Saving Money on Healthy Food
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First, let me say that this will all seem overwhelming and look like it is too much, taken in steps, it is not. Start with the basics, then add new ways to save as you get better at this.
Saving money on healthy food starts at home...Start with a decided grocery budget (this can apply to emergency preps as well) – this will keep you on track and spending responsibly.
Limit eating out to special occasions, the money saved will help you buy more groceries.
This includes your morning Dunkin or Starbucks coffee, making your coffee at home saves a ton of money. Bring your own water bottle for the day too.
Menu Planning – I plan our menus in advance so that I can stick to a budget and make sure that we do not waste the fresh food that we have. Check your pantry to see what is expiring soon so that you can meal plan with those items. We have a Family Recipe Book that we plan from. Everyone gets to pick a favorite meal each month. Plan simple meals during the work week. Plan with portions in mind. Using portions saves you money and keeps everyone healthy. Plan for leftovers to be used as lunch the next day.
You can plan using Double Batch cooking. Cook two meals at one time, eat one, and then freeze the other for a later date in the month. This saves you from those last-minute fast-food sprees when you are just too tired to cook.
You can also meal prep ahead of time. Make your lunches for the week in meal prep containers.
Simplify your diet, and stay away from unhealthy and expensive packaged processed foods.
Avoid food waste by using the FIFO (First In First Out) Method. Put the new items behind the old items in your fridge or pantry. You are using up the oldest food in your fridge or pantry first and less goes to waste.
Avoid more waste by using veggie scraps to make veggie broth. You can also keep fat trimmings to render for cooking fat. Save the bones to make bone broth. Use everything you can.
Get coupons for the best prices for the food on your list. Make sure that you do not fall into the trap of buying an item just because you have a coupon for it. You do not have to buy a newspaper to collect coupons.
Simplify your diet, and stay away from unhealthy and expensive packaged processed foods.
Avoid food waste by using the FIFO (First In First Out) Method. Put the new items behind the old items in your fridge or pantry. You are using up the oldest food in your fridge or pantry first and less goes to waste.
Avoid more waste by using veggie scraps to make veggie broth. You can also keep fat trimmings to render for cooking fat. Save the bones to make bone broth. Use everything you can.
Get coupons for the best prices for the food on your list. Make sure that you do not fall into the trap of buying an item just because you have a coupon for it. You do not have to buy a newspaper to collect coupons.
Check your favorite stores and their websites/social media for online coupons.
Check to see if you have friends that do not use their coupons.
Join or start a coupon group.
Just make sure you are familiar with what coupons your grocery store will accept before shopping.
Download store circular apps, and check them for the best deals! You can plan your menu by what is on sale.
Credit card rewards, use credit cards that give you grocery rewards and cashback for more groceries. Caution: This only works if you pay off the card each month.
Look for homemade recipes, do it yourself! Yes, homemade is often more expensive. However, the cost of healthcare outweighs the cost of homemade. This way you know exactly what is in your food and you can skip all the extra chemicals and additives.
Preserve (freeze, can, ferment, pickle, or dehydrate) food that you cannot use right away.
Consider joining or starting a buying club.
While shopping…
When you go into a store plan on sticking to the outer aisles unless there are specific items you need within. Stick to that list and only buy your menu items if you do venture into the middle of the store. The outer aisles are where the healthiest food is. If you stay away from the inner aisles you do not even see the junk processed food and it helps to avoid impulse buying. Better yet, shop on your store's app and pick up your food. That way you know exactly what you will be spending and you will not be tempted by extras.
Do not buy ready-to-eat produce, it is never a deal. Take the time to wash and cut your own.
Choose Generic over Brand Name whenever possible.
Take advantage of store loyalty programs, use that reward card!
Price check between stores and websites for the best buys. Take advantage of price matching.
Pay attention to unit prices. That way you can see if it is a good deal or not. Smaller packages are not always more expensive.
ONLINE Shopping
I do most of my shopping online.
