Artie wrote:So in other words you're cherry picking sales while running from store to store. When you factor in the time that must take you,finding a parking space,checking out,and factor in the cost of gas I doubt that you're saving anything.

I waste money on gas driving from store to store? Not quite. I do the majority of my grocery shopping in Elmwood Park where I have in-laws and where I also happen to get my gas, because it is much cheaper than any place in the city. If I have to drive down there to visit my husband's aunt than that is when I take care of it all one-two-three. Factor in that I live mere blocks away from a Jewel that i can walk to if Jewel ever has a great deal on anything. Also add the ethnic grocery stores on my way to work or in my dad's neighborhood that also has great prices and much better quality and you have a multitasking way of taking care of it all at once. if I have to stop at dad's then why not go to City Fresh or Andy's to get some quality Balkan products to tie me over for the next couple of weeks? It only makes sense. After all, my father was who would drive out of his way to save money at a local fruit market with better quality and prices than shop at the big names for other neccessities he can't get at the smaller stores.

Believe me I save money when I don't waste money on subpar products that have the worst consistency and don't taste like they should. Last time I bought cheese at Aldi's it tasted like I was eating a block of air because it was like I was putting nothing in my mouth because it tasted exactly like nothing. When you buy products that are not of good quality than you are throwing money down the drain. Believe me, I know what it is like to live on a very small budget and if you saw how my budget operates on a daily basis, I am sure you would be scratching your head wondering how a normal person accomplishes it all and is still able to enjoy life at the end of the day. I know my brother-n-law and sister-n-law are often stumped because they live on a much bigger budget than me and my husband and they are constantly crying broke because they piss it all away. It takes a certain person to really understand.

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta run to Jewel on my way home from work. Yoplait yogurt is on sale 10 for five bucks and I bet I can scrunge up a coupon too. I need to stock up on key lime pie. Last time I had the version at Aldi's for the same price it tasted like the lime part spent too much time in the bitter end of disgusting. Which is odd because it used to taste quite the opposite of that. Aldi, if you're listening work on your incredibly horrible inconsistancy and maybe I will consider buying more than milk and bratwurst there once in a while and go back to when we used to get along.

On a lighter note, everytime Nancy discusses the Just 4 You program at Dominick's it makes me want to sign up to see what I can do with all that. Thanks, Nancy!

KajmacJohnson wrote:

Artie wrote:So in other words you're cherry picking sales while running from store to store. When you factor in the time that must take you,finding a parking space,checking out,and factor in the cost of gas I doubt that you're saving anything.

I waste money on gas driving from store to store? Not quite. I do the majority of my grocery shopping in Elmwood Park where I have in-laws and where I also happen to get my gas, because it is much cheaper than any place in the city. If I have to drive down there to visit my husband's aunt than that is when I take care of it all one-two-three. Factor in that I live mere blocks away from a Jewel that i can walk to if Jewel ever has a great deal on anything. Also add the ethnic grocery stores on my way to work or in my dad's neighborhood that also has great prices and much better quality and you have a multitasking way of taking care of it all at once. if I have to stop at dad's then why not go to City Fresh or Andy's to get some quality Balkan products to tie me over for the next couple of weeks? It only makes sense. After all, my father was who would drive out of his way to save money at a local fruit market with better quality and prices than shop at the big names for other neccessities he can't get at the smaller stores.

Believe me I save money when I don't waste money on subpar products that have the worst consistency and don't taste like they should. Last time I bought cheese at Aldi's it tasted like I was eating a block of air because it was like I was putting nothing in my mouth because it tasted exactly like nothing. When you buy products that are not of good quality than you are throwing money down the drain. Believe me, I know what it is like to live on a very small budget and if you saw how my budget operates on a daily basis, I am sure you would be scratching your head wondering how a normal person accomplishes it all and is still able to enjoy life at the end of the day. I know my brother-n-law and sister-n-law are often stumped because they live on a much bigger budget than me and my husband and they are constantly crying broke because they piss it all away. It takes a certain person to really understand.

Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta run to Jewel on my way home from work. Yoplait yogurt is on sale 10 for five bucks and I bet I can scrunge up a coupon too. I need to stock up on key lime pie. Last time I had the version at Aldi's for the same price it tasted like the lime part spent too much time in the bitter end of disgusting. Which is odd because it used to taste quite the opposite of that. Aldi, if you're listening work on your incredibly horrible inconsistancy and maybe I will consider buying more than milk and bratwurst there once in a while and go back to when we used to get along.

On a lighter note, everytime Nancy discusses the Just 4 You program at Dominick's it makes me want to sign up to see what I can do with all that. Thanks, Nancy!

Hi- On the couponing blog I visit, I asked there where I could get pine nuts or walnuts. Somebody posted that they just saw pine nuts at Aldi's this last week. Has anybody else seen them there? Do you have any idea how much they are? She said that she saw them in the middle of the store in the special buy section.

The couple that I take to Aldi's buys their yogurt and cheese there all the time. The wife was just telling me Friday how good one of the flavors of yogurt was. I forget which one.

BTW- This week, I get a free breakfast sandwich at the deli at Dominick's, thanks to the J4U program. It only takes me 5 minutes to log onto their site, and load everything I want onto their card.

Thanks, Nancy

Hi- I was in Aldi's yesterday, and I did not see any pine nuts. I looked in both the nuts secton, and the special buy secton. They were probably from China anyway. I did end up getting a pound bag of walnuts there for $6.49, because I am sure that I can't get them any cheaper elsewhere. Hopefully that will be enough to last me all pesto season. Thanks, Nancy

Hi- Does anybody here do most of their grocery shopping at Aldi's? Do you find that it is possible to eat healthy, and buy most of your groceries at Aldi's? Thanks, Nancy

We eat fairly healthy and I buy most of my staples at Aldi and some fruits and veggies and some meats. I don't buy any processed meats. I just wish they carried cabbage all the time. It is one of our favorites. The fruits and veggies can be hit or miss and was told that they didn't keep most of them in a cooler so they ripen quicker. I buy the rest of the fruits and veggies at TI and meat where ever it is on sale. I cook with a lot of tomatoes and really like their caned tomatoes.

Hi0 I have also found some of Aldi's produce to be hit or miss. I am finally getting some tomatoes out of my garden. I just picked 7 cherry tomatoes, and one early girl, with a few more coming in a few days. When I have tomatoes in my garden, or can get them cheap at the farmer's market, I don't even use canned tomatoes. Saturday I got two large organic heirloom tomatoes for a total of $1.50, with the reason being that they had to be used up fairly quickly. They were wonderful though. This same organic grower when she is getting ready to go home, will sometimes let me take her #2 heirloom tomatoes home for free.

Saturday, I got a huge cabbage at the Evanston market for $2. Cabbage is really reasonable at all the farmer's markets right now.

Does Aldi's carry EVOO? I have looked where they keep the rest of their oil, and I have never seen it. Maybe they keep it in another section of their store. I just bought a quart size bottle of EVOO at Whole Foods Saturday for $5.99, and so I don't need any for a while, but I am just curious how much it is at Aldi's. Sometimes if it is on sale and I have a coupon, I can get large cans of organic tomatoes for under a dollar at Whole Foods. Thanks, Nancy

NFriday wrote:Hi- Does anybody here do most of their grocery shopping at Aldi's? Do you find that it is possible to eat healthy, and buy most of your groceries at Aldi's? Thanks, Nancy

I do - 60-70% of my purchases.

Most staples. Some produce - depending on appearance and price. Some dairy. Few frozen items (except the Belgian frozen vegetables). No meat.

I have had to start carrying cash.

They do have EVOO. I cannot remember Aldi label it is under? Carlini, Grandessa, or Priano since I haven't bought it in a while. I think it is either 3.49 or 3.99 for a bottle. It was pretty good, and a steal at that price.

However since I go through so much of it I now buy large jugs of it from Sam's club. Surprisingly the Member's Mark brand is pretty decent and at like 16 bucks for a 3 liter bottle, its very inexpensive. I use it for dressings, marinades, cooking, and on everything that goes on the grill. I use higher quality stuff as a finishing EVOO.

