I am having a hard time deciding which is cheaper in the long run. I am getting frustrated going to a gazillion different grocery stores to catch the loss leaders. I love Aldi for staples (and their whole chickens are cheap!), but it's 30 minutes away, while the other stores are within a couple of miles from my house. So, I only like to go every other week or so.

I love going to Publix on Sunday mornings and using coupons (they double under $0.50) that match their B1G1 free items (and Sundays, they have a 1 cent product...this week, it was a loaf of bread. Last week, it was a roll of paper towels). But I still feel like most of the sales + coupons are about the same price or only slightly less than Aldi. Sometimes I can get a super good deal, but when I go to get the deals, I end up just buying the things I need for that week instead of trekking out to Aldi for them (like a can of tuna, for instance). I guess I can't decide when it's worth the time and gas to go there.

The main problem I have with Aldi is that they don't have everything I need, so I often have to go to other stores anyway. I used to shop at Walmart for those things, but their prices have gone up, so it's not worth the long lines anymore.

OK, sorry for the tangent. I'm just annoyed b/c I try so hard to keep our food budget down, but I go over every month. I cook from scratch, I don't buy bottled water, coke, or processed foods. Either I need to adjust our budget or we need to just stop eating. My main question is for those who shop at Aldi, do you also use coupons and shop for loss leaders at other stores? Or is your life much simpler than mine, and you just get everything you can get there and then just go to another store for the things they don't have?

Thanks.
Michele

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Michele

Mommy to Jack (06/01/06) &
^Bernadette^ (entered heaven at 37 wks on 10/17/07)

http://myobaby.blogspot.com

For me, Aldi's is definitely cheaper and easier than coupons. For one thing, I don't have time to search for coupons and sales and such. Plus, I never seem to get coupons for things I actually use. Aldi's is 30 miles away for me too. When I do make a trip to that town (at least once a month) I shop at Aldi's and Sam's club. I buy the rest of the stuff at HyVee here in my town.

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If Aldi was closer to me (40 miles away!) it would be worth shopping for staples. I would only use my coupons (@ stores that accept them) on things that I could get for little for nothing or better yet, FREE! (I got 5 bags of Betty Crocker cookies mixes for FREE last week using coupons that doubled!) Aldi meat is fine but alot of times my grocery store-of-choice (Meijer) has awsome meat deals! Chicken breast for .99 a pound! They also always have discount meat that I will buy up and either cook right away or freeze. Back to the subject, I would definitly shop at aldi if I could.We have a sav-a-lot but it is cruddy so I avoid it.

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I don't have an Aldi's anywhere near me and hadn't even heard of it until the past couple months. I only have two stores in town, so it's no biggie for me to go to both. When I go to the big town, I ad match with my coupons at walmart.

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I would stick to the Grocery store and Shop sales and Use Coupons.

I Would Go to ALDI - once a Month or so

I would'nt do them both in the same week .

I Hate running around too.

Our Aldi is also 30 minutes away from the house so we only go there every other week. The advantage is, that I don't just stop by to get one thing and come out with a bunch of stuff I don't need. Because it's so far away I only go grocery shopping with a long list and get what I need.

I never seem to have much luck with coupons. I cook most of my stuff from scratch and there are never any good coupons for staples.

When I lived near a Aldi's, it was part of my regular weekly run. Aldi's first, then fill in at another store. Coupons were not worth the effort. Never for the things I buy and a temptation to buy things that I don't need.

If Aldi's is a distance, I would make it a regular monthly run and stock up on the things you know are the best price. Otherwise shop locally and use coupons if it fits your shopping routine.

Just my 2 cents. That hasn't gone up, has it?

Cathleen

LOL! I'd make it at least 10 cents.

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Michele

Mommy to Jack (06/01/06) &
^Bernadette^ (entered heaven at 37 wks on 10/17/07)

http://myobaby.blogspot.com

There is one right across from my Wal-Mart so I always went there. But the last 6 months prices just keep creeping up. I used to go in Aldi's and walk out shocked that I had only spent $50 on a cart load of groceries. Now I struggle to spend under $125 even there. So 3 months ago I switched to running around doing the coupon thing & getting the loss leaders. My budget is under $500 per month for everything (diapers, cleaning products, & personal items) and I wasn't even coming close with Aldi & Wal-Mart. Now I stock up big time when there are sales. I just spent $250 this week with Kroger's big sale & FILLED my house with food. Then I'll spend just $30-$60 per week at Aldi's for produce, milk, eggs, etc. I also go to CVS and do the ECB thing. I have to admit that some weeks I feel like grocery shopping is yet another part time job with the looking at ads, cutting coupons, organizing what & where I need to go. But in the long run, I have saved HUGE amounts of money in the past 3 months.

Just a little success story. We had to visit my dh's parents this weekend and the Kroger's next to then doubles coupons up to $.99. So I saved all my $.55 coupons & popped in there for a quick trip. When my cart load had all been tallied the total was -$.30. The girl & I both looked at it shocked! Negative money owed, who knew? So, yeah, I love Aldi's. But I love free groceries even more. I got the free Betty Crocker stuff too. And free peanut butter (Peter Pan at that!) And free Hormel Chili. And free Shout! And free mustard! Can't beat free.

Congrats on the free groceries! See, that's exactly my problem with Aldi right now - the prices have gone up so much this past year. Same with Walmart. I liked Kroger's mega sale - I got gold fish for $0.50 each and stocked up big time. I didn't have any Peter Pan coupons. I used to see 8oz PB on sale for $1 every once in awhile, but the $1.25 sale is now considered great!

I'm wondering if I should increase my grocery budget so I don't stress over it so much. Right now, it's $75/week, which includes non-food items. We don't eat out much at all, so this includes all meals, including DH's lunches (leftovers or sandwiches).

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Michele

Mommy to Jack (06/01/06) &
^Bernadette^ (entered heaven at 37 wks on 10/17/07)

http://myobaby.blogspot.com