I live in the northeast US and I feel like we don’t have the best grocery stores up here. But, I recently found an Aldi about a half hour to 45 minutes away from my house. You seem like a big supporter of Aldi so I was just wondering if you thought it would be frugal of me to make the drive there every month or so to do some grocery shopping or would it just be a waste of gas, money and time? What are your thoughts? -Becky
If I personally lived in an area where there were few grocery stores with good deals, I would definitely consider it worth my time and the expense of gas to drive 30 minutes to Aldi once every four to six weeks.
However, to make it worth the drive, you’d want to be strategic about it. You’d want to stock up on enough items which were significantly lower than the prices you would usually pay to last you for another four to six weeks (or until your next trip). I’d also look to see if there were any other great stores in the same area that I could also stop by to make my trip even more worthwhile.
I would likely buy enough fresh produce to last me for a week or two (depending upon what the produce is, sometimes it will last longer than that). I’d also stock up on staple items such as baking supplies and canned goods. And finally, I’d buy perishable items which can be frozen. You can freeze bread, butter, cheese, milk, fresh fruit (for smoothies or baking) and so much more. So I’d likely freeze most of the perishable items which we couldn’t use up in a week in order to extend their life.
I would track my expenditures at Aldi compared to the prices I could get at the local stores to make sure that I was saving enough money to make it worth the trip. Since it would be at least an hour of driving plus some gas money for the trip, I’d need to be saving at least $50 per trip to make it worth my time and expense.
Most importantly, I’d continue to do the best I could to find deals at my local stores. Sometimes, high-priced stores which don’t double coupons will have incredible loss leaders or catalina deals. Keep your eyes peeled! (By the way, have you signed up to receive the best deals at your local stores in your inbox every week? We do the work for you so make sure and take advantage of this free resource!)
Would you drive to Aldi if you were in Becky’s shoes? How far will you travel for good deals? I’d love to hear your answers!
Katie says
Becky, please be REALLY careful to check the prices at Aldi versus other grocery stores. I live in PA, and I find that Aldi’s prices are usually only somewhat better than those at Giant or Redner’s – and sometimes they’re worse! Unfortunately, here in the Northeast, the great grocery deals are just really hard to come by.
Tracy says
I live an hour and a half from a Wal-Mart, and our local grocery store prices are a good 25 – 50% higher. During the school year I travel the 3 hour drive every other week and combine it with my daughter’s music lessons. During the summer we try to find fun activities in the area to do with the kids to help justify the 3 hour drive for a shopping trip. We do end up paying about $25 – 35 per shopping trip for the gas alone, but when I can incorporate other activities with the trip, it does help us to save money. I also have a friend that sometimes we will take turns driving and shop together for savings.
Julia says
I live in a small town with several somewhat overpriced chain supermarkets. The nearest Aldi is 45 minutes away from us, and I make the trip every two months for dry goods, staples, frozen foods and some meats. We like the Fit & Active brand and Aldi’s has the best pork chops I’ve ever had. I take a cooler and a friend who also needs to save money on groceries, and we have a great time together. There’s a Big Lots at the halfway point between Aldi and home, and we always run through there on the way home to buy detergent, tea, coffee, etc. The trip takes us about three hours to complete, and we save between 30 and 50 percent off local prices.
Michelle says
I WAS in her shoes and yes, I did drive. Where we lived, everything was at least 1/2 hour to 45 minutes away. I made trips every so many weeks and stocked up as I was able to do so, making more trips during the summer. Depending upon weather, and because we lived in a very rural area, the roads weren’t always safe during the winter.
Kim says
I do drive that far in either direction for a Target, and an Office depot & office max. I don’t think Aldi’s prices are all that great. If I was going to travel that far for an Aldi’s, I’d be stopping at other places along the way. I surely wouldn’t drive that far only for Aldi’s.
I think I can do better shopping for loss leaders at the local grocery stores than traveling that far.
Jackie says
My rule for travelling any distance for sales is this: Take good notes! Keep track of what you spend, how much you think you saved, how long the expedition took you and how much gas you used. At some point you might find the gas/time overpowers the savings you incur, but you’ll never know unless you keep notes. If I find that I am spending more in gas than I am saving at the store, then I rethink my strategy.
Faith S says
I am in the same boat. The closet one is 30 min. away. I try to make it to Aldi every other month. One way to cut the cost is I have someone else(my mom or other friend) go along with me and split the cost of gas. That makes it worthwhile for both of us.
Need A Nap2 says
This is funny b/c I wrote a post about my last Aldi’s trip. We try to go when it’s convenient or we want to go to the “big” city. Usually involves eating out somewhere we don’t have close by or to take the k ids to Chuck-E-Cheese. Just be careful to wrap up those breakable bottles – ha ha! http://needanap2.blogspot.com/2010/08/amazing.html
melanie keck says
I know the feeling. I find myself driving 40 miles or more to save on groceries. The produce has been the hardest thing for me but They have started a produce co-op locally and that is the most wonderful thing. I love it. I have found that if I really watch the ads and coupons I can do really well locally and then stock up at the other stores further away when the deals are great My freinds call them vegas weeks when there are many great deals. good luck
Laurie says
I have an Aldi’s right around the corner and I have not been pleased with it. I agree with the fruit issues that my store has horrible produce. We are trying to eat healthier and the majority of food is all processed and full of fat. I have every store I could think of in less than 1 mile from my house. Even without coupons I do very well for our food budget.
Crystal says
I drive to Aldi’s once a month…….Ours is an hour away on a good day……..I don’t do all my shopping there I buy my can goods and soups……….their stuffed chicken breast are awesome………..I can’t afford to drive there anymore often than that……….So I make my trip count……..I go armed with a list and cash and a quarter for the cart………..
