Just in case the giant sucking sound coming from your wallet hadn't yet clued you in, groceries are just a bit expensive right now.
For years, I've shopped occasionally at Aldi's, a chain discount grocery which appears, unfortunately for some of you, not to be available in every state. Every time I shopped at Aldi's, I had a vague sense that I was saving money on staples (which is, for the most part, the only things they stock, except for occasional special items). But I'd never done an item-by-item comparison to get a real sense. Was it worth the trouble? Because shopping at Aldi's isn't exactly easy--you have to take your own bags, bag your own groceries, even pay a 25-cent deposit to use a grocery cart (refunded when you leave), and they only accept cash or debit cards.
As grocery prices have continued to go up (and, as it turns out, so have the appetites of my growing boys), I decided it was time to get serious about comparing if Aldi's shopping was worth the effort. I took a list of grocery staples to both Aldi's and then Wal Mart, where I normally do my grocery buying. I did an item-by-item comparison, comparing Aldi's price with the cheapest available brand at Wal Mart. This spreadsheet was the result (click on it to view):
(And? I don't want any lip from anyone that we list cheese puffs and popsicles as grocery staples. Thank you.)
The few items in red are the ones actually more expensive at Aldi's. All the others are either even or cheaper. (And let us pause for a moment of silence in memory of the brain cells I overwhelmed in building a color-coded spreadsheet).
I was blown away by the results, actually. I knew I was saving something by shopping at Aldi's, but I had no idea it was adding up so quickly. I can see how going to a little extra trouble will easily save substantial money each month. Most of the items listed are generic, which is the way I generally shop (except for a few items, paper towels--you'll have to pry my Bounty from my cold, dead fingers). I have never had any quality issues buying generic at Aldi's.
If you don't have one of these stores where you live, I extend my full sympathy, but I suggest you look around. Most cities have some sort of warehouse-type grocery facilities available. If you're willing to shop around, you might be surprised what you find.
Any other's Aldi's lovers out there? What have you learned shopping there? Have you ever had any issue shopping their generic brands? I'm curious to hear...
(P.S. Of course, if you use this list, take into account differences regionally in grocery prices. GOD BLESS the great state of Oklahoma for having a crazy-low cost of living, and things might be priced differently where you are. But it's a good place to start, and maybe it will inspire you to draw up your own comparisons, spreadsheet-inducing anxiety notwithstanding.)
We don't have Aldi, although it sure would be nice! (We don't have Super Wal-Marts, either.) We are very thankful for WinCo, though, which I highly recommend if you have one near you!
Posted by: Amy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:10 AM
No Aldis here in Oregon, but I wish there were. Just having to pay a deposit on my cart would be enough of a novelty to keep me coming back.
I'm easily entertained...
Posted by: franticallysimple | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:11 AM
unfortunately aldi's isn't even in my state. boo. but i am fortunate to have a super wal*mart closeby that has amazingly cheap grocery prices. i too always buy store brand and find it's soo much cheaper and dont notice a huge difference in quality. i also buy my produce and meat and a store called jons. not vons but jons. it's soo cheap and such a blessing also. the Lord always provides, doesn't He?
Posted by: melissa | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:16 AM
Wow! Some of those savings are nearly a $1! That really adds up. I now bring my own bags because it's greener and also easier on the back. The hardest part is finding the alternative bag you like best and remembering to take them in the store.
Posted by: Jane | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:17 AM
I Heart Aldi.
As an experiment (and because we were mostly broke)I planned my menu around what I could buy at Aldi. Well, before this I was shopping at Walmart/Kroger/Schnucks and spending about $200 for 2 weeks of groceries. When I meal planned specifically for Aldi, we did not notice much change in the amount or type of food- I just used recipes where I could find all the ingredients there.
We did notice a difference in our checkbook- I ended up averaging about $65 for 2 weeks of food. It was mind-blowing.
I have noticed that not everything is cheaper (although I think the quality is superior to a lot of other store brands) but I still save money because I don't buy all that impulse stuff. But the majority of the items are much cheaper!
I will confess that the $65 did not include our Diet Coke supply.
Posted by: Jessica | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:20 AM
I love Aldi and Lidl (a german store which is also found here in Holland.
And as a small aside: every single store here in Holland, (no matter how expensive!!), requires you to bag your own groceries AND put a refundable coin into your cart before going in. How's that for a small cultural difference?
Posted by: marit | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:29 AM
Aldi's is awesome!! I have now customized my grocery list for my store and go there first and buy everything that I can. Then I bag my stuff with the cold stuff in one of those insulated bags, make a quick stop at Wal-Mart for the few things Aldi's doesn't have and I'm done! I have knocked our weekly grocery/toiletry bill down by $30-$40! Oh, and I do recommend their laundry detergent and toilet paper--amazingly cheap and really good!
