The Gadget You May Need To Remember Your Aldi Quarter

By now, you're probably familiar with Aldi, the German-based supermarket that has been in business for more than 40 years, making them the world's first discount grocery store in Germany. Today, the chain has more than 10,000 stores in 20 countries and is known for operating on a no-frills business model, which helps to keep costs down. In fact, TODAY says that Aldi is one of the cheapest grocery store chains out there, and it's one reason people love shopping there so much.

Aldi offers a limited selection of products and brands that you can't always get elsewhere, and the company has implemented several initiatives to reduce waste and promote sustainability, such as using LED lighting in stores and recycling materials, per its website. It was recently listed as one of the most sustainable supermarket outlets, the company claims. One of the ways they keep costs down is by deterring shopping cart theft. The Washington Post reported in 2018 that the Food Marketing Institute in Washington D.C. estimated that businesses lose about $800 million in lost shopping carts every year, globally.

Aldi's website says they charge a cart deposit of 25 cents so that they won't need to hire someone to go get the carts left in parking lots and it lowers the risk of carts being stolen from a parking lot. The savings on labor is then passed along to the customer. Many retailers use this system, and it's pretty simple — customers insert a quarter into a locking mechanism that is installed on the cart. When they return the cart, they get the quarter back.

If you find that you often forget to bring your quarter, though, you may be searching for ways to help you remember to bring along your coin so you can get a cart at Aldi. Of course, you can set a reminder on your phone or write a note on the top of your shopping list to grab the quarter, but what else can you do? Well, there is a cute little gadget that you just might want to purchase to help you remember your Aldi quarter.

Amazon has an Aldi keychain quarter holder with the words "I love Aldi" embroidered on it. What a brilliant idea. It attaches to your keys and it holds your quarter for you, which ensures that you'll always have your quarter with you. It can also be attached to your purse and some wallets, too, so depending on where your payment is kept, your quarter can also be kept with you at all times. And as a bonus, it's a cute little way to show off your love for Aldi when you are out and about.

Of course, there are other similar products, so if this one isn't to your liking, you can choose other keychain quarter holders. Etsy, for example, has a lot to choose from in various styles and price ranges, and most come from small business owners. You can also choose to use coin purses, which come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and prints to match your own style as you are shopping the aisles of Aldi.