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If you’ve never shopped at ALDI, you may be wondering what all the hype is with their store. Read on to learn how to master your first visit!

Discount grocery chain ALDI has caught the attention of budget-conscious (and health-conscious) shoppers all around the world! Originally founded in Germany in 1961, ALDI stores have been around longer than you’d expect and continue to spread throughout many states in the U.S. and worldwide.

It’s no surprise that more and more people are shopping at ALDI—in recent years, they’ve continued to expand their selection of quality healthy foods, offering more organic and gluten free products at affordable prices! They also boast an excellent Double Guarantee on all products.

During a recent trip to ALDI with my toddlers, I noticed a young woman looking completely perplexed while standing by the shopping carts in front of the store. Intending to help, I informed her that a quarter was necessary to unlock a cart, and that she would get her coin back after returning the cart. She thanked me, and fumbled around for pocket change.

After loading my boys into a nearby cart, I noticed that she still had not found a quarter, so I pulled one out of my wallet and offered it to her. She was sincerely grateful. I gave her a few more tips about navigating the store and checkout line, and then I continued on my way into the store.

New to ALDI? I could hardly believe it! Yet, I’m not sure why it was so surprising—when my husband first shopped with me at ALDI, he called it “the best kept secret” of grocery shopping. Why wouldn’t someone want to check it out?

After this experience, I realized that there could be a lot of people who need help understanding how ALDI works, as it is definitely not a typical grocery chain.

So, if you’re new to shopping at ALDI, don’t worry! I’m so glad you found this page, where I’ll walk you through the store with helpful tips along the way. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your ALDI shopping experience.

Beginner’s Guide to Shopping at ALDI

First, you may want to do some planning before you drive to the nearest ALDI. Here are some ways you can prepare for your visit.

Before You Shop

• Know when to shop.  ALDI stores are all about efficiency, so they are only open during peak shopping hours (generally 9 a.m.–9 p.m. in the U.S); they are not 24/7 grocery stores.
• Bring your own bags.  ALDI will not provide free bags for you. You’ll want to bring your own reusable bags, or purchase plastic or paper bags for a few cents each during checkout. If you arrive at ALDI empty handed, you can also gather empty cardboard boxes from the store shelves to pack up your purchases. (Just one way ALDI keeps prices low!)
• Be aware of special buys.  Each week, ALDI has a section in the middle of the store called “Special Buys”—items from food to household to an assortment of themed products (such as holiday decor and party supplies). Every Wednesday, ALDI advertises a special buy on fresh meat and it’s always an incredible price! Check the online flyer to view all of the week’s special buys.

RELATED: ALDI Real Food Shopping List

When you’ve planned your trip and are ready to shop, here are a few tips for getting around the store.

Navigating the Store

• “Rent” a shopping cart for a quarter.  In order to shop with a grocery cart, you’ll need a quarter to release it from the row of carts by the store entrance. After returning the cart, you’ll receive your quarter back. (It really is a brilliant way to reduce all those stray carts you normally see in grocery store parking lots!)
• Don’t expect all name brands.  ALDI stores have less inventory than your average grocery store chain, so you will notice the entire store is contained in only about four aisles. This means that there won’t be ten different ketchup bottles to choose from (I consider that a good thing!). While ALDI does carry some name brand products, most items will be ALDI’s private labels—SimplyNature, Never Any!, Fit & Active, and more. Learn about all of the ALDI brands here.
• Look up for pricing signs.  ALDI stores have a simple, no-frills layout. Products are displayed on pallets in large shipping boxes (which you may add to your cart to use for bagging your items later). Pricing signs for items are located above the pallets or boxes. (This is great because you won’t need to bend over or squint to read tiny labels on individual shelves.)

Now that you’ve collected all the items you want to buy, you’re ready to check out. Follow these guidelines for a successful checkout experience.

At Checkout

• Cashiers are super fast.  ALDI cashiers are like ninjas. With the help of multiple barcodes on each product packaging, cashiers scan your items quickly and place them back into a cart (not yours; see next bullet point!) unbagged.
• You will receive a new cart.  Rather than waiting for you to unload your groceries onto the belt and push your empty cart through checkout, the cashier will scan your items and immediately load them into an empty cart. Don’t worry—all you need to do is push your cart towards the cashier after you’ve paid for your order. There are a few exceptions to the cart swap, such as a customer shopping without a cart or when someone has a child strapped into the cart seat.
• You will bag your own groceries.  Whether you come prepared with your own bags or want to purchase some during checkout, ALDI workers will NOT bag your groceries for you. The cashier will place your items back into a cart and you will need to bag the items yourself (inside the store at a bagging station or outside at your car). Alternatively, you could keep a laundry basket or other large boxes in your car to sort and load grocery items into. (Since our nearest ALDI is over 30 miles from our home, I often bring insulated bags or a small cooler for transporting cold items home.)
• ALDI doesn’t accept coupons.  This actually makes most people very happy! The fact that you can’t use coupons at ALDI means that you’re saving enough money shopping there that you don’t even need to worry about coupons. Additionally, since most of what ALDI sells is their own brand names, your manufacturer coupons for brand name products won’t match up. However, I have been able to use grocery rebate apps to earn cash back on any-brand offers, such as milk, eggs, fresh produce, etc.

Congratulations! You’ve successfully checked out and are almost done! Load your groceries into your car and then return your cart to the corral. (Don’t forget to retrieve your quarter!)

While there are some differences when shopping at ALDI vs. other grocery chains, it doesn’t take long to adjust to (and love!) the store. I hope these tips help prepare you for many successful shopping trips!

Do you shop at ALDI? What are your helpful tips for navigating the store?