So, want to know the honest truth? I haven’t stepped foot in ALDI for over a year. In fact, it’s probably been closer to a year and a half.
Yes, I know! That’s pretty shocking considering I’ve been SUCH a raving fan of ALDI for so long.
Jesse took over the grocery shopping when we moved to TN, so he was the one who always went to ALDI. However, as you may have noticed if you follow me on SnapChat or Facebook Live, I’ve started doing the grocery shopping and cooking and menu-planning again.
{I’ll be sharing why we made this change on Monday; I can’t wait to tell you more about that! I’m also excited because this means I’ll be bringing back the weekly menu plans, grocery shopping trips, and more cooking posts again.}
So I was so excited to go to ALDI again on Tuesday evening. It sort of felt like I was home again! 😉
And I realized just how much I had missed shopping there and how many fond memories I have of shopping there and all the great deals we’ve gotten over the years. I feel like I owe an eternal debt of gratitude to ALDI for all the money that they’ve saved us and how they’ve allowed us to keep our grocery budget low.
Here are two things I was especially thrilled to find when I went to ALDI:
1. I was so impressed with their new Organic & Natural selections.
They’ve really upped their game when it comes to natural and organic products. I knew they had introduced a number of new organic and natural products, but I was really surprised at just how many new organic products they had!
I got Whole Wheat tortillas for $1.39 and 4 pounds of Pure Cane Sugar for just $2.59!!
2. I was completely blown away by how low their prices still are.
I know that I’ve sung the praises of ALDI’s low prices for forever, but I guess that you still have reverse sticker shock when you go in there! I mean, where else can you get eggs for $0.49 per dozen!!! (Yes, for real! I couldn’t believe that price, either!)
A few of the prices had gone up a little, but by and large, the prices were just as amazing as ever… and some were even lower than I remember!
What I Bought for $35 at ALDI
- Crispy Oat cereal — $1.19
- Honey Nut Oat cereal — $1.19
- Cantaloupe x 3 — $0.99 each
- Tortillas — $0.99
- Whole Wheat Tortillas — $1.39
- Refried Beans x 4 — $0.79 each
- Iceberg lettuce — $0.89
- Seedless watermelon — $2.99
- 1 lb. butter x 2 — $2.19
- English muffins — $0.99
- Plums x 4 — $0.25 each
- Natural peanut butter — $1.49
- 4 lb. Pure Cane Sugar — $2.59
- Brown Sugar — $1.29
- Organic mixed greens — $1.49
- Butter popcorn (a treat for the kids) — $1.69
- Salsa — $1.89
- Tortilla chips — $1.19
$32.77 + $2.38 tax = $35.15 total
Andrew France says
I LOVE Aldi too! Here in Ohio, I recently got a gallon of milk for 97 cents and a dozen eggs for 22 cents at Aldi! 🙂 A half-gallon of chocolate milk was only 57 cents. When Aldi opened near me, I switched my grocery shopping habits- I mostly went to Walmart and Giant Eagle, now it’s Aldi!
Karen says
I love Aldi and go at least weekly, but cannot get behind those fake Cheerios. For our family, they’ve been one of the few Aldi fails. We wait for a good deal on the real thing. Love almost everything else we’ve tried, though!
Carrie says
I love ALDI too, and they keep getting better and better. Their gluten-free products are the best we’ve ever tried and half the price. The GF bread especially is awesome.
Jennifer says
So excited your menu plans are coming back! (And you may have convinced me to try Aldi again 😉 what day do you normally post your menu plan?
Crystal Paine says
I usually post on Mondays. We’re gone ALL next week to Arkansas, though, so my Monday Menu post will instead be more details on *why* I’m bringing these back. 🙂
Esther says
You are so lucky! We don’t have an ALDI in Savannah. I have been emailing the company for years asking them to come here! It doesn’t make sense — it’s a pretty big population area, and every other big city in GA and SC has an ALDI . . . sigh.
Crystal Paine says
Oh! I hope you get one SOON!
Anna says
Thanks to your blog postings over the years about Aldis, I felt well prepared to shop there once they opened in Richmond VA last year. I used to get jealous of other peoples savings but instead started praying we’d get one here. Now we have at least 5 and we have saved so much money and time. Thanks so much Crystal!!!
