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Many people shop at Aldi to save money on groceries. Read on to see why you might end up doing the opposite. [[{“value”:”
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There’s a reason so many people love buying their groceries at Aldi. Aldi is known for its affordable prices. And if you start shopping at Aldi instead of your regular supermarket, you may find that it’s much easier to stick to a budget.
But while it’s more than possible to save money by shopping at Aldi, if you’re not careful, you could end up wasting money instead. Here’s how.
1. Buying groceries you end up throwing away
The reason Aldi is able to keep its prices so low is that it stocks its shelves with lesser-known brands. But if those brands don’t work out well, it could lead to wasted food — and thrown-out funds.
If you have picky eaters at home, they might reject the Aldi products you purchase simply by virtue of not recognizing the boxes they come in. And even if you don’t have a household of picky eaters, you may try out items that just don’t cut it for you.
For example, you might take a chance on a peanut butter brand you’ve never had before because it’s $1 cheaper than your go-to brand. But if there’s something off about the taste, are you really going to subject yourself to 27 sandwiches’ worth of peanut butter that isn’t particularly good? Probably not.
But if you throw out the jar — which is understandable in this situation — then, suddenly, you didn’t save $1 on peanut butter. Rather, you wasted however much money that jar cost.
2. Buying items you weren’t planning on because you couldn’t complete your original shopping list
One problem with shopping at Aldi is that the inventory can be inconsistent. That might lead to more expensive purchases on your part.
Let’s say you decide to make chicken with broccoli for dinner, only Aldi doesn’t have broccoli in stock on your shopping day. If you replace broccoli with mushrooms, which are commonly more expensive, you’re spending extra money because you couldn’t find the item you needed originally.
This sort of thing is less likely to happen at a regular supermarket with more traditional inventory and more regularly stocked shelves.
3. Buying impulse items from Aldi’s Aisle of Shame
Another reason so many people like Aldi is that the store’s Aldi Finds aisle is loaded with seasonal products you may not find elsewhere. And the prices tend to be great.
But there’s a reason Aldi fans call that section the Aisle of Shame. Checking it out could lead you to make impulse purchases. And while the items you buy might bring you joy, they’re a waste of money if they’re things you don’t need.
That said, here’s a trick for avoiding the Aisle of Shame. If you have an Aldi nearby and you only need a few items from the store, walk and carry your groceries home. If you don’t have the physical ability to carry your impulse purchases home, you won’t be able to make them.
Shopping at Aldi has the potential to save you a lot of money — especially if you swipe the right credit card at checkout. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for grocery purchases.
But also be mindful of the fact that if you’re not careful, you could end up wasting far more money in the course of your Aldi shopping than expected.
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