So I went to Aldi's for the first time today...

[AimeeM]

To try some of their GF items for DD12. The prices for their new GF line are FANTASTIC, but I hesitate to buy again after today - they are only there for a "limited time", and I do not want DD to like them, get used to them, and then WHAM! - they pull them from the shelves.

 

Honestly, I don't see the fuss other than that. The produce prices weren't great, they only carry apples by the bag (and they are smaller apples at that), and when I got excited to see mozzarella sticks in the dairy section for $1.99/pack, I looked more closely to realize that of course they cost less - there are only 12 sticks in the pack :( They had great prices on chips, so we'll see if we like those, but they weren't much less than our regular grocery store carries them on sale (and there is ALWAYS a bogo deal on some brand of chips at the regular grocer's).

 

I'll go back for GF items, but I'm not sure I'll go back for anything else. Am I the only one who doesn't quite get the appeal?

[momto10blessings]

It took me years to get accustomed to Aldi. Now I go there almost every week. Their sales are great. I don't know of any other store I can buy a cucumber in the middle of winter for only $.29.

[mckive6]

I agree. I went to our local one last week, and most items were more expensive than my local grocery store. The produce section was really small.

 

We have a whole foods opening soon and I'm looking forward to going there occasionally.

 

Pauline

[AimeeM]

It took me years to get accustomed to Aldi. Now I go there almost every week. Their sales are great. I don't know of any other store I can buy a cucumber in the middle of winter for only $.29.

 

Well, the store itself was nice - clean, great customer service, etc. I just didn't find the prices to be that great.

 

[Tmhearn]

I like Aldi a lot. They also have good prices for milk, eggs, yogurt, turkey bacon, and salad. Those are a few of the things I regularly buy. Additionally, the have a growing selection of organic items that we like.

[momto10blessings]

Things I buy at Aldi: salad dressing, peanut butter, pretzels, nilla wafers, spaghetti sauce, pickles, spices, butter, milk, eggs, half n half, sour cream, vegetable oil, produce, bread. These items and more I can't think of are usually cheaper than at other stores.

[AimeeM]

Ah. I think *my* confusion is here - many of the times y'all listed, that you regularly buy at Aldi's for much cheaper, I buy in bulk at Costco for much cheaper (than the regular grocer) - eggs, peanut butter, pasta sauce, etc.

[Trilliums]

 Aldi is located almost 30 minutes from me, in an area of town I rarely visit so I don't shop there often.  Also, it isn't a place where I can do all my shopping.

 

  But, their produce is much less--avocados, grapes, potatoes, for example, are all almost half the price at our closest grocery store.  Maybe you already have a fairly discounted grocery store near you?

[momto10blessings]

Ah. I think *my* confusion is here - many of the times y'all listed, that you regularly buy at Aldi's for much cheaper, I buy in bulk at Costco for much cheaper (than the regular grocer) - eggs, peanut butter, pasta sauce, etc.

Our nearest Costco is 2 hours away, so we don't have that option. But, yeah, if you shop at Costco you may not see much savings at Aldi

[AimeeM]

I think I was most disappointed in their produce section - I hate bagged apples (smaller apples, bruises, only one type), the asparagus was TINY compared to my local store (yes, cheaper, but boy - tiny and skinny!), the banana bunches were even smaller. The carrots cost about the same as my local place, and more (comparatively) than buying them bulk at Costco.

I imagine this varies by location, though?

[AimeeM]

 Aldi is located almost 30 minutes from me, in an area of town I rarely visit so I don't shop there often.  Also, it isn't a place where I can do all my shopping.

 

  But, their produce is much less--avocados, grapes, potatoes, for example, are all almost half the price at our closest grocery store.  Maybe you already have a fairly discounted grocery store near you?

 

No - we shop at a normal chain (Publix). Not considered discount by a long shot here... but, really, their produce at Aldi's seemed weaker and not very cost effective to me (smaller apples, super skinny asparagus, smaller banana bunches, etc).

I do, however, buy eggs, PB, meat, etc at Costco, so that is probably why I wasn't seeing many savings. I imagine the produce probably varies by location.

[mamatohaleybug]

My Aldi (35 miles away) has substantially lower prices on produce (with a HUGE selection) and dairy, especially. Much, much better than my other grocery options (Kroger and Wal-mart). I don't buy everything there but I buy a great deal of delicious items for much less than my local stores. Sorry it was a let-down for you.

