I’ve worked at Aldi for years. Here are my 7 best tips for buying groceries there on a budget.

Many people shop in an aspirational manner, especially if they’re new families building a grocery routine or trying to shift their diet in a big way.

But instead of filling your cart with fresh produce you swear you’ll use up, be realistic about your schedule and eating habits. You won’t save money by purchasing food you’re not going to eat.

Check what you already have in your fridge and pantry, and be honest about what you’re actually cooking and consuming before going to Aldi.

That way, you can create a realistic list of what you need and will eat.

Every week, at least one meat and one fresh produce item are significantly discounted at Aldi. The weekly ad also features dozens of other price reductions.

I recommend looking at it before you shop to see if you can incorporate some of those discounted products into your weekly meals.

When I make my grocery list, everything has a purpose or fills a role.

Each piece of fresh produce I buy is assigned to a dish I’m scheduled to make that week. That way, I can reasonably assume it won’t go bad before I can use it.

When planning my weekday meals, I also try to make sure most of my dishes are solid, reliable recipes I could make in my sleep. If I’m on a budget, I’m not trying to experiment with something new that might not taste great.

I use the organization app Notion to keep track of all the little things in my life, including my grocery list and meal plans.

When writing out my meal plan for the week, I parse my dishes into ingredients I know Aldi sells. From there, I note which aisle each item is in so that once I have my list, I can shop without doubling back for something.

This also helps me avoid walking down aisles that might tempt me to impulse buy snacks or other items not on my list.

If I’m really trying to stick to a budget, I also write down the rough price of each item by referencing my store’s curbside-pickup service. That way, I can plan what my total cost will be and adjust my recipes if I’m going over budget.

If you’re on a tight budget, I suggest avoiding the Aldi Finds aisle.

It’s usually filled with tempting limited-edition accessories, furniture, kitchen gadgets, and other goods that aren’t essential.

I see many customers who walk through here make impulse buys and spend more than they intended.

When possible, buy fresh meat in bulk (especially when it’s on sale), portion it out, and freeze some of it for later.

This can be more expensive upfront, but you can save money in the long run. For example, a $15 family pack of chicken breasts seemed pricey, but it lasted my boyfriend and me three weeks once we portioned them out and froze some.

Keep in mind that Coca-Cola or LaCroix might not be a good deal just because it’s being sold at a budget grocer like Aldi.

One reason we stock name-brand items is so customers can see the difference in price between soda from a brand like Coca-Cola and similar drinks from an Aldi brand.

Oftentimes, the Aldi “dupes” are a way better value.

This story was originally published on April 28, 2023, and most recently updated on April 29, 2025.