Shopping at Aldi – My Experiences
One of the ways that I have tried to cut my grocery bill is to shop at more than one store when I grocery shop. This can backfire, in that you can end up spending more on gasoline than you save on your total bill, or the amount of time it adds to your shopping could not at all be worth it. For me, I have found because of the proximity of the three stores to my home (I literally pass the first two stores to get to the third, where I do the vast majority of my shopping) the first isn’t true, and it only adds at most a half hour to my shopping to go to all three as opposed to just one. For me – the strategy works, and more than works, it has been very beneficial to my bottom line.
The centerpiece of my strategy is doing the majority of my shopping at Aldi. Aldi is a chain of grocery stores that sells primarily generic items, and there are many mixed opinions out there about shopping there. I have heard everything from people thinking that only cheap peoiple shop there, to the idea that the stores are hideous and dirty, to the idea that the food itself is seriously suspect. I actually both agree and disagree with many of the things I have heard said.
I have shopped at quite a few different Aldi stores in the past, and I have found some of them to be run down and not pleasant to shop at. The one where my brother used to live was like that. But the one where I live now is very nice and well kept. I also have both positive and negative experiences with the food. The food has a double money back guarantee on it – if you aren’t satisfied you can return it for both a replacement and a cash refund. That being said, I primarily only buy non-perishable and frozen items there. I have had a lot of problems with produce not lasting more than a few days (at most) after I brought it home. The non-perishable items however (rice, pasta, beans, canned items) and frozen items have all worked out very well. As I’ve talked about in previous posts, I discovered some of the same exact generic items at higher profile chain stores (at a higher price) as what Aldi carries.
For me, going out and trying a different store, Aldi, has helped cut my grocery budget significantly. I used to spend $100-$150 a week on groceries for two people 4 years ago, which would be a much higher number now with how the cost of foods has gone up. Now I generally spend $50 or less a week for the bulk of my groceries at Aldi and then supplement them for another $~30-$40 at Walmart and Kroger for items not available at Aldi or produce (at Kroger). And that is for four people instead of two. Aldi has really helped us lower our monthly grocery bill even while our family has grown.
July 14th, 2008 at 6:54 am
I agree with you about Aldi’s products. Some of them are just as good in quality as name brand items. Going to Aldi is to drive out of my way, and so I don’t go as often as I would if it were closer. The flyer for this weeks sales came in Sunday’s paper and the salmon is a good price. P.S. I used your RME referral to set up an account. (Free $25.00- yay!) I wanted to thank you for advertising and writing about RME. I appreciate that when I need to use it (haven’t as of yet) there is an alternative to paypal with RME. I think I am going to investigate an online savings account next. I try to read your blog every day. Thanks for the nifty info and saving ideas!
July 14th, 2008 at 7:49 am
I do the majority of our shopping at Aldi, too, and fortunately it is the grocery store nearest our home. This summer we are getting most of our produce from a CSA farm, but I’ve rarely had a problems with anything at Aldi, including the produce. Really, the only items they carry that I don’t like are their coffee and tea.
IMO, they are a great company. Their merchandise just keeps improving. They pay their employees well (I have friends in their employ), have kept their prices at rock bottom, and have improved the appearance of most of their stores.
The manager at our local store says business has really increased this year as grocery prices continue to rise. More people are figuring out it just makes good sense to shop there.
July 14th, 2008 at 9:02 am
i had already planned to make my first trip to aldi today before i read this. thanks for the post — i’m looking forward to seeing which type of aldi i have!
July 14th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
What is the story behind Aldi? We have one in my town, but it is a really unusual place. It always looks like no one is shopping there, but it has been there for years. I will have to check it out.
July 14th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
I’m always a little wary about buying generic food products. Are you really saving $$ if you’re screwing up your health with all those cheap ingredients? Buy now, but pay later? I try to buy organic fresh food. That seems to be the healthiest and most cost effective. Packaged foods are expensive and bad for you. So food is one place I don’t agree with cutting. It’s too important.
July 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
If you buy zero non-perishable food, then something like Aldi wouldn’t work for you.
