Tips for shopping at Aldi

2018 is going to be a big year for Aldi.

The German discount grocer plans to build up store count from about 1,600 locations to nearly 2,000 in the new year.

When you buy your groceries at Aldi, the store promises to meet or exceed national brand quality and save you 50 percent versus the competitors. But shopping at Aldi can be a polarizing experience. For every person who loves the low prices, you’re likely to find others who can’t hang with the grocer’s nofrills approach to shopping.

If you’re thinking about giving Aldi a shot, keep this in mind.

1. The store doesn’t accept manufacturer’s coupons. You won’t find many name brands at Aldi. Store brands are central to what keeps Aldi’s price so low, so it follows that the store has a no-manufacturer’s-coupon policy.

2. Be prepared to rent a cart when you get to the store. A shopping cart rental costs a quarter, which you put directly into an attachment on the cart’s handle to remove it from the queue of carts. This is another way Aldi keeps prices low. They put the responsibility of rounding up and returning carts on customers. That means they don’t have to pay an employee to do the job.

3. Be prepared to bring or buy your own bags. You won’t be asked to choose between paper or plastic at the end of an Aldi checkout line, because bagging is optional.

Here’s what to expect: As your groceries are being rung up, the cashier will simultaneously stack them with little fanfare into a waiting cart. Then it’s up to you to bag your groceries if you wish, depending on how much stuff you buy.

Bags are offered for sale at checkout, but the smarter move is to bring your own reusable bags.

4. Your purchases are backed up by the Aldi double guarantee. A lot of shopping at Aldi is about trying out new products, particularly the German food imports and seasonal foods. Fortunately, that’s something you can do without fear for your wallet because of the store’s return policy.

If you don’t like something you buy, simply bring it back in its original packaging and you’ll get your money back, plus they’ll replace the product for free. Exclusions include nonfood ALDI Find items, alcohol, national brands and non-quality related issues.

5. Look for seasonal deals in the middle aisle: Because Aldis are generally smaller stores, it’s easy to spot the middle aisle when you walk in. Just look for the spot stuffed with a lot of seasonal merchandise that’s constantly rotating through. This is where you’ll find some of the best deals in the store.

During a recent trip to Aldi, I spotted some great deals on LED Christmas lights starting at $3.39 for a 50-count strand.