I can do this Aldi
With the rising costs of everything around us, our money is getting less than ever before. People looking to get some relief in their pocketbook should look no farther than Aldi. Aldi has a cult like following, and for good reason. From their artisan chocolates and cheeses to their adorable gnome décor, it’s almost impossible to leave with an empty cart. We’ll give you some pro tips and the top fan favorites to make your next Aldi haul the best one yet.
Pro Tips:
1. Make sure to bring your quarter to get a cart. One of the ways Aldi can keep their prices so low is they don’t have cart/lot attendants. To ensure their carts make it back home where they belong, they make you ‘rent’ them for a quarter. You’ll deposit the quarter into your shopping cart and once you’re done shopping, return the cart to their stall and get your quarter back.
2. If you forget your quarter, find an empty box to shop with. We’ve all been there. You pull into Aldi only to realize you have zero quarters on you. If you don’t have a ton of shopping to do, you can find an empty box on one of the shelves and use that as a basket to shop with. This will also double if you need something to carry your groceries out with.
3. Don’t forget your reusable bags. Another way Aldi keeps costs down is they don’t give away bags for free. If you want a bag for your groceries, you can buy paper or plastic bags starting at $.05, but a more economical and environmental solution is to bring reusable bags with you. You can use them as you shop throughout the store (if you don’t want to rent a cart) and have something to carry your groceries out with.
4. If you see an Aldi Find you want to try, buy it. A lot of the specialty items at Aldi are there for a limited time only. Many items have a fan base that will stalk the store looking for their favorites and buy them as soon as they come out. There’s a good chance if you find an Aldi Find that you love, the next time you shop, it’ll be gone.
5. If you’re looking for special dietary friendly foods, Aldi might be your store. For people that need a special diet, some stores have limited options. Aldi prides itself in having a large selection of gluten free foods. They also have dye-free and corn-syrup free foods, including fruit snacks and other snacks for kids. Not only is their selection surprisingly good, but they’re also usually far cheaper than big box grocery stores.
6. Don’t forget about the Aldi ‘twice as nice’ guarantee. If you happen to get something that doesn’t meet your quality standards, Aldi’s got your back. Not only will they replace the item, but they will also refund you your money. So, you get a new product and your money back, talk about twice as nice!
7. Don’t leave without shopping in the Aldi Find non food aisle. From candles, toys, home decor and garden items, theres something for everyone in the Aldi Finds aisle. You never know what you’re going to leave with. You might go in for a bunch of bananas and leave with rain boots, Adirondack chairs and pajamas for your dogs. You can even get live flowers and plants to freshen up your home.
FAN FAVORITES:
We’ve polled Aldi fanatics, and here are their top recommendations:
1. Simply Nature Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt Superfoods Granola—this granola has rich flavor and large clusters of granola. The dark chocolate is well balanced with the sea salt, and as the name indicates, its made with superfoods. A half cup serving has 5g of Fat, 20g of Carbs and 3g of Protein and 130 calories. If you like coconut, they also have a Dark Chocolate and Coconut flavor that has its own following.
2. Clancy’s Baked Cheddar and Sour Cream Ripples Chips— Watch out Ruffles, We’re willing to bet our reputation that these are as good, if not better than Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream, The chips are thick and crunchy and each chip is coated in their delicious flavoring. These are a limited time Aldi Find, so if you’re lucky enough to stumble across them, snag a bag while you can! Other Clancy’s chips that made into the honorable mentions are their tortilla chips that come in zesty guacamole or spicy salsa, and their kettle chips. They come in regular, jalapeno, mesquite bbq and sea salt and vinegar.
3. Park Street Deli Hummus Quartet— With 4 delicious flavors in one package, there’s a flavor for every craving. The quartet comes with classic, roasted red pepper, roasted garlic and cilantro jalapeno. Pair it with Specialty Select Pita chips for a double treat. Available in Parmesan Garlic & Herb or Sea Salt.
4. Artisan Cheeses— With often over 25 different artisan cheeses to choose from, you’ll be sure to find an interesting and quality cheese at Aldi. Specialty Selected Aged Reserved White Cheddar has made it to the top of many lists. Besides their amazing deals on staples like Gouda, Brie, Parmesan and Chevre, you can find seasonal treasures. The Chevre pops up in different forms many times throughout the year. Cranberry Cinnamon, Everything Bagel, Mango Chili, and Blueberry Vanilla just to name a few. Dill Havarti, Pepperoni Marinara and Garden Vegetable and Sweet Basil are a few other fun flavored cheeses to look out for. Be sure to check the cheese aisle during the holidays for a fun cheese advent calendar.
5. Vanilla Cream Brioche— Just because you’re shopping at a ‘discount store’ doesn’t mean they slack on the quality. Aldi’s Specialty Selected Vanilla Cream Brioche is imported from France and garnering international fame and followers. The moist and flavorfully rich bread is swirled with vanilla cream (they also have a chocolate chip version) and makes for a decadent treat. During the holidays, they have a festive version that is in the shape of a Christmas Tree.
Pro tip: Use the Vanilla Cream Brioche to elevate your French toast to the best you’ve ever had.
6. Take and Bake Pizzas— While there are many to choose from, the overwhelming fan favorite is Mama Cozzi’s Take and Bake Deli Pizza. This 16 inch extra-large pie comes in pepperoni, five cheese, supreme, sausage and pepperoni, and thin crust mega meat. Not only are the pizzas affordable, they are large and have generous, well disputed toppings. Mama Cozzi also has a variety of cauliflower crust and flatbread pizzas to choose from. Nothing beats a quick, easy and delicious pizza after a long day of Aldi Find hunting
7. Specialty chocolate— Like their artisan cheeses, Aldi takes pride in their chocolate selection. Because it is a German company, the bulk of their chocolates are imported from Europe (like their brioche bread). Some fan favorites are Specialty Selected Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels, and their Belgian cocoa dusted truffles. Choceur’s chocolate covered superberries (blueberry, acai or pomegranate) chocolate covered Virginia peanuts or Moser Roth’s Dark chocolate bars (dark sea salt, dark mint, dark sea salt caramel, 70% dark) are always a solid choice as well. They also have a white wine or red wine pairing box that is perfect for your next date night!
8. Specialty Selected Maple Syrup— This syrup is 100% pure, Grade A Amber and it’s price can’t be beat. Its free of certified synthetic colors and added sugars. Its rich flavor is indulgent and satisfying. Pair it with Aunt Maple’s protein pancake & waffle mix for a great breakfast.
9. Friendly Farms Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk— With the same quality and nutrition as big brands, this is a no brainer pick. This option comes in roughly $2 cheaper than what you see in chain grocery stores.
10. Alcohol— If you’re lucky enough to live in a state that sells alcohol in grocery stores (unlike us here in Pennsylvania), consider yourself blessed. From their Winking Owl Moscato to Aldi brand Vodka, theres plenty of options to choose from. They have a full suite of wines—white, red, sparkling, rose and specialty; beer and hard beverages. Vista Bay hard seltzer lemonade variety pack apparently is just as good as Truly, but us Pennsylvanians will just have to take their word for it.
