2019 UPDATE: Thanks to the the addition of 2 brand new, very nice Aldi stores in our area, I now do almost ALL my grocery shopping at Aldi, and just love it! Read more about my current Aldi shopping routine here.
Two questions I get on a VERY regular basis (like every single week) are:
1. Do you shop at Alid?
2. Why don’t you shop at Aldi? (usually asked after I answer “no” to the first question)
Now, to be fair, I have nothing against Aldi stores in general — and I DO shop there every once in a while (like once every 4-5 months) to stock up on canned goods and chips — because they have great prices on those items.
I just don’t do my regular weekly grocery shopping at Aldi (for a variety of reasons listed out below)
My mom shops at Aldi, many of my friends and relatives shop at Aldi, and I’m sure many of you shop at Aldi — that’s fine. The store by me is ALWAYS jam packed any time I’ve been there, so obviously, not everyone shares my opinions 🙂
My intention in writing this post is in no way trying to persuade YOU not to shop at Aldi; I’m simply stating a few reasons why it doesn’t seem to make sense for ME to shop at Aldi — and I’m officially typing it up in a blog post so I can link to this post whenever I get Aldi questions in emails (insert evil laughter!)
So, if you’ve ever emailed me wondering why I don’t shop at Aldi — here’s why!
1. The Aldi closest to me is not great.
I don’t know, maybe I’m picky, but the only Aldi store that’s remotely close to our home is extremely small, kind of dirty, and it’s always very picked over (the last time I went, they were out of eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and yogurt!)
Also, I’ve been to this same Aldi many MANY times in the last 7 years and I don’t think I’ve ever seen more than one cashier working at a time — which means the line is at least 10 people long (seriously). I’ve never waited less than 15-20 minutes to check out, and it’s often longer.
Because I’m big on time management, I’ve frequently timed myself shopping at Meijer and then at Aldi, and I can almost always get in and out of Meijer faster than Aldi because of the ridiculously long checkout lines. (My record at Meijer is 17 minutes for a full week of groceries!)
2. Aldi has a lack of variety.
Honestly, there have been times when the massive variety of products at Meijer can actually be overwhelming for me. However, I do appreciate being able to choose from more than 3 types of yogurt (vanilla, blueberry, strawberry) and more than 3 types of cheese (cheddar, colby jack, mozzarella).
I’m not super brand loyal and I don’t buy exotic foods or high-priced brands, but the Aldi store by me has an extremely limited selection of foods — and the produce is almost laughable.
They do have great prices on produce, but they rarely have it in stock to actually buy. As I mentioned earlier, the last time I went their specifically for potatoes (I was making lots of soup) and they were completely out of russet potatoes, red skin potatoes, and sweet potatoes. They were also out of bananas, apples, celery, and carrots — and this wasn’t the first time they were out of what I needed.
3. Aldi only sell groceries.
This might sound like a “duh” answer — but I’m used to shopping at Meijer where I can get everything I need in one trip. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Meijer, it’s basically like a Super Target or Super Walmart.
On top of my weekly groceries, I can also buy a couple cans of spray paint for my next project, a flood light bulb for our front porch, a baby present for my friend’s shower, a birthday card for my grandma, and fill a prescription — all without loading Nora in and out of the car 15 times and driving all around down.
Plus, I can grab a rotisserie chicken for $5 or a 40%-off HUGE deli pizza for about $3.99 if that’s the plan for dinner (we do this once in a while).
For those of you who don’t know me well, I absolutely HATE running errands, so the fact that I can do everything at one store at Meijer is pretty much a deal-clincher for me. Not only do I save time and gas money, I also save both my and Nora’s sanity 🙂
4. Aldi doesn’t save me time or money in the long run.
Aldi is known for having great prices on groceries without the need for special sales or coupons — and I totally get how this is appealing for most people. Aldi DOES have great prices on a lot of things, and as I mentioned above, I do shop there every once in a while to stock up on canned goods and chips.
