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This week we’re talking all about saving money on groceries! I’m excited that Anne of Authentic Simplicity is offering us her eBook, Your Grocery Budget Toolbox, for 25% off, as we learn together how to better feed our families–on the cheap! Use code “humbled” to get the discount. Code expires 1/22!
By Elsie, Contributing Writer
What is one of the best ways to save money in the grocery store? Find alternative sources of food.
Here’s a list of six ideas to get you started. And while all of these options take more effort than shopping the usual aisles, the payoff is money saved, quality gained, and the chance to add some variety to your menu.
1. Online stores
When you’re on the hunt for real food “specialty” ingredients, chances are you’ll find the best prices online, not in a grocery or health food store.
Consider coconut oil: in the grocery store, it’s about $8.00 for a little 14 ounce jar, but on Amazon you get 60 ounces for $26.00! Maple syrup, sea salt, specialty flours, rapadura, and tea are other items that can be much cheaper online. Vitacost and Amazon are good places to start, and frequently have extra deals attached, such as Amazon’s “subscribe and save” feature, or Vitacost’s $10.00 off referral program.
2. Gardening
If you have even a scrap of yard or patio, chances are you can grow something, even if it’s just potted herbs and aloe vera. My husband and I recently moved to an apartment with a small balcony, and we’re itching to get some pots out! Jami’s e-book Apartment Gardening is a great resource for gardening in small spaces. For more ideas, there’s a post that Stephanie did a while back on growing potted fruit trees.
3. Local farmers
Produce at farmer’s markets or through CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture) groups is sometimes cheaper than at the grocery store, but there are many more benefits to shopping this way as well. For some great posts on this topic, read Kate’s article on CSA groups and Stacy’s tips on finding local produce. CSA produce is available year round–check local listings for groups that offer winter shares.
4. Ethnic Food Stores
Do a web search to find these stores in your area. Ethnic stores carry “specialty” items for much cheaper than you’d find in the ethnic section of your usual grocery store. Asian markets are great places to find inexpensive curry, sauces, or vinegars. Middle Eastern stores often carry rice, lentils, and couscous in bulk; at a Hispanic store you might find dried chilies or fresh tamales.
5. Foraging
Don’t discount foraging as a viable food source! In the last year I’ve foraged black walnuts, apples, dandelions, wild onions, blackberries and black raspberries. My harvesting wasn’t limited to measly snacks, either—I had enough of these wild ingredients to make recipes like crockpot applesauce, pumpkin black raspberry muffins, and quiche with wild onions. Foraging success varies, but it isn’t as hard as you think. Know this, though: you can’t do it unless you get outdoors and keep your eyes open!
6. Community
See if there’s a Weston A. Price chapter in your area. If so, you’ll likely find someone willing to share kefir grains, sourdough starter, or a kombucha scoby. I’ve also found Craigslist to be a valuable community connection. It can be a great way to find home-raised chicken eggs, backyard fruit trees that need picking, or front yard produce stands.
What are your alternatives to the grocery store?
Elsie
Elsie loves to express herself through words and culinary creations. The food she makes is a reflection of her experiences–whether the homemade comfort food of a happy childhood, the flair of Latin American cuisine borrowed from her family’s time on the mission field, or the rich and hearty fare of restaurants and pubs she visited during her ramblings in Switzerland and Oxford. Elsie and her husband Eric live in Michigan.The couple enjoys pursuing a simple, natural life.
Someday Elsie hopes to write books that reflect her experiences, but in the meantime she’s discovered that her blog, Back to the Source, is the perfect venue for combining her love of words and of food.
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Amish stores!!! Woooooooo!!!
Stacy @Stacy Makes Cents recently posted..Pat-In-The-Pan Pie Crust
Yes, I’m LOVING living in Amish country! They have great bulk food stores and farm stands.
Elsie recently posted..I’m Going to Keep Blogging, and Here Are My Goals
I am also moving towards Amish products: I mostly buy my ground meat, eggs, and chicken from them. I was trying to research how meat and poultry is raised by Amish and how Amish milk and milk products are compared with Organic, as I still get my Organic Whole milk at my grocery store. Any thoughts??
As far as I know, there isn’t any blanket standard for Amish animal products, and you’d probably need to talk to the individual farmer. I’m sure most of their products would be more healthy than those in the grocery store, though, if only because the animals aren’t “factory-farmed” and likely have more access to the outdoors. They won’t be completely organic if they’re not eating strictly organic feed, but I believe grass-fed is better than organic anyway. (Organic animal products aren’t necessarily pasture-raised.) As far as milk products go, I think many Amish still drink raw, but they may pasteurize it before selling it to the general public, depending on state laws. Anyway, organic grocery store milk is still better than regular grocery store milk!
Elsie recently posted..Pastry Mat: A Baker’s Best Friend
LOVE Amish stores! Wish we had one a bit closer!
Ethnic food stores are great for finding brown rice pasta as well!
Faith Storms recently posted..Around the House: New and Improved Cleaning Schedule
Yes, good point! I’ve also found brown rice pasta at discount stores like Big Lots.
Elsie recently posted..I’m Going to Keep Blogging, and Here Are My Goals
I love Big Lots!
Good idea! I need to look there!
Just be sure you have permission to forage where you are foraging. We recently bought some land and have been astounded at the audacity of a person who was “foraging” under the chestnut trees on our property.
Yes, thanks for that reminder! We used to have people help themselves to the blueberries along our fence. One time my mother confronted someone about it and their response was “We saw other people doing it!” My mother smiled: “Yes, that was us.”
Elsie recently posted..I’m Going to Keep Blogging, and Here Are My Goals
When you suggested Craigslisy, how did you search for it? I realize that due to the time of year fruit trees are dormant,but would like to know for next year!
Court, search under the “farm and garden” and “free” categories. Sometimes people just want to clean up their yards and are willing to give you the fruit/nuts/etc. if you’ll gather it and take it away!
Elsie recently posted..I’m Going to Keep Blogging, and Here Are My Goals
In addition to doing all of the above I also order from Azure Standard that comes to my town once a month. If you are blessed to have an Azure drop in your town or nearby you should check them out. They are always looking for new places to go. Give them a call and let them know you are interested in a drop in your area.
I’ve heard so many good things about Azure. I really should give them a look!
Elsie recently posted..Farmhouse Muffins
Thanks for the info on Azure. I am going to do more research about the company. I am on the east coast in Phila, wondering if this is too far?? Any tips or suggestions?
The De – WALT vac works very well for those quick pickups and also the use of a straight hose piece while using vac around the house to pick up dust and those nefarious dust bunnies is easy. I searched the net as I usually do currently and saw several cleaners but narrowed it as a result of two, one from Bissell and the other from Dirt Devil. “30-40 FT permanent positions accessible in 5 different departments.