[marbel]

In my area, Aldi beats even Costco for most things, including eggs and bacon (though Costco's bacon is usually better).   Their whole grain breads are as good as that in the grocery store or Costco, and still cheaper.  I suppose it will vary by region, as most prices do. 

[OH_Homeschooler]

I think I was most disappointed in their produce section - I hate bagged apples (smaller apples, bruises, only one type), the asparagus was TINY compared to my local store (yes, cheaper, but boy - tiny and skinny!), the banana bunches were even smaller. The carrots cost about the same as my local place, and more (comparatively) than buying them bulk at Costco.

I imagine this varies by location, though?

 

I usually skip produce there and opt for a full-service grocery store. I buy many staples there and save a lot that way! I go through phases where I stop going, but when I do go I usually hit it as my first stop because I don't expect them to have everything I need.

[JadeOrchidSong]

My ALDI is < 2 miles away. The price is grrrrreat! Pineapples are as low as $1.49 and avocados are $.49 when on sale. The organic selection is growing. There are great varieties in veggies and fruits. Always very fresh. I only go to another grocery store for things I can't find at ALDI. Most of Costco prices can't compete with ALDI, and I don't have to buy bulk. Maybe Aldi and Costco in different areas have different prices.

[pink&bluemommy]

I think the tiny skinny asparagus is so much better than the thick asparagus.

[prairiewindmomma]

Aldi is cheaper than Costco here by quite a bit on most items. Costco is cheaper than regular grocery stores. Regular grocery stores--the prices are horrendous.

[BarbecueMom]

I hit both Costco and Aldi today.  Ironically, cheese sticks are one of the things I got at Costco because

because I thought they might be a bit cheaper, but they weren't.  $10 for 48, versus $2 for 12?  I think I messed up there.   I did buy the habanero cheese sticks at Aldi because DS5 and DH love them.

 

Then I went to another local store for the few things I can't get at Aldi or Costco - full fat yogurt, coconut milk coffee creamer, On the Border brand salsa, stuff like that.  The trip was a hit on the wallet, but I would be screwed without Aldi.

 

The GF chocolate cookies... mmmmm...

[Susan in TN]

There are certain things that I like to get at Aldi because they are less expensive than I can find elsewhere. But it does usually mean that I have to shop at 2 different stores to get everything, so I'm more likely to shop there in the summer than during the school year. Loved their price on fresh blueberries last summer! They also have a ton of foods that are made without HFCS.

[Mom in High Heels]

I miss Aldi so much!!!!  It hurts how much I miss them.  We had 2 within less than 10 minutes of our house in Germany, and I got most of our groceries there, except for the few "American" items we liked, which I bought at the commissary.  Aldi was so much cheaper, and their meat was hormone free (I don't think they can use hormones in a lot of Europe), and their produce was so much fresher and longer lasting.  Their water was .19 Euro cents (about $.25) for a 1.5L bottle, while at the commissary, it was .52 cents for the same size bottle.  English cucumbers (the long ones) at the commissary were $1.30, and at Aldi, they were .69 Euro cents ($.51).  That's just so much cheaper.  The closest Aldi here is about 40 minutes.   :angry:

 

I think the tiny skinny asparagus is so much better than the thick asparagus.

 

I agree!  I prefer think asparagus.  Thick asparagus seems tougher to me.

[umsami]

There is an Aldi's right near my Mom's house.  The first time I went, I was like…blah…it's OK.

 

Now that I've been quite a few times, I kind of get what they have, etc.  I usually find good deals on produce--but their selection is not as great.  I needed baby wipes one time, and they were by far the cheapest.  They have a lot of good copycat products as well.  At Christmas time, they get in yummy cookies and chocolates.  I can't do all my shopping there, but for what I do buy, I can get a lot and save a bunch.

 

I didn't know about the new GF label. I can't wait to visit my Mom to try it out.

[Garga]

The first time I went to Aldi I thought, "What a cheesy little store!  I'm never going back there."

 

The second time I went to Aldi I thought, "Yup...still a cheesy little store.  I'm never going back there."

 

And then I read all about how Aldi works (here on the boards.)  How their food is often free of the junk (corn syrups and hormones, etc.)  And I read how they are able to keep prices down (return your own carts, UPC codes on all sides of the packaging for fast checkouts, cash or debit only, etc.)  

