Hate Wasting Money? Avoid This Aldi Trap

Stop yourself from making a big mistake.

These days, many consumers are struggling to cover their living costs because of inflation. And if you're someone who's been dipping into savings and racking up debt just to stay afloat, then you may be eager to do whatever you can to spend less on essential expenses, like groceries.

Shopping at Aldi might be a good solution. Aldi is known for its low price points, and shopping there might mean racking up a lower credit card tab than buying food at a regular supermarket.

But there's one big trap you might fall into when you do your grocery shopping at Aldi. And it's a trap that could cost you money at a time when you're so desperately trying to save.

Beware the danger of buying unknown brands

If you're new to Aldi, one thing you should know is that most of the brands you'll find on its shelves aren't nationally recognized ones. Aldi even says on its website that more than 90% of the products carried in stores are exclusive brands. And it's this practice that allows Aldi to offer groceries at such a competitive price point.

National food brands commonly spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising, whereas most Aldi brands do not. That explains why you've never heard of them. But it also explains why you might be able to buy a box of cereal at Aldi for $2.50 when a known brand sells a similar product for $5.

Now, if you're not someone who's choosy about brands, then loading up on Aldi products is a great choice. But if you have picky eaters in your household (hey, kids, we're talking to you), then you may want to think twice about scooping up Aldi specials.

Let's say a box of six granola bars normally costs you $2.99. Aldi might sell the same quantity for $1.99, so you're saving $1. And if you buy two boxes of granola bars every week, the savings can add up.

But if your children refuse to eat the Aldi granola bars you bring home, then you won't end up saving $1. Rather, you'll end up throwing out almost $2.

You may want to limit the items you buy at Aldi

It's often the case that unknown brands are just as tasty as the ones you see commercials for all the time. But if your kids are stubborn, then you may not want to bring home items they don't recognize.

That doesn't mean you can't shop at Aldi, though. What you may want to do instead is limit your Aldi purchases to things like produce. After all, your kids probably have no idea who's producing their apples or strawberries -- they just like those fruits. So produce, which is often not packaged, is something you can probably get away with buying at Aldi. It's the packaged stuff you have to worry about.

The good news is that as kids get older, they tend to outgrow some of their pickiness. So in time, you might be able to better take advantage of Aldi's product line, even if you're limited in your ability to do so right now.