Kara says
couldn’t find my original comment, but the “clean linen” scent I use for laundry soap is found in the candle aisle at Walmart. It’s a 2 oz. essensial oil, and for a 10-gallon batch of soap, I add 1 oz. oil (1/2 the bottle). It smells just how laundry soup SHOULD smell!!! 🙂
Karen Rucker says
The closest non-gas-station grocery store to me is about 20 minutes away. The next closest is 25 minutes in the opposite direction. But, I kind of have to drive into town every day anyway since my kids attend an out of district school.
I think a big part of the answer is how good your gas mileage is. If it costs you $10 in gas and you only save $10 on the food, it’s not worth it.
Melissa says
I live in a rural area and it is 40 minutes to Kroger, Aldi,, Walgreens, CVS & Rite Aid. It is about 15 minutes to local owned grocery stores and 20 minutes to Walmart. I usually only go about once a month for major shopping. My kids play sports so I try to stop around their games for some quick deals.
Marissa says
That’s funny. I have an Aldi in my town…but NEVER shop there.
Once a week, I drive about 40 miles away just to shop. Grocery stores don’t double in my town..and we don’t have a rite aid or target.
Rachel says
Another New England resident comments… We live in a rural area and it’s 30-45 minutes to the nearest big box store. I don’t know of any Aldi nearby, but here’s what I do about Target. I go there to stock up on socks, cleaning supplies, toiletries and other odds and ends that you can’t really find locally (like a drying rack that doesn’t cost $40!) My rule of thumb is not to make a special trip to Target… I only go when I have to go into town for something else, such as picking up my husband from the airport or a meeting for work. I keep a running list of things we need from Target and then stock up as the occasion arises. It works out that I go to Target once every 2-3 months or so – I’ve found that there’s really no need to go more often.
Dana @ The Coupon Challenge says
I agree with Crystal and would go every 4-6 weeks. I’d try to pick the best week based on the sales and what I need. I don’t like too close to Kroger, so I only go for mega events or if I’m in the area.
Julie says
OH YEA I would drive 40 min to Aldi. When we lived 35 min from the nearest Aldi – Wichita, we did Aldi once a month. We had two tweeners, two toddlers, a very tight budget, one vehicle, and grocery shopped once a month. It was a wonderful system – a pretty big deal when I did have to go, but only did it once a month so it was great.
Sybil Hall says
Check out the blogfrog frugal community discussion going on about this very subject right now too!
http://theblogfrog.com/1397936/forum/49221/thread.html
Rachael says
I live in a rural area that is 30 minutes from a larger community. We have a local store, but the prices are 2-3 times higher than larger supermarket’s or Target/Walmart’s regular prices. They also do not accept internet coupons and they do not double coupons. Today, I saved over $40 on my purchases at a supermarket, Bath and Body Works, and Target. However, I probably saved around $80 considering the price I would pay at our local market. The gas was about $10. Also, the selection and quality are much better in the larger community. AND—if you live in rural North Dakota, you just need to go to a larger community once a week to perserve your mental health 🙂 So, for me, a once a week trip is well worth the money–but I may consider trying to make it only once every two weeks after reading some of these posts.
amy peca says
I wonder if any of the commentors on this post live in the Harrisburg/Lancaster PA area?.. I recently discovered a grocery outlet store called Amelia’s. This store seems to be only in this area (there is @ 15) of them. It is some sort of a grocery outlet store. From what I understand some of the items are out of the “best buy” date but are within the “eat by” date. I recently bought a case (96 bags) of cherrios on the go for 3.99. Since then we have had cheerios in EVERY way known possible 🙂 Most of it is severely discounted bc they are advertising for a movie that is out of date/theaters and most companies want the most recent movies on the box of cereal/snacks. I have not bought much only bc we are in a hotel waiting to close on a house and space is limited.
Curious as to any other comments/recommendations with this store and to let others know in this area @ it….
Sue says
@amy peca, I live outside of Philadelphia and we have an Amelia’s near us. I have been there many times and find that it is an excellent source for great deals on snacks, cereal, canned goods and yogurt. I would not buy any meat from them as they are past the sell buy date and that scares me with meat. I go maybe once a month to stock up and spend a ridiculously small percentage of what we would normally spend even at Price Right (the off price outlet for Shop Rite). A great recent buy was a large box of Nature Valley Crunchy Granola 30 count variety pack for an unbelieveable 2.99! So we now have enough granola in case of a nuclear winter…
carla says
I think you can google Aldi and find the one closest to you and then there is a place that tells you their special deals and you can also get on their email list for a newsletter. I think I will try this myself.
Allison says
Like Crystal mentioned, she has links to all sorts of local store deals on her site here. Also, I found Bargain Briana has a US map of local frugal bloggers, found here: http://bargainbriana.com/introducing-the-frugal-map/.
I sure feel lucky here-I have every great store I want on the way to my parent’s house, and I go there just about every week!
Samantha says
I would def. do it if we had an Aldi’s that far away. We drive 30-45 minutes once a week anyway for most of our shopping as we live in a small town with just 2 small high priced grocery/mini mart type stores.
We normally shop at Winco Foods and Walmart for other things. Occasionally, I go to Walgreens for deals. It’s hard to get super good deals when you only go once a week or every 9 days. And somtimes it doesn’t work out to go before the sales end. =/
Heather says
We used to drive 45 mins every other week and we planned it to get everything we needed. Our shopping choices in town were Walmart and City Market who at the time did not double. Since my husband worked in town he would take the list and the coupons and go after work. My favortie was the phone call “I am in the isle and they are out. Do you want a raincheck?” As if he had to ask. UMM yes. Now we live in town and I have to limit my trips to once a week. My how things change.
Sara says
There’s an Aldi in my city, but I drive 30 miles to Publix once a week. I also take a pass on the local WalMart (I hate WM) and Sam’s Club. In the last year there have only been about 3 or 4 weeks when Publix’s BOGO deals combined with coupons did not justify the drive!
