Tag: Grocery shopping

7 Not-to-Be-Missed Trader Joe’s Groceries That Just Hit Stores

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Much of the reason why I shop (and used to work) at Trader Joe’s is because it’s always a feast for the senses. Between the free samples, legendary people watching, and nights when your favorite manager played DJ for the shift, it’s truly sensory overload. This month’s shop, amongst all the post-turkey-buying and pie-ingredient-planning, more than proved that there is plenty to make all your senses pretty happy.

As we solidly enter the giving season, Trader Joe’s is giving and giving and giving some more, in the form of new desserts I might try to play off as homemade, a few dinner ideas to save me on days I just can’t with cooking, and even a couple of items to cozy up my apartment. Not to cause any alarm, but I think you’ll want to rush to your TJ’s ASAP to get some of these before they’re gone for the season.

1. Pretzel Bread Pudding, $4.99 for 7.6 ounces

This dessert is a feat of imaginations run wild, and one that for a very brief moment in time, actually turned me into a Dessert Person. That’s not to say I always say no to desserts, but I have a few salt teeth, so to speak, so it takes a really special dessert to get me on board. Enter: Pretzel Bread Pudding.

This dessert is not holding back at all with the pretzels, meaning they’re not just a sprinkled-on afterthought. First ingredient? Pretzels, of course. Those same pretzels get soft and doughy and ready to absorb the salted caramel topping that makes this a dream in the form of custardy bread pudding. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty, and just takes 45 seconds in the microwave. All you really need is a dollop of something cool and creamy to cut through the dense pudding, which I did in the form of topping it with the grocer’s Salted Maple Ice Cream, naturally.

2. Chocolate Croissant Candle, $3.99 for 5.64 ounces

As I said before, sweets aren’t things I naturally seek out (my chip selection runneth over, though). That doesn’t mean I don’t wish things kind of always smelled like a bakery or cake shop. Thankfully, Trader Joe’s new seasonal candle solves that problem for me, with its Chocolate Croissant Candle.

Before you even think it, no, it’s not cloyingly sweet or artificial-smelling whatsoever. It honest-to-goddess smells just like freshly baked chocolate croissants in a way that brings me back to sampling all the seasonal lotions at a 2008 Bath & Body Works (a high compliment). If you’re trying to sell a home (the scent of baked goods like chocolate chip cookies and bread have been shown to help close the deal), or simply want to up the coziness factor to volume 1000, this candle is for you.

3. Almond Chipotle Dip, $3.49 for 9 ounces

Dips are a way of life, meaning that Trader Joe’s dips are basically my lifeblood. One new dip I think gets a permanent spot on my dip shelf? The newest Almond Chipotle Dip.

There are so many things to love about this dip: It is seemingly vegan (yet has a bacon-adjacent rich smokiness), is as good on carrots as it is on tortilla chips, and, dare I say it, would be an amazing spread for sandwiches or tacos, or on eggs Benedict in lieu of hollandaise. Creamy and cheesy — in a way that some vegan products try and often fail to achieve — with chipotle-tinged heat, this dip has some crossover potential into a pasta sauce, too, I think.

4. Empanadas de Ropa Vieja, $5.99 for 9.6 ounces

Foods tucked into a cute little pocket are kind of the best, right? Right. So it goes without saying that buying Trader Joe’s newest empanadas was a major no-brainer. Combining the powers of empanadas with a Cuban-style ropa vieja (a classic dish composed of shredded beef stewed in a spicy, aromatic tomato sauce) meant that these snack-sized bites were eaten by me very quickly.

The filling itself was a great tribute to the ropa vieja I’ve eaten in my home state of Florida, where Cuban food is hard to beat, and the crust became nicely crisp in the oven, ready to take a dive into some hot sauce. Best of all, the cassava crust makes these naturally gluten-free, which means they’re a killer party app that crowds can enjoy.

5. Italian Tiramisu, $4.49 for 13.05 ounces

Well, TJ’s has done it again: The grocer has possibly converted one of my salt teeth into a slightly sweet one, thanks to this new Tiramisu. Differing a bit from its cake-style Tiramisu torte, this new one comes very conveniently in a two-pack, which is great for when you want the Italian creamy, coffee-soaked treat but don’t want to make it into a whole thing by getting a whole tiramisu.

An eight-hour thaw in the fridge is all that keeps you from digging into one of these Italian Tiramisus, and I promise it’s worth it. This tiramisu really has all the depth of a restaurant-grade tiramisu, with hints of marsala wine transforming the ladyfinger cookies into a cakey dream, and plenty of chocolate-y coffee mascarpone cream to keep you spooning in for more. Is it possible I ate one of these for breakfast this morning? Absolutely.

6. Shrimp Pouches of Many Colors, $4.29 for 8.46 ounces

The tinier the food, the better it tastes. I have no science to back up this finding, but I know it to be true. As a big fan of all of Trader Joe’s various dumplings, potstickers, and buns, I was excited to try this newest seasonal addition to the freezer aisle. These dumplings couldn’t be more perfectly timed, either; each bite-sized shrimp-packed pouch really does look like a little present, coming in bright shades of red, yellow, and green, along with a classic white.

The filling is just as delectable as their appearance, too; each dumpling is loaded with shrimp and a savory blend of aromatics like garlic, onion, and ginger. With four of each color (the bright hues are naturally derived from spinach, beetroot, and pumpkin and turmeric), these pouches would be a great shareable appetizer for two when you’re in the mood for a dim sum night, or an entrée for one — especially when you serve them pan-fried and dipped into soy sauce.

7. Crackling Red Fruits in the Forest Scented Candle, $9.99 for 11.28 ounces

If you, like me, are fawning over an online shopping cart full of those trendy “crackling” wood-wicked candles, but then immediately ❌out of the browser when you see the price? Well, sound the 🚨: It’s time to get yourself down to Trader Joe’s. Not only does the wooden wick charmingly “crackle” out a mellow campfire sound, but the scent also smells deluxe. Like, $40 candle deluxe.

Romantically (yet vaguely) named “Red Fruits in the Forest,” as if it’s a long-lost Taylor Swift song, the candle itself brings to mind tart currants, cranberries, and pomegranates mixed with a sage-y, pine hint which makes it really scream HOLIDAY SPIRIT. I’m already kicking myself for not buying two, so do yourself a favor and get a few of these candles (and maybe gift me one for Christmas).

Which new Trader Joe’s items are you adding to your cart? Tell us in the comments below.

