ALDI started in Germany way back in 1913, and was often perceived as “cheap” in terms of quality grocery goods. But those days are long gone. If you shop regularly at ALDI, or maybe you’ve been curious about the store, this article’s for you. From the best items to buy at ALDI, to some cool insider ALDI shopping hacks, you’re bound to save some extra money on your next grocery trip.

The Items Worth Buying at ALDI:

The next time you walk into ALDI, be sure you walk out with these items…

1. Canned Goods

Whenever you can buy canned goods between $0.50 and $0.69 a can, you’re doing pretty darn good. Stock-up the pantry and save.

2. Pasta and Sauce

With a 2 lb. package of spaghetti pasta coming in at about $1.50, and jars of sauce selling for a buck, it’s hard to beat ALDI when thinking about a pasta feed for dinner.

PRO TIP: EXPLORE THE “AISLE OF DREAMS”

ALDI’s “Aisle of Dreams,” officially known as ALDI Finds, features a rotating selection of seasonal and limited-time items, from kitchen gadgets to home décor.

Get in the habit of regularly browsing this aisle as it can lead to unexpected and affordable “cool” finds.

3. Baking Supplies

Stock up at ALDI and save on baking supplies like baking soda, cornstarch, extracts, flour, and sugar.

Unless you need to buy in bulk, ALDI will typically beat Costco and Walmart on price.

See Also: 24 ALDI Savings Tips You Need to Implement Today

4. Spices

ALDI sells very liberal container sizes of spices and they’re rarely priced over $1.50 for any given spice.

Great for cooking, dry BBQ rubs, and overall very handy to have in the pantry.

PRO TIP: SHOP ALDI FINDS ON SUNDAY & MONDAY

ALDI Finds (that random aisle with weirdly amazing deals) get clearance stickers when stuff doesn’t sell fast enough.

I had an employee tell me to check Sundays or Mondays as this is when unsold “Finds” often get their steep markdowns.

If something you love is still full price, ask an employee when markdowns usually happen and shop accordingly.

5. Produce

Fresh fruit and vegetables at ALDI ire a steal and when they go on sale they’re ridiculously cheap.

They put some fruit and veggies on sale every week which makes for a great time to stock-up.

Plan you meals around the sales and you can cut a lot of money from your weekly grocery bill.

PRO TIP: ASK FOR A CASE DISCOUNT

Most shoppers have no idea that ALDI often offers discounts when you buy in bulk, especially for clearance or seasonal items.

This is NOT widely advertised policy, but many ALDI managers have the discretion to mark down full cases of certain products.

Items that have been on clearance for a while (often marked with a red or yellow sticker) are the best candidates for a discount.

Secondly, seasonal foods (think holiday cookies, pumpkin spice items, summer BBQ goods) tend to get heavily marked down once the season ends and you can often get a bulk discount if you ask.

Also, check everyday staples like canned vegetables, pasta, rice, and baking supplies and ask for a case discount.

Here’s How It Works:

Check for Full Cases Already on Shelves – ALDI stocks many items in the case they arrived in (just with the top ripped off). If you see a full case, that’s a sign it might be available for a discount. If you want a case of an item that’s not fully stocked, you can ask an employee if they have extras in the back.

Ask to Speak to a Manager or Shift Lead – ALDI cashiers don’t have control over pricing, so ask for a manager or shift leader. Say something like: “I’m interested in buying a full case of [product]. Since I’m purchasing in bulk, would there be any discount available?”

Be polite and friendly and you stand a great chance of a discount.

6. Cereal

If you’re not a big coupon clipper then it’s hard to beat the everyday low price on cereal at ALDI.

Most boxes come in at about $1.39 to $1.89 per box and they’re pretty darn tasty from all accounts.

7. Canned Broth

Be sure to stock-up on the ALDI’s Chef’s Cupboard broths at about $0.49 a can.

Hard to beat that price anywhere.

