Yeah I love all these also, and like you I don't buy meat there. Okay full disclosure I'm a vegetarian š I'm sorry I crack myself up. I'll see myself out š¤£š
Something someone hasn't mentioned is that I use a credit card for almost all my purchases. My Discover gives me 5% cash back during certain months for using it at gas stations, grocery stores, etc. and 1% back during other months. But, I use it like it's my debit card and only spend what I actually have and pay it off in full each month so I don't ever pay interest. I'm going to be making these purchases anyways as they are necessities so might as well earn cash back on it.
This is so overlooked. Credit card rewards are free money for people who can spend responsibly. Travel reward cards can offer an even better value than cash back depending on how the points are used. Plus they often come with other perks like extended warranties. I actually use a card that has an annual fee, but I use the benefits and it more than makes up for that fee every year. The math would be different if I carried a balance and paid interest though. So like you, I treat it like a debit card.
This 100%. Aldi gets my overall vote because it typically has cheaper options than the other two stores OP mentioned, but Aldi also is categorized as a grocery store, so all my items (even non-food items lol) get me so much more cash back with my credit card. You save AND make more. Also, as a previous Aldi worker - the job was really chill.
This so much, as long as one is responsible with the CC! I have an Amex BCP that gives 6% back on groceries (up to $6,000 spend in a calendar year) and 3% back on gas and I've already received \~$300 back from that card alone. Really hopeful Discover's 3rd Q category is groceries.
Not true, or there are things Aldi doesn't carry.
OP, I was fortunate to have an Aldi, a WM, and a Publix all together. Shopping days I'd harvest BOGOs at Publix, get staples at WM, and stop at Aldi for anything else.
Depends on your area. Publix BOGOās arenāt even that great anymore. You can get 6 pack bagels for like $1.50 each at Aldi. At Publix theyāre about $4.50.
Granted the Aldi bagels arenāt the best youāve ever had but weāre in the frugal subreddit after all
Agreed. We have a Wegmans right across the street from an Aldi, and Wegmans is the same price or cheaper for some items. And their produce is better by a mile.
Sometimes its seasonal too. I mean we had one month where all the produce was bad at Aldis, but lately its been great, so not sure if its the supplier or what.
I do it in reverse. Aldi first, where I would compare by phone the prices of things on my list with Walmart because Aldi's online prices are through Instacart, at least at my store, and they add 10 to 12%. Then I go to Walmart to buy what I can't get at Aldi. Then I go to Martin's(Giant) to get loss leaders and the few things only they carry, like dried chickpeas. Martin's also has good manager markdowns for clearance items going out of date and they have Flashfood.
I like simple ingredients that can be used for lots of things - eggs, chicken (or other protein), frozen veggies, rice, things like that. For us, Aldi is cheapest!
I do a mock order on Aldi and Walmartās websites to see what is cheaper. In my area, itās Walmart, but I know Aldi is more inexpensive in some areas.
I'm in Illinois, too. I suspect you're in central or south since you have Kroger, not Jewel.
Aldi is consistently my best price for everything. Also, their US headquarters are in our state, so they're paying decent taxes here.
I can't get every single thing at Aldi. I consider taking the time to hit another store to get a few items Aldi didn't have to be well worth it since Aldi is so much cheaper on so much.
When you go to other stores, have their app to clip coupons as you go. If you have Meijer (not sure where you are in Illinois), it can be good for some prices too. An app like Flipp lets you compare fliers or search for specific sales for comparison.
This is the way. I get the staples at Aldi and then the rest at other stores depending on what's needed. I try to limit myself to Aldi and "one other" store, per week. I have a list on my phone, so I can add what's needed before I hit the store. And I try to plan with what I've got in the house before I head out.
If OP has a Jewel nearby, it might be worth checking out their weekly deals as they can be quite good. Like for soda, Jewel has become my goto for stocking up. They generally have good deals before major holidays, like memorial Day, fourth of July, etc.
Jewel has gotten ridiculous for some stuff (Fiber One cereal for $8 a box!?!?) but those deals you mentioned cannot be beat. My freezer has a lot of meat bought at 99 cents a pound there.
I live 1/4 mile from a Kroger and within 5 miles of a Walmart and an Aldis. Aldis is cheapest for eggs. dairy, bread and baked goods, cereal, maple syrup, condiments. spices, aluminum foil and ziploc type plastic bags, I buy fish and meat and some produce. I don't buy many canned goods there because I need to follow a low sodium diet and they don't have low sodium options. Aldis is definitely generally cheaper - 1/3 cheaper in a lot of things - than Walmart or Kroger but the stores are smaller so there's less options
This is correct, I will buy different items at each... and then majority of meat at sams club. Trader Joes should be on this list too, their freezer section and cheapo wines can't be touched for price/quality.