 

And the third time I went to Aldi, I loved it.  I finally *got* Aldi.

 

P.S.  It's hard being on these boards today, what with Rosie's news.  I've been tearing up all day.  

[ktgrok]

No - we shop at a normal chain (Publix). Not considered discount by a long shot here... but, really, their produce at Aldi's seemed weaker and not very cost effective to me (smaller apples, super skinny asparagus, smaller banana bunches, etc).

I do, however, buy eggs, PB, meat, etc at Costco, so that is probably why I wasn't seeing many savings. I imagine the produce probably varies by location.

 

Oh, yeah, Publix produce is MUCH better. I go to Aldi for peanut butter, honey, olive oil sometimes, almond milk, half and half, bacon. It's a bit cheaper or about the same as Costco, but I don't have to buy a ton of it. 

[Upennmama]

I get all my dry goods and dairy there, generally. It's way cheaper than Cosco/BJs around here. Let's see, I get chips, pretzels, nuts and dried fruits, condiments, eggs and milk, sour cream and large tubs of greek yogurt. Cheeses (mozz and cheddar, etc), and cereal. Cereal is generally 1.89 for a lg box, compared to 4 bucks in a regular store. Oats, tortillas, all canned goods (tomatoes, beans, etc), pastas, flours, oils, sugar, etc. They have fun special items which are cool to try, frequently imported candies or the like. I save a ton by shopping there. I don't generally get produce or meat there, but the produce special buys are worth it. Usually whatever is in season is cheap there, and then I go to a discount produce store for the rest. 

[TechWife]

I agree. I went to our local one last week, and most items were more expensive than my local grocery store. The produce section was really small.

 

We have a whole foods opening soon and I'm looking forward to going there occasionally.

 

Pauline

 

 We call Whole Foods "whole paycheck" in this neck of the woods. It is very expensive. 

[shawthorne44]

With Aldi, you have to know your prices to know what is a good deal.  There version of Velveeta is noticeably better real Velveeta.  On the grocery list we call it Velveetish.  We love the Bratwursts they sell there.  Particularly the Beer Brats.  We usually clear them out whenever we see them.  With other stuff it is just a matter of seeing what they have.  

[G5052]

I used to shop there weekly because it was close to a kid activity, but now it is pretty much a here-and-there thing when I have the carpool.  I wish I had one locally, but I don't.

 

I get my German (pickled red cabbage, marzipan, pretzel rolls, strudel, etc.) and Mexican products (salsa, Velveeta equivalent, chips) there.  I also like their canned beans and pumpkin, and sometimes buy a whole case at a time.

 

Otherwise I can usually match their prices at my favorite store when they have sales, or at Costco if it is something I buy in bulk.  I don't like their produce.

[Jasperstone]

Here in Australia, the Aldi chocolate is the BEST!

 

And I get quite excited when they have the frozen pretzels in once a year.

 

When my ds was in nappies, I found them to be equal to other more expensive brands.

 

So while I don't buy everything there, they do have some cool items, and great specials on their weekly specialised buys etc...

[Carrie12345]

They also have a ton of foods that are made without HFCS.

 

I was just going to ask about that!

Ours is so far away in an area we never go to.  I really *want to check it out, but I'm not sure how much of our grocery list we'd come away with.

 

Produce, I'd rather get from the farmer's markets. (Maybe Aldi's would be helpful in winter for that.)

At the grocery store, we buy natural peanut butter, Welch's natural jam, Arnold's breads when we buy bread, whole wheat flour, whole wheat pasta, nitrate-free (and usually grass-fed) meats, raw milk, local yogurt, HFCS-free coffee creamer, BPA-free canned goods, lots of Annie's and Kashi brand snacks... can Aldi's help with any of that?

 

Yes, we buy some "regular" stuff, too. I like my potato chips and onion dip. The kids (and dog) love American cheese.  I buy regular sugar and lots of baking chocolate and chocolate chips, lol.   As curious as I am, I really don't want to drive all the way out there for one grocery bag.

