Aldi Markets

By Julie

Do you have an Aldi market in your area? They have just begun to pop up in my neck of the woods. Aldi prides itself on providing the lowest prices possible, which is a sentiment that goes straight to my heart. And wallet.

There are a couple of things you need to know about Aldi before making a trip. It costs a quarter to free a cart from their chained pen, but you get your coin back when you return the cart and lock it back up again. The point is to cut down on missing carts and parking lot damage. They don’t take credit cards, only cash and debit. Bring your own bags or pay for paper or plastic, and you’ll be bagging your own purchases. You won’t recognize most of the brand names. But it’s all part of their master plan to save customers moulah.

Knowing all this, I went in, armed with my mental database of food prices from every other store I shop. Well, well. You really can save here, even over Walmart costs. Produce is a big area to save, as long as the quality looks good on any given day (it can vary). Generics don’t bother me, so I have no problem picking up the Aldi-offered brands. Their inventory isn’t as large as most other grocery stores, but what they do carry almost always will cost less than comparable products elsewhere. For a breakdown of some specific savings, check out this post by Erica.

They also have seasonal merchandise which runs the gamut from toys at Christmas to patio furniture in the summer. You never know what you might find.

If you have Aldi nearby, check it out. It might be just want your grocery budget needs.

(Photo Credit: aldi.us)

Comments

[Rebecca]

It also should be noted that Aldi owns Trader Joes. Knowing this when you go in, you will recognize some similarities - most importantly, from time to time, Aldi has some pretty great chocolate!