tanzb
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Post by tanzb on Nov 12, 2014 10:21:02 GMT 10
Hi fellow preppers, living here in S.A we aren't lucky enough to have an Aldi or Costco open yet. Reading through many posts, it seems there are some really good Preppers buys to be had. We have our first Costco opening in December some time, but i think that Aldi wont be opening it's doors until next year but we would like to pick up some tips before they open. I'm certain there is an annual joining fee for Costco but what about Aldi, if there is a fee how much does it cost to join? What are some really good prepper items to look for?
Thanks.
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Post by Fractus on Nov 12, 2014 10:36:02 GMT 10
Aldi don't have a fee here in Vic and they are quite cyclic in their non staple items.
One week will have ski gear the next will be camping, tools etc. if they don't sell all the stoke they put a red price tag and discount it. I got some 20 litre jerry cans very cheap. The trade off is sometimes they sell out and you miss it. Their fruit is usually cheaper than the two majors but that is no really hard. We shop at all three plus IGA as they are all close to each other and can access all bargains.
I joined Costco when they opened in vice and although there were bulk items cheap you really had to know your prices as they used different volume and weights. Soft drink came in 330 ml instead of 375 ml and similar. Join fee was a put off also as could only put one other on account then.
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Post by SA Hunter on Nov 12, 2014 10:36:08 GMT 10
Aldi is free - just walk in and save.
When we were in the Sth East of SA we regularly went to Victoria to Aldi. Not the biggest selection, but a LOT cheaper. Quality is very similar. We found the best way was to buy a few items, try them and return and buy in bulk. In Vic they are licenced so we were getting cheap grog too!
Can't wait for one to open in SA too!
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tanzb
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Post by tanzb on Nov 12, 2014 11:11:57 GMT 10
Aldi don't have a fee here in Vic and they are quite cyclic in their non staple items. One week will have ski gear the next will be camping, tools etc. if they don't sell all the stoke they put a red price tag and discount it. I got some 20 litre jerry cans very cheap. The trade off is sometimes they sell out and you miss it. Their fruit is usually cheaper than the two majors but that is no really hard. We shop at all three plus IGA as they are all close to each other and can access all bargains. I joined Costco when they opened in vice and although there were bulk items cheap you really had to know your prices as they used different volume and weights. Soft drink came in 330 ml instead of 375 ml and similar. Join fee was a put off also as could only put one other on account then. "Oh"..Can you remember approx how cheap? ... funny enough we where only looking at getting a few Metal Jerry cans yesterday at Bunnings, they have them reduced from $60.00 but only available for another week , is this cheap? LINK Thanks |
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Post by agriculturalprep on Nov 12, 2014 11:26:26 GMT 10
Im from SA as well, does anyone have any places they can recommend to go check out? Love to find new things.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 12, 2014 11:59:37 GMT 10
Not everything at Aldi is cheaper. You really have to shop around and be savvy, remember what you need and who charges what where etc, etc. Same as Costco, not everything is cheaper when you work out the cost per 100g or cost per 100ml etc, etc.
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Frank
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Post by Frank on Nov 12, 2014 12:11:48 GMT 10
I am a fan of Aldi, some stuff isn't the best but in general I find the food pretty good and at decent prices. No where near the range of a regular supermarket, but they are getting better and what they lack in choice they make up in value. Never been to Costco, but its the to-do list.
Apart from those two, have a look on the net and see if there are any bulk buy or wholesale places in your area that sell direct to the public, Cash and Carry type places. Couple around my way in Vic and they are pretty good value if you want to have stock up on staples, frozens or even treats like lollies/chocolates
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Ammo9
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Post by Ammo9 on Nov 12, 2014 12:38:29 GMT 10
Roughly every second non-grocery item I buy from Aldi is a dud. I bought a set of luggage scales from there last week and was in a rush. The guy who served me asked if I wanted a receipt and I was in a rush and already half walked off so I said don't worry. He said "what if it breaks?" I said "it won't" and he laughed at me.
That shows the confidence of the people working there, who see all the refunds, have in their products. Got it home and tried it a few days later.... the thing is a piece of crap.
It was in one of those heat sealed plastic containers where I couldn't test it... gonna be honest, it's the last time I buy electrical items from aldi.
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 12, 2014 13:06:12 GMT 10
Agreed, have had a few dud "Specials" items from Aldi but generally I am pretty happy.
