ALDI 101

Have you been to ALDI? If not, you might be missing out on a BIG money-saving secret! I've been shopping ALDI for YEARS! We use ALDI prices as a reference point for many grocery items. If a sale price with coupon at another store is less than the ALDI price, we buy it. If not, we'll wait and get it at ALDI. We fill in and meet all of our shopping needs at low prices this way!

Here are some of the things that you might like to know about ALDI stores:

1. ALDI Select Brands
   "ALDI partners with the best suppliers in the country—often the same ones that produce national brands." Most ALDI products aren't name brand, but they're just as good. Don't worry about giving them a try - you have nothing to lose because of the guarantee they place on their products.
   
   
2. ALDI Double Guarantee
   "If you’re not satisfied for any reason, simply return the unused portion (or even the empty package) with the receipt to the store. We’ll refund your money AND give you a replacement product." They offer it and you should take advantage of it!
   
   
3. Grocery Selections
   You may wonder what ALDI has to offer. Their products include the basics: fresh meat, fresh produce, dairy, prepackaged deli items, frozen foods, baked goods, pantry items, snacks, sweets, household products, health and beauty, beverages, wine and beer.
   
   
4. Warehouse Style Aisles
   Yes, you'll see pallets of items with boxes stacked high, similar to Sam's Club or Costco on a smaller scale. Items stay in stock this way!
   
   
5. Special Buys
   You may see national brands or other items in your ALDI store at low prices. These are special purchases, available while supplies last. They include seasonal items: toys in time for Christmas, holiday candy, and more! You can view each week's special buys (even one week ahead of time!) on the ALDI website.
   
   
6. Bring Bags
   If you forget, you can pay a small amount for a paper ($0.06) or plastic ($0.10) ALDI bag. They also have insulated bags that you can purchase ($0.99). And if you forget a bag, you can always grab an empty box for free (yes, they let you take them)!
   
   
7. A Quarter for Your Cart
   It sounds strange until you realize what's really going on - it's just a deposit system to guarantee that your cart gets returned. It cuts down on your cost (they don't need to hire someone to put your cart back) and possible damage to vehicles in the parking lot. Return your cart and the quarter pops back out. We keep an "ALDI quarter" in the car to make sure we're prepared - but you can also ask the cashier for change.
   
   
8. No Credit Cards?! No Coupons?!
   Yes, it's true. ALDI cuts costs by eliminating both credit and coupons. You can pay with cash, food stamps, or pin-based debit cards.
   
   
9. Bag Your Own Groceries
   "When it’s your turn at the register, push your cart around to the end of the lane, to easily load your groceries right back into your cart. With no baggers to pay, we can run each checkout with one employee instead of two. You not only save—you control the weight and content of each bag."
   
   
10. Few Employees
    Any time you're shopping at ALDI, you might only notice one or two employees in the store - yet another way they manage to keep prices low for you! The checkout line moves quickly because of their efficient bar coding and scanners. The store workers are always hard at work, and everything usually runs very smoothly!
    

Products that we regularly buy at Aldi, approved by our family:
Fresh Ground Turkey ($2.49 for 20 oz for 93/7% meat - better than sale prices at other stores)
Turkey Ham
Milk (always a sale price, around $1.99) and Soymilk
Eggs
Butter and Margarine
Yogurt
Pancake Syrup
Cereal
Instant Oatmeal
Baking products (sugar, flour, baking soda, canola oil, etc)
Honey
Graham crackers (both cinnamon and honey are great!)
Animal crackers (taste a little like the old McDonaldland Cookies!)
Flour Tortillas
White Long-grain rice
Tomato Sauce and Paste
Macaroni and Cheese
Produce (bananas for $0.39/lb!)
Hamburger Buns and Bread
Plastic Wrap

Products recommended by other readers:
Store-brand Cheerios with dried fruit
Frozen sausage patties
All the canned tomato products
Chicken/Beef broth
Frozen lemon pepper fish

Do you have favorite ALDI items? Please share!

Do you still have questions about shopping ALDI? Leave a comment and ask away!