As affordable as Aldi’s products may be, not every item is a great value for seniors. This is especially true if you’re on a fixed income in retirement and focused on having every dollar count to save money on groceries.
GOBankingRates carefully reviewed Aldi Reddit forums to find and source the top items retirees need to buy and what’s better left on shelves. Take a look at our selections and peruse the best Aldi Finds to shop before they’re sold out.
Avoid: L’oven Fresh Bagel Skinnys
- Price: $3.29
Redditors don’t hold back criticizing L’oven Fresh bagel skinnys.
The taste of the skinny bagels has been compared to “cardboard.” But the biggest blow is how shoppers in the thread said they hold name-brand skinny bagels in higher regard than Aldi’s brand, even though they cost more.
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Avoid: Little Salad Bar Mango Slices
- Price: $5.49
Savvy retirees know shopping for pre-sliced fruit means spending more money compared to unsliced fruit. Instead of buying Little Salad Bar’s mango slices, shoppers can stock up on unsliced mangos for 89 cents apiece.
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Avoid: Boulder Gallon Freezer Twin Lock Bags
- Price: $1.89
Reviews are mixed on Boulder’s twin lock freezer bags. While some shoppers said they work alright, others have complained it’s tough to get a good seal.
When in doubt on the 50/50 feedback, retirees may consider shopping the Great Value brand at Walmart to save money or splurging just a bit more on name brands.
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Avoid: Kirkwood Family Pack Chicken Drumsticks
- Price: $4.76 (avg. 4 lb/package for $1.19/lb)
Retirees may want to avoid buying Kirkwood chicken drumsticks.
Some Redditors have complained certain Aldi poultry products, like drumsticks, thighs and breasts, have a strange, spongy texture. This is known as woody chicken, which one user pointed out can be avoided by looking at the grain of the meat inside its package.
Avoid: Chef’s Cupboard Instant Mashed Potatoes
- Price: $1.09
Like the skinny bagels, the taste of Chef’s Cupboard instant mashed potatoes has also been compared to cardboard.
As cheap as these potatoes may be, think twice. Retirees might want to spend a little more on fresh potatoes to cook their favorite potato dishes to their preferred dietary preferences.
Own: Simply Nature Grass Fed 93% Lean Ground Beef
- Price: $8.05 per lb. (regularly $8.25)
Simply Nature’s grass fed ground beef has long been praised for its taste and being a great overall deal. Right now, retirees can save 2% off their purchase. (Every discount helps, especially on grocery meat costs!)
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Own: Millville Quick Cook Steel Cut Oats Canister
- Price: $3.29
Compared to the Quaker brand, Millville’s quick cook steel cut oats are around $1.50 cheaper and don’t skimp on quantity (each canister is 25 ounces!) or quality. Add one to your shopping cart for breakfast and when making overnight oats.
Own: Welby Ibuprofen Tablets
- Price: $1.89
If the cost of name-brand aspirin is quite literally giving you a headache, consider shopping for Welby ibuprofen. Each bottle comes with 100 tablets in 200 MG per tablet, coming out to spending pennies per aspirin caplet.
Own: Lacura Deep Moisture Body Wash
- Price: $4.09
Lacura deep moisture body wash has received praise for being Aldi’s affordable dupe answer to the Dove brand. For the price of one Dove body wash, retirees can buy up to two from Lacura.
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Own: Huntington Home Scented Candle
- Price: $5.49
There’s always room in a retiree’s budget for a Huntington Home scented candle. These three wick candles come in a variety of fragrances and act as perfect little luxuries to give to yourself or others and fill homes with an inviting aroma.
Editor’s note: Prices and availability are accurate as of Feb. 24, 2026, and are subject to change.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 5 Aldi Items Retirees Should Avoid Plus the 5 Best Items To Own on Social Security
