Tuesday, August 22, 2023
I’m low key shocked to be writing this post. When a teen says “low key” that just means “kind of”.
I have gone to Aldi twice now in my quest for grocery savings. You may remember that my Walmart Plus June was an epic fail where I spent over $1600 on groceries. I think it was the just having college kids home, stress, convenience of being able to have groceries on my doorstep, and maybe a few other things. I cancelled my 30 day trial, but I think it was more me than them. In July, I did much better and almost exclusively did Kroger pick up. I do not think Kroger is cheaper, but I was much more intentional.
Since August started, I have done a little bit of this and a little bit of that. Two of my shopping trips were at Aldi. I had not been there in about a year.
Yes, you still have to put your quarter in the cart to be able to use it, but I always have a bit of change in my car so that is no big deal.
I remembered my reusable bags once and the second time I didn’t. I am ok paying a few cents for each bag and they are nice with handles so I can re-use them:
It is all self-checkout now and you can bag as you are scanning – woohoo! I like this much better than taking all of my stuff over to a counter.
Aldi is about 10 minutes away as opposed to Kroger that is like a minute away. Aldi does do pickup so if I knew the products more or I decided to learn their system, that might be an option.
There are lots of brand name items. I would still have to go to Kroger once every couple of months for a few things, but during my Walmart experiment I realized we are way less brand name or Kroger brand dependent than I had thought.
All of this was $130:
It included lots of meat/protein and I feel like this would have been almost $200 at Kroger.
They have a good version of Laura’s Lean ground beef that is way cheaper. I have cooked this once and was very happy with it.
The salmon looks a lot like Trader Joe’s for less. Remember that Trader Joe’s and Aldi are owned by same company. We don’t have a Lidl, but a lot of people like that store, too. We like the tie to Germany that Aldi has and Tom’s cousin who is coming works for a frozen food company in Germany that works with Aldi.
This is good! I will buy more of this and I didn’t get a big southwestern profile, so I think I could use it in place of my Costco grilled chicken strips.
This was really good and made a quick dinner – there are several options like this that I would like to try.
We have not tried these yet, but I thought they would be good in the air fryer.
This is a good sub for my Land O’Lakes:
So, anyway…who am I? Also, if you are doing a charcuterie board, their cheeses are so tempting with about as many options as Trader Joe’s.
I think Aldi has made big improvements in the last year and I can see myself trying to shop here at least for half of my trips.
Do you have any thoughts on Aldi?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
Ok I need to get there apparently. We have one 10 minutes away and I have never been- you are convincing me to try it!
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Ok – let me know what you think! I think you might be pretty happy with the produce?
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I like shopping, periodically, at Aldi. I had not been to Aldi in over 2 months, and then I, out of pure convenience, ended up there yesterday! You are right; the meat (excellent quality) is significantly less expensive than at other grocery stores in my area. I found no major “Aldi Finds” yesterday, but I did walk out feeling like a value shopper 🤣
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How funny that I posted this today and you just went! I felt very good about it, too!
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We are big Aldi shoppers. We have to travel 55 minutes to get to one. My family loves the chocolate milk.
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Oh man! You must love it, then!
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I wish my Aldi was self scan! That must be the case for ones that are remodeled. I need to try using the app and maybe just making a quick stop one day. I do keep grocery bags in my trunk for this reason, because I always used to forget. The thing that stresses me about Aldi is that they don’t always have what I need for meal planning. I feel like to go there, you have to shop and meal plan as you shop. I need the opposite, though and like to meal plan first, and THEN shop. That being said, I’m not discounting it totally. I do love how small and convenient it is. Way better than Kroger!
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That made it a game changer for me. I am the same about meal planning. I think with you having Costco, you might be able to make it work. You might have to run into Kroger for a few things, though. Maybe try it and see if you think it has improved for you, too? I would love to hear what you think!
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I used to love Aldi but the only one we have near us is so tiny (think 4 aisles) that I used it more as a supplemental shopping than a full on trip. I still have lots of Aldi’s bags though and I just love large rectangular reusable bags that have held up so well. In CT we have to either bring bags or pay for them at any and all stores so I always keep my reusable bags in the trunks.
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Dang that is tiny! I love that CT has that requirement. We waste so many bags around here.
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I haven’t been to Aldi in awhile but whenever I go I always find things we like. Walmart is just so close, in fact, I am headed there now to pick up my groceries!
xo,
Kellyann
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Same! I really think it’s changed now (at least mine) and I might be able to make it my regular grocery – but it would have to mean me shopping on the weekend which I’m not sure about!
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Our new Aldi is literally across the street from Kroger so we go to Aldi first and whatever they don’t have and “need” we hop across the parking lot to Kroger for it. Best of both worlds. 🙂
Wish ours had self checkout.
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We have a new-ish Aldi out in our new area so I really need to give it a try!
