Our 9 Favorite Hacks For Shopping At Aldi

Due to the rising cost of groceries in the United States, many shoppers are shifting their focus to more affordable stores. A prominent player in this market, Aldi, has established a strong reputation for reliable pricing and efficiency. After forming its roots as a small family grocery store in Germany in the early 1960s, Aldi quickly grew into a global chain. Now with more than 2,500 locations across the United States, it is one of the most popular grocers in the United States.

Shopping at Aldi might feel different than at your typical American grocery store. With the cart deposit system, private label products, and other store quirks, it makes sense. But we're here to break the ice and make Aldi feel more like home. In this article, we will help all shoppers, both veteran and new, navigate Aldi with confidence by offering practical tips to save time and money. The following list outlines simple strategies for maximizing every visit while stretching your grocery budget.

The Aldi Finds aisle is a rotating section of limited-time items and deals that change weekly. This aisle is a big part of Aldi's lore, known by devoted shoppers as the "Aisle of Shame." This aisle has even inspired a popular Facebook group with millions of members sharing their latest discoveries and quirky finds. The Find Aisle is unpredictable to say the least, containing items like seasonal foods, one-time promotions, kitchen gear, home goods, ornaments, and more. 

A major reason to start your trip at the Finds aisle first is that many items here do not return, which really adds fun and novelty to your experience — you never know what hidden gem you'll find. Browsing Aldi Finds first helps you spot worthwhile seasonal deals before they sell out. You can also find dupes of name-brand items that typically aren't stocked at the store. Along with this, the ritual of browsing the Aisle of Shame makes grocery shopping more of an experience. You may arrive with a list to check off, but you could leave with an unexpected find. That playful "guilt is where the aisle gets its name. And no matter what kind of shopper you are, a trip to Aldi can feel incomplete without some time spent in the Finds aisle.

Aldi requires a 25-cent deposit to use its shopping carts, and once the cart is returned, so is the quarter. This procedure may seem odd to first-time shoppers, but it's done with the intention of keeping prices low. The quarter system helps keep the parking lot organized and allows for labor costs to be allocated towards other tasks like stocking shelves and checking out customers. Those savings are ultimately reflected in the store's pricing.

It can be frustrating to arrive without a quarter for a cart, but to avoid this, keep a dedicated quarter in your car, wallet, or keychain. Having a quarter handy means you don't have to think about it, but it simply becomes part of your shopping routine. Some shoppers even use special keychain holders made specifically for Aldi carts. Also, remember your quarter isn't just convenient; it's part of what makes Aldi's system work smoothly. It may feel old-fashioned, but bringing a quarter is one of the simplest ways to keep your Aldi trip quick and frustration-free.

Most Aldi locations restock shelves on Wednesdays, with some variance by region. Typically, the middle of the week is when Aldi stores receive their main delivery of produce, baked goods, meats, and weekly Aldi Finds. Those who shop on Wednesday will first have the widest selection of fresh items, along with the first look at the new listing of items in the aforementioned Aisle of Shame.

Making Wednesday your grocery day is a reliable way to take advantage of this. You will have less worries about items on your grocery list being out of stock, and midweek is often when markdowns appear on near-expiring items from the week before, often revealing new bargains. Note, however, that stock schedules may vary by region — some stores are known for restocking on Sunday to start the week with a fresh inventory. Checking with your local store, however, is the best way to ensure you combine the perks of new stock, freshness, and early discounts.

Roughly 90% of Aldi's inventory consists of private-label products, allowing it to avoid unnecessary markups from third parties. Aldi's private-label offerings include Simply Nature, Specially Selected, and Emporium Selection. Spanning everything from juices to specialty cheeses, this range ensures that most consumer needs are met without needing aid from national brands. 

Despite the lower prices, Aldi's private-label products maintain strong quality and consistency. Regular shoppers report that Aldi's lines rival or outperform national brands in quality and taste. Multiple independent taste tests have shown that these private-labels matched or beat name brands in categories like cereal, snacks, and dairy, proving that lower cost does not necessarily mean lower quality. Prioritizing shopping these private labels on a trip to Aldi can allow you to enjoy familiar products at a competitive price, just lacking the brand. Choosing Aldi's private labels is a smart way for consumers to save a few dollars without sacrificing taste and nutrition.

