If you’ve been following this site for some time, you may already be familiar with the complicated relationship I hold with the discount grocery chain Aldi. When I first moved to Springfield, the cramped and confusing nature of my local location made me dread going there despite their great prices and delicious items. Luckily, they’ve since remodeled for a much more enjoyable experience that’s turned me into a full-fledged fan. However, for those who still get Aldi anxiety or are just too busy to head down to the store themselves, there’s some great news on the horizon.
As The Penny Hoarder reports, Aldi’s partnership with Instacart is expanding, allowing users to have all their frugal favorites delivered to their home. This service was apparently first tested in L.A. (where I didn’t know there were any Aldis…), Atlanta, Dallas, and Chicago, but is expected to be available for all locations in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. While one downside of Instacart in general is that they don’t allow you to use coupons on the site, Aldi’s lack of coupons makes this problem moot. That said, with Instacart allowing you to schedule deliveries for up to a week in advance, I can’t help but wonder how this might work with Aldi Finds or other popular items that may run out.
Now, if you’re anything like my wife when I sent her this story, you may be thinking, “Doesn’t paying for delivery kind of defeat the purpose of shopping at Aldi to save money?” To that I say “yes,” but there’s more good news. Through February 28th, 2019, users can use the code ALDILOVE to receive $10 off their first three orders of $35 or more. With the Penny Hoarder noting that Insatcart delivery fees range from $6 to $12 based on demand, it seems you’ll at least be able to try out this service without spending an arm and a leg. Then again, there is always a risk of getting spoiled once you do try it, in which case you’re on your own.
Personally, I’m excited about this Instacart/Aldi expansion if for no other reason than it gives me the chance to try out Instacart and share my review. I could also see this being a huge help to those who might have a busier life than I do and find the $6-$12 fee worth it consider the convenience. Plus, thanks to Aldi’s low prices, you might still end up saving money compared to other grocery stores even when the delivery fee is factored in. For all of those reasons, I look forward to this fall when my Aldi’s hauls might become even better.