Money Saving Tip: Join a Food Cooperative

Look up a local food cooperative or CSA and buy in-season produce.  Other alternatives are roadside stands or farmers market, but that will be more expensive.

This summer I joined Locally Germinated CSA http://locallygerminated.wordpress.com/about/ it was $300 for the year.  That works out to $15 a week for enough produce for 2 people.  Here is what you get

• In June baskets will have – Lettuce, Snow Peas, Snap Peas, Radishes, Garlic Scapes, and more.
• In July – Beans, Garlic, Summer Squash, Broccoli, Cabbage, and more.
• In August – Tomatoes, Sweet Peppers, Basil, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Melons, and more.
• In September – Beans, Summer Squash, Winter Squash, Kale, Onions, and more.
• In October – Cauliflower, Beets, Turnips, Brussel Sprouts, Sunchokes, Leeks, and more.

 

Money Saving Tip: How to Save Money on Groceries

When you have to go grocery shopping, don't go to one store.  Go to every store in the area.  Only buy things that are on sale.  Your usual fare not on sale this week?  Good time to try a new recipe.  Buying produce on sale means you have to use it quickly.  If you can't eat it all in time, peel it, chop it, freeze it.

When you find a good sale, stock up.  Certain grocery stores have 50% off stickers that go on after the usual sales, concentrate on these.  Organic items almost always go on sale sooner or later because it doesn't move as fast as the usual stuff (milk especially).

Following this strategy should save you at least 30-40% of your grocery bill.  You'll really notice the shrinking grocery bill once you're stocked up on for-sale items and you're no longer paying high prices for common items.