Penny Pinchin' Mom

16 Things You Need To Know About Shopping at Aldi

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If you have never shopped at Aldi, you are in for a treat!  It is a store that offers some of the best prices on the foods you need for your family.  But, there are some things you should know before you shop.

I know a lot of people shop at Aldi and love it (me included).  If you haven’t ever shopped at one, or aren’t sure if you should, there are some things you need to know about how to shop at Aldi.  Even if you currently frequent your location,  there may be things you don’t know about, which can help you too!

Check out these other helpful articles:

*This post was originally published in 2015 and was updated in 2018 to make sure all information was accurate.

ALDI SHOPPING TIPS

1. Bring along a quarter

You have to “rent” your shopping cart.  You slide a quarter into the slot and then do your shopping.  Return your cart to the corral after unloading your groceries and replace the lock and your quarter will pop out.

They do this to keep carts from being left in the parking lot which saves damage to cars.  It also saves the store money as they don’t have to pay someone to run to the parking lot and corral the carts.

*Bonus tip:  Make someone’s day and just give them your cart when you are through.  You’ll be surprised at how much a small gesture can make someone’s day!

 

Image Credit: Aldi USA

2. Don’t forget your bags

Aldi doesn’t have bags.  Well, they do, but you have to purchase them.  One way they keep prices low is that they don’t purchase paper or plastic bags for you to take your items home.  They do have boxes in the store, which you can use if you happen to forget yours.  I just keep my bags in my van and grab them every time I walk into the store.

In addition to bringing bags, you will have to sack your groceries too.  I prefer this as it seems the kid a the grocery store always puts every heavy item in just one bag or mixes my cold and canned products.  I can sort them as I want, which makes unloading and putting away my items so much simpler!

If you forget your bags, you may also find boxes in the front of the store that works perfectly (and are free).  A trick many Aldi shoppers use it to keep a laundry basket in their trunk. They roll the cart of food to their vehicle and unload everything into the baskets, which they can carry into their house when they get home.  So smart!

 

3.  Don’t like something?  Get your money back!

Refunds are one thing many people do not know about Aldi.  If you ever try a product and it is not the quality that you expect, or you just were not satisfied, you can get your money back.  Strike that.

You can get your money back PLUS a replacement product!

Just take the item and your receipt back to your store, and they will gladly take care of you.  Note that the guarantee does not apply to non-food special buy items, alcohol or national brands.  Read more here.

 

4. No store brands here (or very few of them)

You need to know this about Aldi. They have their own brands (which are as good as, if not better than, the name brands).  It is one way they can offer such great prices.

The packaging also holds a secret. Look at it from different directions, and you will see several barcodes. Those multiple codes make the checkout process much faster as the cashier does not need to search for the code to scan.

*Bonus tip:  Look at the packaging, and you may notice it looks similar to national brands.  That lets you know which one they are like, so you know what “name brand” product you are getting.

 

5. If you find store brands, they may be more expensive

As mentioned in #4 above, Aldi does not carry many store brands.  However, you may find them from time to time.  The problem is that they are often more expensive than you will find at other stores, where these are on sale and you can use a coupon.  These items are often those you will want to pass over when shopping.

 

 

6. Forget the coupons!

No coupons needed as Aldi does not accept credit cards.  The prices are often lower than what you will find at your local store, even with a coupon.  Of course, there are some sales at larger stores which are less than Aldi, so you do need to check your local ad and know the prices (when using your coupon), before you shop.

 

7. Spend less time in the store

Without ten brands of ketchup to look at and 47 boxes of cereal for your kids to look at, you can save time in the store.  There is one type of ketchup.  There are only a handful of cereals to look at.  It makes it so simple to just grab the item you need without having to compare per unit prices of various products.

*Bonus tip: Checkout is also quicker as all items have multiple barcodes on them. When the cashier grabs the product, they don’t have to turn the item to try to find the barcode.  In most cases, there is one on the item, no matter how they grab and slide it over the scanner.  This saves time when checking out too!