We buy a mixture of things, and even if I didn’t shop at Aldi I’d be buying the same non-perishables somewhere else I buy there. Our philosophy is everything in moderation. And I’m not going to grow my own rice, pasta and beans.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
I love shopping at Aldi! Though I admit, I used to be skeptical about the food and the people who shopped there. I didn’t start shopping there until after my hubby lost his job in January. But it has helped keep our head above water. And the people shopping there are mostly just like me- people experiencing tough times and needing to save (except for the occasional weirdo!) I used to shop organic before we got married when it was just me. I would love to shop that way again, but for now, we have to put our finances first. I go to Aldi for all the basics and then supplement with another grocery store.
P.S. Trader Joes is owned by Aldi and it has generic organic products. If you have one near you and prefer organic, check it out.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
P.S. Now the Aldi TV jingle is in my head you guys – “Shop Aldi Smart!”
July 14th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Hi, first time commenter. I really like your blog.
I also shop at three to four grocery stores to save some $. Aldi is not close to home but I can stop by on the way home from visiting family. One thing I would like to point out, that I have never seen anyone mention in any blog post regarding Aldi, is that part of the reason their stuff is cheaper, is that the size is smaller! I don’t have the exact info, but I know for sure their soup cans are about a quarter ounce less than Campbells, and their Egg Noodles came in a 12 oz bag, not 16 oz bag. Also, their canned beans have a LOT of water in them.
I marveled at a gallon of milk for over a dollar less than Kroger’s sale price, until I tasted it. Kind of thin and watery and it was 2%.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
I too have found that there are some Aldis that are better than others. Right now there are 2 that are reasonably close to where I work or live so I go to those. I do my big shop at Aldi most weeks and have learned what I will or won’t buy there. The Adis I go to do have good produce–but I’ve been to some that didn’t. I’ve usually had real good luck with the dairy too. I get all sorts of things at Aldi–including some $3.50 beach towels this summer that were so nice I wish I could buy alot more. You have to shop it like any other store to ‘learn it’. And compare prices by unit to see if things are really a good deal. I ‘heart’ my Adi Stores!
July 16th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
OH one last thing— I LOVE that it is a SMALL store. I have so much to do in my life I hate having to travel through a maze to get my groceries too.
July 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
I have shopped at Aldi both when money wasn’t so tight and when we both had jobs. I have turned other people on to the idea of Aldi also. As for weirdo’s, I myself have not seen any at the store where I shop. I have how ever seen alot of snooty people at the major chain stores where I stop to pick up only SALE items. Then turn around and see same snooty people at Aldi later. Ha! I have also seen people filling carts to the brim with staples for the food pantry’s in town. Being able to stretch food dollars to help more people in the community.
July 18th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
The store locator function on the Aldi website wasn’t being very responsive just now when I checked to see if there were any in California. I haven’t heard of any Aldi stores in California so I don’t expect there to be any. However, I’ve heard of Aldi because I read a very interesting book a while ago about Trader Joe’s (my favorite grocery market [although "grocery market" doesn't quite define it] and the book described how Trader Joe’s was acquired by Aldi a few years back. Evidently Aldi is a very silent partner. I’m curious to know where many of you live where there are Aldis? Midwest? South? Rural areas? Urban? Would be very interested to find out!
July 21st, 2008 at 7:06 am
We had aldi in Wisconsin, didn’t have them in North Dakota when I lived there, but do have them in North Carolina where I live now. I was interested in Aldi cuz I thought it would be a great company to buy stock in, but I found it is private and I think family owned, you can’t buy stock. I think its a great concept. It started out in Germany after a war and used to carry only a limited supply of staples. They have expanded to suit their market–here in the south they carry self-rising flours and more tortilla things–but that’s cuz that’s what folks here use. Over the years I see they carry more convenience and diet type foods–but they still have all the staples and usually at the best price even considering unit packaging.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Wachovia – Aldi I think is kind of like WalMart that is from Germany. They have generic brands and have most items you would be looking for. They do occasionally have brand name items but those come and go. You have to “rent” a cart by putting a quarter in, that you get back when you return it. You also have to bring your own bags (or pay for theirs, or use one of their empty boxes). They have limited hours and usually close around 7, which may be why you don’t see many people there. I buy pretty much everything I need there, even produce, and I have cut my grocery bill literally in half by buying the same items. You should definitely check it out, even if all you get is canned goods and pasta you can still save a lot.
September 24th, 2008 at 1:14 am
I wouldn’t pay a quarter to rent a shopping cart, because, I bought my liftetime quarters at cartquarter.com I can use them always and forever and never ever have to ask for Change or digging for a quarter in my wallet again. It’s great and good to know that people have smart ideas.