Exact times to shop in Aldi, Lidl, Asda and Tesco for huge discounts on food
Supermarkets are a treasure trove of deals if you know when to shop, as stores often reduce prices significantly to clear their shelves. Retailers use yellow or sometimes red labels to show they want to get rid of stock fast- usually because these products are nearing their sell-by date.
However, each supermarket has its own schedule for releasing these bargains, allowing the most astute shoppers to snag the best deals. Consumer champions at Which? reached out to the biggest brands for tips on the cheapest times to shop.
Here's when you should visit shops like Aldi, Lidl, M&S and Sainsbury's to find the most yellow-label bargains, reports Bristol Live. M&S reveals that the timing of reductions varies by store but is likely to be close to closing time.
Aldi
Aldi reduces perishable products such as bread, meat, fruit and vegetables by either 30% or 75% on their last day of shelf life before stores close. It also offers a 30% discount on groceries like cereal, pasta and tinned food if the packaging is deemed imperfect.
Asda
Asda applies yellow stickers to items twice a day – once in the morning and once in the evening.
Lidl
Lidl makes reductions first thing in the morning and then a few hours before closing, although staff can choose to do so throughout the day.
Waitrose
Brits on the hunt for a bargain know that 'yellow sticker' discounts at supermarkets can be a goldmine, but there's no set schedule for when these price cuts occur.
Tesco
According to money-saving sage Naomi Willis of SkintDad, " Tesco reductions start towards the end of the day on fresh meat, fish, fruit, veg and bakery items. Tesco reduction times seem to vary from store to store. After having shopped in a few different stores I found the discounts earlier in the day are usually naff and I've only been able to get a few pennies off."
She advises savvy shoppers, "The later in the evening you can shop, the more chance a 50% off discount, or more. It's best to go after 8 pm or around 30 minutes before smaller stores close."
Sainsbury's
Naomi shares her insights, saying, "You should be able to find some discounts just after lunchtime when they start reducing the food. The best time to go is around 7pm to your local Sainsbury's store as that's when the majority of yellow stickers will get put on food."
Morrisons
For those near Morrisons, Naomi clues them in: "Try from around 5 pm for reductions of around 75% off. If there is any food left from 8pm onwards food could be sold for pennies."
Co-op
Naomi said: "I found you can get discounts for up to 75% off the original price."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits who left university in the last 27 years could be 'owed thousands'
Money Saving Expert, which was founded by Martin Lewis, advised exactly how to check if you're owed money. Finance experts have urged any former university students to check their paperwork, as more than one million could be owed up to thousands of pounds. According to the consumer website Money Saving Expert (MSE) many Brits could have overpaid on their student loans. These loans are provided to help students cover their tuition fees as well as living costs. While they are therefore vital to ensure many people are even able to attend university, they can leave people with lingering debts. And over the course of a year it is estimated that more than one million university students overpay on their loans. In a post made to social media platform Facebook, MSE said: 'Left uni at any point in the last 10 or 15 years? Check now if you can reclaim £100s or even £1,000s. 'Every year 100,000s of university leavers overpay their student loans, often without realising!' On its website MSE, which was founded by Martin Lewis, explained more. It said: 'Many have student loan repayments automatically deducted from their wages each month, and assume all is well. Yet 100,000s accidentally overpay their student loans each year, often without realising. 'Here's how to check if you're one of them and, if so, how you can reclaim £100s, or even £1,000s. In the last tax year alone, over one million university leavers overpaid their student loans, according to the latest figures released by the Student Loans Company (SLC).' The site provided a guide to determine whether you have been affected by these overpayments. But it only applies to those who went to university in the last 27 years - meaning they had to start in 1998 or later. 'Over recent years, the Student Loans Company has introduced a number of initiatives to reduce overpayments and improve the repayment process for students,' it said. 'This includes introducing an online repayment service, issuing automatic refunds and actively contacting those who might have overpaid. 'While these changes have helped to reduce the number of students making overpayments, more than a million former students still overpaid in the 2022/23 tax year – so it's well worth checking.' According to the site, there are four main reasons you might have overpaid your student loan: You repaid the loan in some months despite not earning enough in the full year to take you over the repayment threshold You're on the wrong payment plan by default You've started repaying too early You had money deducted after the loan was fully repaid To find out more and to check if you could have overpaid you can visit the MSE website here. How to claim the money back The steps you need to take are different depending on the reason you have been overpaying. If payments were deducted from your pay despite the fact that your total earnings for the year were below the repayment threshold, you can request a refund from SLC online. If you're on the wrong student loan payment plan by default, you will need to speak to your employer or call SLC. You can call them on 0300 100 0611. You should also call SLC if you started repaying your loan too early. However, if you had money deducted after the loan was fully repaid you don't need to do anything. MSE explained: 'If you've paid over your loan balance and additional payments are taken, you're due a credit balance refund. You don't need to do anything for this, if SLC can verify your bank account is still active and used by you, a refund will automatically be paid into your account. 'Meaning it's important to keep your contact information, including bank details and email address up-to-date. Alternatively they will contact you to tell you how to get a refund. If you've overpaid and have not heard from SLC you can ask them for a refund.' A number of MSE readers wrote to the site about their experience claiming back the cash. Melissa said: 'Just wanted to say a massive thank you as I read your article on overpaying on student loan repayments and realised there was a chance I had overpaid. 'Turns out I had and I've since received a refund of £900! I've been doing house renovations this year so this money has been incredibly handy in going towards them.' Lisa added: 'I spent 15 minutes on the phone and got £555 back for overpayments on my student loan. Most was because of my maternity leave. Thanks so much, couldn't have come at a better time.'
