Most American families are feeling the strain of grocery prices on their wallets. Because of this, many families are trying to figure out how to cut back on grocery costs, while still being able to feed their families. This is where Aldi comes in. I have been shopping at Aldi for years, even before the pandemic and inflation took a toll on us. I remember when I used to be able to pay $100-$150 a week for our family. Now, post-pandemic, we are spending more on groceries, even at Aldi. However, it is still the best option for getting the bang for our buck. If you are thinking about shopping at this popular store here are 5 tips before shopping at Aldi for first timers. (Read: 10 Stay-at-Home Mom Jobs for Extra Income.)
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5 Tips to Know Before Shopping at Aldi
Aldi really can be a great store to buy groceries because their discount prices still allow you to bring home more groceries. Shopping smart and preparing your grocery list can go a long way when it comes to saving money. Here are 5 tips you really need to know before shopping at Aldi.
Don’t Forget Your Quarter
Before heading out the door to shop don’t forget to grab your quarter. Aldi has a system for their cart return, which reduces the amount of carts left in the parking lot. (I have never seen a cart lingering anywhere in our local Aldi parking lot.)
You put your quarter in the cart carousel in order to get one out. Then return the cart to get your quarter back.
If you don’t remember a quarter, don’t fret. Many times generous customers will leave a quarter in the cart for the next person. So, check there first. If there are no quarters left over, you can run into the store and the cashier will either lend you a quarter or let you have a cart.
Bring Your Own Bags
Another must when shopping at Aldi is bringing your own bags. Aldi provides plastic and brown bags to buy at pretty low prices. But bringing your own bags will reduce the hassle of the extra expense.
Be Prepared to Bag Your Own Groceries
The reason you need to bring your own bags to Aldi is because you will have to bag your own groceries. To reduce the amount of time checkout takes, Aldi cashiers place the groceries right back into your cart. Then you take your cart over to a bench like area to bag them yourself.
I am pretty sure Aldi cashiers take a course on being the speediest cashiers in the world. The check out line at Aldi typically goes pretty fast, even if the lines are long. Partly due to no bagging and also due to the fact that the cashiers are very quick on their feet. (Atleast where we shop they are.)
Take a Look at the Aldi Weekly Circular Before You Go
Before planning your grocery list for the week, be sure to check out the Aldi weekly circular. It lets you know what will be on sale for the following week. But you need to be aware of when the sales change! Aldi releases new sales and products on Wednesdays and Sundays, depending on the store. So, make sure to find out the day from your local Aldi store.
Take Your Time Looking at the Aldi Finds
One of my favorite aisles to look through when shopping here is the Aldi Finds. This is typically the center aisle and hosts an array of fun and random items. There is cookware, toys, shoes, and more. This can be a great place to find toys for kid’s birthdays. Have you been looking for a new cooking sheet? Aldi may just have it this week for a lower price than your local Walmart or Kroger. So, take your time to peruse this aisle, you may be surprised at what you find!
More Tips for Saving Money in 2025
Saving money in 2025 is one of our goals. Here are a few ways we are doing it:
Download the Free Version of Rocket Money
Rocket money is a finance app that helps break down where your money is going each month. In the free version you can see how many subscriptions you have, what your grocery bill looks like, and more.
There is a paid version that will cancel subscriptions for you, help you create a budget plan, and view your credit score.
This app has helped us create a budget for January and a few unnecessary expenses that are basically like throwing away money. (We had 22 subscriptions! Yikes!)
Plan Each meal a Month in Advance
One step we are taking is planning each meal a month. I found a free calendar in Canva, and inputted meal plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Yes, this took more effort on my part, but it will help us reduce the number of trips to the grocery store.
However, before I did this, i created a list of 50-100 meals that my family loves as well as cheaper meal plans. this made creating the monthly meal plan easier.
Freeze Leftovers
I am not a leftover person. However, I have noticed that we pitch more leftovers than we should. So, this year, I am choosing to freeze the leftovers that we have so we can have them at a later date. This is easiest with soups and casseroles, in my opinion.
Look at Your Store’s Weekly Coupons or Loyalty Programs
One thing to know is that Aldi does not take coupons, however, if you choose to shop at a different store, many offer weekly coupons. These can be digital or physical.
Choose Meals That Reuse the Same Ingredients
When planning your meals, one way to cut costs is to choose meals that will reuse ingredients. Rice, fruit, and beans are some of the best ingredients to do this with. For example, maybe i will use half a bag of rice to make pork and rice then I can use the other bag of rice to make Mexican rice for a taco dish. This may require a little more prep than you’re used to, but it is worth it.
Unsubscribe from Unnecessary Subscriptions
After downloading Rocket Money, you can take a look at your subscriptions. There may even be some that you have forgotten about, like me. Take the time to unsubscribe from the subscriptions you no longer use or need. Also, you can take a look at streaming services and see if there’s any that you can reduce or join together in order to cut costs.
Do a No Spend Month
A no spend month is a challenge that encourages you to cut back on any unnecessary costs like gas station pops or eating out when you don’t have to. This can help you figure out how much money you can potentionally save by cutting back on unnecessary spending.
If you are looking to cut costs this month, take a look at my post on 100 Struggle Meals for Families in 2025.