If you’ve followed Clark for a while, you know he loves Aldi.
The penny pincher talks about the ultra-cheap grocer so often that you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the only store he shops at — hang your head in shame, Costco and all you dollar stores!
(Actually, nothing could be further from the truth; Clark isn’t retail-store loyal and will shop wherever he can get the best deal!)
But instead of another article expounding how Aldi can save you up to 50% off your grocery bill, how about one that explains the other benefits of shopping there?
Read more: 10 surprises you probably didn’t know about Aldi
Here are 5 reasons — other than the savings! — that might prompt you to shop at Aldi
Aldi is healthy
At the end of last year, Aldi completed its efforts to remove certified synthetic colors, partially hydrogenated oils and added monosodium glutamate (MSG) from their private label goods.
The cheap grocer had already introduced its SimplyNature line of products several years ago, which bars 125 of the most egregious ingredients, and it also offers a gluten-free line called liveGfree.
In addition, the store has aremoved artificial growth hormones from its milk. Up next is removing the same from its yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese and other dairy products.
There’s also an ongoing effort to ramp up the presence of its Never Any! brand of meats, which contains no added antibiotics, hormones, animal by-products or other additives.
You won’t have to waste time clipping coupons
Aldi has a strict ‘no coupons’ policy. They won’t accept manufacturer’s coupons, competitor coupons, nothing.
As the store notes in its FAQs: ‘The majority of our products are ALDI exclusive brands…ALDI does carry some brand name products; however, we negotiate the best possible prices with our suppliers, so we are unable to accept manufacturer’s coupons.’
You’ll get a workout in the parking lot
Unlike Publix and some other grocers, Aldi doesn’t offer carryout service. That means Aldi employees won’t walk your groceries to your car and load up your trunk for you.
So be prepared to use some muscle as you load in a week’s worth of food into your vehicle!
(Well, maybe they’ll help you if you’re a 96-year-old senior citizen and you ask really nicely.)
Meanwhile, those carts you have to rent for 25 cents from the store? They do that so you’ll return it yourself to the cart corral to get your quarter back. It’s another way they save on overhead and pass those savings along to you.
It also give you a nice excuse to walk that cart back yourself and get an extra bit of exercise when you’re out running your errands!
Aldi saves you time with its small format
The typical Aldi has about 10,000 square feet of sales floor space. Compare that with the average traditional supermarket that can be up to 45,000 square feet!
All that extra square footage in Aldi’s competitors means more aisles that tempt you with impulse purchases and steal precious time from your busy life.
Shopping at Aldi may well find you money you didn’t know you had!
If you’re anything like me, a weekend trip to Aldi with the kids is preceded by frantically digging through the couch looking for a quarter to rent the carts. It’s not unusual for me to find other lost change and sometimes even a crumpled-up $1 bill or two in the hunt!
Read more: How to find and claim missing money for free
What do you like — or dislike — about shopping at Aldi? Write in below and let us know!