Emily says
I love Aldi! We live in a very rural area and I generally drive 30-45 minutes for any kind of grocery shopping. There is one Aldi about 30 minutes away and another about 45 minutes. I like both of them and shop at Aldi probably two to three times per month. I try to combine my Aldi trip with other shopping, so it’s worthwhile.
l says
I live 5 minutes of walking from Aldi, but for about 1.5 years don’t go there. I find MUCH better deals at Jewel , Dominick’s and petty much any store, which accepts coupons. I would consider driving 30-45 minutes to a good store, but not Aldi. My advice to you; learn how to use coupons, promotions , sales cycles. For a past 2 years I pay only taxes, but food itself covered by coupons and Catalina’s. Chicago area
Aubrie Williams @ Buzz 4 Moms says
I live 30 miles from the nearest grocery store anyway. I make a weekly trip into town to take advantage of the deals. I don’t have any grocery stores that have awesome sales or double coupons. The best I have is CVS and Target. I sure wish I lived near some of these grocery stores that you guys get.
Nony (A Slob Comes Clean) says
I’m in a similar situation in that all stores that offer the great deals and d/t coupons are at least 30 minutes away. It means I can’t do the fabulous deals multiple times, but like you said I try to be strategic about it.
I rarely justify making a trip just for groceries, but if we are driving somewhere for another activity, I always check my favorite blogs to see if there are any fabulous deals going on. Then I get ultra-prepared and run into the stores to do a quick deals-only trip, usually while hubby waits in the car with the kids. I will say though that if there is a Fantastic deal going, I look for a reason to make the drive.
I’ve learned to think ahead and pack an ice chest for my shopping trips!
Kim says
I live about 25 minutes from a small Target and 45 minutes from a SuperTarget. I make the drive usually every two weeks to one of them to match my target and store coupons.
It’s worth it to me to not to have to shop at Walmart where they don’t do like couponers!!!
Andrea Q says
Does Aldi carry organic items?
BusyMomof7~Julie says
I would definitely travel to Aldi’s! I shop for my family of 9, and I like to go once or twice a month. I could save a lot on a stock-up trip to Aldi’s! I currently travel about 30 miles for groceries. I would be willing to go a bit further for a super-savings trip.
Nora@ The Dollar Hollering Homemaker says
We live in the Midwest and were are five minutes from Schnucks, Shop n Save, Target, Dierbergs and Aldis. We are about 15 minutes from Sams/Walmart and 30 minutes from Trader Joes/Whole Foods.
I shop at Aldi’s every week for milk, butter, eggs, flour, sugar and canned beans. They also have good deals on some seasonal items.
I only shop at Schnucks, Dierbergs or Shop n Save when they have great deals
I shop at trader joe’s every two weeks. Sams, target, whole foods once every 4-6 weeks.
In the shopping center where the trade joe’s is there is a world market, target, bed bath & beyond and whole foods. I try and pair my TJ’s trip with another errand to make it more worth my wild.
I think it is worth the drive because I get to stock up on tons of yummy stuff that I can’t always find closer to home.
Oh and I agree Aldi’s produce is lacking. I only produce that freezes well when I shop there.
Rhonda says
Aldi is my “go to” store when I’m in a time crunch or mentally too tired to fight the Meijer or Kroger stores. I like that Aldi is small and that there is usually only one size/flavor/choice to be made. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the noise, bright lights, size and confusion that exists at the larger stores. I’m usually in and out of Aldi in less than 15 minutes (which was wonderful when my children were small). I cherry pick the loss leaders/good sales at the bigger stores and buy the rest at Aldi. I particularly buy Aldi olive oil, dog bones, tortilla chips, dried beans, canola oil (best price even w/ coupons), milk, eggs, chopped nuts, frozen tilapia, and grated cheese. Rarely do I buy these items elsewhere. Now, I’m not so sure I would travel far to Aldi on a frequent basis. Meijer, Kroger, Aldi, Walgreens, Rite Aid are all within 1/2 mile of each other..and less than 2 miles from home.
Lea Stormhammer says
We have two Aldi about 15 minutes or so from my house. I have been there 3-4 times and was seriously NOT impressed. The prices for most things were comperable or higher than our chain stores that are closer to our house, the produce was poor quality and the meat selection seriously lacking. Both Aldi are out of my way (I’d have to go in a completely different direction than I normally drive for anything else), so I rarely go anymore.
I do have friends who love, love, love Aldi, but I would rather shop at my local and chain stores closer to home. It probably depends on what you eat, how often you shop and what your local store prices are.
For me, it’s just not worth it!
Lea
Esther says
Perhaps one a month…but I’m not a big Aldi’s fan. Perhaps I haven’t figured out how to stock up on the products they have available, not the ones that I can’t purchase there! Couponing at Meijer and Kroger has been much more successful for me.
Chrysa says
I think the only way to determine whether or not it is worth it for you is to do the math. You need to calculate exactly how much you can save by shopping there and then factor in the gas and the time spent getting there to find out if it’s worth it. I actually just did a post on this exact topic two weeks ago: http://www.thriftyjinxy.com/2010/08/how-to-calculate-value-of-your-time-vs.html – By doing the math you can make an informed decision.
Ash says
I moved out to CA from the east Coast and boy do I miss Aldis! I do however get to take advantage of the 99cent only line of stores out here which is awesome! The only problem is that we do have to drive about a half hour to an hour for a trip so we only go about once every six weeks. We try and make it count though! (It should also be noted that we have to use Zipcar–(pay by the hour service) since we don’t have a car)
A.S. says
New England resident here (MA) – I drive out of my way once every two weeks for Trader Joe’s (25 minutes) The prices and quality of the food at TJs makes the drive worth it. We live very close to a Shaw’s, but I find their produce of lesser quality (and the whole store smells terrible and is not clean). We go slightly out of our way for a much cleaner Stop & Shop. I definitely think that it is worth it to drive up to 30 minutes a few times a month to stock up on good deals!