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Mackenzie Filson

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December 2, 2023
8 Wines You Should Absolutely Buy at Aldi (They’re All Under $11)

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According to a former wine buyer.
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Mackenzie Filson

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November 28, 2023
The Secret to Better Desserts? This $3 French Pantry Staple

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So many wonderful fall ingredients have made their way into my tiny kitchen. While pumpkin spice everything and caramel apple anything is all the rage across the U.S., in Europe it is all about chestnuts — more specifically, desserts made with chestnut purée.

This time of year, you’ll find them in every high-end patisserie in France. Top pastry chefs go hunting in the woods for chestnuts, which they then turn into a sweet and sticky purée. It’s used in decadent, indulgent desserts like Mont Blanc, where it’s piled on top of a buttery tart shell (along with whipped cream).

In all honesty, this might be my favorite French dessert. But like many great French desserts, it involves a lot of components and time spent in the kitchen — something I’m not fond of, despite being an avid baker. As much as I like to think about making everything from scratch, I have to admit that when it comes to this dessert, I take several shortcuts. I buy buttery tart shells, whipped cream (or mouse), and ready-made chestnut purée.

The chestnut purée is so beloved in France and the alpine regions of Switzerland that you can find ready-made chestnut purée (named “marron purée”) in jars and even tubes next to the jams and honey in the supermarket aisle. These days, you can also order both online. How doubly convenient!

What’s So Great About Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

One of the best and most common, readily available tubes of chestnut purée is the one by Clement Faugier. It’s my go-to choice when making any dessert with chestnut purée. It’s made in the company’s factory in Ardeche, a region in France known for growing chestnuts.

I like that it comes in a tube, too: In Europe, most chestnut desserts like the Mont Blanc require the chestnut purée to be squeezed out of a piping bag and in tiny little noodle-like strips. For less-experienced bakers, you don’t need to mess around with any other tools; you just simply squeeze it straight from the tube!

The chestnut purée also comes in cans (and in bulk!), which makes it perfect for desserts that call for more of the deliciously sticky-sweet paste.

What’s the Best Way to Use Clement Faugier Chestnut Spread?

In Switzerland, the sweet ingredient is commonly found in ski resorts (alongside fondue), which is where I get my inspiration from. Rather than being too precious, I take a cue from the Swiss slopes and embrace simplicity: I place hard meringues at the bottom of a glass jar, dollop lots of whipped cream over the meringue, and then squeeze the entire tube of chestnut purée on top — et voila! Dessert made in a flash.

Rather than using cream, try spooning the chestnut purée as the filling in your next Swiss roll or Yule log cake. After having two epic desserts, featuring chestnut ice cream (at Le Vieux Chalet in Switzerland and Petri in Stockholm), I went home to recreate the from-scratch sweet with Clement Faugier’s spread. It might not be “Michelin-worthy,” but it was certainly my own culinary masterpiece.

What budget-friendly baking staples are you stocking up on right now? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Michelle Tchea

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November 25, 2023
This $1 Bakery Find Is the Reason I Keep Shopping at Lidl

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I’m a pretty loyal grocery shopper, in that I rarely stray from my (basically two) usual haunts. I’m not in the habit of hopping from store to store for the end-all, be-all lowest prices. I essentially have a Myspace Top 2. That is, until I discovered a new Lidl location was opening up near me; then, of course, I had to throw my whole roster out the window.

What started as casually flirting with the idea of just stopping by a Lidl ended up with me consistently with a sale flier in hand, reusable bags at the ready, and nearly getting a “I heart Lidl” tattoo on my forearm. I never looked back once I tried just one item in particular: the butter croissants.

Not only are they only $.79 a pop, but they’re also basically better than the freshly baked ones I get from my local bakery (that often go for at least six to eight times the price). How does Lidl do this witchcraft? I may never know, but I’m finally ready to stop gatekeeping this bakery gem.

What’s So Great About Lidl’s Butter Croissants?

Okay, so once you pick up your jaw off the ground from spotting that low, low price, you can get to eating one of these puppies. What you’ll soon discover is that these are the platonic ideal of a croissant: buttery, light, flaky, and airy in the middle and ready for slicing into crois-sandwiches or stuffing with something sweet and dreamy, like chocolate hazelnut spread.

Plus, they freeze up like a dream, so they’re a great thing to stock up on when they’re actually in stock because, as you’ll find, they’re pretty popular to those in-the-know. It was nearly an occupational hazard just to take a picture of these croissants over all the frenzy of other customers trying to get their share.

What’s the Best Way to Use Lidl’s Butter Croissants?

While eating them all on their own is a valid and worthy endeavor (I personally like to rip the flaky layers and dunk them straight in a milky coffee), why stop there? Anytime I can, I try to use these croissants to bring me back to my Italian vacations of yore. If that sounds just as delectable to you, do yourself a big favor and stuff your croissants Italian cornetto-style with a dollop of crunchy pistachio cream, apricot jam, or fresh whipped cream and berries.

Feeling more savory in your future? It goes without saying that these are the ideal vehicle for all sorts of sandwich fillings, like chicken salad, ham and cheese, or the best BLT you’ve had in recent memory. If you did yourself the aforementioned favor of stocking up on these croissants, you’ll be so glad you did; those croissants are going to be so happy in a savory breakfast casserole (or even a sweet one, for that matter).

Find it in stores: Butter Croissants, $.79 per croissant at Lidl

Do you have a Lidl gem more people should know about? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Mackenzie Filson

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November 25, 2023
The $2 Upgrade That Will Improve All of Your Holiday Cookies

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Don’t bake without this.
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Katie Workman

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November 24, 2023
Ina Garten Always Has These 3 Things in Her Freezer

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LOL, of course this is what she has.
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Isadora Baum

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November 23, 2023
The 80s Has Come for the Cheese Aisle

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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

With the unfortunate resurgence of early 00’s low-rise jeans, I know I can’t be the only one to notice another staple is very much in its retro era: cheese. Yes, you read correctly. Much like crop-tops, platform shoes, and flare jeans, cheese, of all things, is playing with the trends of the 90’s all the way back to the ‘30s — and having fun, clearly.

Scanning the aisles of your local grocery store (or TikTok or your favorite bar’s cocktail menu), you’ll find a veritable Eras Tour of cheeses on display: kitschy baked bries harkening to brassy, neon 80’s Bunco night; Depression-era limburger cheese spread upon crusty brown bread; or a 70’s-style fondue pot of Gruyère, complete with cubed bread and sliced apples (shag carpet not included).