Scottish Sun
4 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Brainy new Google ‘AI Mode' that finds you cheap hols & saves you money launches in UK as boss brands it ‘magical'
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MILLIONS of Brits now have access to a supercharged version of Google called AI Mode. A new button is now appearing on UK phones and computers that makes Google more 'powerful' than ever – and insiders told The Sun it could save you time, money and even bag you bargain holidays. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 13 Google has added a new AI Mode button to its search bar Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 13 You'll be able to ask far more complicated queries Credit: Google AI Mode is powered by Google's brainy bots and launched in the US earlier in the year. Now the new version of Google has made it to the UK, and will appear for all Brits by the end of the week. It lets you make 'previously impossible' searches, like complicated questions about planning your big summer holiday. You could set exact budgets, explain what each family member likes, the types of places you'd like to visit, and even ask for a full itinerary. But there are concerns over what it means for the rest of the internet, and whether regular web users will end up visiting websites or will simply stay on Google. Google's Hema Budaraju said AI Mode searches are typically two to three times longer than a regular question, and explained: 'It breaks it down into the different component questions, then sends off like dozens, sometimes hundreds of searches. 'We're able to bring back a much deeper, more diverse set of results that previously was just not possible.' AI AM READY Hema is the Google exec tasked with upgrading your search bar using AI. She showed The Sun several demos of AI Mode working in real-time. One example question included: 'Weekend family getaway destinations that can entertain a very hard-to-please teenager who likes wildlife photography, with nice hikes nearby, and is close to a spa so I don't lose my mind.' That sort of search would normally take multiple different questions, but AI Mode can pull all of the info and links you need into a single answer. Google's Gemini AI app lets you chat out loud with shockingly humanlike virtual helper 'In our testing, we've seen that the query length on AI Mode is almost two to three times that on regular search,' Hema told The Sun at Google's London HQ. 'It's like an indication of people's change in behaviour. The willingness to use the technology in different ways, and finding things that previously were probably much harder to find.' The AI Mode is also meant to work like a chatbot – like Google Gemini or ChatGPT – with the option to ask even more questions. So if you're not happy with the results or if you want to know something else, you can go back to any AI Mode search and ask more. 13 Google says that you'll be able to use it to plan holidays Credit: Google 13 AI Mode searches are two to three times longer than a regular search, according to Google Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 'You should be able to retrieve this particular response,' Hema explained. 'And if you wanted to ask follow-up questions on the basis of that, you can pick this up and then do your next step of information-seeking questions on the basis of that.' Hema also said that her own family used AI Mode to plan a trip. 'So my daughter just finished college and has been doing travelling with a friend,' the Google exec told us. 'And she just did the Portugal to Spain trek. 'And we were actually using AI Mode in the US when she was home to help her plan her trip. 'To say: How do you pace yourself? What are some good places to stay? What are budget places to look for? How should you think about food? 'So it was really, really magical.' 13 The Sun sat down with Hema Budaraju, who is in charge of boosting Google Search using AI Credit: Google WHAT IS AI MODE ACTUALLY FOR? Here's the official word from Google, including tips on how to search well... "AI Mode is particularly helpful for exploratory questions and for more complicated tasks," Google explained. "Like comparing products, planning a trip or understanding complex how-tos. "In fact, we've found that early users of AI Mode are asking questions that are two or three times the length of traditional search queries. "For example, you can now ask questions like: 'Things to do in Edinburgh this weekend with friends. We're big foodies who like music but also chill vibes and exploring off the beaten track.' "Or: 'How do migrating birds know where to go?' "Behind the scenes, AI Mode uses our query fan-out technique, breaking down your question into subtopics and issuing a multitude of queries simultaneously on your behalf. "This enables Search to dive deeper into the web than a traditional search on Google, helping you discover even more of what the web has to offer and find incredible, hyper-relevant content that matches your question." Picture Credit: Google TEXT BEST THING? AI Mode isn't just for typing in text, either. Google is bundling in its Lens tech, which scans snaps that you upload to tell you about them. The Sun recently used it as a "dupe-hunter" to find thousands of pounds in savings. The tech giant said that this could be used as a way to make online shopping much easier. 'In AI Mode, you can take a picture, upload an image, and ask a question – and get a rich, comprehensive response with links to dive deeper,' Hema told us. 