Dede in Guthrie says
I drive 30 min to Aldi everyother week. It is well worth the trip. When I do go, I always combine as many stops as I can into that trip. I write down the order of my stops so I don’t back track or forget one.
Cricket says
Consider making the trip with a friend of two. Cuts down on expenses if you rotate the driving. Besides time with friends is always well spent 🙂
I personally never go that far out of my way unless it will save me more than $10 an hour AFTER expenses like mileage and a meal out if it will take that long. BUT, if I’m heading in that direction already or can make several stops at several stores, it’s definitely worth it. Often when I go to stores that are significantly out of my way it’s because I’m already close by for an appt. etc.
Emily says
I agree! I would make the trip with a friend to 1- cut down expenses 2- make a fun uoting out of it. I will actually run around the city once a week with my mom (we have a blast doing it) checking out deals, etc. It makes bargain shopping 100x more fun, and we always compare what we find! We’ll drive up to 45 minutes for a great deal!
Julie @Kingdom Klipper says
I think I agree that a monthly trip would be beneficial. I have to travel about 15 minutes to get to the Meijer I love, and I don’t hesitate when the deals are that great. But, I also combine trips when I do go. There is a Walgreens, Walmart, and others close. So, I try to hit those at the same time. Hopefully, there are other stores nearby to her Aldi that she can hit them all together!
Amy M says
My husband is an Ag guy and he said that Aldi’s produce is **usually** cheaper than grocery store produce because they buy it before it ripens then inject the bags of produce with an certain gas that ripens the skin quickly. This quickens the ripening process so that’s why many of you experience their produce going bad faster. I had to stop buying most of the produce from there because of this.
As far as driving 30 min to Aldi’s, I’m not sure I would do but I do drive 1hr each way for Trader Joe’s for to stock up on cheap all-natural foods. Oddly enough they are owned by the same company!
Laura Jane says
One thing to keep in mind, especially if you are going out of your way to shop at Aldi, is that you definitely can’t count on them always having everything in stock. So I certainly wouldn’t go there if I just want to stock up on a few things, because they might be out. (I’ve found that they are often out of some types of meats, especially.) Also be careful when shopping for produce. It’s not refrigerated, and I’ve seem some pretty moldy grapes. (However, I’ve also gotten excellent produce there. I just examine it carefully before buying.) That said, I do like Aldi, and I shop there very regularly, although it it is really close to my house. During times when I’m not taking the time to scour ads, clip coupons, and really chase down good deals, I find that I kind just do 90% of my grocery shopping at Aldi, I still don’t go overbudget. Also, I’m not sure how big your family is, but many items are just a little bit cheaper than store brands at other stores, so if you don’t consume a lot, you won’t save all that much.
Charity S. says
Aldi in Cary, NC is very small and very crowded. And the lines are always very long, and move very slowly. I gave it up 18 months ago, and buy kroger brand items which are actually cheaper than Aldi. Given the Self checkout, the kroger brand electronic coupons, and the fact that I always save way more money at Kroger, I’ve never looked back and I’m not sorry I left it.
But the North Raleigh Aldi which is too far from my house is ENORMOUS and WONDERFUL. When I’m in that area (almost never now that I stay home), I always stop in.
AKelly says
We are very rural with only a Dollar General (5 minutes), WalMart and Food Lion (both 15 minutes). We used to live closer to an Aldi which I didn’t see a big savings at, but we would (and do) drive 45 minutes just to reach a CVS, Walgreens, and RiteAid. Then we go further and hit the thrift store, Goodwill, Target, Kroger, and the “big city” library. We’ll do this every couple of weeks. It’s a fun outing for me, and the older kids really enjoy it now that they’re couponing, too 🙂 And the hubs doesn’t mind paying for the groceries at Kroger since we only go with coupons in hand for their awesome sale items. Mind you, the day takes great planning (thanks to this and a couple other blogs), but there’s not much other “going out” aside from church on Sunday and one other kid activity each week. I consider it my “day off”. My two cents is to scope out the Aldi one time and see if the savings are there for you, my trip definitely pays for itself.
Rachel says
I’m sort of in the same shoes. I live in PA and our Aldi has some of the best prices around. I go there once a month and stock up and I have found that it is really worth the trip!
Stefany says
I have an Aldis practically right around the corner from me, but have only been in it once a long time ago. I don’t know many people who shop there and have never really considered it for saving money. I guess I should go and check it out sometime. It is right beside our local Walmart, so I’d be interested to see how the prices compare. Although, judging by previous comments, I guess I wont be trying any of the produce 😉 Also, wondering if they accept any coupons, I’m assuming they don’t because I don’t recall ever seeing any deal postings for the store.
Pam says
For you first time Aldi shoppers, make sure you bring a quarter for your cart deposit, bags to bag your own groceries, and an open mind. Aldi saves money by being a bare-bones place, and by carrying only one brand of each item (their brands). I have had excellent luck with the produce, but by the comments, that is not always the case. Yes, you could probably do better with coupons somewhere else, but as a busy small business owner, I don’t have time to mess with coupons much. Aldi meets a need for us to find inexpensive groceries without the time/hassle of coupons.
