Father's Day is fast approaching, but what do you buy the father or grandfather who have everything?
The children want to use their pocket money to buy some treats for their grandad, and the goodies in the middle aisles of Lidl and Aldi are a great place for them are a good place to start.
Despite being less than a week away, the middle aisles don't scream Father's Day.
But they were still able to pick up some presents that they know will please their barbecue-loving grandfather who also enjoys gardening.
Lidl is our go-to for the Big Shop and so the middle aisle that changes every Thursday and Sunday is a familiar favourite for us, but we did fail in our brief and went over the £10 budget by 46p because we bought a Father's Day card too.
We also went over in Aldi - but with a bit more restraint at the checkout, we could have easily met the brief.
Four things in Lidl I picked up for (nearly) a tenner
It is tricky buying something for a grandfather who insists he doesn't need anything, but his love of BBQing did make picking presents that bit easier.
As someone who has got the barbecue out on Boxing Day, you can't go wrong with something that will help with his outdoor cooking obsession.
The items are not branded as Father's Day gifts, but because of the time of year there is plenty of outdoor goodies in the middle aisle.
First in the trolley was a barbecue cleaning brush for £2.99. Not the most exciting present, but the children had heard him saying how much he needed something to clean the barbecue the week before, so it is going to be a useful present.
They also wanted to add a barbecue grill basket for £4.99 that will hold sausages together over the barbecue - another handy gift that will get the thumbs up.
There is lots of choice and we contemplate adding a Sommelier wine set that includes a bottle stopper, pourer with closure, corkscrew with lever function and foil cutter for £4.99, but this will take us over budget so we continued our search of the aisle and did find a wine cooler sleeve for a bargain £1.49 that would add to the treats.
A Silver Crest bluetooth speaker for £9.99 was discussed, but we decided he would appreciate the other gifts more.
We finished off our shopping with a Father's Day card for 99p , buying that did take us over budget but only by a small amount.
BBQ cleaning brush - £2.99
Grill basket - £4.99
Wine cooler sleeve - £1.49
Father's Day card - 99p
Total cost £10.46.
The three items from Aldi (that also took us slightly over budget)
There was not really much between the two stores, but while there are lots of Specialbuys in Aldi, again it didn't shout Father's Day.
We spent quite a bit of time going along the aisles, one of which was mainly presents for pets. But we were able to decide on something that would make Father's Day presents.
As well as BBQ-ing, grandad enjoys the garden and watching sport. We only had a tenner, so the wooden decking tiles (£19.99) for the dad who loves gardening, had to wait.
The boys chose a plant pot for £3.99 that will look well hanging in his garden. They also contemplated some hedge shears for £7.99, and a decorative pot set for £9.99, but decided to go for quantity again and needed to keep the haul under £10.
In the end it was back to the barbecue with a chalk menu board £4.99 , and then they really liked the Euro 2020 drinks bottle for £2.99 .
Euro drinks bottle - £2.99
Plant pot - £3.99
Chalk board menu - £4.99
Total cost £11.97.
We did fail on both attempts to keep within our budget, but we are happy with the Father's Day gifts, and if we hadn't chosen the drinks bottle in Aldi at the last moment, and the card in Lidl we would have kept it below £10.
We just hope that the weather stays fine for Father's Day barbecue when grandad gets to try out his new presents.