TikTok is, as you might expect, the key reason for resuscitating many of these cheesy traditions of yore. When in doubt, if you see a bare spot on the shelf, it’s likely due to a newly-viral TikTok trend. Most recently, the party has been happening at none other than the cottage cheese section. So much so that cottage cheese makers in Wisconsin are even expanding their operations, banking on the viral popularity of the trend to last long after the buzz dies down, says Josie Krogh, the digital editor for Culture, a magazine that focuses on the (literal) culture of cheese and the people who craft it.

You likely lived through the Great Cottage Cheese Awakening of 2023, where TikTokers like Justine Doiron (aka @Justine_Snacks) popularized “cheese bowls”. At its core, this particular dish is a beautiful thing, really, bringing less likely-to-be-a-star cheeses, like ricotta and cottage cheese, to the main stage by putting cheese in general at the center of a meal (the dream). In place of a separately cooked protein, Doiron adds a generous spoonful or two of said cheeses to a bowl before loading up on fun toppings, like sauteed vegetables, crusty bread for dipping, and herbs and spice blends, like za’atar.

The glow-up of other cheeses is not insubstantial, either, as it’s resulting in a boom of retro recipes and restaurant dishes highlighting rich, gooey, more luxurious cheeses that the dark ages of the fat-free 90s nearly made extinct.

What is old can be new again and absolutely should be, because there’s plenty of correcting to do when it comes to reviving the popularity of cheeses, such as nutty alpine cheeses like Gruyère and Comté, entry-point blue cheeses like Cambozola, and even more infamously funky cheeses like Limburger.

Limburger, a stinky turn of the century cheese made seemingly the butt of too many jokes in TV shows across the 20th century (maligned in a song by the B-52s and a sketch from Monty Python, amongst many others), is now staging its major comeback, says Krogh. “People are either discovering for the first time or rediscovering foods that they had written off as gross without necessarily trying them or understanding them,” she says, adding that this discovery is similar to cottage cheese’s comeback.

Nostalgia (and cheese) are deliciously stabilizing in times where something consistently good can be just what you need on the menu. “I feel like overall we’re all kind of looking for comfort and you find comfort in nostalgia because everything feels so chaotic and scary right now,” says Sohla El-Waylly, chef and author of the new cookbook, Start Here. “So it’s kind of nice to have the cheeseboards your mom or your grandmother put out, like something that feels like it’s from the 70’s, a time that maybe you know in retrospect feels simpler even though it wasn’t.”

In a sea of new-this new-that, we might just earnestly crave reinvention — whether it be in the form of clothes, design, or yes, cheese. Much like you might restyle the shoulder-padded sequin shift dress of your mom’s 80’s heyday, the sweet nostalgia of these cheese trends are just as, if not more, delicious to savor.

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Mackenzie Filson

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November 19, 2023
My $7 Secret to the Most Decadent No-Bake Desserts

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No graham crackers necessary.
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Lizzy Briskin

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November 12, 2023
The Dos and Don’ts of Costco’s Checkout Etiquette, According to a Superfan

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Grocery stores aren’t a tornado of chaos because shoppers follow behavioral norms without even realizing it, but that order doesn’t always translate to the Costco shopping experience. As a loyal Costco member (I just celebrated my 13th membership anniversary), I expect hustle and bustle when warehouse shopping. I’ve also noticed that there are unwritten rules specific to Costco that — if followed — can make for a more pleasant shopping experience for everyone.

Beyond the food court hacks and shopping cart etiquette, key insiders follow the dos and don’ts of Costco’s checkout process. Here are 10 things to know about checking out at Costco, whether you’re a first-timer or have been a longtime member, like me.

1. Do use a cart for even the smallest shopping trips.

Shopping Costco without a cart limits you to only purchasing what you can hold; it can also cause congestion in the checkout area. The folks running the register work in tandem and use shopping carts to clear the area quickly. Do your part and use a cart for even small shopping trips.

2. Don’t enter the wrong side of the checkout lane.

Costco staffs two employees at every register — one to aid in unloading and reloading the carts and another to scan items. After unloading all but the largest and heaviest items, the employee will take your cart on their side of the checkout lane, while you stay on the opposite side to pay. If you’re in doubt, there are signs at the end of each register belt directing members and carts to their respective sides.

3. Do organize large items with barcodes up.

Large or heavy items are usually left in the cart for checkout. Make sure they are organized with the barcode facing up, as this helps the cashier quickly scan items without searching every side of the package.

4. Don’t share membership cards.

Costco made national news recently when it started cracking down on membership sharing. Just know (before you approach the checkout line) that you may slow down the line or even be turned away if you attempt to pass off a membership card that isn’t your own.

5. Do have your membership card ready at checkout.

Costco cashiers work at a quickfire pace. One way you can keep things moving is to turn the checkout divider upside down so that it can hold your membership card. The cashier must scan that card before starting any new order, so have it ready to go before unloading your cart. Don’t forget that you have to scan your membership card at self-checkout stations too.

6. Don’t leave trash in your cart.

One of the perks of shopping at Costco is the free sample stations scattered throughout the store. Those tasty bites are always served in a paper cup, with a napkin or disposable silverware. Be courteous of your fellow shoppers and empty your cart of any trash into one of the many bins located throughout the store to keep the cart and checkout area clean.

7. Do know what payment methods are accepted.

Before ringing up your cart of goodies, remember that not all major credit cards are accepted at Costco. The warehouse only accepts one major credit card: Visa. You can use mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay), cash, Costco Shop Cards, EBT, many debit cards with a PIN, and personal, business, or traveler’s checks.

8. Don’t block traffic after checking out.

After checking out, you’ll enter the most congested area of the warehouse. Members leaving the checkout lanes with full carts, the food court, membership desk, and exit are all located in the same narrow space. Avoid stopping your cart right outside the registers to double check your receipt or reorganize your wallet. Pull over in a spot away from the heavily trafficked area before pausing.

9. Do parallel park your cart if you stop at the food court.

The food court’s tables are often placed in the most congested area of the store — between the checkout lines and the exit doors. If you’re stopping to eat with a cartload of paid-for goods, parallel park your cart against your table so that other members can exit the warehouse efficiently.

10. Don’t throw out your receipt before leaving.

Costco employees are stationed at the entrance and exits to check your membership card on the way in and your receipt on the way out. Employees look over the receipts of every member exiting the warehouse to check for cashier errors (specifically double scans) and confirm receipt of big-ticket items. Have your receipt out and ready before approaching the doors to avoid unnecessary delays.

Got any other checkout dos and don’ts for Costco? Leave them in the comments.