Crystal Paine says
YAY!!! This makes me SO happy for you!!
Denise says
I love Aldi. When I have to buy something I usually get at Aldi somewhere else I suffer from sticker shock. I hate to do it and usually just wait My kids know that if I say we have to wait until I can buy more at Aldi I really mean it. Even if we are out of chocolate
Jenn M says
Crystal, never forget about Aldi’s. 😉 Our family is moving back to Northern California from the North Carolina and I wish I could take Aldi’s with me. I love the organics and gluten free prices since our littlest has allergies. Just told husband closest ones are in Southern California and we might just have to nix Disney for Aldi’s if we visit down south. #aldiforever
Crystal Paine says
Haha! I definitely won’t! Especially now that I’m doing the grocery shopping again! 🙂
Jean says
Once in back in CA, you may try Trader Joe’s. I’ve heard it’s similar to Aldi’s. I love my TJ’s!
Diane says
We have both but they aren’t really similar. Aldi has much better prices. I understand their origins but I would say products and prices are very different.
Brittney says
I’ve only been to Trader Joe’s while vacationing to other places but it’s overall my favorite store ever. It’s almost like the Whole Foods for those on a budget 🙂 The difference between it and Aldi’s is that TJ’s caters more towards those who are seeking organic and natural food at great prices. Aldi’s prices overall are better, but to me, TJ’s has the best selection of super healthy food at great prices that I can’t find anywhere else. And everytime I’ve been there, it was always a selection of very unique things that I really couldn’t find elsewhere. I wish we had both stores here and I could satisfy my need for organic and somewhat unique food while also saving a lot of money in the process. We do have Aldi, which I love, but I miss Trader Joe’s.
Jenn M says
You are correct, Trader Joe’s and Aldi’s are very similar grocery stores because the brothers got into a dispute over selling cigarettes in their stores, which caused the breakup.
Aldi’s has the better prices though and this I will miss the most. Plus, I love their hard lines/home items sales they offer weekly. I have gotten some great stuff for great prices that if I paid in a regular store, it would have been double.
Katherine Dykes says
Hi – yes, Aldi was started by two brothers, but it was in Europe. Aldi is now the parent company of Trader Joe’s.
Mitsy Griffith says
There are Aldi’s in California now. I’m on SoCal and there are Several under 10 miles away.
Jenn M says
Ok, Misty. Business proposition uhaul trucks up to Norcal so we can purchase items from you. 😉
Jessica says
I have found a location that I like better. It’s further away than the closest Aldi, but there’s no policeman and a lot less drama and crazy in the parking lot. It’s worth the extra 10 minutes of driving!
I’ve gone back to shopping there since the Meijer where I did 90% of my shopping closed 6 weeks ago. I don’t mind taking all 3 of my kids into Aldi because I can get a week’s worth of groceries in 20 minutes. There are fewer choices. Less temptation! Not as many things for the kids to ask for! I allow them each to choose one snack item per trip. When their snacks are gone, then they are stuck with the mommy-approved options 😉
Your prices were lower than mine in Columbus, OH. Our eggs were $.79/doz, etc. But still less than Kroger!
My lone major complaint is that there is never more than one checkout lane open no matter what time of day or day of week I am in there.
Crystal Paine says
Oh YAY! I’m SO glad you found an ALDI that isn’t so scary. That makes me SO happy!
Tammy says
I love Aldi and shop there weekly. For the first time today, I noticed an error on my receipt. I bought 1 pineapple and I was somehow charged for 9. (I was wondering as I left the store how I managed to spend $15 more than normal). I ran back over there, showed the manager my receipt and was quickly refunded my money. No fuss, no problem.
Looking forward to more shopping and menu planning posts!
Carol Sue says
I love your site, especially the shopping trips and menus that are posted. I am excited that you will be posting your shopping trips and cooking/recipes and menu plans. It’s really nice to see what others are preparing, especially when looking for some variety. Thanks!
Danielle says
Aldi is awesome!! This week we have .49/lb baby carrots, .89 each cantaloupes, 1.92/gal skim milk, ,65/dozen eggs, and the list goes on! I just did a weekly mini-stock up run (for milk and produce) and only spent $5-6!
Looking forward to more menu plans and shopping trips from you!
Crystal Paine says
YES!! I just can’t sing the praises of ALDI loudly enough!