a d&m about aldi

We went on a family excursion to Aldi yesterday. Our first visit to such an establishment, but most likely not our last. Although I wasn't that excited when I was there, it has left a lasting impression on me. Actually, it's been a bit of a revelation.

Yep, it's cheap. But that's not it.

I have said before, I hate shopping. Well, this includes supermarkets. I hate having to trawl up and down those huge, huge, life sucking places. It takes so long, even just to run in and get milk. The time and energy it takes to simply do the shopping is dire. Consequently, by trying to avoid it I spend too much, because I buy a months worth of groceries at once. Either that, or I end up doing over the budget by 'shopping' at the milkbar.

Then there's the amount of choice and the time it takes to work out the prices. The things that always get me are cheese and washing powder. In London, (it must be the law) there is the tag with the price and the cost per weight/piece/mls. It was brilliant. Here, I'm standing in front of the dairy cabinet trying to work out the price of ten different cheeses at 350gms, 750gms and 1kg. For crap cheddar. Forgetting there are other cheeses in the deli section as well! Argh. I makes me bonkers.

At Aldi I realised just what I need to buy at the supermarket. Basics are all I go shopping for, and it's all Aldi has. Not aisles of specialist ingredients, Asian, Mexican, ready-made, fresh frozen blah, blah, blah.. No endless rows of everything to fill the cupboard and blow the budget. Nope, just the basics, all in a space covering under an acre. Perfect.

Moreover, it's not just the basics, but the bare basics. No choice. Or not much. One brand and no branding. My first revelation- how much I am influenced by labels and packaging. When wrestling with price comparisons has drained my energy, I end up grabbing any product I like or have seen advertised. That's how brand identification happens. We are a Devondale/Surf/Weet Bix family. Without even thinking about it. And here emerges the larger issue. In my mind we are NOT a 'no-name' family. Buy why?

Early in life an image was planted in my mind of someone sweeping the factory floor and scooping that stuff into a no name yellow-and-black bag. My impression of home branded products is that they are the scraps off the end of the line. And I can't shake that image. Some of the products are not tip-top, like the watery, nasty baked beans, and the chocolate. It is worst grade. But things change, don't they? Well, this could be the test.

Currently I have an issue with nappies. I know that Aldi nappies are cheap and have had them recommended by many people, but I can't come at the idea of no name nappies. I know they they are not made from the sawdust and scratchy cotton leftover from other sanitary products, but I'm still reluctant to embrace the savings. Which are considerable. My earlier rabbitings about the Huggies sale tells you that I will pay up to 38c a nappy. Times 6-8 nappies a day times seven days times the number of days until MB is toilet trained. A lot. Aldi nappies come in at much less than this. It adds up quickly. So what is wrong with them? Or me?

Here I realised how indulged I actually am. Because I have a choice. I choose to shop and buy what I do. I think I'm being restrained but really, that's not the case. If I want to I can fill my trolley with anything that takes my fancy, whack it on the card and not think about it again. I can buy whatever I want. I choose not to, presently.

Undertaking this process and raising my own awareness, I now see people who don't have a choice. They have to think about everything the do, carefully, or live with consequences that can snowball. A life of 'need this but missed this bill so didn't pay that so couldn't pay this'....It's a way of life I fear, but not one I live with. I only ever had to drop off a luxury or two to get by. I worry about not being able to have what I want, when there are those who fear not being able to get what they need. Presently I am quite aware of what we need to live, and what is left over is, well, brilliant. Because we have something leftover after taking care of our needs. Using a cheaper nappy would give us more. So I think I'm going to get over it.

We shopped for most of our basics at Aldi and I spent under $50, even with impulse buys (gotta test the chocolate, don't we? I think it's a real Cherry Ripe in a different wrapper!). The milk is 60c cheaper than the cheapest I can by locally. Even factoring in the travelling- 8kms, not so convenient- it's worth the trip.

No way to know but to try.