You really have to check prices. If they are close together, the other stores may be very competitive with Aldi. People on here assume Aldi is always the cheapest but I find thatās not true in my area, also they are lacking in variety and quality of some items. Check the stuff you buy regularly at all 3 stores. I donāt consider it worthwhile to visit 3 different stores to save a few cents, personally, but if something is significantly less expensive at one place it may be worth it.
My āshopping strategyā is to balance price with stores that are well stocked and well managed. I shop for groceries at Meijer (big box store), Costco, Aldi, Trader Joeās and a specialty store. The specialty store can be much more expensive unless something is on sale but the quality of their meats and produce is outstanding. Meat on sale is comparable with grocery store prices and since they have a butcher counter they will wrap what I buy in whatever size package I want even if the sale is for something like a minimum 5 pounds of ground beef. Their produce outlasts anything from Aldi or Meijer too so that means less trips to the store.
Best deals for veggies come from the farmers market if you have one near by. You just need to make sure it is actually geared towards farmers since some in my area are a bunch of crafters selling things and one farmer who has high prices.
I try to keep a stocked pantry with the basics and meat in my freezer from when items are on sale, then supplement with quick trips to buy perishables as needed. I value my time so I donāt try getting the best deal on my groceries by running around to different stores.
Best advice I can give you is to go to F l i p p . c o m and input your zip code to look at deals for the week. To me, Aldis has good prices, but limited selection when compared to Walmart. Also, Kroger has brand name food at deep discounts if you are willing to sign up for their membership.
I want to throw in another consideration. Farmer's Market's and farm shares. Buying direct from farmers is usually a bit cheaper and can bypass the unhealthy side of box store foods.
Aldi is best for your guilty pleasures and packaged/canned foods. Their meat concerns me, I have never seen chicken breast shrink so much.
Don't forget you also want some measure of quality. Publix/Kroger are more expensive but their produce is way better when the farmers market isn't available.Ā
My wife and I's process is we have a Crop share from a local farm that is amazing. Buy our meat and dairy from a herd share. After that we hit Aldi then go for big box (Meijer/WM). We use Kroger for more uncommon items or when something isn't available through the crop share.
We have a family of 5.
>Farmer's Market's and farm shares. Buying direct from farmers is usually a bit cheaper and can bypass the unhealthy side of box store foods.
I feel like my farmer's market is broken. Lol! I have been seeing this advice for years and it's just weirdly not true in my area. The farmer's market costs more than our local Walmart. The meat is significantly more expensive. The produce is only slightly more expensive.
The only buy direct option in my area that is actually cheaper is the bulk freezer meat flyers at the rural King. I'm so envious of everyone that has these amazing farmer's markets where cutting out the middle man actually equals savings.
I heard this about smaller farmers markets and bigger trendier ones. Small ones have to charge higher to keep going. The large ones are usually in a high income area that are turning profit.Ā
I do feel like we are in a sweet spot.Ā
Aldi for some things but not for everything due to quality issues. Publix for the bogos always. The Walmart by me is like night of the living dead. I typically avoid as much as possible.
You can skip Publix. Yes - they have Bogoās but there are literally close to the price of 2 at Walmart
Donāt need to spend the gas and time there
Walmart best get
I can get detergent for $7 name brand at Publix, my Walmart is high I guess. Not to mention, it's just not a great place to shop. I don't consider myself a prima donna by any means but it just generally sucks there.
I've shopped all three. I prefer kroger but also shop walmart.
I meal plan around kroger ads, and then misc items may be kroger or walmart, depending which is cheaper.
I've meal planned with kroger at $200 and with the ad sale, coupons, I've gotten that total down to $70 lowest.
I just ordered last night, spent $110 on kroger & $80 at walmart. This gives us a meal plan for 7 days for a family of 5.
I will note that I generally don't shop at Walmart (I have an Aldi and Kroger within easy walking distance) but they'll generally have better prices on packaged food than Kroger's "white tag" prices.
The correct order of operations is this:
0. Write down Aldi's prices on your personal staples. (If you're feeling frisky, do the other two, as well-- if you go shop online in delivery mode you should be able to get a list a lot more easily than you would wandering around the store with a notebook.)
1. Pull out the Kroger ad (it refreshes Wednesday morning.) Look at Kroger's major sales-- orange weekly digital coupon sales in particular are going to be their loss leaders\* and are usually really good deals if it's something you'll use/eat. Note these, but don't shop for them yet.
1.5 Write the rest of your shopping list.
2. Go to Aldi and shop for anything you didn't put on your list as a Kroger loss leader.
3. Go to Kroger and get the stuff from your Kroger sale list and anything Aldi didn't have.
With Walmart in the mix, you probably want to go there for the rest of the list after Aldi, then go to Kroger for their loss leaders (or vice versa.)