coleen says
hi there,
definitely! i totally agree, becky–here in the northeast we are not blessed with some of the great grocery stores that other areas of the country have in abundance! and, so, much less competition between the chains. that said, i shop every week at aldi and then head over to price chopper. aldi is great for so many things…bagged salad, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese (often times really nice specialty cheeses, too; think “freezer”), frozen fish (awesome!), cereal, juices (bottled and frozen), etc. i always make a menu and plan my lists based on the weekly flyers and coupons. but, again, then i always start my shopping at aldi with that list in hand. you can view aldi’s weekly as well as the upcoming week flyer online, too. and i should add that our experience with the quality of produce at aldi is not the same as some others. i have very rarely had produce quick to go bad. just my opinion and experience. hope you do as well when you shop at aldi. oh! and bring your quarter for your shopping cart! <3
Danielle says
I have the same problem. Northeast grocery stores are not coupon friendly and don’t really run any good deals. I go to my regular grocery store but I also have three other stores that I rotate going to. So, I plan to only go to Aldi once every 6 months. The bent and dent once every 6 months. A bulk food grocery once every 6 months. They each have different “good deals” I stock up for 6 months if I can. I have found it very well worth it! I have a big shelf in my basement for those items… and often fill two shopping carts (family of 8). It actually makes my weekly shopping easier because I always have the staples on hand. I only buy produce, meat and good sale items each week. Most things are Aldi brand name and many are good… just a few are yucky:-)
Stephanie says
Some stores will price match in my area (Wal-mart and Target in particular). Our Aldi’s doesn’t have the freshest produce, so it’s better for us to have their competitors match the price and get fresher stuff.
I personally would never drive 45 minutes just to go to Aldi’s. But this is really a personal decision for each individual to make, based upon your budget and how you value your time vs the need to save some cash.
Jessica Lynette says
Wanted to add – do you have a Big Lots near you? I have been to many in various states and they all have had dry goods and bread – a lot of the items are organic. You really need to know your prices because sometimes the items are extremely cheap, most often they are cents cheaper than the grocery store and on occasion they cost more than the grocery store.
Ours marks damaged boxes and close to expiring items down by at least 50% on a “we can’t reveal the schedule” basis.
A few weeks ago I picked up a huge case of Earl Grey tea bags for $3 – identical product was selling on Amazon for $18.
Erica E. says
I actually drive about 32 miles one way to shop at Kroger’s. I do this only twice a month and sometimes less. My area only has Wal-Mart (which I really do not care for), and two local chains and there prices are so high I could probably drive 100 miles one way and still save more!
So I totally agree with driving to save some extra money but do it strategically!
Nicole says
My problem with Aldi’s is that I will go with my menu and the shopping list for that week and they don’t carry half of the items that I need. Yes, they have great prices on a lot of items but most of the time it isn’t worth the extra stop for me. I like to get it all done at one time. I have one really close to me and I will go about once a month and just get things like the fruit cups, or cheese, or cereal because it is a lot cheaper there. Most everything else is pretty comparable to what I can find with only having to stop once.
Jessica Lynette says
Good answers Crystal!!
I would add for Becky – see if there is a friend or two that you could either split the driving expenses with OR alternate shopping trips with. The friend(s) that stay home could watch the children for the afternoon while the one that goes shopping picks up everyones list.
You’d only have to make the 30 minute trip every 8-12 weeks and yet could get groceries from Aldi’s every 4 weeks!
Jen says
The closest grocery store is about 15 miles from here….the next closest grocery store is 25 miles, I wouldn’t think twice about driving 30 minutes to a store.
Heather says
If you have little kids: No way! Too far.
Otherwise: Maybe. Back in the early 90s I was in France, and went to Aldi often for its low prices. So now I live in the East (USA), and have heard so much about Aldi on here, that I have been wishing I had one, and wondering if it’s the same Aldi that’s in Europe. Well, finally just this last weekend I was at a wedding in the Midwest, and drove by an Aldi! So excited to check it out, but was quite disappointed. I didn’t think the prices were that great compared to sale and coupon shopping. And I’m not the greatest couponer, either. Serious lack of selection. Didn’t recognize many brands (maybe because I was in the Midwest?) I think I was less picky when I was poorer in France. I did get a good nectarine. But my conclusion is that even if I lived near one, I would rarely go.
The best part of it was the coin-deposit shopping cart because it reminded me of my time in France!
Jill says
Though I only work outside of the home one day per week, my husband has a very crazy work schedule and we have 11mth old twins that do not cooperate at the store. Shopping time is very limited for me. I have tried shopping at Aldi on a couple of occasions and just have not been that impressed. Like a couple of other folks have mentioned, I can find a similar deal if I just use coupons at my regular grocery store. At this point in life I just dont have time to add another store/stop to my list, so I wouldnt consider it worth it. To some people, with more time on their hands it might be worth it though. I already go Costco about once a month for formula and that is totally out of my way, but totally worth the savings!
DJ says
@Jill,
When my two boys were little, I didn’t take them with me either. Because there are so many things that are good deals, the cart gets full very quickly, leaving no room for children. Plus having to bag your own groceries is enough of an ordeal when you’re *not* wrestling with babies/toddlers.
DJ says
My closest Aldi is about 100 miles away, and I love shopping there. Whenever I’m anywhere near it, I make sure to stop in and stockpile everything that I can. Yes, it’s definitely worth it then. But unless I filled my minivan with groceries, I don’t think I would find it worthwhile to drive that far just to go to Aldi. Would I drive half an hour to 45 minutes to get to one? In a heartbeat! That’s how far it is to our closest Walmart. I do what shopping I can at a small local store that has reasonable prices (but sometimes outdated items, so we have to be careful) and the rest at monthly trips to Walmart.
Most of Aldi’s staples are priced probably 20% less than what you’d pay for similar items elsewhere. Some items are as much as 50% less. For example, the Aldi store that I usually go to sells milk for $1.59/gallon right now. Other stores in the same town are in the $2 range for milk. Where I live, we’re happy to find milk on sale for $2.50/gallon, and it’s typically around $3 regular price. I bring my cooler and buy as much as I can when I’m in the area (usually limit 5).