However, after calculating my various Aldi trips (approximately $35-$40) versus Meijer trips (approximately $50), I figured that I only saved an average of $10-$15 per week. Now, that sounds like a lot, especially after adding it up week after week… BUT since I can rarely find everything I need at Aldi, I still have to go to Meijer to pick up the rest. This extra trip wastes time and gas — and also usually costs an extra $10-$15. So my over-all weekly totals end up almost identical.
I’m not a huge couponer, but I do save several dollars each week using coupons; and Meijer has some really good weekly sales, so if I just learn to stock up when items are on sale (and use coupons if I have them) I can often get better prices at Meijer. Plus, the Meijer store I shop at has a KILLER reduced produce rack and reduced bakery rack. I can fill my cart with product for pennies on the dollar — much cheaper than the prices at Aldi.
5. Aldi doesn’t take credit cards.
I realize this might go against everything that Dave Ramsey followers believe, but Dave Dekker and I use our one credit card to buy everything. EVERYTHING. Then we pay off the entire bill at the end of the month.
Our credit card is a Meijer Master Card so we get extra discounts for buying gas and groceries at Meijer. We also get extra coupons mailed to us monthly for 5%, 15%, and even 20% off groceries and general merchandise. And if that isn’t enough, at least once a month, I get a $5 off a $50 gift card purchase — which means I can buy a $50 gift card for $45 (and then turn around and use that gift card to buy groceries.)
So not only is it like a free $5 off, I can also use any other discount coupons AND dollar-off manufacturer coupons in one transaction (no, it’s not as confusing as it might sound!)
I don’t even own a debit card and I rarely carry cash, so if I’m going to shop at Aldi, I need to make a separate trip to the bank — which uses more gas and more time.
.
Again, I’m certainly not trying to say YOU shouldn’t shop at Aldi — so please don’t feel the need to defend yourself if you do. I realize that all Aldi stores are very different and you might have an extremely nice store by you, you might not have any other grocery stores to choose from, or you might love using cash 🙂
I also know for a fact that all Meijer stores are different and that the Meijer I shop at is extremely nice.
So for those of you who have questioned why I don’t do my regular shopping at Aldi — hopefully this (really long) answer will help to explain!
Dana says
It definitely sounds like the ALDI near you is not well managed or run like the ones I’m accustomed to in central AL. The ones I go to sometimes run out of a sale item in the produce area because everyone else has already bought it because of the great price, but they rarely EVER run out of staples like eggs or items that are not on special that you mentioned. If you go on Weds.-Fri, you will usually never have a problem getting the specials (and the produce is fresher), since you’re beating the weekend crowds. Also, the ones I go to ALWAYS have more than 3 varieties of cheese and yogurt, etc., and they seem to be adding new varieties quite frequently of different items. There are also usually two checkout lines open whenever I go at busy times (weekends), and they will usually open a 2nd line during other times when the line gets long. Sounds like your ALDI has some problems that the manager needs to address.
Emily says
Meijer girl all the way! With three kiddos (and one on the way) you can’t beat the one stop shopping! 🙂
Verity says
This is an interesting article. My closest store is Aldi, and I’ve been trying to use it more, but I’m running into the same issues you mentioned.
I also have 3 children 4 years old and under, and since we really can only make it to 2 or 3 places in an errand morning, Aldi is not always an effective choice.
So I end up doing the same – stocking up on certain items every couple months.
joy says
this is a great post! Your observations about some of these reasons being store specific are spot on! There are 2 Meijer stores close to me: one is a circus that I cant get in and out of in less than an hour plus it has long check out waits; the other is no problem for in & out! of the 2 Aldi store reasonably close, one has a forever check out wait, the other is less than 10 minutes (usually not more than 5) every time. i have noticed at Aldi that day and time of day makes a big difference in terms of both stock and staff.
Keli says
So true, no two Aldi is the same. I have 4 that are all bout the same distance from me and they are all a bit different. I have two I regularly go to once a month depending on where I am at the time. We do not have Meijer around here so I do go to more then one store. But with a small HyVee a block away it is not that hard to go get the weekly deals there.
