Trader Joe’s isn’t your typical supermarket. Its shelves are stocked mostly with specialty items, so you’re more likely to come home with cookie butter and tricolor quinoa than you are milk and eggs.
But “specialty” doesn’t necessarily mean expensive. Here are three secrets you need to know about shopping at Trader Joe’s.
First, there are no sales and no coupons. Trader Joe’s claims it already offers the lowest prices it can. We comparison-shopped at Whole Foods and Walmart, and Trader Joe’s prices were indeed lower on things like frozen meals and fancy cheeses.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Second, if you like to try before you buy, then you’ll love Trader Joe’s. Simply ask an employee to sample anything in the store. And if you don’t like it? Don’t buy it.
Third, you can return anything you don’t like – no questions asked. Bring back whatever you didn’t finish to the store for a full refund.
-
Five Reasons You Shouldn't Shop on Amazon Prime DaySmart Buying Think twice before getting lured into buying a bunch of stuff you don't need just because it's on sale.
-
Best Cash Back Credit Cards November 2024Smart Buying Trying to compare the best cash back credit cards? Unlike most reviewers, we include cards from small banks and credit unions, as well as from large issuers.
-
How to Spend $1,000: Find Cheap (or Free) Online Courses to Build Career SkillsSmart Buying There's a huge array of skill-building online courses that can level up your career for under $1,000.
-
MoviePass is Relaunching. Should You Sign Up?Smart Buying The subscription discount movie card company has a checkered past and an army of disillusioned former cardholders. If you want to try the reboot, you’ll need to hurry.
-
HBO Max Is Offering Huge DiscountsSmart Buying Looking for a streaming service deal? Warner Bros. Discovery is cutting the price of HBO Max.
-
Are You Streaming Too Much? What the Discovery+/HBO Max Mashup MeansSmart Buying Fewer original scripted series? Maybe. And maybe it’s time to unsubscribe.
-
How Big Should My Emergency Fund Be?Brandon Copeland NFL linebacker and Kiplinger contributing editor Brandon Copeland discusses the importance of building an emergency fund.
-
Homeowners Insurance: How to Protect Your HomeBrandon Copeland NFL linebacker and Kiplinger contributing editor Brandon Copeland discusses the ins and outs of homeowners insurance.
