I went to Aldi for the first time in 40 years. I was impressed by how far my money could go.

• I visited Aldi for the first time in 40 years and was impressed by the experience.
• The store’s smaller size makes it easier for me to find products and finish shopping quickly.
• I also save money on weekly staples like milk, eggs, and cheese.

I live in the Chicago suburbs and have a lot of grocery store options nearby.

I typically shop at the popular Midwest supermarket chain, Jewel-Osco, for my family of four. But recently, my mom wanted to try shopping at Aldi, the international grocer primarily known for its smaller size and extensive selection of store-brand options.

Although I hadn’t been to the store since I was a child, we grabbed a quarter for our cart — and our reusable totes — and went to check it out.

I’m glad I finally gave Aldi a chance — from lower prices on staple items to a more stress-free shopping experience, it’s become one of my go-to grocery stores.

Many of my weekly groceries, like milk and eggs, are much cheaper at Aldi

With four people in the house, my family goes through a lot of milk and eggs.

At other local grocery stores, like Jewel-Osco, a dozen organic cage-free eggs can cost about $7.50. Meanwhile, at Aldi, similar eggs cost $5.35, so I can save more than $2 a week on eggs alone.

Likewise, a half-gallon of Aldi’s organic milk brand, Simply Nature, costs about $4.30, while a half-gallon of Horizon organic milk costs about $6.50 at other grocery stores.

Together, I’m able to save more than $4.50 a week shopping at Aldi for just these two items.

We’ve become fans of Aldi-brand items

Aldi is known for its large selection of store-brand options, and one of my family’s favorites is Benton’s mint-striped fudge cookies, which cost less than $2 for an 11.5-ounce pack. These are a staple in our house, and since finding them, I’ve definitely bought fewer Thin Mints.

But cookies aren’t the only Aldi-brand item we love — our bread box always has loaves of L’oven Fresh bread.

And, when my grandson visits, I like to stock up on items from Little Journey, like yogurt bites and baby food puree pouches, which are great on-the-go treats.

I regularly visit the Aldi Finds section for great deals

One of my favorite things about Aldi is the Aldi Finds section, which includes limited-stock items that are released each week and aptly marketed with the phrase, “Here today, gone tomorrow.”

Since I started shopping here, I’ve learned that the phrase is true — when the items are gone, that’s it. For example, I got animal-face reusable sandwich bags for only $3. Two days later, I went back to get more, and they were gone.

Plus, the section isn’t just for groceries and household items — I love browsing the aisle for everything from hand towels to seasonal decorations.

When my family’s favorite brand-name items are available, I’ve found they’re cheaper at Aldi, too

When I’m able to find brand-name items at the store, I’ve noticed they’re often available for less than they are at other retailers nearby.

For example, Babybel cheese is a staple in my kids’ lunches. At Aldi, a 6-pack costs just over $4 — almost $3 cheaper than it is at another store just a few miles away.

Recently, I was also pleased to see a 12-pack of Arizona Iced Tea for about $4.90, compared to the usual $7 I see at Jewel-Osco.

Overall, I love shopping at Aldi

So far, shopping at Aldi has been a great experience. The store is relatively small compared to other chains in my area, so it’s easy to find the products I need quickly.

Plus, I love that the store doesn’t give out single-use plastic bags, which is good for the environment.

The only downside is that some name-brand items I like aren’t available, so I still have to go to other grocery stores nearby.

However, with how much I save on staple items, it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.

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