 

Image Credit: Aldi USA

8. Organic or Gluten-Free?  Yes, please!

Aldi has a huge selection of organic and even gluten-free foods!  They know that this is a concern for many families, so they have taken steps to help you get those items you need – at a price you can afford!

 

9.  You can use cash back apps

While you can’t use credit cards, you can use apps such as Checkout51 to get cash back.  They often offer rebates on general products such as milk and bread. That is instant money in your pocket.

 

10. Aldi accepts credit cards

One question I have heard many people ask is “Does Aldi accept credit cards?”  Fortunately, they do!  This changed in early 2016.  Aldi accepts EBT, debit, credit cards and of course, cash!!

 

 

11.  Know the store hours

Aldi has shorter hours than most stores.  Aldi store hours run from 9 am to 8 pm. They are open on Sunday as well, but the hours are 10 am – 7 pm.   again keeps costs down as people work fewer hours and the operating costs are reduced (fewer lights needed when the store is closed).  You can head HERE to find a store near you and confirm your local hours.

 

12. You can save 50% and more

Try it and just see how your bill looks.  Even if you save $30 a week at the store, do the math – that is more than $1500 in a single year!!  I know I could find something fun to use $1500 on (or you could even use it to pay off your debts).  When I go to Aldi, it amazes me how much food I get for less than at my local grocery store.

Shopping at Aldi has become a norm for our family and has made a huge difference in our budget.  It amazes me how much grocery money we have left out of our budget – just by shopping here!

 

13. Aldi doesn’t have fancy displays

Aldi is a no-frills grocery store. In fact, products are not unpacked and put on display on shelves.  Instead, it is left in the original box, and the side or top is removed.

 

14. The ad may vary by location

The weekly ad that you see may be different than one in another part of the country.  Make sure you check the ad for your region before you shop.

 

15.  Some items are the best deals you will find

There are products you may find are typically priced lower than other stores.  Items such as milk and eggs are often priced lower at Aldi than other stores.  Make a price list so you know what you pay at other stores so you know if Aldi is your best deal or not.

 

16.  Know what you should buy

Ask most Aldi shoppers and they will share with you their must buy list. Some of these include chocolate (which is absolutely amazing), wine, milk, bread, ketchup, coffee — and so much more!  Check out our Aldi Must Buy list for more great products you should try.

 

 

 

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Comments

  1. rosemarie johnson says

    we love aldi;s we go there once a week or more ,its my favorite and they even carry household items during the holidays they had toys ,lots of different things each week love their produce great prices ,and a big selection of everything ,just love going there ..and yes they have a bathroom if you take your grandkids and as soon as you get in there they gotta go so yes they can go,haha….

  2. Debora says

    i love this store the fresh produce are very much less in cost. So is milk and butter I love their Products!!!!!

  3. pat bomke says

    I have a good friend who drives a truck. He picks up products at plants for grocery stores. He says that same plant makes name brand and generic products. Same exact thing..different labels were made by same Company. Boxes go to stores like aldi.

  4. Rhonda says

    I love the markdowns too, just plan to freeze or use immediately. On fresh products, I don’t buy thinking they’ll be good in a week or two, sometimes they are, sometimes, they’re long gone, sometimes they’ve gone bad. I don’t know if it’s an issue at all Aldis but I’ve had milk go bad quickly. No biggie, it takes 10 minutes to get in and out of there so I run back, get a new gallon of $1.99 milk and get my $1.99 back too.

  5. Laurie says

    I wish they had an Aldi’s in Bentonville. They have one way or past the old St. Mary’s hosptital that doesn’t have the middle lane(suicide lane as we call it) so that you can get in & out of that place easier. It’s really hard to get out on to Walnut with all the traffic,,, They need to consider building one in Bentonville

      • Janet Reutter says

        I love Aldi. Being single and living on a very tight budget—Aldi is super! I recently spent $46.00 and came home with a good size box and 3 bags of groceries. Milk, eggs, yogurt, frozen and fresh vegs and fruit. Cashier once told me that their frozen chicken is actually bagged by Tyson. There bag of premade salad is .99 and my local grocer same thing is $2.99. LIkewise frozen chicken breasts are $3.00 less at Aldi. Ground turkey $1.89 a tube—reg store $2.49 I love their fit and active brand too. Canned soups are great. ONLY thing I have tried that I didnt care for was their brand of Velveeta—it had a diff texture, didnt melt as well and seemed salty. Its worth the trip!

