I started the blog because I am both amused and bemused by a lot of the media comment on Lidl, all this nonsense about how people are sneaking in and ashamed to be seen to be so cheap, or even worse poor, that they would lower themselves to shop there.

When exactly did it become shameful to get value for money?

I’m very fond of good food, particular about it even. I’ve found that shopping carefully allows me and my family to eat very well for much less than we used to. My food bills are going down not up. I’m not obsessive about Lidl – I shop in other supermarkets and in local shops and at farmer’s markets, but not anymore for things I can find at comparable quality but a fraction of the price in Lidl.

The comparable quality bit is key. Good food and expensive food are not interchangeable terms.

The other reason I started the blog has nothing at all to do with either Lidl or food. In my day job I make websites, and I’d wanted to have a go at skinning a WordPress blog for while but never seemed to get around to it. When the urge hit to write about Lidl and food I thought I may as well kill two birds with one stone.

Lidl Treats in the Press

RTE News
Thursday August 7th 2008

An interview about the website and about frugal shopping in general appeared on the 9 o’clock news on RTE on and was repeated on the late news on RTE 2.

I don’t know whether it will be available here in the long term, but you can see the clip by clicking on the item entitled “Sharon Tobin reports that consumers are cutting back as the economy slows down” at this page.

Irish Times – Price Watch
Monday August 11th 2008

A piece about Lidl Treats appeared in an article, written by Conor Pope, entitled “Shopping Bags at Dawn” on the Price Watch page of the Irish Times. You can read the article here.

Kilkenny Voice
Thursday August 14th 2008

An article about the website appeared in this local newspaper, but their website isn’t working at the moment so it isn’t available online.

Radio Kilkenny
Thursday August 21st 2008

Did an interview on Marble City Chat, the early afternoon show on the newly relaunched Radio Kilkenny, which was fun and got very lively feedback from listeners.

Sunday Times
Sunday August 24th 2008

There was a brief mention of the site in an article in the Money section on frugal living. Lots of good stuff in this article, but they don’t seem to put Ireland specific stuff on their website, so no link.

Sunday Times
Sunday August 31st 2008

My change to mostly shopping in Lidl, and blogging about it, was cited in an article about Superquinn and it’s chairman Simon Burke.

Dublin City FM
Wednesday September 10th 2008

Did a short interview with Angela Douglas on the “Good Morning Dublin” show on Dublin City FM, mainly about how shopping in Lidl and Aldi can save money without compromise on quality.

Irish Times
Saturday September 13th 2008

Brief mention in the Life and Culture section of the Irish Times, in an article about women bloggers.