Trader Joe's $1.49 Advent Calendars Won't Last Long (Get Them While You Can)

As a mom of young kids, the holiday season is often a beautiful blur of excitement, crafts, cookie-making, and watching my kids experience joy and magical moments. As much as I love it all, December can become an exhausting checklist of activities and expenses, which is why I've learned to more purposefully include simple things that bring a little joy into our everyday routine.

For example, a red-and-green-themed dinner (hello, simple pasta and salad night), a pre-fabricated gingerbread house, hot cocoa, letters to Santa, easy crafts like garlands or cards, and, of course, an Advent calendar.

That's why I got genuinely excited when I heard that Trader Joe's had a pretty special Milk Chocolate Advent Calendar. I've been shopping at TJ's for decades, and I don't know how I've never seen them until now. They're such a hit that they've been around since the 1990s, and somehow they're still just $1.49—a tiny miracle in today's economy. As soon as I discovered them, I grabbed one in each design (one for all four of us). 

Why I'm Excited About Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Advent Calendars

I think a lot about how to create core memories for my kids. I'm not talking about grand, elaborate traditions that require Pinterest-level planning (though sometimes I'm foolish enough to think I can pull them off). More often, I mean the small, consistent rituals that our kids will weave together into embroidered memories of feeling love, joy, and the presence of their parents.

Opening a door on an Advent calendar each morning or evening is a great example of this. It's small, but consistent because we do it each December. Plus, it makes the countdown to Christmas feel special without requiring any extra effort on my part. 

The TJ's calendar has 24 doors, each hiding a seasonally shaped piece of milk chocolate made with what Trader Joe's describes as a "generous amount of melt-in-your-mouth cocoa butter." There are four festive designs to choose from, so you can pick the one(s) that fit your family's vibe.

TJ's rotates through four whimsical covers each year, so even if you're not new to the Advent calendars, it can feel fresh and fun each season, and not like you're buying the same thing over and over.  What I already love about these Advent calendars is that they don't feel cheap, despite the price tag suggesting otherwise.

I'm waiting until December to open ours, but I've heard that, thanks to the generous use of cocoa butter, the chocolate has a smooth, creamy texture. My kids would not care either way. Chocolate is chocolate to them! But I've experienced waxy, flavorless "chocolate" with ultra-budget Advent calendars before, so I'm really looking forward to this one. 

For many families just trying to get their kids a single gift this year, or those aiming to keep holiday spending in check, it's a much more accessible option. This price-conscious calendar can provide some kids with a daily ritual and excitement without the stress or financial strain for their parents. 

These calendars have already hit the shelves in many (if not all) locations, and they sell out quickly—sometimes even before Thanksgiving. From what I've learned, Trader Joe's fans consider this one of the store's most iconic holiday items. So grab yours early and squirrel it away until December 1st, when we'll officially kick off the countdown together.

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