I have a very specific diet that I must follow: no grains and processed food. I order specialty items at Thrive Market #AD #Referral (40% Off your first order when you become a member.) I also order from local farmers at Delivered Fresh.
I also order from Misfits Market #AD #Referral($10 off your first order.) and Azure Standard. #AD #Referral
Farmer’s Markets/CSA
Check Local Harvest for local farmers and farmer's markets
Visit local farmer's markets and farm stores, or pick a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - you buy a seasonal share of the farmer’s crops) to support your community.
Buy meat from local farmers and butchers with friends to share the cost of buying in bulk
Food is often cheaper and is always much fresher – supermarket produce is often very old by the time it gets to you
Often you can find great deals around closing time at Farmer’s Markets or Farm stores
Growing Your Own Food
This is the ultimate way to save on healthy food! Learn to grow your own veggies, microgreens, herbs, and fruit. Start small and then grow more in time. Learn how to preserve your extra food. Be sure to buy non-GMO heirloom seeds. This will eventually save you a ton of money!
You can start a garden swap and trade produce with neighbors.
Foraging
Buy books on foraging for your location and learn to forage in the land around you. Find a local mentor who you can learn with.
Just be sure to avoid roadside plants as they have most likely been sprayed or had salt dumped on them from road maintenance.
Download store circular apps, and check them for the best deals! You can plan your menu by what is on sale.
Credit card rewards, use credit cards that give you grocery rewards and cashback for more groceries. Caution: This only works if you pay off the card each month.
Look for homemade recipes, do it yourself! Yes, homemade is often more expensive. However, the cost of healthcare outweighs the cost of homemade. This way you know exactly what is in your food and you can skip all the extra chemicals and additives.
Preserve (freeze, can, ferment, pickle, or dehydrate) food that you cannot use right away.
Consider joining or starting a buying club.
While shopping…
When you go into a store plan on sticking to the outer aisles unless there are specific items you need within. Stick to that list and only buy your menu items if you do venture into the middle of the store. The outer aisles are where the healthiest food is. If you stay away from the inner aisles you do not even see the junk processed food and it helps to avoid impulse buying. Better yet, shop on your store's app and pick up your food. That way you know exactly what you will be spending and you will not be tempted by extras.
Do not buy ready-to-eat produce, it is never a deal. Take the time to wash and cut your own.
Choose Generic over Brand Name whenever possible.
Take advantage of store loyalty programs, use that reward card!
Price check between stores and websites for the best buys. Take advantage of price matching.
Pay attention to unit prices. That way you can see if it is a good deal or not. Smaller packages are not always more expensive.
ONLINE Shopping
I do most of my shopping online.
I have a very specific diet that I must follow: no grains and processed food. I order specialty items at Thrive Market #AD #Referral (40% Off your first order when you become a member.) I also order from local farmers at Delivered Fresh.
I also order from Misfits Market #AD #Referral($10 off your first order.) and Azure Standard. #AD #Referral
Farmer’s Markets/CSA
Check Local Harvest for local farmers and farmer's markets
Visit local farmer's markets and farm stores, or pick a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture - you buy a seasonal share of the farmer’s crops) to support your community.
Buy meat from local farmers and butchers with friends to share the cost of buying in bulk
Food is often cheaper and is always much fresher – supermarket produce is often very old by the time it gets to you
Often you can find great deals around closing time at Farmer’s Markets or Farm stores
Growing Your Own Food
This is the ultimate way to save on healthy food! Learn to grow your own veggies, microgreens, herbs, and fruit. Start small and then grow more in time. Learn how to preserve your extra food. Be sure to buy non-GMO heirloom seeds. This will eventually save you a ton of money!
You can start a garden swap and trade produce with neighbors.
Foraging
Buy books on foraging for your location and learn to forage in the land around you. Find a local mentor who you can learn with.
Just be sure to avoid roadside plants as they have most likely been sprayed or had salt dumped on them from road maintenance.
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