A woman with years of experience in financial education compared the cost of everyday essential food and drink items at M&S and Aldi and was surprised by the results
In the UK, there’s a number of supermarkets to choose from, each with its own loyal customer base. Some are known for their higher price tags, and one financial educator decided to put this to the test by comparing the cost of essential food and drink items at Aldi and M&S.
As the cost of living and inflation continue to climb, more shoppers are finding the need to stick to a budget during their weekly food shop. Many have started relying on discount supermarkets like Aldi and Lidl, known for their affordable prices compared to places like Tesco and M&S. Chelsea, a content creator with 13 years of experience in the financial services industry, shares money-saving tips and financial advice on social media.
In a recent Instagram video, she compared the prices of everyday essentials at Aldi and M&S and the results caught her off guard.
Kicking things off in the dairy aisle, Chelsea discovered that two pints of semi-skimmed milk cost £1.20 at Aldi and surprisingly, the exact same price at M&S.
A 250g block of butter was £1.99 at Aldi, while M&S had it for £2 – just a 1p difference. Next, the financial expert noticed a six-pack of eggs priced at £1.55 in Aldi, whereas the same item was slightly cheaper at M&S, coming in at £1.45.
Chelsea then came across a loaf of bread in Aldi priced at 75p, which M&S matched exactly. Tomatoes were 99p at Aldi and only 1p more at M&S.
As she continued browsing the fresh produce section, the content creator grabbed a whole cucumber for 89p at Aldi, while at M&S it was just slightly higher at 90p, only a 1p difference once again.
A four-pack of toilet rolls was priced at £1.55 in Aldi, but the same item cost £2 at M&S, so there was a 45p difference.
Chelsea’s Instagram video demonstrates that despite M&S’s reputation for being pricier, their ‘Remarksable Value’ range offers some household essentials at prices comparable to Aldi’s.
The range includes affordable fruit and veg, eggs, meats, and pantry must-haves like rice, pasta, and baked beans, challenging the idea that M&S is always the more expensive option.
Chelsea’s Instagram post caption read: “Aldi vs M&S – which shop is cheaper for some of the basic essentials.”
“Don’t get me wrong I am very much team Aldi and Lidl for my food shopping, but it actually surprised me how some of the essentials in M&S were basically the exact same price.”
The video has garnered hundreds of likes and prompted comments from followers, with one expressing astonishment: “That’s actually surprising.”
Another contemplated a strategic approach: “That’s great, I might buy the same priced essentials but then I will definitely splurge on all the other goodies.”
A third commenter reflected on their own shopping experience: “Wow! I have come away from Aldi a few times feeling like my shop isn’t actually that cheap. And I don’t go overboard at all.”