Update: If you can’t get the links to work, try copying and pasting this into your browser: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/.
Gimme Some Oven has a very extensive series on why she shops at Aldi. It’s fantastic — especially for someone who feels hesitant about shopping at Aldi.
Here’s a snippet:
Over the years, countless friends have been surprised and intrigued when I tell them that I do at least half of my grocery shopping at Aldi. Yes, I also frequent Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s (did you know they are owned by the same company that owns Aldi?), and our local Kansas City large grocery stores. But about eight years ago, I set foot in my first Aldi and have been a happy and loyal customer ever since!
A few weeks ago, though, I asked my Facebook followers what they thought of shopping at Aldi. And I was surprised when quite the heated discussion took place. People seem to have some pretty passionate opinions about Aldi! So I am fully aware that I may take a little heat for this series. But in talking with many friends about the store over the years, I have found that most reservations I hear about the store come from old rumors that aren’t true. And often, people are just iffy about going for the first time because they simply don’t know what to expect or how to navigate some of Aldi’s quirks (carts, debit cards, etc.).
Read the whole post.
Arthur says
We recently moved from North Texas and they opened several Aldis there. Didn’t really like them. Produce was much better at Sprouts and cheaper. As for other items, with coupons we get a better deal at Kroger and Tom Thumb. Really miss Spouts now though. The quality was great there as well as the prices.
Sabrina says
I find it pretty interesting that everyone feels Trader Joes is so great and cheap. We just got one here in Lexington, KY and I was shocked at the prices when I went in. Particularly after hearing raves about the neat items and prices I’d find. Very disappointed. Oh well, maybe its just our store?
Meg says
I’ve never read at Whole Foods and Trader Joes where owned by the same company? Where did you find that at? Just curious.
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company-info/whole-foods-market-history
F says
It was very interesting to read the comments. I found out several new things and I will have to check it out. One thing that interested me is that several of the commenters mentioned that the Aldi chicken breasts & tenders are the same as Tyson. I usually buy Tyson because it is hormone-free.
I have 2 Aldi stores nearby (in different towns – and counties) and the one store is consistently lower priced than the other store. I heard that the one Aldi (with the lower prices) will change their milk prices when the Ingles across the street has their milk on sale. The stores are clean and the employees friendly and helpful. I have shopped at Aldi for 20+ years and over the years their stores have greatly improved. Stores will vary across the country. I shopped at Aldi in the north for 5+ years, one in the midwest for 5 years, and the rest of the time in the southeast, and some stores were definitely better than others.
Mary Sunshine says
I’ve been a dedicated Aldi shopper for three years now, thanks to Money Saving Mom! Prior to that, I assumed that Aldi–being a discount grocery store–sold poor quality items. I was wrong! The food quality is excellent, and the prices are WAY cheaper than most of the stores in our area (southern NJ). For example, milk is $4/gallon at most stores, but it’s only $2.50 at Aldi. Our family of 4 used to spend about $700/month on groceries, but now we spend $300/month, buying almost everything at Aldi. Love, love, LOVE that store!!
Jen E says
I haven’t shopped there in a couple years because was sick of everything that had high fructose corn syrup in it has it changed?
Karen says
I love Aldi’s. Great prices on most items. Another thing I really love is that I am able to buy natural/organic food that is not genetically engineered and filled with only God knows what. Once I learned what Aldi’s was all about…I have become a true fan and brag on their products often.
STEPHANIE says
Does anyone else notice the weird smell at Aldi? We have several in our area I have tried, even a new store. They all smell like a combination of old produce and “someone left the freezer door open”. It almost gags me. Since I buy mostly generic at Shop and Save (St. Louis MO area), Aldi’s prices are about the same. I have not had good luck with their produce staying good either. I try Aldi’s every once in a while to see if things change, but so far not.
KimH says
Im an Aldi lover.. I was introduced to Aldi 16 years ago when I was in town visiting my then boyfriend. We ran to Aldi on Saturday morning to buy all the fixin’s for a giant breakfast & he pulled out a $20 bill and I pulled more money out my wallet to help out & he laughed & said it wouldnt be necessary.. The total bill was about $13. I was shocked & instantly hooked.
After I moved up here, we raised 4 kids together & I was able to keep our monthly bill around $400.. which was about half the national average for a family that size at the time, and the vast majority of it was not processed food because I’ve never held it in high regard, preferring to eat whole homemade food.
The few things I do not buy at Aldi is the 5# chubs of hamburger meat.. GAG! I also dont buy any of their fresh meat in the meat case with the exception of their marinaded pork loins, the pork ribs, and hams. I’ve bought their sandwich meat & its ok, but we dont eat much sandwich meat to be honest & I can get better meat elsewhere as cheap or cheaper at a store that is marketed as an Aldi competitor. (Giant Eagle owned Value King)
All the rest of the frozen meat is wonderful.. not just ok.. wonderful! That includes the shrimp & steaks too.. fantastic deals to be had there. I often buy my meat all over the place depending on prices & quality so I dont always buy it there, but many times I do. I only buy grass fed hamburger so I dont get it there obviously.
All the dairy is fantastic and we have no problem with any of it, milk and eggs are definitely cheaper there for us by far than anywhere else.. I also buy dairy at Costco and out at an Amish co-op too but there is room in my frig & freezer for all of them.
Produce… they’ve come a long way, Baby! (Im aging myself, I know) For many years, the produce at our store was pretty sad and I didnt get the bulk of my produce there, going to another discount store (that I hated) for it instead. About 5 years ago, they started bringing in much better produce and now I dont need to go anywhere else if I didnt want to. The only produce I still see that is sub-par is the asparagus, they only have little spindly sad looking asparagus when they have it.
I belong to a CSA and get certified organics for 28 weeks and only supplement at other places.. but Aldi is definitely my go to for other fruit & veggies I dont get from my CSA.
Staples..for most things, you cant beat the price for most of the pantry staples. I dont care for their oatmeal but its one of the few things Im super picky about and I’ve only found one brand that works for me, even though I’ve tried all of them. I dont eat it, but my family loves their cerial. Sugar, flour, beans, rice etc is inexpensive and worth buying there as are can goods. We dont eat too many canned veggies anymore thanks to the CSA & my garden but I remember the french cut green beans had some stems in them but that didnt stop me from buying more. Every so often, I’ll go on a case run & just buy cases of all sorts of canned veggies to have on hand, just in case. You can buy a lot of canned goods for a fraction of what they’d cost elsewhere.
Specialty items- I LOVE! I’ve gotten some knock-off Le Creuset enamel covered cast iron cookware that is wonderful.. My step-daughter wanted some & I’ve gotten here a few pieces as well and I plan to buy her the other pieces when they’re avalable. I’ve bought many other items over the years that are wonderful.. I’ve never regretted any of my purchases.
During the holidays, the European candies & chocolate are incomparable to any in the US. I’ve also found other European products not found here in the US that are wonderful.
I shop at Costco, BJ’s, Whole Foods, & Trader Joes, Value King & Aldi.. in addition to shopping a local produce house & farm side stands & farmers markets & my CSA… There is definitely a place for Aldi in my world.. and Im so glad there is!
patti says
I’ve actually had better luck with the produce I buy at Aldi compared to that from WalMart…I simply refuse to buy produce from WalMart any more. Seems like the Aldi stores here in Indiana must be run pretty well..I’ve been to several different ones and have always found them to be clean and well-stocked with great prices.