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Patty Catalano

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November 11, 2023
Shoppers Drive 200 Miles to Trader Joe’s for This $5 Freezer Find

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No matter how you feel about it, there’s no denying that the most popular item sold at Trader Joe’s is its Mandarin Orange Chicken. I used to work for Trader Joe’s, so I know firsthand how wild the frenzy can get about this frozen delight. In the South, where my particular store is, some folks would travel up to 200 miles just to stock up for the month on all of their frozen standbys (cooler bags and ice packs in tow!), which often meant bags upon bags of Mandarin Orange Chicken.

As for me, there are certain Trader Joe’s items that hold such specific taste memories for me — and Mandarin Orange Chicken is one of the most vivid. It was my college standby meal, for when the devil on my shoulder said, “We could just get Panda Express, couldn’t we?” and the angel on my shoulder said, “Saving money is also really cool, you know.” In this case, the Mandarin Orange Chicken was the perfect compromise, although I think my post-grad spin on this frozen item just might be even better.

What’s So Great About Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken?

Much like the Chinese American takeout classic it emulates, the Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken has breaded nuggets of dark meat chicken that crisp up to a golden-brown in the oven (or, better yet, air fryer) for eight to 10 minutes. When tossed with the accompanying sweet-spicy-sticky orange sauce, it’s a great break-in-case-of-emergency meal to keep on hand when your DoorDash/Uber Eats/Postmates apps start sending you the siren song of coupons and alerts. Served with fluffy rice, roasted broccoli (which you can even roast alongside your chicken), and a sprinkling of green onions and chili crunch for a meal that’ll have you go, “Takeout, who?”

Full disclaimer: Trader Joe’s serving sizes are sort of a punchline all their own. This bag says it serves five, but for me it solidly serves my hunger levels at a solid 2.5 servings (two entrées plus a little cheeky bowl for when midnight snack time comes around), so proceed with those portions in mind if you’re looking to serve the whole fam.

What’s the Best Way to Use Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken?

On their own, the nuggets are flavored pretty neutrally, so they are a great open-access protein for all kinds of riffing, which I love doing when I want a sauce that’s less on the sweet side (and it is pretty sweet!). I often use it as a shortcut for fried and breaded chicken dishes, like brushing it with a Nashville chicken-style spicy oil for mini sliders and mimicking other takeout favorites by mixing up a Korean-inspired gochujang BBQ sauce to coat it and serve alongside plenty of banchan.

If I really want to put dinner on easy mode, I’ll toss it with another sauce like Buffalo, honey mustard, or a sticky BBQ (like Sweet Baby Ray’s) for throwing into a wrap or topping an easy workday-friendly lunch salad that my college self would be very impressed by.

Find it in stores: Trader Joe’s Mandarin Orange Chicken, $4.99 for 22 ounces

Have you tried Trader Joe’s iconic Mandarin Orange Chicken? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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Mackenzie Filson

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November 10, 2023
The Beloved European Breakfast Food That’s Taking Over Grocery Shelves — And Will Be Your New Weekday Staple

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Waffles have long been an important American breakfast staple. The concept arrived with the Pilgrims in 1620, after a stop in Holland, and the Dutch immigrants who settled in New York helped cement its place on our morning tables.

Despite all that, since Belgian beauties were introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair, winning Americans over with soft, fluffy middles and quartered portions, there hasn’t been too much change on the waffle front — until recently. You may have noticed there’s a hot new European import that’s creeping up in multiple aisles at the grocery store: Belgian Liege waffles. And, dare I say, they’re in a league all their own.

Liege waffles, named after the city where they were invented, aren’t anything new overseas. “When you go to Belgium, you’ll be offered two types [of waffles],” explains Lynsey Edge, a head of new product development for St. Pierre Bakery, a beloved brioche brand. “The Brussels waffle, made from a liquid batter, and a Liege waffle, made from a yeasted raised dough, which includes sugar pearls.” These two traits are the key differences between conventional and Liege waffles, which St. Pierre launched in March.

Because Liege waffles are made with dough that’s pressed into an iron, they’re more compact, fat, and irregular around the edges, points out Ayeshah Abuelhiga, CEO and founder of Mason Dixie Foods, a Baltimore-based company that makes frozen biscuits, waffles, and breakfast sandwiches. “Belgian waffles are usually rectangular or square,” she notes, or wedges from a round iron.

And they’re not made with any ol’ dough: Both Mason Dixie Foods and St. Pierre Bakery use brioche as the base for a richer, more indulgent, and denser bite.

On top — or, should I say, inside — of that is pearl sugar, what Joe Beauprez, a senior director of marketing for Frozen Foods at Kellogg Company, Eggo’s parent company, calls the “magical ingredient” that makes the brand’s Liege-Style Waffles “so delicious.” He adds, “It gives it an added crunch and sweet layer around the exterior.” Edge agrees, which is probably why her brand is “generous with [the] sugar pearls.”

Why Are We Suddenly So Sweet on Liege Waffles?

Well, a few reasons: Waffles are trending, and not just on social media. “Waffles are a growing category in the U.S., worth $1.2 billion in retail and up 10 percent on last year,” says Edge. “We are seeing double-digit year-over-year growth trends in Liege waffles in the U.S., especially in food service locations (like restaurants and cafes),” adds Beauprez, “which grew 39% over the last year.”

“They’re a great base for creative food ideas,” says Abuelhiga, coupled with the grab-and-go appeal for parents and others returning to their offices. Plus, as Edge points out, “the trend for ‘premiumization,’” or shoppers looking to elevate their everyday meals (a carryover from home cooking at the height of the pandemic) “is still alive and well.”

3 Liege Waffles to Seek Out

When we say Liege waffles are popping up all over grocery stores, we really do mean all over. You can now find them in the freezer, fridge, and bread or bakery sections, including the highly sought-after end-of-aisle displays. You’ll even find them in bulk warehouses (hello, Costco) and online retailers, like Goldbelly. There are well over a dozen options (all taste best warm — a quick spin in the toaster unlocks the waffle’s crunchy elements and its aroma). These are three to keep an eye out for on your next grocery run.

1. St. Pierre Brioche Waffles with Butter

You may find other brands on display in the bakery department (some for individual sale), but St. Pierre’s crackling sweet, but subtly and gently flavored Liege waffles with butter (lightened with a little oil) take the win in this category. “We make them slightly thicker for a bigger bite,” Edge shares. Additionally, this brand, known for its luxe brioche bread, makes its waffles with its signature dough — fresh yeast, whole eggs, and nib or pearl sugar — a major differentiator you can taste, compared to brands who will mix their doughs with just granulated sugar.