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I love Aldi! It’s always my first stop and I go to other stores after to get the ingredients I know they won’t have. This week it was sun dried tomatoes! Also, for anyone wondering, their diapers are incredible and the price of their baby wipes unbeatable!
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I think that will be my plan, too. I know – I looked for bacon bits and they didn’t have them. It would be nice if they had a few more products! Good to know about the diapers and the wipes. I will share with friends!
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Groceries are so dang expensive now!! It’s nuts!! I wish our Aldi was closer but it’s so inconvenient to get there. We do try to go whenever we can though!
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Right? I don’t feel that they are coming down. Mine is not that convenient, but I can definitely make it there on the weekends. I can’t get home from work until almost 4 now and the traffic is insane, so not willing to spend my afternoon like that.
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We just got an Aldi a couple of years ago, but I haven’t made it in yet. I order groceries online from Kroger and pick them up. It’s so doggone convenient, and I find I don’t make those last minute impulse buys either. My oldest son swears by Aldi’s meat.
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
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Online is so nice, but you should check Aldi out if you have time!
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I like our Aldi too! I think the meats are great. We love the pizza. Aldi brands are pretty good too. I will say the produce is so much cheaper, but it doesn’t always last quite as long for me. I need to get back in the habit of going now that groceries are still sky high! I do Walmart pickup most weeks and then dash through Martins for produce and some meat/proteins.
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Good to know! I am definitely still learning. We don’t have Martin’s. Kroger is king here.
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It took me a few trips to Aldi to really see what a great store it is. Watch for the black and white sale signs. I use Rotels a lot and price has gone up to 1.25 a 10 oz can where I live, so I tried Aldis brand 10 oz can 82 cents, as good or even better than Rotels. The Happy Farms cheese is really good, and I love the fresh produce and specialty organic thin sliced bread 70 calories a slice and its sooo good.
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We have an Aldi minutes away. I like shopping there a lot more now that they have self checkout. I found the long lines and lack of open registers stressful. I love their seasonal items, garlic & herb cream cheese, ricotta stuffed shells, croutons, plastic freezer/sandwich/quart bags, vegetable oil, tortellini, salmon, sandwich thins, brioche buns, and spinach. Our Aldi does not have good produce, which is funny because there is an Aldi distribution center right behind it. We also saw Aldi in Austria but didn’t have time for a visit. I wish Lidl would come to Florida!
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Same! I think that is a game changer for me. I will write your faves down. That is weird about the produce! I love going to grocery stores in other countries!
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We have one by our beach house but not by our home in Tulare. They are building one in Visalia, 10 min away, so I am sure when it opens, I will shop there. We leave for the beach on Thursday and my mom has asked me to take her to trader joes, so maybe we will go there and Aldi’s on Friday. I think we would both enjoy that!
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I think you should! Go to Aldi first! It seems much more affordable than Trader Joe’s. But, the products are sometimes very similar.
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I am a fan of Aldi, although probably just go every few months. However, I am a big fan of buying meats there and some basics, like milk, egg and cheeses. Sometimes, I find the prices are similar to Wal-Mart, which is closer to my house, so I tend to go between Wal-Mart and Kroger each week. I may go there tomorrow though & they often have fun seasonal items too!
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I think you could just go to different groceries on alternating weeks and be fine! I like a small store and Walmarts just overwhelm me. I get the Aldi ad and always see fun stuff! I bet fall is a good time to look!
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I always forget about Aldi. I should make a point to check it out! My Gma swears they have the best price on ham, so I’ve gotten that before. Also, they do have so many great meat and cheeses.
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If you have one near you, I think you might be surprised. I plan to do an entire charcuterie from Aldi. Gma knows best! I will look for the ham and I remember you saying that. It does probably mean I will have to waste precious weekend time shopping but I also enjoy it.
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Aldi isn’t too far away but not one I drive by often. That being said, there is one by where Hadley doesn’t volleyball, so I will make a point to check it out.
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Oh Aldi! I really like it, though I carry everything in my arms like an idiot… never a quarter in my pocket! It’s a bit far from our place in Florida, but when we go I always buy that salmon and make a pasta with it. Fruits and vegetables are also very good! And I buy their white wine (3.75!), I’m mixing it with Sprite anyway so I don’t need a fancy wine! I’ve also bought their super cute bag for frozen food!
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Ha – that’s funny! The salmon pasta sounds great! Maybe I will look up a recipe. Ours can’t carry wine becuase of Kentucky’s stupid law that beer can be sold in groceries but wine has to have a separate entrance so like a separate store. So dumb!
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Oh, I didn’t know that! Well in Sweden you can’t buy any alcohol in super markets, you have to go to a special liquor store (with limited open hours…).
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I don’t go as often because like you there is a Kroger basically in my backyard however this post has inspired me to go back to Aldi.
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