Denise Welker says
I love shopping at Aldi. They have great prices on most everything. I only found a few things cheaper at Wal-Mart.
Kelly @ Kelly the Culinarian says
I shop at ALDI most of the time. I like that the prices are cheap and that I know where everything in the store will be. I don’t need 47 varieties of salad dressing. I also appreciate that I can get many of my healthy cooking staples there, including oatmeal, almond milk, frozen vegetable steamers, chicken breasts and tilapia.
I heart ALDI.
Jackie says
I LOVE Aldi! Never before have I ever stretched $20 so far in a grocery store! Usually cheap food is not the best quality but I haven’t had any complaints with the food at Aldi and I make a lot of things from scratch so I buy their meat and veggies often too.
I know people are a little up in arms about the horse meat thing but that was a BRAND they sold (that I never buy anyway); Aldi can really do no wrong for me.
Rebecca says
I LOVE Aldi’s now! Mainly their sales of fresh meat and produce. I’ve heard complaints online about the produce in some stores, but in my local Aldi’s in TN, it’s fresher than Krogers produce!
SusanR says
I shop at Trader Joes pretty often, but I just have never been able to get into Aldi’s. There is one on the way home from church, so we could stop after church, but my husband and kids would grumble about it, I’m sure.
My MIL used to shop there all the time, and it just seemed like everything she bought was processed food. Stuff I just don’t buy. Plus I always feel like if the produce is so cheap what is wrong with it? Probably nothing, it’s just a mental thing for me.
In the summer I am strictly a farmers market girl for all produce. In the winter I buy it at Meijer, Trader Joes, or Costco. Meat always comes from Costco.
Jamie says
I shop at Trader Joes and Aldis as well….I did a side by side comparison of Trader Joes Brown Sugar Oatmeal and Aldis Brown Sugar Oatmeal as I had both in my pantry and guess what? They are EXACTLY THE SAME INGREDIENTS, exactly in the same order, and exact same nutritional value! The only difference was that I paid a $1 more for the Trader Joes Brand.
Now, not everything is the same between the two stores (for example the Trader Joes “Walked into a bar” cereal bars and the regular Aldis cereal bars are definately NOT the same ingredients) but you’d be suprised by the similarity of some of the products between the two stores!
Kelly says
I completely agree – I too do about 1/2 of my grocery shopping there. The other half is Costco. I do not have time (or desire) to coupon so I save the much with these two options. We have gotten to the point that my kids will only eaten certain items if they are from Aldi. In my area you CANNOT beat their produce, cheese, canned staples, cereal and bread prices!
Carole says
I attend a celiac disease support group and one lady usually will show and tell us about her gluten free purchases at Aldis. It’s not real convenient for me to go there, but I like to when I can.
Laurie says
I LOVE ALDI’S!!!!! My store is less than a half mile from our home. I buy everything there except meat. We do not eat a lot of the frozen high cal stuff,but a frozen cheese pizza for 1.99 is great for dinner when wer are busy. Everything else is a go. I love all the different cheeses,wonderful chocolate and everything else. I do 90% of my shopping there. Things I do not buy is dog food. And if I am stockpiling my deep freeze or pantry I ad match at Wal-Mart. We do not have much organic stuff,but I am not sold on this whole organic thing anyway.
Lindsay Ackerman says
Aldi has become my main grocery store, and I am lucky that it is also only a mile away and the closest grocery. I get 70% of our groceries there and it is the best place for me to run in for things like eggs, milk, bread that we might run out of more quickly. I get most of our produce there and it is usually top quality. The staff is friendly and helpful. I had one bad item (not a food item, but a kitchen item that broke the first time I used it) and when I told the manager on a future trip (had thrown the item out so couldn’t return it) he asked if they could give me a free food item to make up for my trouble. On another day, I went on their website to let them know about a frozen novelty that was a hit at home – a district manager followed up with a phone call to let me know they got my comment and to call if I ever had a question or concern.
Bre says
I love Aldi! Like the post said, I think Aldi is a great place to buy your basics. I do shop at other stores for specific items or products on sale; but, the majority of my groceries I buy at Aldi. I love how fast it is to get in and get out. It is nice to only have one brand choice. Honestly, it takes me far less time to buy the majority of my groceries at Aldi than it does buying a few specific items at another grocery store. Of course, I love the prices. I find that Aldi’s prices even beat a majority of prices of other stores ‘on sale’ items. I know a few people that will not buy their produce or meat. As far as produce goes, I am very satisfied with it and I think it has gotten better over the years. I don’t usually buy their meat because I buy from a local farmer. But, an employee at Aldi once told me that their meat is from the same company as Tyson food; but, it is just packaged and named differently. Anyway, I think shopping at Aldi is a wise choice!
melissa says
I don’t usually shop at Aldi, just because it is quite a drive to the closest one here in Iowa where I live. IF I am near one and without my three children 🙂 then I always try to stop! I will say that I typically won’t stop if I have all 3 children- for the simple reason being that I can’t corral my children, they are 4,3, and 1, and by the time I put them all in the cart (or two in the cart with one walking), then I run out of room to do much shopping! 🙂 If I have my kids with me, then I usually go to another store that has larger carts that are indoors. 🙂 If not, I love Aldi!! I remember the first time I stopped in KC when I had two of my kiddos (2 and 1 at the time, and in my 2nd trimester of pregnancy with my 3rd). I didn’t realize the quarter thing, tried to haul my kiddos across a snow-filled parking lot in the cart and push the thing back to get my quarter back. I didn’t have cash with me, nor a debit card, and my kids destroyed the stuff in my cart before I even got to the checkout. Haha! I also didn’t have any bags. Fail. 🙂 Once I figured out how it worked, MUCH better. 🙂
Leah says
My husband and I buy about 90% of our groceries there. We decided to go into an Aldi and check it out shortly after we got married and I was amazed by the great prices and the food quality is more than acceptable. Even after I started couponing it was hard to beat a lot of the prices. Aldi helps us to stay financially and still eat well at home 🙂
Jennifer says
I haven’t seen it mentioned, but Aldi’s deli pizzas that you bake yourself are a really great deal and we love them. I sometimes get a better price with coupons on brand names, but they aren’t as big as the large deli one that I get for 4.99.
jenny says
I shop at Aldi’s on occasion for produce and special buys. They have great prices on their produce (especially the specials) and I’ve had good luck with everything.
I don’t buy milk there or other staples, because I can get them cheaper at our regular store (or Costco) without coupons.
Jan says
There is an Aldi regional distribution center in the same town as the Aldi’s I shop at – Faribault, MN – and I think that may help my store’s quality. There always seems to be management type folks nosing around or discussing store layout, etc.. so my store is top-rate. Anyway, I love their produce though like any grocery store you do have to look it over. The oranges have “missed” once or twice but the bag I recently bought is the sweetest I’ve had in a long time. The green peppers have been fabulous lately. I also love the cheese selections. The specialty cheeses that they do carry are the same as Cub Foods has but about $2.00 less per package. The Aldi version of Goldfish Crackers are great and tastier than the real brand. I do avoid their bananas as I haven’t had much good luck with them and I can get them cheaper at our local Kwik Trip gas station. I think if you are having Aldi produce rot before you can eat it it means you are buying to far in advance and should be purchasing in lesser quantities. Think of the European shopping model, of which Aldi really is, of only buying fresh food for the next 1-3 days and you’ll have no problems with freshness. As for the possible chemicals, well, everything but organic has chemicals on it; it is your responsibility to wash your fruit.
