I started my SNAP Food Stamp Challenge shopping off at Aldi. While not everyone has an Aldi nearby, if you do (check the store locator here), Aldi can be a wonderful source for inexpensive produce.
I usually stop there at least once a week to pick up all their produce loss leaders – and this week was no exception.
Above is everything I bought this week for a grand total of just $31.50. I was able to purchase nearly all the produce I plan for us to consume this week (I still need to get more peaches – on sale day for $.70 a pound!; lettuce; strawberries and blueberries), as well as two dozen eggs, cream for my husband’s coffee, whole almonds for snacking, and skim milk.
Coincidentally, my total came to $31.50 before tax – the same amount that SNAP allows per person receiving food stamps. Fortunately we are a family of five – so our produce, plus some dairy, eggs and nuts, amounted to one-fifth of our weekly budget.
Whether you’re on a tight budget or not, shopping at Aldi is a great way to stretch your resources – and create more margin to afford things like kosher meat and cheese (let’s see how I do on that later today!)
As I’ve said in your comment section before, I am an Aldi convert. After consciously working to reduce my grocery expenses, and becoming a weekly Aldi shopper, there are only a few grocery items I don’t purchase exclusively at Aldi (excluding kosher butcher items). My grocery bill is a fraction of what it used to be. For the most part, I don’t buy produce that isn’t at Aldi. I check a whole cabbage to make cole slaw (It’s way less than half the price of bagged, and my family likes it better.) Eggs are really cheap there. I like their garlic lover’s hummus (It’s back by the treif meat at my store.) Their frozen strawberries have an O-U, and they are cheaper than Walmart’s. They have pareve crackers and graham crackers, pickles, mustard, cereal, pasta. I tried their dish detergent & didn’t like it, so I will coupon for that. I used the money I saved to pay off a credit card!! Now I’m doubling up on student loan payments!
I buy many of the same items at Aldi, although not eggs – the carriage-trade supermarket here has local eggs that are fresher and competitive in price.
I’m cautious about produce at Aldi. The quality is satisfactory but I find that it doesn’t keep well, so I’m careful not to buy too much. I don’t know whether their supply chain is more convoluted, or whether it’s the lack of refrigeration. (On the other hand, many supermarkets seem to refrigerate things that don’t require it or are even harmed by it.)
Fresh produce doesn’t last long from ANY store. A person MIGHT get 2 weeks, even if you went out in your own garden and picked your own fresh fruit. So make sure you get only what you can eat up in a week.
Hope this helps clarify.
This is a great article for normal people trying to downsize. For many actually using ebt, however, remember that most aldis do not accept ebt, or any other forms of government assistance.
That’s not currently true. It says on their website that they accept EBT. I don’t know of this is new but as of now they do. https://www.aldi.us/en/customer-service/faqs/method-of-payment-gift-cards/
I haven’t had luck with the produce yet, whenever I go most of it is not good. I guess it’s time to find out when they get their fruits and veggies delivered.
I absolutely LOVE Aldi’s! Their produce is much fresher than other large grocery stores. Their spinach in the plastic bin, lasted about a month – very impressive!
The prices Can’t Be Beat!
Everyone should run to this store.
The store in Johnson city ny,doesn’t take EBT…so we go to Sav A Lot instead their produce doesn’t last a week so we buy just for a few days ex:peppers,oranges …bananas…
Aldi’s is the best grocery store to date. I don’t get sick from eating their food, like I do at Save-A-Lot and the fact that they sell organic food should tell you something about their quality, they care!