Coupon Counsel: ALDI - When You Don't Need a Coupon

My family members are avid readers of the Fridley Patch. My Grandma, who lives in Fridley (and reads Patch stories on her iPad!), would like nothing more than to read me write about the money you can save at ALDI. While I think she credits my crazy coupon techniques at Target and the like, she likes to remind me that just because you have a coupon, does not mean you are always getting the best deal!

ALDI is a great place for your grocery needs and at a great price. If you don't mind, the "off brand," you can find comparable items to your favorites at a cheaper price and still good quality. If you shop at any other the other larger stores like Target and Cub, you find these stores carry a store brand that resembles an off brand. ALDI is a great place to shop because it weeds out all the more expensive, advertised, and popular brands and provides you what your family needs without all the fluff.

Like anywhere you shop, you want to be sure to check how many items come in a package or how many ounces are contained in an item. ALDI obviously lists the cost per ounce directly below the price. Other stores list cost per ounce but it can be a little harder to find!

For example, I picked up a few cans of mandarin oranges my son likes to eat for a snack. While perusing the canned fruit I figured the larger can of fruit cocktail was more bang for my buck. But, in checking the cost per ounce, I found the fruit cocktail was $.09 per oounce and the mandarin oranges were only $.05 per ounce.

On the flip-side, ALDI has a great selection of granola bars listed at $1.98 a package. Further inspection of the number of granola bars per box showed me that there were only six granola bars per package or $.33 a bar. Granted that is a cheap snack, but with my couponing I have found comparable granola bars at larger chains for a bit cheaper as long as I am patient enough to wait for them to go on sale and then use my coupon in conjunction. So, I skipped the granola bars this time around.

I found some great deals on my shopping trip to ALDI's today, especially in the produce section. Check out some of my finds:

Tropical Juice $1.19
Hot Dog Buns $.79
White Tortilla Chips $1.19
1 lb. Strawberries $.99
2 lb. Red Grapes $1.98
Yogurt $.35
10pk Summer Juice Punch $1.69
Cinnamon Bagels $1.49
1 Pint Blueberries $1.29
1 lb. 93% Lean Ground Beef $3.77
1 lb. Lean Ground Turkey $2.49
Mandarin Oranges $.55
Frozen Peas $.79
Iceberg Lettuce $.99
Kosher Pickle Spears $1.49

Don't forget to bring your quarter for a cart (you get the quarter back when you return it) and some reusable shopping bags!

Happy ALDI Shopping!