It has often been stated “tongue in cheek” that if we didn’t have to eat, we would all be rich. With grocery shopping being a major part of our budget, it is beneficial to save money by taking advantage of sales to reduce the food budget expenses. If you are fortunate enough to live an an area served by Aldi supermarket take advantage of the cost savings available on everyday household grocery items. Aldi is well identified by its box like structure with blue, tan.yellow and orange sign. Wherever you travel, the store is immediately identified by its logo and familiar color scheme. Aldi is not a high end supermarket; but rather a store that offers everyday items at lower prices with many off brands that are comparable to brand name grocery items.
I like to keep my pantry stocked with items such as tomato sauce, chicken broth, a variety of canned vegetables to supplement my frozen vegetables, soups, vegetables and fruits. Shopping at Aldi allows me to purchase food items at a lower cost than branded food products. While I do not do all of my shopping at Aldi I do shop at Aldi’s to buy stock food items that do not sacrifice quality and value. I am able to “fill in the gaps” in my food pantry by shopping at Aldi. Aldi has made substantial inroads into the food market and is now a serious competitor in the retail food market.
Advantages of Shopping at Aldi
Lower prices on a variety of items: Health and beauty items such as facial and toilet tissue, hand lotion, petroleum jelly can usually be purchased at a lower price than at the larger retail drugstores and supermarkets. Canned foods such as chicken stock, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, jams and jellies, salad dressings, and other such food items are available at lower costs than usually charged by the larger retail stores. The weekly circulars that advertise sales and specials are often included in your local newspaper or available at local Aldi stores. By reading the circulars you can shop wisely and save money on your weekly shopping budget. Some of the items that are stocked by Aldi include:
Canned Food
Canned food items are a real buy at Aldi, especially if you purchase by the case. I prefer small green peas and have discovered that the Aldi brand of small green peas are indeed comparable in taste and quality to the same item offered by a national manufacturer.
Dairy products such as bulk cheese, yogurt, and especially eggs are lower in price than what I find at the larger supermarkets. I have purchased a dozen of large eggs for as low as 99 cents per dozen.
Frozen items Aldi carries a line of extra fine frozen green string beans which are not often found in my local supermarket. They are slender string beans and I cook them in a variety of ways including as a main dish with cut potatoes for a hearty main dish served with a serving of meat and buttered Italian bread or cornbread. The chicken breasts and wings are a longtime favorite purchase for our household and compared to the prices offered for similar quantities, the larger supermarkets do not compare in price. Without a doubt, the price of their whole chickens at approximately 79 cents a pound is a definite savings. I use these chickens to roast and then make chicken soup and dumplings with the leftover chicken.
Vegetables
Produce such as sweet potatoes, grape tomatoes, white potatoes, bananas and other varieties of fruit and vegetables are available for purchase. Cabbage is the one vegetable that I found to be consistently more expensive at Aldi than the price advertised by a nearby supermarket. As in any produce section, you need to carefully examine your fruit to avoid buying bruised or over ripened produce.
A limited variety of meats is available for purchase and I frequently buy their 90% ground sirloin which I use for meatloaf or other beef dishes. Aldi also offers prepared foods and entrees that can be served for lunch or quick snacks.
Disadvantages
If you are looking for a high end supermarket shopping experience with a wide array of national and international foods, Aldi does not offer such items. The store is not fancy and definitely is a “no frills” shopping experience. The store does not have eye catching food displays with brand name products inlaid on the floor tiles to catch your attention. Frankly, I do not need soft piped music or fancy displays to make my purchases. I enjoy merrily perusing the aisles, making my purchases and saving money each time I shop Aldi.
Do not expect curbside service or someone bagging your order. You can bring your own boxes or bags or you can purchase a paper bag or plastic bag or purchase a recyclable bag for a very inexpensive price. After you pay for your purchase, you take your cart to a bagging shelf and pack your items. Once outside, you place your purchases in your car and return the cart and receive your 25 cents back.
Do I think that shopping at Aldi will put major supermarket retailers out of business? No. Do I feel that substantial savings can be obtained by shopping at Aldi? Yes, I do. The disadvantages that I have detailed are far outweighed by the savings that can be realized by being an Aldi shopper. To locate an Aldi store in your geographic area, visit their Web site.