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tanzb
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Post by tanzb on Nov 12, 2014 17:00:40 GMT 10
Aldi don't have a fee here in Vic and they are quite cyclic in their non staple items. One week will have ski gear the next will be camping, tools etc. if they don't sell all the stoke they put a red price tag and discount it. I got some 20 litre jerry cans very cheap. The trade off is sometimes they sell out and you miss it. Their fruit is usually cheaper than the two majors but that is no really hard. We shop at all three plus IGA as they are all close to each other and can access all bargains. I joined Costco when they opened in vice and although there were bulk items cheap you really had to know your prices as they used different volume and weights. Soft drink came in 330 ml instead of 375 ml and similar. Join fee was a put off also as could only put one other on account then. "Oh"..Can you remember approx how cheap? ... funny enough we where only looking at getting a few Metal Jerry cans yesterday at Bunnings, they have them reduced from $60.00 but only available for another week , is this cheap? LINK Thanks Thanks for all the replies, do you know if the link above is a good price for a Jerry Can? |
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Nov 12, 2014 19:23:48 GMT 10
Our Costco store is 1.5hrs 'thataway' so you have to add at least $30 fuel to the trip. You can go in and have a look - but not buy if you are not a member - but I made a list of 'prepping things' and used my iPhone to take pics of anything and everything. I then came home and went online to compare. There wasn't a big difference I thought. If you have allocated funds for prepping each month, you could blow that easily on say: COSTCO6x420g cans of Heinz big red tomato soup was $8.79. Or Leggos pasta bake pack 3x575g $9.29. 6 pkt Colgate toothbrushes $17.99. TOTAL - $36.07. Now for the same amount at ALDI, I can build my stores across a variety of categories. Eg. 2 x 410 Remona Australian tinned tomatoes. $1.78 pkt 3 toothbrushes $2.70, SR Flour 1kg $1.60 Sugar 1kg $1.60 Spaghetti $.99 Long Life Milk x 2 $2.00 Tissues $.99, Tinned Fruit 825gms $2.40 Tomato Sauce $1.49 Raw Oats $1.59 Tinned rice cream $1.20 Jar Honey $4.50 Pasta bake $1.79 Pkt Basmati Rice $2.00 Pkt pain killers $1.99 Pkt soap (3) $2.40 Salt 1 x 1kg. $2.00 TOTAL $33.03 Costco have some really great and different items, but for us the $60 yearly fee and the trip is not worth it. Some items I buy at Coles/Woolies as we prefer that particular brand, ie Moconna coffee, (good buy this week at Coles)  , but for growing your stores, for us if the food is stored correctly, rotation is easier if you don't have a slab of one item and none of the other. I also think we cannot be too precious about brands for items like tissues or toilet paper. Same goes for sugar, rice, flour. We never buy something we don't use now. Ever. |
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 12, 2014 19:55:10 GMT 10
Our Costco store is 1.5hrs 'thataway' so you have to add at least $30 fuel to the trip. You can go in and have a look - but not buy if you are not a member - but I made a list of 'prepping things' and used my iPhone to take pics of anything and everything. I then came home and went online to compare. There wasn't a big difference I thought. If you have allocated funds for prepping each month, you could blow that easily on say: COSTCO6x420g cans of Heinz big red tomato soup was $8.79. Or Leggos pasta bake pack 3x575g $9.29. 6 pkt Colgate toothbrushes $17.99. TOTAL - $36.07. Now for the same amount at ALDI, I can build my stores across a variety of categories. Eg. 2 x 410 Remona Australian tinned tomatoes. $1.78 pkt 3 toothbrushes $2.70, SR Flour 1kg $1.60 Sugar 1kg $1.60 Spaghetti $.99 Long Life Milk x 2 $2.00 Tissues $.99, Tinned Fruit 825gms $2.40 Tomato Sauce $1.49 Raw Oats $1.59 Tinned rice cream $1.20 Jar Honey $4.50 Pasta bake $1.79 Pkt Basmati Rice $2.00 Pkt pain killers $1.99 Pkt soap (3) $2.40 Salt 1 x 1kg. $2.00 TOTAL $33.03 Costco have some really great and different items, but for us the $60 yearly fee and the trip is not worth it. Some items I buy at Coles/Woolies as we prefer that particular brand, ie Moconna coffee, (good buy this week at Coles) , but for growing your stores, for us if the food is stored correctly, rotation is easier if you don't have a slab of one item and none of the other. I also think we cannot be too precious about brands for items like tissues or toilet paper. Same goes for sugar, rice, flour. We never buy something we don't use now. Ever. Great information there and well written, cheers.  A few things on Costo though, $60 membership does make me mad, especially when at least 50% of the stuff is not actually cheaper, just in bigger packages and priced up accordingly, some things are WAY! cheaper though. You can also offset the membership fee by utilising the guest feature. You get two cards, each card can bring in one guest. We try to bring a friend as often as possible, then when we find an item in bulk that is cheap, yet we do not want it in that kind of quantity, we buy it, split the cost and split the goods. If you can convince a friend or another couple if that is your case, to go halves in a membership, each of you will get a photo ID card or each couple will get one photo ID Card. I do think that it is the kind of place that you need to go into at least once before making any purchases and scope it out, find the items you already buy and note the prices (I take photos with my phone) make a list and compare to the other places you shop. From that it is very simple arithmetic to determine whether you can make a saving from this place. |
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Matilda
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Post by Matilda on Nov 12, 2014 21:01:11 GMT 10
Thanks for that tip Daniel! Our kids are keen but getting everyone under the same roof at the same time is like a military manoeuvre! I would love to go back but at this point in time, our daughter would be the closest 'nearly there' prepper to justify it. I thought the members 1 + the spare) had to live under the same roof. We were impressed with their fresh food though. I might see if we can work out something for Christmas lunch and drop a hint |
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 12, 2014 21:23:26 GMT 10
Ahhh dammit I think you are correct, you can bring anyone in you like as a guest but the second card must be under the same roof. Also only the card holder may pay at the register. Good luck with it Matilda
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Post by You Must Enter A Name on Nov 12, 2014 21:29:33 GMT 10
www.costco.com.au/Common/Faq.shtmlIt's all in that link  I was going to suggest to my mate we do this between our two families. Oh well, I am happy to keep bringing people in and doing it the way we have been.
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Post by Fractus on Nov 13, 2014 13:54:59 GMT 10
I think the jerry cans were a it over $20. They sold out of one store but there were a lot left at another. Red and green only. They were not as heavy as the ones I bought at Aussie disposals so they are probably not as sturdy. It has been a while since I got them so they may come in again soon. I will post if I see them
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I was going to suggest to my mate we do this between our two families. Oh well, I am happy to keep bringing people in and doing it the way we have been.