at home.
Next, the savvy shopper spots the Anchor butter, which is priced at £3.80, and says: “I actually feel like like the butter is better value in here.
“At other supermarkets at the minute, Anchor is coming up at £4 something, so I actually feel like these are good prices.”
Next, she holds up a packet of ‘grated parmegiano raggiano’ and claims: “Obviously unless you’re in Aldi and getting the fake dupe, then this is actually cheaper than in Aldi and Sainsbury’s – it’s £2.”
Lucy goes onto say how she’s also super impressed with the price of the different types of rice, which start from just 75p.
“Again, these are super, super, super cheap – as cheap as Aldi,” she says.
Holding up M&S’ reduced salt light soy sauce before then zooming in on a tin of 90p tuna, she continues: “They had a lot of value products and I was shocked that tuna was cheaper, but is that because it’s own brand?”
After loading up her shopping haul into the car, Lucy concludes: “So I think I’ve been 70% converted…I’ll give it to them, I think non-meats like the grocery type kind of things, there’s way much more choice and I actually think for better value or the same price.
“I would say though looking at the meats, they look really good and good quality but I feel like I’m fine sticking with my cheaper Aldi meats.
“I feel like with meat, it’s meat.”
However, she admits she made a mistake with the olive oil and says: “I did make a bit of a school boy error and was like, ‘omg that’s such good price for the olive oil’ and bought it, and I realised the Aldi one is a litre and not 500ml.
“So Aldi’s way better for your olive oil, so don’t make the mistake I did.
“I just paid £6 more than what I would’ve got for double the amount in Aldi which is actually killing the savvy shopper inside of me.”
She concludes: “I can actually the fresh produce wise as well, it’s going to last longer, it’s bigger, better quality and literally the same price or 5p more – so definitely converted in the fresh section.”
Ok I can’t even lie the choice of fresh fruit and veg is 10 times better than other supermarkets – there’s so much more choice on the shelf
Lucy Appleton
In a second video, Lucy offers a run down of everything she bought, which totalled £32.85.
After spending £6 on olive oil and £8 on a stir fry meal deal which serves two, she also nabbed: Lettuce, caramelised red onion chutney, two tins of tuna, plum tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, soy sauce, onion salt, basil and parmesan cheese.
The video has since gone viral, racking up over 903k views and several comments from foodies up and down the country.
“Always marks and Spencer’s, better quality food, good dates, I’d rather pay more for tastier food,” wrote one.
A second penned: “Tesco is absolutely extortionate. My bf and I go between Sainsbury’s/M&S and Lidl for comparison.”
“Can’t beat the quality of M&S fruit!” a third claimed.
And a fourth added: “The quality at M&D is unmatched, use your sparks card and keep getting offers for your shop.”
However, it’s worth noting that consumer group Which? conducted its monthly Cheapest Supermarket price comparison, looking at the cost of a basket of items, including groceries and household essentials.
The latest research shows that throughout January Aldi was a huge £41.20 cheaper than the most expensive supermarket, Waitrose – for an equivalent basket of items.
Which? also revealed Aldi to be £24.26 cheaper than Sainsbury’s and £16.51 cheaper than Asda per basket.