'AI Mode can understand the entire scene and image, including the content and the context of how objects relate to each other. 'So in the particular case, where you have a bookshelf and say 'hey, find me recommendations of books like that', it's able to understand the context of the entire image.' She said it would 'come back with recommendations and places where you can have access to those specific books'. 'And then if you have additional follow-up questions to build on, you can do that right there.' 13 You'll also be able to use AI Mode for product comparison Credit: Google 13 Google will serve up text, links, map pins and more with AI Mode Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun The Sun also saw a demo where Google insiders asked AI Mode about how to get into birdwatching. It served up info on what gear you'll need, the best places nearby to spot birds laid out on a map, and general advice. The complicated question was answered in a matter of seconds, and linked out to multiple websites. One notable absence from the demos seen by The Sun was video results. Asked about video in AI Mode, Hema said: 'We will continue to add new features. 'I think at this point, you're likely to see more links and ways to get there – but we'll continue to look at feedback and add features.' CHAT'S GOOD? She said that the main purpose behind AI Mode is to allow for more complicated questions that wouldn't normally be possible. 'If you ask more nuanced questions, add more parameters, add a ton of constraints, you'll be able to ask anything on your mind and get a helpful AI-powered response,' Hema said. 13 You can start a conversation with AI Mode and then tap the clock button to come back to it later Credit: Google 13 The Sun saw Google's new AI Mode in action at the company's London HQ Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun So is this the end for regular Google search? Hema explained that there's still a place for more conventional snippets of info and lists of links. She said: 'I think it depends on the use case, doesn't it? 'So when you actually think of it on a daily basis with billions of search queries – and sometimes these are simpler ones like weather, sports scores, train schedules – just a link to a site that you wanted to go to, search is awesome at it. 'And I think that you would be able to find what was the fastest way that you need to get the information. 'And we think of AI Mode as more complex. The harder questions, the difficult questions that you otherwise probably wouldn't have had a chance to figure out formerly. 'So I think it depends on the use case. You could choose whichever format that you prefer to engage with search.' Hema also revealed that AI Mode isn't meant to replace Google's chatbot Gemini. The ChatGPT-style both is available on phones and computers, and lets you ask almost anything in a conversational style – including with your voice in real-time. The Sun even tried using it as a free tour guide for holidays. A GOOG IDEA? The expert view Brits finally have access to AI Mode, but what does The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach think? It's hard to imagine a time before Google. I use it, unthinkingly, dozens of times a day. Maybe more than that. And I suspect most of you are exactly the same. So when Google makes a big change, it affects billions of people. And AI Mode is a seriously big change. I've had an early look at it in Google's HQ and it's undoubtedly impressive. It serves up rapid-fire responses to very complicated questions, answering them from every angle and serving up loads of very appropriate links, map pins, and suggestions. It doesn't take a genius to see how this could make planning a day out or a holiday much easier. There are clearly loads of ways this will save you time, not least because you don't have to make 15 different searches. One, plus a follow-up question, might do. The real question will be around how it affects all of us. This is Google serving up content, which means it might make mistakes. If those mistakes relate to health or finances, it could be very serious. We'll have to watch it closely. And secondly, anyone making content will rightly be worried that people might not need to visit their websites if the content shows up on Google first. Google seems certain that this won't be the case, and that Brits will be shown more appropriate links than ever before. But again, only time will tell. In the meantime, I'm off to see if AI Mode can book me a cheap summer hol. Croatia, here I come. Picture Credit: Sean Keach Google says that AI Mode won't kill off Gemini. They'll both exist together. 'The role of AI mode is primarily information-seeking journeys,' Hema said. 'And information-seeking journeys that are built on the power of the goodness of knowledge graph, maps, shopping, places. 'That's why you see the presence of these links very strongly. 'The Gemini app is more like your most personal, capable assistant, where you do maybe things that help your creativity and productivity tasks.' GOOG LINKING Google has faced questions over whether AI will make it harder for people who create content, like journalists, writers, and researchers. The Sun asked Hema if the end-goal was to keep everyone on Google's own systems – rather than heading off to different websites. Hema said that Google's AI Mode would still give plenty of opportunity for users to end up on other pages. 