3 Reasons to Stop Shopping at Aldi

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A lot of people absolutely love Aldi. But take a look at a few reasons to consider spending your grocery budget elsewhere. [[{“value”:”

Aldi has a bit of a cult following. The discount grocer is known for its ultra-low prices that can lead to a world of savings for savvy shoppers. At a time when grocery prices are still inflated, that’s an important thing.

But while Aldi has the potential to do great things for your budget, shopping there doesn’t always make sense. Here are a few reasons to steer clear of Aldi and shop elsewhere.

1. There’s no store close by

You might save yourself money by shopping at Aldi versus a different supermarket. But if there’s no Aldi close by, what you save on groceries, you might spend on gas.

Before you spend 30 minutes on the road to load up at Aldi, run the numbers. If you’re driving 24 miles to Aldi instead of visiting the supermarket down the block, and your car gets 24 miles to the gallon, you’re spending whatever a gallon of gas costs times two every time you do an Aldi run. So when gas is $3.50 per gallon, you’re out $7.

Now, it may be worth it to spend $7 on gas if you’re saving something like $20 or more on your food for the week. But if you’re only saving $4 or $5, then why bother?

2. You can’t find the brands you like

Sometimes, people are accused of being brand snobs for liking certain products more so than others. But preferring the brands you like doesn’t necessarily make you a snob — it makes you a consumer who prefers the comfort of buying the same products over and over. And that’s not such a bad thing if it results in less food waste.

Aldi carries lesser-known brands, which is how it can offer its affordable prices. In fact, more than 90% of Aldi’s inventory stems from Aldi-exclusive brands. But if you prefer to stick with brands you know, then Aldi just isn’t right for you. And that’s really OK.

3. You’re losing work time and productivity due to the store’s inconsistent inventory

Another challenge you might face when shopping at Aldi is not getting access to the products you need. Aldi’s inventory can be pretty inconsistent compared to traditional supermarkets, which means that you may not get everything you need in one shopping trip. If you’re someone who’s self-employed, having to visit multiple stores in the same week could take away from your working hours — and your income.

To put it another way, maybe Aldi could save you $15 on your groceries for the week — if you can find everything you need. But if Aldi only has a few of the items on your list, the trip to the store, which may take an hour from start to finish, could only end up saving you $7 or $8. And if you earn $60 an hour, that’s not worth it.

It’s easy to see why so many people love Aldi. But it may not be the best place for you to shop for these reasons.

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