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There’s a reason so many people love doing their food shopping at Aldi. Aldi is known for its low prices, and shopping there regularly could help you lower your household’s grocery budget.

But if you truly want to maximize your Aldi savings, you need the right strategies. Here are some worth employing so you can spend even less money and have a better shopping experience.

1. Use the right credit cards

Aldi accepts most major credit cards at its registers. But when it comes to grocery rewards, not all credit cards are created equal.

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2. Go in expecting not to recognize any of the brands

If you’re new to Aldi, you may get thrown for a loop when you realize you don’t recognize most of the brands the store carries. But the whole reason Aldi is able to offer such incredible savings on groceries is that it largely stocks its shelves with little-known brands, as opposed to national brands that are far more recognizable.

Don’t assume those unknown brands are poor in quality, though. You may find that the peanut butter or spaghetti sauce you bring home tastes just as good as the brands you’re used to, only it’s cheaper because there wasn’t fancy packaging or money spent on marking.

3. Have a backup plan in case you can’t complete your shopping list

One pitfall of shopping at Aldi is that the store’s inventory can be inconsistent. If you’re a regular shopper, this is something you’re probably familiar with. But as a newbie, it can be annoying.

For a more pleasant experience, have realistic expectations, and assume off the bat that you may only be able to complete about 75% to 80% of your shopping list. From there, you’ll need a backup plan, whether it’s a quick trip to another supermarket in town or an online grocery order.

4. Avoid the Aisle of Shame if you’re on a budget

There’s a reason the Aldi Finds aisle is often dubbed the Aldi Aisle of Shame. That aisle is loaded with seasonal specials, from cooking tools to home decor items, at affordable prices.

But because that aisle tends to be loaded with non-grocery items, it can be a serious budget-buster. If your goal in shopping at Aldi is to save money, you may want to do yourself a favor and avoid that aisle altogether.

And if you know that’s not possible, incorporate an item or two from that aisle into your budget. You may, for example, in the course of setting your grocery spending limit for the week, add $10 for purchases from the Aldi Finds aisle if that’s a splurge you want to prioritize.

5. Do your shopping on Wednesday morning

If your goal is to save money on groceries, then you may want to try to do your Aldi shopping on Wednesday mornings. Eat This, Not That! reports that Aldi’s prices commonly drop between Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings, since that aligns with Aldi’s advertising cycle.

However, markdowns can pop up at any time. So don’t stress if shopping at Aldi on Wednesday mornings just doesn’t work for you.

A few tweaks to your Aldi shopping could improve your store experience in a very big way. Use these tricks to make the most of Aldi — and enjoy the financial benefits of shopping there.

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