12 Overpriced Trader Joe's Items You Should Probably Skip

While Trader Joe’s is known for innovating in the snack industry and keeping prices low with surprisingly high-quality ingredients, it isn’t always the best place to shop for certain things.

Many of their pre-packaged meats, cheeses, and alcohol options are high-ticket items that you can score for cheaper somewhere else. Sometimes, the best Trader Joe’s shopping hacks are to know which overpriced foods to avoid.

Here, we’ve compiled 12 things you should purchase elsewhere to keep on budget.

Editor’s note: Prices are subject to change and may vary by location.

Price: $4.99

Trader Joe’s avocados are not something customers are wild about, citing issues with them more often than not. 

A bag of Teeny Tiny Avocados is the only avocado you’ll find stocked right now, and they may get bad quickly. But you can save almost $2 by purchasing the same produce at Aldi.

Price: $7.49

Several items in the Trader Joe’s meat section tend to be more expensive than similar options at other retailers. This is true for the 85% lean ground beef made from organically and ethically raised cattle.

But you can find comparable ground beef for $2.50 less per pound at Sam’s Club.

Price: $5.49

Dips like this 7.5-ounce one from Trader Joe’s can go for over $5 with just a little of that added culinary gold. 

Instead of spending that much on a couple of bites of dip, invest in truffle olive oil—which Trader Joe’s sells for 40 cents per ounce to add to multiple dips and extend the life of your dollar.

Price: $4.29

The new Spaghetti Carbonara completely misses the mark, flavor-wise. Since the dish — made with pancetta, spaghetti, eggs, garlic, cheese, and your preferred spices — is so easy to make from scratch, it’s okay to pass up on this watery, unappealing, bagged option.

Price: $4.99

Whether you like syrup (and the type of syrup you like) can be a polarizing topic. For those who revel in the drizzly liquidity of maple syrup — and its specific flavor as a topping and sweetener — you can find it cheaper elsewhere. 

This bottle is 62 cents per ounce, and Aldi sells it for 48 cents per ounce.

Price: $5.99

Organic produce can be difficult to come by, and you want it to stay fresh longer than 24 hours.

Unfortunately, the berries at Trader Joe’s have a short shelf life, and they’re almost $6 for a pound. You can save $2 by purchasing your organic strawberries at Aldi.

Price: $6.49

This bacon is made without adding sodium nitrate or nitrite to the mix, making it “uncured.” Trader Joe’s bacon costs about 54 cents per ounce, while Aldi’s is 27 cents per ounce. Apparently, the price of bacon has almost doubled in recent months.

Price: $1.99

While their pre-packs are convenient, you can buy bigger portion sizes at a cheaper price. If you purchase their 32 ounce bag of rolled oats, and pair it with a bag of chia seeds and your choice of milk from Aldi, it will come out to around 65 cents per serving.

Add your choice of protein, honey, or berries for more flavor and nutrition.

Price: $4.49

Crunchy Chili Onion is a complicated mix of herbs and produce in a condiment that is made to mimic sauces at your favorite Asian restaurant. Unfortunately, customers think it is overrated and tastes stale. 

There is a higher-rated Spice World option for about $1 cheaper at Target.

Price: $5.99

While purchasing a chicken that is already spatchcocked and rubbed with herbs may seem like an efficient meal option, the price tag on this one isn’t worth the buy.

You can purchase a full chicken for $4.98 at Sam’s Club. The necessary herbs and butter still won’t cost as much as this option, which isn’t particularly good.

Price: $5.49

Greek yogurt is a fantastic source of protein and live cultures that can improve the health of your gut and brain. At 17 cents per ounce, you would think this option is pretty budget-friendly. 

But you can find it for 14 cents per ounce at Sprouts or even 12 cents per ounce at Aldi.

Price: $4.49

This semi-soft, buttery, mildly nutty cheese is perfect for a holiday cheese tray, or in a grilled cheese sandwich. Trader Joe’s option is available for 37 cents per ounce. You can get the same cheese delivered from Aldi for 26 cents per ounce.

Trader Joe’s is usually a great place to find unique treats and even low-price grocery staples. But not everything is a bargain.

Keep your eyes peeled as there are ways to save money on groceries you might not realize. When you make conscious shopping choices, you’ll realize it’s easier to stretch your budget and even splurge in other areas of your life.