PRO TIP: HACK THE MEAT & CHEESE AISLE

ALDI’s cheese selection is legit, especially during the holidays. Get gourmet-style cheese for half the price of other grocery stores.

The best steak deals are actually in ALDI’s vacuum-sealed “Black Angus” meat section as they’re better cuts for the same price as lower-quality ones.

8. Salad Dressing

Check out the in-house brand vinaigrette and bleu cheese.

Both are suppose to be awesome and about half the price compared to the name-brands you’ll find at the grocery store.

Let’s now looks at some ALDI hacks to maximize your savings even further.

See Also: ALDI Return Policy: Here’s the Dealio + Hacks for Success

6 Insider ALDI Hacks Worth Knowing:

Here are some insider ALDI hacks to maximize your savings and make your next visit a little more efficient.

1. Forgot Your Re-Usable Bags?

Not a problem, just grab an empty box, or almost empty, from a shelf and use it to take your groceries home. And yes, ALDI is completely cool with you doing this.

2. Take Advantage of Their Double Guarantee

The ALDI double guarantee is pretty darn impressive and not known to many shoppers.

If for any reason, you’re not completely satisfied with any food item you purchased, you can return it for a FULL refund plus they’ll offer a replacement.

Doesn’t matter how much of the item you’ve consumed, just bring it back in with your receipt and they’ll take care of you.

PRO TIP: SKIP THE PRE-SLICED PRODUCE

Do the math people. ALDI prices look low, but pre-cut fruit & veggies cost way more per ounce than whole produce.

Example: A $2.99 container of pre-cut pineapple = half a whole pineapple’s yield. Buy whole pineapple and cut it yourself and save 50%.

3. Know When “Special Buys” Happen

Any loyal ALDI shopper knows that a “Special Buy” on an item means huge savings, often up to 75% off the already low ALDI everyday price. But when do they happen and on what products?

The single best way to figure out what items are (and will be) Special Buys is to bookmark this page on their website and check it weekly.

It shows the weekly ad at ALDI as well as what Special Buys are coming to ALDI in future weeks.

Plan your shopping accordingly and save big.

PRO TIP: KNOW WHICH ITEMS ARE CHEAPER ELSEWHERE

News ALERT. Not everything at ALDI is the best deal.

In particular, skip these items peeps:

Toilet paper & paper towels → Costco/Sam’s have better bulk deals.

Name-brand cereal → Walmart is often cheaper.

Soda & name-brand snacks → Grocery sales + coupons win here.

4. ALDI Bread “Discount” Secret

ALDI is known to discount their bread items exactly 5 days before the expiration date.

So if you’re shopping for a loaf and you notice the expiration date is 6 days out, wait a day to buy and save some cold hard cash.

5. What’s Up With the Yellow Hook?

Have you ever noticed the yellow hook on the front of every ALDI grocery cart? No, they’re not for hanging-up your 2-year old by his overall straps.

Turns out they’re for your reusable bags, just hook them on and have more room in your shopping cart for your actual groceries.

6. Store Brands Secret at ALDI

Similar to Trader Joe’s, many of the items at ALDI are produced by big name-brands and then repackaged specifically for them.

And yes, they’re typically sold for less than the name-brand.

Rumors have circulated for years that ALDI’s Kirkwood chicken is actually packaged by Tyson and their apple pie is made by Mrs. Smith’s.

The takeaway here is that their in-house brand is really solid and provides a terrific value.

Do you have any ALDI hacks worth sharing? Let me know in the comments and I’ll investigate.

Ask the Reader: Have do you save money at ALDI? What items do they sell that make the trek to the store worth it?

By Kyle James

Photo credit to Mike Mozart.

Kyle James( Owner/Founder )

I started Rather-Be-Shopping.com in 2000 and have become a consumer expert and advocate writing about out-of-the-box ways to save at stores like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Costco to name a few. I’ve been featured on FOX News, Good Morning America, and the NY Times talking about my savings tips. (Learn more)