Posted by: Lora | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:49 AM
How about this? Amy over at the Motherload is also called "The Aldi Queen." She has TONS of recipes that are just for Aldi's. Her page is http://www.momadvice.com/aldi/
Aldi is great when you are buying generic. :D
Hugs,
Melinda
Posted by: Melinda | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 12:50 AM
I love Aldi's! Before we moved, I used to go to the one in our little MO town regularly. I was pretty hesitant my first trip there because I'm not fond of the Wal-mart, "Great Value" brand at all. I've found the food lacking in quality on more than one occasion. Aldi on the other hand has awesome generic products and I know their secret. Not too long ago they had a special on TV about the Aldi's chain on the Food Network channel. Turns out Aldi has special buying deals with major food companies and the various generic brands aren't generic at all. Aldi's buys the name brand that are so expensive in the regular grocery stores and slaps their own labels on it. How awesome is that? I miss Aldi's and have to settle for Winco in my new state but the savings are nowhere near what Aldi's gave.
Posted by: Brooke | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 01:02 AM
I actually have an Aldi's in our town, and I have never been inside. Perhaps it's worth a trip in to check it out.
Posted by: Angie @ Many Little Blessings | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 01:07 AM
Aldi's is one of those things I left behind in Ohio...
And who has time to make fun of cheese puffs and popsicles when there is a spreadsheet to mock?
Aldi's ought to be proud of their "bring your own bags" philosophy. And I always thought the quarter thing was genius. I have severe anger issues with People Who Don't Put Their Carts Back.
Posted by: Stretch Mark Mama | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 01:24 AM
guten morgen, i am living in hamburg, germany. for those not in the know, the aldi brothers are german, and here they are on just about every street corner. everyone shops there....aldi parking lots are full of bmw's and mercedes. my husband says aldi's is german culture. germany in general has the best quality food, for the lower prices, in europe...because the germans demand no less. the quality in general is far above the other discount shops here, and though the prices are going up here as well, aldi's is still offering better prices for quantity and quality. the "bring your own bag" philosophy is in all the stores here...many bring cloth bags or shopping baskets that sit snugly on the car seat, or on the back of a bicycle. when we visit my parents in pennsylvania we often see german products in the aldi's there, and here? american flags on products, american style this and that.. it's really a small world.
Posted by: Becky | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 01:39 AM
We don't have Aldi's (I've never heard of it before!), but we do have WinCo, which is the cheapest around here.
Posted by: Lisa @ Stop and Smell the Chocolates | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 01:49 AM
We are just starting to get Aldi's here in Central Florida. I have been shopping at Sav-A-Lot for years. My husband was raised on nothing but name brand foods, but I was a generic kid. He use to be picky but I have changed him. I actually got him to run to SAL for me last week to pick up milk, bread (.99¢), and something else. He couldn't get over how quick and easy it was to go into a smaller store that doesn't bombard you with extra junk they are trying to sell! I am going to show him your comparison sheet because most of the Aldi prices are very similar to SAL! Thank you for proving MY point!!!!!!!
Posted by: Kim | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 02:12 AM
We have Aldis and Lidl here in the UK and they have great value stuff. Apparently they are booming at the moment, and the big supermarket chains are feeling the pinch a little as customers search for the best deals on food.
Posted by: Linds | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 02:16 AM
I hadn't been to Aldi's in about 4 yrs. It wasn't that great then (or should I say, our location wasn't) but I figure, everyone deserves a 2nd chance, right? I went there again last Friday and was blown away by the quality they had now! The best prices I found were in their dairy, bread and produce sections. The areas I can't get for cheap with coupons elsewhere! How great a discovery. I was so happy with them that they are now on my list of first stops and then the other stores for things they don't have! Great find! And so is this posting. Thanks for the chart! Now I can print that out and have a price comparison. Sorry you had to do all the work for the rest of us! :)
Posted by: Coupon Geek | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 02:16 AM
We had Aldi when we lived in England, here we have Lidl. I totally agree that if you are selective about your purchases, it can make a real difference.
The main items I buy at Lidl are large and small cartons of pure fruit juice, jam and lovely high quality chocolate - I go about once a month to stock up, but could not manage to do my entire usual weekly shop there.
Posted by: JanMary, N Ireland | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 02:30 AM
I first went to Aldi when we were visiting my in-laws in Australia 6 years ago, but there were none in Oklahoma City then. Then a few years later an Aldi was built less than a mile from where we lived in OKC and I fell in LOVE!!! Then when we moved to Colorado Springs 2 years ago, I was very sad that there were no Aldi's here (still aren't). Grocery shopping just hasn't been the same (or as inexpensive) since we came here. Sad.
