Trying to get the most out of a nifty in Aldi

Trying to get the most out of a nifty in Aldi



Edwin McGreal

How far will €50 get you these days? It won’t get you far on a night out. The last time I managed to spend less than that amount on a night out in Castlebar was in the days when we used to buy cans and drink outdoors or at someone’s house before heading straight to the night club and that folks is not today or yesterday.
In recent years it would be an achievement to come home and not have spent into the three figures.
Well this week it is very much back to basics. €197 for the week means one thing straightaway - no out this weekend. And it also means trying to survive on under €50 for all my food, household and hygiene needs.
The lunches at work where I could spend €20 on dinner and a dessert are most definitely sidelined. As is the luxury of coming home in the evening from work to a dinner waiting on the table.
So off to Aldi I went yesterday (Tuesday) with my shopping list, my calculator and a solitary €50 note.
In the end I left it very tight. I had a little over €1 to spare when I realised I had brought no plastic bags with me. A rookie mistake.
So I had to fork out for three bags and it damn near left me short. €49.72.
I reckon I got good value though and that I didn’t have to be that frugal. The actual shopping won’t be the hard part. It’ll be having to put away time to cook myself instead of going out for dinner or having it put on the table for me. No such luxuries this week. Time I stood on my own two feet I guess.


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