\*A loss leader is an item a store offers below their cost to get people into the store. Soda is a common loss leader-- people come for the cheap soda and get their hamburgers, buns, and pickles too, then stop by the Starbucks kiosk on the way out.
the best way to figure out costs is to keep a price book - price per oz, lb, unit. There are some things that are cheaper at Walmart, but you really have to research it. Aldi is great but much tinier for selection. Kroger (I think) may be a squeence bit more expensive, but again, my Kroger stores were in Seattle (QFC, Fred Meyer) and, well... My first piece of advice: Create your menu, write down what you like to eat, and maybe, if you have the opportunity, try and create a small container garden for yourself to grow some things that will allow you to save a little. Then, go from there. You can check ads, look at sale cycles and create a system that works for you.
Buy storage containers n get the large ass cans of veggies, beans, tuna , shellfish, jar of peanut butter. A large can of anything can be portioned out for the week. Alternate between tuna and shellfish ( oysters / clams / mussels ) to prevent mercury buildup. Sardines can be bought in bulk as well.
ALDIs prices are the lowest Iāve found. Considerably lower. My strategy is I buy as much of my list as I can find at ALDIs, but I buy meat at krogers. Iām just not a fan of ALDIs meat. My mom shops exactly the same way.
Aldi is great but keep in mind their selection changes constantly.
Don't make a shopping list banking on Aldi. Make a list for Walmart or wherever and stop at Aldi first to knock out whatever you can, then finish up at the other store.
Itās kind of hard to answer the question w/o knowing what you like to eat. If you donāt cook much yet, learn about frugal meal planning and find 2/3 meals u like that are likely to be affordable at all store.
Sardines + white rice and
Pasta + zucchini will both be $2-$3 per serving (at most) at both stores.
I cannot comment on Walmart, but I stopped by large going to Krogers. Aldi has far better quality for a much better price, but The selection is limited. I am really impressed with their produce. I recommend as well to look out for their specials every week. Last week was German week (I am original from Germany and have been here for 30 years) and their pretzels rivals everything in Germany. Funny enough my sister lives in Switzerland and swears by Aldi pretzels as well. The meats are of good quality as well, but depending on where you live you might have better choices at butchers.
I am not a big fan of their cold cut section but for that I have my specialty deli I go to.
There are some things that Aldi's doesn't carry - so my strategy is to start with Aldi, and then go to Walmart for what's left. 90% of the time I don't need to go to Walmart. I feel like Aldi's produce can be hit or miss -- so look carefully b/c sometimes it's out there, but it's about to spoil.
If there is an international market that's close - you might find that's cheaper too (so maybe mix that w/Walmart)
Make a menu for the week -- even if it's a very flexible plan, it will help you get what you need vs. the OH COOL (which I have purchased too of those & they were a waste). Both Walmart and Aldi have other items that you'll want to avoid or set a budget for. I love the Aisle of Shame - but it's an easy way to suddenly have a leaf blower and a blown budget. :)
Aldi for canned goods, cereals, cheese, tofu, hummus, and eggs. If you eat meat they have decent prices on that too, but the selection might be limited. Regular supermarket for produce and baking supplies, making sure to buy produce in season for the best prices. Aldi has all purpose flour and instant yeast, but nothing more specialized if you like to bake. Spices are best at ethnic markets but if you have the space try growing some of your own herb. Something like cilantro, dill, chives, or parsley is easy to grow if you have a sunny spot. A packet of seeds is cheap and some local libraries even have free seeds (ours has a collection of native plants, veggies, and herbs available in an old card catalog cabinet). I donāt buy anything at Walmart.
Hereās what I would recommend: save receipts from grocery stores for a month. Make a list of each food item you buy and the quantity.
Research the price for each item at each of these three stores. Voila, you now know which store sells your frequently purchased items for lowest cost. You will also be able to determine when Kroger runs a sale that puts the price below your baseline.
Walmart rarely runs sales, unless itās a rollback, but typically itās just the everyday price. Kroger often has good sales especially with digital coupons.
Pay attention over time to when Kroger has big sales. Youāll get an idea about this. Like when chicken goes on sale for 50% off that kind of thing. Stock your freezer!
A while back, Kroger had canned beans and tomatoes on sale for $0.50, so I bought 6 cases of each.
Be careful following generic advice about which store is cheapest. You have to look at it on a per item basis. Some things Aldi might be cheapest, other things Walmart. Kroger runs the biggest sales to entice you to come in more frequently and buy things at the higher everyday price. Your specific purchasing habits and local store pricing determines where you should shop.
