If you have been following me for a long time you know I am a HUGE Aldi fan. I love the deals that I can get at Aldi. I can really stretch my grocery budget and get more for my family with Aldi.
I shop every week at Aldi and buy what I can there first. Then I head on over to Meijer and buy whatever I can't or don't get at Aldi.
With Aldi, I have been able to keep my grocery bill to around $50 a week for our family of 3. However, just because I love Aldi doesn't mean I love everything there. There are a few things you shouldn't buy at Aldi.
Paper Products
I will admit I am a picky paper products person. That's a lot of P's 🙂 . Their paper products tend to be thin and scratchy, not a good combination.
I am also never really blown away by the price of Aldi's paper products either. I recommend skipping the paper products at Aldi and buying them with a coupon at the grocery store or stocking up at Sam's Club or Costco.
Beauty Products
It's been a couple of years, but I tried some of Aldi's beauty products and none of them amazed me. I felt like they were all kind of cheap quality compared to what I get at Meijer. I would skip the beauty products and buy at CVS or Walgreens with a coupon.
Cereal
I will buy generic foods but cereal usually isn't one of them. If you are looking for a good deal on cereal skip Aldi and get it at the grocery store. With sales and coupons, you can most likely get it for about half the price of Aldi and it will taste better too.
Toiletries
Toiletries fall in about the same area as beauty products for me. They are better priced and better quality at the drug stores than at Aldi. Skip these and get them at the drug store, or if you have a brand you know and love pick them up at Costco or Sam's Club.
Name Brand Products
Aldi does carry some name-brand products. For the most part, I have found that the name-brand products are more expensive than they are at Meijer or other grocery stores on sale. I just wait until the name-brand products I like are on sale at the grocery store and then really stock up.
Zippy Bags
Sorry Aldi, I can't stand your zippy bags. I have noticed that Aldi ziplock bags have a plastic smell to them that I just can't get past. The idea of putting my food in there grosses me out. They really aren't that good of a deal either.
Skip the Aldi zip bags and pick up some at Meijer on the 10 for $10 sale or after Christmas at any store. You can usually find Christmas-themed ones on clearance the day after Christmas for really cheap.
Besides these things you shouldn't buy at Aldi I love Aldi! I highly recommend you check it out if you haven't yet. You can see my favorite things to buy at Aldi here. What do you like to skip buying at Aldi and buy elsewhere?
Susan Lawson says
We've found many of the fresh vegetables don't last very long. But that being said, we can pare a lot off our grocery bill with their canned goods. Paper towels and bathroom tissue we get at Sam's Club. Their Angus Beef hot dogs are fantastic, thinly cut pork chops wonderful, and spiral sliced ham great! Don't forget, they have a 200% guarantee which they are happy to stand behind. We are anxiously waiting for our newly enlarged store to reopen.
Julie says
I haven't tried their thin cut pork chops. I will have to pick some up next time they are on sale. Thanks for the suggestion!
Leslie says
Some of their produce and chicken are not as fresh and do not last as long as Kroger's. I do love buying nuts there--great price and quality.
Mom says
I don't like their bananas either!