Sticking to my grocery budget is the one time it feels like I’m actually making a difference in my bank account. (I’m still holding out hope that the electric company will accept homemade treats in lieu of cash.) Everyone has a saving strategy that works for them, whether it’s meticulous meal planning or couponing, and I’ve tried them all. The only thing that’s helped me consistently keep my grocery bill low is Aldi.
Aldi is a budget grocery store that’s taken the United States by storm in recent years. Its no-frills philosophy is unlike most other grocery stores. Aldi stocks the shelves with mostly private-label (or store-brand) products in its quest to keep prices impossibly low.
I start my grocery shopping there every week, and these are the top budget-friendly buys that keep my grocery budget in check. Simply by buying the five items below, I’m able to lower my grocery bill by more than $120 each month. Add that to the other savings in my cart, and I’m well on my way to a lower grocery budget.
1. L’Oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls, $2.19 for 12 rolls
Aldi may not have an on-site bakery, but I would take a loaf of its bread over another grocer’s offerings any day. Aldi’s bread aisle gets overshadowed by the Aisle of Shame, but it has some of the best buys in the entire store. You’ll find budget-friendly options of your favorite sourdough loaves, sandwich breads, and brioche-style buns that taste as good as name brands and are more affordable, too.
One item that I never leave the store without are the L’Oven Fresh Hawaiian Sweet Rolls. Soft, slightly sweet, and perfect for sandwich-making and sliders, they taste so good that I’d buy them even if they were more expensive. Aldi’s pack of 12 slider-size rolls is just $2.19, while at another nearby chain grocer the same size package of name-brand rolls is $5.39. That’s $3.20 of savings just on rolls alone.
2. Simply Nature Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, $4.99 for 1 pound
Aldi’s prices are so good, I can buy better-quality ground beef than I can afford at my neighborhood grocery store. There are several styles of ground beef sold at Aldi, from conventional to organic, grass-fed, and varying levels of leanness. The package I buy is Aldi’s Simply Nature brand.
The beef is organic, 100% grass-fed, and versatile thanks to its 85% lean and 15% fat composition. It’s sold in convenient 1-pound packages that are recipe-ready and easy to toss in the freezer. At Aldi, Simply Nature Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef costs $4.99 for 1 pound, while the same style of beef costs $6 more, or $10.99 for 1 pound at my local grocery store.
3. Specially Selected Sicilian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $9.99 for 16.9 ounces
I reach for olive oil every time I’m in the kitchen. Lest you think that there’s little difference between olive oils on the shelf, the flavor of this staple ingredient can vary greatly from bottle to bottle. I taste tested every olive oil that Aldi sells and found Specially Selected Extra Virgin Olive Oil to be my favorite.
This oil is versatile enough to be used both as an everyday cooking oil and a flavorful finishing oil. At Aldi, a 16.9-ounce bottle sells for $9.99, while at other grocery stores a bottle of similar quality is nearly three times the price at $27.99. That’s $18 in savings for those keeping track.
4. Goldhen Cage-Free Large Brown Eggs, $3.89 for 1 dozen
No roller coaster can compete with the recent ups and downs of egg prices. Luckily Aldi is among the most budget-friendly places to stock up on my weekly dozen of eggs. Aldi carries conventional, cage-free, free-range, pasture-raised, and organic free-range certified-humane eggs. Higher-quality eggs are $1.70 cheaper and well within my budget at Aldi. A dozen of Aldi’s Goldhen Cage-Free Large Brown Eggs costs $3.89, while similar eggs at another grocery store go for $5.59.
5. Stonemill Garlic Powder, $0.98 for 3.12 ounces
Spices are an essential part of adding flavor to meals. The small bottles can also have a big effect on the bottom line. Aldi may not have the variety of spices that other grocery stores carry, but it has many of my essentials. A jar of Aldi’s Stonemill Garlic Powder costs just 98 cents, while the same spices will set me back $4.59 (or an extra $3.61) at other grocery stores.
What Aldi groceries help you keep your budget in check? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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