3 signs you should never step into Aldi

Groceries are a big expense in our house. And it’s likely to be a big expense for you, too.

If you’re looking to save money on groceries, consider adding Aldi to your shopping routine. Aldi is known for its competitive prices, so shopping regularly can benefit your personal finances.

But shopping at Aldi isn’t for everyone. If any of these signs apply to you, you may want to avoid it.

1. I only have time to visit one supermarket each week.

I don’t shop at Ali often these days. But when I do, it’s usually in addition to my weekly trips to Costco and my local ShopRite supermarket.

I work from home and have a very flexible schedule, so I can occasionally fit an extra grocery run into my routine. However, if you have a demanding job and have limited time to shop for food, Aldi may not be a great option for you. And if you only have time to visit one supermarket a week, you might want to avoid Aldi in particular.

One problem with Aldi is that stock isn’t always consistent. After a week or so, you may notice that your store is out of lettuce, cucumbers, or other staples you find at the supermarket. This can be a problem if you have a very tight schedule or if you don’t have a car and have to pay for a ride-sharing service every time you go grocery shopping.

2. I have a family member who is a picky eater.

Most of the brands you find at Aldi are sold exclusively by the chain itself. This means that items you find on the shelf may not be recognizable to you. This can be a problem if you have picky eaters in your home.

Take it from me. My kids eat granola bars regularly, and I bought a few boxes from Aldi because they were cheap. My kids flatly refused to eat those granola bars because they were not familiar with the brand. So instead of saving money, you wasted it.

3. You are a smart shopper and meal planner and can save big at regular supermarkets.

The main benefit of shopping at Aldi, at least in my book, is saving money. But you can do more than that by paying attention to sales at your local supermarket and planning your meals well around them.

For example, you can always buy pasta for $1.19 per box at Aldi, but it might be $1.49 per box at your local supermarket. But when pasta prices drop to $1.19, there’s really no need to visit Aldi if you can stock up at your regular grocery store.

Of course, you’ll have to repeat this several times to get the price you’d pay at a regular supermarket down to what you’d pay at Aldi. But if you plan your meals well with sales in mind, this may be entirely possible.

I know a lot of people who tend to sing the praises of Aldi. But to me, the store is honestly okay. So, if any of these signs apply to you, you might want to skip Aldi and stick to your preferred or familiar stores.

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