  8. Natalie says

    The saltine crackers are better than the name brand!!! We buy them every couple of weeks – and here in West TN they are only $.89 per box! I still can’t get over how cheap they are!

  9. G Peterson says

    Aldi is a division of Trader Joes. Quality merchandise at low prices. You actually get more bang for your buck.

      • Darin says

        Actually, Al, they are owned by the same company, which was founded by a German man named Karl Albrecht who passed away last year. So, you are partially right. The company owns Aldi, Trader Joes, along with thousands of grocery stores on the continents.

      • Amy finder says

        I’ve worked for aldi for 14 years, aldi is actually owned by 2 German brothers and one of the brothers owns trader joes so aldi and trader joes are somewhat affiliated both of the brothers have passed in the last 10 years and the company’s are owned by their sons and the board, and the double back guarentee is the replacement of your item and your money back or if you don’t want another item you get a double refund of the item, before I worked at aldi I never shopped there because I was clueless but for the last 14 years I buy 90% of my groceries there and the hours of operation vary by location and the acceptance of credit cards vary by division

  10. Ellie Hubert says

    When are we going to get an Aldi’s in the St Augustine / Jacksonville area. There was one scheduled for US1 in St Augustine but that is not on your web site any longer. COME ON !!!! You bring it we will buy it !!!

  11. Scott says

    I want to clarify the Double Guarantee. It is not double your money back. It is a refund and a replacement item. It doesn’t need to be the same item you purchased, you can try another Aldi item of similar cost- eg if you didn’t like the wavy chips you get your money back and can try the BBQ chips for free.

  12. LadyT says

    I shop at Aldi’s from time to time and like their foods especially their fish. However, my fruits seem to spoil quicker when I buy them from there. So I purchase other things just not fruits.

    • mark says

      At Costco most things are sold in bulk. Aldi will sell you on bottle of ketchup.
      Also, both stores pay their employees a decent wage unlike Walmart. FYI – Almost half of Walmart’s employees are eligible for public assistance.

    • willie moody says

      It is much cheaper! For example: all sliced sandwich bread is 99 cents a loaf, whether white or wheat. All milk is $2.99 a gallon, whether 1%, 2% or Vitamin D……I can buy 2 weeks’ worth of groceries for $150…that’s for 3 people.

      • bill holbrook says

        don’t like to have to do name, email, website, but I have to say, aldi’s prices, unbeatable. quality is the same, or better. I bought a gallon of milk, at walmart. it tasted like plastic. i’ll never buy milk there again. milk has all these additives, and growth hormones associated with it. read aldi’s milkjugs ingredients. I think you’ll agree.

  15. Gail Holdenried says

    Today I shopped at my neighborhood Aldi. When bagging my groceries I dropped a jar of pickles. They were great, gave me another jar for nothing, when it was my fault. I love how you do not have to stand in line all day. If a line starts, they ring a bell and another checker comes out.

  16. Julie says

    We have a aldis in Mt. Pleasant Mi n for the most part the prices r higher then the other grocery stores in town. I price check everything b4 I buy. I can buy name brand cheaper at walmart or kroger cheaper then off brand at aldis. I dont shope there often becouse of that alone, but much of what I’ve tried has tasted nasty as well.

    • Gillian Adams says

      I buy most things at Aldi & have NEVER had anything nasty. The biscuits, chicken, cheese, eggs, fresh fruit & veg.& fish for instances are better than any other store I shop in & are a lot cheaper too & so I only get the things Aldi do not stock from other stores.

