Top Twelve Things to Buy at ALDI
A couple of weeks ago I told you about some of my favorite things to buy at Costco. Today, here are my top twelve things to buy at ALDI! Do you agree? What would you add?
Top Twelve Things To Buy at ALDI
1. El Milagro tortillas. These are, simply, made of awesome -- and at $.33 for corn or $.85 for flour? Totally awesome. Plus Chicago area ALDI stores get daily deliveries, so if you are lucky, you'll one day catch them as they're restocking. Because the only thing better than an affordable and tasty El Milagro tortilla is a fresh and warm El Milagro tortilla.
2. Produce. ALDI puts different produce items on sale each week, at a huge savings over conventional grocery stores. The quality of produce at my ALDI is almost always better than the produce at my Jewel -- and I can get 2-4x as much for my money, making this one a no-brainer. While they do have limited varieties, I count on ALDI for basics like cheap baby carrots, mushrooms, strawberries, avocados and more.
3. Baking supplies. Sugar for $1.38, flour for $1.38, baking morsels for $1.59... even the gluten free baking mix at $2.99 is cheaper than I can get gluten free Bisquick with subscribe & save on Amazon, with no noticeable taste difference.
4. Canned beans. We use a lot of beans in soups, stews, and chili, and they range $.59-$.79 a can every day. I can pick up organic beans at ALDI for less than the sale price of conventional beans most other places, and coupons for beans are few and far between.
5. Gluten free snacks. If you've priced out gluten free products, you're familiar with the sticker shock that can come with that diet. I have been buying the ALDI liveGfree gluten free pretzels ($1.89) and crackers ($1.49) for wheat free Junior High Guy, and he's a big fan of both. Note: If you're also dairy free one variety of the crackers contains milk, so check labels.
6. Clancy's tortilla chips. They recently changed the bag, but same great chips and same $1.19 everyday price. Cheaper and tastier than Tostitos!
7. Clearance items. Whenever you're in ALDI, make sure to walk the aisles looking for good clearance prices. It won't take long, as the store isn't that big! Your best bet here will be on perishables nearing their expiration date, and on special buys that need to be cleared out to make room for the next batch.
8. Bacon bits. They're $1.39. Enough said.
9. Organic soy milk. Coupons for non-dairy milk seem to go in waves -- sometimes I can get a better deal on Silk with a coupon combined with a sale, and sometimes it's stuck over $3.00 with no available coupons for weeks. Organic SimplyNature soy milk is $2.29 at ALDI every day. Dairy free Junior High Guy gives it a thumbs up, so this is where I buy soy milk in the absence of a great sale elsewhere.
10. Cheese cups. Aside from the rare ALDI sale or clearance price, regular shredded and block cheese are not a super buy at ALDI; it goes on sale for less almost every week at one or another nearby grocery store. However, shredded and crumbled cheese cups are a nice everyday price at $1.79-$1.99, and MashupDad is an especial fan of the Parmesan.
11. Weekly Special Buys. Every week ALDI brings in a new batch of products as limited-time Special Buys -- and how fun is that? Some of these are better prices than others, so watch that, but sometimes you can get a great deal. My kitchen alone sports everything from a cushy floor mat to a big rolling pet food container to a metal strainer, all good prices at one time or another on an ALDI Special Buy.
12. Meat (with a caveat). Some meat I will buy at ALDI, and some I will not. Buys include things like this year's corned beef, which came from ALDI at $1.99/lb -- it was fantastic. Their Nature Raised chicken is tasty and all natural, and often turns up with clearance stickers. Don't buys include their solution added pork chops (the amount of liquid that cooks out of these is truly disturbing), most of their frozen fish filets (great prices, but processed in China), or the beef filets that show up regularly on Wed. meat special buys (just not very good at all).
Your turn
Those are my top twelve things to buy at ALDI! Do you agree? What would you add to this list, or where do you disagree?
I rarely go there, but I do go there to buy avocados, sweetened condensed milk, their version of Nilla wafers and graham crackers, tortilla chips, and sometimes milk, bread, and tortillas.
Here are some things we buy on a regular basis at Aldi in additions to the things mentioned
Organic Apple Juice
Irish Cream liquor
boxed cheese snack crackers
raisins
steel cut oatmeal
fig bars
Their gluten free bread is AWESOME and is the only bread you can buy that stays soft, doesn't need to be toasted and lasts for more than a few days.
