First visit to ALDI, need SB suggestions
 

So this weekend I will visit an ALDI supermarket for the first time. Any particular suggestions for me? I know very little about it except they are owned by the TJ family and are very inexpensive, but I have no idea about the quality or the best products/most SB friendly products to buy. Any and all suggestions welcome!

Take cash or a credit card. They don't accept checks.

Bring your own bags because they charge for them.

Take a quarter to get a cart, you'll get it back when you return the cart.

If they have fresh fruits and veggies in a bag really check the bags to make sure they are good. And always check the expiration dates on everything you put in your cart. But that's just common sense for any grocery shopping. You probably already know all that.

I don't have one close to me now but my parents shop there all the time. When I lived in the midwest it was were I bought a lot of my staples. I'm not sure how much SB friendly foods you'll find. If your familiar with TJ-it's as completely opposite as you can get. Selection is very limited. That's how they keep the prices low. Honestly it's not a store I would go out of my way to get to. Unlike Trader Joes, where I would drive an hour once a month to visit.

And also take lots of patience-there is generally only 1 or 2 checkers and the lines can get pretty long when they are busy.

I shop at Aldi's all the time. There is a line of food they have called "fit and active" with a lot of different options. They have 100 calorie snack packs, soy milk, light soups, light hot pocket thingers, and a bunch of other things! I love all of them and are so much cheaper than some of the name brand diet things. Also they have specials on name brand foods too some time you just have to keep you eyes open!

I mostly go there for skim milk $1.99/gallon, fresh and canned veggies, beans, fruit, oatmeal, flavored water. I dislike the long lines. If I go early in the day, it isn't so bad. The first time I shopped there years ago I had no idea they didn't take checks (before we had debit cards). I was horrified when they told me it was cash or food stamps. I left a whole cart of groceries there and left.

I'm getting pretty fed up with their increase in prices and spoiled carrots and onions. BUT they are much cheaper than the major supermarket chains out there. Luckily I live close to a ton of European markets that care about their quality and keep their prices low.

I use to love Aldi even though shopping there feels like being in a Russian market after the fall of Communism. Oh the memories of when their products weren't rotten. :O(

BTW, they don't publish any phone numbers of any stores, so when you do wind up with a spoiled bag of baby carrots, there is nobody to complain to.

I still shop there for pantry staples such as flour, sugar, veg. oil, things like that and have yet to run into issues with rotten foods. Oh, and sponges... those are a steal :O)

I love ALDI. There is one about 2 minutes from my house and I shop there often. *CAUTION* the selection is limited! However, they have TONS of great things. I found this awesome Indian curry sauce that is ALL NATURAL and low in calories and tastes delicious. One thing about Aldi is that since I found it there this week, chances are, they won't carry it next week. Their "special" products change from week to week. I grew up on Aldi, just be mindful that it is a discount store. Even with that being said, I don't feel as if I have to sacrifice quality when shopping there.

I've always been happy with the quality in our local Aldi store. Aldi has a double your money back guarantee, that we have had to use twice. Once about a broken seal on a jar of mustard (we weren't even sure if we had broken the seal), and we did go in to complain (the store was on our way home). The clerk not only gave us our money back and a new mustard (we could have taken the "double" guarantee in either all money, all product, or one of each. We took the money and another jar) she also pulled the entire box from the aisle to be checked manually later. And the second time it was for a yucky avocado (it looked nice, but when I cut into it, it was very dark).

We've been able to avoid long lines by avoiding Wednesdays and Saturdays (Wednesdays are when SSDI checks are direct deposited).

Most of our monthly shopping is done at either Aldi or Wamart. Walmart has more variety, but unless we want to shop at 3am, the lines are longer than Aldi. I've found that we really can use Aldi as our primary grocery store, if we have a flexible list. We supplement our regular shopping with visits to stores such as baking supply stores, bulk stores, wine and cheese makers, health food stores, small meat or fish markets, asian groceries, and overstock stores (like Big Lots). We shop once a month for staples, and about once a week will have a shopping-for-fun day where we'll go to thrift stores, dollar stores, and specialty food stores.

Even though we buy a lot at Aldi, we rarely buy produce except for onions, potatoes, and lettuce (for produce, almost everything else can be found cheaper somewhere else in town). In the summer and fall we use the farmers markets.