  17. brandi says

    We just had an Aldi open in our town. I went to compare prices. Spent $35. Left there, went to Food Lion (where i usually shop) and compared prices. The cost of the same items at FL wouldve been $55. So far, we love the spaghetti and sauce, the taco seasonings/shells, fruits and vegs, “cheez it” crackers and frozen chicken nuggets. The only things I didn’t like were the mac and cheese and the off brand “goldfish” crackers.

  18. Beverly Diane Frierson says

    Very helpful info; I have seen the ads for this store, but I never paid attention. After ready this, I look forward to my first visit.

    • Gordon Fleckenstein says

      I too have shopped Aldi’s in Cedar Falls, Ia. Generally speaking their prices were either comparable to Walmart or higher. So much of their groceries are off brands and those that I did purchase weren’t that great. I happen to like a store with variety and plenty of choices. That is not Aldi’s.

  19. Mary says

    Comparison between Costco and Aldi: none, they are two different type stores. Costco you are buying in large quanities, not so at Aldi.

  21. chase says

    They don’t have free bags so reusable ones or the massive collection you probably have from other stores are good, or …. what I end up doing is taking empty boxes off of the shelves around the store and packing my groceries in them. Makes some items much easier to deal with snd it helps them by not having to break down the boxes … you could try a little “bait and switch ” with your husband. .. keep the name brand package, and put the aldi brand product in it…. btw… their cheeses are amazing, and often times their produce brands are the same as what’s available in every other store….

    • Akc504 says

      As it is a company based in Europe, many stores there are not allowed to provide free plastic bags unless they also offer recycling of those bags. Most stores in Germany and Austria do not provide plastic bags.

      • cara says

        Im sorry to say that this information is wrong. Aldi originated in Germany . Also no matter what store you shop at you pay for bags, they just hide the cost of them in the cost you are paying for ur food as well as the cost of your cart and being able to use a credit card or check . At aldi we strive to work as hard as possible with minimal staff and have came up with cost effective ways not to hide anything in the cost of our groceries so you truly are going to pay for whatever your buying all of usAldi employees love to work hard to keep your grocerie bill down ♡ sincerely cara from Aldi Jenison Mi

    • Beth says

      I bought 3 of their big canvas bags and have had them for about 5 years, still in perfect condition, I keep them in the trunk of my car so I always have them with me. I have 2 teenage boys and they eat a lot and we save so much money shopping at Aldis.

  22. chase says

    I love aldi and their wine is really good, way better than the $3 wine at Walmart and everywhere else

  23. Debbie Sigler says

    I think Aldi is great, but the spaghetti sauce is terrible , I have tried them all , not good….but everything else so far is great….

  24. sally says

    Aldi is a European company from The Netherlands. They own the Albert Heijn stores throughout Europe and the products are excellent.
    That is why they have so many fabulous European items around the Holidays.
    Love the store.

    • Joy says

      A bonus to Aldi’s being a German store is the amazing assortment of chocolates they carry during the holidays. We have always been impressed with that!

  27. Patti Trueblood says

    I don’t shop Aldi’s, some people might like the “one choice” offering. I like to choose the brand I am buying. And I don’t like to support companies that are from out of this country. They are not always the cheapest either. That is their way of marketing..

    • mark says

      As for supporting US companies. Do you realize that the majority of Walmart’s products are made outside of the USA? Are you aware that Burger King’s headquarters are now out of the USA. They are now legally entitled to avoid paying US federal taxes. Walgreens considered moving their headquarters to Switzerland. Over one million of us threatened to leave if they did. They changed their mind.

    • Claudia says

      I’m with you..I like to choose what I am buying..I hate these stores that push their brands..Plus it isn’t a store for a handicapped person..And I found out from shopping for the last 55 years,No store can beat a price when you use a cents off coupon..And I can’t bag my own groceries and besides they don’t give me enough of a discount to do so..

