ALDI: Decision fatigue and shopping

Usually when I shop, I go in the morning.  That's because I feel fresher and I'm less hungry.  Plus the stores and roads are generally quieter.

But most importantly, I haven't suffered decision fatigue yet. Studies have shown that people have a limited capability to make decisions before their mental energy is exhausted.  For instance, when you make a list for a wedding registry, at first you might be excited to choose which items you want, but after a while you'll put down anything on the list... it's because making all those decisions for which pattern and which style and which features has tired you out.

So my advice is to shop early in the day, if at all possible.  You'll still have your mental energy, and you'll be more likely to avoid the temptations of purchasing items that aren't on your list and that you don't really need.

But of course I did not follow this advice on my ALDI shopping trip - I went shopping at 3 pm, and with two of my kids to boot!  So I ended up with some cookies, yogurt, and bagels in my cart, which drove my weekly trip cost up!

Here's what I got:


1 dozen eggs @ $1.58 (ouch!)
2 gallons milk @ $2.99 = $5.98
2 apple juice concentrate @ 99¢ = $1.98
1 cottage cheese @ $1.99
1 2-lb green grapes @ $1.98
2 whipped yogurt @ 49¢ = 98¢
1 6-ct bagels @ $1.49
1 lb shredded mozzarella @ $2.99
1 lb shredded cheddar @ $2.99
3 avocados @ 59¢ = $1.77
1 2-pack multicolored peppers @ $1.69
1 celery @ $1.29
1 chocolate chip cookies @ $1.89
1 Parmesan cheese @ $2.39
1 4-lb sugar @ $2.29
1 instant oatmeal @ $1.49
1 20-ct tortillas @ $1.99
1 20-oz Roma tomatoes @ $1.49
1 3-lb yellow onions @ $1.79

Total spent: $40.04

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