Grocery prices are up 1.1% from a year ago, as per the most recent Consumer Price Index. That may not seem like such a huge deal, but in my experience, stocking my fridge and pantry is as expensive as it’s ever been. And so it pays to be strategic about your grocery shopping and seek out ways to save money on it.
One tactic you may want to employ is shopping at Aldi. The store is known for its low grocery prices, and you may find that shopping there eases some of the strain on your budget. But if these signs apply to you, it means you may not be taking full advantage of what Aldi has to offer.
1. You refuse to buy brands you’re not familiar with
Most of the products on Aldi’s shelves are made by brands you’ve probably never heard of outside of Aldi. But being picky about brands isn’t going to serve you well if you’re looking to save money on food.
The whole reason Aldi is able to offer such competitive prices is that it stocks its shelves with lesser-known brands with smaller advertising budgets and passes the savings along to consumers. So before you write off the idea of buying brands you’re not familiar with, give some a chance — especially in the context of products like grains and pasta that are pretty hard to mess up.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting that you load a cart with products you’ve never tried before. Rather, ease your way in. Buy peanut butter and snack cakes this week and see how well-received those products are in your household, and then take it from there.
2. You’re skipping the middle aisle
Aldi’s middle section may not contain grocery products at all. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a look. That section is generally loaded with new or seasonal finds that may fulfill a need of yours, whether it’s kitchenware or another essential product for your home.
Of course, one thing you don’t want to do is load up on random Aldi products and bust your budget in the process. But it pays to take a look in case there’s a specific item you already happen to have a need for.
3. You’re giving up after a disappointing visit
One issue I’ve run into in the course of shopping at Aldi is that the inventory is not always consistent. One of the main things I like to buy at Aldi is produce. But there have been weeks when the store had no cucumbers, or tomatoes, or strawberries — items my household eats on a regular basis.
It’s definitely frustrating to go shopping for groceries and fail to get everything on your list. But don’t give up on Aldi just because your first visit, or one specific visit, was disappointing.
It may just be that you went to Aldi on an off week, or that you happened to visit right before a restock and were welcomed by largely bare shelves. If your first Aldi outing was a bust, at the very least, give the store one more chance before writing it off.
Shopping at Aldi could help ease the burden of expensive grocery costs. So it pays to make the most of your Aldi trips as best as you can.
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3 Signs You’re Not Making the Most of Your Aldi Shopping was originally published by The Motley Fool