Hi- I was at Aldi's today, and I finally spotted the EVOO. It is with the salad dressing

They had natural peanut butter as a special buy. It had cane sugar in it, and it was the no stir kind. I don't know what constitutes natural peanut butter.

They also had three ounce bags of pine nuts for $2.99, and yes they were from China. They are also a special buy.

Hope this helps, Nancy

I was at Aldi this week and they had musk melons /cantaloupe for .99. We raised both growing up. The box was filled with both though they were labled cantaloupe. I bought one of each and they both were over 4 pounds. They were very ripe and sweet. The checkout clerk said they were from Indiana. They weren't as round as you would find in most stores but they were very tasty. I will be going back Sunday to get more.
Both of the Aldi stores I shop have EVOO. It is at the end of first isle. I have bought it and thought it was pretty good.
One of my good friends has had there son hired by Aldi as a stocker/checker. I will be interested into what he has to say about the company.

eatwisconsin wrote:
However since I go through so much of it I now buy large jugs of it from Sam's club. Surprisingly the Member's Mark brand is pretty decent and at like 16 bucks for a 3 liter bottle, its very inexpensive. I use it for dressings, marinades, cooking, and on everything that goes on the grill. I use higher quality stuff as a finishing EVOO.

My husband and I have been buying ours at Sam's too since we use it up quickly and it is such a great price. I just love those big jugs, get a few and they can last a while and they are great for everything. My sister-n-law buys them too and she made some wonderful pasta with olive oil and turkey Italian sausage for us the other day using the Member's Mark EVOO that she whipped up quickly on a whim. Very tasty.

New item:

Braunschweiger, 1# chub for $1.99, imported from Germany.

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The blog - The Smart Aldi Shopper - is now active again after a several month hiatus:

http://aldishopper.blogspot.com/

The Choceur bite size peanut butter cups are quite good. Also I bought a box of Savritz crackers because I needed ritz type crackers and they are a fine substitute. Slightly bigger than a ritz cracker with a very similar taste. I have seen evoo there as well as pasta, sauce, gardinieri, and artichokes in oil. All seem fine to me and good buys.

I bought some cantaloupe for .99 Friday. They were huge, one was 8 # and the other was 7 1/2. They are not real pretty, sort of flat on one side. I let them sit on the window sill and opened the biggest one today. It reminded me of the melons when I was growing up, we grew our own on the farm. They had so much flavor and so sweet. The checkout guy said they were from Indiana.

scott E. wrote:I bought some cantaloupe for .99 Friday. They were huge, one was 8 # and the other was 7 1/2. They are not real pretty, sort of flat on one side. I let them sit on the window sill and opened the biggest one today. It reminded me of the melons when I was growing up, we grew our own on the farm. They had so much flavor and so sweet. The checkout guy said they were from Indiana.

scott E.,

You are describing the muskmelons (Indiana) that I've been getting at Pete's Fresh Market for the past 5-6 weeks.

Yes, they were labled cantaloupe but are muskmelons. TI had some a few weeks ago but they were half the size of these and were not as sweet.

I was at Aldi yesterday and I saw they had grouper. I think it was pretty reasonable, like 4-5 bucks for what seemed like 3 filets. Has anyone tried it?

Man, what kind of Aldi stores do you guys have??? I never see that kind of good stuff at my store in Plattsburgh NY. Never. Not even any of the interesting cheeses you talk about, or the meat (like that liverwurst someone mentioned the other day).

I wonder what the deal it??

Geo

Geo wrote:Man, what kind of Aldi stores do you guys have??? I never see that kind of good stuff at my store in Plattsburgh NY. Never. Not even any of the interesting cheeses you talk about, or the meat (like that liverwurst someone mentioned the other day).

I wonder what the deal it??

Geo

I believe Aldi stores often carry different products based on demographics and previous sales results.

Artie wrote:

Geo wrote:Man, what kind of Aldi stores do you guys have??? I never see that kind of good stuff at my store in Plattsburgh NY. Never. Not even any of the interesting cheeses you talk about, or the meat (like that liverwurst someone mentioned the other day).

