When I’m not shopping at Trader Joe’s, I’m an Aldi girl through and through. As groceries get increasingly expensive, this budget-friendly store has become my go-to, and there’s a reason so many people flock to their local Aldi to save money. For those who have yet to experience an Aldi, let me give you the low-down. These stores run a bit differently than your typical grocer. For instance, you’ll see less staff around since customers are tasked with bagging their own groceries and returning their shopping carts via a quarter system (I keep my Aldi quarter in my car at all times!). Also, the shelf displays aren’t always beautifully curated and organized like those at Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods. At Aldi, it’s less about appearance, and most items are simply displayed in their boxes. However, these small tweaks all add up to bigger savings on your grocery bill.
It’s not exactly the cute and whimsical shopping experience offered by Trader Joe’s, but prepare to leave Aldi a little less stressed about your wallet—and with the cost of groceries these days, that counts for something! As someone who lives alone, I budget about $50 each week for groceries. With its impressive selection of options at affordable prices, Aldi makes it super easy to stick to my budget and try some fun new items along the way. Here’s what my under-$50 Aldi shopping list looked like this week:
1. Priano Italian Sausage Ravioli ($5.35)
At just over $5, this family-size pack of ravioli was a steal. I ended up making this sinfully easy meal when a friend came over after work this week, pairing it with Texas toast and veggies on the side. I almost felt guilty for serving such a simple dinner, but Aldi’s Priano pasta brand did not disappoint. This was my first time trying this ravioli, and it will definitely be on my Aldi shopping list again.
2. Rao’s Homemade Marinara Sauce ($6.88)
One of my spendiest items of this haul was a jar of Rao’s marinara sauce at $6.88. Since the above meal is the easiest dinner on the planet, I wanted to splurge and get the good stuff for sauce. While most of Aldi’s inventory includes brands that are specific to the grocery chain, they also carry some more well-known brands—like Rao’s!
3. Season’s Choice Steamed Cut Green Beans ($0.96)
The cheapest item on my list this week was frozen green beans. While I usually opt for fresh veggies in the refrigerated section, my freezer stash was running low, so I decided to grab a bag of these frozen green beans that I can heat and eat when I’m in a pinch.
4. Emporium Selection Shredded Parmesan Cheese ($2.19)
If you haven’t yet explored Aldi’s cheese section, get to it! They have a surprisingly vast selection, from deli slices to artisanal cheeses worthy of a spot on your next charcuterie board. This shredded parm was originally $2.45 and on sale for $2.19, so it was a no-brainer to garnish my not-so-fancy ravioli dinner.
5. Little Salad Bar Sweet Kale Chopped Salad Kit ($3.29)
When it comes to meal planning, I’m a creature of habit. Most weekdays, my office lunches consist of a salad with added protein and some snackage on the side. This week, I snagged two different salad kits, including this yummy kale chopped salad. I’ve rotated through a bunch of different Aldi salad kits, and this one—packed with a variety of veggies, dried cranberries, roasted pumpkin seeds, and a poppy seed dressing—consistently tastes fresh.
6. Little Salad Bar Caesar Salad Kit ($3.09)
For the second salad in my weekly rotation, I grabbed a good old-fashioned Caesar salad kit, which usually supplies me with three salads. When grabbing one of these kits, I often have to do a bit more digging to ensure the romaine lettuce is still perky and green. I love an easy kit that comes with greens, croutons, and dressing so that I can easily add chicken or another protein to create a simple, filling lunch.
7. Lunch Mate Southwestern Chicken Strips ($4.29)
While I usually cook up chicken for my salads at the beginning of the week, I went the easy route this week and snagged these flavorful southwestern grilled chicken strips. I’ve also tried the original version (sans southwestern seasoning), and both are a quick and tasty option for salads or wraps.
8. Starbucks Iced Coffee, Medium Roast ($6.24)
My addiction to this Starbucks medium roast iced coffee knows no bounds. It’s priced at the higher end for premade iced coffees, but it also saves me money since I could easily spend this much on one drink from an actual Starbucks. I consume this stuff black (call me crazy), but it also works well as an unsweetened base for more elaborate coffee beverages.
9. Simply Nature Maple Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal ($1.89)
For breakfasts this week, I grabbed my very favorite instant oatmeal for $1.89 (discounted from its usual $2.65). Aldi’s Simply Nature brand does not miss, with a ton of different organic items across the whole store. As you might have guessed, I am a simpleton in the kitchen, so I often rotate between this and the Oats & Flax version for breakfast.
10. Fresh Blueberries ($2.19)
Blueberries were on sale from their $2.65 price, which is a steal compared to what they’re going for at most grocery stores right now. Although the prices are great, Aldi produce can be hit or miss, depending on the time of year, so I often wait and buy fruit somewhere else. However, this week, I found a batch of healthy-looking blueberries and decided they were worth it.
11. Fresh Raspberries ($2.19)
Raspberries were also marked down from their original $3.29 price, so I snagged a container of these, too. I love having berries in my fridge at all times, both for snacking purposes and as an oatmeal topper. As with the blueberries, I grabbed the freshest batch I could find, and they did not disappoint.
12. Mama Cozzi’s Original Thin Crust Sausage Pizza ($3.65)
My freezer is not complete without a frozen pizza residing in it at all times. This $3 pizza from Aldi has become a staple for a Friday night in, and I honestly prefer it to some of the more expensive brands. The crust is perfectly thin and crispy, and the sausage has great flavor.
13. Earthly Grains Whole Grain Brown Rice ($1.55)
I already had salmon in my freezer, so I grabbed a package of this brown rice to pair with it on the side. Microwavable rice can be either a great easy dinner hack or a mushy mess, but I’ve enjoyed the variety of options (both regular and instant) from this Aldi brand.
14. La Croix BlackRazzberry Sparkling Water ($5.85)
While I don’t mind Aldi’s store-brand sparking water (called Belle Vie), nothing beats La Croix, so I always check which flavors are in stock at Aldi. This week, they had one of my favorites, BlackRazzberry, so I opted for a 12-pack priced at $5.85. It’s the first thing I cracked open once I got home!
Total Spent: $49.61
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kailey Hansen, Contributing Writer
Kailey is a Chicago-based freelance writer and communications specialist with a B.A. in English/Journalism from Elmhurst College. When she’s not writing for The Everygirl, you can find her geeking about TV shows at BuzzFeed or covering pet news for Rover.