Is there anything more convenient when you're in a rush than a supermarket meal deal? These offers, available in various shops across the UK, typically allow customers to choose a main such as a sandwich or wrap, a drink, and a snack, such as a packet of crisps, a chocolate bar, or some fruit.
The deals cost a fixed price regardless of how much the items would be individually, meaning there are potentially significant savings to be made if you're clever about your choices. One astute shopper managed to secure a combination that would have normally cost £10.60 for just £3.95. They flaunted their bargain on Reddit, stating: "Winner winner... maxed out Sainsbury's £3.95 meal deal with £10.60 worth of lunch."
What was included in the meal deal?Detailing how much the items would have been individually, the shopper said the sandwich alone would have cost £3.95, meaning the drink and snack were essentially free. The can of Red Bull would have been £3.75 and the protein bar would have been £2.90, reports the Liverpool Echo.
They also clarified they had purchased the items at a Sainsbury's petrol station. They added: "I can't see that there is a more expensive combo or else I'd have had that."
People had a variety of reactions. One remarked: "Oh yes! Those Kind bars are excellent and I could never justify the price of them otherwise."
Another remarked: "Love the Red Bull and the Kind bar but I would've chosen a different main as those sandwiches really don't go well together imo (in my opinion)."
Responding to this, someone else posted: "Yeah fair, it's a chaos combo. Purely a 'how high can I get the total' pick, not a 'does this actually taste nice together' one."
However, others questioned whether meal deals genuinely represent value. One person stated: "I cannot believe people actually think they are saving £6/7 on a meal deal. It's all over priced for the purpose of making the meal deal look better value."
Another posted: "All the lunch type food is vastly inflated in price to make the meal deal price look like you're beating the system. Sainsbury's aren't being taken for a ride, the customer is, always."
Someone else observed: "There's bound to be a premium in a petrol station, even more so than shopping at Express/Local stores probably. But for £3.95 this is good, wouldn't surprise me if the sandwiches alone were £3+."
Another user commented: "The sandwich is filling and best bang for your buck - I wish it had just some salad with it." A different user noted: "I do not like this. 3/10."
While another posted: "Sainsbury's is definitely going to see this and raise the price to five quid by tomorrow."
