- Remember to bring a quarter with you. You'll need it to "unlock" a shopping cart. The quarter acts as a key - just slip it in the slot on the handle, give a little tug, and the chain will fall away, freeing your basket from its shackled brethren. When you're done shopping, simply put the cart back in line, insert the chain back into the lock mechanism, and your quarter is returned to you.
- You probably won't find everything on your list. Since Aldi stocks far fewer products than a traditional supermarket, there are bound to be things you're looking for that they simply don't carry. Items are usually stocked in only one size, and only in one of their house brands.
- Leave your checkbook and credit cards at home. ALDI accepts only cash, debit cards, and EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) cards. They save on bank processing fees that way - and they're all about eliminating unnecessary operating expenses.
- Bring shopping bags. This is something I hope you're already doing no matter where you shop! More and more stores are selling those reusable shopping bags these days - I have a few I picked up along the way from Publix, Wegman's, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. The stores advertise them as being better for the environment, and no doubt they are, but I expect the primary reason they do it is to cut the cost of having to supply you with bags. If you happen to forget to bring your bags, no big deal, they sell them for just just a few cents each. Or better yet, just grab an empty box!
- Keep an open mind. Expect things to be different. There are going to be fewer aisles, fewer choices, and fewer employees. The decor will be somewhat stark and you're going to bag your own groceries. The name of the game here is SAVING MONEY, and Aldi is the best in the business at doing that. By reducing their overhead, they save money, and so we save money - its a win-win situation!
And speaking of saving money, next time we'll look at a few items and compare some prices to see just how much you can expect to save by being a Smart Aldi Shopper.
-Jeff the ALDI Shopper
-Jeff the ALDI Shopper
Hey Jeff..thanks this is most useful....I'm like you I do most of the shopping and the cooking for my family...and I'm all about saving some money....Tomorrow I'm going to check out the Aldi in Winston-Salem, NC....I'm looking forward to it...I was looking at their add and the 12 oz garden salad mix *(in a bag) is only 99 cents...wow...!!! 3 mixed colored peppers for 1.99 that crazy cheap. I'll be back to post tomorrow after I shop. I'm going early as I heard they only stock their produce in the morning...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Charlie
Hey Charlie - thanks for stopping by! Are you a new ALDI shopper, or have you been going there a while?
ReplyDeleteI'm a big fan of the bag salad - it always looks much fresher and greener than the bagged salad mixes I find at the other stores around here - and you're right, you can't beat that price! If you're into it, check out their other salad blends too. I'll usually get a bag of the spring mix to toss in with the iceberg mix to fancy it up a little. You're getting a better deal on the peppers than I get here (I'm on the central New Jersey coast), mine cost 1.49 for a pack of two. But still, that's a lot cheaper than the other stores around here - one store was charging 4.99 a lb for the red and orange peppers this week - that's insane!!!
Looking forward to hearing how your shopping trip goes - let me know!
WOW! I just got back from Aldi in W-S, NC....I was amazed at the prices of the produce and the quality of it....The entire experience was awesome..
ReplyDeleteThe second my wife and I walked in, the first thing my wife said...it smells really clean....everything was very neat...and there was not a wait in line...*(but of course we got there when they opened...and as the line formed behind us..the cashier rang for another cashier. I over spent because the prices were so cheap that I was grabbing 2 and 3 of many items...
Since I do the majority of the shopping I'm aware of prices of the items I buy on a normal basis from local grocers, i.e. Food Lion, Lowes and Walmart and Aldi beats their prices hands down....I also bought a couple bottles of the Lambrusco and will be enjoying it tonight...
Charlie ~W-S, North Carolina.
Jeff, I went to an Aldi about 17 years ago and wasn't impressed and I never went back until today...., they've come a long way...I'm pretty picky about what I buy when it comes to produce and what not, and as I said above I was most impressed...as I was heading to the check out.., I noticed by the bread part they had English muffins for .25 cent....that is crazy MAD cheap. UNHEARD OF CHEAP. I'll keep stopping by ur site here....It's cool you started this site....