Buy: St. Pierre Brioche Waffles with Butter, $5.99 for 6 at Kroger

2. Kellogg’s Eggo Grab & Go Liege-Style Waffles

The newest waffle from the iconic brand is the only one in its line that doesn’t require reheating nor freezer space (although you may find it in the freezer section at your local grocer). It can be refrigerated for 15 to 35 days without any degradation of quality, and eaten as soon as it comes to room temperature. The waffles thaw in under an hour if you do choose to keep them frozen.

What sets Eggo above the other fridge-chilled brands is the “unforgettable nostalgia” of the distinctive Eggo taste, but with a richer flavor and fuller texture, and its availability in three different flavors. Strawberry and Buttery Maple launched first, giving us the option of an even more flavorful Liege-style waffle, and in May Vanilla Bean joined the ranks. No other brand is offering this selection, allowing Eggo to dominate with options.

Buy: Kellogg’s Eggo Buttery Maple Liege-Style Waffles, $5.99 for 4 waffles at Instacart

3. Mason Dixie Maple Liege Waffles

These are my personal number-one pick. Still, I couldn’t put my finger on what made these waffles so extraordinary. Luckily, Abuelhiga was happy to help me grasp exactly why I love them so much: Not only do they contain 100% butter and no oils, but they also “use pearl sugar crystals sourced directly from Belgium and whole-grain wheat flour for a hearty and satisfying texture.” Mystery solved. It’s the nutty, deeper flavors, the more robust crunch, and the embedding of the large nib sugar and maple and molasses throughout the waffle that creates spectacular “crispy sugar pockets,” as she calls them.

They also come in an excellent apple cinnamon flavor, with chunks of ripe fruit pressed into every fragrant waffle. If you want to kick things up yet another notch, the company recently released slightly thinner Liege waffles in sandwich form with a savory chicken sausage patty (you’d never guess it wasn’t pork!) squeezed in the middle. While you can let the waffles come to room temperature, you’ll need a microwave or oven for these sandwiches!

Buy: Mason Dixie Maple Liege Waffles, $6.99 for 4 waffles at Amazon

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Su-Jit Lin

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November 9, 2023
The 6 Cheapest Grocery Stores in America

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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

A very common experience for me lately is the dreaded look I give my grocery receipt. It’s a big side eye, admittedly. You might relate, instinctively holding your breath as you scan it, likely noticing that it seems to still be quite expensive these days. While, overall, the annual inflation rate has been declining, food prices have still risen 3.7% between September 2022 and September 2023. Ugh!

Regardless of whether you feel inflation’s effects on your grocery run, we’d all love to save a few extra dollars each week, right? Right. So it was high time to really nail down where the end-all, be-all, cheap grocery stores are. I used to work at a grocery store (and have many takes on how we value our groceries!), so I have my own rubric for what makes for a good and affordable experience — especially because “cheapness” can be pretty relative, depending on the shopper. After all, why praise a less-expensive retailer if its apples are consistently mealy or the cashiers are surly?

Shopping experience: Is it easy to search for items? Is the selection wide-ranging (meaning you have to make fewer stops at other stores)? Perhaps the retailer offers helpful recipe inspiration or weekly deals? Is the customer service attentive and helpful? Bonus points if grocery shopping in person or on-site becomes an ultra-delightful task, rather than merely a chore.

Service locations: I opted for grocers who either have locations or offer delivery, in the case for online grocers, for a wide swath of the country. In some instances, I’ve also highlighted beloved regional grocers that have exceptional deals.

Cost and quality: Some shoppers value cheapness as the most important quality in their shop, while others value ingredient quality or a wide selection of items. Ideally, we’re looking to be located in the center of the venn diagram for all three.

Your perceived value of said grocers may vary, but across the board these retailers have a pretty equivalent ratio of pleasant shopping experience (and quality items) for the price.

Credit: Sundry Photography / Shutterstock

1. Best Online & One-Stop Shop: Walmart+

In-store or online, Walmart has outscored most other retailers in a side-by-side comparison shop of standard items. So it’s no surprise that its online shopping and delivery arm, Walmart+, is just as impressive. As the saying goes, time is money (and, uh, money is money), which makes Walmart+ a true twofer — the service will help you save a whole lot of both.

In fact, the retailer reports you can save 90+ hours and $1300 a year by using the service (the membership currently costs $12.95 per month or $98 for the year). That’s time and money you could be spending on perfecting your pickleball serve and finally watching all the extended editions of the Lord of the Rings movies. Plus, the online selection mirrors that of what you’d find in store, with no delivery minimums and free delivery.

2. Best Pantry Essentials: Aldi

No surprise here! Aldi is well-known for having an ultra-affordable selection across the board. In fact, a recent study found that Aldi was chosen 90% of the time amongst respondents for having the highest value for their money. Plus, you can pick up wine, cheese, and maybe even a flattering dress before you head to the check out. Much like other discount retailers, like Lidl, Aldi is what I call “IKEA-ified,” in that it greatly scales down its overhead (in the form of lighter staffing, self-bagging practices, and simplified displays that can be refilled easily), which means the savings pass on to the customer.

The interior of the store is where Aldi truly shines; you can stock up on all your pantry essentials, like pasta, beans, cereal, and canned goods. You’ll be hard-pressed to find better deals on your everyday needs than at Aldi, which is my family’s pick for bagged coffees, canned waters, and nut butters (at the time of writing, you can get Nutella for under $4!). Run, don’t walk, to Aldi.

Credit: Jonathan Weiss/ Shutterstock

4. Best Frozen: Trader Joe’s

Trader Joe’s consistently has achieved best-in-class marks for the customer experience in its stores, namely for the checkout experience. Even if you aren’t flirting openly with your cashier, there’s plenty to love about Trader Joe’s, like the affordable flowers, fresh produce (that comes in every morning), and all the new seasonal items that seem to have been concocted in an evil genius’ lab.

Still, there’s one section at Trader Joe’s that rises above the rest. I used to work for the company, so I know firsthand where all the customers would inevitably bottleneck: in the frozen food aisle. Not only does it have quality dishes from all around the world (which has saved me tons on takeout), but the selection is also massive for the store, which has such a small footprint as compared to most traditional grocers. At any point in time you can find frozen tamales for under $3, a holiday-worthy dessert for under $7, and a party-ready appetizer for right around $4.

Credit: JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock

5. Best Bulk: WinCo Foods

Ever wish you could get wholesale warehouse prices but without the membership? Then WinCo Foods needs to be on your radar. With 139 locations across 10 states from California to Oklahoma, WinCo Foods is a majority employee-owned company, meaning employees earn shares in company stock.

Similar to warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s, WinCo is a no-frills warehouse-style shopping experience, and keeps prices low by enlisting customers to bag their own groceries and buying directly from product manufacturers. If you’re always on the hunt for low-price bulk items and household staples at steep discounts, a trip to WinCo foods could save you serious cash.

