Father's Day is fast approaching and Aldi and Lidl are here with their middle aisle goodies.
Buying gifts for men can be difficult. I don’t know about you, but the men in my life usually just shrug and mumble: “I don’t need anything,” when quizzed about what they want.
Usually I leave it to the day before before desperately scrambling in shops.
I already got them the jumper for Christmas, the book they never read, and since they’re on the vape, fancy lighters are out the window.
But with Father’s Day fast approaching and purse strings a little tight, it makes sense to go and pick something up in Lidl or Aldi on your next big shop. The notorious middle aisle of wonders awaits.
Luckily, Lidl is my go-to for the Big Shop and I already was familiar with it so I headed straight to the middle aisle, signposted with their “special buy” signs.
4 things in Lidl I picked up for a tenner
Unfortunately this week, they didn’t seem super stocked up for Father’s Day. With summer round the corner, there was a lot of gardening products, so if your Da’s into that, then good news for you. But it was over a tenner so didn’t fit this mission today.
A Silver Crest bluetooth speaker for £9.99 caught my eye and I hummed and hah’d over it, wondering if this was worth my pennies.
Usually it would be. I was really close to scanning that and calling it a day.
But I wanted to see if I could get more.
I opted for a collection of goodies. I could picture wrapping them up nicely, offering them up like a “treat yourself” hamper.
Lidl’s Fathers Day Haul
Stewart Brewing Forbidden Fruit Pale Ale £1.79
Stewart Brewing Neipa Hopped IPA £1.79
Guylian chocolate bar £1.49
Guylian box of chocolates £3.49
Total cost: £8.58
There were bigger gifts like the speaker, or headphones or a linen blazer jacket, that I think would also make good gifts but for this trip, they weren't in my price range.
I don’t think there was a lot of options on this shopping trip for men, but I think dads just like to know you were thinking of them and these craft beers are something just a little different.
Bargain gifts I found at Aldi
Between the two, I would say Aldi is the superior. I personally prefer the layout of the store and there was a lot more choice in the middle aisle and the ‘super-buys’ were impressive.
Again, I only had a tenner with me. So the wooden decking tiles (£19.99) for the dad who loves gardening, had to wait.
I was there on official gift hunting business so I had to draw myself away from the gin shelf and put down the Jo Malone-esque candle and ignore the makeup range that looks very familiar to those who use Urban Decay. Aldi has really made a name for itself for their look-alikes.
But back to Father’s Day gifts, Aldi’s middle aisle never fails to impress me with the things you never knew you needed. After picking up the sweet treats in Lidl, I wanted to find Father’s Day gifts that he can use.
The mini Aldi Haul
900ml drinks flask £5.99
Large Burger Press £3.99
Total £9.98
This one is for the dad’s who like the outdoors, camping and BBQ season is coming up and everyone needs a flask for those early mornings.
And that was the first time I’d seen a burger press, so for the cooks, this one might be useful to get those perfect pattys.
Again, Aldi didn’t have many Father’s Day sign-posted products. The special buys in the middle aisle today was full of garden decor. Decking, plant pots, plants, a lawn mower, all useful and good things, but not quite below my humble tenner.
However, I am happy with my Father’s Day gifts, I think they will all get used and make someone happy and I'm now ready for that barbecue and some burgers.
