Trader Joe’s has a great selection of affordable, high-quality items that make it a prime place to shop for those on a budget. Living a frugal lifestyle doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice enjoying the food you love, but rather knowing which items will give you the most value before you add them to your grocery cart. From frozen meals to milk to wine, many groceries there cost less than what you’d find elsewhere.
Saving money is becoming trickier and trickier on your trip to the store as rising food costs and confusing tariffs have all but made eating a luxury expense. If you’re trying not to spend a lot of money on groceries while shopping at Trader Joe’s, here are some things to buy and why.
Frozen Meals
You can stock up on frozen foods, such as appetizers and complete meals, at Trader Joe’s. These items are convenient and often nutritious. They’re also an affordable alternative to takeout, thanks to generous portions and quality ingredients.
For example, you can get the spicy peanutty noodle bowl with chicken for $3.49 at Trader Joe’s. This nutritious meal for one is chock full of vegetables, protein and flavor and comes in under $4, making it pretty easy to swallow where your food budget is concerned.
Frozen Vegetables
Frozen vegetables are a good alternative to fresh ones as they tend to retain their nutritional value without going bad as quickly. This is especially useful for households where produce gets lost in the back of a refrigerator drawer.
At Trader Joe’s, you can pick up bags of frozen peas, broccoli and other vegetables for a couple of bucks. This is not only affordable but also a practical choice for those who want to add vegetables to their dishes but don’t want to worry about them going bad before getting to them.
Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes
Vegetarians and vegans alike can rejoice with having more than just one modified item from the Trader Joe’s menu. The nutritious and delicious products come in a wide variety, fit for all dietary restrictions. Budget-friendly items include quinoa cowboy veggie burgers for $3.99 or vegan Trader Joe’s chicken-less Mandarin orange morsels for $3.79.
Milk and Plant-Based Alternatives
Milk is a kitchen staple in many households, but it can be expensive — especially if you’re going for the organic or non-dairy options. Fortunately, you can pick up reasonably priced milk at Trader Joe’s when you shop.
Trader Joe’s offers a wide variety of dairy, non-dairy and plant-based milk options. They are all priced competitively, so there really is no use crying over spilled milk, especially when prices are low enough for any frugal person to respect:
- Organic whole milk from grass-fed cows: $6.49 for 64 ounces
- Chocolate milk made with fair trade Cocoa: $4.49 for 64 ounces
- Organic non-dairy coconut beverage unsweetened: $2.99 for 32 ounces
Snacks
For frugal shoppers who are also health-conscious, look no further than Trader Joe’s for your snacks. They have an assortment of trail mix, nuts, crackers and dried fruit for on-the-go snacking or for when you’re feeling peckish at home.
Not only are these snacks satisfying, but the retailer often adds to their selection, meaning there’s always something new on the shelves to check out. You can get a package of 50% less salt roasted & salted peanuts for $2.99 at Trader Joe’s. Alternatively, pick up World’s Puffiest sour cream & onion corn puffs for even less at $2.69.
Prepared Meals and Salad Kits
Not every prepared meal has to be frozen — Trader Joe’s has some affordable, delicious salad kits and other prepared meals as well. Prepared meals are like meal planning kits without the mess, and Trader Joe’s helps you out with this by keeping pricing at a reasonable level.
Even frugal people don’t want to cook all the time, so these prepared meals and salad kits are great options because they are tasty, have an approachable price point, are convenient and are a healthier alternative to take out. For example, the Trader Joe’s chicken sausage breakfast burrito is a full meal on the go for only $4.49. If you’re on both a frugal and a health kick, you can get the already prepped fiesta salad with shrimp for $6.99.
Wine
When it comes to wine, you can still be frugal while enjoying a glass of wine or a cocktail every so often. And why spend $30, $50 or $100 on a bottle of wine when you can get a decent bottle for $20 or less at Trader Joe’s?
The Charles Shaw Merlot costs less than $5. For only $3.99, not only does it cost a fraction of what you’d find elsewhere but it has a good reputation and is of excellent quality. This particular bottle contains notes of berries and vanilla spice. It pairs well with ahi tuna or prime rib.
Specialty Bread and Cheese
Trader Joe’s has quite a few specialty items, such as artisanal bread, gourmet cheese and international foods. Many of these items are reasonably priced and of high value for the price.
This means you can still indulge in some filling comfort food without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a high-end bread, consider Trader Joe’s focaccia bread with roasted tomato & parmesan. It costs $4.99 and pairs well with pasta and other main dishes.
Pasta and Rice
Pasta and rice are both pantry staples. They last a long time, they’re versatile and they’re filling. For example, at places like Trader Joe’s, you can get organic fusilli corti bucati pasta for $1.99 a pound.
Or, you can pick up a 2-pound bag of organic basmati rice for under $4. Cook it up with some vegetables, minced chicken and spices of your choice, and you’ve got yourself a filling, nutritious meal — potentially with leftovers. Rice is a pantry staple, and paying $3.99 for what will be several meals is a savvy shopping move many frugal people make.
Canned Goods
Another option for frugal shoppers is Trader Joe’s canned goods. This can include anything from organic vegetarian chili for $2.49 to chicken noodle soup for $2.99.
These canned goods last a long time in the cupboard. They’re also reasonably priced at a couple of dollars each. If you run a busy household, they’re very frugal but convenient for a quick lunch or dinner.
Angela Mae contributed to the reporting for this story.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 Trader Joe’s Items Frugal People Always Buy
