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

[1MegMeg]

I wish we had Aldi's in Florida. I am always looking for ways to cut our grocery bill.

 

[lillygator]

what is Aldi's?? Is it kind of like a Sav-A-Lot?

 

[1MegMeg]

Hi Lilly! Have you been to Sav-a-lot? Are their prices good? I usually shop at Publix (sales, store brands, coupons, etc.), but if Sav-a-lot's prices are better that could be something to check out.

 

[lillygator]

Sav-A-Lot has great prices...I am a Publix girl myself....I grew up in Lakeland!! But DH manages a grocery store and has taught me a thing or two....the produce at Sav is the same at Publix for much cheaper....they have the bagged salads for 99 always....

 

[1MegMeg]

Lilly - Thanks! I might have to check out Sav-a-lot! I like Publix, partially because I have been shopping there since...well since I started grocery shopping for myself, and also because it is convienent. There are 4 different ones between my house and my work. There is only one Sav-a-lot, so it's not quite as easy to get to.

 

[stahshee]

here is what I bought at Aldi yesterday 2 gallon zip lock baggies for 99 cents! they come in a ten count. 2 pkages of 79 cents cheese singels for cheeses burgers and grilled cheese. 89cents pringels .I love Aldi it is around the block from me and I always forget about it. My Alci is not very crowded.

 

[CouponCon]

I was in Aldi's yesterday. They had the Incredibles, Finding Nemo, and Little Mermaid Bubble Blowers for $7.99. So cute. I know they all carry different stuff, but ours seems to get in odds and ends toys and Name brand candy, comforters and dvd's at pretty good prices.

 

[disneymom3]

I just went to their website and found that they have a guarantee that you will like their products and if you don't they will replace the product AND refund your money. So, basicallly there is no risk to give it a try.

We are getting really low on groceries right now and this thread has made me decide to give Aldi's a shot. I am going Friday and will let you all know how I do. We have made small purchases there before but I was nervous about trying some stuff before reading here. My kids love how you put the quarter in the cart and then get it back. I will have to remember to bring bags as I always have forgotten before.

 

[TNKBELL]

I just went to their website and found that they have a guarantee that you will like their products and if you don't they will replace the product AND refund your money. So, basicallly there is no risk to give it a try.

We are getting really low on groceries right now and this thread has made me decide to give Aldi's a shot. I am going Friday and will let you all know how I do. We have made small purchases there before but I was nervous about trying some stuff before reading here. My kids love how you put the quarter in the cart and then get it back. I will have to remember to bring bags as I always have forgotten before.

My kids love the quarter thing too, they even fight over who gets to get the cart and return it. Hmmm... Maybe that would make a great Birthday or Christmas gift... a whole year of Aldi quarter privaledges!!! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by the quality and freshness Aldi has to offer!!!

 

[chrismiss56]

Morning.

I have been following this thread and decided to take a trip to Aldi's. I have to admit I was not overly impressed. I bought eggs for 69 cents and the next day they were on sale at the regular grocery store for 59 cents. Went to two different Aldi's about 15 minutes apart. One had a gallon of milk for $2.39 and the other for 1.95.........Walgreens has it on sale normally for about $1.99.

My girlfriend had told me about Aldi's also - bagged salad for cheap and fresh. All the bagged salad had a good date on them but were brown - Ugh!!

Do they ever carry the low-fat or lo-carb version of anything? I only saw yogurt and salad dressing - it has taken me years to get my husband to eat healthier and don't want to change it now.

So I wish you all well and am happy that you are getting good buys but I will take a pass on going to Aldi's in the future. It is just not for me.

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

 

[Tinkerbelle32]

The only thing I purchase at Aldi's is bagels or buns(for hotdogs or hamburgers). Some of there things are o.k. if you are on a food budget, but I would rather clip coupons and buy our food elsewhere. There is only one lane open at a time and it drives me nuts. I'll have to pass on Aldi's also!!

 

[MOMOFMNM]

Morning.

I have been following this thread and decided to take a trip to Aldi's. I have to admit I was not overly impressed. I bought eggs for 69 cents and the next day they were on sale at the regular grocery store for 59 cents. Went to two different Aldi's about 15 minutes apart. One had a gallon of milk for $2.39 and the other for 1.95.........Walgreens has it on sale normally for about $1.99.

