How To Get The Most Out Of Aldi's 'Aisle Of Shame'

Most of Aldi's aisles look more or less like those in a standard supermarket, but there's that one in the middle that comes across as a chaotic mishmash of stuff seemingly chosen at random from the warehouse. Welcome to the Aisle of Shame (or, if you use the more sedate official moniker, Aldi Finds), the Aldi aisle so beloved it has its own fan base. Aldi enthusiasts can't get enough of the selection of weekly specials that range from food items to household goods to apparel. The reason for the so-called shame is that it's easy to overindulge in bargain-priced whatsits — I still have a dozen unused packets of turkey gravy mix (just 29 cents each!) as well as several pairs of rubber boots (only $5 a piece!) that I hardly ever wear. Seasoned shoppers, however, know how to resist temptation and maximize the potential for savings by checking convenient online resources and monitoring new arrivals.

The Aldi Finds aisle may seem a bit disorganized (or perhaps that's only at the Aldis I frequent, where the shelves always look like they've been tossed), but there's a method to the madness, which the store elucidates in its website's Weekly Specials section. There's even a sneak preview of upcoming finds, so you can make a note on your calendar if there are any especially appealing items. If you really don't want to miss out, it's best to get there on the day the new products drop (Aldi Finds always arrive on a Wednesday) since popular ones might sell out. If you don't want to wind up with a dud, you could also do a little research using a website like Aldi Reviewer. Its staff render their verdicts on a number of Aldi special buys, and not every one's a winner.

The Aisle of Shame may be one of the top spots to find the best deals at Aldi (often beating prices of similar items from big-box stores), but you're really only saving money if you buy something you actually need. Perhaps the best method for avoiding overspending would be to stay out of this aisle entirely, but you know you won't go to such lengths. Instead, you'll need to argue with yourself over every item you pick up: Is this really worth a chunk of my weekly grocery budget? I feel like a hypocrite offering this advice since, on my last trip to Aldi, I brought home what has to be my fifth hairbrush (but it was a Fifi the Fox Squishmallow version!). Still, do as I say, not as I do (or know you're in good company if you fail).

Social media influencers and fan groups are convenient starting points to see what new finds are worth checking out and what isn't a great value. If there's an item I'm on the fence about, though, I turn it into a game by walking away and leaving it for a week before coming back to see if it's still around. Yes, Aldi's supposed to replace its weekly buys every week (hence the name), but sometimes, last week's unsold items stick around at markdown prices. That way, I feel I'm leaving it up to fate — either I get that $10 item for $5 or I don't get it at all, costing me exactly $0. Even if I decide in hindsight that I really should have spent $10, my beloved whatsit may still return in the not-too-distant future, since many Aldi Finds, like the "limited time" McRib, crop up again and again.