Tips for saving at the grocery store?

[frenzy70]

Aldi's pizza in the fridge section is the crowd pleaser at my house. Only $5 for a plain or $6 for one with huge amounts of toppings. Does anyone buy fresh meat there? That is the one item I have not tried. Scares me as I know they don't have a butcher in the back. So worried about freshness?

I love their Parmesan crusted chicken . It's a big favorite at my house

 

[nugov2]

Aldi's pizza in the fridge section is the crowd pleaser at my house. Only $5 for a plain or $6 for one with huge amounts of toppings. Does anyone buy fresh meat there? That is the one item I have not tried. Scares me as I know they don't have a butcher in the back. So worried about freshness?

I love the Aldi pizza too!! We don't do meat there as I find the meat prices at costco reasonable and feel it is much fresher(maybe just in my head)??

I just wanted to add that I got an additional $9 this week from my savings catcher in addition to all the deals I price matched at the register last week. I also just shopped again yesterday(and one local store was having a grand opening sale) and I got a huge cart full of stuff for $107. I scanned the reciept and am curious to see if I will get any more b/c the deals I had were great. I stocked up on all kinds of things that won't expire for a long time, they also had great produce prices and I was able to get grapes, strawberries and apples for 99 cents(a pound on the grapes and apples) with the price matching.

I will still pop into Aldi b/c they have some stuff I really like, but as I posted up thread the savings catcher/price match has been a huge savings.

Also if you are a bulk shopper, I have good luck with Amazon pantry and Boxed Wholesale. You can't get some great codes if you watch for them.

 

[KKB]

And I am a total convert! I have not had ANYTHING that wasn't excellent quality--I was quite impressed, as far as their brands go. I didn't think the apples were crisp or lasted as long as those from the local grocer. There are occasional produce items that don't look very good but I am overall very ver impressed. is I can't get everything there, that is the only disadvantage.

At Target or regular grocer it seems as tho everything on the receipt is $2-3+, while at Aldi it is less than $1-2, rarely over $2. (same sizes)

 

[robinb]

Aldi's pizza in the fridge section is the crowd pleaser at my house. Only $5 for a plain or $6 for one with huge amounts of toppings. Does anyone buy fresh meat there? That is the one item I have not tried. Scares me as I know they don't have a butcher in the back. So worried about freshness?

I am scared of the meat too. I bought one of their prepackaged natural antibiotic-free whole chickens last week for $1.49 per pound (a good price for 'natural' chicken) and it was very good!

The one thing I won't buy from them again is half and half. I tried it a few times and it tasted waxy like it was not real dairy.

 

[dsneprincess]

I am scared of the meat too. I bought one of their prepackaged natural antibiotic-free whole chickens last week for $1.49 per pound (a good price for 'natural' chicken) and it was very good!

The one thing I won't buy from them again is half and half. I tried it a few times and it tasted waxy like it was not real dairy.

Well, I must be brave! I tried their meat after a particularly desperate day where I just didn't want to guess what was for dinner, anyone know THOSE days? I was pleasantly surprised with the pork chops that time. I have since purchased ground beef, chicken (which although they are higher than Wegmans, I found the chicken breasts to be better. I am not a fan of Wegmans science program packaging, especially since only 1 of the 8or 10 individual units has a date stuck to it. I inevitable end up with chicken in my freezer and no idea when it got there.), and a sirloin roast, so fa.

I have been pleased with what I've purchased from them for my family.

 

[kymom99]

I bought a boston butt roast from aldi. It was Hormel brand and made a great pulled pork.

 

[staceyeileen]

We buy the seasoned pork loin roasts that they have at Aldi, like the lemon pepper or mesquite bbq. About $1/lb less than Publix.

 

[staceyeileen]

I have since purchased ground beef, chicken (which although they are higher than Wegmans, I found the chicken breasts to be better.

Wow, Aldi is more expensive than your regular grocery for chicken breast?? At my Aldi boneless skinless breasts are $2.69/lb everyday and at Publix the regular price is $4.50/lb!

 

[smokeyblue]

I am scared of the meat too. I bought one of their prepackaged natural antibiotic-free whole chickens last week for $1.49 per pound (a good price for 'natural' chicken) and it was very good!

The one thing I won't buy from them again is half and half. I tried it a few times and it tasted waxy like it was not real dairy.

I agree, some of their dairy is not the best tasting. Some of their inexpensive cheese is just doesn't taste right to me. Their "gourmet" cheeses are always excellent though.

We don't live anywhere near Aldi, so we bring a cooler and stock-up when we are out of town. The only meat I've bought was a pork tenderloin and it was fine. It was same brand I've seen at our local grocery. My parents do 90% of their shopping at Aldi when they are wintering in Florida. They eat their meat several times a week and have never had a complaint. They really miss Aldi when they come home in the spring!

The other thing that we find surprisingly excellent at Aldi is the bakery items. The bread and the bagels are high quality and inexpensive.