My girlfriend had told me about Aldi's also - bagged salad for cheap and fresh. All the bagged salad had a good date on them but were brown - Ugh!!

Do they ever carry the low-fat or lo-carb version of anything? I only saw yogurt and salad dressing - it has taken me years to get my husband to eat healthier and don't want to change it now.

So I wish you all well and am happy that you are getting good buys but I will take a pass on going to Aldi's in the future. It is just not for me.

Have a Magical Disney Day!!

good morning to you too...I am also a healthy eater and buy a lot of low fat, low carb, sugar free foods...no Aldi'd does not have a lot of fat free low carb selections however they do have canned tuna, chicken breast, frozen veggies and canned veggies available. They have fat free cool whip there for 69 cents as well. I agree with you on the eggs and salad. I hate brown salad and generally I buy spring mix or dark leafy green type salads which they do not always have. No fat free cheeses or sour creams either. They do have Boca burgers for 2.29 but I would agree that if you do not have a large family and you are looking for SPECIFIC name brand items, Aldi may not be the best choice. BTW I have only got the Walgreens milk at 1.99 ONE TIME...and milk is not something you can keep a ton of so Aldi is usually the cheapest...good luck on the healthy eating!!

 

[crazymomof4]

I have been following this thread and decided to take a trip to Aldi's. I have to admit I was not overly impressed. I bought eggs for 69 cents and the next day they were on sale at the regular grocery store for 59 cents. Went to two different Aldi's about 15 minutes apart. One had a gallon of milk for $2.39 and the other for 1.95.........Walgreens has it on sale normally for about $1.99.

My girlfriend had told me about Aldi's also - bagged salad for cheap and fresh. All the bagged salad had a good date on them but were brown - Ugh!!


So I wish you all well and am happy that you are getting good buys but I will take a pass on going to Aldi's in the future. It is just not for me.

I'm sure you could find many of the items Aldi carries on sale for less at various other stores but, personally, I don't want to spend the time scanning several sale flyers and the time and gas running all over for a few items at each stop. I usually do both Aldi and my regular grocery store (Shop Rite) and that's it. Sure, for one week you may find eggs for 59 cents at another grocery store but that doesn't happen very often while you can ALWAYS depend on Aldi's eggs to be between 59-79 cents. (I buy 4 doz at a time so that makes a difference)
As far as the bagged salads go, I've run into the brown lettuce thing several times at regular grocery stores too. At Aldi I buy the baby spinach leaves in the bagged salad dept. and they last literally 2 weeks if I keep them in the same bag I bought them in and seal it well after each use.
It's a shame your 1st impression of Aldi was not a good one. I hope other readers will still consider the many positives posted on this thread and give Aldi a try for themselves.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

We have three stores within a block of each other and Aldi's. We went there at one time. Liked it for some things, didn't for others. And still others if you look at the sale papers and mark them, you can do better at the regular places.
If you're looking for low fat, low carb, low salt, the pickings are slim.
At one time, all they would take is cash. But ours now has credit card machines. They still won't take a check. I usually get the 49 cent bread, bagels, and a few of the frozen meat items if I am out and there's no sale elsewhere. The Veggies there are usually on par with Krogers or others but the fruit is usually attrocious. I've found the prepared letuce rots quickly from there but the head lettuce stays fresh. The quality of produce and such varies by location. So try it and see.

 

[justcruisin]

You have convinced me to give Aldi's a try. I went in there a few years ago and thought "I have a job, why am I shopping here". I have since learned the errors of my ways (did I mention I had a lot of debt back then????). I used to even laugh at walmart shoppers .... now, I'm there proudly every week. I HATE to buy things at my local grocery store.

I will go to Aldi's the this weekend. THANK YOU!

