Just a ton of items I always get at Aldi!
Many years ago I first learned about Aldi and was very judgmental of the shopping experience. After shopping in upscale grocery stores Aldi felt barren and sad! But then I studied abroad and shopped in grocery stores in the UK – which are very similar to Aldi. After that – and after I was living on my own – I turned from an Aldi skeptic into an Aldi lover. I would rather save money on groceries and spend it on fun things – travel, saving for a house, etc.
I talked about my love for Costco a few weeks ago, and today I want to highlight a few Aldi tips if you are new to shopping there!
Tips & Tricks
- Bring a quarter! You will need to insert a quarter into the cart to unlock it. The quarter will be returned when you return the cart — this is honestly tricky if you don’t know what you’re doing! But if you watch someone do it, it’s super straightforward.
- Bring your own reusable grocery bags — Aldi doesn’t supply shopping bags. You can buy them, but I keep a stash of reusable bags in my pantry I can bring with me. I can usually get by with 3 bags for big trips. My favorite reusable bags are from Whole Foods.
- Don’t go on a weekend! (If you can) Aldi has small aisles and it can get INSANE on weekends. I try nights or weekdays to stay sane
- Check out their weekly ad for what is on sale. The sale items at Aldi rotate a lot, and I like to check before I go to see if I should stock up on anything.
- I shop at Aldi first, and then will hit a traditional grocery store for whatever I can’t get. Aldi doesn’t always stock the same produce, so sometimes I can’t get what I need.
What I Buy
- Baking supplies – flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, etc
- Dairy – milk, eggs (Eggs are SO CHEAP here! I’ve found them for $0.60/dozen within the last few weeks!), cheese
- Produce – I see whatever produce is there and pick what looks good. You can get very affordable fresh produce, but be sure to check it carefully before buying. If you buy something prepackaged (like spinach, etc) make sure to check the expiration date. I also get potatoes, onions, and bananas
- Grains & pasta
- Canned goods
- Other items – tortillas, chips/pretzels, nuts
- Gluten Free – Aldi has really upped their Gluten-Free game! Their selection has expanded a ton and the quality is very good. If you want to get GF items (pasta, frozen foods, etc) this is a must buy!
What I Don’t Buy
- Premade foods
- Meat – Aldi meat is super cheap, but I’m not sold on the quality. I don’t want to cut corners with beef or chicken, so I stick to Costco. They do have organic meats, and I’m not sure how those compare (I haven’t tried them).
- Yogurt – I’ve yet to find plain, greek yogurt. They often have flavored greek yogurt, but nothing plain.
As you can tell, I really shop at Aldi for a lot of my groceries! I love the prices (seriously, no where is cheaper) and I’m happy to sacrifice ambiance to save more money. Also, I’ve seen some newer Aldis being built and they look much bigger – so the small-aisle issue might not exist forever. I hope this is helpful – let me know if you have any questions!