Posted by: Laura V. | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 04:03 AM
I love Aldi! We have been shopping there for months now almost exclusively except for a few items. I am especially blown away by their prices on canned goods, baking supplies, and cereal! I have also noticed that they seem to be increasing the variety of their offerings each time I go. My 2 year-old son also loves that they drive forklifts through the aisles to stock shelves! I have also never had a peoblem with quality. I even tried their diapers after being a Pampers devotee and they are fine! Great store!
Posted by: Bonnie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 04:46 AM
Hi Shannon.
The Accountant in me LOVES your spreadsheet. I love to color code stuff in a spsreadsheet (please don't think I'm too nuts:)
About once a month or two I'll drive to the city to stock up on cheap stuff at Aldi's. For some reason ours doesn't have good produce, or any selection of multi grain bread. Other than those things, everything else is great.
Take Care,
Trixie
http://farmhomelife.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Trixie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 04:50 AM
I adore Aldi. 45 cents for a can of diced tomatoes versus 89 cents (or more!) at the regular supermarket, with no difference in qualtity? Count me in.
I kept a comparison price spreadsheet for a few months when I first started shopping there. Even for a single person household, the savings are significant. I've been a "from scratch" cook all my life, and being able to get quality ingredients at a better cost is my idea of heaven.
Posted by: Diane | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:15 AM
I love Aldi. But I always end up blowing a lot of the money I saved on groceries at Starbucks right across the street from Aldi.
Posted by: Heth | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:18 AM
How timely Shannon! We have a brand new Aldi's and I was trying to decide how to compare them with my Walmart where I always get groceries. I was dreading the process. Thank you so much for taking the time and doing the hard work for us. I'm off to shop!
Posted by: Becky | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:34 AM
An Aldi's just opened up in our town this month!
The only negative I found was when checking out. I did not know that they didn't take a credit card. Good thing I only bought a few things, cause I don't usually carry that much cash! Just a FYI.
Posted by: Capri K | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:45 AM
I love Aldi as well. I remember when I first started going there (before they accepted debit cards) and having to add up everything in my head as I went. I was always afraid I wouldn't have enough cash. Back them, just about everything (that I bought anyway) was .99, so that helped a bit.
I have my regular shopping route each week. First, I buy everything I can at Aldi. Sometimes they have surprises and sometimes they're out of something. And then I buy the rest of my list items at Woodmans.
Their French Vanilla coffee creamer is amazing. We used to use in in everything from coffee (obviously) to oatmeal. When I started having panic attacks at the thought of not having it in my fridge, I realized it was an addiction and I'd better stop buying it. :(
Thanks for blogging about this!
Kari
Posted by: Kari | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:52 AM
I definitely love Aldi. Their prices on produce, staples, everything are way beyond what I could ever hope for anywhere else.
My mom has shopped at Aldi for a long time and now I do too, and neither of us have ever bothered with bringing our own bags. We just grab empty cardboard boxes from the aisles and use them to load our groceries into. Works for us!
Posted by: jennifer | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 05:59 AM
Great comparison. I will point out that Aldi's prices DO fluctuate, at least at our store (sometimes for the good and sometimes not) I did, for example, get eggs for $.95 a dozen the other day (and no, they weren't close to the sell by date). But they are normally $1.29 at our store. So keep your eyes open and you can get even better deals there sometime too!
Posted by: Emily | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:05 AM
That's a great spreadsheet and makes me excited that I shop at Aldi. Milk at our Aldi has been $2.49 for the last month or so, which makes it worth the trip by itself. Thanks for this post!
Posted by: Molly | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:05 AM
We are huge fans of Aldi and Sav a lot. We are also fortunate livng in the country that we usually have the option of farm fresh produce from one of the locals around here.
My hubby was familiar with aldi from living in Germany and bugged me into trying it shortly after we married. I have to drive either to tulsa or fayetteville to go but we carry an ice chest and multiple freezer bags w/ us to make the trip worthwhile
and their spiral honey hams...AWESOME for the price
steff
Posted by: Steffj89 | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:06 AM
There are several things that I prefer the Aldi's brand over a name brand.
I'll bet they are thriving with the down turn in the economy. I know I've been hitting them up more frequently.
Posted by: Angie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:08 AM
I LOVE Aldi's! I just recently started shopping there and couldn't be happier. My biggest shock is sugar at Wal-Mart is 2.98 here and at our Aldi's it is only 2.07 :o Almost a whole dollar savings lol.
Posted by: Sarah | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:08 AM
I have just started shopping at Aldi's trying their store brands. So far, I've liked all I've tried. A nice surprise....their kitchen trash bags: a little harder than most to get opened, but also stronger than any I've used (including brand names). Yea...reasonable prices!!!
Posted by: mimi2six | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:18 AM
I didn't read the comments so someone may have already posted this, but here's another plug for Aldi's - they and Trader Joe's (the cute, little upscale stores) are owned by the same company!
