You thought we were getting crazy when we covered the seven best things to buy at Aldi under $5—welp, now get ready for five things under $2! Inflation’s shaking in its boots right now—and that’s the power of Aldi, my dudes. Between its many affordable proprietary brands (we love a Clancy’s moment) and minimal frills (don’t forget your cart quarter!), Aldi is a haven for budget shoppers. And I’m here to prove just how frugal you can get without foregoing pleasure as you browse the aisles at Aldi. Here are the best things to buy at Aldi for less than two bucks.
- Clancy’s Pub Style Seasoned Pretzels ($1.99)
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A whole bag of pretzels from Aldi for under $2? We’re off to a fun start, if I do say so myself. These seasoned pretzel twists are addictive, but don’t worry—you can crush the bag in one sitting and not break the bank. Not that we recommend eating an entire 12 ounce bag of pretzels in one sitting. And not that anyone here has ever done that. Definitely not me. Anyway, plain pretzels would be a bargain at that price, but that savory seasoning really puts these Aldi pretzels over the edge.
Read our ranking of the best pretzels
- Casa Mamita Salsa Con Queso ($1.99)
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If only there was something to go with this nice big bag of pretzels I acquired for the bargain price of $1.99. Oh, wait—there is! And it’s cheap! Double the total and double the fun with this cheese-and-pretzel pairing for a complex and filling afternoon snack from Aldi. If you’re worried that dunking pretzels into molten cheese will make too much of a mess, you could always pair this jar of queso with Clancy’s Big Dipper Tortilla Chips, which didn’t make this list because they cost a whopping $2.19 (gasp).
Read our ranking of the best queso
- Benton’s Peanut Butter Fudge Cookies ($1.99)
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If you slept through Girl Scout cookie season, I have good news. Aldi has a peanut butter and chocolate cookie that looks just like a Tagalong, comes in a pack that’s bigger than the red box, and costs a fraction of the price. Honestly, watch out, Girl Scouts, because you’re about to go out of business with this one. These were the Sporked crew’s second favorite Aldi cookies, but they still scored a coveted 10 out of 10 Sporks. That’s a lot of Sporks for a $2 pack of cookies! These should be a permanent fixture on your list of what to buy at Aldi.
Read our ranking of the best Aldi cookies
- Millville Chewy Granola Bars Variety Pack ($1.75)
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Every office desk, kitchen pantry, car glove compartment, and backpack would benefit from having a box of granola bars in it. Granola bars are perfect for a quick snack or a light lunch dessert. It just so happens that Aldi has a killer deal on a box of ten assorted granola bars (chocolate chip, oatmeal raisin, s’mores, and peanut butter chocolate chip) for $1.75. That’s right, you can buy a granola bar for less than the quarter you used to get your shopping cart. I don’t know what magic Aldi is pulling to sell granola bars for that cheap, but I’m not about to question it.
Read our ranking of the best granola bars
- Cheese Club Shells & Cheese ($1.45)
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Hey, listen. The best things to buy at Aldi for less than two bucks aren’t all snacks. In fact, the cheapest item on this whole dang list happens to be a whole dang meal. Is it a well-rounded meal. Nope, but will it become a meal if you spend an extra 75 cents on a can of peas? Sure! A box of Velveeta Shells & Cheese will set you back twice this much (four times more at my local grocery store), and, sorry, but you have to love this brand name, right? Don’t we all want to be members of the cheese club? Turns out the initiation fee is only a buck and change.
Read our ranking of the best boxed mac and cheese
Thoughts? Questions? Complete disagreement? Leave a comment!