ReplyDelete~Charlie
lol sorry, but I gotta post one more thing....
ReplyDeleteI mean where can you buy 2 lbs of Cherries for $3.99? Last time I saw them at a local Market they were $7.99 A POUND!!! AND I GOT TWO LBS FOR HALF THAT PRICE!
Sounds like a VERY successful trip Charlie! Like you, I first stopped in to an ALDI ages ago - wasn't impressed, and didn't give them a second thought. When we moved here to New Jersey about 6 years ago, I naturally went through the process of driving around, getting the lay of the land, trying out unfamiliar stores and what-not. Gave them another try, and was very impressed! And they've REALLY stepped it up in the past 3 years or so - selection is wider, packaging better, overall quality better. I can easily do 80-90% of my shopping there. Some weeks it's 100% - and needless to say, my wallet is all the better for it.
ReplyDeleteBut, just like with all stores, there are some real clunkers hiding on the shelves - and I'll be pointing those out in future posts. I'll admit that I've wasted a buck or two along the way, and if I can spare someone else the expense, at least I'll feel like my money wasn't entirely wasted...
Oh, and good score on those english muffins! Last week I stumbled across a 6-pack of onion bagels which are normally priced at 1.49 (which is a great price anyway), for only 50¢!
ReplyDeleteHey there Jeff, Charlie here...I've have a few days to try my purchases out....Everything I have made to eat has been an experience...I think the products are just as good and in many cases better than other name brand products...THE COFFEE IS EXCELLENT! The produce so very fresh and large.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I notice is they do rotate their produce as they are adding new. I was a produce manager for a large chain grocery store.., so I know a little about vegetables and good quality...Charlie
ReplyDeleteHey Charlie - I must say I agree! I have a farm stand nearby, so I do quite a bit of my vegetable purchasing there, but I've never had any problem with the produce at my ALDI (love the coffee too). Bagged onions, potatoes, and so on have all been at least as good as other local stores - and ALWAYS cheaper!
ReplyDeleteWish they stocked jalapenos though - we use a lot of those at my house! But I can get them up the road for about 1.69 a lb - hard to beat that, even for ALDI...
The only thing about the potatoes that I got the last time they had an odd smell too them..not rotten or anything just a very odd smell...we had them in the pantry and we actually took them out of the house....
ReplyDeleteI don't know if anyone knows this or not...but here's a tip about lemons and limes...what I do when I buy bag lemons and limes is slice them all up and put them on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer..after they are frozen I put them in zip lock baggies....then when I want to use the lemons/limes in drinks and such I just take them out of the baggy and put them in the drink...they also act as ice cubes kinda....
I'm really glad I decided to give Aldi another try.....I really like shopping there....I agree about the Jalapenos....we eat them a lot too...jar and fresh....
Charlie
Other than the potatoes....I've liked everything we've used...in some cases better than the National Name Brand item....but everything was just as good....OH WAIT A MINUTE!! THERE IS ONE THING THAT I REALLY DIDN'T LIKE. It is a frozen breakfast meal that you add eggs too..it has sausage and stuff in it....and I made that, it was eatable...but I didn't purchase anymore since...I don't remember the name of it...but it's in the frozen breakfast foods....Charlie
ReplyDeleteHey Charlie - thanks for the tip about the lemons & limes! Seems like I can never get a bag all used up before they go bad, so I'll definitely be giving your technique a try!
ReplyDeleteI think I know the breakfast stuff you're talking about. I don't remember they name either, but I remember trying it a couple of years ago - didn't care for it.
I keep diced peppers and onions in the fridge pretty much all the time, so it's easy enough to whip up something similar when we're in the mood for it. I stocked up on the Fit & Active Brown & Serve Turkey Sausage when they had it a few weeks ago. Dice up about 4 links, take a handful of peppers and onions, a sliced potato, and 4-5 eggs and I've got a one-skillet breakfast for the 3 of us in no time flat - much better than the bagged stuff and even cheaper!
Sounds really great!!! I'll try that breakfast scramble.....I'm going shopping tomorrow...I can hardly wait to see what I'll find that will really please me. C
ReplyDelete