5 Trader Joe's Hacks That Can Save You Money
KEY POINTS
- One Amex card can get you 6% cash back on your TJ's buys.
- Take special care in the freezer section, as you may find dinner for a lot less than you'd spend on takeout.
- If you don't like one of your TJ's buys, you can return it for a refund.
If I could change just one thing about my city, it would be to add a Trader Joe's store. I'm about 50 miles away from the closest one, so making the time to get out there for a visit requires advanced planning -- and a cooler full of ice to get perishable food home safely.
TJ's has a lot of fans, and with good reason -- this grocery chain specializes in unique products you can't get anywhere else, sold in a friendly atmosphere by cheerful folks in bright aloha shirts. Here are a few ways to save money on your next Trader Joe's run.
1. Use the right credit card
Groceries are the third-largest expense in my monthly budget, after my mortgage payment and my health insurance premium. Thankfully, I have a surefire way to earn 6% back on all my supermarket spending: the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express (terms apply, see rates and fees; 6% cash back is limited to your first $6,000 of grocery spending per year; after that, you'll earn 1% back).
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
On American Express' Secure Website.
Terms apply
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 12 months
APR
19.24%-29.99% Variable
Rewards 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations. 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more). 1% Cash Back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
1%-6% Cash Back
Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Welcome Offer Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
$250
-
This card offers market-leading cash back at U.S. supermarkets. The welcome bonus and intro APR offer sweeten the deal. Terms apply. If you spend a lot on groceries (excluding wholesale clubs and superstores like Costco and Walmart), this card is worth considering.
-
- Big welcome offer
- U.S. supermarkets rewards
- U.S. gas stations rewards
- Streaming subscription rewards
- Travel and purchase protections
- Annual fee
- Foreign transaction fee
-
- Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Buy Now, Pay Later: Enjoy $0 intro plan fees when you use Plan It® to split up large purchases into monthly installments. Pay $0 intro plan fees on plans created during the first 12 months from the date of account opening. Plans created after that will have a monthly plan fee up to 1.33% of each eligible purchase amount moved into a plan based on the plan duration, the APR that would otherwise apply to the purchase, and other factors.
- Low Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.24% - 29.99%.
- 6% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%).
- 6% Cash Back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
- 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations.
- 3% Cash Back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more).
- 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
- Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- $84 Disney Bundle Credit: With your enrolled Blue Cash Preferred Card, spend $9.99 or more each month on an auto-renewing Disney Bundle subscription, to receive a monthly statement credit of $7. Valid only at Disney Plus.com, Hulu.com or Plus.espn.com in the U.S.
- Terms Apply.
Last year, I earned $400 back with this credit card (most of that came from grocery spending), and I redeemed those Reward Dollars as statement credits, making my bills cheaper. If you're a serious foodie, this card should be on your radar.
2. Stock up on items you love, before they disappear
It's the world's saddest story -- you fall in love with a certain Trader Joe's product, then you never find it on the shelves again. In my case, it was my cats who became obsessed with Trader Joe's Tuna For Cats, which I haven't been able to find in a few years. My colleague Maurie Backman's kids were disappointed to learn that their favorite granola bars were no more. In short -- if you find a Trader Joe's product you love (especially if it's nonperishable), stock up before it's gone forever.
3. Frozen meals can save you time and money
Trader Joe's takes its frozen food offerings seriously -- and so should you. Have a look at the freezer section the next time you visit, and take special note of the frozen entrees. You'll likely spot dishes you might be familiar with as restaurant takeout, like chicken tikka masala or Kung Pao chicken. These two items are priced at $4.49 (single serving) and $5.99 (four servings), respectively.
I turned to DoorDash to see what I might pay if I ordered these dishes from restaurants in my area. A single serving of takeout chicken tikka masala would cost me $16.99, and I'd pay $8.99 for a pint of Kung Pao chicken. Going with Trader Joe's offerings instead means saving significant money -- plus, dinner is just a wok or a microwave away, no DoorDash tip or long wait required.
4. Research what not to buy
Most of Trader Joe's offerings are great, but a few products may fall short of the mark. I've had less-than-ideal experiences with its frozen chicken quesadillas, a cheese-based seasoning blend, and shrimp with garlic butter. But every regular TJ's shopper has their own personal hits and misses.
I recommend reviewing the internet (Reddit is great for this) to get the inside scoop on what others have tried and disliked before you try something new. You can return something you don't like (more on that below), but as a self-employed person, time is literally money, so I'd rather avoid buying something bad in the first place.
5. Take advantage of the return policy
Trader Joe's has a pretty liberal return policy, which makes it easier and more cost-effective to take a chance on an unfamiliar product. Customer service is important to this retailer, so you can return just about anything you buy there. This extends to opened and partially consumed food, too (just don't be unreasonable about it -- and return perishable items sooner rather than later).
If you've never shopped at Trader Joe's before, you're in for a treat. Unique products, friendly staff, and great prices make this retailer a favorite of mine. If you want to earn money back on your Trader Joe's buys, check out our list of the best credit cards for grocery shopping to pick a winner.
Our Research Expert
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here
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