    • MAS says

      Really? I understand/respect your opinion and thought on the US companies; but have you ever purchases a Bud/Bud Light or maybe a 7up or maybe a Lite beer from Miller? This is a global economy we live in folks & right or wrong alot of companies we think might be US are actually owned by foreigners!!!

  28. Joe Dorn says

    You can buy paper sacks at the checkout counter for $0.06 (6 cents) each… Big Deal… (you can use them to make school book covers…)

  30. cynthia loomis says

    ok , this is all good and done, BUT I have wrote to you,s before about this ?
    I would Love to shop there, BUT THERE IS NOT ELE SHOPING CART,S , SO PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT ARE HANDCAPED CAN NOT SHOP THERE FOR ALL THESE GREAT DEALS,,,,!!!!!
    Someone was going to look into this problem,?? But no one has replied about getting these cart,s for the disabled,,,, Maybe some one who is with the disableatie act, can look into this, PLEASE WE NEED HELP TOO ,,,,
    PLEASE SOMEONE RESPOND ON THIS,,,,,,,,,
    THANK YOU INADVANCE,,

  31. cynthia loomis says

    Ok one more thing,,,,,
    I know Trader Joes is part of this store, And they have a ELE cart in there store,,, So why can,t Aldies stores get a few of them in there stores ???

  32. Joy says

    Our Aldi’s does indeed accept Credit and Debit cards. In the past, it was cash only, but all Aldi’s I have visited in recent years now accept these forms of payment.

  33. Joy says

    Another perk to Aldi’s— you can visit their web site and find recipes that use only ingredients available at Aldi’s.

  34. Vicki says

    And in case you didn’t know, Aldi’s is owned by the same company that owns Trader Joe’s.

  35. seibernal says

    As a disabled person in a fixed budget, I was going to try Al I for the savings. However, I am not able to bag my own groceries.

  36. JJ Mooneyham says

    They will also let you buy items by the case which has been extremely important over the years for our very large family.

  37. bkstecklein says

    This article is wrong about no Credit Cards, Aldi does accept Discover card without any surcharge.

  38. cbmcweber says

    It is also wrong about name brands AND accepting coupons. There are some name brands available. The one that comes to mind is Miracle Whip and the one I go to does accept coupons.

  39. Lorrie says

    Thank you Aldi ‘ s for stocking gluten free products at a reasonable price. It makes a huge difference on my grocery bills.

  40. Annette says

    I love to shop at Aldi’s for my produce and some dairy and other items. However, I find that the majority of the items in the general grocery shopping areas are filled with sodium and high fructose corn syrup, most of them have more than your average name brands or even store brands. So, while their products have great prices, you may be sacrificing quality of health. READ YOUR LABELS!

  41. SANDI Niven says

    i personally love everything about Aldi’s. They even hav a restroom for shoppers. Everyone is shopping there to save.

  43. Old taxman says

    According to a cashier’s comment yesterday, it appears that Aldi WILL BE offering coupons in the near future, at least here in SE Pennsylvania they will.

  44. Amy Dover says

    I personally love Aldi’s. We spend 25% less on groceries since I started shopping there. There are some products that are great, like the cheeses, chips, rice(like rice-a-roni) deluxe mac and cheese, all canned veggies, and lots more. There are a few things we didn’t care for, like the milk. The vitamin D milk seemed watery, and the eggs they seem to taste off to me. The alfredo sauce has a wang to it, and their freezer bags bust easily. Other than those few things, I haven’t found anything else we didn’t like. Oh, and the Authentic sauerkraut. It is sweet, but someone told me that’s how it is in Germany. haha I like mine sour. We have not tried their meats except chicken, frozen stuff and bacon. I don’t know why, but I am leery of it. Maybe because of how it looks in the package.

  45. Elwood blues says

    I dated Aldi for a long time until I finally had worked up the nerve to ask her to marry me. But that cold B*tch turned me down in front of the entire restaurant. She then proceeded to tell me that she had been servicing basically the entire area, selling groceries to anyone and everyone like the little ignorant sl*t that she is. Aldi: a love/hate relationship.

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