3 Trader Joe’s Items For Less Than $5 You Have To Try This Week

Fun fact: I found a $5 bill, torn in half, in my laundry the other day. Secondary fun fact: I cannot afford to lose $5 to the thorough sloshing and agitation of the laundry process. Third fun fact: I did not know I had a five-dollar bill. 

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Lucky for me, pretty sure I can tape the bill (which is now the texture of like, T-shirt material?). And that’s important, because you can still buy a respectably wide variety of things with five dollars or less, especially in the wonderful world of Trader Joe’s. So before you give up on taping together a few soft, forgotten paper money you forgot about, see what kind of grocery haul five bucks buys you at Trader Joe’s. 

Trader Joe’s Homestyle Chicken or Tuna Salad Croissant Sandwich ― $4.49

Baked goods have always been the steal of the century: think about it, where else in the grocery store can you get such massive quantities (like, centuries) of technique channeled into incredible textures and refined flavors? (Plus, sprinkles!) Think gently risen yeasted donuts, the creamy/crunchy tubular luxury of a classic cannoli, or, the enriched flaky butteriness of the croissant. Now, fill it with the classic flavors of chicken or tuna salad (oh, remember that Greek chicken salad?) and you have a very haul-worthy affordable lunch. And since we already know well-made chicken salad can be the (worthy) subject of Reddit debate, this item is like adding homestyle culinary quality to old school pastry perfection―for $4.49, a classic/classy five buck must.  

Trader Joe’s Black Cherry Vanilla Flavored Sparkling Water ― $3.99

Granted the packaging makes it look like something that belonged back in the red-white-and-blueness of our 250th, but the Trader Joe’s Black Cherry Vanilla Flavored Sparkling Water is actually a pretty perfect flavor combination to salute those late summer vibes and carry you into some of the coming, richer flavors of fall. Not to mention, an eight-pack of 12-ounce cans for just $3.99 is kind of a steal, since most brand-name sodas charge over three bucks just for a single 20-ounce bottle.  

Trader Joe’s Japanese Mini Taiyaki ― $4.99

If you’ve never had taiyaki, first off, lucky duck―it’s a fun thing to have for the first time. Most important thing to know: yes, it’s fish-shaped, but no it does not contain or taste like fish. Taiyaki are actually a sweet treat in Japan, and a common street snack, made with a pancake/waffle type batter that’s poured into intricate fish-shaped molds and filled, more traditionally with something like a sweet red red bean paste. Fillings vary, of course, and the Trader Joe’s frozen version (manufactured for the company by a Japanese producer) is actually filled with custard, which is both awesome and delicious. They’re also easy to bake, air fry, etc. so you’ll be wowing and delighting your guests with sweet, crunchy, chewy whimsy in no time―and for just $4.99.