You can't coupon and eat whole foods, you can't just go anywhere to eat dinner or grab a snack. So the real question is, how the heck do you stay on budget!?
For the last 4 years I have been on this paleo bandwagon along with the overall goal of just eating whole foods. I have found some tricks along the way to help me save money where I can!
First off... I don't step foot into Whole Foods... Ever.
Whole Foods is known as the health food meca and it for sure lives up to it's name. I view it like target once you go inside you can't help but want to buy all of the things... Then you wake up at the register realizing you just spent $400 on 6 items. Whole Foods is a place you go if you have money to blow or you absolutely can't find it anywhere else. If you want the good for you food store experience stick to Trader Joes where things are a little more inexpensive!
Now... The places to go...
If you live on the east coast, find the nearest Aldi!
Aldi is my best friend. They have your basic organic produce usually including lettuce at a cheap price. Also, all their other produce is super cheap as well. I'm not the person to buy all organic, I would rather eat non organic fruits and vegetables then processed foods so I do what I can on the budget I have. The one thing I always buy organic no matter what is lettuce, that's just my personal rule. Moving on... Aldi also has super cheap frozen wild caught salmon, yeah it's not the thickest, yummiest stuff but it's around $9 for 2lbs so it's a great deal! I wouldn't buy their fresh meat unless it's on sale just because of the price. Their frozen veggies and fruits are an awesome price as well. You can pretty much get all your basics at Aldi. They always have good sales on something too. Lastly, don't forget to bring your own bags and a quater to get a cart. You don't want to be stuck paying for bags or walking around with too much to carry!
**Oh and a fun fact!! Aldi is owned by Trader joes so you can find the same exact stuff with different labels and a cheaper price at Aldi, how awesome!!**
During the summer always go to your local farmers market. If you are feeling really cheap, go right before the close for the day because most of the time they don't want to haul anything back with them so they try to give good deals on what they have left!
Next, when you get to the market take a look at all the tables before you buy, there will be many different prices for the same items, so look for the good deal! Don't be afraid to ask questions and strike up a conversation. The friendlier you are the more likely you will be remembered and if you are really lucky you may get the 'good guy' discount!
Also, if they give you a good deal on say if you buy 2 pints of green beans versus 1 don't forget you can always freeze your produce. If I get too much of something I either end up canning it, fermenting it, or freezing it. Buy more while it's cheap that way once winter hits you will still have good produce saved!
Also, if they give you a good deal on say if you buy 2 pints of green beans versus 1 don't forget you can always freeze your produce. If I get too much of something I either end up canning it, fermenting it, or freezing it. Buy more while it's cheap that way once winter hits you will still have good produce saved!
I go weekly, sometimes bi-weekly to my farmers market so I'm starting to get to know it pretty well. The people are great and the prices are even better! I also found a lady that delivers eggs and produce boxes around the county I live in. She has a drop 2 miles from my house so buying eggs and produce from her is always so convenient!
I have always noticed that I save so much money in the summers because there is so much more available all around me. To find a market close to you go to Local Havest.org and you can find pretty much anything you can think of locally!
Since I am military I am able to go to the commissary on post, this also saves us a lot of money. They try to keep things inexpensive for the military but depending on your location the commissary can be full of good foods or bad foods, its just all chance! I usually buy my chicken (and other meat if needed), Ezekiel bread, gf oats, and anything canned I need, such as pumpkin, coconut milk and organic tomato products. Sometimes they have case sales and I can get some simple things there as well.
If you aren't military there is also the option of getting a membership to a wholesale store such as Costco, BJs, and Sams. I would stick to Costco or BJs because they have the largest selection of organic and natural foods. I know both places have kerrygold butter as well which is always amazing. I haven't shopped much at the wholesale stores just because we are military but the few times I have gone, it has been so worth it. So get yourself a membership, you won't regret it!.
Lastly, where the heck to do I get my meat?!? Well... Locally of course!
I have found that buying in bulk is so much better. We buy usually once a year and it saves us so much money. We got a stand up deep freezer and it has been the best thing ever for us.
