A first-time experience at an American Aldi store can be a bit of a culture shock. You have to pay a quarter to rent a shopping cart. National brand-name products are rare.
The cashier scans your selected products, places them back in the cart and points you to a bagging area (that’s your job). Aldi does not provide bags but does sell paper bags for $0.12 each and reusable bags for either $0.69 (standard) or $0.98 (insulated). You can also bring your own bags. The final shock comes with what you pay for those groceries. In these times of soaring grocery prices — up 22.43% in 2024 versus 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — you’re more than likely paying far less at Aldi. That's one reason to check it out right now.