Posted by: Ericka | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:20 AM
I heart my Aldi.
It is so totally worth it.
Posted by: chocolatechic | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:21 AM
i love aldi. we have one in our town, but i've only been once. hey have aldi's in france and germany and when i lived there, i loved them. now i shop at the commissary which is probably just as cheap. i am always shocked when i go into a regular grocery store...
Posted by: Terina | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:27 AM
Love, love, love Aldi.
Our family doesn't like their canned green beans. Not sure why.
At one point, our local grocery store had milk for $4 a gallon while Aldi stayed at 1.99. That is awesome.
Also, using their boxes lying around not only helps me not have to remember my bags, but saves them some time, which results in lower expenses.
Gotta love saving money!
Posted by: mandy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:27 AM
It is thanks to Aldi's that I am feeding the four of us on $60/week! I'm an Aldi's convert and PROUD of it! LOL
Posted by: Beth/Mom2TwoVikings | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Since I live an hour away from Aldi-- I stopped going, figuring the gas money I was spending outweighed the savings. And I was sad.
But then one day, I was shopping in Dollar General and found that many, many of the same staples that I used to buy at Aldis could be found at the Dollar Store. I think I'm saving as much-- plus the Dollar Store bags my groceries for me.
I think I'm the only Dollar Store customer in Gallatin, MO who fills 3 carts at a wack. :)
Posted by: Michelle- | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:41 AM
Great salsa @ Aldi's...in the refrigerated section!
Posted by: Janet | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:48 AM
i've grown to love aldi as well....but i would recommend looking elsewhere if you buy mac and cheese. their brand is pretty undesirable.
Posted by: tiffany | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I LOVE Aldis! I was so excited when we got one in my town...
However, I will say that I haven't had great luck with the canned veggies...my family doesn't care for them (picky husband). Which is okay, because I am trying to do frozen instead (more healthy).
What I will add is that Walmart will price match Aldi- so for those times you have to go there, you can get aldi prices. I hate going to walmart though- cause I always spend more than I mean, due to the overwhelming amount of stuff!
I totally heart aldi
Posted by: Rhonda | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:51 AM
I love Aldi, too. My kids call it OLDIES. :)
I can get an entire week's worth of groceries (me + 2 teen girls + 1 teen boy) for around $50. Before Aldi, when I was shopping at a different grocery store chain (Crest), I could easily spend $100 on the same types of foods.
I've learned (and have taught my children) to put our cloth bags and the box I like for groceries right back in the trunk of my car after I've put away the groceries at home. That way, I'm never stuck anywhere without a cloth grocery bag.
Posted by: Natalie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:57 AM
So worth it. We love Aldi. It is our closest grocery store and have been shopping there for 10 years.
Posted by: Michelle T. | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:16 AM
we have no aldi's...
i'm surprised bananas are so expensive where you are...most places around here, even kroger and heb, sell them for about 40-45 cents a lb!
Posted by: Renee | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:17 AM
I love Aldi. I always joke with my husband we can move anywhere...as long as there is an Aldi within driving distance!
Seriously, I don't what we would do if we didn't have Aldi. None of our grocery stores around here double coupons so this is really the best way to save for us. (We are a family of 8.)
Posted by: Shelly | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:20 AM
Thanks for sharing this! We have an Aldi nearby, but I haven't been there yet. I'll definitely have to try it. I use the reusable shopping bags anyway, so the bagging it yourself isn't such a bad thing for me. I won't have to get annoyed looks from the checkout people anymore when they see my coupons AND my reusable bags!
Posted by: Elizabeth | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:29 AM
I grew up shopping at Aldi! They also have a double quality guarantee on their products. I once bought some crescent rolls that were moldy when I opened the cans. I took them back and they replaced the 4 cans AND gave me my money back with no questions asked! I also always put my grocery bags right back into my van after I unload the groceries and I always keep a quarter in the ashtray. Woe to the person who pilfers my Aldi quarter!
Posted by: laura | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:29 AM
For those who don't know about Aldi, they only accept debit, cash and food stamps (no credit cards or checks) and they don't take coupons, since they rarely have brand name products.
Posted by: laura | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:33 AM
I love Aldi too! There isn't one in my town, but about 15/20 miles away! I don't go on a regular basis, but need to start. Even if I set a regular day of going, that might help. I think I will still save money even with the extra drive time!
Posted by: Traci | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:33 AM
Aldi's is in the next town over (which is just seven miles and the "big town" where we go to church, etc), so it's definitely out of the way. Thanks for doing the legwork to show that it is worth the extra time and effort.
Our Aldi's has the best produce around. My only gripe is that it's packaged up, and sometimes I don't WANT to by four peppers, etc.