Rebecca says
Andrea,
I agree with you on everything, except we’re lucky to have a clean store in our area. I shop at Aldi’s, but only for certain items. I also only shop if I am there the minute they open – I’m usually waiting by the door waiting for them to unlock it because I have my Sam’s Club cold food getting warm in the car. We have 5 kids, two of which are teenage boys, so I stock up and the boys somehow manage to eat all of it before the week is over.
We paid the extra money to get early entry to Sam’s Club, so I go there first and do the bulk of my shopping and then head over to Aldi’s and I can get in and out really quickly b/c I’m the first one to check out. I really wish they would take credit cards – I hate carrying cash.
Jo says
I love to grocery shop at Aldi’s and the Asian Market on a weekly basis!! I thrive in a small store environment. But every now and then I shop at Sam’s Club and Cub Foods when I need to stock up for company/holiday’s, etc.
Monica says
I’m on the east coast we don’t have meigers here. Our largest chain is Giant. Very expensive to say the least. We do have aldis and I shop aldis for a few reason. I can buy almost all my staples, they come from more local suppliers, like Hanover house out of Pa. Many of their items are smaller farms/dairies that use more earth friendly and sustainable methods of production. Although many items are not listed organic, they are grown in an organic environment. These farms/dairies don’t have the means to pay for that govt labeling as well.
I can get in an out of Aldis in less than 15 minutes tops!
It is true that they carry a limited amount of items ( less than 1200) but that is what keeps their cost down. Our stores locally charge $3.79 for a gallon of milk, while Aldi charges $1.99 for a gallon and as I said , I know where that milk is from.
I do have an app that I can check for prices and sales for stock up using coupons and other items such as fresh herbs and other cuts of meats.
We’re a Dave Ramsey financial peace family so we use cash/ debit only so that we avoid credit at all costs.
So, I too, am an Aldis fan but I agree on the having to hot more than one store , but I don’t mind it 🙂
Brenda says
I shop at Aldi only once a moth or so. The 1 thing I find amazing is the Quarter for a cart. I am amazed that everyone brings their cart back to get their quarter back! I am surprized that other bigger chains have not followed suit.
Andrea F. says
I shop at Aldi for snacks, canned goods, pasta and frozen veggies because their prices are amazing (we also have a super nice Aldi here in Cary, NC). I shop at Super Target for everything else, especially fresh fruit and vegetables (Aldi can be hit or miss on these), and meat. I spend about $150 at both places a month and I think that’s pretty good for a family of five :).
Andrea says
My family used to shop at Aldi all the time, but now that we’ve started using Emeals’ Clean Eating menus, we have had to reevaluate where we shop. Aldi just doesn’t have the produce selection for clean eating, nor do they have a lot of the little things recipes may call for. We’ve shopped around to find our favorite stores, but we always end up back at our local Wegmans. It’s not the closest, and it’s by far the most expensive, but I know without a doubt that I’ll be able to get every thing on my list, and produce won’t go bad within a day of bringing it home either which is a problem I had at other stores. I also love that no matter what time of day or day of the week I go, there’s always a ton of employees restocking the shelves. Clearly everyone else in my area has realized this because the place is a zoo every time I go, but the selection and quality are worth it.
I do really like your idea of stocking up on can goods and staples at Aldi though. I think I’ll have to consider adding Aldi back into the mix if the prices are better than Wegmans’ store brand.
Amanda Jayne says
I’m not too far from you-Lansing area-so I choose between a Meijer and an Aldi as well. Funnily enough, some of the reasons that you dislike Aldi are reasons that I choose it! I like that they are a small store and have a limited selection-they have everything that I need, so it works for me. I definitely hear you on the differences in stores, however! I have two Aldi’s to choose from, and one is small, cramped and busy, while the other one is bigger, well staffed and well stocked. Unfortunately there does seem to be a big difference in stores sometimes. The solution I’ve found is that I go to Aldi every two weeks, stocking up, and then in between I go to Meijer for anything that can’t get at Aldi. Personally, I have found my grocery budget drop by around $100/month just by going to Aldi, so I have a lot of love for them!
