Shopping with Saving Green Mom: Is Aldi's really cheaper??

I have been asked this question at least a dozen times...
Is Aldi's really that much cheaper than buying generic or name brand (when possible) at other grocery stores?

Well, I took the test yesterday.

Here is what I bought at Aldi's yesterday:

1 bag of Yellow Onions 32 oz. $1.49
1 Seedless Watermelon $1.99
2 Ready-To-Serve Bacon packages @ $2.19 each
3 Mama Cozzi 12" Frozen Pizzas @ $2.29 each
1 Baby Carrots 1 lb. package $0.99
2 Strawberries 1 lb. packages @ $0.99 each
1 dozen Large Eggs $0.89
1 Honey Buns 8 ct. package $0.89
1 Friendly Farms Vanilla Coffee Creamer 32 oz. $1.99
1 AppleSauce 6 ct. Cups $1.29
1 Saltines package $0.89
1 Cashew Halves/Pieces 9.5 oz. $2.69
2 Potato Chips Bags 11 oz. @ $1.39 each
1 gallon Skim Milk $2.25
-------------------------------------------
= $30.38

Then I went to Festival Foods and priced the SAME items.
Obviously, I had to buy "Aldi's brands" at Aldi's. So, I tried to match up generic brands at Festival.

1 bag of Yellow Onions 32 oz. $1.59
1 Seedless Watermelon $4.99
2 Hormel Ready-To-Serve Bacon packages @ $2.99 each -- Sale Price
3 Orv's 12" Frozen Pizzas @ $2.75 each -- Sale Price
1 Baby Peeled Fresh Carrots 1 lb. $1.49
2 Strawberries 1 lb. packages @ $1.99 each
1 dozen Large Flavorite Eggs $1.09
1 Little Debbie Honey Buns 6 ct. $1.59
1 Flavorite non-dairy Vanilla Coffee Creamer 32 oz. $2.49 -- Sale Price
1 Musselman's 6 ct. Apple Sauce cups $2.57
1 Flavorite Saltine Crackers package $1.75 -- Sale Price
1 Eilliens Cashew Pieces $3.79
2 Classic Potato Chips 12 oz. @ $2.00 each
1 gallon Festival Skim Milk $2.55
-------------------------------------------
= $46.11

A difference of $15.73.

I am sure that if I went to Wal-Mart and compared prices, the prices MIGHT have been a bit closer to the Aldi prices.
I LOVE to shop Festival Foods for their in-ad coupon deals and their deli, fresh produce and their meats. In my opinion they have THE best meat case in town!

Now, I RARELY visit Aldi's, but since I was in the neighborhood, I decided to stop in and I was glad that I did! To find such ripe and red Strawberries for ONLY $0.99 AND a HUUUGE Seedless WHOLE Watermelon for ONLY $1.99!!!?!?!?!
I did get some pretty good deals at Aldi's yesterday.

Shopping with Saving Green Mom: Quick CVS trip :)

I had a bunch of EBs that were expiring today, so I had to run on down to CVS and spend them.
Since I didn't get to do my match-ups for this week, I had to scan through the ad to see what I could get for as little OOP as possible.
I had $15.77 in EBs that I had to use up.

Here is what my 1st transaction looked like:
2 Caramel Twix Candy Bars $1.00, get $1 EB
4 Hershey's Drops Bag Candy $10.00, get $3 EB
5 Powerade 32 oz. $5.00, get $2 EB
1 Bic Soleil Shimmer Razor Kit $6.99, get $3 EB
= $22.99 plus tax

Coupons Used:
- $1.00 BOGO Powerade printable Coupon (no longer available)
- $2/2 Select Hershey's, Reese's, York or Almond Joy Items (SS 5/1/11)
- $3/1 Bic Soleil Razor, exp. 6/12 (SS 05/01/11)
= $16.99

EBs Used:
- $15.77
= $1.22 plus $0.95 tax ($2.17)

To pay my balance, I used a $10 CVS Gift Card that I earned from SwagBucks!

Now, onto transaction #2!

4 12 packs Mountain Dew/Pepsi = $13.00, get $3 EB

EBs Used:
- $9.00 (from 1st transaction)
= $4.00 plus $0.72 tax ($4.72)

I used the same $10 CVS Gift Card to pay the balance.

I have $3 EB from buying the soda and still have $3.11 on my Gift Card!
SO, today...I spent $0 OOP for everything I purchased :)

Looking at my receipt, I have a Year to Date Savings of $425.08!!!! WOW!
And JUST today, I saved $48.92!

I soooo LOVE CVS!