We also have Sav-A-Lot. You can save money there but you have to be very careful about quality.
Posted by: Staci at Writing and Living | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:39 AM
YES!! Previously I have only shopped at Aldi's occasionally. But for the last two weeks I did a huge chunk of my shopping there and it is a huge savings. We have found that we can not tell a difference between MOST generic items versus name brands. There are a few exceptions like Heinz ketchup!! Always Heinz!!
Posted by: Laura | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:39 AM
Well that settles it. I'm making a maiden voyage to Aldi's today!
Posted by: Me? A Mom? | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:42 AM
Well, I'm not alone, but I love Aldi! I am so glad that you posted about it, because a lot of times people just look at me with a blank stare when I mention this amazing store.
I started shopping at Aldi when I got married a little over two years ago. My hubby's mom had always shopped there, but I hadn't given it much thought. I, like you, found it to be significantly cheaper on most items. I am so grateful for Aldi!
For others who might not have an Aldi, I've also found Sav-A-Lot has good prices (some other people mentioned this too). They have some of the same types of things there.
Anyway, thanks for posting on my favorite store!
Posted by: Sarah | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:48 AM
I thought about shopping at Aldi's--we have one less than a mile from our home. But when I compared the prices with the regular grocery store sales and coupons, I found that I could buy name-brand stuff at the grocery store cheaper than Aldi's, as long as I buy with coupons when there is a sale.
Plus, we use a cash-back credit card (which we pay off in full each month) that gives us 5% back on grocery purchases.
So, for us, it makes more sense to keep track of the sales and coupons....more time consuming, but as a stay at home mom, I've got plenty of that!
Posted by: Mrs. Sprinkles | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:50 AM
I noticed some of their canned produce isn't as tasty as the grocery store generics. We had a can of peas that was darn near impossible to eat because they were too hard. We also used a cake mix for a recipe that wasn't traditiobnal cake and noted it was a little salty tasting.
That said, I still shop there, even for cake mix and peas. :) We eat what we have and we don't complain. My girlfriend has an impossibly picky HUSBAND and can pass some of their stuff off on him.
And, their produce prices are really nearly impossible to beat!
Posted by: Tara | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:54 AM
I'm an Aldi lover. I keep a price book/comparison of items I frequently buy and like you said, you can't beat Aldi for the staples. Unlike a comment shortly before mine, I'm not impressed with my Aldi's produce, so I rarely buy that type of thing there.
I'm blessed to live in a town where a name-brand bread is made, so I frequent the bread store (as we call it) and can buy quality bread (NOT cheap, flimsy white stuff or fake whole wheat) for 79 cents a loaf.
Posted by: Heather | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:55 AM
What sold me on Aldi was the $1.99 milk this summer, when Wal-Mart's milk was $4.19.
We rarely go to Wal-Mart any more. I think the other part to saving money at Aldi is that you can't buy any "extras" there like at a supercenter. You can just get groceries.
Posted by: Gina | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:57 AM
I'm trying to like Aldi's but it's hard for me. I believe they have good quality, I know they're less expensive etc. but part of what I enjoy about grocery shopping is the experience and Aldi's is so ugly inside. (I'm shallow). In my DINK days, when I worked at a chef's college to boot!, I shopped a lot at Whole Foods (or Whole Paycheck as my husband calls it). I still get some things from Whole Foods and the place is beautiful& inspiring. I tend now to shop a lot at Trader JOe's - which is kinda like Whole Foods but cheaper and did you know it's owned by Aldi's?
Posted by: Midwest Mom | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 07:59 AM
When we first moved here we didn't have a clue what Aldi's was, and I was mourning the fact that there weren't any discount grocery stores...and THEN I figured out what Aldi's was. Ever since then they've gotten our business. Great way to save!
Posted by: Sheri | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:07 AM
I used to shop at Aldi when we lived in Iowa. Since moving to Wisconsin I haven't visited our local Aldi. I have found that while Aldi is good for some staples, I didn't care for the quality of fresh veges, meats, and frozen foods.
Posted by: Teresa | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:10 AM
An Aldi's just opened a few minutes away and I'm loving it! It's always empty so I don't think people have discovered it yet. Also, I live in an kind of upscale area and I think people might be snobs - that's fine, more savings for me!
Posted by: Megan | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:11 AM
I love ALDI... and heard somewhere they have the same parent company as Trader Joe's? (not confirmed)
But Shannon, I love you dearly and know of your passion for words and their correct useage. Check the sign, the receipt and the website... ALDI. No "'s." This has been one of my pet peeves for years. ALDI. Just ALDI. :)
Posted by: Molly | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:11 AM
We don't have an Aldi's here - wish we did. My sister in Ohio shops at Aldi's regularly and, like you, has found the prices are much lower than even Walmart.