Angie says
I started shopping at Aldi and am so pleased with the savings I have reaped, that there is no reason to really go anywhere else unless it’s in a pinch since Aldi is not the closest grocery store to my house. I agree with others here that the produce prices cannot be beaten and there’s simply other items which I always buy here. I always make sure I have a quarter on hand for my cart, debit card in my wallet and my canvas bags to bag up my groceries. I don’t get why others would have any issues shopping here. I go on a certain day after work and encounter no issues. The store I go to is clean and not usually crowded when I go, and the checkout staff is extremely efficient.
Kathryn says
Trader Joe’s is privately held- FYI
Lana says
You might want to try shopping at a different time and day. I find that different people groups shop on different days at my store and sometimes I feel kind of out of place if I go on a day that is not my usual.
Katie Paige says
I go to Aldi for things like nuts, frozen organic blueberries (one of my toddler’s favorite snacks), and the international selection. I spent a semester in the Netherlands and shopped at Aldi there frequently as well, and was pleasantly surprised to find stroopwafel at my local Aldi on my last visit. Their refrigerated cheese tortelloni quite good as well. I’m a little disappointed that more of their canned fruits are packaged in syrup rather than juice, but I can live with it.
Laura says
I have not set foot into an Aldi since I found a spider in a box of stuffing.
Betsy says
I understand. I once got bugs from a (large regional chain) grocery store, and I had a hard time going back there.
Mary G says
I didn’t shop at Aldi until about a year ago when one opened near where I live. The last several months I have been getting a bit more of my groceries from there, but I don’t buy everything there. I buy some cheese and almonds and walnuts there, and lately I have been getting more of my produce there because they have some organic options. Last week I got organic tomatoes, salad mix, baby spinach (I pretty much buy some every week), apples (the ones they had were Fuji and very fresh), and Russet potatoes (a 3 LB bag was $1). Citrus has been well priced this season (non-organic). I’m curious to see if they will have any organic summer fruit. You can’t do all of your shopping there, but I like that it’s quiet, the store where I shop is very clean and tidy, and does not have all the distractions of a standard supermarket. The cashiers are very friendly and amazingly fast. I don’t have issues with bagging my own groceries–in some ways I prefer it. I have on occasion bought some fish there (I carry my Seafood Watch list with me). I don’t buy meat there. I usually buy organic chicken when it is on “Manager’s Special” at a nearby market. Overall, I’ve been quite happy shopping there.
jnk says
I love Aldi. I just DON’T have time for couponing anymore with all the craziness in my life right now, and Aldi saves me so much money. I can still stay on budget without the hours of clipping coupons, running to stores, etc. I have shopped there so long I know what is a great buy and what to skip. Overall, I am so happy to shop at Aldi… .99 cent Pineapples? .19 avocados? Yes, please.
Roxanne says
I shop at Aldi if there is some other errand I can do that justifies the drive.
Aldi isn’t *too* far from me, but I pass literally 12 other grocery stores on the way. I usually just do not have the time to make the trip.
We haven’t been disappointed in Aldi. Their produce is very fresh, their dairy is great, and there are usually fun seasonal items (pumpkin cream cheese, easter belgian chocolates…).
Roxanne says
I’m now remembering what I don’t like about Aldi.
I’m not a fan of their cleaning products. But I’m pretty particular about cleaning products. With the exception of window cleaner, I use name brand everything. The few Aldi cleaning products I tried (including window cleaner) seemed watered down and less effective.
But their food has not disappointed us.
Sue says
Yes, I shop at Aldi. BUT, my Aldi has changed dramatically. The prices have gone up and the quality has gone down. Their milk tastes like plastic, so we don’t buy it there anymore. I only buy fresh and frozen items from them. I don’t buy their produce anymore because it is usually old (or it goes bad in two days). I have been going to Aldi for over 20 years. They are about to lose me as a customer.
Kara says
Very interesting article. I love Aldi’s for their prices, but also for their natural selections. My sons react to artificial colors, flavors, an some preservatives. My kids call Aldi’s the candy store because they can have the delicious licorice and all the chocolate. Meanwhile I can read the big words on the front proclaiming which things have no colors, flavors, or preservatives instead of having to read all the tiny ingredients like other stores.
Juliet says
LOVE Aldi’s. Most weeks it’s the only grocery store I need to visit. My dad used to work in the food industry and his company did private label products for Aldi’s whose quality standards were HIGHER than the company’s “name brand.” One thing I’m learning to do is stock up on their seasonal items. Christmas time: baking powder, cornstarch, cocoa, etc. Right now they have green chilies for 69 cents. It sells for $1.19 at our other grocery stores. I picked up a case yesterday and I’ll probably get another next week. They also have low-sodium soy sauce at the moment, for less than half of what I pay at the other grocery stores. By stocking up, I not only save money, but I also cut down on the weeks that I need to go to the “big” store for an odd item or two.
There are a few items I find even cheaper at Sam’s Club (we always have a membership since it saves us so much on our allergy medicines). You have to know your cost per ounce to compare, and you have to have a fairly large family to get the Sam’s quantities, however. Flour is cheaper/sugar is not, etc.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Coupons says
My roommate and I love Aldi! I’ve actually been going to Whole Foods more recently because I’ve been buying all (or at least 80%) of our produce organic, but my roommate gets her milk from there, and we get our cat’s wet food there as it’s only 39 cents a can and doesn’t have all of the gross ingredients other wet foods have. They also just recently started carrying cat litter for $4 a jug and the ingredients are simply “clay, baking soda, and fragrance.” I’m not so keen on the fragrance part, but it works well for us.
Heather Anne says
I really enjoyed this article and look forward to reading the other posts in this series. My experience at Aldi’s has been very similar to the author’s writings. I remember the first time I set foot in one of these stores I was not impressed. However, I also shop just about 40% of my grocery shopping at our local store. I am going more organic and whole foods so I was super thrilled when they added organic juices, butter, cheese, tomatoes, and more! The prices really can’t be beat – even though I am an avid coupon user that combines with sales and the clearance isle in our name-brand grocery store. I love the produce on sale for the week. Where else can you get a bag or oranges for $.99 or grapefruit for 39cents each or three pack of organic apple juice for $.99. I have also picked up kefir amd almond milk for $1 less than our other grocery store. The staff are friendly. I do encourage people to understand the store before you go — they do not provide bags for groceries (you can buy them, bring your own, or pick up a box along the way). You pay with cash or debit – no credit. You need a quarter to borrow a cart but you get it back when you return the cart. Our local Aldi’s has become super busy because more people are learning what a great treasure they are! 🙂
Leanne Heern says
the best prices on the basics, in town, period…. and without all the hassle of coupon clipping! and our particular Aldi in West Lafayette, IN is immaculately clean, roomy to get through, and has the nicest cashiers!
Theresa says
I love Aldi and am blessed to have one roughly 5 minutes from my house. I’m there all the time. I seriously don’t know how I would feed my family without them. No way I could stay in our budget.
