Trader Joe’s Hours: According to Dunnhumby’s annual Retailer Preference Index, consumers have chosen Trader Joe’s like the best U.S.U.S. supermarket store for the second year in a row.
This is due in part to Trader Joe’s emphasis on excellent customer service. (Did you know that you can request to try any product from a sales associate in the shop? You certainly can!) The company stands out from the crowd by offering a variety of deals and unique items that aren’t found anywhere else.
According to frugal shopping expert Lauren Greutman, it’s generally those specialty items, as well as certain other staples, that wind up costing you the most.
We spend a lot of extra money because they do such a good job marketing and packaging and making everything look lovely,” she explains. Save money on these six Trader Joe’s items that aren’t worth buying.
Seafood and meat and Trader Joe’s Hours
It’s so much more costly, and honestly, I don’t think the packages have a tonne in them,” Greutman says, referring lot the chicken in particular.
According to local prices posted on Basket, a grocery price comparison app, a 1-pound box of organic chicken costs $6.49 at Trader Joe’s. Meanwhile, a comparable package costs $4.94 at Walmart and $4.99 at Costco.
If you’re managing your weight, avoid the store’s marinated meat, including chicken, beef, and pork. The CheatSheet discovered that four ounces of Trader Joe’s Korean-inspired boneless beef ribs had 860 mg of sodium or 36% of your daily sodium intake.
When it comes to meat and fish, Gruetman likes Aldi over other stores. She explains, “They have a wonderful range of organic meat and items like wild-caught fish and stuff like that.”
Fresh Atlantic salmon is currently on sale at Aldi for $7.49 per pound (usually roughly $7.69 per pound, according to Basket), while equivalent fresh fish is available at Trader Joe’s for $9.99 per pound.
Aldi USA and Trader Joe’s are separate businesses with separate but once-related corporate parents. Aldi and Trader Joe’s could be described as “estranged cousins.”
Rice
Rice is rather expensive at Trader Joe’s, and frozen rice is especially so. “You’ll pay a higher price for that convenience,” Greutman says.
According to a local business CNBC Make It Visit, Trader Joe’s sells three 10-oz containers of frozen brown rice for $2.99. According to Basket, ShopRite has a 12-oz packet of frozen, steam-in-a-bag brown rice on sale for $0.99.
Even more, money could be saved by purchasing uncooked rice elsewhere. According to Basket, Walmart has a 16-oz bag of Great Value brown rice for $0.78.
T.J.’sT.J.’s frozen grains, on the other hand, may save you time, so it’s sometimes worth paying a little more for them. “Because cooking with cauliflower is a pain in the butt,” Greutman says, “I’m still a sucker for their cauliflower rice.”
Sides that are frozen
Trader Joe’s is known for its wonderful frozen meals and sides, but read the tiny print before you buy: you might be paying more for less, according to Greutman. “Be careful to look at how much is in the bag” to ensure you’re getting a good deal.
For example, according to Greutman, the supermarket chain produces a delicious frozen Mandarin chicken meal that isn’t too expensive: it’s roughly $5. According to Basket, a similar orange chicken frozen supper from Newman costs $7.79 at Target.
On the other hand, T.J.’sT.J.’s sweet potato fries are “a little more money than I’m willing to spend for half the amount that I get at the usual grocery store,” according to her. Trader Joe’s sells a 15-ounce container of sweet potato fries for $2.29, while Walmart sells a 20-ounce bag of its Great Value brand for $2.
Vitamins
Vitamins and supplement bottles, no matter where you buy them, may be costly. When it comes to restocking, Greutman advises avoiding Trader Joe’s. “You’re going to spend a lot more money if you don’t,” she warns.
For example, a 100-count bottle of vitamin B pills costs $5.99 at Trader Joe’s, whereas an identical container of Nature Made vitamin B tablets costs $4.67 at Target and $4.75 at Walgreens.
Instead, Greutman recommends keeping an eye out for sales at your local food shop. Alternatively, go to a local health food store and ask for samples or coupons.
A variety of cereals and snacks
“I think their cereal and snack food are a little bit overpriced,” Greutman says.
You can typically acquire different cereal varieties for less if you keep an eye on sales at other drug stores and marketplaces. T.J.’sT.J.’s Honey Nut O’s are $2.49 for a 13.5-oz package, according to Basket. A 17-ounce box of Honey Nut Cheerios cereal costs $2.50 at RiteAid.
The distinction may not always be obvious: According to Basket, a standard 15-oz box of Joe’s O’s costs $1.99, while a 16-oz box of Aldi’s Simply Nature organic toasted oats cereal costs $1.99. Nonetheless, it is typically worthwhile to browse about.
Snacks like cookies and granola bars are also costly, according to Greutman: “They’re all impulse buys, and they’re all designed to be quick buys, and you spend a lot of money.”
Milk that has been certified organic
The quality of Trader Joe’s products is part of the company’s commitment. While the shop does sell organic milk, it is frequently more expensive than competing brands.
“It’s not outrageously costly,” Greutman says, “but you can get it for a lot less elsewhere.”
A half-gallon of Trader Joe’s organic, 2% milk, for example, costs $3.29, according to Basket. Aldi’s Simply Nature organic milk costs $2.69, while Walmart’s Great Value organic milk costs $3.
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