Frugal Friday

I want to tell you about my new favorite store, Aldi!  That sounds really funny considering I drove by the Aldi store daily for about a year and a half, until recently when I decide I had to check it out.  My curiosity peaked after reading one of my favorite blogs, Blue Chateau Interiors.  Carole, at Blue Chateau, shares how she cut her family's food budget drastically without using coupons just by shopping at Aldi.  After that endorsement I had to give it a try.

I stopped in one day just to look around and figure out the system.  See, at Aldi, things are a bit different than at traditional American groceries.  1st off, you have to "rent" your shopping cart.  This really isn't a big deal because the quarter you deposit to receive a cart is given back to you when you return it.  Also, you have to bring your own bags or buy bags from them (my local Aldi sells paper or plastic bags for .10 a piece) and bag your own items.  Fortunately, the Aldi folks have a nice counter space right past the checkout lines so you can sort and bag yourself as needed.  I take my own re-usable shopping bags and 1 large clothes basket (which I leave in the car) if I am doing a large shopping trip.  Then I bag up can goods and such and then put all the rest in the basket at the car and then return my cart.  It is a bit different from traditional stores but not much different from your warehouse club experiences (well, except for the pricing!)  Also, I like that Aldi carries all the seasonal specials and even some household and gift items.  You can also preview their sales ads in advance online to see current specials.

But why  has Aldi become my favorite?  Quite simply the price and value!  Over the last few weeks we have tried many different products from Aldi and have been pleased with the quality of each and thrilled with the pricing. 

In the past year or so, it seems grocery prices have climbed and continue to reach new heights every week.  Our grocery bills were out of control and I found myself frustrated and discouraged every time I had to do a shopping trip.  I know a lot of folks are dedicated couponers and in the past I have used a lot of them (but I am no ultimate couponer) and just couldn't seem to get into the swing of it after our move a year and a half ago.  So, when I found Aldi...I felt like I finally had some control over our grocery bill!  It was such a relief to see an actual difference in pricing! 

This is an example of a quick stop in Aldi for some odds and ends.  I got all this (including the fresh and so yummy pineapple) for $8.35 including tax.  I guarantee if I had gone to my traditional grocery I would have spent somewhere between $13 & $15 for the same items. 

Check out Carole's post on "How to Shop at Aldi"

for more encouragment to jump on the Aldi bandwagon!

So I am an Aldi convert!  Have you tried it yet?