13 You can ask complicated questions – or simple questions with complicated answers Credit: Google 13 You can tap the AI Mode button in the search bar – or convert your search after you've already made it Credit: Sean Keach / The Sun 'I would think of it in two ways. One is, it's expansionary. People are not asking some of these questions today on search," Hema said. 'But with the capabilities and with the technology, the ability to ask these questions now opens up to everyone. 'Which means that there are newer questions and newer opportunities for traffic and for content to be discovered. 'Secondly, we are very committed to ensuring that there are strong links to figure out the right jump-off points and make it easy.' 13 AI Mode also builds in Google Lens so that you can ask about images too Credit: Google She said the existing AI Overviews feature, which summarises content to provide speedy answers to your questions on Google, is a great example of that. 'We send billions of clicks and with AI Overviews, one of our learnings is that when people go from AI Overviews to the content, they tend to spend more time there, which is a good sign that it's a good thing," the Google exec added. IT'S AI TIME If you want to try Google's AI Mode, it's available in the UK right now. You'll see a new AI Mode button on the right side of the search bar, which you can tap for brainier results. And if you make a search and – in hindsight – wished you'd used AI for it, you can tap the AI Mode button at the top of the screen to convert your request instantly. If you can't see AI Mode right away, don't panic: it'll take a few days for the feature to reach all Brits.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Aldi set to be first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour
Aldi also remains the only supermarket offering paid breaks, worth an extra £1,385 per year for the average employee BETTER EVERY PAY Aldi set to be first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ALDI will be the first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour. That will be the chain's basic pay rate from September 1. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Aldi, which uses the slogan 'Better Everyday', last increased its minimum hourly pay to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 in London earlier this year Credit: Aldi And staff within the M25 will earn at least £14.33, far exceeding the Real Living Wage of £12.60 and National Living Wage of £12.21. Long-serving staff will see their pay rise to £13.93 nationally and £14.64 in London. Already the UK's highest-paying supermarket Aldi, which uses the slogan 'Better Everyday', last increased its minimum hourly pay to £12.75 nationally and £14.05 in London earlier this year. Aldi also remains the only supermarket offering paid breaks, worth an extra £1,385 per year for the average employee. Boss Giles Hurley said: 'Our people are the driving force behind our success. "This latest investment in pay is a reflection of their hard work and the incredible contribution they make. 'We're proud to remain the UK's highest-paying supermarket and will continue to support our colleagues.' The chain is investing £650million to expand from 1,050 to 1,500 stores nationwide. It is opening ten new outlets this summer including in Caterham, Sheffield, and Fulham Broadway, and employs 45,000 staff. Rival Lidl hiked hourly pay for 28,000 workers on April 1. All upcoming 'Aldi Finds' in the middle aisle next week – including portable chargers, power toothbrushes & dryer balls Entry level wages rose to £12.75 an hour nationally, with London rates increasing to £14 an hour, as part of a £15million investment into pay. 4 Aldi will be the first UK supermarket to pay assistants at least £13 an hour Credit: Getty HEINEKEN REFRESHES LESS 4 Heineken sales fell in Europe and the US as pricing rows and weak demand hit volumes — though UK sales edged up thanks to Cruzcampo and Murphy's Credit: Reuters HEINEKEN has faced a tough start to 2025, selling less beer amid fraught pricing talks with European retailers. Its beer volumes fell 1.2 per cent globally in the first half, with European sales dropping 4.7 per cent as retailers in France, the Netherlands, Germany and Spain pulled the brand over price hikes. US sales also slumped due to weak consumer sentiment, while proposed tariffs threaten profits. Despite this, the brewer saw modest UK growth boosted by its Cruzcampo lager and Murphy's stout. MOVIE MAGIC EVERYMAN CINEMAS saw a 21 per cent sales surge in the first half of the year. Admissions climbed by 15 per cent in that time, with blockbusters like Thunderbolts and the new Mission Impossible helping to attract 2.2million visitors. And average ticket prices rose by six per cent, up to £12.46. Everyman has 48 venues in the UK, and plans to open more soon. Its shares rose 6.6 per cent in early trading yesterday. RENT SQUEEZE 4 Rents hit record highs as tenants now pay £400 more a month than five years ago - with London averages soaring to £2,712 Credit: Getty THE rental market is at record highs, with tenants paying £400 more per month than they did five years ago, Rightmove says. Average asking rents outside London sit at £1,365 per month, while those in the capital have soared to £2,712. The news comes despite rent growth slowing, with demand down 10 per cent and supply up 15 per cent. But tenants still spend 37 per cent of their income on housing.
