BJs vs Walmart/Aldi

[kathyinfl]

Which, in your opinion, gives you more overal value?

I am trying to not end up at 2 stores a week. I make an occasional trip to Aldis (as its farthest). I do majority of shopping at Walart, clested, np foot traffic and clean. I have never been to BJs but heard its good for bulk. Having a large family I know no problem buying that way.

We used to shop at Costco but now with gas prices it does not eem feasible to drive that far.

Thank you so much. I am planning on making it all work out this year.

 

[TiggerTails57]

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I like BJ because I can use mfg. coupons. They also send a monthly coupon booklet. We usually save $30 each trip according to what is printed on my receipt and we are a family of 2. I buy shampoo, laundry soap/softner, trash bags, toothpaste, vitamins, asprin ect. I go about every 5 - 6 weeks.

 

[maslex]

I'm subbing for this one.

I shop at Walmart and our local grocery store every Sunday. At Walmart I get all of my soaps, shampoos, deodorants, etc. Plus my dairy, snacks, cereal, canned goods, boxed goods, frozen stuff, produce, etc. Basically most of my stuff. At the grocery store, I get my meats & any "good sale" stuff.

But like you, I'd like to avoid going to 2 stores.

I wouldn't mind if I shopped at BJ's like once a month and then just pick up a few things for the week at the grocery store. Guess I'll have to try it out and see.

 

[KayW]

I shop at Walmart and Aldi every Sunday. I don't mind since they share a parking lot so my travel time isn't extended. What I don't get at Aldi I pick up at Walmart. We don't have a BJs or COSTCO membership, but my parents do so when we visit them we stop in.

 

[sb682]

I only go to BJ's about once a month because it's out of the way for me. DH got a discounted membership and used to get gas there since it was practically across the street from his office, but now he has a new job and I don't think we'll renew our membership. I like using MQs and their store coupons to get good deals. I frequently buy Olay products, their store brand all-natural dog food, and Applegate Farms organic bacon and cold cuts. Their produce prices are comparable to Aldi but their organic lettuce/spinach is a really good deal if you'll eat all of it before it goes bad. Would definitely be worth it if I had a few more kids, not really worth it for our family of 3.

 

[TrueLove's1stKiss]

I tend to shop at multiple shops to get the best of the deals...but if I had to choose just one it would have to be Aldi!

 

[hsmamato2]

to avoid multiple stops,Aldi, every time. You don't have to buy huge bulk to get what you want for cheap and now they're expanding their natural foods,so even better! I have shopped every which way over the years,including being an avid couponer....Aldi straight up is the cheapest. (I still coupon for many items at CVS, but not food)

 

[My2CrazyGirls]

We have all of these stores here. I never went to BJ though so I cannot comment there. I won't go into Walmart because the people are rude, it is crowded, and I wouldn't buy much food there. I walked into Aldi, took a walk around, and walked out. The food did not look good at all, everything had preservatives in it, and the produce looked old.

I LOVE COSTCO! It is farther to drive to Costco but SO WORTH IT. They have some good organic products and really great prices! The Kirkland brand is awesome. I am very picky about meat, I usually buy meat at Whole Foods when it is on sale and will sometimes get certain meats at Trader Joe's if there is not a good Whole Foods sale. I will actually buy some meat (never pork though) at Costco. The Costco meat department is so clean and nice. They do have some organic options too. I never thought a place like Costco could be a 1 stop shop (because Sam's Club was not) but it really can be. I have been making meals with potatoes and onions lately because I bought HUGE bags of these for the same price as a small bag at a regular grocery store.

 

[North of Mouse]

Unlike PP, the two Aldi's near us are very clean, and the produce is A-1. I get a lot of produce there, and some things at Walmart (which ours is clean and very friendly personel).

I've shopped at BJ's before, but find I can use double coupons/sales at our regular grocery stores and do better. The main thing to watch at BJ's is the *unit* prices on their bulk stuff. That's how they get most people. If you break it down - think about sales/coupons elsewhere, a lot of times you can do lots better with the unit price. They make it *sound* really good. AND, there are some times when you can get a good deal, but I found very few. I don't shop there any more for groceries.

Plus, I don't like to *pay* to shop, and that must be factored in also.

 

[scrapgal123]

I buy most of my meats and a few specific items at BJs. Everything else, Aldi's.

 

[Pigeon]

It's apples to oranges.

