Aldi

[holidaymama]

I know the store has been talked about many times, but I can't seem to search anything...

Anyway, we just had an Aldi open in a nearby area, and I am wondering what you all buy there?

I have heard nothing but good things, but before I go there, I want to have an idea of the typical products/sizes of products.

Thanks!

[Pariah]

A lot of the stuff is small brand/generic brand sorts of things. When I had one nearby, I would get basics there...large containers of plain cocoa powder for $0.99 (don't remember the exact size, sorry!), other very cheap baking basics (sugar, flour, etc), made it worth the trip for me. I wouldn't get meat there personally, and sometimes their fruits and veggies are good, sometimes they're not in great shape...produce can be hit or miss. There's lots of canned stuff, which I don't buy, and a frozen section, which again I don't really shop from very often.

[BetsyS]

People either love or hate Aldi. Not much in-between. For me, I really like it. It's small, which means that it becomes my convenience store. I can get in and out quickly (except from 6-8pm on weeknights and after noon on weekends, when the line is a bit crazy, though it moves quickly). I shop with cash or debit anyway, so that's not a big deal, and I don't mind bagging my own groceries. It's actually a pretty employee friendly place, so I sort of feel good about shopping there.

Around here, the prices are better than everyday prices, but not as good as sale/coupon prices. However, if the things I want/need are not on sale or rarely go on sale, then it's the best price for me. I buy some staples there, plus some extras that I can get good prices on.

The only things we haven't loved are their oyster crackers and their cheese (it's not very sharp, and we just don't prefer it; we would and sometimes do eat it, though).

Saltines
Tortilla chips
olives (regular green and black)
sugar
spices
marischino cherries
cocoa and other baking stuff (including nuts)
milk
eggs
butter
fancier cheeses (gouda, munster, havarti)
frozen fish
canned fruit
tomato paste
canned mushrooms, beets, and sometimes beans
dried beans
dried chiles
produce (ours mostly comes from about 3 hours away, nad it's usually very good)

It's definitely worth a trip to check it out. Sure, they have plenty of generic brand Fruit Loops and gelatin cups, but they have lots of other stuff, too.

[velochic]

Here, I did a search for you. I hope it works. Many threads, lots of info.

[wahm]

We love Aldi. We get most of our staples there. Here is what I buy weekly:
Flavored and whipped cream cheese, 8 oz.
12 oz. Shredded mexican and mozzarella cheese
Dark Chocolate bars, 5.25 oz.
Roasted Almonds, umm, I think 8 oz.
Cereal and oatmeal
Heavy cream, 8 0z.
Butter, 1 lb.
Ketchup and mustard, standard sizes
Cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
Fruits, veggies of all kinds. Wish my gardens were in full production!!
Wild caught salmon
Various canned soups
Garlic bread loaf
Spaghetti sauce...I adore their mushroom. My fiance gets heartburn from my homemade stuff :>(

[holidaymama]

velochic, it didn't work I'm sorry!

I'm trying to decide if I should get my membership back at Costco, or Sams, or if I should just try Aldi...trying to save some moola with my family of large appetite eaters (including myself)

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by holidaymama

velochic, it didn't work I'm sorry!

I'm trying to decide if I should get my membership back at Costco, or Sams, or if I should just try Aldi...trying to save some moola with my family of large appetite eaters (including myself)

same for me - it's says I am not logged in, or don't have permission to access that page. That is weird.

[beckyand3littlemonsters]

Where we used to live there was an Aldi nearby so i would often do a lot of my shopping there, i found them good for stuff like fruit juice, cereal, yoghurts etc but not as good for meats. They do however from what i remember often have good offers, i think ? or could i be thinking of Lidl

[velochic]

Originally Posted by holidaymama

velochic, it didn't work I'm sorry!

I'm trying to decide if I should get my membership back at Costco, or Sams, or if I should just try Aldi...trying to save some moola with my family of large appetite eaters (including myself)

Sorry. What I searched for in Advanced search was:

- Aldi in the "keyword" field
- From the drop down list below the keyword field, selected "Search Titles Only"
- Selected "Frugality and Finances" under the "Search in Forum(s)" section

It must not have kept the search parameters.

Those search parameters will bring up many, many threads, though. All of the good, bad and ugly about Aldi. (There are probably many more if you don't specify the F&F forum.)

We happen to have a great Aldi and the produce is somewhat local, always fresh, and always good. But I would absolutely not give up my Costco membership... Aldi is not anything like Costco.

[vbactivist]

Originally Posted by velochic

Sorry. What I searched for in Advanced search was:

- Aldi in the "keyword" field
- From the drop down list below the keyword field, selected "Search Titles Only"
- Selected "Frugality and Finances" under the "Search in Forum(s)" section

It must not have kept the search parameters.

Those search parameters will bring up many, many threads, though. All of the good, bad and ugly about Aldi. (There are probably many more if you don't specify the F&F forum.)

We happen to have a great Aldi and the produce is somewhat local, always fresh, and always good. But I would absolutely not give up my Costco membership... Aldi is not anything like Costco.

I get it when I use your search parameters - it's weird that its telling me I don't have permission to access that page.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by vbactivist

I get it when I use your search parameters - it's weird that its telling me I don't have permission to access that page.

That is so weird. I guess I'll try to list the threads that come up for me in case people have other problems. There's lots of good Aldi info in these threads:

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi
(this one is especially long with lots of info)

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi
(another long one)

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi
(another "shopping list" thread)

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi
(costco vs. aldi - short thread)

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi

http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...highlight=aldi


That's what I get in F&F using the above search parameters. I hope those work at least.

