14 Best Trader Joe’s Buys if You’re on a Tight Budget

Trader Joe’s has some unique finds that can help you out when you’re on a tight budget.

The store can help you save on essentials like household cleaners or let you buy a sweet treat without souring your bank account.

Check out these Trader Joe’s savings hacks if you’re on a tight budget and want a good bargain.

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

Price: $4.99

One of Trader Joe’s most popular options is Mandarin Orange Chicken. The chicken comes in a 22-ounce bag with sauce and works great on its own, or you can serve it over rice for a filling dinner option.

Price: 23 cents

Trader Joe’s began selling bananas on a per-banana basis almost 25 years ago after a remark from a customer, and the store still sells them like that today. 

You might be surprised that you can get bananas cheaper per banana at Trader Joe’s than bigger retailers.

Price: $2.49

Cereal is a great staple to have in your pantry, and Trader Joe’s has you covered with its Joe's O's Cereal. The cereal is similar to other name brands but costs less than at retailers like Walmart.

Price: $3.99

Trader Joe’s is well known for its Charles Shaw store brand wines, and you can find a wide variety of options, including the Charles Shaw Merlot, which comes in a 750-milliliter bottle to share with family and friends or have a nice glass on a quiet night at home.

Price: $3.99

Skip all the specialty cleaners and save money with the Multi-Purpose Cleaner Cedarwood & Sage. The cleaner comes in a 34-ounce bottle with a fresh scent that works on multiple surfaces in your home, like countertops, tile, and glass.

Price: $3.29

Breakfast can be an important meal, but you rarely have time to make something and sit down to eat it. So heat up some Organic Silver Dollar Pancakes in the microwave and grab as many or as few as you want to spread them out over multiple mornings.

Price: $4.99

Sometimes, you need a quick, healthy snack to keep you going, so check out the Rainbow’s End Trail Mix Bars. The box comes with five bars loaded with nuts, raisins, and candy pieces to make it an affordable and tasty snack for your bag or lunchbox.

Price: $2.99

The 1.2-ounce bag of Freeze Dried Strawberries is a good option to toss in your pantry for a quick bite, or you can add them to baked goods for an extra kick. 

Check out the Trader Joe’s website, which has searchable recipes to see which ones may be good for your freeze-dried strawberries.

Price: $8.99

Toss some Pulled Chicken Salsa Verde into your freeze to add to big-batch recipes for multiple meals or a quick and easy dinner on a weeknight. 

The 16-ounce container includes chicken with a tasty salsa verde, roasted tomatillos, green chiles, cilantro, onion, and garlic.

Price: $4.99

Keep your hands hydrating during the dry winter months with Ultra Moisturizing Hand Cream. The hand cream can save you extra money compared to other beauty retailers that may carry sizes smaller than Trader Joe’s 3-ounce cream while costing more.

Price: $1.99

Add some vegetables with some crunch to your snacks with the Oven Dried Red & Yellow Bell Pepper Crisps. The 1.41-ounce package includes red and yellow oven-dried peppers tossed in sea salt that are sure to please salty snackers.

Price: $3.49

Kids and adults love string cheese for an easy snack or to add to recipes that can elevate the basic refrigerator staple into something more elegant. The Trader Joe’s recipes section may hold some surprises for string cheese lovers.

Price: $4.69

Add some whimsy to your snack pantry with Organic Iced Oatmeal Baked Whole Grain Bars. The bars come in a box of iced oatmeal or chocolate chip ice cream bars, so pick your favorite or grab one to enjoy at home.

Price: $4.99

Trader Joe’s has some unique healthy options that may still save you money compared to other specialty stores. 

Take the Meatless Meatballs, for example, which come in a 16-ounce bag that you can store in your freezer for an easy-to-make meal after a long day on their own or with spaghetti for leftovers.

Trader Joe’s is a good option to add to your list of grocery stores if you’re trying to keep some cash in your wallet.

Another great way to save money on groceries is to create a shopping list before you go to Trader Joe’s and then stick to it. 

Walking through the store and picking up some impulse buys can be tempting, but a list can help you fill your cart while keeping cash in your bank account.