Other items that I typically buy at Aldi include 12-oz bags of salad mix for 99 cents, peanut butter for $1.29/jar, big bottles of ketchup (which taste the same as Heinz, or I wouldn’t buy it) for $1.09, bottles of salad dressing for $1.09, croutons for 99 cents for a big bag, shredded cheeses for around $3.29/pound, and lunch meat (ham, turkey, or chicken) for $2.69/pound. Their cream-of soups are 59 cents per can. Not as good tasting as Campbell’s, but good enough to justify paying that much less per can. Their canned veggies are around 50 cents/can, and the taste is no different than most of the name brands.
I hope that helps!
Emily says
There are no Aldi’s near us – nearest one is probably about 35-40 minutes away and I live in an area with a ton of grocery stores (plus a Sam’s). It just doesn’t seem worth the travel. I do try and limit my Sam’s trips to once a month as impulse buys are very easy there and not everything there is a bargain. Plus the lines are so long that it is a major time suck.
However, if you live in a rural area it would be very much your while to make monthly trips like that to Aldi’s or similar discount store like Walmart’s.
Zena says
I now have to drive a half hour to Aldi’s and it’s VERY worth it! (although their fruits/veggies tend to spoil quickly, IMO). But staples are much cheaper. Pastas, canned goods, dairy items, spices, cereals, juices, sodas, etc. I don’t notice much difference between their prices and certain snack items, though. For instance, I pay $.33 per can of soup, and $.40 for canned veggies. That’s much cheaper than any other place I know of.
Whitney says
@Zena, I hear you on the Aldi produce. Sometimes it seems to spoil very quickly. Have you tried asking an employee what days their shipments come in? It’s my understanding that all Aldi stores get a shipment every other day. If you know what days of the week the produce is rolling off the truck you can greatly reduce the amount of time it sits out unrefrigerated. 36 hours sitting out in the store can make an enormous difference in how long it lasts at home (for refrigerated produce items only, of course).
Samantha says
@Zena,
Sounds VERY cheap for the canned veggies and soups. What region do you live in?
Jenny says
That’s a tough question! I’m a regular Aldi’s shopper – there’s one about 10 minutes from my house. Honestly though, I don’t know that I’d be willing to drive 45 minutes one way to get there, I’d have to be saving alot of money! For me, I like Aldi’s because I know most of the time I can get great deals on produce, bread, cheese, etc without too much planning. That being said, I have a feeling I could do just as well at the other grocery stores in our area for staple items ( Food Lion, Walmart, Target, Martins, Weis) – but I’d have to sit down and really plan everything out!
tonya says
Sadly, we moved away from Aldi’s roughly 16 years ago. When we were near one it was a 30 minute drive for me one-way. I made the drive every 4-6 weeks and I can say that I really miss having one….was just thinking about it this morning.
If you think the drive is too much, maybe find someone else to go along and make the trip even more worth while!
Emily says
I would personally NEVER drive 30 minutes to get to an Aldi’s. I have one practically around the corner from my house and I still don’t go there. I have had some bad experiences with their produce, so I think that ruined the whole store for me. I know some people swear by it, but I think I get pretty good deals on produce between Meijer and Kroger that I don’t find it worth my time to add yet another store into my mix. I work outside the house full-time, so for me, time is also a very big factor in whether something is worth it or not for my family.
DJ says
@Emily,
Their produce isn’t always the best. Some items are frequently overpriced, and it’s usually imported from other countries even when there’s local stuff available. It’s the boxed, canned, refrigerated, and frozen items that make going there worthwhile. If there are items that you typically buy and that Aldi carries, you would save enough money to justify the 20 or so minutes of your time to go through the store. I would suggest going there once a month or so to stock up on those and then hit the other stores to make up the difference. You should find more of your hard-earned money stays where it belongs–in your wallet! 🙂
Betsy says
@DJ, Around here, Aldi’s produce is consistently “almost” local. It comes from about 3 hours/150 miles away–all the stuff that can be grown here, like cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, squash, etc. There is, of course, the California produce (all that T&A stuff, like broccoli and cauliflower and some hydroponic lettuce), and the imported stuff (mangoes, pineapples, lemons, etc), but for the bulk of everyday produce, I’m pleasantly surprised to find that it’s semi-local.
Rachel says
@Emily, Aldi has a double money back guarantee. I’ve had some of my friends use it, and they honored it. Just take the item back, and they will replace it AND refund your money!
Pamela says
Even though Aldi can’t be more than ten or fifteen minutes from here, I generally don’t make the trip there more than every four to six weeks if I can help it, so I imagine it should be possible to stock up on necessities about that often, though I might try to stretch the time between trips even further if it were further away. I generally just buy whatever is cheaper there that I know will last.
For me, this is baking supplies, dry cereal, pepperoni, some meat, butter, pasta, tomato sauce, and then whatever else happens to be a good price at the time we go. For me, having the prices all remain approximately the same all the time is reassuring because if, in the time since I’ve been to Aldi, I haven’t been able to beat their prices and stock up elsewhere, I just stock up there and don’t have to worry about having enough coupons, getting the timing just right, etc.
I was buying dairy there till I figured out our cheese consumption had increased so greatly that a Sam’s membership (for a Sam’s within ten minutes of us) would save us $10+/month…
Elisa says
Yes, but make a day of it! If you are driving that far: 1) plan in several stores to stock up 2) Do you have a friend or family member you could stop by and see to break up the long day and make it more worth your while? 3) Could you do something in the area with your kids (museum, park, historical site, etc.)?
Kassandra Wood says
I would ABSOLUTELY make the drive. I would even make it every other week… There are weeks where I save $150+ at our local grocers. If I could save a couple hundred dollars a month, then it is totally worth my time and my gas. I agree with every bit of advice from MSM… and I couldn’t have said it better! Good Luck!
Julie says
I live near a big city, so I have Meijer, Kroger, Walmart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and an Aldi within 10-15 mins. from my house and I still find it hard to go to Aldi on a consistent basis. I usually am able to find better deals or sales in other stores that make up for a trip to Aldi. We have an open air fruit/veg. market near our home and I am able to buy fruit and veggies for good prices there.
