From the moment Aldi opened in the U.S. in the mid-1970s, the German-based grocery store caught the attention of shoppers who love a great bargain and are more than happy to pay for the use of a shopping cart. Aldi’s mission is simple: provide the lowest possible price on goods without compromising on quality. A whopping 90% of its stock consists of Aldi-exclusive brands, which is just one of the reasons why Aldi’s groceries are so cheap. While Aldi is definitely cheaper on many things than traditional grocery stores, one store can’t be everything to every consumer. There are actually things that are cheaper at other stores. Here are just of few of the items that fit into that category.
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| Name-Brand Cereal — Unfortunately, Aldi’s brands are limited when it comes to cereal, so be ready to pay up for those corn flakes and marshmallow morning delights. Cereal can be more than $3 a box more at Aldi than at a traditional grocery store, even when it’s on sale. |
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| Berries — Although you may pay less for berries at Aldi, their quality isn’t as good as those in traditional grocery stores, meaning you’re wasting your money. Skip the fresh berries and shop at a larger grocery store that can rotate produce at a much faster pace. |
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| Toiletries — While hair-care items, deodorant, dental products, and the like are available at Aldi, you’re only going to find established brand names, and rarely at a discount. These items frequently go on sale at larger grocery stores, so skip them at Aldi. |
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| Paper Products — Similar to toiletries, paper products like toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues are not the best value at Aldi. You can generally find coupons on paper products, along with weekly sales, at traditional grocery stores. |
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| Most Meat — Unlike at Trader Joe’s, where meats never go on sale, you can find discounted chicken and beef from time to time at Aldi — and when this happens, run, don’t walk, to the store and you’ll save a ton of money. Otherwise, their meat prices aren’t really a bargain compared with other grocers, and you can score them cheaper at your local grocery store. The one exception is organic ground beef, a high-quality item offered at a much lower price. |