Credit: Sundry Photography/Shutterstock

6. Best Outlet: Grocery Outlet

There was my life before I discovered Grocery Outlet, and my life after I discovered Grocery Outlet — and they are very much not the same. If you’re new to this fine retail establishment, let me introduce you: As the name suggests, Grocery Outlet is an outlet-style grocery store, meaning it stocks excess inventory directly from other grocery manufacturers and sells at a discount.

With locations in California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Oregon, amongst others, each Grocery Outlet’s selection is different depending on the location of the store in relation to the manufacturers. It always keeps a solid selection of name-brand and private-label staples, as well as fresh products, like meat, dairy, and bread. What really makes Grocery Outlet worth a visit is its natural and organic section, which typically features vegan and gluten-free items that can often be pricey at other retailers.

Did your favorite discount retailer make the list? Tell us about it in the comments.

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Mackenzie Filson

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November 4, 2023
One paycheck not enough: Digital bank Current finds almost half its customers have multiple jobs

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The need for second — and often third — incomes is mounting, according to a top digital bank executive.

Current CEO Stuart Sopp finds almost half of the firm’s payment customers have more than one job.

“If you’re having a paycheck over the past year, 20, 25% of paycheck depositors have at least one extra job. A further 20% incremental from there have two jobs,” Sopp told CNBC’s “Fast Money” on Thursday. “They’re trying to make that money go further because of inflation.”

From DoorDash to Shopify to side businesses, Sopp finds the number is higher than prior years because money doesn’t go as far.

“Wage inflation is moderating quite substantially,” he said. “America has a sort of tail of two cities right now. Two groups: The wealthy and less affluent.”

Sopp launched Current, which provides mobile banking without monthly fees and offers secured credit cards, in 2015. It originally focused on helping medium to lower income customers. His company Current reports almost five million members.

He’s particularly concerned about less affluent consumers spiraling into debt to pay for basic necessities.

“They’re being forced into risks like risky credit cards,” noted Sopp, a former Morgan Stanley trader. “Unsecured credit cards… are not suitable for everyone.”

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York found credit card debt topped $1 trillion for the first time ever in the second quarter.

“It’s going to be way bigger this year,” Sopp said.

Disclaimer

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November 2, 2023
If You Buy One Thing from Aldi This Holiday Season, It Should Be This New $6 Find

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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

This holiday season doesn’t have an official start date (for some, eh hem Hallmark, it’s a year-round spectacular). Aldi has been consistently sprinkling in festive food and drinks since late summer, including nearly two dozen different cheeses and 10 (count ‘em!) new premium wines. NBD.

This week, though, the discount grocer is really kicking things into high gear. We got a sneak peek at the Aldi Holiday Home Event at hundreds of items hitting shelves now through the rest of the year. There are budget-friendly mains, chocolatey treats, and even more cheeses if you can believe it.

All in, more than 70 new items will be coming soon to an Aldi near you. If there’s one you want to look out for, it’s this $6 bundle of Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs.

What’s So Great About Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs?

If you’re familiar with the joy that is a hot cocoa bomb, these are chocolate orbs filled with hot cocoa mix (of course) and mini marshmallows. The Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs are made with Belgian chocolate and sold in packs of three. (They’re so new, the packaging wasn’t even available at the time we previewed the holiday items!)

Each $5.99 box includes a dark, milk, and white chocolate cocoa bomb, which means there’s a sphere for everyone on the cocoa-loving spectrum. Find them in stores starting November 2.

What’s the Best Way to Serve Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs?

There’s a reason hot cocoa bombs have remained, well, hot. In addition to being a bit magical (the melting spheres are oh-so-mesmerizing), they are downright delicious. Just as you would with any ‘ol cocoa mix, you could very easily add these orbs to hot milk or water. You’ll have a nice mug of hot cocoa in mere seconds.

If you want to go all-in on the decadence, I highly recommend — as in, I can’t sing the praises of this move enough — placing one of these hot cocoa bombs into an empty mug and then pouring ready-made hot cocoa over it instead of milk or water. (I went with a dark chocolate bomb and milk chocolate cocoa. You can mix and match to your liking.) The chocolate on chocolate adds a richness that’s on par with some of my favorite hot chocolate spots in New York City.

There’s also no limit to the toppings you can add: whipped cream, chocolate chips (make it a trifecta!), cookies, rolled wafers, sprinkles … you name it. After all, it is the holidays.

Find it in stores: Choceur Hot Cocoa Bombs, $5.99 for 3 bombs at Aldi

What Aldi finds are you scouting for the holidays? Tell us in the comments below.

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Mara Weinraub

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October 28, 2023
From groceries to flights to mobile data: Why is Canada so expensive? – MoneySense

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That doesn’t mean everything costs more in Canada, says David Soberman, a professor of marketing and Canadian national chair of strategic marketing at the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management. Canadians may pay more than Americans for the same basket of goods, he says, but we pay less than people in some other countries, like Switzerland.

Why do we pay what we do? That’s a difficult question to answer. The reasons are complex and vary depending on the type of good or service. Let’s look at some of the main contributors to Canada’s cost of living, why they are as expensive as they are, and steps you can take to reduce those costs.

Why are groceries so expensive in Canada?

There are a few reasons groceries cost so much in Canada, says Soberman. It’s expensive for companies to ship food products across a country as large as ours, and those costs are reflected in what you pay in stores, he says. But a highly concentrated grocery industry is also a big contributing factor.

Canada’s grocery market is dominated by just a few companies. Domestically, there are three big players: Loblaws, Metro and Sobeys. (Some chains, such as Save-On-Foods in Western Canada, compete on a regional basis.) The next largest retailers for grocery sales are Walmart and Costco. Together, these five companies account for more than three-quarters of all food sales in Canada, according to Canada’s Competition Bureau. In 2023, 49% of Canadians report buying groceries from Loblaws or one of its sister stores.

Critics argue such concentration allows the dominant companies to participate in anti-competitive practices that ultimately harm consumers through higher prices. In grocery, this takes the form of fixing bread prices, preventing competitors from selling certain products, or collectively deciding when to freeze grocery prices—and when to unfreeze them. It’s a problem experts say applies to other industries, such as telecommunications and air travel.

When Canada’s Competition Act was introduced, in 1986, there were at least eight large grocery chains in Canada, each owned by a different company. Since then, more than a dozen major mergers and acquisitions have reduced the level of competition. Today, three big supermarket companies own several smaller chains, including discount brands that could be mistaken for rivals: Loblaws has No Frills, Sobeys has FreshCo and Metro has Food Basics, for example.