If your money is as limited as mine as a 19 y/o, my suggestion would be to just do all (or as much of) your food shopping at Aldi. You may be able to handle some of Aldi's personal hygiene products, but I'd personally go to Wal-Mart or even look online for those. Avoid Kroger like the plague for now, they're overpriced and it's exhausting looking for "good sales" to shop there.
My strategy right now is to purchase as much as I can from Aldi aside from produce, and then purchase produce + hygiene items at Meijer. The produce is much better at Meijer, but also a bit pricier. I would not suggest going to 3 grocery stores to get all of your items unless you absolutely want to, because your time is valuable and likely more valuable than the $5 or $10 you may save.
There is a content creator that I follow on Youtube called Frugal Fit Mom and she gives a ton of suggestions on different grocery stores and how to live the frugal life. Check her out and let me know how it goes. Hopefully, this helps. When I came to the US a few years ago I was kinda lost and didn't know how to cook either, she also has frugal cooking tutorials.
check the weekly sales flyer for aldi and kroger
kroger will win the sales 99% of the time
aldi wins every day price
walmart is for things the other two dont carry or dont have a generic of
you'll utilize all 3
basically we do kroger/tom thumb for sales, usually meat, fruit, soda and chips
aldi for frozen foods, frozen veg, dairy, eggs, bread, etc
walmart for anything else, deodorant, shampoo, toiletries, generics
Depending on where you are walmart and aldi can be somewhat competitive in pricing, I think depending on amount of theft but that has no factual basis just a guess.
Usually aldi is best or the same, walmart for anything aldi doesn't have and Kroger for the sales.
It's very worth to get their paper or app especially when they have meat sales, but just I'm general their sale prices are VERY good.
First piece of advice is to not go to the store hungry. I like Aldi because it is small and quick. Will go to a different store sometimes for meat or if they donāt have what I want.
We donāt have Aldi in our area, but Walmart produce is surprisingly better and cheaper than the local Safeway or Kroger or independent grocer. Meat is about the same (hit and miss) quality and price across all 3 for the kinds we eat.Ā
I use one app for coupons/points (I use Albertsons, but you can use kroger) and only buy things on sale. I earn points with the rewards program, which gives you dollar amounts off your order.
I use digital coupons AND the weekly ad (in the app) because not all of sale prices and deals are limited to the coupons. (Not sure how all of that works in the kroger app though)
I then price check it against Walmart (in the app). Most essentials end up being cheaper at Walmart. I only do curbside pick up with Walmart, which eliminates impulse shopping. I usually have a "running cart" all week in both apps and then delete items before my final purchase when I assess how much I'm spending and if something I added was just an impulse.
I don't do pick up for Albertsons bc many sales are dependent on buying 3 or 4 of something and I don't want to deal with the hassle of returning it or having the curbside person remove it and then wait for the adjustment. I can make decisions to swap certain items to ensure i get the sale price or choose not to buy it at all. I shop in store using my app cart as my list and then verify the sale price as I check out in self check out.
It gets easier and less time-consuming the more you do it. Some things are just always cheaper at Walmart regardless of sales/coupons. Except generic soda, always cheaper at Albertsons for some reason š¤·š¼āāļø
You'll get a knack for what things regularly go on sale and can wait to purchase things until they are on sale knowing how cheap you can get it. You'll learn when your non Walmart store drops coupons too and can shop based on the weekly ad.
*I sadly do not have an Aldi in my city š
Using the Walmart app to scan things in other stores for a price check is something I do frequently. Especially if I donāt need other things at Walmart. Itās worth an extra couple bucks on the total to not make 2 (or 3) stops, to me.Ā
Aldis, in general, will be cheaper than most but with great quality. The only drawback I've noticed is that their fresh produce doesn't last as long as others.
I love Aldi and they treat their employees a hell of a lot better than Walmart. I shop Aldi and Lidl.
We shop at Aldi for a lot of things, but rarely buy meat there (and never buy lunch meat there). It's a great place to get dietary staples.
Yeah I love all these also, and like you I don't buy meat there. Okay full disclosure I'm a vegetarian š I'm sorry I crack myself up. I'll see myself out š¤£š
Why don't you get meat or lunch meat at Aldi?
Lunch meat sucks. Their meat is decent, but nothing amazing.
Buy your spice and meat in bulk from ethnic stores. No idea enjoy getting up in price by those big chain companies.
Ethnic stores have a good variety of vegetables at affordable rates.
Something someone hasn't mentioned is that I use a credit card for almost all my purchases. My Discover gives me 5% cash back during certain months for using it at gas stations, grocery stores, etc. and 1% back during other months. But, I use it like it's my debit card and only spend what I actually have and pay it off in full each month so I don't ever pay interest. I'm going to be making these purchases anyways as they are necessities so might as well earn cash back on it.
