11 Ways You Could Be Wasting Money at Aldi (And How to Stop)

Shoppers looking to save money on groceries might add Aldi to their list of stores to try to keep more cash in their pockets.

But Aldi isn't your typical grocery store — it has its own quirks, thanks to its unique approach to the shopping experience.

Here are some mistakes newbies and seasoned veterans could be making when they take a trip to their local Aldi.

Aldi has a wide selection of food, but don't forget to stop by the Aldi Finds aisle for plenty of surprisingly affordable non-food finds.

The aisle includes home goods, clothes, accessories, and more that may cost less than other local stores for fun everyday items or seasonal trinkets.

You might be surprised to find out that Aldi is similar to other grocery stores when it comes to different options for shopping like curbside pick-up.

Order your groceries through the Aldi app and follow the instructions so that your groceries are ready to load into your car when you arrive at your local store. This also really helps curb any impulse buying in-store.

Aldi, like other grocery stores, has an app for your smartphone that can help you save money when you shop.

The app allows you to see weekly deals and discounts along with the store's ads to help you find discounts each week. It also lets you create a shopping list with your favorite Aldi finds.

Aldi prides itself on giving customers deep discounts on everyday items regardless of whether they have coupons, so bringing a stack of clipped manufacturer coupons may not be worth the hassle, as it probably won't save you much money.

You should also consider that 90% of Aldi's products on its shelves are in-store brands, so there's not much room for name-brand manufacturers that send out coupons.

You may not have that much change lying around, but it can be difficult to shop at Aldi if you forget your quarter to unlock your cart. This could end up costing you more money on Aldi's bags to haul your groceries.

The good news is there are solutions if you're a frequent Aldi shopper. One option may be a keychain with a holder specifically for a quarter so you always have one on hand.

Another quirk to shopping at Aldi is the store expects you to bag your own groceries and use your own bags.

Reusable bags are a great sustainable option and could also save you money as the store will charge you for bags if you don't remember to bring some from home.

Aldi doesn't just open the doors of a new store to welcome in customers — it celebrates them.

New store openings can be a great advantage for shoppers with free Aldi shopping bags and chances to get gift cards and discounts on groceries and other items you find at your brand-new store.

You may prefer buying name brands that might cost more but are better known than the in-house brands on your local grocery store's shelves.

If that's the case, Aldi isn't the store for you. One reason the retailer is able to pass on savings to customers is that 90% of the items the store stocks on its shelves are from its own brand lines.

Aldi was founded in Germany and its roots are still evident when German weeks roll around.

The store usually has around three different weeks throughout the year when it stocks up on German specialties like soft pretzels, German-style pickles, and more for affordable prices.

Aldi has some unique items that you may not find anywhere else, but their staples are still something you shouldn't skip.

It's a great store if you're trying to stock up on pantry staples like sugar, flour, cereal, and other products that you find yourself constantly reaching for at home. The store makes these affordable so you can load up without hurting your wallet.

Aldi doesn't always have the same products in stock from week to week and sometimes an item you see this week may not be there the next time you shop.

It's a good idea to grab items when they're available and stock up now, particularly with staples that will last a while in your pantry or freezer.

Some genius hacks for Aldi shoppers can help you save money if you know which ones work and which ones don't.

It's a good idea to check with the store before you start shopping by perusing the Aldi app or finding the weekly sales online so you can add some extra deals to your shopping list — especially since they don't accept coupons.