OK, questions: how is the quality of the meat? Do they sell frozen veggies? Do they sell any nut milks (like almond milk)? Are there any organic products? Just because I know you all can't wait for my blog :smile: a review of ALDI will be my first post.

Our store periodically gets in organic produce and products, but not many. I've seen soy, almond, and rice milk, but not as regular products (but then again I'm not looking for them, so they may carry them more regularly than I'm aware of).

Their salad dressings (Tuscan Valley, and Grandessa I believe) are awesome. The Mama Cozi whole wheat pasta is awesome (too bad I can't have wheat anymore), and their Mama Cozi spaghetti sauces are some of the best jarred sauces on the market (the 99 cent varieties are just as good as the $1.99 ones), in my opinion.

They do have "natural peanut butter" in a housebrand, which is awesome. I believe it comes in two varieties. A peanuts and salt variety and a peanuts-only variety.

Their no-sugar added FitandActive brand fruit spread (jam) is very good. It comes in several varieties. Strawberry, fruits of the forest, black currant, and a couple others.

The quality of meat varies. When we were in Illinois, we only bought frozen meats. In northcentral wisconsin the fresh meats have been great too.

Of the frozen meats, my favorites are the hamburger patties (especially the Angus burgers), the frozen chicken pieces, and the frozen shrimp (you cannot beat the shrimp prices anywhere else). I'm very, very picky about frozen fish and I love their Grandessa Top-crusted flounder (macadamia) and it's on special this week for 5.99 for a 12 ounce package and comes in tortilla, macadamia or coconut.

Their frozen stir-fries are also very good, and I think they're all under $4. They're very comparable to Bertoli and other "dinner-kit" frozen dinners that sell for $6 to $8 in the grocery store.

Their frozen fruit bars are really good, but I've noticed that the varieites with pineapple sometimes have a tough piece or two (maybe the machine cut a bit too close to the core).

They used to have a wonderful frozen gelatto that was awesome, but I've not seen it in Wisconsin. Their $2.99 Mama Cozi pizzas are very good for a frozen pizza (and reasonable calories for the portion size, with a really nice sauce).

They do have frozen vegetables, and they're very cheap and the quality is great. I have NEVER gotten a bag of vegies that was frozen in clumps - which I cannot say for any other brand even Birds Eye. I like the baby peas for salads. The frozen strawberries are very good too, and very cheap, often about half the price in other stores.

The better half has a rule: If a butcher is not on site, we don't shop there for meat. This includes the Super Walmarts/Targets of the world. And Aldi definitely does NOT have a butcher on site. However, a friend of mine swears by the meat, and she's still alive, so I'm sure it's fine. I just don't find the prices to be that much better than other markets that have a larger variety.

They do sell frozen veggies.

So.. how was your visit? Did you find anything you liked?

Sarah

Yes, I did! I bought some fresh produce (broccoli crowns for .99; 3 avocados for 2.99, baby carrots - for my son - .99 per bag.) I got coffee, cheese (lf string cheese - 2.29 for 12) my husband got some cold cuts and bread. I also got 3 Amy's vegetarian lasagnes for 2.99 each; turkey meatballs for 2.29, wild pacific salmon 2.99 for 4 fillets (!). Chicken broth and chicken noodle soup from their light and fit line for my son.

I'll definitely go back. I inspected the fresh produce carefully as others advised. The frozen fish was a great deal. I didn't get any fresh meat, but it looked very cleanly trimmed and fresh so next time maybe I will.

I haven't been around in a while, but thought I'd chime in here since I just did an ALDI experiment myself...

All things considered, I do not think there is much savings at ALDI, and the selection isn't great. I definitely could not do all my shopping there. I spent close to $140, still had to go to Shop Rite, where I spent another $60. Just about the same, if not a little more than I'd have spent if I just did all my shopping at Shop Rite. There are things that are cheaper, but it typically shows in the quality. (refrigerated biscuit dough- VERY cheap, but not too tasty either!) Much of the stuff that is really well priced are the junk foods- chips etc... And if I shop sales, I can get the brand names for similar prices at my regular store. I think produce IS cheaper, but not as cheap as the local farmer's market. I definitely will not be going back.