We buy a whole hog and half a cow. It comes out to be about 500lbs of meat. We found a farm that does grass fed, grass finished cows and free roaming hogs. They give us the meat in vacuum sealed packages that are labeled and weighed which makes life super easy. You can request the kinds of cuts you want and also how you want things packaged.
For all other meat that we eat we usually buy in bulk packages. Almost all stores will give you a deal on 'family packs' so just buy in bulk and split it up when you get home.
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| Egg Lady Haul! |
Since I am military I am able to go to the commissary on post, this also saves us a lot of money. They try to keep things inexpensive for the military but depending on your location the commissary can be full of good foods or bad foods, its just all chance! I usually buy my chicken (and other meat if needed), Ezekiel bread, gf oats, and anything canned I need, such as pumpkin, coconut milk and organic tomato products. Sometimes they have case sales and I can get some simple things there as well.
If you aren't military there is also the option of getting a membership to a wholesale store such as Costco, BJs, and Sams. I would stick to Costco or BJs because they have the largest selection of organic and natural foods. I know both places have kerrygold butter as well which is always amazing. I haven't shopped much at the wholesale stores just because we are military but the few times I have gone, it has been so worth it. So get yourself a membership, you won't regret it!.
Lastly, where the heck to do I get my meat?!? Well... Locally of course!
I have found that buying in bulk is so much better. We buy usually once a year and it saves us so much money. We got a stand up deep freezer and it has been the best thing ever for us.
We buy a whole hog and half a cow. It comes out to be about 500lbs of meat. We found a farm that does grass fed, grass finished cows and free roaming hogs. They give us the meat in vacuum sealed packages that are labeled and weighed which makes life super easy. You can request the kinds of cuts you want and also how you want things packaged.
For all other meat that we eat we usually buy in bulk packages. Almost all stores will give you a deal on 'family packs' so just buy in bulk and split it up when you get home.
Also, buying a whole chicken or chicken with the bone and skin still intacted will be cheaper than buying just chicken breasts! Don't ever buy 'stew meat' buy a roast and cut it up yourself, it will save you so much money! Experiment with the 'less favorable' meats, you won't regret it!
Other places I may go from time to time...
Wegmans...
for the family pack vegetables, bulk unsweetened coconut flakes and dried apricots, and bulk chicken.
Safeway...
for $5 friday, or really good produce deals. (it's literally 1 mile from my house so sometimes its just easy to run there to get something fast)
The Fresh Market...
for $2.99 tuesday for meat, or if they have a really good deal like a couple weeks ago they had buy one get one free wild planet sardines which is an amazing deal.
All in all, saving money on whole foods is an art. It takes time to do your research and find the best prices but it will all pay off in the end and you will find a routine.
I have also found the more you make yourself the more money you will save. I personally make my own ghee, kombucha, coconut butter, almond butter, and recently started fermenting my own foods (sauerkraut, pickles, beets).
Have any questions? Just ask!
If you are looking for the cheapest places to get something, I bet I can tell you where to find it. I am a deal hunter thru and thru.
Other places I may go from time to time...
Wegmans...
for the family pack vegetables, bulk unsweetened coconut flakes and dried apricots, and bulk chicken.
Safeway...
for $5 friday, or really good produce deals. (it's literally 1 mile from my house so sometimes its just easy to run there to get something fast)
The Fresh Market...
for $2.99 tuesday for meat, or if they have a really good deal like a couple weeks ago they had buy one get one free wild planet sardines which is an amazing deal.
All in all, saving money on whole foods is an art. It takes time to do your research and find the best prices but it will all pay off in the end and you will find a routine.
I have also found the more you make yourself the more money you will save. I personally make my own ghee, kombucha, coconut butter, almond butter, and recently started fermenting my own foods (sauerkraut, pickles, beets).
Have any questions? Just ask!
If you are looking for the cheapest places to get something, I bet I can tell you where to find it. I am a deal hunter thru and thru.
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