Your grocery bill is ballooning by the week. Don't let the rising cost of food get you down. We know the best Trader Joe's hacks for saving money.
From roasted pepper hummus to mouthwatering mini meringue pies, TJ's offers plenty of gourmet goodies at low prices. I always add the following budget-friendly items to my cart.
Keep reading to see my round-up of the best Trader Joe's items under $7.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
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Trader Joe's Passion Fruit Meringue Tartelettes
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Price: $4.99
Lemon bars, watch out — there's a new citrusy dessert in the freezer section, and I think it's TJ's best one yet.
The tiny tarts are a 10 out of 10 for the light, tangy, gourmet taste. Serve these bright, refreshingly zesty meringue-covered sweets, and your family will think you paid big bucks for them at a fancy French bakery — at least mine did.
Trader Joe's Kimbap
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Price: $3.99
The Korean-inspired seaweed, rice, tofu, and veggie roll is a fan favorite. And that means the viral wrap flies out of the freezer section. That's why I nab three or four of the $3.99 packs every time I'm in the store. A pro tip from a TJ's employee who shared her top prep method with me is to heat the rolls in a hot skillet with a dash of sesame oil.
Trader Joe's Tandoori Naan
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Price: $2.99
Baked in Tandoor clay ovens, this frozen flatbread has the perfect blend of buttery crispiness. Use the hand-stretched Indian naan to make a grilled veggie roll-up, pair it with Trader Joe's Coconut Chickpea Curry ($2.49), or serve it with Sri Lankan Organic Mango Chutney ($2.99).
What's my favorite use? Sometimes, I swap out TJ's refrigerated dough and use the naan as a base for a homemade pizza.
Trader Joe's Brussels Sprouts
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Price: $1.49
Stock up on this frozen staple. Steam the sprouts or air fry them with a splash of Limone Premuto EVOO ($7.99) and a dash of sea salt. A one-pound (16-ounce) bag is only $1.49 right now. For your reference, a smaller 10.8-ounce pack from Birs Eye costs $1.99 at Target.
Trader Joe's Piquant Popcorn
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Price: $2.99
I've tried several Trader Joe's popcorn products, and this is my all-time favorite. Don't let the onion and garlic seasoning scare you away from this savory selection. The lightly spiced puffed kernels have just the right amount of zest. Add in the cheesy nutritional yeast flavor, and you have the perfect snack.


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Trader Joe's Pineapple Salsa
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Price: $2.49
Trader Joe's stocks the salsa section with a super-sized selection of spicy, peppery options. This subtly sweet tropical-testing blend is my top pick — and other shoppers agree. Redditor KeepingItKosher raved, "I went through five servings of it without realizing yesterday and still have no shame."
Trader Joe's Oven Roasted Turkey Breast
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Price: $3.99
It may not be the most exciting item in Trader Joe's refrigerated section, but the Oven Roasted Turkey Breast scores points with me for taste, quality, and value. The seven-ounce pack is a steal at $3.99. Target sells the same quantity from Applegate for $5.99.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
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October is here, bringing crisp air, cozy vibes, and the countdown to Halloween. As the season shifts, so do the savings, making it the perfect time to refresh your home, wardrobe, and pantry with autumn-ready finds. Look for deals on:
- Cold-weather layers
- Fall decor and seasonal home goods
- Halloween costumes, candy, and party supplies
- For grocery savings, grab peak-fall produce, like apples, squash, cranberries, and sweet potatoes
With holiday prep just around the corner, October is a great time to stock up early, take advantage of early seasonal promos before the big rush begins, and ease into the year-end rush with smart buys.
Trader Joe's Everything Bagels
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Price: $2.99
The savory sesame, poppy seed, garlic, onion, and salt blend is a classic seasoning that you can find in everything from crackers to smoked salmon at Trader Joe's. But it all started with the bagel. The bag of six is a must-have deal for $2.99 — especially when I compare it to what I could pay in a bakery. Panera sells one Everything Bagel for $1.89.
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Trader Joe's Organic Green Tea Lemonade
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Price: $3.69
Fans of the "Arnold Palmer" will adore this organic blend. The light, refreshing taste of green tea paired with crisp, tart lemonade gives this 64-ounce bargain-priced beverage a flavor I will never get enough of. Pour it over ice, drink it chilled, or mix it into a seasonal cocktail.
Trader Joe's Crunchy Salted Peanut Butter
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Price: $2.49
Pack your pantry with this simple staple. Instead of a lengthy list of ingredients, the back-to-basics buy only has two — just peanuts and salt. Without partially hydrogenated oils, I've found it's better to stir this butter before spreading it over toast, bagels, crackers, or English muffins.
Trader Joe's Ube Mochi Pancake and Waffle Mix
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Price: $3.99
Bored with the same plain pancakes you always eat? Try this ube mochi option. While the limited-time buy isn't available year-round, I consider it a fun substitute for other boxed mixes. As a bonus, the purple yam-packed powder is gluten-free.
Trader Joe's These Sprinkles Walk Into A Sandwich Cookie
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Price: $3.49
I have a serious sweet tooth, and this is one of my top TJ treats. What would happen if you mixed a frosted birthday cake and a buttery cookie? You would get this sweet treat. Elevate your snacking game and snag a six-ounce box of these deliciously decadent desserts for under $3.50.
Trader Joe's Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
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Price: $3.49
As if the creamy, classic chickpea spread wasn't good enough as-is, Trader Joe's added zesty roasted red peppers to the mix. Slather the hummus onto warm pita bread, serve it with crispy chips, roll it into a sprout and grilled chicken wrap, or serve it with sliced veggies.
Quick tips: How to save on your grocery bill
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Grocery shopping doesn't have to break the bank when you use the right strategies. Here are three quick tips for reducing food expenses:
- Buy store brands instead of name brands whenever possible.
- Always make sure to compare unit prices, not just sticker prices.
- Join your store's loyalty program so you don’t miss out on member discounts.
Even though something like choosing coupons in your grocery store app can feel like an annoying task, the savings can really add up.
Trader Joe's Potato Pancakes
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Price: $3.69
Get lots of latkes for one low price. In my opinion, the fully cooked potato pancakes are a can't-miss deal for $3.69. Skillet-fry or bake this pick to a crisp and add a dollop of sour cream or applesauce.
Redditor Ultragrrrl praised the quality, "Husband is a chef and wanted to make latkes for a massive party we had. He took a bite of one of Trader Joe's latkes and said let's use these."
Trader Joe's High Protein Organic Tofu
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Price: $2.79
Tired of mushy tofu? Me too. TJ's isn't kidding when they call this organic pick "super firm." But that's not the only reason to toss this bargain buy into your cart. With 14 grams of protein per serving, it's a healthy addition to your meal plan.
How much can you save? The same 16-ounce size pack from Wildwood costs over $2 more ($4.99) at Whole Foods Market.
Bottom line
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As a self-proclaimed Trader Joe's aficionado, I've tried almost everything in the store. And while there are a few pricey picks to avoid, I've narrowed down the scrumptious selection of foodie finds to a few budget-friendly favorites under $7.
Not a fan of gourmet-inspired meals? Don't worry. You can also save money on everyday essentials like butter, eggs, flour, and bread.
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