Hmmm, last night I made roasted salmon (3.99 for 4 fillets - wild caught) and roasted broccoli (.99 for 3 large crowns) all from ALDI and it was delicious. The salmon was actually very fresh even though it was frozen - I felt it had not been sitting around for a long time or had melted and been refrozen again and again like some frozen fish. I guess it depends not only on the day but also the store location.

I've never understoon when people say farmer's market has cheaper produce. Our farmer's markets are all very expensive, if you shop at Whole Foods then you could say it's cheaper but not a regular grocery store.

Is it better in the midwest? or someplace not close to a major city?

I'm in the midwest and our farmer's market is more expensive than any stores. I used to get prefer the in season produce and would be willing to pay more, but now the markets have almost as good a selection and that saves me time and money. And at our farmer's marked some stuff was shipped in, not local.

I found this ALDI thread interesting and will have to try it out again. My husband shops there sometimes but I have never liked it in the past. But worth another look.

Our farmers market is not much cheaper if at all. Some stuff is shipped in. I love bell peppers and saw many from Canada last year! The stuff marketed as exclusively organic is even more expensive. Our store prices here are pretty close to what I can find at the farmers market, sometimes cheaper if on sale. The flavor and shelf life is much better on stuff grown locally though, so I feel it is better to buy. I always buy a lot of zucchini, cherry & grape tomatoes and greens at farmers market. The produce the rest of the year is cheaper at Aldi's, but some of it doesn't look too fresh. I like to buy onions there, and frequently see bad ones in the bag. You just have to look carefully. My family drinks a lot of skim milk and you can't beat the price of Aldi's milk. Their staples for baked goods at holiday time is much cheaper by far than any of the other stores.

I love shopping at Aldi. I think I am lucky to have two Aldis in my area that don't seem to have long lines. I definitely can't get absolutely everything there, but what I can get there is much cheaper than I can get anywhere else including Walmart. They only stock the most popular items bought at grocery stores to keep their turn over high. I shop here a lot but do supplement trips at other stores to keep up the variety of foods we eat.

Once upon a time the produce quality wasn't so great but it has gotten better over the years. Not everything at Aldi is fantastic but the same goes for any store!

I like to purchase baked chips, bran flakes and other cereal, dairy products (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, low fat sour cream, cheese), fresh and frozen vegetables, whole wheat pasta and bread, fruit (fresh, canned, and frozen), fish (canned and frozen), chicken, ground turkey and lean beef. It is nice to see all the different "special purchases" that come in.

When I moved to California I missed having an Aldi, and when I moved from California I missed having a Trader Joe's. I would be in shopping heaven if I lived in an area with both!

Btw, the Farmer's Market prices here aren't cheaper than Aldi but I still love to go to get local produce.

Farmer's market prices vary greatly, not only by area, but even within areas. We have a lot of farmer's markets in our area of northcentral Wisconsin (in the summer and fall, only), and they all provide very different shopping experiences when it comes to price, variety, and vendor-customer relations.

In the "downtown" farmers market the selection is limited (and "trendier") the prices are higher and the vendors are snootier. It's marketed for the upper middle class "upscale" market and yet if you want anything truly exotic, it's either not there or ridiculously priced.

The Saturday and Wednesday market are aimed at a more diverse array of customers. There's more cultural diversity among vendors also. There are more non-caucasian vendors. The variety and prices are much better, the vendors are friendlier and customer loyalty is rewarded. Our favorite Hmong vendor (she's elderly and very well-respected in the Hmong community as a talented healer and herbalist) is always so happy to see us and she is always suggesting new items and giving us free samples to try or giving us extra free stuff.

In general, I have to say that in our area the Hmong vendors are more likely to give free stuff to loyal customers, but the white vendors are catching on.

Also, if you go during bad weather or at the end of the day, vendors are also more willing to make deals.

I enjoy and save a lot more money by shopping at several stores more frequenlty than shopping less frequently at just one. I wouldn't have expected that to be true. I assumed I would have to "waste a lot of time" to save any money.

