Costco, Aldi and 3 Other Stores Where the Middle Class Should Always Shop
The middle class in the U.S. has been shrinking in recent years, making up just 50% of the population in 2021, compared to 61% in 1971, according to a Pew Research Center report. Although household incomes have risen steadily since 1970, higher-income households experienced greater salary growth than lower- or middle-income households.
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With middle class families facing the crunch of inflation, it’s more important than ever to shop smart — partially by looking for stores with high-quality merchandise and low prices. GOBankingRates asked Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, for her best suggestions — and also drew upon past GOBankingRates coverage — to find the best stores for the middle class.
Costco
Based on GOBankingRates’ frequent coverage on Costco deals, the warehouse club is the perfect place for middle-class shoppers, especially those with big families, to stock up on food, beverages and paper goods.
Ramhold agreed, telling GOBankingRates in an email interview, “While the store is great for deals on things like produce, pantry staples, and meats, if you’re only looking at groceries, you’re missing out.”
She cited small kitchen appliances, drinkware, office supplies and even clothing as some of the best deal categories. “The biggest thing is that Costco’s selection can change, so watch for the asterisk on price tags when you’re shopping in-person and grab anything you want before it has a chance to disappear,” she said.
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BJ’s Wholesale Club
If you don’t have a Costco nearby, you might find similar deals at BJ’s Wholesale Club. Some of GOBankingRates’ favorite BJ’s finds for May include the Berkley-Jensen 5-burner gas grill and a massive pack (48-count) of Duracell Coppertop AA batteries, perfect to power everything from flashlights to game controllers all summer. The latter deal is priced at just $30.
Aldi
If you’re looking for deals on groceries — including milk, eggs, bread, and a vast array of gourmet cheese — Aldi is the place to go. It’s worth a separate stop to stock up on these items, and also to find interesting snacks that go beyond the normal national brands. The fresh produce selection tends to be limited and often varies by store location.
But the real attraction to Aldi is the “Aisle of Shame,” a section of the store restocked weekly that features everything from bathing suits to pet toys. If a Disney vacation is in your middle class budget this year, you won’t want to miss the Mickey and Minnie hats, wallets, earrings and even mouse-ear headbands for the whole family, as showcased by YouTuber “Sparkles to Sprinkles” in a recent video.
Target
From gourmet food to trendy cosmetics, if you’re looking for popular brands at low prices, you should try Target first, Ramhold advised.
“This big-box store is known for offering so many excellent deals and in-house brands that are great quality at prices that won’t break the bank,” she said. “One of the best things about shopping at Target is that you may be able to find items there you can’t find elsewhere.”
She noted it’s also a good place to find direct-to-consumer brands, so if you’re looking for brands like Dashing Diva or ColourPop, try Target first. “You may not be able to get all of a company’s offerings, but if you want to try something just to see how it is, Target is worth checking out,” Ramhold said.
Ramhold said she also likes the store’s Good & Gather and Favorite Day brands for “gourmet-level items that don’t cost gourmet-level prices.”
Home Goods
You can easily get lost and spend hundreds in Target’s home décor and seasonal sections. But don’t blow your budget there before checking out Home Goods.
“If you’re looking for organization items or seasonal decor, HomeGoods needs to be on your shopping list,” Ramhold emphasized. She recommended shopping Home Goods for organizational products that cost much more at a place like The Container Store. She said she also gives herself plenty of time to browse Home Goods during the autumn and winter holidays.
“You can often find unique pieces that just aren’t available elsewhere,” she said. “Between HomeGoods and Target, you can usually amass a solid collection of spooky or festive decor for a fraction of the cost of shopping elsewhere.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Costco, Aldi and 3 Other Stores Where the Middle Class Should Always Shop
