A few readers have asked me my opinion of Aldi, the low-price grocery chain that has a location on Hwy 67 in Oconomowoc. I know many people love shopping there, and I support their desire to find great deals on good food.
However, I don’t shop at Aldi and probably never will — mostly for emotional reasons that have (almost) nothing to do with saving money.
I am a creature of habit. I have learned how to shop well at Pick ‘n Save on Wednesdays (don’t even ask me to shop on another day!). I like the store and I know the deals. Shopping there is second nature to me. Thinking about going to Aldi — or any other store I’m not familiar with — stresses me out. For me, shopping at Aldi goes beyond my own “frugal line in the sand.” The potential cost savings don’t make it worth my time to make a special trip to Aldi.
My friend Jamie used to shop at Aldi, but doesn’t anymore. She said:
“…I don’t shop there as frequently as I used to…I only go to [Pick 'n Save] and I go 1x/wk or every other. This has cut down on our bills…just going to 1 store, otherwise we fill up with useless stuff at each store! The more stores, the more I spend.”
I couldn’t agree more, Jamie!
I still look through the Aldi flier every Sunday, and I have seen good deals on milk, cheese, fruit and canned goods. They also have inexpensive electronics, clothes, gifts and home goods. But a lot of times I can get the same or lower prices at another store with a sale-coupon combination. Sometimes I can even get the same prices without a sale or coupon. That leads me to believe that I might spend less at Aldi, but it’s a crapshoot.
There’s also an emotional component to this story. In the past, I’ve known people who shopped at Aldi and bought horrible food. Moldy produce, unhealthy processed foods, cheap white bread — it was terrible. I know Aldi has come along way since then, but I can’t shake those memories. They have tainted my entire perception of Aldi. I know that’s unfair, but there it is.
This is a mental block similar to the one Trent at The Simple Dollar has about Aldi. I want to feel good about where I shop and how I choose my food. For whatever reason, Aldi sucks out that joy.
Just because I don’t shop at Aldi doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. In the next few days, I’ll post a Q&A with Michelle, a dedicated Aldi shopper who says she won’t shop anywhere else.
[...] Country Saver Saving and spending wisely in Southeastern Wisconsin My feelings about Aldi 27 Mar Why I love Aldi: Michelle’s [...]
i think aldi’s has a certain stigma - as evidenced in the recent opening of an aldi’s in brookfield, which was met with apprehension by local leaders. i’m not saying you’re racist or classist certainly, but some people are. Incidentally aldi’s and trader joe’s are owned by the same company.