Now we just work our shopping into our routine. We buy our prescriptions at Sam's Club, so we buy some things there, but only on days we're going to get prescriptions. Aldi's and Walmart ares near Sam's Club, so we only go to those stores on days we go to Sam's. There's an oriental grocery store near our favorite Thai restaurant, so we only stop in when we're on that side of town. We have a grocery store and an oriental grocery only blocks from our house, we go there more frequently, but we're careful what we buy because only some things are bargains at those stores. We buy apples, oranges, pears, bananas, potatoes, onions, milk and orange juice at Kwik Trip (a gas station/convenience store) because they're cheapest there - but we only buy those when we're also stopping for gas (it's the second cheapest place to get gas). The cheapest place to get gas is at Walmart, but that's out of our way - we stop to get gas there though when we're going to be shopping on that side of town.

It sounds complicated, but it's actually just routine now. We save so much money that people cannot believe we live on our budget. People think we must have rich relatives subsidizing our lifestyle. Our apartment is a little more expensive than most people in our income bracket, but we can afford it because of the money we save elsewhere. We have a much nicer car than we could have afforded if we'd bought it new or even most used prices. We happened to have found a crazy-low deal on our car (buying it in the dead of winter during a car sales slump helped). Our apartment is furnished nicely too because we found all of our furnishings and decor at super bargain prices. Even my husband's computer (with a crazy big screen) was heavily discounted because it had been a customer return (the warrantee was still in place).

We're on disability and living much better on less than half the income that we had when we were working. We're also living in an area with a lower cost of living, and we have more time to put into saving money.

What's amazing is how much money you can save if you look for the opportunities, but you have to know where the savings are and how to go about taking advantage of them in a way that fits into your lifestyle.

Kaplods, more money saving tips please! Sounds like you are rocking it.

The farmer's markets in our area (Brooklyn) are more expensive than the local health food store, which tries to stock locally grown organic produce. I feel like farmer's markets are a bit of a sham. When I am up near my parents place I sometimes go to farm stands (on the actual farm) and things are far cheaper. Our farmers market also has things like gourmet cheese for $20 per pound and bread for $4 per loaf. I don't really shop there much at all except sometimes they have imperfect produce that is deeply discounted in which case I do buy.

Farmers Markets are definitely not cheaper here though almost everything is picked within 24 hours and is very local, no resellers allowed. I drive by several farm stands and those are usually better prices and as fresh. I can often see the fields from the stands :)

Organic certification also raises the prices because it's an expensive process for a small farmer. Animal, Vegetable, Miracle was a really helpful read for me and now I talk to my local farm stand farmers about GMO, pesticide and herbicide use. Many of them apply low or no spray techniques but have opted not to go for certification. That works for me.

Oh, and CSAs are often a great deal and a lot of fun because they are a surprise every week :)

Oh, our "Farmer's Market" is not a real fresh farmer's market that you guys are talking about. It's basically a small grocery store that sells mostly fruits/veggies and some ethnic type stuff. Most of the produce there is much cheaper than the regular grocery store. Some things I can get cheaper at Sam's Club though.

And apparently I have to change my opinion of Aldi because much of the stuff I got there this time, my kids actually prefer over the brand name stuff. The frozen pizzas they had last night were better than any I have ever bought before. (yes I cheated and snuck a bite!) I still won't shop there all the time, but I guess I will be going back once in a while.

Here in Atlanta we have one place, Dekalb Farmer's Market that is MUCH cheaper with its produce. They bring in things from all over the world. Many that shop there are not Americans and I love the diversity. Wines and beer is also cheaper. Meats and seafood are higher, but a better quality too. It is an hour away from my house, but I try to get there about once a month.

I love Aldi! I actually almost worked there as a district manager right out of college (their DM's make 55-60K and they pay their hourly workers a good wage). I like their fit&active line of products, the salad dressing, and whole grain rice cakes are some favorites. You can't beta their prices on fruit and produce. I bought some bananas to fill a basket for work last wk and the bag was .99! And as far as I remember they don't keep much of an overstock. What is on the floor is what they have, so things don't sit on the shelves in the back...

also love aldi! in germany they carry loads of fresh produce as well as organic, whole grain foods. def can't beat the prices or quality.

I used to shop Aldi's sometimes when we were stationed in Germany. The German Grocery stores had better produce than the military grocery store on base. I like Aldi there, but have not bee in one in the states.

I think there is Farmers Market here. I am going to check it out when it opens. I shop at variety of stores too.

Tammie