Many of us would like to go organic, but we are concerned about our budget. This is a real concern, since organic is considerably more expensive than the non-organic items on the shelves.
How do we go about putting healthy, organic items on the table without breaking our budget? Here are some tips that I have found to help me out.
Buy your produce in season; this makes it much less expensive. If you have access to famer?s markets, or road side stands this is where you will get the most for your dollar. Many times I buy from these producers and freeze or can the produce for the winter months.
Become a member of a Co-Op.?You pay a certain amount for the year and get all of the fresh, organic produce you need for just a fraction of the price you would pay at the grocery store. This is becoming a popular thing, so you shouldn?t have much trouble finding one near you.
Buy in bulk. When you purchase produce in bulk you can get a better price. Then take the items home and can or freeze them for later use. You will have the freshness of summer produce all year long.
Grow your own herbs.?Herbs are relatively easy to grow and they can be grown inside all year long. This will save you money and you will have wonderful fresh herbs at your fingertips.
Plan your meals. This?will go a long way in saving you money. It is important that you understand what your family will and will not eat. This ensures that very little is thrown out, thus saving you money.
Shop online. You can order your organic, unprocessed sweeteners from Amazon. Check out their program called ?Subscribe and Save? this program enables you to purchase at a discount and get free shipping.
Cut the middle man. Have you ever considered buying your meats straight from the farm? This is a great money saver; with this you can possibly save hundreds of dollars each year. Check for organic farms in your area.
Indulge frugally. Learn how to make your own ?junk? foods, like cookies and cakes, rather than buying them pre-made and pre-packaged. These are very expensive to purchase. With a little research you can find many ideas and instructions on how to make these desserts from scratch.
Eat real food. Buy whole foods instead of packaged goods. With the packaged goods, you are paying for the packaging. Why would you want to pay for that when you need the money for buying food?
These are just a few tips for you to get started. If you are ambitious you can learn how to make your own breads, hamburger buns, pizza crust, and granola bars. This will go a long way in helping you to cut your organic grocery bill.
Photo courtesy Flickr / epSos
