3 Signs You Shouldn't Set Foot in Aldi

Groceries are a big expense in my household. And chances are, they're a big expense in yours, too.

If you're eager to save money on groceries, then you may be looking to add Aldi to your shopping routine. Aldi is known for its competitive prices, so shopping there regularly could benefit your personal finances. 

But shopping at Aldi isn't for everyone. If these signs apply to you, you may want to steer clear.

1. You only have time to hit one supermarket each week

I don't shop at Aldi very often these days. But when I do, it's usually in addition to a weekly stop at Costco as well as my nearby ShopRite supermarket.

Since I work from home and have a fairly flexible schedule, I'm able to sometimes fit an extra grocery store run into my routine. But if you work a demanding job and have limited time to go shopping for food, then Aldi may not be such a good bet for you. And you might especially want to avoid Aldi if you only have time to visit one supermarket per week.

One problem with Aldi is that its inventory isn't always consistent. You might show up one week only to find that the store doesn't have lettuce, or cucumbers, or another staple item you'd expect to find at a supermarket. That could prove problematic if your schedule is super tight, or if you don't have a car and need to pay for a ride-hailing service every time you go grocery shopping.

2. You have a family of picky eaters

Most of the brands you'll find at Aldi are exclusive to the chain itself. This means the items you find on the shelves are ones you may not recognize. If you have picky eaters in your household, that could prove problematic.

Take it from me. My kids eat granola bars regularly, and I once picked up some boxes at Aldi because the price was attractive. Only because my kids weren't familiar with the brand, they flat-out refused to eat those granola bars. So instead of saving money, I wasted money.

3. You're a savvy shopper and meal planner and can save just as big at a regular supermarket

The primary benefit of shopping at Aldi, at least in my book, is to save money. But you may be more than capable of doing that by paying attention to sales at your local supermarket and doing a good job of planning your meals around them.

Aldi, for example, might have pasta available all the time for $1.19 a box, whereas it might be $1.49 per box at your local supermarket. But if you're able to stock up at your regular grocery store when pasta goes down to $1.19, there's really no need for an Aldi trip.

Of course, you'll need to do this many times over to bring your regular supermarket haul down to the price you'll probably pay at Aldi. But if you're mindful of sales and good at meal planning, then this may be totally doable.

I know a lot of people who tend to sing Aldi's praises. But to me, the store is, frankly, only OK. So if these signs apply to you, you may want to skip Aldi and stick to the stores you prefer or are used to.