On a budget to save for WDW....anyone grocery shop at Aldi's???

[disneygirl1977k]

Hey guys,
OK cutting back everyway I know how to.....anyone ever shop at Aldi's....I have always been kind of weird about shopping there, never been, however, now that I have a family and there are more important things than spending every dime I make foolishly, I was thinking about giving this a try, I know a lot of people that shop there, but is the food good? the same as Krogers or another major chain? Just curious, would love some opinions on this.
Kristy

 

[fiveacesmmb]

I love, love, love Aldi's!!!!!!!!!! Is the store as nicely decorated as a major chain???? Absolutely not. Will you like the food?? You bet!!! I buy about 60% of my groceries there, and you can't believe how much you save. I can honestly say that I've never tried anything there that I didn't like. It's a great place to stock your pantry. Baking goods, canned goods, and stuff like cereal, bread, pasta, condiments, dairy. Just everything. Things I especially like.............
Portebello stuffed rigatoni...............YUM
Thick sliced maple bacon
individually wrapped salmon filets
cheesy garlic toast
nacho chips
Really anything.......................go to Aldi....and have fun at Disney with all the money you save!!!!!

 

[ChristmasElf]

I have a brother that lives in the Northeast where there are also Aldi's. His wife buys most of their produce there. Once in a while, there are brand name products at really good deals. But I don't think there is that much selection on everyday things though!

 

[annsteere]

I also love Aldi and save a ton there. But, I have found some things I didn't like. I would never again buy their cake mixes. (The first one was so dry, I thought I must have made a mistake making it. When the second one came out the same I swore off buying them. Now I wait till Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines are on sale and load up) When I was starting to shop there, I figured if I saved $20 and bought a $1 item that we didn't really like, I was still far ahead. I kept a list of the few things that we didn't think were as good as "name brand."

You will also find some items that Aldi doesn't carry. I do my major shop there and then go to a different store just to fill in.

You will learn to love the savings much more than you miss ambience.

 

[BethR]

I LOVE Aldis!!! I think that I get most of my groceries there. You do kind of have to get used to shopping there.

You make a 25 cent deposit to get a grocery cart - but you get it back when you return the cart.

You pack your own groceries in boxes - which you can pick up around the store for free, in bags that you bring from home, or in bags that you can buy in the store.

The groceries are displayed warehouse style - stacked in cases.

You won't find much fancy stuff there - but for all of the basics they are great.

Most of the time they do not have brand names - primarily they sell their house brands. I always suggest that people try one of a product, and if they like it, then they can buy it again.

Let me think of what I buy regularly there. Microwave popcorn, cheese flavored rice cakes, lunch box peaches, peanuts, baking products, pam, olive oil, vegetable oil, brownie mix, blueberry muffin mix, italian salad mix, cheeses, sour cream, cream cheese, eggs, bacon, margarine, canned vegetables - green beans, corn, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, - canned soup - tomato, cream of chicken, mushroom, celery - bananas, apples, watermelons, oranges, pineapples, stawberries, grapes, cauliflower, broccoli, peppers, celery, tomatoes, dressings, peanut butter, pickles, mustard, canned fruits, bread, frozen chicken, ice cream, rice a roni, boxed scalloped potatoes, noodles, pasta, tuna, and I am sure there is a lot more that I cannot think of.

Definately try Aldi's a couple of times! I think that you may be pleased.

PS - they do not take checks or credit cards - cash or debit cards only.

 

[unixadm]

Where is the Aldi's in relation to WDW?

Last time we shopped at Goodings and it was EXPENSIVE....only bought the necessities.

I know of a Publix down by Sea World that wasn't bad, but if there is an Aldi's closer then we will defiinitely try that in September.

 

[scrappinmom]

Another ++++ on Aldi - I started shopping there about 6 years ago when I left my corporate american job to be a SAHM. i LOVE it ! I do shop other chains every few weeks toget the stuff they don't have.....but overall I LOVE It!

 

[ceecee]

I don't like Aldis but the produce is usually cheaper. At ours there is one cash register open and tons of people in line always!!! These people buy more stuff in one day than I buy in a month. I have put things back and left on more than one occasion.

 

[ckoncurat]

I use Alsi every week, and on average spend $50 a week less than I would otherwise. I go to Aldi first, get everything on my list they have, than stop at another grocery on the way home for whatever I still need. Aldi is definitely not for the casaul shopper- this is the store for a family that wants to STOCK UP. Why else would you deal with long lines, no bags, no credit cards etc? They carry no fresh meat and limited choices of produce, also limited selection of "light or sugar free" products. I have tried doing the coupon thing, and have found that almost no store sale or coupon (even combined) beats the aldi price. If you are serious about slashing the grocery bill, this is the place to go.

 

[we3disneygo]

I have just started shopping there agian...putting dd11 in private school this next school year and saving for that trip in 2006, produce is so much cheaper than Krogers, mostly buy our meat and chicken at Sam's club but try to buy whatever i can at aldi's . Just tried their pizza crust pre-made and it was really good.figured just switching from ordering pizza to making it will save money! have fun saving.....