Our Super Walmart is the best I've got so that's where I do the bulk of my shopping.
Posted by: Dawn W | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:14 AM
I don't have one in my town but they are in my state. The distant isn't worth the $$$.
We have Sam's club, Cashwise, Cub Foods & Corborns. There are a few other stores but are pricey. I am going to take your list and compare to my stores.
Posted by: BarbaraLee | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I just drove by Aldi on Wednesday and thought "Maybe I should stop in there to see if I can save more money than Walmart." So your little experiment couldn't have been any more perfect for me! Thanks Shannon!
Yesterday's post from Jane Anne was amazing. So well-written. My little boy has allergies too. It was good to hear from another's Mom's perspective. I am going to post a link on my blog.
Posted by: Trisha | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:28 AM
I would say that you likely have little to worry about in terms of quality with the generic products. I work with the food industry and one thing I have found out is that a lot of "name brand" products are actually contract-produced by manufacturers that also produce generics. The recipes may be proprietary to the name brand, but the production process and manufacturing lines are exactly the same.
Posted by: Suki | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:31 AM
I shop at Aldi's once every 2 weeks! I love it! The first time I went I had my cart full...expected my bill to be $75 or so that I'd spend at Walmart of Meijer's. She said..your total is $35.xx....I was SHOCKED> I said...."really! Are you serious!" She just smiled. I usually shop at Aldi's first off my list then pick up the few remaining items at Meijer's....
You gotta try it if you have one!!!
Posted by: Jennifer Griffin | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:33 AM
I LOVE Aldi! My closest Walmart is 20 minutes away (in the same town as Aldi) so I hit both of them every 2 weeks.
I LOVE doing my own bagging (I do it at Walmart too because I bring my own bags and they look at me funny)
Also, my 3 year old gets the quarter if she's good for our huge trip so I love it for all the reasons you don't :)
Posted by: Christina Z | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:33 AM
PS...I agree with Molly. It's Aldi. You don't say Walmart's....
Posted by: Christina Z | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:34 AM
I came to the conclusion this morning that I need to shop at the local Aldi and a freezer store too.
Trouble is when I then went into Aldi's I walked all around the store adding items to my trolley before getting to the till where they told me the electronics had gone down 20 minutes earlier and they could only accept cash!
I wasted a whole 20 minutes in there, then had to go somewhere else! Would it have killed them to put a sign on the door?
Still, the prices will keep me going back.
Posted by: zoe | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:36 AM
I really appreciate this post! I too have wondered if I was saving anything by shopping at Aldi. I have just discovered Big Lots and they have great prices for foods such as cereal, chips, juice boxes for the kids lunches, and such.
Posted by: mandy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:42 AM
I once heard that Aldi was owned by Trader Joe's.
I love Aldi! I shop about every other week and really notice the difference in my food budget.
Posted by: Mary B | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:45 AM
We love Aldi! We get everything we can from there. For toiletries and the like I go to CVS. They have the most amazing rewards program. You can stack manufacturer coupons with CVS coupons and CVS Extra Bucks for triple the savings. I consistently get things like toothpaste, shampoo, lotion and the like for free or insanely cheap from CVS.
Posted by: Summer | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Oh and Mary, Trader Joes is actually owned by Aldi.
Posted by: Summer | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:46 AM
I am a huge fan of Aldi's. You can't beat their prices on baking supplies or canned goods. They also have great produce.
Overall, I have been very happy with the quality of their products. Best of all they have a guarantee that if you don't like a product, they will give you twice the money back.
I usually hit Aldi's once every few months and stock up on all the staples. I am fortunate to have the storage space to do it that way.
I just went yesterday and filled my cart to overflowing and only spent $89. Amazing!
Posted by: Amy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:47 AM
The jarred fruit from Aldi's is like $1 a jar, and is SO MUCH BETTER than what I get at the Kroger. I don't buy anything else anymore.
It's really a great place to get treats - their yogurt covered raisins rock, too.
I just wish it weren't way down on the other side of town. I seriously love Aldi's.
Amy @ http://prettybabies.blogspot.com
Posted by: Amy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:47 AM
I love aldi's too - but I don't utilize it enough and have yet to do the comparison - thanks for the added motivation!
About the papertowels - I used to be the same way about Brawny until between my husbands jobs brand papertowels fell off the top of my priority list - I found the store brand at Dollar General - $1/roll - are very, very close. (It may be their 'top-of-the-line store brand)
Now toilet paper. . . still no generic for me there - aloe is very, very important on the bum!
Posted by: Melissa | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:49 AM
I can't decide if I should cry or throw up - maybe both! I'm in Alberta, Canada and our cheapest option is usually WalMart - at least for the stuff I buy. But there are some things I get at Costco for the bulk/cheap factor. For example, a large box of frozen chicken breasts (10lbs) - $31. And this was a good price! Seeing that you pay $7 for 5lbs makes me want to move....