[happypamama]

I recently started using Aldi for some things. Usually I get what I can from a monthly trip to BJ's, and then I get some things from Aldi and anything else I need from Giant or occasionally WalMart. I like that Aldi is a lot cheaper for basic staples -- baking supplies, olive oil (sometimes I don't want to buy the big huge jug from BJ's), crackers, cheese, lunchmeat, sour cream, heavy cream (way better than Giant, although maybe not ounce for ounce the same as getting the large quantity from BJ's). I buy Aldi free trade coffee for DH, and it's a way better deal than coffee elsewhere. We really like their thin round sandwich slices -- almost like a pita in texture. They make really nice breakfast sandwiches, which is great for the car when we have to be out of the house early.

 

I'm half and half on the produce. When it's good, it's really good, and the prices are great. But they're often out of stuff (the advertised strawberries were gone last week -- on Wednesday, even! -- and they didn't have celery at all), and sometimes the produce isn't good (they had mangoes on sale, but they ended up being so soft and mushy, although tasty and not rotten, they really weren't really edible). But! Pineapples for a good price! Affordable avocados! Baby carrots for super cheap! We can afford to eat more fresh produce when we get it from Aldi, which is helpful for my large family.

 

Aldi is also more convenient than BJ's, and I'm near an Aldi once a week.

[marbel]

Here in Australia, the Aldi chocolate is the BEST!

 

 

We buy our chocolate there too. 

 

We like some of the frozen pizzas.  When they had a special on Buffalo chicken pizza, we bought them out.  

 

I also love their dairy products.  Their cream cheese is not as perfectly creamy as Philadelphia Brand, but most of the time it's half the price and we've never been unhappy with the results cooking with it.   I don't like their tortillas but otherwise their Mexican products are fantastic.   We use a lot of refried beans so I pick up a can every time I'm in the store.  59 cents compared to a dollar or more in the grocery store. (I only saw them in Costco once in the 7 years I've lived here.  Italian is more popular than Mexican around here.)

 

Um, the cheese danish is pretty nice too.  Not that we buy stuff like that. Oh no.  :lol:

 

The other thing  I like is that it's small and there are not a ton of choices.  It is quicker to shop there.  But it is true that it can't replace a "regular" grocery store for everything.  

[2ndGenHomeschooler]

My closest grocery stores are Aldi, Wal-Mart, and Target. Aldi and Target are in the same shopping plaza and Wal-Mart is across the street. I always shop at Aldi first and then go to Wal-Mart for whatever Aldi doesn't have. Our Aldi is newer and fantastic! It's clean, the prices on almost everything are cheaper then anywhere else (meat is sometimes cheeper other places), their produce is almost always fresh and definitely cheaper, and I can be in and out in no time. Yesterday my cart was filled to the very top and it was still less than $150. (Which is amazing for where we live.) Our closest warehouse store is BJ's and that half and hour away and I find them to be quite expensive - although I am thinking about giving them another try. The closest Costco or Sam's are over an hour. I wish we had something like that closer. I'm really grateful for Aldi though, shopping there saves my grocery budget!

[ktgrok]

I was just going to ask about that!

Ours is so far away in an area we never go to.  I really *want to check it out, but I'm not sure how much of our grocery list we'd come away with.

 

Produce, I'd rather get from the farmer's markets. (Maybe Aldi's would be helpful in winter for that.)

At the grocery store, we buy natural peanut butter, Welch's natural jam, Arnold's breads when we buy bread, whole wheat flour, whole wheat pasta, nitrate-free (and usually grass-fed) meats, raw milk, local yogurt, HFCS-free coffee creamer, BPA-free canned goods, lots of Annie's and Kashi brand snacks... can Aldi's help with any of that?

 

Yes, we buy some "regular" stuff, too. I like my potato chips and onion dip. The kids (and dog) love American cheese.  I buy regular sugar and lots of baking chocolate and chocolate chips, lol.   As curious as I am, I really don't want to drive all the way out there for one grocery bag.

 

Yes, they have a natural peanut butter (has palm oil...so if you are ok with that you will like it), sugar free jam, whole wheat pasta, regular half and half, some natural snacks and organic snacks, dried fruit and such, granola bars, etc and CHEAP and good potato chips. I can eat a whole bag of the sweet potato chips. it isn't pretty, lol. I don't buy them anymore because I can't control myself. 

 

And yes, they have lots of chocolate chips, honey (not raw, but I'm using it for baking,so it doesn't matter), sugar, etc. And the chocolate bars are really good. 

