Post by cabbagecabbage on Feb 11, 2016 7:49:14 GMT -5
I do buy all my groceries at Aldi quite often but it requires flexibility. You will not be able to make a long list and get everything but if you have some flexibility in what you buy, you can do it. The allure is price. The prices are fantastic for good quality food. I buy their meats now. I was nervous and didn't the first year I shopped there but I've had good luck. I still stock up on costco meats mostly but aldi will sometimes have grass-fed beef at a great price.
I can't buy everything there but it does save money. I love the price on cheese and that not all of their shredded cheese has potato starch (personal food intolerance).
There have been tI'm es they did not have basics like oatmeal and tea bags. I have to go elsewhere for my dog food anyway and just buy those things there. I also find beef rather expensive at Aldi, bUT have no problem buying meat there.
not unless your shopping list has random crap on it that's always changing...
seriously I went a few times and they never had diced tomatoes or black beans - all things that are generic enough to be in just about ANY grocery store. Oh and I hate their cheese, it's fake and tastes fake.
I could, but there are some products, like yogurt that we prefer another brand. The meat and produce at the one near me are usually good. I don't mind the limited selection of vegetables, because it just means they aren't carrying $5 a pound strawberries in Feb. I try and go every other week so I don't need to also go to the grocery store, but I don't mind the two trips because an Aldi trip only takes me ~ 10 min.
The Aldi near me is really good but I still can't do all my shopping there. I just go there first and then supplement with anything they don't carry at Wegmans. I'd say I can get 90% of things there though.
During the summer, I can get away with just going there because we get majority of our meat and produce from local farmers. During the winter, I have to supplement at the normal store. I like their pantry staples, produce, dairy, and some of the frozen stuff. Their fish is pretty similar to the frozen fish at the grocery store. I like their specialty cheeses too.
ETA: And their chocolate is good! European chocolates for cheaper than the crap at other stores.
Post by NewGirlNic on Feb 11, 2016 10:03:26 GMT -5
Not all, but a lot of basics. There are 2 I go to regularly that have decent produce. The one that is closest to my house is gross. The produce sucks, it's dirty and smells funky. So, it definitely depends on the store and management.
I just went over the weekend and spent almost $100. I got most of what I needed for the week and stocked up on basics/pantry staples.
Some of my favorite things to buy: - organic milk - yogurt tubers - eggs - butter - cheese... the blocks of cheese are great and cheaper than even the Wegmans brand, I also got some crumbled blue cheese and queso fresco last week. - real maple syrup - organic honey - canned goods (tomatoes, beans) - boxed chicken/beef broth - baking staples (flour, sugar) - almond butter - nuts/trail mix - crackers, granola bars, tortilla chips other snacks - frozen pot stickers (when available) - organic frozen berries
Once in a while they will have La Croix, and I always stock up!
Last week the produce was great- avocados ($.69!), a huge bag of red grapes that were super sweet and crunchy, mushrooms, honey crisp apples, sweet potatoes, red pears (4, for the price of what I'd usually pay for 1 at Wegmans) and seedless cucumber. Other times I don't buy any produce. It is hit or miss. I also got a boneless pork loin that I cooked in the crockpot. It was delicious and was really fresh. For $10 it gave us 3 meals (bbq pulled pork sandwiches, pork tacos and cubans) plus some leftovers. I like to get ground turkey and chicken cutlets there too.
The one I went to now accepts credit cards. Which is huge, since we get double points on grocery purchases. I always hated that I had to use my debit card or cash previously.
not unless your shopping list has random crap on it that's always changing...
seriously I went a few times and they never had diced tomatoes or black beans - all things that are generic enough to be in just about ANY grocery store. Oh and I hate their cheese, it's fake and tastes fake.
What type of cheese? They are known for their cheese selection.
It was standard block cheese - cheddar, mozzarella, co-jack, monterrey jack - it tasted artificial.
This post is making me want to reconsider my no Aldi stance. Recently my husband has been asking if we should try it out and I refused, due to prior horrible experiences. It has been years since I have to been to one but the stores I have gone to were dirty, the produce was awful, and the meat gross.
I know they have changed a lot recently and I read an article yesterday that they rival Whole Foods in the organic foods department (not that I care too much about that). I LOVE Trader Joe's so if they are anything like their sister company the switch may be worth it.
This post is making me want to reconsider my no Aldi stance. Recently my husband has been asking if we should try it out and I refused, due to prior horrible experiences. It has been years since I have to been to one but the stores I have gone to were dirty, the produce was awful, and the meat gross.
I know they have changed a lot recently and I read an article yesterday that they rival Whole Foods in the organic foods department (not that I care too much about that). I LOVE Trader Joe's so if they are anything like their sister company the switch may be worth it.
It is really store dependent. I love aldi, but I have lived near some that had bad produce and a dirty store. The new one near me always has everything in stock and is very nice.
The produce has gotten so much better at mine. I like the Greek yogurt and the cheap frozen fruit for smoothies. I like that the produce is selective in winter. Reminds me to shop closer to what is in season.
The cheese fondue they had for the holidays is delicious. They also had Emmentaler Cheese Potato Chips. I liked looking up the zip codes for the Swiss cheese to guess on who they "name brand" was.
Also amusing that the tile floors are the same across the world. They have the same tiles in my dinky store in Wisconsin as my friends store in Vienna.
Someone mentioned their efficiency. I love how quick it is to shop there. Their items have multiple UPC codes on them for quick scanning. And the system of putting your items into an awaiting empty cart is genius. It has never taken longer than 5 minutes for them to check me out-including standing in line for a minute or two.
I can buy most stuff there (but nothing dairy free for DS yet). We've liked their meats and I love their "never any" aka nitrate free bacon and deli ham. Their produce is often only stuff in season, but I'm ok with that. They are improving their selection and food quality all the time and I'm finding myself spending more and more there each week (and less everywhere else).
Someone mentioned their efficiency. I love how quick it is to shop there. Their items have multiple UPC codes on them for quick scanning. And the system of putting your items into an awaiting empty cart is genius. It has never taken longer than 5 minutes for them to check me out-including standing in line for a minute or two.
I now find the check out at a regular grocery store or Target infuriating - gooooooo! faster! faster! :Y:
I can buy most stuff there (but nothing dairy free for DS yet). We've liked their meats and I love their "never any" aka nitrate free bacon and deli ham. Their produce is often only stuff in season, but I'm ok with that. They are improving their selection and food quality all the time and I'm finding myself spending more and more there each week (and less everywhere else).
I've had good luck with their meat and while the produce assortment is limited, I bought avocados for 49ยข last week! Much better than the $1.5O I spent at Fresh Market.