Went to Aldi today

[disneysteve]

My mom loves Aldi and I've taken her there a few times (she no longer drives) but I've never actually bought anything there myself. I know they have great prices but I also know that they sell predominantly private label stuff and I haven't taken an opportunity to start trying stuff out. Anyway, last time we took her (DW was with me too) one thing she wanted was strawberries which were on sale for $1.39/lb. I had just bought a pound the day before at Wegmans for $4.49! That's a huge difference. While we were there, we also noticed that they sell the very same Italian rolls that we buy all the time and they were over $1 cheaper. I think just those 2 things chipped away at my wife's resistance to the place. Even though she is frugal and a careful shopper in a lot of ways, she's never been a fan of the deep discount places, not always trusting the no-name brands.

Fast forward to today. We were nearly out of strawberries and Aldi is right on my way home from work depending on which way I go, so I stopped in today and got strawberries (now $2.99 because they're not on sale but still $1.50 cheaper than Wegmans) and blueberries ($1.99). DD had some tonight and said they were just fine. So it looks like I won't be buying that stuff at Wegmans anymore.

I didn't look at anything else today but I intend to go there and actually take my time and look at what they've got and pick up a few things to try to see if we like them. It's easy enough for me to stop in after work so if we find a few things we like that are cheaper there, I'm happy to pop in when we need them. If every visit saves us several dollars, that's a nice win in my book.

[bjl584]

I go there all the time. I usually stick to their produce, breads, milk, eggs, certain meats.
I'm not a huge fan of some of their private label boxed and canned goods, but some are ok.
Things like cleaners and paper products are better bought at the dollar store.

[disneysteve]

I go there all the time. I usually stick to their produce, breads, milk, eggs, certain meats.
I'm not a huge fan of some of their private label boxed and canned goods, but some are ok.
Things like cleaners and paper products are better bought at the dollar store.

Yeah, we just need to explore a bit and try a few things and see what we like and is worth buying there. Milk is cheaper at Wegmans but I have to check on eggs and a few other things.

[Thrif-t]

Yes! Their strawberries are the best!! Just got some the other day can't believe how flavorful for out of season! Foxxy is the brand.

I usually get all my produce there. I like their Moscato wine too! Can't beat the $3.99 price. I cook with it too

[riverwed070707]

I LOVE Aldi. I grew up with it, and can say from experience that the stigma of them having low quality produce and such is a thing of the past. They’re owned by the same company as Trader Joe’s. It’s obviously a more limited selection but some things that I will always go to aldi for because they are SO much cheaper than our regular grocery store are bread, milk, eggs, yogurt, cheese, produce (except bananas... for some reason they’ve always had crummy bananas), spinach, canned goods - beans, corn, tomatoes, etc, tortilla chips. I don’t particularly care for their meat selection other than deli meat or unless they have a special buy that is beyond what they regularly carry. They have great dips and specialty cheeses also. I generally save $50 or more per trip by getting usual staples at aldi

[Fishindude77]

I like Aldi because you can get in and out fast if you're just needing a few items. Not a big fan of their $0.25 shopping cart rental, and providing my own bags, but I certainly understand it and can live with it.

[disneysteve]

I like Aldi because you can get in and out fast if you're just needing a few items. Not a big fan of their $0.25 shopping cart rental, and providing my own bags, but I certainly understand it and can live with it.

I always have quarters in the change thing in my car for parking meters so that doesn't bother me. And I always bring my own reusable bags to the supermarket anyway so that doesn't bother me either. If that stuff helps keep costs down, I'm fine with it.

[Thrif-t]

I like Aldi because you can get in and out fast if you're just needing a few items. Not a big fan of their $0.25 shopping cart rental, and providing my own bags, but I certainly understand it and can live with it.

Off Topic:

I usually give my cart to a senior citizen. Last month I gave it to an elderly lady getting out of her car, they usually need them to hold onto to walk, she took it, then her loser son got out of the passenger side (I didn't notice him in the car) the mom gave him the cart and he took it back up to the coral and got the quarter and they walked in without a cart. Man was I chapped! Not that I lost a quarter but that they somehow snubbed my good deed. She could've said no thanks.

[Wolf_278]

We love Aldi. I have never had an issue with their fruit and vegetables. To me most of their generic stuff is just as good or better than the name brand stuff. We used to shop at Pick 'n Save and holy cow was there a difference in grocery total. We saved a lot of money and still do. My only complaint, is that I still have to go to a big named store for some stuff, just because the selection is limited.

[disneysteve]

My only complaint, is that I still have to go to a big named store for some stuff, just because the selection is limited.

We already buy stuff at Wegmans and BJ’s, the occasional things at Target and Walmart, and a couple of things on Amazon. What’s one more store?

[rob62521]

We shop at Aldi each week. Actually, the Aldi we frequent is also close to Kroger's so we hit Aldi first and buy fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, and some meat and a couple of other items like baking stuff when I need it before we hit Kroger. I know we save a ton of money. We don't have to shop at Aldi, but why spend more money on some of the same things?

The quarter thing doesn't bother us because we keep quarters in our cars just for that reason and replace them after we turn the cart back in.

[disneysteve]

DW and I both wento Aldi's today. I was very pleased that she actually bought a number of things. I may have successfully converted her.

[marc2242]

We buy most of our groceries at Aldi. Most of their private label brands are very good, and priced low, of course.

[Gailete]

I hate Aldis. I hate the crowds, the lack of choice, the no-name brands and many times when I have been there, the sizes are like dollar store types sizes. They have less in the container than what you might compare things to. Also, I have never seen an electric w/c there and I can't grocery shop without one or without my son. Much of my stuff I get at WM except for meat. I don't know if they still do it, but the last time I went to buy some beef, I noticed a little blurb saying that 15% water had been added for, I haven't a clue. I don't want to pay 15 cents out of every pound of meat for water!

[disneysteve]

I hate Aldis. I hate the crowds, the lack of choice, the no-name brands

I've been there numerous times and it has never been crowded, certainly nowhere near as bad as when I shop at Wegman's every week. As for lack of choice and no-name brands, that's kind of the whole point. If you are looking for national brands, Aldi's is not the place to go.

The best deals we're finding are on produce. We bought asparagus the other day, for example. for $1.49/lb. I went to Wegman's 2 days later and it was $2.99/lb, double the price. And we've eaten it 3 times already and it was perfectly fine.