I've Cut Back on Aldi Shopping for This Reason

When I first discovered Aldi earlier this year, it became a regular stop on my grocery store rotation. I loved the fact that I could save money on produce at Aldi. And since my family eats a lot of fruits and vegetables, I was willing to make the extra trip -- especially since I happen to have an Aldi right near my local Costco.

But I've actually been cutting back on Aldi shopping recently. Here's why.

1. The selection is limited

Aldi doesn't carry the same wide range of products as my local ShopRite supermarket -- not even close. Because of this, I often find that a trip to Aldi will only allow me to check a few items off of my weekly shopping list. And while driving there isn't so far out my way given that it's adjacent to Costco, which I shop at weekly, the extra stop takes time.

After all, I still have to wait in line to check out, and sometimes, the lines at Aldi can be long. And when I'm pressed for time, it's not worth the long wait to buy three or four items.

2. The inventory just isn't consistent

Shopping at Aldi has, in the past, helped me rack up a lower credit card bill in the course of buying fruits and vegetables for my family. The problem, though, is that Aldi's selection of produce just isn't consistent from visit to visit.

Some weeks, for example, Aldi doesn't have strawberries, which are a staple item in my household. There have also been times when I couldn't find any type of melon, which my son eats a lot of. As such, there have been times when a trip to Aldi was a big waste.

3. My kids are picky about the brands they eat

A big reason Aldi is able to offer such competitive prices on groceries is that it sources items from unknown brands and passes that savings on to customers. In fact, more than 90% of the products Aldi sells are private label. But that's not necessarily a good thing if you have picky eater children in your household like I do.

I've tried to pick up snacks and other items from Aldi only to have my kids reject them due to being different from the brands they're more used to. This isn't an issue with fruits and vegetables, of course. But since I can't always get what I need in that category at Aldi, it's become harder to justify a trip there.

Sometimes the savings aren't worth the time spent to reap them

Although shopping at Aldi is a great way to stretch your grocery dollars, I've been finding lately that the small amount of savings I can reap just isn't worth the hassle. As a self-employed writer, I lose money by spending time away from my desk. If stopping in an Aldi saves me $10 on food but costs me $40 in earnings, I don't come out ahead financially. And because of this, I've been hitting Aldi less frequently.

This isn't to say that I've written off Aldi completely. But especially during those extra busy weeks, it's a store I'm more likely to skip these days.