Ashley @ Joyful Thrifty Home says
I do like Aldi for staples, but I am so with you on it just being more convenient to go to Meijer as that is what I end up doing most of the time. It’s just easier for me as my husband and I only have one car. I can’t just go during the day while he is at work so our shopping usually gets done on the weekends. Lately I have been trying to get in about one Aldi trip a month to stock up on things but I more frequently go to Meijer for produce and anything else I need. I don’t use coupons as much as I used to but I do at least try to check my m-perks digital Meijer coupons before I go to see if there is any good ones there.
Elizabeth says
I totally agree! I will stock up on basics, sometimes. But when it requires a trip to Aldi AND Meijer, I just do Meijer for my weekly shopping. My husband agrees that my time is valuable, and I love Meijer’s one stop shopping.
Tammy says
I wouldn’t know what to do without my Meijer store! My out of state guests always plan a visit to the Meijer store when they are in town. I stock up on the Meijer thin crust deli pizza when they are 40 percent off. They freeze and taste great.
Kelly says
Aldis is brand new to Texas and has only been in my town for about a year. I absolutely love it, but many friends won’t go there. They think it’s weird to need a quarter for their buggie. I also think they think it’s a store for *the poor people* or something. I love the fact that you need a quarter for the buggie. That makes so much sense to me.
Mine is great about opening more lanes, but it’s not a super busy store. I love their produce, although I will admit, sometimes you have to dig because it does seem picked over. We eat a lot of eggs and greek yogurt. My Aldis has also started carrying some organic products like chicken broth and diced tomatoes and lots of whole grain options. I do agree with someone else’s comment above that you still need to read the labels. But, I love Aldis, it helps that their wine is good and cheap also! But, my husbands prescriptions are at Target, so I do shop their also.
Brenda says
I’m sorry you have a cruddy Aldi’s! I love our Aldi! It’s clean and carries lots of non food items. Not to mention good organic grass fed chicken and beef for a lot less then any grocer. Great coffee, wine and a variety of cheeses, meats, and yogurt.
TCmom says
I first visited Aldis about 3 years ago, and the ones near me are all fairly new as Aldis opened their first store in my city just about 5 years ago – so they are clean. It came in really handy as the recession hit and grocery prices increased, and especially since I don’t have time to clip coupons since I have a full time job. However, it is hit or miss. I never buy meat there, many of the non-foods items on my list have to be purchased at Walmart, and the produce is sometimes great and sometimes not. However, I have never experienced long lines or items not being in stock as you have. The one closest to my house is pretty good as they have wonderful cheeses – very well priced! I’m talking brie, Gouda, goat cheese, laughing cow. Also, their milk prices are definitely the best in town. So basically, I have found it to be great for dairy items, canned foods, carbs (cereal/crackers/bread) and sometimes produce. But I have to go elsewhere for meat, non-foods and those things they just don’t stock at all – always some of those items. I used to go there all the time to save money, but now our family is in a better situation as well as just busier, so now convenience is more important so we now typically go to Walmart or Target then get our meat at Fresh Market or BJs. But Aldis helped us during a tough time.
Margo says
I do my shopping at Meijer or Kroger. I am not fond of either store but one has to shop somewhere. I like to do all my shopping at one time so if I need to make other stops I usually go to Meijer as it is close to the pet store, Home Depot and a brand new Menard’s.
I have a hate like relationship with Kroger, it used to be where I shopped most often. They took over a Farmer Jack store when it closed and in the beginning I was satisfied. They gradually started eliminating many of the items I purchased. Some items were replaced by the store brand. I only found those items acceptable about half the time and often cost more. I find Kroger prices higher than Meijer on most things so I only shop there when they have a sale on items I need or if I want something from the deli counter.
