Aldi provides what can be a somewhat unusual shopping experience for U.S. The stripped down chain has a spartan interior and doesn’t try to soothe shoppers with frills such as soft lighting and mood music. The choice to forego various non-essential grocery store services "translates into big savings for our shoppers," Scott Patton, vice president of corporate buying for Aldi U.S., said in an email. Shoppers should be aware of a few ground rules: Customers need to bring a quarter if they want to use a shopping cart: They deposit the coin and get it back when they return their cart. "I would recommend being flexible if you’re new to Aldi," said Amy Sheppard, a U.K. Aldi products. "It’s a new way to shop and you will need a bit of time to get used to the new products, ingredients and prices. While Aldi counts many adoring fans, it’s not necessarily a slam-dunk for every consumer’s needs.
Many products that might be a guilty pleasure if purchased at another store won’t cost consumers a bundle at Aldi. "I can get an avocado for 25 cents or 50 cents, while it’s $1.50 at my grocery store," said Tracie Fobes, founder of the lifestyle blog Penny Pinchin’ Mom. Avocado prices have been on the rise recently, so aficionados may appreciate such a bargain. Fobes also recommends getting canned goods, cheese and bread. "Their bread is really good," Fobes told MarketWatch. "You can pick up bread there for a dollar a loaf. Cherie Lowe, who writes The Queen of Free, a blog about savings and debt, says she zeroes in on fresh meat, produce and a few select pantry staples including canned beans, wiki.motorclass.com.au oatmeal and coffee. The blog Living Well Spending Less says specialty chocolate, organic products and yogurt are among the best Aldi deals. Sheppard also noted that the store is a good option for pantry staples like pasta and rice, as well as fresh meat (especially beef) and cheese. This art ic le was w ritt en by GSA Con tent Generator Demoversion!
She’s also a fan of Aldi’s organic, gluten-free and vegan items, which have "up until now been financially inaccessible to most families," she noted. For household needs such as paper towels or diapers, consumers may be better off shopping elsewhere. "While Aldi offers impressively low prices on groceries and packaged foods, their non-food items are not always priced as competitively," said Jon Lal, chief executive and founder of savings website BeFrugal. Shoppers should pay particular attention to the prices per unit when comparing Aldi with warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club or Costco. For instance, store-brand plastic wrap costs 0.4 cents at Costco, versus 0.7 cents per square foot at Aldi, according to recent data collected by savings blog Passionate Penny Pincher. The supermarket chain eschews coupons much like it does plastic bags - as part of its effort to keep prices down. "Our simple approach to grocery shopping means customers can leave their club cards and coupons at home," Patton said.
0.10% , in large part because Aldi doesn’t accept manufacturer’s coupons. For items like cereal, Fobes said the sales price at another store may not beat Aldi - but adding extra savings in the form of a coupon can change the game. "You really need to know current store prices and watch them," Fobes said. Stores like Publix in many cases will run special deals during the holiday season on pantry staples such as spices and flour that beat Aldi’s prices, Fobes added. In these cases, consumers may benefit from stocking up on these essential, shelf-stable items. On the upside, you can use the store’s circulars to plan ahead (and save money). A mobile app lets shoppers browse deals and Aldi devotees recommend checking out the store circulars, which appear online two weeks ahead of time, to plan meals. The most recent version includes a 16-ounce jar of crunchy peanut butter for $1.99.
More than 90% of the products sold in Aldi are store-brands, furniture according to Patton. And even when brand names are available, Aldi’s prices aren’t always the cheapest, makeup as personal finance expert Lauren Greutman found with Crest toothpaste. As a result the selection at Aldi may not please everyone - particularly consumers who prefer specific brands because of their taste or quality. Fobes said she buys plastic sandwich bags in bulk from warehouse stores, largely because she can collect the box tops to earn money for her children’s school through the Box Tops for Education program. But for consumers who prefer certain brands over others out of sheer preference, Aldi’s selection may not necessarily disappoint. Many of the store-brand items sold at Aldi are supplied by the same companies that produce national brands, Patton said. Don’t miss:Amazon Prime just got cheaper for millions of Americans - but is it a better deal than Costco?