For almost a decade, Trader Joe’s has been one of America’s top grocery chains — and with good reason. Its locations carry high quality products, provide top-rated customer service, and come outfitted in an eclectic tiki-themed design. But thanks to the store’s venerable status and legendary reputation among its customers, many people find it easy to get carried away. That’s why we put together a list of easy ways to save at Trader Joe’s.
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1. Tap the Fearless Flyer
Trader Joe’s puts out a circular called the “Fearless Flyer” that shoppers can request by mail or check out online. It features seasonal products that are sometimes on sale.
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2. Shop with a list
And avoid hitting up Trader’s Joe on an empty stomach to curb impulse buys. (Find 50 good grocery tips for any store here.)
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3. Buy bananas
Trader Joe’s is one of the few grocery chains that lets you buy bananas by the piece as opposed to charging by the pound. Each one costs 19-cents — a good deal, especially if you don’t eat bananas by the bunch.
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4. Sample the goods
You can ask a Trader Joe’s Crew Member to let you sample an item, excluding alcohol and raw products. Maybe the ready-to-eat Pasadena Salad (my personal favorite) piqued your interest? Flag down a crew member and they’ll let you try it out, no sweat.
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5. Tap the return policy, if necessary
If you find that you don’t like the item after you bought it, bring it back. Trader Joe’s has a very liberal return policy, no questions asked.
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6. Bring coupons
Trader Joe’s accepts manufacturer’s coupons on brand name goods. So check your mail, grab the Sunday newspaper or find a digital coupon to save some cash. (These 12 couponing tips can help you stay on budget.)
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7. Buy private label items
Trader Joe’s repackages brand-name products and sells them under it’s own name — e.g. Trader Joe’s Mango Smoothies — at a markdown. Be sure to take advantage of these deals.
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8. Tune in
Trader Joe’s produces a podcast called Dig In that provides great tips on how to use the products you can buy in their stores.
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9. Bring your own bag
Some cities charge a disposable bag tax. Skip the upcharge by bringing your own re-usable totes.
Don’t only frequent Trader Joe’s? Check out 9 ways to save at Whole Foods.
This article originally appeared on Policygenius and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.
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