 

[ckoncurat]

I've been keeping a price list for Aldis. so I can tell whether my coupons are worth using. Hope this helps someone. These are the prices I found on my last few trips there: (regular prices, not sales)

Animal Crackers 0.89
Apples 1.99 3lb bag
Applesauce 0.79
baby carrots 0.89 bag
Bananas 0.71 (average Bunch)
BBQ Sauce 0.69
Bell Peppers 2.29 3
Black Beans 0.39
Block Cheese 1.49 8 oz
blue corn chips 1.49
boneless chicken 2.33 lb
Broccoli 1.59 2 heads
Broth 0.39
Butter 2.19
cauliflower 1.49 head
Celery 0.89
Cheesteaks 1.89
Chocolatre Bar- Giant 1.79
Chuncky Soup 1.29
Cucumber 0.34
Curly Fries 1.19
Deli Cheese 1.69 8oz
Deluxe Cheese Slices 2.69
Diapers 4.29 22
Diced Tomatos 0.49
Dry Milk 6.99
Eggs 0.55
Freezer Bars 2.89
French Toast Sticks 1.99
Fruit Bowls 1.39
Fruit Snacks 1.89
garlic 0.49 2 heads
Graham Crackers 0.99
Ground Beef 2.99 lb
Ibuprofin 0.99
Juice Boxes 1.69 10 pack
Kids Cruch Cereal 1.69
Lemon Juice 0.99
Mandarin Oranges 0.39
Oatmeal 1.29
Olives 0.89
Onions 0.99 bag
Pasta 0.59
Pears 1.69 4 pack
Pinapple 0.59 can
Pineapple 2.29
Pizza Crust 2.99
Popcorn 1.29
Potatos-Russet 1.99 10Lb
Pretzels 0.99
Red Grapes 2.78 Quart
Ritz Crackers 1.19
Roma Tomatos 1.69 Dozen
Romaine Hearts 1.39 Bag
Rotiser Chicken 3.99 Whole
Salad 0.89 Bag
Saltine Crackers 0.59
Sour Cream 0.99 16 oz
Spaghetti 0.89 16 oz
Spinach 1.39 Bag
Steak Sauce 0.99
Toilet Paper 0.89 4 rolls
Tomato Paste 0.33
Tomato Sauce 0.19
Tomatos 1.39 three
tortilla chips 0.99
Tortillas 0.69
Vanilla 2.69
Vanilla Wafers 0.89
vidalia onions 1.79
Waffles 0.99
watermelon 3.99 whole
white bread 0.49
Wipes 1.79
Zucchini 1.59 3

 

[DannyDisneyFreak]

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.

I can only speak for my Aldi store I shop at but the line is always long and never more than two cashiers open at the max but the line goes super fast because the cashers go fast and don't bag your grocerys, I would suggest just waiting in line once, you already took the time to go in and shop, by the time you put your stuff back and got out the door you may have been half way through line and think about the the time it will then take to drive somewhere else reshop and wait in another line, you may lose time in the long run.
I LOVE Aldis! We have gotten great deals on good brands and also the off brands(which some are just as good). The only things we found not to like at Aldi is the peanut butter and jelly gross jelly! And only the best PB for us , Skippy or Jiff.

 

[nuke]

Has anybody tried the garlic potato chips? Those are to die for!!

 

[crazymomof4]

I've been keeping a price list for Aldis. so I can tell whether my coupons are worth using.

WOW! ......and I thought I was organized! Even in alphabetical order....awesome!

 

[disneymom3]

Well, I did it! Hit Aldi's today on the way home from an appointment as it is not very near my house.

I bought,
tomatoes,
grape tomatoes
2 cans of refrid biscuits
2 pkgs of Oscar Meyer cheese hotdogs
animal crackers
4 cans of refried beans
3 cans kidney beans
1 can diced tomatoes
3 cans tomato sauce
brocolli
2 lbs grapes
lettuce
bagged salad
milk
french toast sticks
2 64 oz bottles of apple juice
a frozen "complete meal" (chicken, pasta, vegies etc.)
2 loaves of whole grain bread
big bottle of canola oil


I think that is it. I spent $37 and some change and I remembered to bring my bags from home! I probably could have picked up a few more things, but I had forgotten my list and was really tired after a frustrating day at work. Still, $37 for all that stuff is pretty good. I am ready to try again when I need more staple items. Just bought cereal yesterday with a coupon and on sale for really cheap, but their prices on that looked pretty darn good.