[Hoot]

I never understood the appeal of Aldi's. We got one here several years ago and people raved. We went in once and I thought it was awful. The produce was incredibly limited and much more expensive than the farmer's market where we usually buy. The rest of their products were limited as well and always in very small packages. We've never been back.

[KarenNC]

I find a lot of things at Aldi, but there are a few things I don't care for. The warehouse stores have never been really cost-effective for me, since you have to buy a membership each year, then have to watch the prices closely as some are more expensive per unit than the regular grocery store. We used to belong to one that was close to our old house and had good gas deals, but the ones up here are farther away and the gas price is really not enough better (maybe a penny or two) than gas a lot closer. With only 3 of us, bulk is not really a big draw. Every so often, I will try the free membership offers we get in the paper, but I find I don't even really use those beyond once, maybe twice (out of a couple of month free membership, for instance).

[Katy]

The gluten free items are not there for a limited time.  It's a whole new permanent line for them.  The limited time thing you saw was an indication that the introductory prices are that cheap for a limited time. Aldi's generally has 4-6 week sales cycles, like a lot of stores.  After an initial sales period (probably two weeks) they'll go to a "normal" non-sale price.  I'm probably going back this afternoon to buy a case of that brown rice spaghetti.

[Laura Corin]

There are no big box or warehouse stores near here.  I have a feeling that they are rare in the UK: houses are small and most people don't have anywhere to store extra products.  Aldi is somewhere around 25% cheaper than a standard cheap supermarket - as someone else said, I shop at Aldi, then drop in at the standard shop for anything that Aldi didn't have.

 

L

[skeeterbug]

So while I don't buy everything there, they do have some cool items, and great specials on their weekly specialised buys etc...

I never see anyone on these boards raving about what's on special the way we do here. :D I'm headed there on Saturday for their winter gear sale. Last year we got the kids new coats but I was pregnant and wasn't sure what size I'd need. This year it's my turn!

[ktgrok]

Checked, and half and half was cheaper at Aldi than Coscto, with no membership fee. That said, I still buy chicken at Costco...their thighs are the cheapest/best around. But things like chocolate chips, cheap honey for baking with, etc are much cheaper at Aldi. 

[KarenNC]

Someone asked about Arnold bread----check http://frugalliving.about.com/od/grocerysavings/qt/Bakery-Outlet-Store-Locations.htm to see if there is a bread outlet near you. We have a Flowers Bread Outlet nearby and I get Nature's Own whole wheat, Cobblestone Mills specialty bread, whole wheat hotdog/hamburger buns, bagel thins, sandwich thins, etc 3 loaves for $2.97, mix and match. I keep it in the freezer and we thaw out what we need as we use it.

 

I'm headed to Aldi's this afternoon to get some snacks and a (potential sacrificial) sleeping bag for my daughter. Her Girl Scout troop is going to go caving this weekend, including spending the night in the cave, and I'd rather not ruin her good sleeping bag. They list one for $10 that should work just fine for the temps they'll encounter, and be easy to cart up and down the 100 steps into the cave. It should also be easier to wash, and if it's totally unusable afterwards, it won't be a big loss.

[mama27]

To try some of their GF items for DD12. The prices for their new GF line are FANTASTIC, but I hesitate to buy again after today - they are only there for a "limited time", and I do not want DD to like them, get used to them, and then WHAM! - they pull them from the shelves.

 

Honestly, I don't see the fuss other than that. The produce prices weren't great, they only carry apples by the bag (and they are smaller apples at that), and when I got excited to see mozzarella sticks in the dairy section for $1.99/pack, I looked more closely to realize that of course they cost less - there are only 12 sticks in the pack :( They had great prices on chips, so we'll see if we like those, but they weren't much less than our regular grocery store carries them on sale (and there is ALWAYS a bogo deal on some brand of chips at the regular grocer's).

 

I'll go back for GF items, but I'm not sure I'll go back for anything else. Am I the only one who doesn't quite get the appeal?

 

I have been there about 4 times and I don't get the appeal of it either.

 

[Tiramisu]

Aldi's produce isn't great IMO, but the prices are better than any standard supermarket in our area. Not as good as the produce market, though.

 

GF double chocolate softbaked cookie number five just went down my gullet. And I'm not even GF.