11 Things You Must Know Before Shopping at Aldi

Aldi has some unique quirks that not all shoppers might know if you haven't been there before.

You might be unaware of great Aldi hacks that can help you save money or show up the first time without a quarter and wonder why that's an issue if you want a cart.

Here are some things you'll need to know before you shop at Aldi for the first time. Longtime shoppers should also pay attention to it for a refresher before you go there again.

Aldi has a distinct system for shopping carts that helps keep them in order without the issues typical grocery stores face.

The store has locks on the handles of its carts that can be unlocked only if you stick a quarter in them. But don't worry! You'll be able to get your quarter back when you lock your cart up after shopping.

Aldi has excellent deals on Aldi Finds, including groceries, home goods (affectionately known as the aisle of shame), and more, that can help you save extra money.

The best part? You can prep for the new deals ahead of time. Aldi sends out its weekly ad early to inform you about upcoming deals, and you can sign up for deals to be delivered to your email inbox so you can learn about the latest discounts as soon as the store stocks up.

You don't have to spend a lot of money to stock up your wine rack.

The retailer has its own store brand named Winking Owl that's more affordable than name-brand bottles.

Winking Owl offers several types of red, white, and rose wines as well as sangria, and most bottles cost under $4 each.

Aldi's roots are in Germany, and the grocery chain celebrates all things German during special weeks throughout the year.

Its German Weeks usually come in May, September, and December and feature special German delights like soft pretzels, apple strudel, German-style pickles, spaetzle, and more.

Aldi cuts costs in various ways, including making you bring your own bags from home for your groceries.

So make sure you stock your car with some bags before you leave for a shopping trip to Aldi. It's OK if you forget or don't have bags to use, but you should be prepared to pay for bags at the store instead.

You might be used to shopping late at your local grocery store after work or getting up early on a weekend morning to beat the crowds, but you'll want to double-check the store hours of your local Aldi as they may not be as accommodating.

Many locations are only open for around 11 hours a day, with late morning openings and early evening closings, leaving a smaller window than most stores for you to do your shopping.

Aldi prides itself on cutting costs to make its groceries more affordable for customers, but that also means your local Aldi is a no-frills place compared to other stores nearby.

Items may be sitting on shelves in the boxes they arrived in, and you probably shouldn't expect hot food bars or gourmet deli sections, but you will get affordable food at affordable prices.

Due to Aldi's generous return policy, you can try new things without feeling guilty if you don't like them.

Aldi's Twice as Nice Guarantee allows you to replace an item and also get your money back if you don't like a store-brand Aldi product with your receipt.

Check with your local store about what's covered, and remember to save your receipt as you'll need it for the Twice as Nice Guarantee.

Aldi prides itself on passing discounts to customers through its store brands but doesn't issue coupons for those brands, so you won't want to spend time searching for extra discounts.

The grocery chain won't accept manufacturer coupons for name-brand items on its store shelves.

However, the company says more than 90% of brands on its shelves are Aldi store brands, so finding name brands that match your coupons may be challenging.

Aldi has many store brands, including Simply Nature, which is all organic and contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

The brand covers many items on Aldi's shelves including snacks, frozen foods, and drinks to stock your pantry, fridge, or freezer.

Aldi isn't just about saving you money on groceries; consider wandering the aisles for some non-food items that can also save you money.

The store is stocked with household cleaners, such as dish detergent, bathroom cleaners, and more, to keep your house sparkling clean without busting your wallet on expensive name-brand options.

Take advantage of Aldi's wide selection at affordable prices if you're trying to save money on groceries and keep some cash in your pocket.

Making a shopping list to help you stick with your budget is also a good idea. After all, that "aisle of shame" can be mighty tempting!