I’m a Sainsbury’s regular but I switched to Aldi after seeing price of an item

I’m a regular at my local Sainsbury’s, but I’ve recently been shopping at Aldi more often because of the price of one particular item. I visit both Aldi and Sainsbury’s, though I must confess that, despite Aldi being the cheaper option, I tend to pop into Sainsbury’s most days as it’s marginally closer and considerably less hectic. I’ve also come to the conclusion that Sainsbury’s produce is of a higher quality than Aldi’s, and as we get through a great deal of fruit and veg in my household, we often nip to Sainsbury’s, knowing the produce will last longer and frequently tastes better.

Recently, however, I’ve found myself heading to Aldi for another item entirely due to the price difference: salmon. I eat salmon most days of the week alongside rice, noodles or another accompaniment. The oily fish is packed with omega-3s, vitamin D and antioxidants, which can protect cells from oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, improve skin elasticity and boost both brain and heart health.

Not only is it tremendously good for you, but it’s also delicious, particularly when cooked with soy sauce.

That said, salmon doesn’t come cheap and can set you back £4 for a couple of decent-sized fillets.

Recently, while picking up some salmon in Sainsbury’s, I was taken aback by the price. I usually buy whichever fillets are on offer.

Sainsbury’s offers a wealth of Nectar prices in-store and personalised Nectar prices via the Nectar app, but even with those discounts applied, some packs were just under £5 or even £6.50 for two fillets.

Salmon has always carried a hefty price tag, yet it appears to have become even more costly of late, particularly with steep energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis weighing heavily on household budgets.

Sainsbury’s does stock a packet of two salmon fillets for £3.59 (Stamford Street Co. ASC Salmon Fillets), matching Aldi’s price point, but despite being marketed as ‘boneless’, the occasional stray bone is far from uncommon.

Instead, a trip to Aldi for The Fishmonger Boneless Salmon Fillets 2 Pack has become the preferred option — not only is the quality outstanding, but it also tends to contain fewer bones.

There are also other items I will exclusively buy from Aldi: Items from their bakery section.

Previously, picking up the odd croissant or pain au chocolat from Sainsbury’s at weekends made for a relaxed breakfast treat. But unless you arrived early enough, they were frequently a letdown — dry, stale and disappointingly bland, particularly considering their cost.

I was sceptical when first trying a croissant from Aldi, with the assumption that a lower price inevitably meant inferior quality.

However, having sampled most of Aldi’s bakery range over recent months, it’s safe to say I have stopped buying from Sainsbury’s bakery altogether.

Hunting out specific items and comparing prices across different supermarkets remains one of the most effective strategies for keeping household spending in check. If this isn’t a viable option, however, numerous supermarkets across the UK offer loyalty schemes, including Tesco (Clubcard), Sainsbury’s (Nectar), Asda (Rewards), Lidl (Plus), Morrisons (More), Co-op, Waitrose (myWaitrose), and M&S (Sparks), through which members can unlock exclusive discounts, coupons and earn rewards.