Veronica says
We like Aldi for many of our groceries, and no where else around here could I fill a cart and spend only $40-$50. I’m seeing more and more organic items – Fage yogurt, organic whole wheat pasta, steel cut oats. Last week I bought organic potatoes – .99/bag, organic apples – $4.oo/bag, and the organic pasta was .99. We don’t buy much processed food but love the spiral sliced ham, chocolate, and seasonal goodies they have. We’re able to have little special items I couldn’t justify buying anywhere else. We love cheese, and in the fall they had cheddar and apple cheese. Yesterday they had cheddar and chocolate cheese (yum) – for $2.99.
Mary says
I love Aldi. I’ve found a few things I don’t care for, but for the most part – it’s worth shopping with my own bags and my quarter for the cart. Their frozen stir fry vegetables in the short freezer cases rivals Sam’s Club bag and it’s about half the cost. Their breakfast sausage patties in the tall yellow bag – just like McDonalds! (I don’t buy them often, but they make great homemade sausage and cheese McMuffins). Their Light and Fit brand is very tasty – love the Southwestern pocket sandwiches and the ice cream items in that brand. Their cheese is great, eggs, half-n-half, cottage cheese – all taste the same as the expensive brands. I don’t eat bread but my sister buys their bread and bagels and her family loves it all. Stuff like rice, pintos, tostadas – seriously, how can you go wrong with the staples? The trash bags, paper towel and t.p. are all as good as generic brands. I’ve shopped there for years and never found a worm in anything – if you do, you should really report the store to the customer service link on their website. Their pork tenderloin makes excellent pulled pork, and their Priano line of Italian foods are delish. Love the cold case pastas and ravioli, etc.
But I’m sure, just like there are nice, clean Walmarts out there (the Walmart in Jefferson, WI is the best, and I seriously HATE Walmart!) and bad Walmarts, there are probably good and bad Aldi’s. There are some chain restaurants I won’t eat at, but others are clean and well managed. Don’t write off the entire chain over one bad store!
Sandra says
Being German I was always used to shop at Aldi. While at the beginng it was more a store for the poorer population or immigrants, it soon lured in all kinds of customers with its low prices and twice a week specials.
Now Aldi is my main source of grocery shopping, I can get almost everything there and after moving together with my boyfriend I convinced him that shopping there would be better for our finances. I cut his usual weekly grocery spending in half.
Now we usually pay an average of 60€ for our weekly shopping trip for a family of 3.
Amanda says
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:meqQFJpn7joJ:www.gimmesomeoven.com/aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
Google cached has the text, but that’s really weird — the site’s acting like it has no files. I’d check the permissions on it, personally.
Debra C says
I remember when I was a kid, my dad shopped at Aldi and he took us with him once. It was so different from what I was used to, that I filed it in the “weird” category and never went back, until about a year ago. I started couponing and I loved what it was doing for my food budget (as in, letting it actually pay for the food we needed). But it was soooooo time-consuming, and when I was using a database on another site to look up best deals for specific items that we were out of, 90% of the time, it was cheapest at Aldi. So after a few months of shopping for most things at Aldi anyway, I decided that couponing was not the best use of my time and since I wasn’t using very many coupons, I could save more by skipping the paper and just shopping at Aldi.
lee says
I came to the same conclusion. It wasn’t intentional. I just started stopping there for quick items since it was close to work and soon discovered all that they have to offer. There are a handful of items that we prefer name brand so I still coupon and stock up on those when they are on sale. We aren’t on a strict grocery budget but I took an average of what I used to spend compared to now and put the difference in my own little emergency/rainy day fund. Wonderful, wondeful store. I am so grateful to have found Aldi.
L says
We dropped our Sunday paper and shop at Aldi a lot, the coupons in the paper are almost always for processed and box mix things that we make or don’t eat. You can be picky and eat healthy at Aldi if you want too. So we save money at the store coupon free and don’t pay $100 a year for a paper subscription and I love that I don’t have to track any coupons either.
Maria says
Can’t get the links or copy/paste or even the site to work, but will be interested to view when it’s back up.
We don’t have this store in the west, but we do have TJ’s – they technically aren’t the same company, but it’s close. They are considered the W*lmart of Europe food wise, prices so low there WM couldn’t even compete. However, they are famous for not sharing where the food comes from. I expect this might be some of the “why not” that came up.
KimH says
The reason they dont share where the food came from is because much of it is name brand food branded with their own food label. They made an agreement with the producers not to reveal names so as to not disgruntle Name Brand Customers in other higher branded stores.
I read an article about this a couple weeks ago. They were doing side by side experiments to try to figure out which major Brands made what at TJs & Aldi.
Being a Conscious Parent says
Yes we shop at Aldi more than any other store. The product is great and cheaper than any other store around. I do think that it depends on your store of how clean and well keI know of another one around here that I would be less likely to go to. We have saved so much by going there that I don’t really need to clip coupons!
thistlefur says
Heck, yes, I love Aldi! The closest one used to be over 90 minutes away and I would go once a month to stock up, so I was delighted when one opened only 20 minutes away. Best prices around on all the basics, including produce. Super holiday deals. I like that if you read the labels, much of their food DOESN’T have preservatives like BHA and BHT in it—it’s the only place to buy good cereal without these chemicals. Super fish prices, frozen chicken tenderloins, cheese, spinach, avocados, berries, bananas, carrots, nuts, chips and European goodies you can’t find anywhere else. It can be a pain that they only take cash or debit, but if that keeps the prices low, bring it on! My only complaint is their stock is rotating and seasonal, so they may not always have what I want, but I can go to Walmart for the 10% if I’m saving lots of money at Aldi—and I do!!!
If people are going to whine about returning their own carts and bagging their own groceries, they need to put on their big boy/girl pants and take some responsibility. What would our Depression-era grandmothers say if they knew we were too lazy to return our shopping carts a short way or box our own groceries?!
P.S. The links still aren’t working. I was very curious to read why people WOULDN’T want to shop at Aldi! Here’s the message I receive (on Safari):
“Not Found
The requested URL /aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/ was not found on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.”
thar says
We absolutely DO shop at Aldi. Where else can you use your special “Aldi quarter” to get your cart each week? 😉
In all seriousness, the produce prices cannot be beat. Aldi is our “go to” when we can’t get better sale prices elsewhere. The cheese, milk, egg, bread, etc. are all less expensive than other stores when not on sale elsewhere. We buy staples, produce, and whole food items regularly at Aldi.
Cher says
Site still not working
LisaM says
Still not working. 🙂
I love Aldi. I don’t see what the big deal is. If you buy something and you don’t like it, it’s not like you lost out on a lot of money. Unbranded/generic groceries tend to be hit and miss. We don’t like their version of Miracle Whip, but I absolutely cannot live without their liquid fat-free coffee creamer. I buy their chips, salsa, cheese, frozen juices, potatoes and berries, coffee, coffee filters (totally cheaper than anywhere else… 99 cents for 200 filters), canola oil, baking supplies, and some paper products. If there is a sale at a grocery chain and I have a coupon, I figure out if the cost beats Aldi’s prices and if it does, then I know it’s a good deal.
Sarah says
Sometimes I can get a better deal on produce at the local grocery store and their meat leaves much to be desired but their baby wipes are awesome. Please try them if you have a little one in diapers.
christine says
Links still not working, oh well!
Melanie says
BTW the reason you can probably see the site is because your browser has it cached. If you clear your cache, I’d be willing to bet money you’ll no longer be able to view it.
Anna@The DIY Mom says
I LOVE Aldi and wish they had them here in China.
