5 Ways to Save Money on Real Food

The perception is that eating real food is expensive. It can be if you still shop at your local grocery store and big box stores. Why? Because most of those stores only carry smaller sizes of expensive items like coconut oil and olive oil. I have been eating unprocessed homemade food for a number of years now and have noticed that my food budget has stayed in check. How am I able to do this while ensuring I use the highest quality ingredients?

How do I make real food affordable?

1) I make food myself.

What I have given up in processed convenience products, I have gained in saving money.

Check out my real food survival guide for working moms and you will see that I make my real food from scratch including everything from ketchup to granola. The savings really do add up.

2) I grow some of my own vegetables right in my backyard.

Learning to garden is probably one of the most important skills you can have and pass on to your children. There are many organizations that can help. Try to find one in your area. I found Randy at Resolution Gardens 4 years ago and I am so glad I did! He helped me plant my first raised bed and my herb garden and now I have plans to add many more raised beds to increase my yield.

3) Buy my meats, dairy, eggs and vegetables from local farms.

• I get a giant box of vegetables every week from my local CSA at Johnson’s Backyard Garden for less than $30/week (to find a CSA near you click here).
• I buy a half cow every year and store the meat in my chest freezer. This comes out to less than $6/pound for all cuts of meat and including steaks, ground, stew meat, roasts, bones, fat and odd bits.
• I buy raw dairy for $10/gallon which allows me to make many other items like cottage cheese and sour cream, ice cream and kefir.

4) Buy sundries in bulk online.

I buy my everyday sundries like toilet paper, parchment paper, kitchen gadgets, etc. from Amazon. I have been a proud Prime member since it started and I have never regretted it! I even have many items scheduled to ship on a regular basis so I don’t even have to think about ordering them and I never run out. You will rarely find me in local big box or grocery stores. I would rather be cooking and hanging out with my daughter during my time off than running errands!

5) Buy real foodie products in bulk online.

I buy high quality real foodie products like coconut oil, supplements like cod liver oil, and non-toxic personal care and cleaning products in bulk from online shops I know I can trust.