I started shopping at Aldi when I took a pay cut, and now it's my go-to store. Here are 9 of my favorite items right now.

• Ever since I took a pay cut in my career, I've loved shopping at Aldi.
• The store is fully stocked with cold-weather comforts, from teas to cable-knit blankets.
• I like that I can get a good deal on groceries without compromising on variety or quality.

When I started teaching two years ago, I took a significant pay cut. Now, my daily take-home pay is about what I used to make in just one hour as a consultant.

Ever since the switch, Aldi has been my go-to spot for affordable groceries that work with my family's new weekly budget.

Here are some of my favorite things at the store right now.

I get my coffee pods at Aldi.

Barissimo's French-roast, 100% arabica coffee does not disappoint.

The rich, dark roast tastes like something I'd buy at my favorite local coffee shop. Better yet, a box comes with 12 pods for $3.45, or only $0.29 a cup.

When I'm looking for less caffeine, I turn to chai.

As far as flavor goes, Aldi's private-label brand Benner Tea Co. makes a top-quality chai.

I like that the ingredients are simple — black tea, ginger, cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, clove, and star anise.

A box of 20 tea bags costs $1.70 (less than $0.12 each), so I like to stock up.

I splurge a little on Specially Selected's manuka honey.

Years ago, on a work trip to New Zealand, I tried manuka honey for the first time and was hooked.

It can get pricey, but the 8.8-ounce jar from Aldi's Specially Selected brand only costs $8.69.

Sure, it's more expensive than regular honey — there are options around $2 at the store — but it's a lot cheaper here than I've seen anywhere else.

You can't beat the price of Aldi's maple syrup.

Weekends usually entail at least one sleepover in our home. Those cold days and extra mouths call for hot pancakes or waffles with good syrup.

Aldi's Specially Selected maple syrup has a dark-amber hue with a rich, not too sweet, flavor.

There's only one ingredient (100% pure maple syrup from Canada), and the 12.5-ounce bottle goes for $5.30, which I think is a steal.

A nice can of pea soup is an easy meal on a cold night.

Deutsche Küche makes a restaurant-worthy German pea soup for $2.25 a can.

From the moment I opened the 28-ounce can, the salty richness wafted out.

The "thick and creamy" soup is truly hearty enough to be a stand-alone meal, but I also like to add some kale for extra oomph.

Fremont Fish Market's seafood boil makes for a hearty meal.

Fremont Fish Market's $10 frozen seafood boil was a hit with my family — and it was ready in under 10 minutes.

It tasted fresh and made for a very comforting meal.

The Specially Selected snow-crab clusters are also good.

Topped with a dash of leftover seasoning from the seafood boil, melted butter, and fresh lemon, Specially Selected's snow-crab clusters are the perfect appetizer.

If we're having it as a full family meal, I just buy two boxes.

I think $17 for 24 ounces of crab is a great deal. Plus, I have a large pot with a steamer basket, so I find them super easy to make.

Baby lotion is my secret weapon in the winter.

I don't have any babies at home — my daughters are 12 and 14 — but we all have dry, winter skin.

Little Journey's baby eczema therapy cream and baby lotion are my favorite solutions for making our skin feel smooth and velvety.

Each 8-ounce bottle is only $2.95 a pop, so I purchase both.

Aldi has some great-quality throw blankets for a decent price, too.

I'm not sure that I necessarily need another throw blanket, but when I saw Huntington Home's large (50-by-60 inches) cable-knit throw was only $15, I grabbed it.

The cozy blanket comes in four colors, and it's become a staple in my living room this season.

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