Ashli says
I was excited when an ALDI opened nearby, and the more I shop there the more I love it! No coupons necessary and it’s an easy in-and-out since it’s so small. Their produce deals can’t be beat, and I also buy eggs, sour cream, cream cheese, flour, sugar, and spices there. Bottled water is also a great deal. The “Ritz” crackers, “Wheat Thins” and animal crackers are awesome. I have found a few things I don’t like (shortening in particular), but most items have to be manufactured by a larger company. A friend’s dad works for Nickles bakery, and he said they make bread for ALDI! If you do choose to coupon, you can often find better deals on brand-name cereal, yogurt and juice with a sale and double coupons…so just make sure to do your research!
karen b says
No Aldi, TraderJoes, or Whole Foods in our area!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can honestly say i wished we did have a lower price food chain local, but honestly we have to just make do. The closest Sams to me is a good 40-45 min away, so don’t go often. this store is in a pretty large city so when get there I can go to Target, Kmart,Walmart the mall & other “fun” places. The closeses Aldi is probably like a 1hour 30 min or so away& no I have never been considering the gas prices these days not worth it! YES we live in the country & LOVE IT, but do have to make every trip to town count. My closeses grocery & CVS is 10 miles away:) Nope not a quick run for 1 or 2 items:)
Jenni says
We have a great Aldi and I spend about 75% of our grocery budget there. Several of the cashiers even comment when I don’t bring my 3 boys in, though I’m not sure that’s a good thing :). Anyway, I say to my husband often that I don’t know what our food budget would look like if we didn’t have Aldi – we eat very basic whole foods, though not organic, and I’ve found that I can do quite a bit with what they offer. The only thing I don’t buy aside from processed food is their frsh meat – not because of quality, just because I can usually get it for less on sale at other places.
The Coupon "High" says
I love Aldis and was so excited when they rolled out organic produce items. The organic cherry tomatoes are a staple in our house.
I also love their spices for 99 cents. No need to buy pre-packaged mixes like taco seasonings because you can make your own with the spices at this price and you know exactly what goes into it.
I don’t buy a lot of meat at Aldis, but I do always check their sale meat items. It’s a great way to get a deal.
My one wish would be they start carrying Quinoa, CousCous, barley and lentils. I currently go to Trader Joe’s to pick these up and if they could get them it would be great.
Cheri A says
I’m with ya on that wish list! Oh, I will have to watch for the cherry tomatoes!! Yum!
Joy in Alabama says
Mine has recently added couscous. It’s near the pasta and rice in my store.
The Coupon "High" says
I will have to double check next time I go. Thanks Joy.
Anna says
The blessing of Aldi’s for my mom was the chance to shop and save without clipping coupons or searching ads. With Aldi’s being too far away for me to do this regularly, I find that stockpiling there compares evenly or even costs more than watching the ads at more convenient stores. I do, however, enjoy matching their produce sale prices at Walmart as often as possible!
chariy says
Great post! I really like aldi but the closest one for me is half way across town so can’t and don’t go often but if I know I’m going to be by one and need a few items I make it a point to go In there.
Brandi @ Savvy Student Shopper says
I really like Aldi’s for some things, but their prices honestly aren’t always cheaper than a normal grocery store or Walmart. I can usually find better deals with sale prices at another store, and obviously using coupons at your grocery store is going to save you even more.
On the other hand, Aldi’s sale prices are pretty good so be sure to get the sales ad! They do have organic items, but they still aren’t “cheap”. You can usually find the staples (milk, eggs, bread, butter) for less than the cost of the grocery store, but other items (ketchup, baking items, etc) aren’t necessarily cheap.
I’ve never had a problem with anything I’ve bought there! The quality on their produce and boxed/bagged products has always been fine.
Lesley says
I shop at Aldi and love it. They don’t carry everything I need but I do the majority of my shopping there. There are several in my area, some larger than others and some carry different items than others. Sometimes the produce is hit or miss but they do have the cheapest milk. Shopping at Aldi has saved my family a lot of money. Like I said, they don’t have everything I need so I do have to supplement with other stores (Sam’s Club, Walmart, Publix, Walgreens, etc) but they are all close by so it is easy. I loved their $.99/lb strawberries they had recently. They were even cheaper than the u-pick farms nearby where the berries came from!
Heather @ My Kansas Life says
The nearest Aldi to where I live is about 4 hours away, but I would shop there regularly if one was closer.
Robin says
I do shop at Aldi regularly, however, I have had to take things back from time to time due to things not tasting right or caps not being sealed correctly, etc. I have never had the cashier offer me the double guarantee that they advertise. They always give me my money back, but that is it. One time I asked, and the cashier said they only refund your money or give you a replacement product. I didn’t bother to argue about it. A few years ago, I also had my debit card information stolen after using it at an Aldi. Since then I only use cash there.
Shasta says
I would shop there every once in awhile, but we recently found out our daughter can’t have corn, wheat, or dairy. Our daughter can’t eat majority of the food in the store since it is very processed food. This whole experience has opened our eyes to what kind of foods we are putting into our bodies. Their produce is cheaper than any where else, but the quality isn’t very good.
kelly says
I shop at Aldi at least once a week. Their priced for dairy, produce, and baking staples can’t be beat here. I also LOVE that the store is small- I can be in and out in a flash, without worrying about not grabbing the best value item. Some products are not the greatest. Some of them are better than any name brand- you can’t beat their brownie mix! The produce can be iffy at times- I always check thoroughly before buying. I’ve also found that selections and clientele vary by store. If one store isn’t to your liking, try another one!
Meagan says
I live in a small, isolated town in Illinois and thankfully we have a very nice Aldi. The other grocery stores are so expensive compared to Aldi. The store I frequent is clean, the staff is friendly, the selection is good, and the prices just can’t be beat. I have never had a problem with their produce and the one time I bought bad meat I got a replacement and my money back, which is their double satisfaction guarantee. The one problem I had was with their shopping carts. Most of the safety buckles were broken, which is something only a mom would notice :). I saw a man taking inventory and pointed out the danger that creates. Turns out he was the district manager and he said he would take care of it. The next time I went there (just a few days later) all the carts had new safety straps! If you open my pantry or fridge right now, you’ll see mostly Aldi labels. There is no way I could stretch my grocery budget as far as I do without the help of Aldi.
Anne Marie @ The Oklahoma Texan says
My baby nearly fell out of the cart when I went and couldn’t access any carts with non-broken straps. (I had to let go of him to get a watermelon out of my cart and onto the conveyor.) I sent an email to corporate saying I wouldn’t shop there anymore if I couldn’t keep my child safe. The next morning, I received a phone call from someone in corporate. She apologized, said she was sending cart straps to my store, and told me that they’d be on the carts next time I went in. And there were. 🙂 That one incident sold me on Aldi.
I like that I can buy things without MSG there. MSG gives me migraines, and other stores charge a ton for for MSG-free items. Also, they have a lot of items with natural colorings. I’ve been happy with most things I’ve bought there, but I still shop elsewhere for bread, milk, eggs, flour, and spices.
Vanessa says
I absolutely LOVE Aldi’s. What I would buy at say Walmart for $200.00 I’d get at Aldi’s for less than $100. I’m picky about my produce (but I’m picky every where I go) so sometimes I don’t pick it up there and sometimes I do. It all depends on what they have in stock. I currently buy our milk there since it is much much cheaper there and I buy more than 80% of my groceries from them. I don’t have a lot of time to coupon so this makes for the perfect alternative for us. I’ve rarely had any issue with any of their products. To me, the make feeding a family of 5 much easier and nicer on the budget than shopping at Walmart, Gerrity’s, Weis, or any large grocery store.
