9 Ways to Save on Organic Food

Chances are if you have been couponing for some time, your eating habits have evolved. The last few years we have seen more Organic Choices in what is offered … but for many it seems as if the cost is not easily in line with their budget. 

With most, the option to eat Organic or perhaps begin to eat Organic comes with the understanding that more costs are involved.

I won’t say that we eat 100% Organic, but we do try our best to pick up those items that we eat the most of…   we have learned to cut back on certain items to make wiggle room in other areas, and that is what works for us.

There is always that controversy of whether Organic Food is more nutritious than conventional ~ experts say that the Organic route is no more nutritious than conventionally grown products.

We choose Organic for certain things because we know there are decreased contaminants.  But it doesn’t come without a cost….If you aren’t able to make wiggle room in your budget, you can STILL incorporate organic items with better choices.

Start with the major areas:  Milk, Eggs, Bread, Meat OR Produce.  If you can’t do every area, you can start with one or two – until you find ways to save on the others.

When mentioning Organic Milk and Eggs, what many usually mention is that “regular milk is Hormone and Antibiotic Free” – so is there REALLY a need for Organic?

Believe it or not, it goes much beyond that...  not only does Organic mean that the cows are not treated with Hormones and Antibiotics, it ALSO means that they are given Organic Feed – which means less pesticide for you too!  

Thankfully we have Shamrock Farms here in Phoenix and they offer Organic Milk that is reasonable in price ~ you can also buy the Kroger Brand Organic Milk, and you’ll find that Safeway often has Gallons for $5.99 as well.  Sprouts carries Straus Organic Milk in Glass Jars — although their milk comes from Northern California, it’s amazingly fresh and priced competitively with Shamrock.

Since Organic Milk and Organic Eggs are higher in price, accepting the price on those items may be tough initially… but finding ways to save can be rewarding too!

Here are our favorite ways to save on Organic Items, and what help us when we make our purchases in store…

Buy in Bulk

If you shop at Costco you may have noticed that they have some significant deals on Organic Items – from produce to frozen, and even baking items like sugar, and canned too.

Shopping in bulk is an easy way to save on Organic Items – you’ll eliminate your need to watch sales, cut coupons and make several trips to the store, not to mention you can make ONE trip and get the things you need.

Know what items you need to buy that are the best value, and pick up those items in bulk – for us, it’s Organic Sugar, Organic Bread (which can freeze), Organic Tortillas, and Frozen Organic Veggies. 

But not everything there is a great deal – so make sure you read our previous post to see what items we feel are the BEST value for your money at Costco.

Shop in Season

Use the map HERE to determine what items are currently in season. You’ll also find shopping descriptions, tips & more.

Shop Amazon Subscribe & Save

Amazon can be a great place to find Organic items – if you peruse frequently. Their items can change in price at any time.. but Subscribe & Save will get you 15% OFF & Amazon Prime will score you FREE shipping.

So if you take the time to add items to your “watch list” you will / can be alerted when they drop in price & then you can snag them for yourself without having to leave the house.

Even better, use the menu to sort between Organic, and Non-GMO for more selection.

Grow your Own Produce

It’s relatively easy to have your own garden – you don’t even have a large backyard to do so. As long as you have a porch or patio, and a kitchen counter, you can grow many items yourself- without having all the pesticide ridden produce you see in store.

Not to mention it’s cheaper.

Scour the internet for innovative ways to garden in small spaces, and even for ways to get started. Consult with the experts that work at Home Depot or Lowe’s to get their input on what may grow best now, & later in the year… and invest in canning items to preserve those items you do decide to plant.

Buy Store Brand Organic

ALL of my local stores have generic Organic items – from Fry’s to Safeway, even Walmart has their own brand. In most cases they are even LESS than the name brand organic. They are the same items, more than likely taste the same, and you aren’t paying for the “name” difference.

Even better, in some cases, Kroger (Fry’s) will put out digital coupons on those items ~ so you can save even more.

Use a Local CSA

Arizona has many CSA opportunities – not only will you support a local Farmer, you know exactly what you are buying: produce that is grown without pesticides. 

You can find a local CSA by heading HERE. Not familiar with how they work? Head HERE to read more.

Write to Companies

Write Write Write!  I do this a LOT with companies that support labeling – write down all those products you find yourself purchasing (OrganicGirl, Earthbound Farms) and WRITE to them through their site.

They DO send coupons – but you have to be diligent!  Most people assume you can’t get coupons for Organic Products but you can – if you are willing to get creative and communicate your intent to change your family’s eating habits. They love to see people that support their endeavor.

Read more about writing to companies on our last post.

Know your Store

Have a store that is your go-to store for Organic purchases? If so, KNOW your store & how they operate.  Bashas frequently marks down their Organic Milk in the late afternoon early evening – so when we swing by after our 3-4 hour park visit we will often find Organic Milk for 25-30% OFF. 

Not always do we find, but the days we do we stock up & pick up several if we can.

Coupons, Coupons and Coupons

COUPONS are key – believe it or not, there ARE coupons for Organic items – perhaps not as abundant but they are there. Check out the Monthly Coupons released by Sprouts Farmers Market, the Digital Coupons offered by Fry’s, Just 4 U Coupons that are on Safeway.com and hit up Hopster for printables.

Even more, Common Kindness often has coupons for some of those rare items, and you can follow up with Company Websites & Facebook pages to find additional savings. 

Stop buying Packaged Food

Most packaged items are not the best for you nutrition wise – avoid buying them altogether & it’ll free up money in your budget to buy better food. 

Have kids that feed on cereal? They may find it hard at first but they will adjust – switch to Oatmeal. Forego the boxed mixes of Helpers & Salads, and make your own – for less.

Stock up on produce and rely on what you grow in your garden and make it available in your fridge – they’ll gravitate towards what is offered. If you avoid picking up processed food, they will have no choice but to eat what you DO have, which they will learn to adjust to.