Aldi, Dollar Stores and Food Banks: Where Budget Shoppers Actually Go To Make Their Money Stretch
With grocery prices up, many shoppers have become more flexible about where they shop for essentials as they hunt for more affordable options.
According to a 2025 survey from Snipp, half of shoppers visit at least two grocery stores each month, while a quarter shop at three or more. Meanwhile, Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed food at home prices rose 2.4% in 2025.
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Here are a few places where budget shoppers are stretching their money.
Why Aldi Keeps Gaining Shoppers
For plenty of shoppers, Aldi has become the first stop for basics like eggs, bread, canned goods and pantry staples. As grocery prices stay high, more shoppers are skipping name brands, waiting for sales on snacks and relying on discount grocers for everyday staples.
Aldi’s smaller setup is part of the appeal. Shoppers can grab essentials quickly without walking through endless aisles or paying for extras they do not need.
Aldi said in a January press release that it added 17 million new customers in 2025 and plans to open more than 180 stores in 2026.
“Consumers now really are not looking for fancy stores, and tens of thousands of different items to choose from,” Aldi U.S. CEO Atty McGrath told CNBC earlier this year.
For shoppers trying to avoid a sky-high grocery receipt, the extra trips to multiple stores may be worth it.
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Dollar Stores Aren’t Just for Low-Income Shoppers
Dollar stores are drawing in shoppers who may not have considered them a few years ago. Dollar Tree CEO Mike Creedon said during the company’s third quarter 2025 earnings call that about 60% of incremental shoppers came from households earning more than $100,000 annually.
Online, “Dollar Tree meal” videos and budget recipe challenges have also gained popularity as shoppers look for cheaper ways to feed their families. While stores like Aldi are often used for produce, dairy and other grocery staples, dollar stores have become another stop for lower-cost pantry items like pasta, canned goods, sauces and packaged foods.
Making money stretch now often means being flexible about where different parts of a meal come from.
More Families Are Turning to Food Banks
Even bargain shopping has limits. Some families are under enough financial pressure that cheaper groceries alone are no longer enough to solve the problem. The USDA Economic Research Service found that 47.9 million Americans lived in food-insecure households in 2024.
Joey Keys, CEO of SEMO Food Bank, told KFVS12 that demand continues growing by about 5% to 10% each year.
For many households, stretching a budget now means buying essentials wherever they cost the least, even if that means making a few extra stops along the way.
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This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.
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