Except for the health care, I really like me some free health care. :)
Posted by: ET @ Titus2:3-5 | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Love this post. I'm a recent Aldi's convert and was pleased to see someone else doing price comparisons.
I have found, however, that if you're shopping for the few things that are outside of Aldi's wheelhouse (meats and produce), it's good to check the advertising circulars for other local stores. Generally speaking, I've found that Food Lion carries at least one great loss leader on meat every week (this week: split chicken breasts for $0.79/pound) and, when I have freezer space, it's a great way to stock up.
Posted by: Betsy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Well I'm glad you did this. I had actually started to wonder if my time at Aldi's was wasted...I grocery shop with my 2 year old every other Thursday. We head out of the house at 9am and go to Walmart first where I have my list and then head to Aldi's across the street with that list. We head home at 11am...and by the time I get everything put up and feed my poor 2 year old it is almost 12:30...I normally collapse at this point with him and take a nap. I spend around $300 every 2 weeks.....how much do you spend? And how often do you go ?
Posted by: jen | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 08:59 AM
We LOVE Aldi's! I did notice that some of our prices are different than yours though. I just went shopping on Wednesday and at walmart eggs were $1.38/dz and at ALDI they were $1.19/DZ. We have a JayC (kroger owned), a Kroger, Super walmart, and ALDI....and yes I go to every single store (or use ads to comp at walmart). I make a 2 week menu by whats on sale and GREATLY utilize coupon mom.com and moneysavingmom.com. ANY snacks we get are the ones that are on sale combined with coupons. I spent a larger amount at the store last Wednesday than I had in a LONG time...for actual groceries I spent about $130. Thats for a family of 5 for 2 weeks. I have 2 kids that eat more than my husband and I combined! Even though I was shocked at the price and had to go over budget...I had to sit back and think that I just spent less than $2/day per person for food....not too bad.
Posted by: Angela | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:01 AM
I love shopping at Aldi's. There produce is so much cheaper and tastes great. One of the things I love about it is their Fit & Active brand products. I used to shop at Save-A-Lot but they didn't have these healthier alternatives available. And one other piece of info. to share. I was in line one time when the lady in front of me was going on about how good the Aldi's cereals were and the store manager told her all their cereals are made by General Mills. So why pay the big bucks elsewhere when you can get the same thing here much cheaper?
Posted by: Jill B. | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:15 AM
When I lived in Europe I shopped at Aldi. The food was definitely cheaper, but I always left there with other stuff that I didn't come for, so not sure if it was cheaper in the end or not.
Posted by: Annie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:15 AM
I grew up shopping at Aldi's. My mom, my brother and I would load the cooler, all our paper sacks and ourselves into the van and head to the next town for our monthly grocery trip. Staples and most everything at Aldi's, some produce or other stuff at Price Chopper. (I don't know what "other stuff" really was - come on! I was dragged to the store on a Saturday with my MOM!)
I don't typically make the time now; it's so much easier to get everything at the Super Walmart, much as I hate to admit it.
By the way, I learned just last year (honest!) that the name of the store is actually Aldi. No "s" on that puppy. Huh. Had no idea until my best friend pointed it out. Like she's so cosmopolitan after living in Seattle for a while. Ha!
Posted by: Mary | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:20 AM
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Aldi. We recently moved from Oklahoma to Kansas and was very excited to find an Aldi down the street from where we live now. We save a bunch of money on our overall food bill each month by going to Aldi first. Granted, yes, we do normally have to make another stop to pick up a few things that we need that Aldi doesn't have. BUT the savings are worth it! We only eat our twice a week and we are still eating off of the $100 of groceries we purchased 3 weeks ago!
Posted by: Abbie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I am fond of Aldi. Lately, however, I've been lured to one-stop shopping, but your breakdown is making me back into a loyal Aldi shopper. I need bread today. I'll be stopping by.
Posted by: Christa Bartlett | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:23 AM
I found an Aldi on my way to Publix so I am excited to say I plan to shop there this week for the first time. My in laws love Aldi and I've eaten food that came from there so I know it is good. Thanks for the speadsheet you basically sealed the deal on shopping there for me. I'm forwarding this on to my in laws too.
Posted by: angela | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:24 AM
I LOVE me some Aldi!! I've been shopping there for a few years and I easily save $100-150 a month on groceries. And while I have to make the swing by Walmart to pick up a few things too, it is totally worth it. The only cereal we've tried and not liked is the generic Cheerios---a little stale. And the only bread we've found that isn't stale and moldy quickly is the new white wheat. Otherwise we've very pleased with our experience and a little bummed we didn't discover it earlier!!
