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Shopping at Aldi has its drawbacks. The store's inventory isn't always consistent, and you need to be willing to take a chance on the lesser-known brands that commonly fill Aldi's shelves.
But there's a big benefit to buying groceries at Aldi. The store's low prices mean you can save money on your weekly supermarket bills. And if you do these three things, you might manage to enjoy even more savings than what you're already used to.
1. Swipe the right credit card at checkout
It's true that Aldi's products are priced competitively. But to enjoy even more savings, make sure you're paying for groceries with a credit card that offers you extra cash back at checkout.Click here for a list of the best credit cards for grocery purchases.
The good news is that Aldi accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. This gives you an opportunity to shop around for a credit card that offers maximum supermarket rewards.
2. Check out the bakery section for soon-to-be expired goods
Aldi's bakery section may not be as well-stocked as other stores. But you can generally find a variety of breads and sweet items. And if you spot items that are close to their expiration date, you may find that they're marked down 50% or more from their original price.
Now, you may be wondering "Why would I want to buy almost-expired products?" But remember, things like bread and cake can last a lot longer than their sell-by date if you stick them into the fridge or freezer. If you have the space, you can take advantage of those discounts.
3. Avoid the Aisle of Shame
The Aldi Finds aisle is commonly referred to as the Aisle of Shame, because it's a source of added spending for many Aldi fans.
The items you see in that aisle may be priced competitively for what they are -- meaning, a throw pillow you'd normally pay $15 for might be available for as little as $8 at Aldi. The problem, though, is that the Aldi Finds aisle is loaded with extras, as opposed to grocery staples. And if those items aren't things you've budgeted for, you risk overspending and racking up a credit card balance you can't fully pay off.
If you want to maximize your Aldi savings, steer clear of the Aldi Finds section of the store unless there's a specific item you're looking for. Of course, the tricky thing is that you can't predict what items you'll find in the Aldi Finds aisle. So you can't exactly plan on buying things there.
But say you happen to need a new tablecloth. In that case, by all means, see if there's one available at a discount at Aldi. There's nothing wrong with buying it at a low price. Otherwise, stay away from that aisle to avoid temptation.
If you play your cards right at Aldi, you can enjoy added savings on your shopping. Make a point to research credit cards for grocery rewards, look out for discounts, and be careful with the Aldi Finds aisle -- or just stay out of it altogether.
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