How we shop on a budget
Many times when we talk to people about adopting a more healthful approach to eating, their reason for not doing so, is because they think it's too expensive. To be honest eating healthy can take a little more from your wallet, but the return on your overall health is worth it.
Our families both have average incomes, but we still find ways to stretch the budget to meet our healthy food needs. The best way we have found to eat healthy without going broke is to shop through a
co-op. Often times communities will have stores that operate under a co-op, where the customers actually work several times in a month in return for a significant discount on food and products. If this isn't your cup of tea, there are also mail-order co-ops where a group of people put together a monthly or bi-monthly order. The order is delivered to a designated home where it can be distributed among the co-op member. Some co-ops may have fees to join, but there are many out there that just charge a flat shipping rate plus the cost of food. Our family has used this method for well over twenty years.
There are many options for mail order co-ops, and usually the major brands are sold through them at near cost, either in a case or by idividual item. They also sell bulk items, such as 25lbs of flour, or 2lbs of parsley. The trick to mail-order co-ops is to reach the minimum amount required for delivery. It's usually a few hundred dollars, which is why it's nice to have several people go together on it.
Though I live in Virginia, I still order monthly with my family in Pennsylvania. It's not always the most convenient (especially when we don't see them every month), but in the long run it saves quite a bit of money.
In the times when I can't get to my bulk order, I hit the local grocer. Most major grocery stores now carry the big name organics and sometimes they have their own 'generic' brands. They usually have a nice selection of fresh organic produce too (something you usually can't get through the mail order co-op.) I'm a big sale shopper and usually I can hit a sale that's as good or better than the co-op.
Grocery stores are also a good way to try new products in small amounts before you go ahead and buy a case from the co-op. Keep in mind though, major grocers don't always have the variety that your co-op or health food store will have.
If you're lucky enough to live near a health food store you'll be able to find most of what you need there, as well as a knowledgable staff who can answer your questions. Many times the pre-packaged foods have a high mark-up, but most health food stores also offer bulk bins for flours, grains, cereals and herbs. You may also be able to special order cases of your favorite item and receive a discount.
Bottom line, if you're commited to a healthy way of eating, you can find a way to do it on any budget!
-KLJ
Visit our Directory for a list of our favorite mail order catalogs and websites.