So what's the deal with ALDI?

[ANTSS2001]

Yes ALDI's price is great... but where I live.. we only have one ALDI and the closest one is about 1 hour away.. Our ALDI is located in a residential town and it is always like there is a Stampede when you go in that is why I stik to Pathmark... for emergency and costco for monthly bulk needs...

 

[MaryKLady]

Alright, I'm eager to try it. Good thing you mentioned bringing your own bags, I did not know that.

I love the DIS, you guys are awesome!

 

[ReneeA]

I do all of my basic shopping at Aldi now - cereal, dairy, peanut butter, baking supplies, granola bars, frozen foods - their frozen veggies are much better than even the name brands, and lunch box items.

The only things I don't buy are meats, fresh breads, and veggies. I make a separate trip to a local market for those things.

We are a family of 4, we rarely eat out, and my grocery bill is about $60-70 per week.

ETA: Our Aldi stores are actually kept neater and cleaner than the local grocery stores like Kroger or Meijer. All of my friends - including those that are "well off" shop there at least occasionally.

 

[Robinrs]

Aldi is so crowded, dirty, gross and well scary. I can get better deals at higher end stores (Wegmans)

I will never forget my last time shopping at Aldi's. I was in line and there was some man behind me trudging along a heavy suitcase with his foot. That in itself was interesting, but the guy also had sawed off handcuffs on his hands!

Our Aldi's is brand new (about 4 months old), clean and virtually EMPTY because so few people know what it is!! I LOOOOOVE it!!

There are items we can only get there and I never miss my bi weekly trip to Aldi's. It's the only place I can get AFFORDABLE lemons, the best potatoes in the world, grapes that won't put me in hock and the best yogurt covered raisins in the world! I can even get my heartburn medicine that's 4 times the price across the street in Walgreens!

Love it!!

 

[hinodis]

Sorry, not a fan of Aldi. Have you ever read the nutritional value on some of their food? The salt is enough to kill an elephant. It is not healthy and very over processed. Could be why it tastes so good.

 

[Cindy B]

Maybe I'm spoiled by having a Produce Junction and a Wegmans. Wegmans prices on certain things (milk for example) is LOWER than Aldi's. Aldi's milk is over $3 and Wegmans is still less than $3.

My local one is next to a Hooters and on the dingy side. I just drive by.. knowing that I can find what I need cheaper at Wegman's.

Produce Junction is way cheaper than Aldi's as well.

I'm happy that I am not forced into renting a cart and boxing my own stuff.

 

[Cindy B]

I hate when people post stuff like this. It's all in the neighborhood, not the store itself.

.

I agree, but I will say that I have never seen sawed off handcuffs in Wegman's.

 

[momof5boys]

Now you guys got me laughing. I'm eating Aldi's pizza right now, our store is older but clean. What has me laughing is someone from the FBI's most wanted list was caught shoplifting a sandwich at our Wegmans a couple years ago so criminals like fancy stores too!

 

[MAKmom]

I really think most of Aldi Brand is a name brand is disguise. I think the beauty bar soap is Camae. I think they have Tide too.

 

[estherhead]

Now you guys got me laughing. I'm eating Aldi's pizza right now, our store is older but clean. What has me laughing is someone from the FBI's most wanted list was caught shoplifting a sandwich at our Wegmans a couple years ago so criminals like fancy stores too!

LOL!!!

I just went to a brand new, very nice Kroger's, CVS, Wal-Mart, & Aldi's.

Scary people, in order of most scary people seen to least: Wal-mart, CVS, Kroger's, Aldi's. I didn't see any sawed off handcuffs, but then I've never seen them, not grocery shopping or any other place in my life, so that doesn't surprise me.

Money-wise CVS saved me the most, I got $30.00 worth of stuff for $6.00 (Pamper's deal & some monthly stuff.) Then Aldi's for sure. They had plums for only a $.25 a piece ($.75 a piece at Kroger's) Pineapple was $1.99. Milk was $2.27. A case of bottled water was on sale for $1.99. Kroger's & Wal-Mart tied cause I use double coupons at Kroger's.

As for over processed food, whatever floats your boat. I'm a very good girl in most of my life. I don't believe in being perfect & my one big vice is salt. I have very low blood pressure, am at my ideal weight, exercise regularly. I work hard, budget properly, and spend lots & lots of time with my family. I eat tons & tons of salt. And I don't do organic. So I guess that makes Aldi's my perfect store.

Did I mention that a pint of blueberries were $.88????? They were picked over & there was only 4 left, but boy did my kids enjoy them!

 

[addicted2dizney]

I had seen a show on Aldi stores a few years ago, it got me interested but there didn't seem to be one close to home. I found one not too far away and was happy with what I got. I had DD 14 with me and at least got to explain to her why we have to cut costs on certain things with the economy and why we will try some of the products. Bottom line is that most things I looked at were at least 50% cheaper than at the grocery stores. I agree that we need to keep an eye on the nutritional content but the kids did like some of the products. Things like their version of cool whip and whipped cream in a can you just can't beat! They liked the cereals and the applesauce, the yogurts in a tube were good too. I love the fact that I don't have to price check, I want rice, I buy rice. No brands to dig through. I hope to get an Aldi visit in my schedule at least once a month from now on!