Kristi says
None of the links in the post are working 🙂
August says
Nope. The selection of truly healthy food is poor. I can go to a farmers market, my father-in-laws, or pretty much any where else and find foods that aren’t anywhere nearly as processed. People think eating organic is expensive, but it’s truly not if you know what to buy.
K says
I can’t get the link to work, not even after copying/pasting. Looking forward to reading the post once it gets up and running again, though. 🙂
Rachael says
I buy everything I can at Aldi, then get the rest of what we need at a local grocery store. I was just at Aldi today and bought tons of stuff: frozen seafood (shrimp, scallops), milk, bread, eggs, cheese, etc. There really is no competition from other stores when it comes to Aldi’s prices. I don’t like all the time and effort that goes into extreme couponing, and I feel like shopping at Aldi helps me get the most bang for my buck with the least hassle, thus helping me spend more time with my family and doing things that are meaningful to me. My family has never been disappointed with the quality of food and other products at Aldi, either. It’s quite good!
Tiffany says
Links aren’t working for me???
Sarah says
I shop at Aldi because I am able to get some items cheaper. I usually get eggs, milk, quick oats, and spinach there. They have great vegetable and fruit sales avocados .39 each, mushrooms 8oz .99, cucumbers .25 each, multi-colored peppers 3 for 1.49, blueberries 1.29, pineapples .99 each etc. cheaper than Walmart, Krogers, Publix. They have organic products also.
Monica says
Link still not working. Would love to read the whole post. There is an Aldi’s near us but I’ve never shopped there.
Pam Robbins says
There is not an Aldi’s near where I live now, but I used to shop there a lot when we lived in Ohio. I especially liked their frozen foods and they had great prices!! I would usually stock up at Aldi’s occasionally and fill in at the grocery store near our home. I wish we had one close to us now!
Kindra says
I was hesitant about Aldi for years and years — until we went on a budget last year and I realized how foolish I had been! I have been able to save so much money on groceries by shopping at Aldi. I live in Chicago and there are definitely some stores that are better than others as far as selection, produce freshness, etc. There are also some things that I will buy at Aldi and some that I won’t.
Things I regularly buy:
-produce if it looks fresh (it doesn’t always)
-chips
-peanut butter
-jam
-honey
-cottage cheese
-string cheese
-butter
-eggs
-milk
-bagged salad
-pasta
-canned tomatoes/sauce/paste
-cereal
-ice cream
-frozen vegetables/fruit
-salad dressing
-nuts
-oatmeal
-chocolate chips
Things I don’t buy at Aldi:
-meat, including lunch meat, though someone told me recently they bought the pork ribs and they were really good
-frozen convenience foods (I don’t normally buy these anyway, save for french fries every once in awhile)
-processed foods (i.e., generic spaghetti-o’s, canned soups)
-flour (I like mine unbleached and they only sell bleached)
-soda pop (don’t buy a lot of this anyway, but I don’t like theirs)
I think they’ve made a lot of attempts to modernize their product selection and stores. I would not have been able to stick to our grocery budget without shopping at Aldi and I am now a devoted fan!
Kindra says
Oh, and I have been impressed with their wine selection! We are not big drinkers, but I use it to cook and have been pleased with it. I have also heard good things about their coffee, but we buy ours at Costco.
Melanie says
I shop at Aldi and Price Rite both. Aldi covers many (but not all) of my household staples at rock bottom prices. It is a marvelously sufficient little grocery store. I just wish they didn’t prepackage their produce in styrofoam.
K says
I don’t do all of my grocery items at Aldi, but I do buy quite a bit there. Aldi’s a lot less expensive than other grocery stores, overall.
jill says
Yes i have for nearly 10 years (and I’ve converted a few ppl too) 🙂
I spent $95 there today at a larger chain store it would have been $150 or more.
I have a basic list for there typed, in order by location and just a handful of things i’ve tired there we do not like so we just know not to buy again.
HEART ALDI!!!
jill says
We also love their tortilla chips and salsa.
They also have nice flowers (roses near major holidays for sure but maybe all year long)
Caroline says
Aldi consistently beats prices at every grocery store in town. I literally purchased a gallon of milk Monday night for $1.79 and then stopped at Walmart and saw milk for $3.59. wow. I respect their business model and appreciate that I don’t have to play games to save money. I don’t worry that items will go on sale next week or that I might get a better buy with a coupon. I have shopped Aldi For about fifteen years now and can’t imagine feeding my family of twelve on our income without them.
I love Aldi.
Amanda J says
I love Aldi for some things. I’m in Indiana and we luckily have one really close.
Milk is at least $1 cheaper there than anywhere else, eggs are they same way. 5 pound bags of delicious oranges for $2. Last summer I stocked up on blueberries that we $1 for a very large box (vs. Walmart at $3 for a tiny container). 10 pound bags of potatoes for just a little over $2.
I’ve never had a problem with getting bad produce. They have some really good specials too. Just the other day I got a 20 pound ham for about $5, no where near the expiration date.
If it’s close it’s definitely worth going in my opinion.
Brie - BreezyPinkDaisies says
i love ALDI! I shop there at least once a week 🙂
LeahB says
When/where I grew up, Aldi was very much looked down upon by everyone I knew. But it has improved dramatically, and I’ve also lost the snobbyness. 🙂 I get plenty of brand-name things there. Milk under $2? Oh, ok! The store brand items vary: some are great, and some aren’t as good. It takes some time to become familiar with what they do and don’t have, and what items are there on a rotating basis. Plus, the cash/debit only thing. I stocked up on their organic/gluten free items recently. The seasonal merchandise can be great: school supplies, toys at Christmas, Hallowen candy. Now, I save a ton of money by going there, and I save time. Small store, short trip. And their carts have 2 seats, so my kids are both confined.
L says
I love the 2 seat cart as well with toddler twins, I also love how it is small but has almost everything I need in the staples and fruit veggie dept. Sometimes the fruit is a bit ripe-just be selective and I also use Tupperware fridge smarts which keeps it fresh twice as long and that helps stretch less expensive produce! You can’t beat a cart of groceries for $40-$50 when money is very tight. If I had tons of money I might still shop flour/sugar etc there-why spend more when you could use that $ for something more fun than groceries? But I do shop there to stay within a very tight food budget when food/ gas are going up so FAST and my budget has no wiggle room.
Tammy W. says
I couldn’t get your link to work so I could read the whole post (which sounds very interesting, by the way)! I must say that I hate shopping at Aldi and wish I had the $ and/or could justify doing all my shopping at the nicer grocery stores. As it is, I find that 2 stores is all I can manage with 2 toddlers, and Walmart tends to have the best prices, as far as a store that accepts coupons. There are some things we don’t get there, but for many staples (tortillas, bread, cheese, baking ingredients, condiments), their prices are the best, so we deal with keeping a quarter handy for the cart and bringing our own bags or scrounging for boxes when we go!
Erin says
Link not working.
Stephanie says
I shop at Aldi now that there is one convenient to my home. There are some items there that I will not get anywhere else and everything else is worth a try for the great prices. If we don’t like it then I haven’t spent much on it and I just don’t purchase that again. I can’t beat the price on Cream of Chicken and Cream of Mushroom soup or flavored rice.
