by Raven Lebeau

Created on: February 14, 2010

A successful trip to an Aldi grocery store begins with preparation. Because Aldi does not accept credit cards, you will need to make sure you have either a debit card or a wallet full of cash. If you choose to put your groceries on your debit card, make sure you at least have a quarter in your pocket; Aldi has a shopping cart system that involves putting a quarter in a slot in order to get your grocery cart. When you take your cart back, you get your quarter back, too.  Note that Aldi does not accept coupons, so save those for another store.  Finally, be sure that your car is full of tote bags or grocery bags from another store, since Aldi charges $0.05 each for bags.

Once inside the store, you will notice that Aldi does not have fancy displays or a large selection of brands. The floor space is limited, and Aldi generally carries only one brand of each item.  The small size of the store makes it easy to learn your way around and find what you need, which means that you can be in and out of the store in a relatively short period of time.  The brands are not well-known, but the products are high-quality. Shop at Aldi a few times and you may find yourself addicted to Clancy's chips, Light and Fit fruit cocktail, and La Mas Rica hot sauce. The only Aldi store brand I would not recommend is Beaumont coffee.

The chief reason to shop at Aldi is the low prices. Bread costs 20% less. Bell peppers cost half what they would at another discount grocer. The deep discounts extend to all basic staples from convenience foods like frozen pizzas and burritos to ingredients like flour, sugar, and cooking oil. Laundry detergent, dish washer detergent, and cat litter are also available at low Aldi prices, and there is a small selection of drugs and cosmetic items, too.

Certain sections of the store contain products that are only available for a short period of time. Some of these are seasonal products like Halloween candy or Christmas cookies. Others are just grocery products that Aldi does not routinely carry. The prices are always good, and many of the products are luxury versions of typical Aldi fare. For example, I recently found date, raisin, and walnut instant oatmeal packets. It is always disappointing to return to Aldi and find that a product I loved is no longer in stock; however I have learned to embrace the zen of Aldi shopping and look at each unique find as an unexpected surprise to be enjoyed while it lasts. I have also learned to stock up on these special items when I find them.

In general, I find that I can purchase most items on my grocery list at Aldi. For those few exotic items, such as tofu and fresh cilantro, that are not available at Aldi, I visit another grocery store. By getting in the habit of going to Aldi first, I have been able to cut my grocery bill significantly while still enjoying the same quality of food.

The checkers at my local Aldi are friendly and efficient, and the wait at the check out line is never excessive. The store is kept clean and the merchandise is in good condition. Overall, the experience of shopping at Aldi is a good one, and I would recommend this chain to anyone who wants to save money on groceries without sacrificing quality.

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