What I like about both stores is the ability to self checkout. I shop early in the morning to avoid crowds and usually do not have to wait. Kroger’s self checkout is a bit more of a hassle than Meijer but they generally only have one cashier open when I go so it is quicker to do it myself.
I have only shopped at Aldi 2-3 times and was not impressed. The Target stores close to me are small and do not have a big grocery selection. I’m not a fan of Walmart in general so I have not grocery shopped there.
Melissa T says
I used to shop at Aldi for milk, cereal, pasta, bread, and canned goods. It was nice because I didn’t have time to clip coupons and I felt like we were saving money in a way that was easy for us. Our Aldi had the same problems though… it was picked over, usually only one person at the checkout, etc.
Then we moved at beginning of this month to an area without an Aldi. But I have more time to coupon, match sales, and plan my shopping trips, so I can go to our local grocery chain and actually buy more while spending less than I did at Aldi. I do miss some of the prices on things like milk, butter, and cheese, but I think overall I’m saving more.
Amy Owen says
I agree with you on Aldi. I have tried to get myself to shop there but it never really appealed to me. I am a Publix shopper. Their buy-one-get-one deals make for very low prices without coupons (although they double coupons) and their workers are all very friendly and helpful. I end up saving money there just buying the BOGO items but they also have good prices on regular items like bread and milk. I also like being able to go one place and get it done.
morgan says
we don’t have aldi or Meijer in north Carolina or south Carolina!
Jen says
I sooo appreciate this post! I skip Aldi for many of the same reasons and I regularly feel guilty for doing so! HAHA It doesn’t help me to drive 20 minutes to the closest Aldi, buy produce, and then have it go bad quickly-which, in my experience, Aldi produce often does. And, when I end up going to the regular grocery store for what I can’t get at Aldi, I end up spending even more money and then it’s all a wash anyway!
I miss miss miss Meijer with all my heart-for all the reasons you listed! We don’t have anything even close to that in Maryland, although we do have Super Target and Super Walmart, they just aren’t Meijer!
Sarah says
The area I grew up in doesn’t have an Aldi. I guess that is reason enough why we didn’t shop there. Also, the next closest Wal-Mart is 35 miles away and that wasn’t there until at least the mid-90’s and turned super center around 2008 or 2009.
My favorite store would be Hornbachers which is only found in Minnesota and North Dakota. Their first store was about 40 miles from where I grew up. We only went to the grocery store in our town if we were out of something like milk or bread or for a good sale, but not for the big weekly grocery shopping.
Now, I live in Germany. There is a varitey here, too. Aldi is a German chain. It is called a discounter here because they are cheaper than other stores. However there are several other discounters as well – they offer grocery products, weekly specials which include clothing, gardening stuff, hiking stuff, biking stuff…you name it, there is a different theme each week. Sometimes they are really good deals (and you should be standing at the door with the senior citizens when they open at 8 am on Monday to get in on the deal), and sometimes the “deals” are junk. But, yes, sometimes the don’t have everything you need or want so I also end up going to a different store. I usually like going to REWE here where I can get just about everything I need. However, if I don’t need anything specific, we will go to a discounter (not usually Aldi) for our weekly shopping.
Also you have a huge difference between discounters here – some are even fancier than others. Here I would rank Aldi in the middle to bottom of the scale. Many times at discounters, I feel as if I am walking through a larger indoor rummage sale (one day I was looking for the tin foil at such a store and when I asked where it was the reply was – over there on the wall between the nylons and dog food…yes, because that is where it always is…silly me for asking).
amy martin says
I used to be near a great Aldi store and loved shopping there, we moved to an area where the closest is 20 minutes further than Kroger or Meijer(I have two newer meijer stores within 10 minutes in each direction of home) and its also very grungy and I can’t get past how the put produce on pallets so close to the floor, so I shop where its more convenient and definitely cleaner!
