MQAAord said:
One day while we were still in Chicago, after getting back from Aldi's as I unloaded my groceries I grabbed a calculator and did some math. I added up what the stuff I bought would have cost at the local Dominick's (one of the two big grocery store chains in Chicago), and I compared that to my Aldi's reciept.
I kid you not, the Aldi reciept was half of what the Dominick's prices would have been. Half. Having seen that, and knowing know how much I save, even if I was a cajillionaire, I don't think I could go back to buying everything at regular name-brand grocery stores anymore. There are still somethings that Aldi simply doesn't carry, so I havn't abandoned Marsh & Kroger (the Indy stores) completely.
The first Aldi's I ever heard of was in St. Joseph, MO (if I recall correctly). Living in Plattsmouth, NE, at the time, it wasn't on our regular weekend circuit. However, every time we travelled to Memphis or Bossier City, LA to visit parents, we'd make a point of stopping in for several cases of canned goods. Similarly, whenever they visited, they'd stop in to load up on green beans, corn, etc. They brought us cases on the way up, and stopped in again for themselves on the way back home. (I actually prefer their green beans to any store brand, anyway.)
Now that we're living in Memphis, and Aldi's finally made it here, we're delighted with the convenience and price. Yeah, I thought it was a bit cheesy that we had to put a quarter in the slot to borrow a grocery basket, but then again I think it's a hassle to dodge the hundreds of carts strategically placed around the parking lot at Wal*Mart blocking all the good parking spaces.
You're right, they don't have everything you might want, but the stuff they have is a fantastic bargain.
If they don't have it there, Sam's or Costco is the next stop, and then we start working our way up the chain with Wal*Mart and Kroger.
MQAAord said:
I get a bit irritated when it comes to the paycuts, and Aldi got used in my example. Not to imply that saving 1/2 on one's grocery bill is a bad thing by any means!
I've got several good reasons to save ½ off a grocery bill - - I'd never say it's a bad thing.
MQAAord said:
I'm actualy incredibly cheap. (Take that whatever way you want.)
I think of myself as easy, but not cheap. No, wait, that's something else.
How about frugal? Nobody can fault us for being frugal, can they?
MQAAord said:
Living on new-hire Eagle F/A wages ($10.75/hour) taught me a LOT about penny-pinching.
I think we should all learn the penny-pinching skills. Even if I were making a billion dollars a day today, there's no guarantee I'll be making it tomorrow.
What is Aldi?
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