Organic food shopping can be expensive – we have all heard Whole Foods called “Whole Paycheck”, right? Buying healthy, organic food for yourself and your family doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, if you follow some of the tips that I use when I do my green marketing, you can get all of the high-quality organic groceries that you love, without the hefty price tag. Read on to learn my 7 favorite ways to save money while organic food shopping to get started.
1. Shop with Coupons
There are many fantastic coupons floating around out there that can save you big bucks on organics – you just need to know where to find them. I always check my local organic food store for coupons – these are usually located inside the front doors and I always drop by the customer service counter to see if they have any manufacturer coupons available. (Which they always do!) You would be surprised the amount of coupons, they will give you. You can also check my eco-friendly + organic coupons section for free printable and mail-order coupons.
2. Shop the Store Brand
Whether you are shopping at your local grocer, Whole Foods or Costco, chances are that they offer fantastic organic products under their store name brand. Whole Foods has an excellent 365 Everyday Value Organic and Costco offers many organic products that are made by national brands.
3. Shop the Bulk
When purchasing dry goods such as rice, pasta, grains, beans, cereals, teas, coffee, flours, sugars, soup mixes, spices, snacks, dried fruits and trail mixes, hit the bulk section. This is a great way to save a ton of money and when you bring your own reusable containers, you also save the packaging waste.
4. Shop for Free
If there are particular organic products that you love, drop the manufacturer an email and let them know. In most cases they will thank you by sending you out free product coupons. You can also send an email to the manufacturers of organic products that you haven’t tried yet, but would love to. This is a great way to save a little dough. (I once purchased 6 cases of organic milk boxes for Eben’s school lunches for FREE, using coupons the manufacturer sent me – in that case, I saved $120).
5. Shop with a Friend
When it comes to big warehouse stores such as Costco, consider shopping with a friend. You probably don’t need a 20 pound bag of organic flour, but when you split the product and the cost with a friend, you both win. This is a great idea for purchasing organic goods in a large quantity without breaking the bank.
6. Shop Locally
The quickest and easiest way to save a little green while shopping organic is to shop locally. You don’t need to drive across town to the nearest organic grocery store to do your marketing. Instead, shop at your local grocer and hit the natural food section. Even better, shop your local farmer’s market or go straight to the farm. Or, plan to do your marketing at the organic grocer when you will be in that neighborhood for another reason, such as a doctor’s appointment or meeting. Saving gas money and emissions is just as important as saving money at the grocery store. Even better, shop your local farmer’s market or go straight to the farm.
7. Shop a CSA
When it comes to farm fresh organics including fruit, vegetables, dairy products, grass-fed beef, cage-free eggs, and other goodies, consider joining your local CSA. If you can’t use a whole share of a CSA yourself, consider splitting the cost with your friends or family members. This is great way to get whole, organic foods straight from the farm, while supporting your local farmers, community and saving money in the long run.
YOUR TURN: How do you save money when shopping for organics?Please leave your comments below – your tips help us all!
photo credit Jennie Lyon
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