Trisha Daab
- I visited Aldi for the first time in 40 years and was impressed by the experience.The store's smaller size makes it easier for me to find products and finish shopping quickly.I also save money on weekly staples like milk, eggs, and cheese.
I live in the Chicago suburbs and have a lot of grocery store options nearby.
I typically shop at the popular Midwest supermarket chain, Jewel-Osco, for my family of four. But recently, my mom wanted to try shopping at Aldi, the international grocer primarily known for its smaller size and extensive selection of store-brand options.
Although I hadn't been to the store since I was a child, we grabbed a quarter for our cart — and our reusable totes — and went to check it out.
I'm glad I finally gave Aldi a chance — from lower prices on staple items to a more stress-free shopping experience, it's become one of my go-to grocery stores.
Many of my weekly groceries, like milk and eggs, are much cheaper at Aldi
Trisha Daab
With four people in the house, my family goes through a lot of milk and eggs.
At other local grocery stores, like Jewel-Osco, a dozen organic cage-free eggs can cost about $7.50. Meanwhile, at Aldi, similar eggs cost $5.35, so I can save more than $2 a week on eggs alone.
Likewise, a half-gallon of Aldi's organic milk brand, Simply Nature, costs about $4.30, while a half-gallon of Horizon organic milk costs about $6.50 at other grocery stores.
Together, I'm able to save more than $4.50 a week shopping at Aldi for just these two items.
We've become fans of Aldi-brand items
Trisha Daab
Aldi is known for its large selection of store-brand options, and one of my family's favorites is Benton's mint-striped fudge cookies, which cost less than $2 for an 11.5-ounce pack. These are a staple in our house, and since finding them, I've definitely bought fewer Thin Mints.
But cookies aren't the only Aldi-brand item we love — our bread box always has loaves of L'oven Fresh bread.
And, when my grandson visits, I like to stock up on items from Little Journey, like yogurt bites and baby food puree pouches, which are great on-the-go treats.
I regularly visit the Aldi Finds section for great deals
Trisha Daab
One of my favorite things about Aldi is the Aldi Finds section, which includes limited-stock items that are released each week and aptly marketed with the phrase, "Here today, gone tomorrow."
Since I started shopping here, I've learned that the phrase is true — when the items are gone, that's it. For example, I got animal-face reusable sandwich bags for only $3. Two days later, I went back to get more, and they were gone.
Plus, the section isn't just for groceries and household items — I love browsing the aisle for everything from hand towels to seasonal decorations.
When my family's favorite brand-name items are available, I've found they're cheaper at Aldi, too
Trisha Daab
When I'm able to find brand-name items at the store, I've noticed they're often available for less than they are at other retailers nearby.
For example, Babybel cheese is a staple in my kids' lunches. At Aldi, a 6-pack costs just over $4 — almost $3 cheaper than it is at another store just a few miles away.
Recently, I was also pleased to see a 12-pack of Arizona Iced Tea for about $4.90, compared to the usual $7 I see at Jewel-Osco.
Overall, I love shopping at Aldi
Trisha Daab
So far, shopping at Aldi has been a great experience. The store is relatively small compared to other chains in my area, so it's easy to find the products I need quickly.
Plus, I love that the store doesn't give out single-use plastic bags, which is good for the environment.
The only downside is that some name-brand items I like aren't available, so I still have to go to other grocery stores nearby.
However, with how much I save on staple items, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