Jamie says
Like several others, I have to drive about that anyway to get to my grocery store. My question is, what do you guys tend to buy at Aldi? I stopped going because I am trying to buy fresh things instead of boxed and canned items, and it seems like I can find deals at my regular stores that rival or beat Aldi’s. Maybe produce would be a better price there? I’d love to know what specifically you would go to Aldi to buy.
Elisabeth says
@Jamie, saltines, tortilla chips, brown sugar, powdered sugar, eggs, canister oatmeal, corn flakes, pinto beans, spaghetti noodles, frozen ground turkey, tomato paste, potatoes, onions, lettuce, apples, oranges
Rae says
@Jamie, I can find better deals on produce at the regular stores here if I am willing to wait for a sale. For example grapes were $1.49/lb there today. Atleast every other week, they go on sale at some store around here for $.99/lb (sometimes even $.88/lb). Eggs and milk are cheaper though.
Kim says
We got several Aldi’s in my area (DFW, TX) 6 months ago. The prices are good if you don’t usually coupon shop. However, I find much better deals on groceries when I combine sales and coupons at Kroger and Albertsons. I only go to Aldi’s once in awhile to get produce when it’s on a great sale. I still only save a few dollars compared to what I’d pay elsewhere. This occasional trip to Aldi’s is worth it to me, since it is only 5 minutes from my house. However, I would NEVER consider it worthwhile to drive more than 10-15 minutes in my situation (plenty of great deals at other grocers).
Rae says
@Kim,
I’m going to be in the same boat. I checked out our new Aldis today for the first time and the biggest money savers I found were eggs and milk. Milk around here is $1.78 at Walmart, $1.68 (on sale) at Kroger, $1.69 at Costco, and higher at the drug stores, Target, etc. Aldi had it for $1.29! And large eggs were $.45 per dozen at Aldi. Usually I get 18ct at Kroger when they go on sale for $.88 but this is even better… 24 for $.90 😀
As far as most of the other stuff goes, I can get better deals using coupons/sales for cereal, yogurt, meat, bars, crackers, cheese, etc. I did find a few items cheaper like buns, ground turkey, etc.
Patti says
@Rae, One thing to consider about Aldi is that the milk and eggs are fresher and last a LONG time. When we used to buy milk at our local store, it would go bad before we ended up drinking it all (mainly because my husband and I drink different kinds). Aldi’s milk lasts a long time past the sell date – guess it is because it stays refrigerated better. I highly recommend Aldi for about anything – it is the first place I shop!
Kim says
@Patti, The milk and eggs are generally less expensive at Aldi, but not cheap enough for me to want to make an extra stop. They don’t seem to be any fresher than those at the other grocery stores around here.
The produce is oftentimes the other good deal. However, I’ve made special stops there on several occasions for produce only to find that they are sold out or the quality is so poor that it’s not worth buying. Can we say molded strawberries? Yuck!
Kim says
@Patti,
I meant to also say that there must just be differences in different areas of the country. As long as you know the best resources in your area, you have to do what works best for you.
Meagan says
@Rae,
I’m so envious of your $1.29 milk prices!! The cheapest milk I can find in my area is $2.69/gallon at our B.J.’s. In the groceries it goes for at least $3.69. And we go through at least 4 gallons of milk a week, minimum with all the boys!
Amanda says
I actually put this into practice when we moved recently. We are military and the commissary generally has some great deals (especially on meat and nonfood items like diapers) because they sell everything at cost. However after our move we were 40 minutes from the commissary and had lots of choices for grocery stores within five to ten minutes of our new house. I made up a spreadsheet and input all the prices for the things I buy on a normal commissary trip (from a recent receipt) and added the 5% surcharge (since there is no sales tax on food where we now live, but the commissary charges this surcharge). Now before I buy something in my area, I compare the price to the one I could get at the commissary before I buy it and I only travel there once every six weeks or so.
Jessica A. says
I am suprised that your diapers at the commissary are cheaper than in town. Our is always at least a few dollars more for diapers. Dairy (cheese, milk, etc.) and meat is always much less at the commissary though.
Amanda says
@Jessica A., I buy Luvs and they are 15.19 for a big box at the commissary versus around 18 anywhere else (although you can sometimes find them on sale for 16.97).
Susan Baker says
@Amanda, Amanda: Woudl you bill willing to share that spreadsheet, or what you have discovered. I think the commisary is cheaper, but I do have to drive 20 min. to get there, and then there is that surcharge that I never figured in. Just curious.
Amanda says
@Susan Baker, I am evidently not computer savvy enough to attach a file to this reply 🙁 but as a general rule, cheese and meat are definite commissary buys. Generally frozen juice and big boxes of goldfish and peanut butter (because my husband is a brand snob and insists on Peter Pan). I also look online at the sales prices at the commissary just before I go to see if I can get any great buys. If I can figure out this attachment thing, I’ll get my spreadsheet on here for you…
Rae says
@Amanda, I would be sure to find a blog that has matchups for whatever stores are close to you (even if they seem expensive at first glance). When I began couponing, I used to buy most things at the commissary but have learned that by stocking up when sales are great, I do better at other stores. I learned this the hard way (we moved and the closest commissary is now 45 minutes away) so I had to figure out a way to keep my budget down. Now learning the tricks through blogs, I am paying way less than I ever was at the commissary. Like my “go to” place for diapers is usually CVS or Kroger (wish I had a RiteAid here because I’ve seen a ton of deals for them lately) and I aim for $5 or less per jumbo pack for Huggies/Pampers or $4/pack for store brand or Luvs. Depending on the size of the boxes they are usually 2-3 jumbo packs. For cheese, I aim for $2-$3 per pound (for $3/lb it has to be something besides cheddar like provolone, muenster, etc) which is possible at Kroger here every couple months and I stock up. Meat I never pay more than $2/lb and if it is nearing $2/lb it has to be beef otherwise I aim for under $1.69/lb (my stockup price for boneless/skinless chicken breast). WOW am I rambling. Sorry lol. Anyway, my point is that this situation may actually help you in the longrun. And don’t try to do the matchups on your own, find a blog for each store around you. That way it doesn’t take long at all to find out which stores are worth stopping by that week. 🙂
Chelsea says
@Rae,
I definitely second not trying to do the match-ups on your own! Who needs one more thing added to the list? I still browse the ads, because I’m usually on the lookout for something specific I have in mind that might happen to be on sale that week, but I definitely don’t start from scratch when trying to match coupons. What did anyone do before all these blogs with the match-ups, I don’t know!