 

[pixidust princess]

In the area we live, Aldi's is a life saver. I live in central Illinois and we don't have a lot of shopping choices. Wal Mart is our major store with some small town grocerys in our neighboring towns. I buy most of my meat at the small town stores because it is great quality and reasonably priced. I prefer to buy most other things at Aldi's.
I have checked out the grocery game and would love to try it, but only one store in my area. CVS is also great, but again it is 15 miles away. With gas prices so high, we can't travel to the larger chain grocers anymore to get their great deals.
We live on 5 acres and keep joking we are going to get a cow and a pig to eat the grass and then butcher them.

 

[Kellydelly]

I just tried their frozen packaged sirloin filets last week and they were good enough to buy again . I paid $6.99 for four approximately 6 oz "filets." They aren't filet mignon, but the meat was tender and tasty.

 

[disney1990]

I really think most of Aldi Brand is a name brand is disguise. I think the beauty bar soap is Camae. I think they have Tide too.

Most off name products are made by Brand name companies.

 

[larry's girl]

After reading this thread, I decided to try Aldi's this week. There is one fairly close to the Super Wal-Mart where I normally grocery shop, and since I am trying to save as many pennies as possible (like everyone else these days), I thought I would give it a whirl. I was able to buy about half of my groceries at Aldi's, for lots less than Wal-Mart! Then I went to Wal-Mart for the other half (mainly things that Aldi's didn't have). And the final verdict? I spent $35 less on groceries than normal! I am doing the happy dance!!! I buy groceries twice a month, so that's $70 I can use for some of my other bills that have gone sky-high.

Thanks to everyone for the money-saving ideas here - I am reading the Budget Board on a regular basis now!

Susan

 

[Cindy B]

Now you guys got me laughing. I'm eating Aldi's pizza right now, our store is older but clean. What has me laughing is someone from the FBI's most wanted list was caught shoplifting a sandwich at our Wegmans a couple years ago so criminals like fancy stores too!

See I don't think Wegman's is fancy. Zagara's is (it has since closed) fancy. Wegman's is just a regular grocery store.

 

[Pigeon]

I like Aldi's, too. I don't buy everything there, but it's great for stocking up on staples. I don't buy a lot of produce there, but I've never had any problems with what I do buy. I don't think it's any worse nutritionally than comparable name brand items. No, it's not organic, but neither is the vast majority of stuff you buy in the supermarket.

My favorites:
coffee, coffee filters
rice
dried beans and lentils
dried fruit
frozen berries
cereals
flour, sugar, nuts, baking supplies
cheese (love that shredded Asiago, mmm)
whole wheat pasta
pasta sauce (I like the slightly more expensive kind with no HFCS)
big containers of pretzels for the kids
bananas, kiwi, strawberries, pineapples, onions

Oh, and their brand of chocolate is to die for.

I also don't buy meat or much in the way of frozen foods, other than plain frozen veggies, fruit and ice cream, all of which is great.

I do hate that you have to pay cash. And as for scary clientele, no store can hold a candle to Walmart. Shudder.

 

[musclemouse]

Here I am again putting in my second post for the love of ALDI. I broke down and went to ALDI this past weekend. It's been about 4 weeks since I have been. It's 35 miles away, eek! I would list all the 45 items I purchased that will last me for the next 2 weeks for $67!!! Ya baby! I love sweet bell peppers but got sick of paying $5 for three! So $3 for three is like heaven. Steaks? Two nice big red steaks $6. Eggs $1.25, chocolate chips $.99...

One of the reasons for bagging your own is it helps keep prices down...hence no employees to pay for bagging. Check out the Fit and Active brand...yum. The tortilla chips - Asiago cheese. Good god they are so good. It just sucks you can't buy this stuff at other stores. I can't keep driving that far to go grocery shopping. Unfortunately I don't have the funds (right now) to pay for a full month of groceries.

Okay...enough already! Sorry.

 

[C.Ann]

While I'm at the lake, the nearest one is quite a distance from here, but when I make an all-day shopping trip I really stock up.. The savings is tremendous.. Once I finish shopping at Aldi's, I will stop at one of the regular supermarkets for the name brand items I need - as well as any meats or such that I wasn't able to get at Aldi's..

 

[RadioFanatic]

I hate when people post stuff like this. It's all in the neighborhood, not the store itself.

I agree we have one in our "upscale" neighborhood and one on my way home from work in not such a great neighborhood. Although the "upscale" one is cleaner the other is not bad. I actually go to the latter b/c there is a difference in prices at those two Aldi's. Milk in "upscale" $2.99 and eggs $1.55. Milk in other $2.19 and eggs $1.19. those are just two examples.