It can be easy to pick up your usual branded buys when you go to the supermarket, but with the cost of living rising you may want to find some cheaper alternatives.
As millions of households around the UK will be feeling the financial squeeze, bargain hunters from money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk have been raving about the big brand dupes Aldi has on offer, from fizzy orange Fanta alternatives to own brand Biscoff ice cream.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: "Whenever I go down to Aldi I find a new bargain which is often just as good, if not better, than similar - and more expensive - items you would get elsewhere.
READ MORE - Family slammed for 'out of order' behaviour after bringing own food into pub
"Members of the Latest Deals community have picked their top products, which include a Fanta alternative that’s 70 per cent cheaper and low-calorie bars which cost just 23p each."
Aldi Vive Orange Zero Sugar - Save £1.20 Compared With Fanta
For the fizzy juice lover, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative for Fanta, Aldi’s zero sugar soft drink selection may taste just as good, according to many in the Latest Deals community.
In particular, bargain hunters have been raving about the Aldi Vive Orange Zero Sugar, which costs 49p per bottle.
Buying a case for her family shop, Tash M. joked: "I bought a case of cans last week and didn’t get left one myself - I was just left with the cardboard in the cupboard! So I guess it’s pretty nice!"
Lisa S. added: "It tastes like Fanta Orange. They also do their own version of Dr Pepper called Professor Peppy which is exactly the same - my son loves them."
Tom added: "By switching to Aldi’s orange soft drinks, you’re saving around £1.20 per purchase, as each two litre bottle of Fanta costs around £1.70 on average.
That’s over 70 per cent less. Plus, if you drink Fanta every week, by switching to this product you’d be saving £4 a month. It’s the small savings that add up!"
Fibre Now Cinnamon Squares - Save 90p Compared With Fibre One
To get you through the mid-day slump, it’s always helpful to have some snacks in the cupboard.
Aldi are offering five packs of Fibre Now bars in Cinnamon, Lemon and Chocolate Orange flavours to name but a few, and bargain hunters have been singing their praises.
Harriet said: "They’re amazing, even better warmed with some low cal ice cream."
Beth added: "I always get the birthday cake one but they run out a lot [in-store]."
Tom added: "These bars are a fraction of the price of Fibre One bars, which are £3 for a three pack in stores such as Ocado and Waitrose. Instead of paying £1 a bar, why not go for the Aldi five-pack at £1.15 - which is the equivalent of 23p per bar! That’s 67 per cent cheaper."
If you were buying three boxes a month, that’s a saving of £5.55 per month (plus you get six more).
Ready Set Cook Peri Peri Salt - Pay Half The Price Of Nandos
If you're looking to save money, dinners out might be limited for a period time but that doesn't mean you can't make your own cheeky spicy chicken at home.
Aldi offer peri peri salt, a popular seasoning for those who are familiar with Nandos. for just 79p.
In comparison the branded spicy salt can be found in Iceland and Sainsbury's for £1.50 or £2 depending on where you look.
Tom said: ‘This new peri peri salt from Aldi is great - it’s about half the price of the Nando’s product at 79p, and it goes well with all kinds of dishes. You may start out with the standard options, such as chicken or chips, but it also goes well with potatoes, salads and even popcorn! This mix includes salt, paprika, chilli powder and ground white pepper.’
Buying one a month saves you £1.21.
Caramelised Biscuits Chocksticks - Lotus Biscoff For Under £2
There’s no denying how delicious Lotus Biscoff is, and now there are ice cream sticks and tubs on offer.
However, if you’re paying out £4 a pop whenever you see them in the supermarket, it can soon add up.
Luckily for the bargain hunters with the sweet tooth, Aldi has come to the rescue with these delicious caramelised biscuit chocolate chocksticks, which are half the price at just under £2.
Bargain hunter Jacqueline said: "The brown chocolate ones are lovely, as are the golden blonde Magnum type ones."
Tom added: "I just had to try these when I saw them in my local Aldi, and I can’t get over how good they are. Now I’ll be sure to get these when I’m craving a sweet treat with a delicious twist."
If you were to buy three boxes a month this saves you £6.
Crispy Chicken Strips - Pay Less With McDonalds Dupe
Plenty of us have gone into McDonalds and ordered the chicken selects for years, and now Aldi has picked up on the popular dish by expanding their own collection with a cheaper dupe - Chicken Selects. Shoppers have begun noticing packs of four Crispy Chicken Strips with either Sweet Chilli or BBQ dip.
Bargain hunters are loving them, with Michelle saying: "I got some for the kids tea tonight,’ while Layla added: "They taste like McDonalds, if not better!"
Tom said: "If you want to have a McDonalds style meal at home without spending as much, these are a no brainer. You can combine them with other items in the Aldi collection and enjoy a similar meal for a fraction of the price. At £2.49 for four, this is considerably cheaper than McDonald’s Chicken Selects, which are £4.79 for five."
If you were to buy three times a month, this would save you £9.20.
In total, you could be saving £25.96 a month switching to these Aldi dupes.
