Aldi is a firm favourite for bargain shoppers and with good reason. The supermarket chain lives up to it's reputation, from red sticker reductions to its special buys aisle which is full of seasonal products at affordable prices.
But with so many people looking to get in on the latest deals, sometimes you can miss out. Luckily, one money expert has some advice on how to get the best deals at Aldi.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of money-saving community LatestDeals.co.uk, rates Aldi as one of the best supermarkets to find cash saving deals. He said: "Aldi is definitely one of my top stores when I’m looking for some bargains.
"What I love is that there’s always something different, and you never know what you’ll find! I’m always looking for ways to save some extra money, and over time I’ve discovered these 10 tricks to pocket some additional cash during your Aldi shop."
Below is everything you need to know on how to make the most of your Aldi shop, as reported by Wales Online.
Look Out For Red Stickers & Grab Extra Savings
Red stickers are a good omen in Aldi, as they indicate some extra savings are to be made. For example, when I went in recently I noticed a pack of peaches red-stickered down from £1.79 to 95p. That’s basically half-price!
Tesco currently offers the same product for 30p more, while at Sainsbury’s they’re £1 more. Similarly, there was a red sticker offer for 1kg of frozen mixed vegetables - 69p, reduced from 75p. Even at the original price, that’s 25p cheaper than most own brands in other supermarkets - Sainsburys and Tesco offer the same amount of veg for £1. You’re also making savings by getting red sticker iceberg lettuce, as I saw it for 57p - which is cheaper than Sainsbury’s for 70p and ASDA for 60p.
Most of the Aldi products you’ll see in-store are private labels. That means you can save money by buying the famous Aldi dupes - in other words, their own products which are similar to bigger brands stocked in other supermarkets.
For example, their Belmont Extremely Chocolatey Rounds are 99p, an average of 50p cheaper than Fox’s Milk Chocolate Rounds, their Dairyfine Bubble Bars are 15p cheaper than Aero bars (and you get 10g more), their Vive Orange Zero is £1 cheaper than Fanta Orange and their Harvest Morn Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars are 60p cheaper than Nutri-Grain bars. That’s a £2.25 saving just by going private label on a fraction of your shop.
Buy Wonky Veg For Lower Prices - Purchase Strawberries For Less
Like Morrisons, Aldi has a selection of fruit and veg that is ‘Wonky’, which means you get to save some additional money by purchasing products that don’t look perfect. For example, I saw 227g of Wonky Strawberries from Aldi Everyday Essentials priced at £1.49. At Tesco they offer the same amount for £2.25, and at ASDA they’re priced at £1.39. Whether you save 10p or 75p, it all adds up.
Buy Out Of Season Deals To Save Money
Plenty of people love the Special Buys section in Aldi, and for good reason. There’s always a new deal to be found, as the product selection is in constant rotation. For example, I found assorted adult winter hats reduced from £2.99 to £1.49. Buying out of season like this and putting products to one side is a great way to save money. Regardless, this price is difficult to beat - similar products on Amazon were at least £6!
Buy Your Tinned Fish, Nuts & Batteries From Aldi
Aldi is a great place to buy particular products, as you’ll seldom find better prices elsewhere. One example is tinned fish - I found 110g drained tuna steaks for 99p, while Tesco offers their own brand for £1.25, Morrisons has similar for £1.50 and it’s also £1.50 at Marks and Spencer.
Likewise, I saw Aldi selling 200g pistachios for £1.99, reduced from £2.99. You’d be paying £2.50 in Tesco, £4.50 on Amazon and £4.30 on Ocado, so this deal is well worth grabbing.
Plus, batteries can often be expensive, but I saw a 6-pack of AA or AAA Duracell batteries at the checkout in Aldi for £2.49 a pack. They would cost around £3 or £4 elsewhere - such as £4.49 for a 6-pack on Amazon.
Get Updates From Aldi On Email & Social Media
The best way to grab good deals is to be the first to know about them. That’s why it’s worth signing up for the Aldi newsletter and following the supermarket on social media.
The newsletter offers the latest deals directly to your inbox, so you can be in the loop quickly and plan your next visit. You will also hear about new wines, grocery deals and Special Buys, which are also posted regularly on Instagram.
If you’re regularly scrolling your Insta feed, you’ll be treated to regular promotions. For example, one of their recent posts mentions a Folding Trolley ideal for towing belongings at festivals this summer - and it’s available either online, or from Thursday, June 30.
Go When It's Quiet & Early For The Best Pick Of The Deals
Aldi starts applying red stickers to its products early - so if you’re browsing from 8am, when it first opens in the morning, you’ve got the best chance of landing some reductions. Plus, there won’t be too many people around who could grab a deal before you.
If you can’t get there in the mornings, use the Popular Times feature on Google when you search for ‘Aldi near me’. It will tell you when there are typically more people in-store. For example, the details for my nearest store tell me that it’s generally quietest on a Wednesday, but most evenings between 9pm and 10pm are a good bet, too.
Compare Prices With Supermarket Comparison Tool
You want to be confident that you’re getting the best price for whatever you’re buying, and you can do this by using the Latest Deals Supermarket Comparison Tool. It compares prices for an item you search for, showing results at eight different supermarkets, so you can see where the best deal is available.
In my local Aldi, they’re offering 150g King Prawns for £2.19, and I wanted to check if it was the best deal. Lo and behold, the app revealed that Tesco is offering a similar product for £3, with the same price showing for ASDA and Morrisons. That means you can save 81p by shopping at Aldi.
Root Through Reduced To Clear Baskets For Hidden Treasures
You’ll see these baskets throughout your local branch, and it’s a great place to get some extra bargains. For example, I picked up a pack of nappies for 30% off - a staff member had written on the packaging that they were in the wrong size. Errors like this can result in better savings for you, so don’t be afraid to have a good root through and see what you find!
Use The Twice As Nice Guarantee - Item Replaced AND Money Refunded
If you’re not happy with a product you bought from Aldi, you’ll be able to benefit from their Twice As Nice Guarantee. You can return the product packaging and any unused product to your local store manager, and not only will you receive a replacement for your item, you’ll also get your money refunded. That means you’ll basically get the item for free!