The Aldi app is an easy way to stay up to date on promotions and upcoming products. Through the app, shoppers can browse weekly ads, preview Aldi Finds, and assemble shopping lists to organize their trips. These features are valuable because of how quickly items tend to rotate and sell out. The app is a practical tool for planning your grocery hauls and tracking limited-edition products.

Using the Aldi app strategically can help with budgeting and minimizing impulse buys. When using the app, the interface is user-friendly and organized by category, so it feels like browsing the aisles from home. Building your shopping list before your trip in the app makes shopping straightforward, provides a clear preview of what's available each week, and allows you to know roughly how much the trip will cost. Though the app can't guarantee every item will be in stock, it can remove much of the guesswork from your grocery runs while limiting impulse buys in the process.

Any frequent Aldi shopper would recommend making a stop at the frozen aisle. The aisle is full of ready-made dinners, pre-packaged meats, seasonal dishes, breakfast foods, and desserts, allowing shoppers to cover most cravings in one pass. Seasonality is also a theme here, rotating items with the change of the weather. You can find special limited-time offerings like Aldi's peppermint-bark ice cream or Priano Pumpkin & Sage Ravioli. The frozen aisle offers a wide range of everyday needs, while also encouraging customers to explore seasonal offerings.

With seasonality, however, comes a short shelf life. Though there are frozen staples like the Kirkwood Frozen Chicken Nuggets that you can find on most trips to Aldi, items like ahi tuna steaks or sugar cookie mochi may be seen once and never again. If you see an item like this in a store and it grabs your attention, it's worth picking up before it disappears. With its ready meals, sweet treats, and seasonal offerings, Aldi's freezer aisle should be a part of any visit.

Markdowns at Aldi are usually represented by a red or yellow sticker. They typically appear on meats, produce, and dairy that are still fresh, but nearing the sell-by date and need to be sold fast. These markdowns can cut prices by 30% or more, making it a good bargain. This policy helps cut down on potential food waste while rewarding observant customers with a good deal.

Timing matters: deals often pop up in the middle of the week when new restocks come in and the previous batch needs to be sold fast. However, markdowns can appear on any day and should be something to keep an eye out for. Though it's a good idea to plan your shopping ahead of time, these markdowns are a smart way to step away from your plans. Building meals around markdowns can be both a fun cooking challenge and a way to cut your grocery bill.

A common complaint among Aldi shoppers is longer checkout lines. The best way to avoid this — and the crowded aisles that lead to them — is by not just timing the day of the week that you shop, but the time itself. Many customers find that shopping shortly after opening or just before closing improves the overall experience, allowing for shorter lines, calmer aisles, and less hassle.

Avoid 4 to 6 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends; these are the typical peak hours. A good rule of thumb for shopping at Aldi is to arrive an hour after opening or an hour before closing to expect the least hassle in your shopping experience (though these two times themselves also have tradeoffs). Come early if you prioritize first access to new promotions, fresh produce, and fuller staffing. Come later if you want a faster and peaceful experience, however, the trade-off is less staffing and fresh produce. Being thoughtful about the time you decide to shop at Aldi allows you more agency in tailoring the experience to your wants.

Shopping at Aldi is all about in-store experience, but sometimes we're short on time or can't make it to the store for one reason or another. Grocery delivery is a big help in such cases, and Aldi has partnered with Instacart to provide both pickup and delivery options. Through Instacart, shoppers can browse all of Aldi's offerings, place an order, and have it delivered or pick it up at a certain time slot. Pricing generally reflects in-store costs outside of a delivery fee if you choose to have it brought to your home. 

This is a hack for the time-conscious among us. Ordering from home helps busy shoppers skip lines and schedule around work or family commitments. It's worth noting, though, that you may not have full agency in selections like meat and produce, and there will (likely) be service and delivery fees involved. But if convenience is worth the upcharge, it's an easy way to extend Aldi's efficiency beyond the aisles.