I like to think I am a very health conscious person. I prefer for myself and my family to eat organic, healthful foods that will provide true nourishment for our bodies. The only drawback is that it usually costs more than conventional foods. I’ve tried many different ideas to help cut our grocery budget.

Go to your local grocery store and look at their marked down organic/natural foods.

The city I work in has a very diverse population. Many people are “good old country people” who probably don’t care too much about buying organic food. That works to my advantage, though, because I can go to Kroger and pick up some organic food at half price or marked down considerably because it’s going to expire in a few days. I will buy things like boxes of cereal or meats if they are marked down or really inexpensive and the store or freeze them. I also have purchased natural laundry detergent for a good price because the store was no longer carrying that type of product and have used that for awhile.

Buy store brand organic foods when possible.

Because the store doesn’t have to spend tons of money on advertising, they can offer their products to you at a lower price. Make sure you read labels, but normally the store brand foods are going to taste the same and be the same quality as the name brand foods and goods. Just because it’s not advertised doesn’t mean it’s not a good product. Shop wisely.

Pay attention to expiration dates, but also use common sense.

Yogurt normally will last one month past it’s expiration date. Of course make sure you smell food before you eat it to make sure it is still good, but chances are food will last a little longer than the expiration date will tell you. I’ve found that if you call the manufacturer, they will give you a better idea of when a product truly will expire.

Buy a large quantity to save money.

Sometimes if you buy in bulk the savings on buying quality food will average out to the same price as conventional foods. I take my calculator with me when I am shopping so I can see if I really am getting the best deal. I calculate cost per unit. Take the dollar amount and then divide it by the quantity.

Grow your own food.

During the summer, one of our favorite past times is growing things in our garden. We plant our own vegetables and some fruits and watch them grow. Eating food that you have grown yourself is so rewarding. We know what is going in our food, we compost our own soil, and all in all it is a great system. It saves us money, the food tastes great, and it is wonderful to be outdoors enjoying our garden. Of course, it’s hard in the winter to grow your own food, but in the summer, this is one of the easiest ways to eat well and save money.

I’m not one of the people that have to eat strictly organic/natural food, but I do believe that you are what you eat. I think everything in moderation is fine. Just use a sprinkle of common sense with a dash of frugality, and a little will go a long way.