Trader's Joe's

[sabrinat]

We just got one. I hear the prices are great and they have interesting stuff. I can't even go explore to find out since it's a mob scene. What are some steals and deals and items to check out there?

[BurgundyElephant]

Cheap wine. Cheap cereal. Cheap hummus.

[Leilalu]

Originally Posted by sabrinat

We just got one. I hear the prices are great and they have interesting stuff. I can't even go explore to find out since it's a mob scene. What are some steals and deals and items to check out there?

Well, I love it that prices are constant.
I have so many regular things I buy there. Feeling sick now, or I'd list them all.

I buy their cream top milk for kefir making. I buy a LOT of organic bananas there. I buy their sausage, sometimes pizza dough. You can get ezekiel bread there, frozen petite peas, nice chickens for stock making....etc etc. Good chocolate too

[skueppers]

My daughter loves their freeze-dried strawberries -- and since they're much less expensive than any of the "just fruit" or "just veggies" brand stuff at other stores, I'm actually inclined to buy them for her.

[Amys1st]

I love my TJs! I have noticed the ones on the west coast are way better for selection than the ones here though.

I get produce, organic canned goods, organic milk, organic yogurt, organic cereal, organic butter, chocolate, veggies both normal and organic, plus some other odds and ends. I try to stay away from their convenience food even though its good but spendy. The corn bread is fab and so is their aborro rice.

Their grocery sacs are great w the handles too. But I started carrying my own bags. Instead of taking a dime per bag off my order, they give you a chance at a raffle every week for a bag of groceries.

[chanibell]

I love mochi! Its much cheaper there than any other place that sells it. At least half.

[jkpmomtoboys]

I love their banana crisps...

I really like that I can count on none of their dairy having hormones in it. And I think their eggs are a good deal...

I liked that "raffle", even though I never won, but they stopped doing it here...ah, well...

[mamamilkers]

Where are you at? My sister said they just pened one near her in Milwaukee and is SO excited!

I buy organic milk, cottage cheese, lots of frozen organic fruits and vegetables, organic canned beans, crackers, organic chicken breasts, gyozas, bread, hansen's soda, margherita pizza . . . oh, now I am dying to shop there! I don't get to TJ's much since my second babe was born. Sigh.

Oh, and the single most annoying thing about TJ's is that you will fall in love with a certain special product and then poof! they will stop carrying it. I can't even tell you how much that has happened to me! :

[Eli's_mommy]

I'm a vegetarian and not an amazing cook, so I get really good deals on the gardenburger type foods (the other brands that make these sorts of things too).

[BurgundyElephant]

Where is the one in Milwaukee? Our family there stocks up at TJ here and packs it back with them.

[Sharlla]

I went there a few times back when I lived in Wa. I wasn't really that impressed.

[cappuccinosmom]

Hmmm, well, being used to Aldis, they didn't seem "cheap" to me, but I used a gift card and got what I wanted. :

Their roasted garlic hummus is THE BEST.

I love the nice variety is there--stuff I couldn't find anywhere else, like kefir, or European treats, or good chocolate. My dad says their Ethiopian bean coffee is most excellent, also.

[emski4379]

They're STILL crowded? I was planning on heading over there this week Sabrina.

[an_aurora]

I buy thier organic milk, maple flavored yoghurt, frozen berries, dog food/treats/bones and ground turkey. DH buys thier wine & beer. Here, lean ground turkey is $6.49/pound at Safeway and at TJ's it is $2.99/pound.

[rose angel]

the organic whole wheat pasta is good and cheap. The peanut butter and low sugar preserves are excellent and cheap too.

[ledzepplon]

Their Organic Maple Syrup is a good buy. And yummy. I buy dairy and cheese there, and their bagged salads are much cheaper than our regular grocery store.

And I admit . . . although it's not frugal or super healthy, their frozen "Joe's Diner" mac and cheese is deee-licious!! And no weird ingredients, as far as I can remember.

[sabrinat]

Originally Posted by emski4379

They're STILL crowded? I was planning on heading over there this week Sabrina.

Emma,
It was freakin ridiculous! I just went for coffee (yum...ethiopian beans for less than 14.99/lb like I pay at Southern Season) and hummus (O. loves the stuff) I did get some delicious marinated mozzarella and some pitas...oh and that cheap wine...Charles somebody. Then I had to get out of there cuz I needed to p/u E. from preschool.

[mamamilkers]

Originally Posted by BurgundyElephant

Where is the one in Milwaukee? Our family there stocks up at TJ here and packs it back with them.

One just opened in the Bayshore Mall area (they built a bunch of new stuff arond the mall fairly recently). You have family there, too?!?! Yay!

[emski4379]

Hmm, maybe I'll try and go one morning at like 8 am so I can get out before L.'s nap. I thought it would have started to die down by now.

[Belleweather]

They have lots of great instant, frozen, take-and-bake stuff that's organic, veggie and uses whole grains. It's been a fantastic savings for our family because instead of getting take out or going to a resturant, we'll run to TJ's and get some balsamic roasted veggies and a lasagne, or some organic grilled chicken and a big salad. So much less cost and expense than dragging a toddler out to noodles and company or somewherE!