I wonder what the deal it??

I believe Aldi stores often carry different products based on demographics and previous sales results.

I think your right. I shop 2 different Aldi stores and they all have a lot of the same stuff but maybe 15 - 20 % is different and they are less than 15 blocks apart. One is in a not so great area the other is in an up and coming area. The first one carries a lot more junk food. The second caries a lot more fresh meat, fish and some different veggies and fruit. The prices will even very on some things from store to store during the same sales week. One week eggs were $1.09 at one store and $1.39 at the other store.
They are very savy about pricing and stocking. That is why they are such a force as a store in europe.

eatwisconsin wrote:I was at Aldi yesterday and I saw they had grouper.

I stopped by tonight, in part to find this grouper. There is none sighted at the Harlem Ave store.

scott E. wrote:I think your right. I shop 2 different Aldi stores and they all have a lot of the same stuff but maybe 15 - 20 % is different and they are less than 15 blocks apart. One is in a not so great area the other is in an up and coming area. The first one carries a lot more junk food. The second caries a lot more fresh meat, fish and some different veggies and fruit.

That's exactly what I have found. An Aldi in a lower income area vs a higher income area are worlds apart in what elective products they carry,like the grouper that was mentioned a few posts ago.

scott E. wrote:I bought some cantaloupe for .99 Friday. They were huge, one was 8 # and the other was 7 1/2. They are not real pretty, sort of flat on one side. I let them sit on the window sill and opened the biggest one today. It reminded me of the melons when I was growing up, we grew our own on the farm. They had so much flavor and so sweet. The checkout guy said they were from Indiana.

I will agree that they were NOT the prettiest melons but they were HUGE and very favor filled. And there were none of the sift spots that are usually found in those melons.


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As for different pricing in different locations, you are right. In Crystal Lake, milk was $1.79/gal while it was $2.49 in Woodstock 19 mi away.

I think if you really wanted to you could buy most of your food at Aldi or eighty or ninety percent. They carry most of the basics. And prices are certainly a lot cheaper than the regular stores. My Aldi has recently reorganized and carries some higher end stuff. Wines, imported chocolate, various sausages and cheeses, bags of gourmet type peppers and lettuces, Turano bread, and lobster which is frozen. filet mignon wrapped in bacon.

When I moved down here, the first Aldi I visited was on 47th, in Back of the Yards, and they had a far more basic selection of food than I was accustomed to seeing at the Evanston and Rogers Park stores. The Pilsen location on Cermak has a lot of the fancier things I used to see, even though it doesn't seem like a well-off clientele. It's more like the higher-quality things make brief appearances and vanish, so if I see something like steel-cut oats, I have to buy a lot, because it won't be there next week.

Aldi is introducing Organic products under the name "Simply Nature" starting Sept 5th as Special Buys.

Organic 100% apple juice 64 oz, $2.49.
Organic pasta sauce, $1.99.
Organic 28 oz diced tomatoes, $1.69.
Organic 100% apple juice boxes 3-count, $1.49.
Organic premium coffee 17.6 oz, $5.99.
Organic 6 oz string cheese, $2.99.
Frozen Maple and Brown Sugar steel cut oats 16 oz, $1.49.
Organic sweet potato corn tortilla chips, $1.99.

Speaking of string cheese, their regular Happy Farms string cheese is disgusting. My kids love string cheese and they woudn't eat this garbage.

95% of the time I shop at our ALDI, newer and maybe 5 years old. They have more upscale items than the other ALDI I shop for single items, milk or bread, when I am that way. The other store is maybe 25 years old and is located at the edge of low income areas but also near a mall. Far NW suburbs of Chicago.

I bought a ham for .99 a # that was very good. Not to salty and had a nice smoky flavor. The week before they had black forest ham for 3 bucks a pound that was the best I have had in a long time. The cantaloupes for .99 were ripe and fragrant and the Honey Dew melons were huge and very sweet for 2.50 each. I like there frozen chickens. Yes they are purged but they bake up very juicy and tender. They need to be cleaned a little of the missed things in side but for the price. One thing I don't like is there lunch meat. It has way too much salt.