ALDI

One day this week I was oddly excited about a trip to the grocery store, a new grocery store. Well, new to me but not to the town we live in. I think you know you are getting old when you get excited about buying groceries...anyways, my first trip to Aldi's was an experience! I had some idea of what this store was like thanks to my friends Kyle & Tina and of course some research I did online prior to going. Here goes:

Upon arriving and walking into the store I noticed people had shopping carts, but I had no idea where they got them from. I decided that I only needed a couple items and would manage just fine without a cart. Half way down the first isle I realized this was a mistake and I desperately needed a cart. What does a girl do? I hide my soon to be purchases and go to the parking lot to wonder for a loan cart. I find the place were all the carts are housed, but they are chained together and for the life of me I cannot figure out how to unhook one. I am a winner, I know! Defeated, I go back inside and attempt shopping without a cart once again. At this point I am not happy with my experience but I need some groceries. A woman walks inside with a cart and she looks friendly enough. I walk up to her and tell her I have a question and that she will probably think it is really silly, but "how in the world did you get that cart?" The woman chuckles and explains that you have to put a quarter in for it to release a cart and then when you bring the cart back it gives you your quarter back. This is Aldi's way of keeping all their carts in one place and not in their parking lot. Did I have a quarter? NO.

I finish my shopping trip with out a buggy or basket and wait in line to checkout forever. My arms ache, like really bad. After about 10 minutes of waiting, I make my way up to the grocery belt and practically throw my purchases up there. Now, the whole checkout counter looks different and the cashiers are sitting down in chairs. There are no bags. NO BAGS! Aldi's does not bag your groceries. Apparently you should use boxes and/or bring your own bags. Luckily the woman in front of my purchased bags, so I saw where to grab some of those. Thankfully I was able to purchase one plastic bag for 10 cents and all my purchases fit in there. By the way, my arms still hurt.

By the time I got home, I was exhausted from the experience and very hungry. In the end, I was pleased with the amount I spent and the products I got. I will go back to Aldi's, and I will be more prepared next time-I will also take my husband along to help next time!