HappyMama

In my never-ending attempt to lower our monthly grocery spending, I took the 3 kiddos to Aldi’s today.  It’s supposed to be the cheapest place to shop, short of a food pantry, and the biggest “draw-back” is that their products are in constant flux; you never know for sure what’s going to be on the shelves.  Well that doesn’t bother me.  I’m a flexible person. 

Other things bother me.  The first time I went to Aldi’s was in a different state.  I just stopped by one day, infant in tow.  My first surprise was that you needed a quarter to use a shopping cart… which of course I didn’t happen to have on me.  So I lugged that infant seat around the store only to get to the check out to find out another irritating thing: they don’t supply grocery sacks.  You’re supposed to bring your own.  Or they charge you. 

Well today was my second time going to Aldi’s, now in a different state.  I thought I was prepared - I had that quarter in my hand!  (And a dime and a nickel, because I couldn’t remember what it was!)  And I had 3 boys ready to help carry anything I just couldn’t pass up buying.  Wouldn’t even need a grocery sack.  Well, I walked slowly all around the store, trying to make mental notes of prices on basic items while trying to keep the kids from putting candy into the cart… And eventually I went to the checkout counter with my treasures, only to discover that they accepted neither my local check or any credit cards.  Cash only, sorry.  COULDN’T THEY POST THAT ON THE FRONT DOOR?

Aldi’s lost a customer today.  It shouldn’t be this hard to get a good deal on cucumbers and canned fruit.