On the Battlefield at Aldi

Mike and I have been analyzing our grocery bill and have found that Walmart's increasing prices are not making that 'one-stop-shop-super-walmart-saved-my-life' as cost-effective as it once was. 

So, we have turned to our other friend: Aldi. 

In fact, it is twice as money-saving because it is 4 blocks from our house. It is great and the prices are low, but it has a few very odd 'quirks' that cause me to twitch. For instance, Aldi carries cranberry/peach chutney and dill infused marscapone cheese, but no baking powder........go figure.

Well, Mike and I went on our monthly 'big' grocery trip this evening. It was a 'hot night' at Aldi and the crowds were thick. I could see why with .69 cent eggs, $1.79 milk, and $1.49 butter. I was impressed. So, we filled almost 2 carts. Many who walk by us throw out the customary comments...

"Hey, you feeding an army?" .....Almost.

"What time do I show up for dinner?"....Har har...

I giggle at the usual comments and am fully impressed with a truly original line someone throws my way. Aldi is unique also in the fact that they have the most inexpensive and absolutely wonderful German chocolate I have ever tasted. Since they are based in Germany, so much of their food is from there and it is great. Another bonus. They have really come up with some competitive items like a brand of coffee that we got called "Donut Shop Coffee Blend". Well, it looked liked Dunkin donuts coffee, but the jury is still out as to whether it TASTES like it.

So we are armed with two full carts and are revving our engines for the actual sport which is Aldi. It's like a free workout. I am serious. You almost have to be doing some extra training for this part of an Aldi trip, but you'd better be ready because it's coming and there is no way around it.

That is the checkout.

These cashiers are tired, grumpy, and FAST. You'd better be getting those groceries up on that conveyer as fast as you can get them up there, because those groceries are going to fly....literally. There is a cart that is kept at the end of the line where this cashier is flipping them into the bottom as fast as they can cross the infra-red line. The beeps from scanned groceries sound like the EKG of a runner after a marathon while the customers are flinging groceries as fast as possible onto the line. Almost surreal. However, do not slow down, or the 'regulars' will be yelling their 'line rage' from the back.

"Come on!"...."This is taking forever".....

I dare not slow down.

So, the cashier, amazed even then at the amount of groceries we have is flinging and manages a comment.

"That's a lot of rice."....well, I guess a 10# bag is large....

I am, at this point..panting, however. I do manage a, "We....have a ....large family...(gasp!)."

"Lot a kids, eh? Let me see. I'll guess from the looks of things that you have 6."

Ooohhh.....an expert.

"Why, yes, we do." I am exhausted, but impressed. "How did you know?" 

I have to know.

"Well, there are a lot of families that shop here that have a lot of kids."

A moment passes while I crawl to the register to pay. Breathe slowly....

Mike is already starting to bag and box all he can as quickly as possible when she delivers the next question. 

I must have a sticker on my forehead. 

We had no kids with us.

"You homeschool too, don't you?"

Bingo!