Rochelle says
I Love this post!!! I live in the same area as you & also am NOT an Aldi shopper. I often get the question too & people try to make me feel guilty for not shopping there. Like seriously “don’t you like saving money?” I thought of a couple more reasons (besides the ones you listed above, which are great!). Like having to have a quarter for a cart, & the store not having bags! Granted I do use my Meijer reusauble bags when I go there, but if I forget or if I get more groceries than the amount of bags I have, they have them. I also have only been to Aldi a few times so I don’t know the layout of the store and I don’t know what they regularly carry. And I also have little ones & my time is way to valuable to make multiple stops.
Rebecca says
I went to an aldi for the first time several years ago and was really unimpressed. Weird brands, not a lot of choices, and cash only. It wasn’t worth it for me. I have a large family, so I need choices and convenience in my shopping. I hate going to more than one store for my normal shopping trips! I hate going to walmart because the things I need are all over the store, I waste so much time walking all over the place! Luckily, I have access to a military commissary, and I have the aisles memorized by now. Anyway, glad to read this article, I’m glad I’m not the only one that thinks aldi isn’t all that amazing!
Stephanie says
Not trying to change your mind on Aldi, but what day you go can make a huge difference in availability. During the summer months all grand rapids area Aldi’s carry Hearty Fresh produce based out of Byron Center, but since their produce isn’t stored as cold as say Meijer it can be kind of lousy. I actually get a large amount of my produce there. Jenison Aldi can be super busy, but I have never had a trip to Aldi where I wait more than 3 minutes in line to checkout. There are always 2-3 cashiers working.
Some things I get on a regular basis at Aldi, especially during the holidays when they run specials, cream cheese, butter, tortilla chips, peppers, potatoes, pasta, spaghetti sauce, sour cream, brats. Not a huge list but I go about once a month. Butter is only 1.89 a pound right now.
I can understand the multiple trips, the cc reason, and if every time you have been there you have had a bad situation. If you do ever go there again and have a bad experience I recommend talking to the manager. They try very hard to keep the place running smoothly and efficiently. I will say there is at least one cashier who seems to despise children and has made several nasty comments to the point of making one mom I know cry. If I ever have a run in with her I will be asking for the manager.
In the end, you have to do what is best for your family. For me, shopping at Aldi and Costco or Sam’s club are worth the extra stop.
Stephanie says
I forgot to mention toilet paper, trash bags, canned vegetables, their donut shoppe line of coffee is good and comparably priced. They have while supplies last deals that can be great. Especially toys around Christmas.
I did giv eup Aldi for a little while when I couponed but I feel like coupon deals are not very good anymore.
Do you buy your meat at Meijer? I know you have posted your shopping trips in the past, but I’m still amazed that you can get by on $50. I did that when it was just two of us 6 years ago, but prices have almost doubled on most items since then.
Enjoy your trip!
Kelly says
I do not like Aldis as my regular grocery location. It’s great for like you said, bags of chips, my pumpkin spice coffee creamer or fun treats.
I too end up wasting time and money every time I go there. Produce goes bad in a day. The cashiers I have personally experienced (not saying all are like this) have been grumpy/lazy/hard on my groceries and like you said, there is usually only one. I ALWAYS end up having to go somewhere else to get something they are out of. It’s never a quick in and out trip like planned, that’s for sure.
Those are just my personal experiences and I have a lot of friends and family members who love it. I’m a Meijers fan myself. Cheapest grocery bills with the best produce!
shelly says
I shop Krogers most of the time. I find that I’m less apt to overspend on things that aren’t on my list if I stay away from Walmart (too tempting). We also have a Food Depot and I get most of my produce/meat there as they are cheaper than Krogers. We don’t have a Aldi close by and could never justify the gas used vs. savings.
