10 Top Items To Buy at Trader Joe’s With a $50 Grocery Budget

Trader Joe’s is America’s favorite quirky grocery chain to spend their hard-earned money. Their irresistible aisles are filled with new finds from around the world — but not all their deals are created equal.

When you only have $50 to grocery shop for the week, TJ’s can be hit or miss. Lucky for you, we put in the time to figure out the best buys for the best prices. 

Here are our top items to buy at Trader Joe’s with a $50 grocery budget:

A dozen eggs at Trader Joe’s typically costs around $4.99. At that price, you can whip up a big batch of egg muffins on Sunday with whatever veggies are on sale that week.

It’s an easy way to meal prep breakfast for several days.

The $2.99 bags of frozen broccoli and cauliflower are staples in a budget meal plan.

They’re versatile additions to stir-fries, pastas and more — and much less expensive than their fresh counterparts.

At just $0.99 for a one-pound bag, TJ’s pasta is a budgeting dream. Paired with Trader Joe’s surprisingly decent $1.99 marinara sauce, it’ll make a bunch of cheap, hearty meals to last the week.

If you have a little money left over, throw in some of their veggie meatballs! They’re back and they’re delicious.

At a mere 23 cents each — up from the 19 cents each that was the norm for years! — bananas are practically giving them away.

They’re perfect for snacking, adding to morning smoothies, or just passing out to friends and family to show your love. (Well, maybe not that last one!)

Whether it’s black beans or chickpeas, canned legumes are a steal at around $0.89 a can.

They’re great for bulking up salads or making quick, affordable dips. If you want to upgrade to organic, those cans are just $1.09 each.

We’ve all gotten home from work too tired to make anything that isn’t nuked in the microwave. Well, mix up your routine with TJ’s $3.99 salad kits.

Bonus tip: Add some of those budget-friendly canned beans, and you’ve got a complete meal in minutes.

A large container of Greek yogurt, priced at about $5.49, can last all week. It’s perfect for breakfast with some Trader Joe’s granola ($3.49) or as a sour cream substitute in savory dishes.

Plus, it’s packed with protein so it’s good for you!

At $3.49, Trader Joe’s sourdough bread is both delicious and affordable. It’s ideal for sandwiches or as a base for budget-friendly avocado toast.

Hey, who says millennials have to go broke eating avocado toast?

A bag of Trader Joe’s good-quality medium roast coffee goes for about $4.99 and can last two weeks or more.

It’s a significant saving compared to daily coffee shop visits — use the money you save to take a sweet summer trip!

For those nights when cooking just isn’t an option, Trader Joe’s frozen meals are the absolute best.

Their $3.49-$4.49 Indian dishes are an especially tasty alternative to pricy takeout.