How Far Can $50.00 Go At ALDI – A Review
“This post was sponsored by ALDI as part of Influencer Activation for Influence Central.”
I have to be honest and say that one of my favorite things to do is go grocery shopping. As I have gotten older I find a comfort in the rhythm and the ritual of shopping. When Jason and I moved in together we discovered that we could spend a couple of hours at a grocery store, and walk out and wonder where the time had gone. I think my favorite part is the combination of sales, discount cards and coupons – I like to save 50% or more without sacrificing quality whenever possible.
Recently there has been a new addition to the stores in my area with the addition of ALDI. ALDI might be new to Southern California but they are far from new in the United States. ALDI is one of the nations fastest growing retailers with a plan to operate 45 stores in California by the end of 2016.
I was recently given the opportunity to go to the new Vista store and see how far I could stretch my shopping dollars
Since I am in North County I went to the newly opened Vista location. The new ALDI is conveniently located off of the freeway which makes visibility and location a great combination. If there was one downside, it is located next to another big box retailer that also sells competitively priced groceries.
When I drove up the first thing I noticed was the lack of carts in the parking lot and when I approached the store I saw the reason. ALDI has employed a system of “quarter for a cart”, which means that to get a cart a quarter (25 cents) is deposited, and once inserted into the attached red lock-box the cart releases for your use. When you have completed with your shopping, it is easy to return the cart and get your quarter back. This is an easy way to keep the parking lot uncluttered and carts organized, which will also keep the carts from getting damaged by vehicles and vice-versa.
As you enter the store the first thing that you notice is that it is a lot smaller than your traditional stores and the brands that traditional stores have are largely absent. In fact more than 90% of the groceries that ALDI sells are under it’s own exclusive brand names. Each of these exclusive brand items are free of certified synthetic colors, free of partially hydrogenated oils (aka PHO’s) and free of added MSG.
As a pushed my cart through the half a dozen isles I noticed the prices were lower on some items, and higher on some items such as snacks. ALDI has their own gluten-free products under the liveGfree® brand name as well as their NeverAny! products that are free from added antibiotics, hormones and animal by-products. Also available is the SimplyNature® line which includes USDA Certified organic and Non-GMO verified items as well as USDA Choice meats.
I had about a $50.00 budget to work with and so I decided to purchase some basics from staples to paper goods, so that could I give ALDI a comprehensive try. I purchased some SimplyNature® Dried Peaches that were BEYOND tasty and economical at under $3.00 for a bag. I also purchased some SimplyNature® Organic Lightly Salted that I used to make caramel corn (yes it was good). We purchased some Southern Grove Wasabi Soy Almonds that despite being a little softer were dusted evenly and were tasty.
We purchased some Kirkwood Fresh Boneless and Skinless Chicken Thighs that were used for enchiladas (as well as the Happy Farms Cheese and Friendly Farms Sour Cream) that once cooked was very good at a competitive price! We also purchased Appleton Farms Naturally Smoked Pulled Pork that required little more than heating the pork before consumption, making this an easy meal for under $4.00.
We also purchased Ultra Paper Plates and Willow Toilet Paper which both were of a high quality and held up well against the abuse each takes. Also made during the purchase was fresh fruit, dairy items, and other snack items. The prices are competitive with a nice assortment of sale items and in-store specials (the Goldhen Eggs were .99 cents a 12 pack).
The thing that I found interesting was that as we were checking out we learned that each employee is cross-trained throughout the store and can do anything from stocking to cashiering. The thing that also was different was our cashier was sitting which is normal for all cashiers. It is also important to let you know that if you need bags you can either bring them from home or purchase them at the store since you have to bag your own groceries. I can tell you that the ALDI bag they have for sale is HUGE and almost fit the entirety of our groceries with the exception of the milk we purchased.
After all was said and done we ended up spending $55.54 total, which made both us feel like we got a terrific bargain at 50% of what we normally would have spent on groceries.
My exploratory nature was satisfied with the shopping experience I had at ALDI. While this location is about 13 miles from my home, I do head that direction often so I will be visiting this location again. If you have never been to ALDI, I would recommend giving it a try – you will be AMAZED how far your shopping dollars will go.
Be sure to check the website or the ALDI USA Facebook page for the latest updates on grand openings.
I encourage you to visit the ALDI website and blog, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest
We love Aldi. I do a lot of my shopping here. The prices are right and they have things only at Aldi and no where else.