 

[dani blaski]

We have Aldi's in Chicago and I have tried it a few times. My mother in law & sisters in law really love it. I do not like their house brand cleaning products, I feel like I am using more to clean & wasting product and $$. I wait for sales & coupons to buy the brands that I like. Here's the other problem-we don't use much snack foods or canned veggies, mostly frozen because they taste better and are usually cheaper. But I have gotten frozen items and pasta there, actually very good. I do know people that do most of there shopping there.

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I don't think they have them around here (Washington), but when I lived in NC they built a new one near me and it was great, I would do what PP have said, shop there first because they don't always have the same things, then finish my shopping somewhere else. I didn't buy their cleaning supplies and after trying their diapers once I never bought those again, either. I never had a problem with the taste of most of their brands and I found our store to be MUCH less stressful than shopping at Walmart supercenter.

 

[emer95]

Another satisfied Aldi's shopper here! I'll tell ya, it took me a while to feel comfortable enough to go there, because I was a "brand snob" even though I couldn't afford to be. And I'm such a bargain girl in every other area of my life, now I'm disappointed that I didn't start shopping there sooner. A huge cartload of groceries is often $30 or so- amazing! I always go there first, and then to a major grocery store to fill in, because some things Aldi's just doesn't carry (Pepsi comes to mind). After getting used to paying $1.69 for their cereal, there's NO WAY I can spend upwards of $5 on a box of Frosted Flakes. And it's all really delicious- trust me, I'm very picky!

Sometimes the produce is less than stellar, but not always. If that's the case I just buy whatever it is I wanted at the major store. But we've had a lot of success with their apples, zucchini and squask, onions, mushrooms. I actually prefer their salsa to name brand. Their cheese is actually manufactured by Sorrento, but it's under a different name (can't think of what it's called). I did a LOT of research before I began shopping there. Their website is pretty informative. I think you'll be pleased, and there's no question you'll save money.

 

[Danemom]

I shopped at Aldi when they first opened locally, about 5-6 years ago, and saved a ton of money. It was in the next town over but was worth it for the basics. One just opened in my town and I've begun shopping there again. I can't believe the change in it!
They still have great prices and now they have all these "gourmet" products! I love it. I find I save money when I shop there just because they have a limited selection. I pick up things they don't have every 3 or 4 weeks at a regular grocery but in between, if Aldi doesn't have it I just don't buy it and save a fortune!

 

[powellrj]

I have been an off and on Aldi shopper for over 20 years. I will say that they have gotten much cleaner and many more name-brand items than they use to have.

Some tips for 1st time shoppers:

Don't go 1st of the month. Thats when many people get their checks and its a mad house.

Take your own sacks or plan on buying them there. (you can also collect boxes to use when you check out)

Try to go alone. They can get very busy and crowded and the fewer people you are dealing with the easier it is.

Watch your dates, sometimes things are very short dated.

Be brave, just because you have never heard of the brand, doesn't make it bad!!!

Don't forget your quarter, they don't have change!!!

Have fun!!

 

[ChristyJ]

We love Aldi's too!! It definately saves us money on our weekly grocery bill!!

 

[SlightlyGoofy]

I love Aldi's, not every single thing they sell but then I do not like everything in any store. I save about half on produce, bagged salads etc. I like their frozen chicken breasts, about $2 less than other places and such. I also like the fact that I am not tempted by any of their junk food, does not look all that good, AND I can get in and out so easily and quickly. BTW, if the Aldi's or any other store lists a specific item in their ad WM (ours at least) will match that price. If it is a store brand item you must buy the WM brand etc but that is a huge saver as well. I put those items together in my basket and mark the prices down on my list and hand them to the cashier first and save quite a bit of time and money that way.

I figure I 'earn' a respectable amount of money by shopping wisely. Luckily our town has its stores close enough together that you can make a tour pretty easily to get the sales items at each one. More money to spend at DW!!

Slightly Goofy/Linda

 

[TNKBELL]

I had to laugh when I saw this thread, made me think of when Ds was 5, the only brand of mac & cheese he would eat was Aldi's, I guess you could say he was an Aldi's snob! We save alot of $$ thanks to Aldi. We are so blessed because a brand new Aldi just opened up close to our home and the best part is that it's in a safe clean area of town! I wish they would open up a 50 items or less line though.

 

[Shelby5514]

I also love Aldi and save a ton there. But, I have found some things I didn't like. I would never again buy their cake mixes. (The first one was so dry, I thought I must have made a mistake making it. When the second one came out the same I swore off buying them. Now I wait till Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines are on sale and load up) When I was starting to shop there, I figured if I saved $20 and bought a $1 item that we didn't really like, I was still far ahead. I kept a list of the few things that we didn't think were as good as "name brand."

You will also find some items that Aldi doesn't carry. I do my major shop there and then go to a different store just to fill in.

You will learn to love the savings much more than you miss ambience.

A friend of the family makes Wedding Cakes for a living and buys all of her cake mixes at Aldi's. She said the trick is to add an extra egg! They're so good most people think her cakes are made from scratch! Ha! If they only knew it was a 69 cent box mix!

 

[DisneyArk]

I wish they would open up a 50 items or less line though.

I've been in Aldi's several times, but I've never bought anything. The reason why - because the lines are always way too long and everyone's baskets are extremely full. I even saw families with more than 1 basket of food. So I can see what you mean about an express lane!!