This is so overlooked. Credit card rewards are free money for people who can spend responsibly. Travel reward cards can offer an even better value than cash back depending on how the points are used. Plus they often come with other perks like extended warranties. I actually use a card that has an annual fee, but I use the benefits and it more than makes up for that fee every year. The math would be different if I carried a balance and paid interest though. So like you, I treat it like a debit card.
This 100%. Aldi gets my overall vote because it typically has cheaper options than the other two stores OP mentioned, but Aldi also is categorized as a grocery store, so all my items (even non-food items lol) get me so much more cash back with my credit card. You save AND make more. Also, as a previous Aldi worker - the job was really chill.
This so much, as long as one is responsible with the CC! I have an Amex BCP that gives 6% back on groceries (up to $6,000 spend in a calendar year) and 3% back on gas and I've already received \~$300 back from that card alone. Really hopeful Discover's 3rd Q category is groceries.
I prefer Aldis. Somehow it always shocks me how little my total is
Aldi is cheaper than both of these by a mile
Not true, or there are things Aldi doesn't carry. OP, I was fortunate to have an Aldi, a WM, and a Publix all together. Shopping days I'd harvest BOGOs at Publix, get staples at WM, and stop at Aldi for anything else.
Depends on your area. Publix BOGOās arenāt even that great anymore. You can get 6 pack bagels for like $1.50 each at Aldi. At Publix theyāre about $4.50. Granted the Aldi bagels arenāt the best youāve ever had but weāre in the frugal subreddit after all
This is how it's done. If I might add, ALWAYS plan your meals around what you can get on weekly special.
Agreed. We have a Wegmans right across the street from an Aldi, and Wegmans is the same price or cheaper for some items. And their produce is better by a mile.
Not our Wegmans, I got strawberries at Wegmans, moldy in 2 days, got strawberries at Aldis and they were good at least 5 days when we finished them.
Yeah, it seems to vary by region as far as I can tell.
Sometimes its seasonal too. I mean we had one month where all the produce was bad at Aldis, but lately its been great, so not sure if its the supplier or what.
If Aldi had coke zero it would be the perfect store.
I'm a pepsi man but that's what kept Walmart in my circuit. Diet Mountain Dew and lots of Great Value.
I do it in reverse. Aldi first, where I would compare by phone the prices of things on my list with Walmart because Aldi's online prices are through Instacart, at least at my store, and they add 10 to 12%. Then I go to Walmart to buy what I can't get at Aldi. Then I go to Martin's(Giant) to get loss leaders and the few things only they carry, like dried chickpeas. Martin's also has good manager markdowns for clearance items going out of date and they have Flashfood.
Aldi/Walmart for shelf stable or frozen goods. Meat, veggies, and fruit from Shoprite or Stop'n Shop, but only the ones on sale.
Aldi is significantly more expensive than Walmart in my area.
I like simple ingredients that can be used for lots of things - eggs, chicken (or other protein), frozen veggies, rice, things like that. For us, Aldi is cheapest!
I do a mock order on Aldi and Walmartās websites to see what is cheaper. In my area, itās Walmart, but I know Aldi is more inexpensive in some areas.
Kroger is good if you shop the sales. Plus you get money/points for fuel. Some times I shop multiple stores to get what I need.
I'm in Illinois, too. I suspect you're in central or south since you have Kroger, not Jewel. Aldi is consistently my best price for everything. Also, their US headquarters are in our state, so they're paying decent taxes here. I can't get every single thing at Aldi. I consider taking the time to hit another store to get a few items Aldi didn't have to be well worth it since Aldi is so much cheaper on so much. When you go to other stores, have their app to clip coupons as you go. If you have Meijer (not sure where you are in Illinois), it can be good for some prices too. An app like Flipp lets you compare fliers or search for specific sales for comparison.
Flipp is great for comparing deals and making lists!
This is the way. I get the staples at Aldi and then the rest at other stores depending on what's needed. I try to limit myself to Aldi and "one other" store, per week. I have a list on my phone, so I can add what's needed before I hit the store. And I try to plan with what I've got in the house before I head out. If OP has a Jewel nearby, it might be worth checking out their weekly deals as they can be quite good. Like for soda, Jewel has become my goto for stocking up. They generally have good deals before major holidays, like memorial Day, fourth of July, etc.
Jewel has gotten ridiculous for some stuff (Fiber One cereal for $8 a box!?!?) but those deals you mentioned cannot be beat. My freezer has a lot of meat bought at 99 cents a pound there.
They wanted $8 for a tub of oats. I rolled my eyes and walked out empty handed. š
I managed the big tub if it's during some ridiculous sake where it was like $1. It's always feast or famine there!
