Has Aldi's gotten better?

[loulou3305]

i went there this weekend. i got the appleton ham - it was yummy. i also bought 100% apple juice for 1.29. it tastes good and i usually can't find it for that cheap. i got some canned veg for .39. it was a pretty good trip. they go have some interesting selections of cheese. havarti cheese, crumbled blue..

[XplatinumXpixeyX]

My parents used to shop there all the time when they were still married and I was younger. I loved going shopping with them. We never had any problems with there food. I loved going to get the shopping cart and getting to keep the quarter after returning it with the others. I loved helping bag everything also, we used to bring our own bags to make it easier.

Now that I am older and on my own with my BF we go there every now and then. We don't do our whole shopping order there because I can get somethings cheaper else where with sales and coupons, but they do still have some stuff that is awesome in price. I love there produce, fresh celery, spinach, carrots and mushrooms are super cheap and really good. I like going there just not for everything.

[bluezoo5]

As one of the PP mentioned, you definitely have to be aware of rock bottom prices, because sometimes Aldi's prices on some things are not that rock bottom. However, having said that, I do go there for many things that I don't have coupons for.

Also, my local Aldi recently came down dramatically on their milk prices. I have three toddlers who go through a lot of milk, so I only buy at Aldi now for $2.49 a gallon. They even have Borden chocolate milk for $1.60 for a half gallon (DH and I are addicted to this) which is almost a dollar cheaper per gallon than what Walmart sells it for. Coupons for things like milk and produce are rare in my area, so these are a great price for me.

I have never had any problems with bugs or any other vermin, and my store seems very clean and well-maintained.

[Mommie22boys]

I really think it depends on the individual store, but even that may have changed recently. My grandma always got buggy foods at the one nearest her house, but the one I used at the very same time never had problems. And since I have moved to a different state the one here is also fine. I would just check it out and see, but same as pp check the prices before buying, but it really helps untill I can really get the stockpile where it needs to be.

Amy

[thriftycj]

I love Aldi. I tend to eat pretty healthy and am a very particular shopper, so I don't tend to use a ton of q's when shopping.

I have had good luck with Aldi produce (zucchini, apples, peppers, blueberries, etc.). I also really love many of the fit & active products as well as the grandessa products. Some of my Aldi must-haves include:

Extra Virgin Olive Oil-- good stuff, $3.99 for a large bottle
Vanilla extract (the real stuff, not imitation)-- less than $2.50
Plain yogurt
Canned veggies-- I make my own cat food and the recipe calls for pumpkin-- $0.59/can
Ground Turkey-- I wouldn't eat the frozen stuff, but I do feed it to the cats. $0.99/lb. They also have fresh honeysuckle turkey-- prices are competitive with Costco and I don't have to buy 4 packages!
Southwestern Egg Rolls-- JUST like Chili's, and only $2.49 for a box of 4.
Chicken Sausage-- tasty, healthy, and a great price
English Muffins-- good quality, usually under $1.
Soymilk-- they have plain, vanilla, and chocolate in a smaller size bottle for $1.39
Cottage Cheese
Tomato Sauce-- always $0.29/can

I saw today that Fit & Active now does a lower sugar preserves as well-- raspberry, black currant, or strawberry (?). I also am anxious to try some of their more gourmet pastas and the european import pastas & items, schnitzels, etc. Their German breads are terrific too.

Overall, I've been really, really pleased that they continue to expand the Grandessa and Fit&Active product lines as these are the types of things I tend to buy.

[oscamaya]

thanks everyone for your replies. i think it definitely does vary by store. I went to a new one and it was actually kind of nice on the inside. The other one that i went to was the same one that I went to when I was a kid. I walked in and then walked right back out. It was pretty gross. Some of the stuff I wasn't impressed with, like others have said I can get it cheaper with coupons for name brand. Produce was a good price though.

[jengirl483]

When I was first married and had a limited budget (and knew nothing of coupons) we went there for good prices because it was where my mom went shopping when I was much younger and they had less $$ (my sister and I use to go around the parking lot and collect the carts that people left and put them away to get the money out of the cart:)...since coupon-ing I have very little need to go there because I save enough on everything else that is not worth the gas to go there for a few things...Though they used to have ice cream for cheap, wonder if they still do.
Oh, and I just saw 2 commercials for Aldi! I don't think that is a good thing, I think we will see their prices go up...

[aimeebee]

Originally Posted by jengirl483 Oh, and I just saw 2 commercials for Aldi! I don't think that is a good thing, I think we will see their prices go up...

ITA!! I saw the commercial last night and told dh "Well, guess who's gonna be paying for that commercial??! We are!!" AARGH.

[couponlookout]

Hi! You can get bugs in any food product. It's just a natural part of life. When I took Home Ec. in high school we learned that there are allowed to be 10 rat turds per loaf of bread & other things are the same. You never know what your eating unless you grow it yourself & bake it yourself. This is allowed because it's impossible to keep bugs & animals out of big grain bins. If you don't believe this , look it up on the department of agriculture sites. Another fact , if bugs can live in it, it still has some nutritionin it , cause some stuff bugs won't ev en eat.

[graciesmommy30]

I go there for most of the canned stuff and some other things. Its ok. I haven't ever had a problem there.