 

[DisneyHardin]

They are building an Aldi near me. I can't wait for it to open. There was one in the town I used to live in and I always bought my fresh veggies there.

I am a bargain shopper and always have lots of things stocked up on shelves in the basement and in the freezer. I go to the grocery every Sunday and usually spend between $50-$75 (there are just two of us). I try to just buy meat that is on sale or I buy it at Sam's and divide it up. We recently had a Lucky's Market open near us and they have really great sales on meat. They make all their sausage and things in house and put them on sale for $2.99 a lb - that is cheaper than the rolled Kroger Brand sausage.

I also shop for most of our paper products, etc at Target. With their policy of being able to stack a Target coupon, Manufacturer's and the Cartwheel, I can get some really great deals.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Aldi's to me is like the poor man's Trader Joe's...almost all of the stuff is an amazing price but you have to check quality in the store and then taste at home and find your favorites...

I've had 2-3 produce products not the best...but then I've paid 79 cents a pack for perfect blackberries. I've tried lots of items in the store and can rank my favorites and my "I'll pass" items...I don't buy beverages there (I'm picky) or lunch meat or paper products (cheaper elsewhere) and there's no fresh fish, so I always have an extra grocery shop afterwards (and since it's winter and I avoid ice cream, I can usually just hit the store on the way home). It is more work (between bagging your own groceries, paying to get and return your own cart, remembering my own bags, etc), but it has cut 25-30% off my monthly grocery bill at a time food prices are skyrocketing and my salary is not...so I am thankful it exists and I shop it about every 2 weeks (I skip it every other week since I usually have enough carry-over of the produce and it is extra time and work)...

 

[KKB]

Aldi's to me is like the poor man's Trader Joe's...almost all of the stuff is an amazing price but you have to check quality in the store and then taste at home and find your favorites...

It IS owned by Trader Joe's!

Things we have been very happy with at Aldi:
GF crackers, pasta, hot pockets, bread ($3 cheaper than WF & better)
tortilla chips
Sweet potato chips
applesauce pouches
microwave popcorn
cheese
lunchmeat (they all said it was just like Hillshire)
soups
canned tomatoes
sour cream
frozen waffles & pancakes
feminine products (name brands, half the price of Target)
most produce
burger (have not tried other meat yet, enough in freezer)
eggs
bread products
chocolate chips, coconut, other baking products

Have not tried wine (tho bought one)

Almond milk was OK--prefer thicker Silk brand.

No 1% milk

Have felt apples & onions had very short shelf life (usually very long...)

The extra 2 min. to get the cart & bag my groceries are well worth the considerable savings.

Aldi is new for us--I have been extremely pleased with the quality overall.

 

[havaneselover]

It IS owned by Trader Joe's! Things we have been very happy with at Aldi: GF crackers, pasta, hot pockets, bread ($3 cheaper than WF & better) tortilla chips Sweet potato chips applesauce pouches microwave popcorn cheese lunchmeat (they all said it was just like Hillshire) soups canned tomatoes sour cream frozen waffles & pancakes feminine products (name brands, half the price of Target) most produce burger (have not tried other meat yet, enough in freezer) eggs bread products chocolate chips, coconut, other baking products Have not tried wine (tho bought one) Almond milk was OK--prefer thicker Silk brand. No 1% milk Have felt apples & onions had very short shelf life (usually very long...) The extra 2 min. to get the cart & bag my groceries are well worth the considerable savings. Aldi is new for us--I have been extremely pleased with the quality overall.

They're sister companies. TJ doesn't own Aldi.

 

[KKB]

They're sister companies. TJ doesn't own Aldi.

They are owned by the SAME company...

 

[robinb]

They are owned by the SAME company...

I don't think they are owned by the same company. I believe they are owned by brothers.

 

[havaneselover]

They are owned by the SAME company...

Right. There are only about 400 Trader Joe's. There are 1,300 Aldi's in the U.S. in 2014 with plans to add another 650.

We are getting an Aldi in the next few months. I love Trader Joe's but I'm a very budget oriented shopper so I'm looking forward to trying Aldi out.

 

[KKB]

I don't think they are owned by the same company. I believe they are owned by brothers.

"Trader Joe's was founded by Joe Coulombe and has been owned since 1979 by a German family trust established by Aldi Nord's owner Theo Albrecht. The chain has offices in Monrovia, California, and Boston, Massachusetts."
(from Wikipedia--yes, a source as reliable as encyclopedias--I am a librarian)

I agree--TJ's is fun, and well priced for interesting food, but Aldi is low priced basics.

 

[JanaDee]

I don't think they are owned by the same company. I believe they are owned by brothers.

They are both owned by the Albrecht family.

 

[robinb]

They are both owned by the Albrecht family.

And brothers are not family ?

Legally, the original Aldi company was split into Aldi Nord and Aldi Süd back in 1966. They are now different companies owned by brothers.

 

[staceyeileen]

There have been very few items I've been unhappy with at Aldi. But, if you are unhappy with something they have a "double guaranee" - they'll replace the product for you AND give your money back.