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There was a time when I was pretty happy with Aldi. Despite having access to low-cost produce at Costco, I started shopping at Aldi somewhat regularly when I realized that buying certain produce items there instead was saving me about $10 a week. When you multiply that out over a year, it's about $500 in savings, which is a pretty good deal.
But I have to admit that my trips to Aldi have been pretty infrequent this year. In fact, it's safe to say that I've mostly stopped shopping there. And there's a reason for that.
When you can't afford to keep wasting your time
I like the idea of saving money on food. But when I realized that shopping at Aldi was actually causing me to lose money instead of saving money, I cut it out of my supermarket rotation.
One big problem with Aldi is that its inventory can be inconsistent. When you're going there to buy 24 items and you come home with 20 of them, that might still make the case for shopping there.
But in my case, I was really only going to Aldi for the low-cost produce. My kids are very picky eaters, so I know that Aldi's lesser-known packaged food brands won't work for them. Also, it was really only the produce at Aldi that I found for a better price than Costco. So it didn't make sense for me to buy things like granola bars or peanut butter there -- especially given the risk that my kids' choosiness would cause those purchases to go to waste.
Meanwhile, there were a few key produce items I'd specifically look for at Aldi -- cucumbers, spinach, strawberries, and avocados. I found that buying those four products at Aldi vs. Costco or ShopRite, the supermarket I go to most frequently, saved me some money.
The problem was that most weeks, Aldi would be out of at least one of those items. Sometimes, it would be out of two. And once, I went out of my way to stop at Aldi only to walk out the door completely empty-handed.
I'm a freelance writer, and the more time I waste at the supermarket, the less time I have to earn money. I reached a point where stopping at Aldi -- and coming out without the few items I needed there -- was costing me more in lost working hours than it was saving me. And for this reason, I've basically cut ties at this point.
Should you stop shopping at Aldi?
I realize my situation is a bit unique in that the time it takes to make an extra stop at Aldi prevents me from earning money. If you have a lighter work schedule with more time on your hands, then it may be worth it for you to visit the store weekly and see what you're able to find.
But in my case, a 20- or 30-minute trip to Aldi isn't worth saving $10 when I can't even save the full $10 most of the time due to the store's inconsistent inventory. I'm not going to give up 20 or 30 minutes of work to save $3 or $6. It's just not worth it -- from a financial standpoint and an aggravation standpoint.
Plus, I'm pretty good about saving money at my regular supermarket by keeping an eye out for sales and taking advantage of digital coupons. I also get rewarded by my credit card for supermarket purchases, which helps me feel a little less guilty about forgoing my small Aldi savings. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for groceries so you can earn cash back on your food purchases, too.
Plus, remember, I have a Costco membership to fall back on, and it allows me to buy groceries in bulk for added savings. So all told, I'm able to keep my food costs to a reasonable level even without shopping at Aldi. And you may be able to do the same.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. Motley Fool Money does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from Motley Fool Money is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
