Do you shop at Aldi for Christmas gifts?

If you have an Aldi near you, I encourage you to visit. I’m sure you must be wondering what can I get there? Do they have meat that is good? Do they carry brand names that I know of? Are there any healthy items there that I can buy? How’s the produce section? Is it true that I need to pay for bags and a cart? Well, all these questions will be answered below.

I’m sure you have seen the TV ad that shows a receipt comparison of shopping at Aldi and your nearby grocery store with Aldi being cheaper–well, Aldi is cheaper. How do I know this? Well, multiple trips to Aldi has resulted in me getting at least 15 items in $20 while at various other stores like ShopRite and Stop and Shop, I’ve got more like 10-12 of the same items. Also, when I was given $100 to shop for charity, my go-to shopping place was Aldi. I was able to hit exactly $100 and not go over and have an entirely full food cart for donation…impressive right? How does Aldi manage to keep the price low? Well, it starts by carrying fewer products. A typical Aldi store has fewer of the same items so choices are limited. Some brand names are there but if you aren’t specifically looking for that name then you can find great-tasting healthier options. Since the store footprint is smaller, more of what you want and need is there without having to cater to all the products for a particular item. 

Produce and deli meats are there too but again you have to know when to get them..sale ads are wonderful for this! The quality is good if you are on a budget but by no means is it yet Wholefoods quality but pricing reflects this too. They also carry many gluten-free (LiveG) products and now are carrying organic ones too. My favorite section is the one in the middle (yes, we are told not to shop in the middle sections of the store as the not so nutritious stuff is there) but here the middle section has products that change weekly from pillows to gardening tools to shower curtains to athletic apparel to what not. Go here for great gift ideas, right now—from scarves to slippers to cozy socks! This section isn’t huge but definitely worth browsing. The other part of the middle section has your basic household items like cleaners, paper towels, etc. Also, you can pay with debit and credit too. The cashiers are fast though often only three are there. It is definitely not hard to find healthy items at Aldi as they are constantly growing to include items that will attract you.

The cons for some include that you can’t find your traditional deli counter or brand name products but you’re shopping to save money and good quality stuff right so this becomes secondary in my opinion. Currently, Aldi does not take manufacturer’s coupons but they do take store coupons so you might want to consider this if you like your coupons for shopping. Also, many don’t like paying for bags and carts. I think paying for bags is a great idea as even California has banned plastic bags and requires you to carry your own or purchase reusable bags; thus, eliminating waste. Since you are using reusable bags, you have to bag them yourself–another way prices are kept low. As far as carts go, yes, you need to pay $0.25 to get a cart but as soon as you return it you get the money bag. This too is smart because Aldi doesn’t have to hire people to bring carts back from the parking lot and thus this savings is passed on to the consumer in the product’s price..Yeah for us! 

Don’t hesitate, give a spin by your local Aldi to save some money on your groceries!