Stacy C says
Oh living in the NorthEast is expensive (Massachusetts resident here)- I also dream of an Aldi or a Kroger! I don’t have either close to me at all…. I deal with what we have locally between the cost of gas, my valueable time and my childs time in the car seat and shopping. Even rock bottom free values are not worth the extra cost… That is my firm opinion only.
I have 5 grocery stores within 10 minutes each from my home. one is cheap-O, two you have to pay attention to weeely sales that DOUBLES coupons, and the others are ultra high end. I find that paying attention to the sales circulars I get enough of a bang for my buck with coupons staying local.
In the end some has Aldi and Kroger but the NorthEast also has Market Basket and Price Chopper which are awesome on for great valueable finds.
*Keep in mind this is my opinion*
Jennifer says
I wouldn’t think twice about driving 30 minutes to the grocery! I drive longer than that to get to work 5 days of the week. I used to live in a different location and had to drive an hour to work and my preferred shopping areas.
miriam says
I too live in the Northeast, in PA and have a 30 minute drive to Aldi’s. I do love their great prices and products that they offer. I used to shop there all the time, but have to admit that the longer drive kinda stopped me from shopping there and ended up at my local grocery stores for the ease of getting there..
Since I have found your blog and have been reading about Aldi’s I am much more inspired to drive the distance again once the kids are back to school (Monday-Yipee!!!).
Let me put this one out there, it might be worth your while to find a friend who would be interested in going along with you, then you can take turns driving there (share the gas cost) and you could then get out there more often for the same cost as you would on a monthly basis. Enjoy Aldi’s as I intend to from now on, and remember to take your bags and cash.
Sarah says
i probably would try it out. i definitely do plan trips out of town to go to whole foods & trader joe’s because there are items i can get there for a much better price than at the local grocery stores (some produce like apples, and dry goods like rice and other grains). it’s worth it to me and my husband but we don’t have kids so it’s easier to coordinate on the weekends.
Adrienne says
I live 25 miles from the nearest town. There is a small grocery store 15 minutes away, but I don’t normally shop there — it’s more expensive most of the time.
The nice thing about living further from town is that I don’t tend to impulse-shop. Every trip is planned out before we take it. We stick to a list, and stock up our pantry when there is a good sale.
Once every few months, we go to a Mennonite bulk food store to get 50-pound bags of dry goods. If you plan, driving for a deal is a practical thing to do.
Andrea Q says
@Adrienne, My mother does this with spices and some other dry goods. She saves a lot of money and the spices are awesome.
Courtney says
We live in a very rural area. It’s a 20 minute drive to the nearest grocery store (Walmart) and I go there about once a week. The deals there aren’t that great, probably because there isn’t much nearby competition (but they are very coupon friendly, which is nice!). About every 3 weeks, we drive 45 minutes to go to Target, Sam’s Club, Hyvee and Petsmart (usually not all of them in one trip, though – it just depends where the best deals are). We love living in the country and being so far away from stores doesn’t bother us. We keep our pantry and freezer stockpiled and grow most of our own produce, so we don’t actually need to go grocery shopping very often.
jan says
I was just talking about that in a comment section earlier this week on another blog … we have an Aldi’s opening up in a few months (yahoo!) but it will be about a 30 minute drive each way with the traffic. I plan on going, scoping things out, pricing etc. (not sure if it will be the same as I find in Indiana) and then determine if it’s worth it to drive every few weeks to stock up on certain things. I do this now with Costco (produce, milk, and a few other key ingredients that are much less expensive and last for a few weeks) now and it’s been working so far (just remember, list and cash only :))
JessieLeigh says
@jan, I moved from Indiana to Connecticut and was worried that the prices would be higher at Aldi here, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that they are identical. I cannot guarantee that’s always the case but, since just about everything else is SIGNIFICANTLY pricier here in CT vs the midwest, I was thrilled that Aldi was consistent from region to region. 🙂
jan says
@JessieLeigh,
Oh good, I feel a little better … was worried it would be South Florida prices all over again 🙂
Carissa says
@jan,
I can use a debit card at my Aldi.
JessieLeigh says
I AM in Becky’s shoes… exactly! I live in CT and I’m 45 minutes from the nearest Aldi. We drive there once every 4 weeks and stock up. I don’t think I could keep my budget as low I do if we didn’t make that trek. It’s not really all that bad (since it’s only once a month), but it DOES require some careful planning. For our family, we definitely save enough money to make it worth the trip to Aldi.
Martha says
I Always drive that far anystore minus a little small walmart and local grocer is 25-30 miles atleast. So i guess it doesn’t seem all that abnormal to me….LOVE aldi’s by the way. Maybe do a trial run and see if it’s worth your time/moey.
Heather@familyfriendlyfrugality says
I totally agree with you MSM. I wouldn’t do it weekly, but every few weeks absolutely. I’m very lucky that I have all my grocery stores within about a 3 mile radius of me. If I didn’t though, I would certainly consider driving farther to stock up.
That said, I hear such great things about Aldi and I so wish we had one here!