Starla says
I shop at Aldi all the time! It is one way of keeping our food budget manageable. Here in PA, I also live close to “bent and dent” grocery stores that have discount groceries. But Aldi beats most of their prices.
One thing I have earned to love is the lack of options. =) I never have to do price comparisons on numerous brands of anything. If you know your basic grocery prices and know what you buy there, you can breeze through the store and get your shopping done quickly! I love that! Even if I have to bag or box up my groceries, the time I spend there is quite a bit less than at a regular grocery store.
Barb Barker says
Wow. I love Aldi s. With Homeschooling I rarely have time to coupon. I love Everything about Aldis. Especially now that they have organic and more healthy options. Our family is in love with Lifeways Kefir. I buy tons of it there. I hate having to go to multiple stores and waste gas. I think the prices are great. I can’t believe the negative comments. When we go to Aldis there are so many people. I would rather purchase healthy food than stockpile box mixes and candy.
Kate says
Not working for me either.
Pamela says
The link is still not working or not working again.
Rachel says
The link is still not working. 🙁
I do shop at Aldi for some things. However, as money is getting very tight around here, I am actually going to focus on doing 90% of our grocery shopping there for the month of March to see if we can do it. The only things I can think of that I will need to get elsewhere are baby food and formula. I think most everything else should be able to be bought at Aldi. I am excited to see if I can bring our grocery bill down without sacrificing quality.
Crystal says
Try copying and pasting this into browser: http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/
Anna says
That link also did not go through.
Rachel says
I tried again and it still is not working for me.
Nicole @ Amazing Frugal Mom says
I just did a whole month’s worth of shopping there for my family for $293.50! We are a family of four. I had a detailed list and my seven year old and I were door to register in 40 minutes.
Wendy says
I was definitely underwhelmed at my one and only Aldi experience – the bananas were thoroughly brown 24 hours after I brought them home, the milk was off, the frozen chicken nuggets were so tasteless my toddler wouldn’t even eat them, and the chocolate had worms in it :-X I’ve been told it really varies store to store, though.
dina says
Wow from reading the comments Aldi really is a love it or hate it store. It also seems Aldi’s love depends on region/location. Our Aldi’s doesn’t always have the best prices for everything. The milk isn’t cheaper and the produce goes bad VERY quick. I also am not impressed with the lack of cleanliness of our Aldi. Our Walmart is just too scary to risk shopping at, lots of robberies, rapes, even a shoot out between robbers and victim and we do not live in a dangerous area.
I’ve found by sticking to ShopRite, Weis and BJs using minimum couponing I can do just as well.
KimH says
Just a little bit of information about produce that goes bad quickly… It means its VERY FRESH & hasnt been sprayed with a lot of chemicals to keep it fresh for a long time like most grocery store vegetables. Notice the stuff you get there doesnt have thick shiny skins..
The vegetables I pick out of my garden go bad very quickly as well..
dina says
I’m not sure I agree with that or have had the same experience. We belong to a CSA during the end of spring, summer and beginning of fall. They pick the produce the day we pick up our box and they do not use any pesticides, chemicals or waxes to keep food fresh and their produces last much longer than Aldi’s produce, at least a week. We also have a small garden and our produce doesn’t go bad the next day. I’ve purchased produce 4 or 5 times from Aldi giving them a chance but have had them go bad quickly.
KimH says
Ok.. but dont forget.. Aldi is trucking the food in in a commercial manner which means its spent 3 or 4 days from farm to store… add that it sits on the shelf or dock another day or two… then it goes to your house and sits in your frig for a week.. Thats 2 week old fresh food you have there.. does your CSA or garden goods last that long? Depending on what it is, probably not. I know, some does.. so does mine,(I garden & CSA too) but some doesnt. It needs to be used quickly or preserved.
I dont claim Aldi has the best produce in the world.. it doesnt and I keep a Costco & BJs memberships to get good organic veggies close to home, but at least at our store, the produce isnt anywhere near as bad as it used to be years ago. I used to refuse to buy my produce there too. I know different stores can be so widely different and it may be that yours is worse than others. Perhaps you should send them an email and let them know that you’d like to shop there but their produce stinks. 😉
dina says
I have had produce from our garden & CSA last very long depending on the produce. We use the Debbie Meyer green bags and containers which really help keep produce and baked goods longer (strawberries up to 2 weeks!)
I think we just have a difference of opinion on Aldi produce and how fresh it is, most likey due to the lack of a quality Aldi’s store in my area. You are very lucky to have a good quality Aldi near you.
Allie says
I shopped at Aldi when I lived in Illinois. Now that I live in New Orleans I have yet to find an Aldi. I grew up shopping at Aldi
Sapphira says
I started shopping at Aldi about 2 months ago and I have saved HOURS from coupon clipping while keeping my grocery budget exactly the same. If you work full time and have kids and just don’t have a ton of time left over to constantly clip coupons and follow the blogs, and match all the deals, Aldi is the place to shop! It was so liberating my first month of not freaking out and doing all the planning I used to have to do with walmart/grocery. I also want to add Aldi’s is a small place, you can be in and out of there with an entire cart of groceries in less than 20 minutes. SO SO fast. No, “oh i forgot the bread, let me backtrack and go find that aisle.”
Nicole @ Amazing Frugal Mom says
Yes, this is exactly why I shop at Aldi! The time and stress it saves me is priceless with two children. And you cannot beat $1.69/gallon milk!
allie says
Wow, our Aldi (PA) is close to $4.50 a gallon. 🙁
Sarah says
I do shop at Aldi for staple foods…but not produce. I bought a bag of apples 2 falls ago and when I cut one open, I cut through a worm. Disgusting. I emailed the corporation about it and never heard back from anyone. The apple wasn’t even soft. So I price match their produce prices at Walmart.
Erin says
Would you rather have pesticides?
Jennifer says
Actually, some people would!
Rebekah Williams says
You can just take them back to the store and get your money back and a replacement product for free.
Kelly says
Just FYI, the links in this post aren’t working.
I love Aldi and shop there for a lot of my groceries!
Marie says
can’t get it to work but maybe it’ll be working in the morning.
I absolutely LOVE Aldi’s!! I haven’t shopped at a “regular” grocery store in over 2 years! What I can’t get at Aldi’s I supplement at Walmart or Target. The quality and prices can’t be beat. I’ve also has a lot of difficult life situations in the last 1 1/2 years that made couponing difficult. Shopping Aldi’s has saved us so much money and given me more room to breathe in my daily life with 3 little ones. I still use coupons but just a little bit. Like my trip to Target this week- I got 4 picture frames, 8 jars of pasta sauce, and 3 boxes of pasta for $2!! When I can do stuff like that that’s easy I can still coupon. I also know that Aldi’s is very open to suggestions. Several times their have been cooperate people at the Aldi’s I shop, it’s the busiest one in all of MN, and have shared things with them like products I’d like to see and they’ve been very happy to hear what customers want.
Lisa Russ says
The site is still not working.
Lea Stormhammer says
I, too, was not able to access the link.
I don’t like either Aldi or Trader Joes – the produce at our local Aldi is terrible and the milk price is more than elsewhere and I can get most things cheaper by combining sales and coupons at the “regular” store and I was terribly disappointed by the selection at Trader Joes. I know many people who love both Aldi and Trader Joes but it’s not for me.
Thanks for sharing and I look forward to reading the whole article!
