New to shopping at Aldi? Here’s what to buy (including a list of my favorite products!) and how shopping at Aldi saves you money. Check out my tips…I’ve been shopping there for almost 2 decades!
Since I’ve been shopping at Aldi for so long (over 16 years!), I forget that many people are still new to the store. It has evolved SO much in the last few years and now it’s actually quite popular to shop there. My how things have changed!
I first wrote about Aldi on my previous blog and converted quite a few other people to frequent shoppers, but I realized I didn’t have a post on this site. Since I talk about Aldi so much, I figured my tips would be helpful!
If you aren’t an Aldi shopper (and there’s one in your area ), you really should check it out! They’re popping up all across the country now…even in California now. They offer healthy foods, gluten free, organic and more at rock bottom prices. While you can’t get everything there, you really can knock out a good 75% of your shopping list.
Quick starter tips:
- Bring a quarter. It’s for the cart and you’ll get it back!
- Bring your own bags. You can also purchase them there. After checkout, you will be bagging your own items.
- Come with an open mind. I always have a “try anything” mentality when shopping there–although, we aren’t too brand loyal anyways.
- They don’t accept coupons. It’s okay, the prices are so low, it doesn’t matter! Occasionally, the Sunday paper will have a $5 off store coupon to use, especially if they’ve remodeled or opened a new location in your area.
Part of shopping on a budget means keeping a stocked pantry! I like to keep a running list of items we need on a dry erase board that’s mounted on my freezer. When we run low on rice, I know it’s cheapest at Aldi so it goes on that list. Totally helpful!
- Fit n’ Active – lower in sodium, fat and calories.
- Live G-Free – gluten free options
- Never Any – meat without hormones or antibiotics
- Simply Nature – honest ingredients, mostly organic
- Little Journey – baby and toddler items
- Specially Selected – gourmet items like cheese, specialty crackers, etc
Aside from their store brands, they have some brand name items, also. The selection depends on the store. There will be items like Coke, Huggies, etc.
My favorite items to buy at Aldi:
- Lunchbox fillers/Snacks: granola bars, crackers, nuts, bread, lunch meat
- Baking items: flour, sugars, spices, corn starch, salt
- Pantry fillers: tomatoes, stock, beans, tuna, rice, seasoning packets, oil, vinegar, coffee
- Frozen items: Fit n’ Active meatballs, frozen boneless thighs, whole chickens, veggies, Fit n’ Active whipped topping
- Dinner helpers: thin pizza crusts, whole grain pasta, rice
- Produce/Dairy: almond milk, milk, egg beaters, eggs, yogurt, lettuce, cheese
- WINE: My favorite right now is Intermingle…it’s a red blend that is the same as Cupcake Red Velvet, but $3 cheaper! The knockoff Corona is tasty too.
See (and print!) my entire favorites list here!
Other tips:
- Some items are seasonal, others aren’t always in stock. When you find something you love, it’s smart to stock up. When I see my favorite ranch rice cakes, I get a few bags!
- Produce is usually at great prices, but the selection can be hit-or-miss. No matter what you can get bananas, potatoes and onions, but items like avocados, berries or peppers might not be in stock. When there’s a super low price on a produce item, it’s best to go early in the week!
- When browsing the meat section, if you see red stickers, the $ off amount is the markdown. For instance, if a roast has three red $1 stickers, it’s $3 off! They count EACH sticker on there! We don’t eat much beef, but I do like to grab pork chops and ground turkey there!
- My biggest tip is to TRY EVERYTHING. I really don’t have any items that I steer clear of at Aldi. Many people have a bad impression of the store and they’ve never even set foot inside!
For people who are on a budget, but can’t find time to coupon, Aldi is a perfect option for you.
My favorite Aldi Recipes:
Even MORE information on my Facebook Live video!
What’s always on your Aldi list? Any other tips?
I was wondering that, if they took coupons – they had Honey Nut Cheerios (real brand) the other day.
I found their Kung Pao egg rolls the other day and haven’t seen those in years! In the ‘special buy’ frozen section. I bought one but should have bought multiple.
We love their store brand honey nut Cheerios too! SO cheap! This time of year, I love when they get the Asian specialties in the freezer section. There’s a stir fry mix that’s fab too. I’ll have to look for the Kung Pao rolls.