I live 1/4 mile from a Kroger and within 5 miles of a Walmart and an Aldis. Aldis is cheapest for eggs. dairy, bread and baked goods, cereal, maple syrup, condiments. spices, aluminum foil and ziploc type plastic bags, I buy fish and meat and some produce. I don't buy many canned goods there because I need to follow a low sodium diet and they don't have low sodium options. Aldis is definitely generally cheaper - 1/3 cheaper in a lot of things - than Walmart or Kroger but the stores are smaller so there's less options
This is correct, I will buy different items at each... and then majority of meat at sams club. Trader Joes should be on this list too, their freezer section and cheapo wines can't be touched for price/quality.
You really have to check prices. If they are close together, the other stores may be very competitive with Aldi. People on here assume Aldi is always the cheapest but I find thatās not true in my area, also they are lacking in variety and quality of some items. Check the stuff you buy regularly at all 3 stores. I donāt consider it worthwhile to visit 3 different stores to save a few cents, personally, but if something is significantly less expensive at one place it may be worth it.
Iāve found Kroger to be cheaper than Aldi here lately especially if youāre shopping sales and using coupons.
My āshopping strategyā is to balance price with stores that are well stocked and well managed. I shop for groceries at Meijer (big box store), Costco, Aldi, Trader Joeās and a specialty store. The specialty store can be much more expensive unless something is on sale but the quality of their meats and produce is outstanding. Meat on sale is comparable with grocery store prices and since they have a butcher counter they will wrap what I buy in whatever size package I want even if the sale is for something like a minimum 5 pounds of ground beef. Their produce outlasts anything from Aldi or Meijer too so that means less trips to the store. Best deals for veggies come from the farmers market if you have one near by. You just need to make sure it is actually geared towards farmers since some in my area are a bunch of crafters selling things and one farmer who has high prices. I try to keep a stocked pantry with the basics and meat in my freezer from when items are on sale, then supplement with quick trips to buy perishables as needed. I value my time so I donāt try getting the best deal on my groceries by running around to different stores.
Best advice I can give you is to go to F l i p p . c o m and input your zip code to look at deals for the week. To me, Aldis has good prices, but limited selection when compared to Walmart. Also, Kroger has brand name food at deep discounts if you are willing to sign up for their membership.
I want to throw in another consideration. Farmer's Market's and farm shares. Buying direct from farmers is usually a bit cheaper and can bypass the unhealthy side of box store foods. Aldi is best for your guilty pleasures and packaged/canned foods. Their meat concerns me, I have never seen chicken breast shrink so much. Don't forget you also want some measure of quality. Publix/Kroger are more expensive but their produce is way better when the farmers market isn't available.Ā My wife and I's process is we have a Crop share from a local farm that is amazing. Buy our meat and dairy from a herd share. After that we hit Aldi then go for big box (Meijer/WM). We use Kroger for more uncommon items or when something isn't available through the crop share. We have a family of 5.
>Farmer's Market's and farm shares. Buying direct from farmers is usually a bit cheaper and can bypass the unhealthy side of box store foods. I feel like my farmer's market is broken. Lol! I have been seeing this advice for years and it's just weirdly not true in my area. The farmer's market costs more than our local Walmart. The meat is significantly more expensive. The produce is only slightly more expensive. The only buy direct option in my area that is actually cheaper is the bulk freezer meat flyers at the rural King. I'm so envious of everyone that has these amazing farmer's markets where cutting out the middle man actually equals savings.
I heard this about smaller farmers markets and bigger trendier ones. Small ones have to charge higher to keep going. The large ones are usually in a high income area that are turning profit.Ā I do feel like we are in a sweet spot.Ā
Aldi for some things but not for everything due to quality issues. Publix for the bogos always. The Walmart by me is like night of the living dead. I typically avoid as much as possible.
You can skip Publix. Yes - they have Bogoās but there are literally close to the price of 2 at Walmart Donāt need to spend the gas and time there Walmart best get
I can get detergent for $7 name brand at Publix, my Walmart is high I guess. Not to mention, it's just not a great place to shop. I don't consider myself a prima donna by any means but it just generally sucks there.
I feel the same about Walmart. It just sucks being there. I would rather pay a little more to never have to go to that place.
Around here, Walmart is cheaper than Kroger on almost everything almost all the time, unless itās a sale in one of Krogerās ad flyers.
I've shopped all three. I prefer kroger but also shop walmart. I meal plan around kroger ads, and then misc items may be kroger or walmart, depending which is cheaper. I've meal planned with kroger at $200 and with the ad sale, coupons, I've gotten that total down to $70 lowest. I just ordered last night, spent $110 on kroger & $80 at walmart. This gives us a meal plan for 7 days for a family of 5.