Source: The Competition Bureau of Canada.

How does Canada allow for three big grocers to reign? “The law in Canada typically will not allow the Bureau to intervene in these deals, as they are generally seen as unlikely to have a significant impact on prices and other dimensions of competition,” states a Competition Bureau report. “In the case of a major city or suburb, with five or six different grocery stores nearby, it can be hard to prove that removing one option will cause prices to go up significantly.”

Another underlying issue is that, for many decades, the prevailing view was that “as a small, but large country, we need to accept lower levels of competition to achieve a scale that is necessary to serve the various markets,” says Keldon Bester, executive director of the Canadian Anti-Monopoly Project (CAMP). Over time, that belief has led to fewer and fewer options for consumers, he says.

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Justin Dallaire

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October 27, 2023
I Tried More than a Dozen New Groceries Hitting Shelves This October — These Are the Ones Worth Adding to Your List

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We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.

October is one of my favorite months because it’s finally, truly fall. I love witnessing the transitioning hues of orange, yellow, and red on the treelines and seeing Halloween decorations spring up — stringy spider webs and towering skeletons and pumpkins carved with smirking faces. That, and scouring the grocery aisles for new treats.

October is the month to finally go full steam ahead with autumnal produce (exhibit A: this meltingly tender cabbage), and also start thinking about the upcoming holidays. Speaking of fresh starts, I sampled more than a dozen of new groceries hitting shelves throughout the month. Among the list of latest must-haves, you’ll find buttery cookies, an apple-flavored soda, spicy tinned mussels, and more. These are the surprising delights I suggest you seek out during your next grocery shop.

1. La Monarca Cafe Mexican Wedding Cookies

For a blissful melt-in-your-mouth bite, pick up a pack of these Mexican wedding cookies developed by Los Angeles-based La Monarca Cafe. Each cookie is coated in powdered sugar and has a crumbly texture that dissolves on the tongue with plenty of buttery flavor. For an ideal pairing, pick up a bag of La Monarca’s cafe de olla coffee; the sweet and bitter notes of the coffee are perfect for washing down the cookies.

Buy: La Monarca Cafe Mexican Wedding Cookies, $5.99 for 6 ounces at World Market and Costco

2. Olipop Crisp Apple Soda

The can design of Olipop’s returning fall flavor, crisp apple, has the coziest vibe. It makes me want to sit inside on a rainy day and read a book by a fireplace. Not only that, but the sparkling prebiotic soda inside is also true to its name and boasts a crisp and sweet-but-not-too-sweet apple flavor. It’s a grown-up version of the sparkling apple cider provided for the kids at every holiday meal — plus, each can has a whole nine grams of fiber (32% of daily value).

Buy: Olipop Crisp Apple Soda, $35.99 for 12 (12-ounce) cans at Amazon; also available at Sprouts, Whole Foods, Target, and Walmart

4. A-Sha Spicy Beef Pho Rice Noodle Soup

Will this cup of instant pho taste better than your favorite Vietnamese neighborhood spot? No. Is it extremely easy to make and a satisfying snack? Yes. Each cup, designed in collaboration with Sanrio, comes with a pouch of dehydrated carrots and green onions and a dark red soup base that definitely has a kick. It doesn’t really taste like pho; there aren’t the warming spices and clear, simple broth that the beloved soup possesses, but it is nice to have an instant noodle alternative that carries rice noodles instead of fried ramen noodles. Just make sure not to overcook the rice noodles, which rehydrate faster than other standard instant noodles.

Find it in stores: A-sha Spicy Beef Pho Rice Noodle Soup, $22.49 for 6 (2-ounce) packs at Target, Costco, and H-Mart

5. Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels

The tinned fish craze hasn’t slowed down and I’m perfectly fine with that because the options keep getting better and better. Take these spicy mussels from Patagonia Provisions, for example: They’re briny, meaty, and tangy with an undercurrent of heat, thanks to cayenne pepper in every bite. The mussels hail from Spain and Portugal and are sourced from family-owned farms. Make sure to have a side of crusty bread to soak up the broth, olive oil, and chunks of red bell peppers in each tin.

Buy: Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels, $8 for 4.2 ounces at Patagonia Provisions

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Kat Thompson

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October 20, 2023
This Simple Trick Takes 5 Seconds — And It Could Save You Money At The Grocery Store

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Imagine you’re at the grocery store picking up all the ingredients you need to bake the most epic birthday cake ever baked.

There’s one problem: You can’t remember if you’ve got eggs, baking powder or enough flour to create the masterpiece your family expects. You could buy everything just in case, but if you’d taken quick photos of your fridge and your pantry, you could reference them at the store and save yourself some time and money.

This is just one of the brilliant tips that we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — discovered while chatting with Kristen Aiken, HuffPost’s head of Life and Commerce, to find out how we might be grocery shopping wrong and how we can do it better.

Listen to the episode below and find out the real reason grocery stores rearrange their layouts (and why it might be causing you to spend more), if you should be buying generic instead of name-brand products, and more:

Need some help with something you’ve been doing wrong? Email us at AmIDoingItWrong@HuffPost.com, and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.

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October 19, 2023
Instacart files to go public on Nasdaq to try and unfreeze tech IPO market

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Instacart, the grocery delivery company that slashed its valuation during last year’s market slide, filed its paperwork to go public on Friday in what’s poised to be the first significant venture-backed tech IPO since December 2021.

The stock will be listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “CART.” In its prospectus, the company said net income totaled $114 million, while revenue in the latest quarter hit $716 million, a 15% increase from the year-ago period. Instacart has now been profitable for five straight quarters, according to the filing. PepsiCo has agreed to purchase $175 million of the company’s stock in a private placement.

Instacart said it will continue to focus on incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning features into the platform, and that the company expects to “rely on AIML solutions to help drive future growth in our business.” In May, Instacart said it was leaning into the generative AI boom with Ask Instacart, a search tool that aims to answer customers’ grocery shopping questions.

“We believe the future of grocery won’t be about choosing between shopping online and in-store,” CEO Fidji Simo wrote in the prospectus. “Most of us are going to do both. So we want to create a truly omni-channel experience that brings the best of the online shopping experience to physical stores, and vice versa.”

Instacart will try and crack open the IPO market, which has been mostly closed since late 2021. In December of that year, software vendor HashiCorp and Samsara, which develops cloud technology for industrial companies, went public, but there haven’t been any notable venture-backed tech IPOs since. Chip designer Arm, which is owned by Japan’s SoftBank, filed for a Nasdaq listing on Monday.