Other will buys:
-almond milk (generally $2.29 is the same price as the Blue Diamond or Dreams w/coupon - the good kind, in the fridge)
-cream cheese (though I really miss the greek yogurt kind!)
-greek yogurt (often flavors go on sale for 30-50 cents at our store)
-quinoa-rice mix (the rosemary one is amazing! and fast too cook too)
-ground chicken/turkey/beef
Will not buys
-flavored chips - all of them taste off somehow
-the pork chops (we had the same experience!)
-dog treats (almost all of them have wheat, rye, or barley in them so I can't touch them)
-toilet paper - can get this cheaper elsewhere
Sometimes buys
-corn chips
-guacamole or ingredients
-fish (often the special buys are not processed in China)
-produce (hit or miss on quality)
-breakfast bars (the good ones are the kind like Clif bars or Fit and Active ones. The gluten free ones are NOT worth it- they are like baby bars LOL).
-Special buys furniture and accessories - I've got two great drying racks from there that are way better than the ones we had from BB&B. Storage bags are of great quality. My mum has 2 of their rugs that are great. And we've got some fun pans and knives that have lasted at least 5 years from there and still work great.
Husband loves the fake Triscuits. 1/2 price and taste better to him. I like the fake Pam, (any flavor) Eggs & milk if they are a good price. Bananas! You have to watch some of their produce though. I bought tomatoes and there was a moldy one hidden under the package. I miss my garden!!!
Most of what I like has already been mentioned with the exception of Heavy Cream $1.89 pint. I also like their hummus.
They have really yummy chocolate....especially the holiday/seasonal chocolate! My son loves when we get the chocolate Santas, ornaments, and gold coins, We look forward to these every year. 🙂 It is extremely affordable, and is good quality chocolate. 🙂 (The only down side is you have to get there fast, because they sell out fast!)
I totally agree with you about the tortillas. I love when I am there at the same time the El Milagro guys are delivering! Those and their avocados were really giving the Villa Park Fruit Market a run for its money in our household. I've also been very happy with their cheeses: I love the aged cheddar in the black wrap, the queso fresco as well as the cotija. I agree about the refrigerated cheese pizza. Every once in a while, we will buy one along with some peppers, mushrooms and the organic spinach (another great buy at $2.49 to fill in between our Costco trips) and make our own veggie pizza and it turns out great! My husband is a fan of their croissants. We also bought those pillow protectors a while back. I always check all the aisles at that store!
Aldi is by far my go to place for organic produce....whatever they carry I buy there cheaper than anywhere else - just hoping they continue to expand their selections. I totally agree on tortillas and spices and baking supplies. Also organic broth. I can't believe no one has mentioned the mama cozzi's frozen pizzas? I know not the healthiest option but for a pizza fix they are like Jack's pizza but cheaper everyday even when compared to deals and coupons and tastier in our opinion.
I love Aldi! Shop there every week!
Things to add to your buy list:
--Honey wheat pretzels in the tub!! So good!
--saltines (only 89 cents/box)
--frozen berries and frozen veggies. Special buy on frozen mango is awesome!
--hummus
--whole wheat bread
--naan
--special buy coconut with chocolate shavings greek yogurt
--honey granola (so good on yogurt!)
--knockoff frosted mini-wheats
--half and half
--lactose free milk
--Moosetracks ice cream
I don't buy:
--yogurts (including greek) they have a weird chunky texture
--their goldfish cracker knockoffs (taste like greasy flour)
--knockoff cheetios (the worst!!)
Love the graham crackers, old fashioned oatmeal,coconut, flour, milk, eggs, fresh mushrooms, Del Monte bananas, tomato sauce, flour tortillas, cream of celery soup, canned beans, dry pinto beans. Love the return policy, but, they usually don't offer me a different item to try, which befuddles me as to why I would want another of the item I returned except if it was defective! Wish they had better quality and price on organic produce. Keep forgetting to try organic tortilla chips if they have them. We go to TJ's, for organic tortilla chips, but, not often, so, it would be easier to pick them up. I don't like their saltine crackers, as they taste stale to me. I don't buy the fresh meat, as every time I looked at it, the sodium count is high. Never liked the nuts. I miss the Kroger american cheese since Food 4 Less left, and found that Aldi has the real stuff. I hope it's good. So happy for the comments, so now I can try the fresh pizza's and a few other items mentioned. I know I can return what I don't like, but, I really don't like to, so, the comments here are great!