For food, Aldi's is least expensive most of the time for what it has. I like BJs, and there are a few things that are a great deal, but most of the stuff isn't much cheaper than what I can get at the regular grocery store if I watch sales, plus you have to buy ten tons of it. BJs has vastly more stuff than Aldis and if name brands are important to you (they are not at all to me) then you will find them there and not at Aldi's.

I loathe Walmart. I try not to shop there if I can help it, but occasionally, they are the only place that carries certain things. Ours is nasty, the employees are rude, and I do not want to support their business practices. It depresses me to set foot in there. I have looked at the prices on some grocery items and they aren't better than Aldi.

 

[nugov2]

I am a Walmart girl, but I know their store quality can vary by location. I wouldn't go near the one without a haz mat suit in the store closest to the neighborhood where I grew up. It was gross. Now that we are further from the city our closest one is super clean and has a large organic area. I think the closer you are to a major city the dirtier...further out nicer. It offers price match for every grocery store near here so one stop shop I just tell them the price and the cashier adjusts right at the register. By doing this it is cheaper than Aldi. I also do Costco for all meats. It is so cheap for the quality. We also buy our lunch meat(boars head) at a local chain weekly. I hit Costco once a month.

 

[Muushka]

Costco is also a hike for me. But their gas prices are so good (and my tank holds 20 gallons) that if I need to fill up, it is a great excuse to go to Costco.

But for overall value, Aldi (and it is close by). I never seem to find deals at Walmart.

 

[girli565]

If Aldi's was closer I'd be there more often but lately it's been Walmart for most everything except meat and Costco for meats. We are trying to switch over to organic beef (costco only has it in ground beef) and chicken (which costco just got a few weeks ago, they were demo-ing it one day we were there). Costco has great prices on the organic meat, much cheaper than the organic stuff I see at Publix and Whole Foods.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I recently moved and I miss Aldi so much. I would be able to get tons of food and I don't think I ever spent more than $60. I like BJ's a lot but I always seem to find a good deal on something I didn't come in for. I never seemed to leave without spending a $100 or more. I am still trying to get a feel for the markets in my new area. Walmart seems to be the cheapest but I hate them for meat. I will keep trying out new places until I find the right combination.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

I live close to Aldi and a big-chain groccery store. I also live about 15 minutes from a Costco.

We go to Aldi's most frequently and Costco about once a month. I only shop at the big groccery store when I absolutely need something there that they don't have at Aldi's.

Aldi's doesn't have a great meat selection and they don't have some of the particular ingredients I need.

That said, I try to do my meal planning around what they have at Aldi's so I only have to go there. I like Aldi best because I'm in and out in a hurry and I don't need to clip coupons to get good deals.

 

[AmericangirlinFrance]

It's apples to oranges.

For food, Aldi's is least expensive most of the time for what it has. I like BJs, and there are a few things that are a great deal, but most of the stuff isn't much cheaper than what I can get at the regular grocery store if I watch sales, plus you have to buy ten tons of it. BJs has vastly more stuff than Aldis and if name brands are important to you (they are not at all to me) then you will find them there and not at Aldi's.

I loathe Walmart. I try not to shop there if I can help it, but occasionally, they are the only place that carries certain things. Ours is nasty, the employees are rude, and I do not want to support their business practices. It depresses me to set foot in there. I have looked at the prices on some grocery items and they aren't better than Aldi.

Yep Aldi is waaay cheaper here than Walmart. I also feel the same way you do about Walmart... plus ours here is incredibly understaffed so you are looking at waiting at least 20-30 mins to check out. I usually do have a bit of a wait to check out at Aldi (they don't have many employees to keep costs down), but it's never as long as Walmart, plus it's a quiet, clean store to wait in. I don't find Walmart's prices any cheaper than the grocery store or Target here.

I shop at my local grocery store (Publix) for items on sale with coupons. This usually means stuff like cereal, pasta, some canned goods, sometimes cheese, sometimes cleaning products or stuff like soap/shampoo as well - I can get some great deals there with coupons.

I buy almost all my other stuff at Aldi, including almost all meat and produce. It is so much cheaper, and I never have a bad experience shopping there. It is a small store, and they don't have a huge stock, so if I need a specialty item, I will usually get it at the grocery store.

If I need household supplies that are not on sale, I get them at Target instead of Walmart. Same prices here. Occasionally I will coupon at CVS but I have not been getting good deals there, plus they are always out of stock of everything and (here, at least) the employees are rude and unhelpful.