Trader Joe’s is one of the best grocery stores if you want to shop for healthy foods at great prices. They offer specialty foods for any diet, unique prepared foods, alcoholic beverages (in some places), and amazing prices with their TJ’s brand items.
It doesn’t get much better than that, does it?
Whether you just want to pick up a few snacks or you need to do a full-on grocery haul, saving money at Trader Joe’s is usually a priority. And we’ve got 11 awesome tips to help you do just that.
1. Use Coupons!
Trader Joe’s doesn’t offer store-brand coupons to shoppers, so most people assume that they don’t accept coupons at all. Trader Joe’s does accept coupons from name brand manufacturers like Lärabar and Annie’s.
2. Take Advantage of Koopy.com
Wondering where to find coupons on all your favorite items? Check out Koopy.com for great deals on snacks, grocery staples, and beverages at Trader Joe’s.
Remember, you’ll need to search name brand manufacturers to cash in on these deals, but Koopy.com makes your coupon hunt easy with a simple search function. Look out for Larabar, Annie’s, and any other name brand items sold at Trader Joe’s.
3. Check Out Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer
Every month, Trader Joe’s releases a mailer (which is also available online). Known as the Fearless Flyer, this newsletter provides a map of the monthly discounts and specials throughout the store.
Reading the Fearless Flyer is fun, and it can also alert you to limited-edition items and seasonal sales. Shopping on a budget is made a little bit easier with this tool at your disposal.
4. BYOB: Bring Your Own Bag
This next tip will always help you shop more sustainably, but it will only save money for some. If your city charges a disposal bag tax, you could save a few bucks by bringing your own reusable bags.
If you’re a die-hard Trader Joe’s shopper, you can shop their selection of bags on Amazon, but if you’d like a little more bang for your buck, this 12-pack of reusable and washable grocery bags sells for less than $20 on Amazon.
As an added bonus, some TJ’s locations will enter you into a $25 raffle if you spend $25 or more and skip the plastic bags.
5. Use Discounted Gift Cards
When you buy discounted Trader Joe’s gift cards online, you could save up to 10% on your weekly grocery trips. There are plenty of reputable gift card resale sites, including Cardpool, GiftCardGranny, and Raise.
It’s super simple. You just purchase the gift cards online, then redeem them when you shop at Trader Joe’s. Since TJ’s gift cards are hot items, they often sell out quickly. Check often to see new listings, and don’t wait if you want to purchase.
On some sites, you can sign up to receive notifications when the cards you’re looking for are in stock. If you want to reap the easy savings of using discounted gift cards, these emails are a must.
6. Sample Products (or Return Them)
Being adventurous doesn’t always pay off, but when you shop at Trader Joe’s, you don’t need to sacrifice savings to go out on a limb. Trader Joe’s often offers samples to their customers, and Trader Joe’s employees are allowed to let customers sample any nonalcoholic item. All you need to do is ask.
If you’d rather sample your adventurous buys at home rather than in-store, you can still save in case you don’t like the product. On their product information page, Trader Joe’s clearly states that you can “bring [any item] back for a refund or exchange, no hassles.” Whether the product is in mint condition or half-eaten, you can bring it back. No receipt? That’s fine, too!
7. Buy the Right Vegetables (and Take Care of Them)
Fruits and veggies are staples for a healthy diet, but you shouldn’t just buy whatever looks nice or seems appealing. Although TJ’s offers a great selection of pre-cut and pre-seasoned veggies, they’re not the best options when shopping on a budget.
Instead, opt for fresh or frozen fruits and veggies. You might be spending more time slicing them up in the kitchen, but you’ll be spending less money.
Once you get your produce home, the opportunity for savings doesn’t stop. Food waste is bad for the environment–and it’s bad for your wallet. Luckily Trader Joe’s offers a comprehensive Guide to Fruits & Veggies so you can keep your produce fresher for longer and avoid throwing away food (and money) into the garbage.
8. Use a Credit Card
Unfortunately, Trader Joe’s doesn’t offer a TJ credit card. But you can still get some cash back rewards when you use cards that benefit you for shopping for groceries. Keep in mind that a credit card will only save you money if you pay off the balance every month. And, you’ll want to find one with no annual fees.
If you’re a responsible credit card user, consider signing up for a card that rewards you for shopping at Trader Joe’s. Here are a few awesome options you might want to research and apply for:
American Express (Amex) Blue Cash Everyday Card
- 3% cash back at US supermarkets (up to $6000 a year)
- 2% cash back at US gas stations and select department stores
- 1% cash back on everything else
- No annual fees
- 0% APR for the first 15 months
Discover it Cash Back Credit Card
- 5% cash back on different everyday categories each quarter
- Dollar-for-dollar cash back match at the end of your first year
- No annual fees
- 0% APR for the first 14 months
Bank of America Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back on your choice of gas, online shopping, dining, travel, etc.
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on everything else
- No annual fees
- Get an extra 10% when your rewards are deposited into a Bank of America checking or savings account
These aren’t the only good options out there for a cash back credit card, so make sure to do your own research to find a card that’s a good fit for you.
9. Buy Cheap Brand Name Items
Trader Joe’s has a sort-of-well-kept secret. The Trader Joe’s brand is actually a collection of other popular brand name products. What’s the difference? The packaging. And the prices.
Most of the time, Trader Joe’s offers these name brand items at a discounted price, giving shoppers incentives to stick with the Trader Joe’s brand. Although the exact suppliers are a secret, many people have discovered that their technique is not as elusive as it seems.
Do your research, and choose to shop Trader Joe’s items that are cheaper than the name brand options (and the exact same product). It’ll pay off.
10. Shop with Strategy
There are some select items at Trader Joe’s that are no-brainer savings. Here’s a quick guide to these must-buy TJ’s items:
- Bananas
- They’re often less than 20 cents each, which is half as much compared to competitors.
- Cereal
- Joe’s Os are $2 cheaper than Cheerios… and they’re the same.
- Gourmet Cheeses
- Fancy cheeses like smoked gouda will be about 40% cheaper, but you should skip the sliced, which could be 40% more expensive.
- Organic Frozen Foods
- TJ’s organic frozen broccoli is $0.12 an ounce. Walmart’s is $0.24.
- Seasonal Products
- Gift cards, wrapping paper, fall decorations, Christmas activities–you name it. Seasonal items are a great buy. A dollar for a chocolate advent calendar? Yes, please.
11. Love Wine? Try the Two Buck Chuck
When Charles Shaw Wines hit Trader Joe’s shelves in 2002, it sold for only $2 a bottle. You read that right, two dollars. Although the prices have gone up a bit (in some places, it might set you back $4), the infamous Two Buck Chuck is still a great deal.
If you love drinking wine, you’ll love that Charles Shaw Wines offers these varietals:
- Merlot
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Shiraz
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Pinot Grigio
- White Zinfandel
- Chardonnay
And as far as the prices go, you’ll have to check your local TJ’s. But here’s a general guide:
- $1.99 in California
- $3.49 in Arkansas
- $3.99 in New Hampshire and Ohio
- $2.99 everywhere else
You find cheaper wine anywhere else. To read more about TJ’s Charles Shaw Wines, check out this Fearless Flyer from 2020.
Shop at Trader Joe’s with These 11 Money-Saving Hacks
Now that you know Trader Joe’s secrets, you’re ready to save even more money at this popular and wildly successful grocery chain.
No matter where you live, what diet you have, or when you like to go shopping, these 11 saving tips can help you keep more money in your bank account while still stocking up your pantry and fridge.