Posted by: Jennifer | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:24 AM
You must have been reading my mind! I was just thinking about doing my own price check between Walmart and Aldi's to see just how much I would save. I have never really shopped Aldi's but I am willing to try if I can save $$. :)
MSheriff
KYMOM
Posted by: Michele | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:33 AM
Yes, we have Aldi's here in Cleveland, OH - but I don't usually shop there. I usually shop at Super K-mart for certain sales (they have milk this week - 2 gallons for $5!! :) )
Or we have a grocery store - Giant Eagle.
Here's why I like Giant Eagle. #1 they have store/off brand that is as cheap or cheaper than Aldi's.
#2 they double coupons up to $0.99.
#3 you get fuel perks (for every $50 you spend on groceries, you get $0.10 off gas. Certain times they have promotions where you get $0.20 off. You also get these fuel perks when you buy gift cards to the store or other stores - they sell gift cards to home Depot, Kmart, Sears, etc. About 100 other stores too)
so, that's why I personally don't usually shop at Aldi's.
Now I'm off to make my shopping list for Giant Eagle. 10 for $10 deals are my friend there this week. :)
Posted by: angela | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:33 AM
West Coaster here...I'm moving to Oklahoma! We have some discount grocery stores but they still come in higher than Aldi's in Oklahoma.
Posted by: Cyndy | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:40 AM
I don't want to sound like a big hippie, but about the Bounty- we switched to cloth napkins and cloth towels a year or two ago, and I haven't regretted it. We save lots of money on paper napkins/towels, and since I'm washing clothes all the damn time anyway, it's not hard to throw dinner napkins/kitchen towels in the top of the next load. Or keep a little bucket in the kitchen for towels and wash a load once a week. (I also clean everything in the kitchen with vinegar and water, instead of store-bought though, so what do I know?)
Plus it's nice sitting down to dinner with "fancy" napkins every night.
Posted by: Kate Roden | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:41 AM
I am going to speed over to my Aldi right now. We have them all over here in Chicago and I've never been.
The savings you have shown are worth it! My grocery bill is anywhere from 180 bucks to about 220 dollars every 10 days for our family of six, and that's with plenty of eating out, so I am looking forward to seeing how much I can save! Thank you!
Posted by: Lisa@Take90West | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:47 AM
My husband calls Aldi's the garage sale of food. I think that's pretty funny...
I don't do a lot of shopping at Aldi's. I usually go there when we're having a big event like a BBQ or party. I do most of our shopping at Trader Joe's. I think their prices & quality are great & you can't beat the tiny carts & balloons when shopping with a 3 year old. When we used more canned goods I did a lot more shopping at Aldi's though.
I've been told they have a meal planner on their website designed specifically for their products. I haven't checked it out though.
Posted by: Andi | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:47 AM
I use e-mealz to plan my weekly meals and she has an aldi plan that I use and it is great and saves me so much money.
http://www.e-mealz.com/
I do all of my shopping at ALDI except for some cleaning supplies and personal hygiene items. I love ALDI!
Posted by: Mary T. | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Aldi's just opened in our area in the last few weeks. I haven't been yet....I'm keep forgetting it opened - but after reading this I will be trying it out next week :)
Posted by: Tami | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 10:00 AM
I had been procrastinating doing this myself. Now you've pushed me to do it!
I LOVE Aldi, but usually have to go to one other store each week to get items that they don't have for my recipes.
I've decided I'm enlisting the husband's help this week to watch the kids so I can go make my list comparing the two stores! Thanks for the kick in the butt to go do my own!
Posted by: Stephanie | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 10:01 AM
I am a fellow ALDI lover. I knew they were cheaper, and now, thanks to your spreadsheet I have the proof!
Our ALDI has milk for $2.49 though. For a while though it was $1.99.
Posted by: Trina | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 10:19 AM
Nice (and a tiny bit scary OCD! :). I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart in over four years because they treat their employees so badly. I'm glad to know that that decision hasn't really had a high cost.
Posted by: Texas in Africa | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 10:22 AM
I was seriously planning to blog about Aldi's this week! Great minds think alike, lol!
I love Aldi's. It's come A Long Way since the 90's. I saw a show on the Food Network that said LOTS of brand name companies make food for Aldi's under an off name... but its the same food, made in the same plant!!
I like that you have to use a 25 cent deposit on the carts; it makes consumers take them back, so overhead costs are not passed back to us in their prices! I like that you have to bag your own groceries too, because it reinforces the simplicity of going green. It's really not that hard... and some chain stores like Cub Foods make you bag your own anyway.
Sure it's not a carpeted upscale hoity toity store. But I have no interest in paying for those amenities; I just want good affordable food for my family.
Blessings, Whitney
Posted by: Whitney @ Baby Tunnel Exodus | Friday, October 24, 2008 at 10:27 AM