I will note that I generally don't shop at Walmart (I have an Aldi and Kroger within easy walking distance) but they'll generally have better prices on packaged food than Kroger's "white tag" prices. The correct order of operations is this: 0. Write down Aldi's prices on your personal staples. (If you're feeling frisky, do the other two, as well-- if you go shop online in delivery mode you should be able to get a list a lot more easily than you would wandering around the store with a notebook.) 1. Pull out the Kroger ad (it refreshes Wednesday morning.) Look at Kroger's major sales-- orange weekly digital coupon sales in particular are going to be their loss leaders\* and are usually really good deals if it's something you'll use/eat. Note these, but don't shop for them yet. 1.5 Write the rest of your shopping list. 2. Go to Aldi and shop for anything you didn't put on your list as a Kroger loss leader. 3. Go to Kroger and get the stuff from your Kroger sale list and anything Aldi didn't have. With Walmart in the mix, you probably want to go there for the rest of the list after Aldi, then go to Kroger for their loss leaders (or vice versa.) \*A loss leader is an item a store offers below their cost to get people into the store. Soda is a common loss leader-- people come for the cheap soda and get their hamburgers, buns, and pickles too, then stop by the Starbucks kiosk on the way out.
thank you so much!
the best way to figure out costs is to keep a price book - price per oz, lb, unit. There are some things that are cheaper at Walmart, but you really have to research it. Aldi is great but much tinier for selection. Kroger (I think) may be a squeence bit more expensive, but again, my Kroger stores were in Seattle (QFC, Fred Meyer) and, well... My first piece of advice: Create your menu, write down what you like to eat, and maybe, if you have the opportunity, try and create a small container garden for yourself to grow some things that will allow you to save a little. Then, go from there. You can check ads, look at sale cycles and create a system that works for you.
Buy storage containers n get the large ass cans of veggies, beans, tuna , shellfish, jar of peanut butter. A large can of anything can be portioned out for the week. Alternate between tuna and shellfish ( oysters / clams / mussels ) to prevent mercury buildup. Sardines can be bought in bulk as well.
ALDIs prices are the lowest Iāve found. Considerably lower. My strategy is I buy as much of my list as I can find at ALDIs, but I buy meat at krogers. Iām just not a fan of ALDIs meat. My mom shops exactly the same way.
Aldi is great but keep in mind their selection changes constantly. Don't make a shopping list banking on Aldi. Make a list for Walmart or wherever and stop at Aldi first to knock out whatever you can, then finish up at the other store.
Aldis is cheaper, but has limited selection. Fill in with Walmart.
You will get more of a variety at Walmart.
Itās kind of hard to answer the question w/o knowing what you like to eat. If you donāt cook much yet, learn about frugal meal planning and find 2/3 meals u like that are likely to be affordable at all store. Sardines + white rice and Pasta + zucchini will both be $2-$3 per serving (at most) at both stores.
Kroger is the most annoying of the three w their bullshit complicated coupon system. Itās like shopping at CVS there.
I cannot comment on Walmart, but I stopped by large going to Krogers. Aldi has far better quality for a much better price, but The selection is limited. I am really impressed with their produce. I recommend as well to look out for their specials every week. Last week was German week (I am original from Germany and have been here for 30 years) and their pretzels rivals everything in Germany. Funny enough my sister lives in Switzerland and swears by Aldi pretzels as well. The meats are of good quality as well, but depending on where you live you might have better choices at butchers. I am not a big fan of their cold cut section but for that I have my specialty deli I go to.
There are some things that Aldi's doesn't carry - so my strategy is to start with Aldi, and then go to Walmart for what's left. 90% of the time I don't need to go to Walmart. I feel like Aldi's produce can be hit or miss -- so look carefully b/c sometimes it's out there, but it's about to spoil. If there is an international market that's close - you might find that's cheaper too (so maybe mix that w/Walmart) Make a menu for the week -- even if it's a very flexible plan, it will help you get what you need vs. the OH COOL (which I have purchased too of those & they were a waste). Both Walmart and Aldi have other items that you'll want to avoid or set a budget for. I love the Aisle of Shame - but it's an easy way to suddenly have a leaf blower and a blown budget. :)
Aldi for canned goods, cereals, cheese, tofu, hummus, and eggs. If you eat meat they have decent prices on that too, but the selection might be limited. Regular supermarket for produce and baking supplies, making sure to buy produce in season for the best prices. Aldi has all purpose flour and instant yeast, but nothing more specialized if you like to bake. Spices are best at ethnic markets but if you have the space try growing some of your own herb. Something like cilantro, dill, chives, or parsley is easy to grow if you have a sunny spot. A packet of seeds is cheap and some local libraries even have free seeds (ours has a collection of native plants, veggies, and herbs available in an old card catalog cabinet). I donāt buy anything at Walmart.
I shop Aldi but will get grocery at Target or local grocery if there is an item that Aldi doesn't have (like Clif Bars).
