7 Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy At Trader Joe's (PHOTOS)

7 Things You Didn't Know You Could Buy At Trader Joe's
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You can always count on Trader Joe's for things like whimsically-named fancy cheeses, chocolate bars weighing in at over a pound and, of course, Joe Joe's. But if you look carefully on the shelves, you'll find a few lesser-known, unusually high-quality products for your home that cost a fraction of what they would be if at a less Hawaiian shirt-filled retailer.

Here's what you shouldn't miss out on -- stock and availability, of course, will vary by your store's location:

Greeting Cards You can't beat the price of 99 cents.

Good Cleaning Products You can find Dr. Bronner's products, in addition to private label brands.

Laundry & Dishwashing Detergent Can often be cheaper than what you find at the grocery store, depending on where you live.

Pet Products Specifically cardboard scratchers for cats, which are super-cheap at around $7 a pop.

Reusable Cloths An alternative to paper towels (which they also sell), at a good price.

Flowers There's usually a nice selection of decent-quality, affordable cut flowers and bouquets at every TJ's.

Nice Soaps Perfect for when you want to maintain an aura of glamour when you have guests over. (They don't need to know your budget status.)

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Before You Go

Trader Joe's Taste Test, Round 2
Trader Joe's Reduced Guilt Woven Wheats Wafers vs. Reduced Fat Triscuits(01 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.49, Triscuits $4.79Comments: "I honestly cannot tell a discernible difference." "They taste very similar to me." "No difference." "[Trader Joe's] might be a little denser." "[Triscuits] seem slightly flakier."Ingredients: DifferentVerdict: Not a match, but they taste incredibly similar (and Triscuits aren't labeled as non-GMO anyway) (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Apples & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal vs. McCann's Instant Irish Oatmeal, Apples & Cinnamon(02 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.49, McCann's $5.49Comments: "These are both great, I can't tell the difference." "I got a different amount of apple pieces, but that would vary from spoonful to spoonful." "I'm pretty sure these are exactly the same."Ingredients: SameVerdict: We're as sure as we can be that it's a match! (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Mac 'n Cheese vs. Amy's Macaroni and Cheese(03 of09)
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Prices: Trader Joe's $2.99, Amy's $3.49Comments: "[Trader Joe's] is CRAZY GOOD. It's so creamy and tastes like real, non-frozen mac and cheese." "[Trader Joe's] was amazing, better than my restaurant mac and cheeses. [Amy's] was a little mealy." "[Trader Joe's] is the best frozen mac and cheese I've ever had." "[Amy's] tastes so artificial."Ingredients: Completely differentVerdict: Not even close to a match. (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup vs. Amy's Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup(04 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $1.99, Amy's $3.49Comments: "These have the same weird green bean/celery flavor." "Identical. These taste exactly the same." "Weird -- but identical!" Ingredients: SameVerdict: It's a match (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Reduced Fat Wheat Crisps vs. Reduced Fat Wheat Thins(05 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.29, Wheat Thins $4.79Comments: "They look different but taste almost exactly the same." "[Trader Joe's] might be slightly sweeter." "[Wheat Thins] have more salt, so taste way better." "[Trader Joe's] are sweeter, [Wheat Thins] are saltier."Ingredients: DifferentVerdict: Not a match (and Wheat Thins aren't labeled as non-GMO anyway) (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Butternut Squash Soup vs. Imagine Butternut Squash Soup(06 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.79, Imagine $4.99Comments: "[Imagine] tastes like it's actually made of squash, and [Trader Joe's] is horrible." "[Imagine] has a much fuller, sweeter, spicier flavor than [Trader Joe's]." "Definitely not the same. The taste of [Trader Joe's] makes me cringe." "Definitely different. [Imagine] tastes like squash and [Trader Joe's] tastes like wallpaper paste."Ingredients: Completely differentVerdict: Not a match. Not at all. (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's 21 Seasoning Salute vs. Mrs. Dash(07 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $1.99, Mrs. Dash $4.19Comments: "These taste the same." "Depending on the blend you get with each bite, they sometimes taste the same and sometimes are completely different." "These have got to be the same thing."Ingredients: SameVerdict: It's a match! (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Garden Vegetable Lasagne vs. Amy's Vegetable Lasagna(08 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.69, Amy's $5.39Comments: "[Trader Joe's] has a brighter green filling and tastes more verdant, but they taste similar in every other way." "Both were ok, but [Trader Joe's] had a more vegetal taste." "They taste almost identical but are clearly not the same because of the filling." "The filling is substantially greener and better in [Trader Joe's]."Ingredients: DifferentVerdict: Not a match (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)
Trader Joe's Mini Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers vs. Late July Organic Mini Peanut Butter (09 of09)
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Price: Trader Joe's $2.69, Late July $3.99Comments: "[Late July] tastes a little more buttery." "[Late July] had more of a 'real' peanut butter flavor." "Both are delicious, and they taste the same to me." "[Late July] looks and tastes more buttery." "These are twins!"Ingredients: Very slightly differentVerdict: Not a match (credit:Damon Dahlen/The Huffington Post)

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