3 ways you can seriously waste money at Aldi

There’s a reason why so many people like to buy their groceries at Aldi. Aldi is known for its affordable prices. And if you shop at Aldi instead of your regular supermarket, you’ll find it much easier to stick to a budget.

But while it’s more than possible to save money by shopping at Aldi, if you’re not careful you can end up wasting money. Here’s how.

1. Buying groceries that you end up throwing away

The reason Aldi is able to keep its prices so low is that it stocks its shelves with lesser-known brands. But if these brands don’t perform well, it can lead to food waste and wasted funds.

If you have picky eaters at home, they may reject the Aldi products you buy simply because they don’t recognize the boxes they come in. And even if you don’t have a household with picky eaters, you can try out items that just don’t fit. It won’t cut it for you.

For example, you might take a chance on a brand of peanut butter you’ve never had before because it’s $1 cheaper than your favorite brand. But if there’s something wrong with the taste, are you really going to subject yourself to 27 sandwiches worth of peanut butter that isn’t particularly tasty? Probably not.

But if you throw the jar away – which is understandable in this situation – then suddenly you won’t have saved $1 on peanut butter. On the contrary, you wasted whatever money that pot cost.

One problem with shopping at Aldi is that inventory can be inconsistent. That can lead to more expensive purchases on your part.

Suppose you decide to make chicken and broccoli for dinner, but Aldi doesn’t have broccoli in stock on your shopping day. If you substitute broccoli for mushrooms, which tend to be more expensive, you’ll end up spending extra money because you couldn’t find the item you originally needed.

These kinds of things are less likely to happen in a regular supermarket with a more traditional stock and more regularly stocked shelves.

3. Buy impulse items at Aldi’s Aisle of Shame

Another reason why so many people like Aldi is that the store’s Aldi Finds aisle is full of seasonal products you might not find anywhere else. And the prices are usually great.

But there’s a reason why Aldi fans call this section the Aisle of Shame. Looking at this may cause you to make impulse purchases. And while the items you buy may bring you joy, they are a waste of money if they are things you don’t need.

That said, here’s a trick to avoid the Aisle of Shame. If you have an Aldi nearby and you only need a few items from the store, walk and carry your groceries home. If you’re not physically able to take your impulse purchases home, you can’t make them.

Shopping at Aldi can save you a lot of money, especially if you use the correct credit card at checkout. Click here for a list of the best credit cards for groceries.

But also keep in mind that if you’re not careful, you can end up wasting a lot more money than expected when shopping at Aldi.