I’m a Frugal Shopper: 4 Low-Cost Snacks I Swear By
Written by
Laura Beck
Edited by
Molly Sullivan
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When money is tight and keeping to your budget is important, buying snacks can feel like a splurge. But there’s no need to spend a lot to feel satisfied. There are plenty of tasty and nutritious options that will satisfy your cravings without breaking the bank.
Whether you shop at Costco, Trader Joe’s, Walmart or Amazon, there are a variety of affordable snacks to choose from. GOBankingRates reached out to frugal grocery shopper Julie Ramhold, a senior editor at DealNews.com, to find out which low-cost snack options are their favorites.
Bananas
Bananas are one of the most budget-friendly fruits, providing ample nutrition at a low cost.
“This is a super affordable snack in general, so you can’t really go wrong shopping at any grocery, big-box, or even warehouse club store,” Ramhold said. “Shopping at Costco, 3 pounds of bananas is less than $3, and I like keeping them on hand because they’re so versatile.”
Bananas can be enjoyed on their own as an affordable grab-and-go snack or used to add flavor and nutrition to recipes like smoothies, baked goods and more.
Ramhold added, “They’re good to have alone or as part of a peanut butter sandwich or as base for smoothies when frozen (I skip the ice cubes completely). Bananas are a good source of fiber and potassium, so they’re one of those snacks that you don’t have to feel guilty about eating.”
Peanuts
For an affordable, protein-packed snack, look no further than peanuts.
“Specifically, my favorites are the Kirkland Signature Super Extra-Large Peanuts from Costco,” Ramhold said. “The tins are 2.5 pounds, so they last awhile, especially if you adhere to the suggested serving sizes. They might not be the healthiest nut to snack on, but given that these only have peanuts, peanut oil and salt as ingredients, they’re not the worst.
“Online they’re $8.99 but in person they’re a bit cheaper. Either way, it’s a strong price for that many peanuts, and they’re a decent snack that’s filling and largely guilt-free. Plus, they’re a great ingredient if you like to make your own trail mix, whether that includes dried fruit for a healthier take or chocolate chips and/or candy for a sweet and salty treat.”
Peanuts’ versatility also allows you to incorporate them into granola, cookies and other recipes. Taking advantage of bulk pricing on peanuts is a great way to add nutritious protein to your snacks.
Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies
When a sweet treat is in order, Trader Joe’s mini chocolate chip cookies fit the bill while sparing the wallet.
“These are from Trader Joe’s and they’re 99 cents for a small 2-ounce bag,” Ramhold said. “It’s the perfect snacking size for a sweet treat, but the taste of these is so much better than some other packaged chocolate chip cookies I’ve had.
“These legit taste homemade with a nice crispy texture and really nice, caramelized notes but without all the work that baking cookies usually takes. And the bag is only 270 calories, so it’s a great way to treat yourself or cap off a long day without overindulging. I always make sure to pick up a few bags (at least) of these on every Trader Joe’s trip.”
These bite-sized cookies offer an affordable indulgence, and despite their miniature size, they deliver full-sized flavor with a homemade taste and texture. The crispy, delicious cookies will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Black Jewell Popcorn
For a customizable, budget-friendly snack, try Black Jewell popcorn kernels. You control the ingredients, avoiding unhealthy oils and chemicals used in bagged microwave popcorn. Though the kernels cost more upfront, they go a long way. Making your own popcorn is rewarding, tasty and inexpensive per serving.
“Black Jewell has different kinds, but these are my favorite because they’re ‘virtually hull-less’ and I can vouch for that claim,” Ramhold added. “Once you get used to making your own popcorn, it’s incredibly addictive. While a six-pack of these containers (about 10 lbs. of kernels overall) is $42.99 [on Amazon], they also last forever.”
Black Jewell kernels pop up light and crunchy, ready to flavor however you like. Season to taste with salt, spices, herbs or flavored powders. Customizing each batch with different seasonings keeps things interesting. However you flavor it, homemade popcorn is a healthy, thrifty snack choice.
“Depending on what you put on it, it’s one of the healthier snacks out there,” continued Ramhold. “It’s a good source of fiber and by making it yourself, you’re cutting out additives that are often found in bags of microwave popcorn.
“That doesn’t mean giving up butter flavor either; when I want buttered popcorn, I like to use a mix of melted butter as well as dried butter powder, which is exactly what it sounds like, and it’s perfect for scratching that movie theater popcorn itch.”
Caitlyn Moorhead contributed to the reporting for this article.
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