Philly Affordable Food Finds At Aldi, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, and More

Tips and tricks to get your favorite foods for less

GroceriesPhoto byNo RevisionsonUnsplash

Updated July 27, 2024

My grocery budget is being stretched thin so I thought I'd update my last Affordable Food Finds article, by adding Grocery Outlet, and some other tips and tricks to the mix.

Aldi signPhoto byIbrahim guetaronUnsplash

Cheap Aldi, and Trader Joe’s Eats 2024

• Great cereals - especially Raisin Bran and Cheerio substitutes
• Spices and extracts — Trader Joe’s has excellent high-quality spices my favorites are cinnamon, smoked paprika, lemon pepper (with real lemon zest and peppercorns and umami seasoning
• Plant-based milks - almond, oat, rice, and soy
• Eggs
• A variety of sliced and specialty cheeses like feta, fontina, gruyere
• Dolmas (Trader Joe's)
• Good Belly Probiotic drink (Aldi)
• Super creamy mango yogurt in a cute 4 pack (Trader Joe's)
• Dried fruit — ginger, lemon, and orange slices (Trader Joe's)
• Kombucha (Both)
• Spaghetti sauces and gluten-free pasta (Aldi)
• Reeds Ginger Beer (Trader Joe's)
• Dark chocolate mini peanut butter cups (Trader Joe's)
• Nitrate-free bacon (Both)
• Lemon curd (Trader Joe's)
• High-quality and delicious dark chocolate for baking
• Tea tree-based body wash, shampoo, and conditioners
• Health and beauty products (Both)
• Gifts and household items (Aldi)
• A variety of teas and coffee items (Both)

If you can’t find things at Trader Joe's, you might want to try Aldi. While the store brands are independently owned and operated — the brothers that own Trader Joe's also own Aldi. The Kitchn untangles the corporate web but in the end — it’s a win-win for us. (Newsbreak, 2022)

Whole foodsPhoto byNo RevisionsonUnsplash

Affordable and Specialty Whole Foods Finds 2024

• Fresh organic greens: All varieties of kale, chard, and collards ($1.99–2.99 a bundle)
• Seasonal, local, organic fruits and vegetables
• Essential oils
• Herbal remedies and tinctures
• Shelf-stable — plant-based “milks” (they give you a discount if you buy it by the case — Mom secret)
• Prepared meals — hearty portions for $8–12 (I also browse for inspiration)
• The evil of all evils — brown butter chocolate chip cookies, chocolate mousse cups, and of course that sinful Chantilly cake (from Whole Foods bakery)

Grocery Outlet Tips, Tricks and Treats

Grocery Outlet is a grocery outlet store so you're not going to find the same items all the time so if you're making a special recipe I would go there first to see if they have some of the items. Here is a list of general items I found that were cheaper here:

• A good variety of meats: chicken, pork, beef and lam
• Eggs
• Dried fruits
• Cereals
• Fish and seafood
• Cheeses
• Yogurt
• Plant-based milks - almond, oat, rice, and soy
• Canned goods
• Ethnic foods - sauces, noodles, etc.
• Health and beauty items
• Frozen foods - meals and treats
• Cookies and snacks
  In my last article

Other Affordable Food Tips and Resources

The bottom line is - you'll probably need to go to at least two different grocery stores to get what you need or want. My last few tips are:

- Plan your meals around weekly sales instead of wants and cravings. For example, if you find beef on sale make a beef dish

- Try new recipes and pack leftovers for lunch or freeze them for quick heat and eat meals

- Don't be ashamed to use food pantries and community fridges

I hope you find this info helpful and please share some food savers.

For background information on Aldi and Trader Joes check out our last Affordable Food Finds article:

At the end of the day — you’ll still need to go to a “regular” grocery store like Acme, Shoprite, or Wegmans if want a variety of standard American brands — like Bush’s baked beans or even if you want cavitappi pasta (which I prefer for my mac and cheese).

I hope you find this info helpful and please share some food savers.

Thank you for reading and please add some of your favorite food finds in the comments or on Twitter.

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