I switched from Sainsbury's to Lidl to save money but the opposite happened

I typically shop at one of the big four, but found prices at Sainsbury's rising faster than I could keep up with. I turned my attention to budget retailers Aldi and Lidl to see whether I could cut down on my weekly food bill, ultimately opting for Lidl after enjoying their own-brand products on previous visits.

I downloaded the Lidl Plus App, which promised substantial savings and free grocery items, and I believed I could save hundreds of pounds annually by switching. Yet after shopping there for a full month, I found I was actually spending more than I had been at Sainsbury's.

Why is Lidl cheap? Lidl keeps its prices down by stocking a smaller, more focused product range.

This means less time choosing between competing products, which also makes the shopping trip quicker. I've long been a fan of their bakery, but had never done a full weekly shop there, so I decided to put it to the test and see what savings were on offer.

The Lidl Plus App offered immediate savings, along with free bakery items such as doughnuts and rolls. These deals grew more generous the more I spent in the store. However, the lure of free items meant I was making trips to Lidl when I wouldn't otherwise have needed to go shopping.

The dangerous middle aisle

While collecting my free products, I would browse the store and often end up spending at least £10.

The famous central aisles, known as the Middle of Lidl, also caught me out on several occasions. The Middle of Lidl stock rotates regularly and covers everything from blenders to cookware to home improvement products.

On one occasion, I went in for a simple food purchase and left having spent £109 on kitchen items. I knew the products weren't essential, but items in those aisles sell out fast and often don't come back, so I bought them.

In the end, I started avoiding those aisles altogether, even though I do use the things I bought, simply because I was spending well over my usual budget.

Savings are possible

If you can avoid the central aisles, there are genuine savings to be had at Lidl. I used to pay at least £2.30 for a punnet of grapes, but at Lidl they cost around £1.09.

Some weeks, I could get them for under £1 using the Lidl Plus App. I haven't stopped shopping at Lidl, but I now stick to the aisles I need and focus on what's on my list.

Overall, I find it a good place to shop.