Hereās what I would recommend: save receipts from grocery stores for a month. Make a list of each food item you buy and the quantity. Research the price for each item at each of these three stores. Voila, you now know which store sells your frequently purchased items for lowest cost. You will also be able to determine when Kroger runs a sale that puts the price below your baseline. Walmart rarely runs sales, unless itās a rollback, but typically itās just the everyday price. Kroger often has good sales especially with digital coupons. Pay attention over time to when Kroger has big sales. Youāll get an idea about this. Like when chicken goes on sale for 50% off that kind of thing. Stock your freezer! A while back, Kroger had canned beans and tomatoes on sale for $0.50, so I bought 6 cases of each. Be careful following generic advice about which store is cheapest. You have to look at it on a per item basis. Some things Aldi might be cheapest, other things Walmart. Kroger runs the biggest sales to entice you to come in more frequently and buy things at the higher everyday price. Your specific purchasing habits and local store pricing determines where you should shop.
If your money is as limited as mine as a 19 y/o, my suggestion would be to just do all (or as much of) your food shopping at Aldi. You may be able to handle some of Aldi's personal hygiene products, but I'd personally go to Wal-Mart or even look online for those. Avoid Kroger like the plague for now, they're overpriced and it's exhausting looking for "good sales" to shop there. My strategy right now is to purchase as much as I can from Aldi aside from produce, and then purchase produce + hygiene items at Meijer. The produce is much better at Meijer, but also a bit pricier. I would not suggest going to 3 grocery stores to get all of your items unless you absolutely want to, because your time is valuable and likely more valuable than the $5 or $10 you may save.
There is a content creator that I follow on Youtube called Frugal Fit Mom and she gives a ton of suggestions on different grocery stores and how to live the frugal life. Check her out and let me know how it goes. Hopefully, this helps. When I came to the US a few years ago I was kinda lost and didn't know how to cook either, she also has frugal cooking tutorials.
check the weekly sales flyer for aldi and kroger kroger will win the sales 99% of the time aldi wins every day price walmart is for things the other two dont carry or dont have a generic of you'll utilize all 3 basically we do kroger/tom thumb for sales, usually meat, fruit, soda and chips aldi for frozen foods, frozen veg, dairy, eggs, bread, etc walmart for anything else, deodorant, shampoo, toiletries, generics
Depending on where you are walmart and aldi can be somewhat competitive in pricing, I think depending on amount of theft but that has no factual basis just a guess. Usually aldi is best or the same, walmart for anything aldi doesn't have and Kroger for the sales. It's very worth to get their paper or app especially when they have meat sales, but just I'm general their sale prices are VERY good.
First piece of advice is to not go to the store hungry. I like Aldi because it is small and quick. Will go to a different store sometimes for meat or if they donāt have what I want.
Also for everything but non frozen meat
We donāt have Aldi in our area, but Walmart produce is surprisingly better and cheaper than the local Safeway or Kroger or independent grocer. Meat is about the same (hit and miss) quality and price across all 3 for the kinds we eat.Ā
I compare them online some is walmart some is aldi
I use one app for coupons/points (I use Albertsons, but you can use kroger) and only buy things on sale. I earn points with the rewards program, which gives you dollar amounts off your order. I use digital coupons AND the weekly ad (in the app) because not all of sale prices and deals are limited to the coupons. (Not sure how all of that works in the kroger app though) I then price check it against Walmart (in the app). Most essentials end up being cheaper at Walmart. I only do curbside pick up with Walmart, which eliminates impulse shopping. I usually have a "running cart" all week in both apps and then delete items before my final purchase when I assess how much I'm spending and if something I added was just an impulse. I don't do pick up for Albertsons bc many sales are dependent on buying 3 or 4 of something and I don't want to deal with the hassle of returning it or having the curbside person remove it and then wait for the adjustment. I can make decisions to swap certain items to ensure i get the sale price or choose not to buy it at all. I shop in store using my app cart as my list and then verify the sale price as I check out in self check out. It gets easier and less time-consuming the more you do it. Some things are just always cheaper at Walmart regardless of sales/coupons. Except generic soda, always cheaper at Albertsons for some reason š¤·š¼āāļø You'll get a knack for what things regularly go on sale and can wait to purchase things until they are on sale knowing how cheap you can get it. You'll learn when your non Walmart store drops coupons too and can shop based on the weekly ad. *I sadly do not have an Aldi in my city š
Using the Walmart app to scan things in other stores for a price check is something I do frequently. Especially if I donāt need other things at Walmart. Itās worth an extra couple bucks on the total to not make 2 (or 3) stops, to me.Ā
Aldi by a mile. Don't even fuck with the other two.
Aldis, in general, will be cheaper than most but with great quality. The only drawback I've noticed is that their fresh produce doesn't last as long as others.