[cappuccinosmom]

Sizes are mostly similar to what you'd get elsewhere. It's not really a bulk store.

We get produce, dairy products, frozen fruit and veggies, occasionally cereal, trail mix, some canned goods (their salsa is yummy, spaghetti sauce is OK), ice cream, frozen juice mix, sometimes meat and fish...stuff like that. Occasionally they'll sell specialty stuff. Their "German month" is always fun. Chocolate there is pretty good. Some of their bagged meals are also decent--every once in a while I'll get the teriyaki stir fry for when I don't feel like cooking.

[Amys1st]

I buy ground turkey, orange juice, butter, staples such as flour, sugar, granola, 100% juices, crackers, snackies such as pretzals, some produce but very limited, tortillas...

Our Aldi is right next to a Trader Joes. Sometimes they will have the exact same item and its 50cents to $1 cheaper at Aldi.

I usually combine my trip to park at Aldi, hit TJ's and then walk back to Aldi, fish out my quarter for the cart, drop off the bags from TJs and get bags for Aldo and go in. Sometimes my kids can get a "treat" such as fruit gems etc at Aldi.

There is usually only 1-2 employees present but I go in the morning near opening..Since I am there during that time they usually recognize me and will go grab something for me in back if need be, since its a slower traffic time. At TJs at opening there is usually 15-20 people working already.

[MissinNYC]

Aldi and TJs are owned by the same company.

I buy staples there, some produce, some meat. Mine (weirdly) doesn'y sell any chicken fresh, only the injected frozen stuff, so I don't buy that, but they have good prices on ground turkey, pork, etc.

I buy things like flour, oatmeal, cocoa, etc. Lots of dairy. I notice that although they do sell some junk, they have more healthy options than any other discount store (savalot, etc). Most Aldi brand products don't have HFCS and there's lot of whole grains, etc. Almost no trans fats. And they sell the coolest special buys- imported stuff from Japan or Germany, fancy chocolate, etc. Every week it's different so it's a surprise!

[goldfinches]

I haven't bought it in a couple of years, but I used to really like Aldi's hamburger that was fresh ground, not the rolled frozen stuff. It made great burgers.

Avoid their canned veggies, they're mushy and have stems in them.

Their snacks are good, if you eat those type things.

I used to mostly buy flour, sugars, butter, olives, bagged lettuce, shredded cheese, some produce and garbage bags there. Some carry wine, but we weren't a fan of it. 3 buck chuck is way better.

[crunchy_mommy]

Maybe I'm the only one but DH & checked out Aldi when they opened one down the street & we left without buying a thing. They only had 4 aisles & 3 of them were highly-processed foods, I think they had *some* fresh/frozen produce but not nearly as much or as good prices as the store we normally shop at (Price Rite).

[happyhats]

wow, crunchy mom, your aldi doesn't sound anything like the ones I've been to in my state. I'm sure it depends on area though.

I do the majority of my shopping at aldi, it's especially great on a low budget. Also I live in a small town and I'd rather do most of my shopping there than support walmart, kwim?

Their ground turkey is our meat staple. Other than fish and canned tuna we don't eat any other meat barring a great sale-we just sub it for anything calling for ground beef.

We get their milk, cheese, chocolate (mmm, seriously I'd get their chocolate at a higher price), baking supplies, crackers, canned tuna, some convience foods, their produce is usually good and fairly local as well-not to mention half the price! I love their mac and cheese-not good for you obviously but delicious! The last time we went shopping they had gelato. First of all, you are NOT finding gelato anywhere in our town, and secondly it was reasonably priced. WOOHOO!

I don't care for their bread, but I'm sorta picky with bread. I don't eat a lot of canned goods, I don't care for their pet supplies or tp. You do have to read labels, but that's anywhere.

I actually really like the bagging it yourself concept. I seem to always forget bags at other stores so I have a ton to later recycle. I usually just use a box at aldis and bring it back to the store or use it for household storage/bringing things to the mission, etc.

I have a costco membership, and I'd go more often if they were nearby. At this point I don't go very often because of the cost of gas and because my food budget has been cut so severely that bulk buying isn't going to work for us. We still plan on making trips when we have extra cash. We'll have to wait and see if we renew it or not.

[enkmom]

Ask someone what day the produce is delivered, because the prices are unbelievable. Whole pineapples and pints of blueberries for 99 cents. These items are $3.99 each at my grocery store.

[Ammaarah]

Originally Posted by enkmom

Ask someone what day the produce is delivered, because the prices are unbelievable. Whole pineapples and pints of blueberries for 99 cents. These items are $3.99 each at my grocery store.

This! Sometimes the produce can be on the yuck side, but if you get there on day of delivery, it is usually great, and they almost always have a few awesome loss leaders (I think they had $.29 avocados a couple weeks ago, they regularly have 2 pounds carrots for $.49, stuff like that.)

If you eat all organic, Aldi is probably not worth your time, but there are plenty of wholesome options if you are not picky about organic.

[Ammaarah]

Oops, posted too quickly. Aldi has a few items that are the same as TJ's. Their frozen green beans are the same as the French beans at TJ's. Their seafood mix (calamari, shrimp and scallops) is the same as the seafood mix at TJ's. There are other items like this, but they escape me now.

We like their medium raw shrimp for shrimp cocktail. I also buy the wild salmon for DH. It's not the greatest quality salmon you can get (it's keta salmon), but it's under $4 a pound and it does taste good. I've been happy with most frozen veggies and fruits too.