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Stores ranging from Walmart to Costco offer store-brand versions of products that often are more affordable than the name brand. This is one of the best Trader Joe's shopping hacks, as the quality of these foods is usually excellent.
When it comes to Trader Joe's, loyal shoppers claim these products are just as good (if not better) than the name brands.
Editor's note: Prices and availability are subject to change and may vary by location.
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If you have some Mike's Hot Honey in your pantry, consider swapping it for a Trader Joe's Organic Spicy Honey Sauce.
The Trader Joe's product is the perfect condiment for chicken, pizza, and other favorite options, but it can cost less than Mike's version.
Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream
Courtesy of Trader Joe's
Price: $4.99
There's nothing better than coffee ice cream on a hot day, especially if it's Trader Joe's Coffee Bean Blast Ice Cream.
This Trader Joe's favorite offers sweet ice cream with a coffee kick for less than the cost of Häagen-Dazs Coffee Ice Cream.
Honey O's Cereal
Courtesy of Trader Joe's
Price: $2.69
Shoppers go nuts for Trader Joe's Honey O's Cereal, which is the retailer's version of Honey Nut Cheerios.
They're the perfect thing for breakfast at home or to take with you as a snack for the kids. Your children might even like them better than Cheerios.
Shopping pro tip: This month's best deals
methaphum/Adobe
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.
Get your paycheck up to 2 days early with their Early Payday feature.1 <p>With Early Payday, Alliant Credit Union may make incoming electronic direct deposits made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) available for use up to two days before the scheduled payment date. Not all direct deposits are eligible for Early Payday. Early availability of direct deposits is not guaranteed and may vary from deposit to deposit. Early access to funds is dependent on submission of direct deposit by payor and standard fraud prevention restrictions. Whether we make funds available early depends on when we receive the payor’s payment instructions, any limitations we set on the amount of early availability, and standard fraud prevention screening. Available for personal accounts only. Eligible direct deposits are limited to electronic direct deposits of items such as your payroll, pension, and government benefit payments made through the Automated Clearing House (ACH) to your personal account. Other deposits or credits to your account, such as deposits of funds from person-to-person payment services (e.g., Zelle®, Venmo, or PayPal transfers), check or mobile deposits, and other online transfers or electronic credits are not eligible for Early Payday.</p>
<p>If Alliant makes funds available early through Early Payday and the payor reverses or requests a return of the deposit, or the funds are otherwise uncollected by Alliant, Alliant may debit your account for the deposit amount previously made available early, which may draw your account negative.</p>
Looking to add some extra flavor to your favorite chips and veggies? Dip them in Trader Joe's Organic Hummus. Fans of the Trader Joe's version say it's just as smooth and tasty as the name-brand Sabra Classic Hummus.
Trader Joe's own Joe-Joe's Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies are a delicious alternative to the more mainstream (and often more expensive) Oreos.
You can twist them to get to the creamy center of these chocolate cookies or dunk them in milk. Check out your local Trader Joe's to confirm other fans' assessment of the dunking superiority of these Trader Joe's treats.
Parmesan Pastry Pups
Courtesy of Trader Joes
Price: $4.99
Why settle for pigs in a blanket when you can step it up with Trader Joe's Parmesan Pastry Pups?
These tasty treats include small beef franks wrapped up in a flaky crust with a bit of Parmesan cheese. They compare favorably to Sabrett Franks in a Blanket.
World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs
Courtesy of Trader Joe's
Price: $2.69
You may make Pirate's Booty-Aged White Cheddar Cheese Puffs walk the plank when you compare them to Trader Joe's World's Puffiest White Cheddar Corn Puffs.
Test out the difference between the two when it comes to cheesy taste and texture to see which one you prefer.
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Instead of a typical chocolate chip cookie, check out Trader Joe's Fig Cookies. These soft-baked cookies with a chewy fig center may make you think of the name-brand Newton's version.
Blueberry Lemonade Sparkling Water
Courtesy of Trader Joe's
Price: $3.79
Grab a refreshing Trader Joe's Blueberry Lemonade Sparkling Water out of your fridge to cool down on a hot day.
The eight-pack includes natural blueberry and lemon flavors to give it an extra kick and make it a tasty alternative to the Waterloo version of sparkling water.
Organic Corn Chip Dippers
Courtesy of Trader Joe's
Price: $2.79
Need a corn chip to serve as a good scoop for dips? Grab some Organic Corn Chip Dippers from Trader Joe's.
This Trader Joe's product comes packed with organic corn and salt, making it the perfect chip to pick up salsas, cheese dips, and more. It's a good, affordable alternative if you usually grab a bag of Fritos Scoops.
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.
Bottom line
jetcityimage/Adobe
Trader Joe's can be a great place to buy alternative versions of your favorite name-brand foods.
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