Melissa says
I wish there was a one-stop shop but there almost always isn’t. We don’t have Aldi or Meijer but we do have a Super Target, Super Walmart, and five locations of a regional grocery chain. Walmart is almost always cheaper than all of them but I usually only do self-checkout there or go at a weird hour because the cashier lines are long. Target beats the grocery store when stuff is on sale. I never buy paper products, personal items or diapers at the grocery store because they’re overpriced. I once got stuck buying $10 off brand sun tan lotion at a grocery store, it scarred me for life.
Kathy says
I’m sorry you have a terrible Aldi in your area. Someone should talk to the manager. Ours is awesome. Lots of variety and selections. Produce us awesome. Even have other household items ( paper towels toilet paper lightbulbs dish washing liquid). I hope they upgrade your Aldi soon. You are missing out.
Dana says
I agree, Kathy. The Aldi near me is great!… way better than what Andrea’s sounds like.. the manager there needs to address those problems, because those are not normal for Aldi.
Barbara Smith says
I used to shop often at Aldi (terrific prices). But when I became educated on food ingredients, I was horrified. The foods are often the cheapest because they are often made with the cheapest ingredients, which are often really awful for the human body.
I can either pay higher prices *now* for foods (wild-caught fish, grass-fed meats & eggs & dairy, etc.) or I can pay *later* (higher medical copays and lower quality of life).
Now I go to Aldi for baby wipes, detergents, etc…. prices are fabulous.
Becky says
I shop at Kroger, and that is mainly because it is the closest store to my house. It is only about one mile away. We have other grocery stores in town…Super WalMart, Hy-Vee, Shnucks, Aldi’s, etc, but they are all much further away. There is actually an Aldi’s right across the street from the Kroger near my house, but I know I wouldn’t be able to get everything I need there, and I feel like it is a waste of my time to go to two stores to complete my weekly shopping.
Jane says
I do something similar. When the kids were young, I used to shop at our closeout store and then the grocery store. After carefully looking at our budget, we realized I was spending too much at the discount store. I started planning a weekly menu and shopping once a week at the grocery store. I’ve had the same budget for a long time. I try to plan meals around the sale ad. But mostly having a plan works. It saved me a ton of time when the kids were little. I went into an Aldi once and just don’t like it. Using the credit card helps us track our expenses as well as gets us all kinds of points and rebates.
Katy says
I totally understand your reasoning for not shopping at Aldi…many of those reasons are the same I run into at a local Wal-Mart. It is 38 miles from home, so when you drive that far and they are out of things like pasta, bread or bananas…it’s very frustrating. The next closest Wal-Mart is 55 miles, but they usually have a better selection. There is nothing worse than driving a long distance (with two toddlers), not being able to find what you need, and then standing in line forever because there aren’t enough checkers (with two toddlers). I do shop the sales at our local small-town grocery stores (great service and selection!), but for big shopping trips it saves money to go to Wal-Mart…provided they have what I need 😉 Hope you are enjoying your trip!
Joanna Vanderkooi says
I am sorry for the lousy Aldi near you. I enjoy the one near us, and our WalMart is RIGHT across the street, so I get to run there to get the things I cannot at Aldi. It works for us, which makes me happy for us, and
disappointed for you. Glad we live in the U.S. where we have choices galore, huh? Have a fabulous day! 🙂
Karyn says
I totally understand! When my kids were small, I rarely went to Aldi for a lot of the same reasons you stated. Now that my youngest is 4, we go there about every 2 weeks. It’s not as big of a deal to wait in line, make sure I have cash on hand, etc. When your kids are little, there are some things that are just not worth the time, pain and headache!
Rebecca @ Rebeccas Delightful Home says
Good point! I have had good luck with my Aldi, but sometimes I find myself wasting time and gas running to many different grocery stores. By the way, have you ever checked out the farmer’s market in Holland, MI? I’m not sure if you are close to that area. I have family there, and have gone to the farmer’s market when visiting – it is wonderful!
Stephanie says
The farmer’s market in Holland is amazing!
Sheila says
Publix is my favorite! Love the great customer service, they are coupon friendly and I really like the BOGO deals they have every week. The yummy samples they serve don’t hurt either:)