Founded in 2012 and initially incorporated as Maplebear Inc., Instacart will join a crop of so-called gig economy companies on the public market, following the debut in 2020 of Airbnb and DoorDash and car-sharing companies Uber and Lyft a year earlier. They’ve not been a great bet for investors, as only Airbnb is currently trading above its IPO price.

Instacart shoppers and drivers deliver goods in over 5,500 cities from more than 40,000 grocers and other stores, according to its website. The business took off during the covid pandemic as consumers avoided public places. But profitability has always been a major challenge, as it is across much of the gig economy, because of high costs associated with paying all those contractors.

Headcount peaked in the second quarter of 2022, Instacart said, “and declined over the next two quarters, reducing our fixed operating cost base.” At the end of June, the company had 3,486 full-time employees.

In March of last year, Instacart slashed its valuation to $24 billion from $39 billion as public stocks sank. The valuation reportedly fell by another 50% by late 2022. Instacart listed Amazon, Target, Walmart and DoorDash among its competitors.

The biggest area for cost reductions has been in general and administrative expenses. Those costs shrank to $51 million in the latest quarter from $77 million a year earlier and a peak of $102 million in the final period of 2021. Instacart said the drop was the “result of lower fees related to legal matters and settlements.”

Simo took over as Instacart’s CEO in August 2021 and became chair of the company’s board in July 2022. She was previously head of Facebook’s app at Meta and reported directly to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Apoorva Mehta, Instacart’s founder and executive chairman, plans to transition off the board after the company’s public market debut, according to a 2022 release.

The company’s board also includes Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy, Snowflake CEO Frank Slootman and Andreessen Horowitz’s Jeff Jordan.

Instacart will be one of the first independent grocery delivery companies to go public. Amazon Fresh, Walmart Grocery and Google Express are all units of large corporations. Shipt was acquired by Target in 2017 and Fresh Direct, another direct-to-consumer grocery delivery company, was bought by global food retailer Ahold Delhaize in 2021.

Sequoia Capital and D1 Capital Partners are the only shareholders owning at least 5% of the stock. Instacart said those two firms, along with Norges Bank Investment Management and entities affiliated with TCV and Valiant Capital Management, have “indicated an interest, severally and not jointly” in purchasing up to $400 million of shares in the IPO at the offering price.

Instacart’s move into AI has come largely through a string of acquisitions in the past two years. Those deals include the purchase of e-commerce startup Rosie, AI-powered pricing firm Eversight, AI shopping cart and checkout solutions provider Caper, and FoodStorm, a software startup specializing in self-serve kiosks for in-store customers.

The company also touted its use of machine learning in predicting grocery availability for retailers and increasing consumer sales. It said its algorithms predict availability every two hours for the “large majority” of its 1.4 billion grocery items, and that more than 70% of customers purchased items through Instacart’s recommendation algorithm in the second quarter of 2023.

Goldman Sachs is leading the offering. That’s the former employer of Instacart finance chief Nick Giovanni, who was previously global head of the tech, media and telecom group at the investment bank.

WATCH: Instacart files for IPO

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August 25, 2023
Here’s why Americans can’t stop living paycheck to paycheck

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For many Americans, payday can’t come soon enough. As of June, 61% of adults are living paycheck to paycheck, according to a LendingClub report. In other words, they rely on those regular paychecks to meet essential living expenses, with little to no money left over.

Almost three-quarters, 72%, of Americans say they aren’t financially secure given their current financial standing, and more than a quarter said they will likely never be financially secure, according to a survey by Bankrate.

“There are actually millions of people struggling,” said Ida Rademacher, vice president at the Aspen Institute. “It’s not something that people want to talk about, but if you were in a place where your financial security feels superprecarious, you’re not alone.”

This struggle is nothing new. Principal Financial Group found in 2010 that 75% of workers were concerned about their financial futures. What’s more, since 1979, wages for the bottom 90% of earners had grown just 15%, compared with 138% for the top 1%, according to a 2015 Economic Policy Institute report. But there’s now a renewed focus on wage-earner anxiety amid higher inflation and rising interest rates.

More from Personal Finance:
Americans think they need a $233,000 salary, nearly $1.3 million for retirement
Why Americans are struggling with car loans
Majority of parents spend 20% or more of household income on child care

The typical worker takes home $3,308 per month after taxes and benefits, based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But when you take a look at the cost of some of the most essential expenses today, it’s easy to see why consumers feel strained.

The median monthly rent in the U.S. was $2,029 as of June, according to Redfin. That amount already accounts for about 61% of the median take-home pay.

Meanwhile, the Council for Community and Economic Research reported that the median mortgage payment for a 2,400–square-foot house was $1,957 per month during the first quarter of 2023, which accounts for about 59% of the median take-home pay.

“Inflation is really hurting individuals having stability in their housing,” said certified financial planner Kamila Elliott, co-founder and CEO of Collective Wealth Partners in Atlanta. She is a member of CNBC’s Financial Advisor Council. “If you have uncertainty in your housing, it causes uncertainty everywhere.”

Combine that with the average $690.75 Americans spend each month on food and out-of-pocket health expenditures that cost the average American $96.42 monthly, and you get a total expense of $2,816.17 for renters and $2,744.17 for homeowners.

That amount already accounts for just over 85% of the median take-home pay for average American renters and almost 83% for an average homeowner. This is excluding other essential expenses such as transportation, child care and debt payments.

“So much of managing your financial life in America today is like drinking from a firehose that many households are not able to show up and impose a framework of their own design onto their finances,” said Rademacher. “Many are still in this reactionary space where they’re just trying to figure out how to make ends meet.”

Watch the video to learn more about why financial security feels so impossible in the U.S. today.

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August 17, 2023
8 Store-Bought Stuffing Mixes That Are Probably Better Than Homemade

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Whether you’re hosting a full-scale family feast, a laidback friendsgiving or even a small holiday dinner for two, a traditional Thanksgiving meal with all the fixings often feels like a must-do culinary endeavor. That said, a spread of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, gravy and cranberry sauce is a time-consuming kitchen project (we haven’t even mentioned pie yet), and a shortcut or two can help reduce the stress and keep you in a festive mood.

For example, instead of taking the time to chop and dry out loaves of bread to make stuffing from scratch, you can speed the stuffing-making process along by purchasing a pre-made mix.

Stuffing mix sometimes gets a bad rap, with naysayers claiming that it’s less flavorful and less texturally rich than the homemade stuff. But we fully stand behind these eight widely available versions, which we recommend based on our own testing experiences and on the advice of professional chefs.

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

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November 2, 2022