This is a guest post from Emily, who is a stay-at-home mom, mompreneur, and friend. Emily’s goal is to help lead families to a healthier, more environmentally friendly household without draining their bank accounts. You can find lots of tips and ideas on her blog, Mommy Made Green.
People are always asking me how I do what I do with the budget I have. My grocery budget is smaller than many of my friends’, and we eat all-natural and mostly organic. So how do I do it? First of all, I make many items from scratch, such as bread products, oatmeal, sauces, salad dressings, etc. However, there are two principles that I use for shopping:
- Buy in Bulk When You Can
- Shop Around
Buying in Bulk
I am a huge fan of Costco. I haven’t been in Sam’s Club for years, and I refuse to shop anywhere associated with Walmart (but that’s for another post). Costco has a ton of organic products, and they are all available in bulk for a fraction of the price at regular stores. Some of the regular products I buy there include salsa, chips, strawberry spread, almond butter, frozen organic vegetables, frozen organic berries, dishwashing soap, and even an organic clothing line that often goes on clearance.
I have recently connected with the owners of a local company called Grains-n-More, which sells products like flour, organic sweeteners, beans, and oils at amazing prices. For example, I had been paying $9.99 for a small container of organic coconut oil, and it was the cheapest I could find. Through Grains-n-More, I can get a jar twice that size for only $8.50. You do have to join their site to access their products, but it’s free and well worth the savings. I’m still exploring their offerings, so I’m sure I’ll have more to share as I research prices and order more products.
I also buy some items online. For example, I use Happy Babies Organic Cereal with Probiotics when my babies are starting out, and the cheapest place I’ve found it is Amazon. I have to order it in cases of six, but the savings are great, and shipping is free.
Lastly, I’ve talked about my amazing CSA before, so I buy my veggies in bulk and preserve them. I also buy organic grass-fed beef in bulk—usually 1/4 of a cow at a time. This costs us anywhere between $200–$300, depending on the size of the cow, and lasts us about six months. I’ve been buying from Craig at Two Mule Farm for over two years now.
Shop Around
This principle takes some time to fully take advantage of, but it’s worth it. I know where to buy certain products at the best prices. I also implement the “buying in bulk” strategy here to cut down on trips. Most of my grocery shopping happens at Publix, but there are a few items I buy elsewhere. For instance:
- Kroger: Cheapest organic ketchup
- Whole Foods: Best prices for Bac-Out, mayo, and hot wing sauce
- The Fresh Market: Cheapest organic meat if I need it quickly
This takes time to figure out, but as you shop around, you’ll learn. Pay attention to prices, check out a wholesale warehouse near you, and you’ll start to see a difference.