Lea
k2licious says
It seems like we crashed it again then… b/c I cannot access it either. I’m very interested in his post. Guess I’ll have to be patient and wait for the rest of the article. 🙂
Andrea says
The link doesn’t work.. 🙁
Sarah says
I LOVE Aldi! First I just started shopping their produce sales when money was tight. Now we have a little more breathing room in our budget and are shopping more whole foods & organic & I am LOVING their selection of affordable organic items. I just wish it wasn’t a temporary thing!!
(Also fun fact: it’s the same parent company as Trader Joe’s)
Tracy says
The link to the article isn’t working. This sounds like an interesting read though. We have several Aldi’s going in our town soon. I am interested in trying them out. We just got two Trader Joe’s recently but I haven’t been able to try them out yet either.
Stephanie says
I love Aldi’s! I buy all the basics there, milk (always the cheapest place in town), delicious 100% whole wheat bread $1.29, canned goods, fresh produce… Yesterday, I bought grape tomatoes for .69, avocadoes .49 each, blueberries for 1.79. I have always been happy with the quality of their products and it is small so you are in and out quickly. Aldi’s can’t be beat!
Denise says
I can’t stand their bread. Every bread product from the wheat to the hamburger buns has been crumbly and lack of flavor.
I do however love their milk and dairy prices. Can’t beat it.
Amber says
I have been a loyal Aldi customer for years. Their produce is delicious and the price cannot be beat. I have gotten fresh strawberries for as little as 89 cents. Bread, milk, eggs, cheese are all cheaper. They also have special buys that rotate and recently have even started carrying organic items.
Maria says
For that price I’m guessing they weren’t organic. Non-organic berries are one of the most toxic things you can eat. They are like pesticide sponges and are on the “dirty dozen” list – I encourage all to look this up as it’s fairly well known now. Can’t in good conscience read this without sharing in case some folks don’t know – you can’t wash this stuff off.
Cheri A says
Maria, I am just now making a concentrated effort to buy more organic produce and veggies. I hadn’t been in Aldis in quite some time, but I was intrigued because they offered organic bagged apples this week, $3.48/3-lb bag. And I was happy to see that they had organic bananas also, $1.38 for 2-lb bundles. I got those too. I passed on the rest, but it will be great if they start having more. I have bought organic tomatoes there last summer too. And, non, the berries were not organic here and they were from outside of the US.
Sandra says
Stopped at Aldi’s on my way home from work this afternoon. I bought 1lb boxes of strawberries for .99, 8-ounces of whole mushrooms for .25, avocados .49, celery 1.29, 1 lb. wild salmon filets (4 filets) 3.99, bananas .44/lb, 6-pack of kiwis 1.49, 1 pint box of bluberries 1.99, 4-head pack of assorted lettuces 1.99, 15-ounce can of red kidney beans .59 and 3 lb bag of fuji apples 2.99. In our sale ads for this week there was a coupon for $5 off $30 purchase. I buy almost all of my fruits and vegetables at Aldi’s
heather says
I just price match the aldi produce prices at walmart. Not a huge Aldi fan but I can get Aldi prices at Walmart.
Sandra says
I do that too, especially in the summer months when the fruits I especially love are in season. Peaches, plums, necatrines are at a great price at Aldi’s, but I find the larger, better quality fruit at Walmart.
Jess says
About a year ago our Wal-Mart stopped price matching Aldi’s adds because they are “not considered a competitor since they are a discount store”. 🙁 I would price match at Wal-Mart mostly because it is closer to our house.
Karen R says
I went to look at the entire post from give me some oven about Aldi but it is 404’d.
I love shopping and Aulby. There was just one weekend when I really really needed some inexpensive groceries and I had limited money so I decided I was just get them make the plunge. I got my quarter and my bags and I went in. The people were nice the products are brand names rebranded as Aulby so you don’t know who makes what you’re going to eat but we love the granola bars Their meat their milk is definitely cheaper right now. It’s a great place to shop and I get terrific European chocolate for cheap! What other reason do I need 🙂
Crystal says
It should be working now. I think we might have crashed the site momentarily.
Marsha says
I shop at Aldi’s sometimes. I do not buy milk, cheese and some produce there as it is often more expensive than most other stores. The cheapest milk around here is at Family Express gas station, 2/$5.50…any gallon. Like any where else, you have to shop wisely.
Elisabeth says
Oh my goodness! We pay $1.49/gallon for delicious milk @ Seymour, IN Aldi. Worth traveling twenty minutes for (if any of you out there are nearby!).
Columbus, IN Aldi has just started carrying organic and natural foods, too. Our 10 person family loves Aldi… 99 cents for 5 lbs. red potatoes, 99 cents for 8 oz. mushrooms, 99 cents for a three pack of green peppers, to name a few of this weeks’ sales.
And yogurt sometimes goes on sale for 19 cents… then we buy 200!
And our cashiers are the perfect blend of efficient and friendly.
Sorry, just wanted to brag a bit:)
mandi says
It’s so crazy how the price of milk is all over. Here in Columbia, MO it’s usually around $3 a gallon- but other stores as high as $4.
Laura says
I don’t shop at Aldi, but only because it is at least 45 minutes away AND there are three other grocery stores, a walgreens, a cvs, a rite aid and a family dollar within 5 to 10 minutes of my house. I just stay close to home.
Laura says
I tried to click on “the whole post” link and got this:
Not Found
The requested URL /aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/ was not found on this server.
Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
Crystal says
It’s working for me now. Let me know if it doesn’t work for you.
Cheryl says
Links go to file not found. Even google links don’t work.
Crystal says
It looks like we crashed the site for a bit. It’s working for me now. Is it working for you?
Cheryl says
still not working. No Aldi’s where we live here in the west. We have Winco, though. No credit cards accepted, bag your own groceries. I’ve seen Aldi’s when we’ve been in the east and our cousin in Ohio shops there.
Crystal says
Try copying and pasting this into your browser:
http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/
or this
http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/aldi-101-why-i-shop-at-aldi/
Both are working for me. I have no idea why they aren’t working for others.
Melanie says
Still 404’d here.
Crystal says
🙁
I wonder if it’s the browser or what. I’m using Firefox.
Melanie says
Me, too! I think it’s just a server issue. Back to Aldi, though, I live in southern New England and overall prices on groceries here are higher than other parts of the country with longer growing seasons and farms within a shorter drive. It doesn’t get any cheaper here, so I’m really floored to read that some people can find things much cheaper at competitors. Must be your location because that’s definitely not true here.
Shelly Smith says
not working!
Jen says
I even tried http://www.gimmesomeoven.com and it won’t work. I tried using firefox and internet explorer.
Denise says
I lived in CA most of my life. We had WINCO, our’s excepted credit cards, but you bagged yourself. Food quality is great.
I now live in TX. We just got an Aldi’s but they except all forms of payment, you just bag yourself. I do not for the most part like the quality of bread items or produce that I’ve gotten there. Everthing else has been so so.
Alidi Nord owns Aldi and the Trader Joes chain (<— TJ's is one of the best chains ever, and how they can own them and Aldi and have such a horrible difference between the two I will never understand)
Whole Foods was originally started in Austin Texas and is NOT owned by Aldi Nord (the German Co.) Just FYI there! Whole foods is more expensive, and has more choices of foods, but Trader Joes offers alot of the same things at much cheaper prices. 🙂
KimH says
Worked for me just now..