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Here are a few of my favorite ways how to save money on organic foods at the grocery store (and wholesale clubs):
Shop store brands.
In the last couple of years, there have been an explosion of store brand organic food offerings. In my area, some of those brands include Simple Truth, HEB Organics, Whole Foods 365, ALDI Simply Nature. I have found that prices on these store brands are usually well below the national brands’ organic line. Take milk for example: when I buy the HEB Organics Brand I pay almost $1.50 less than the national brand (Horizon)!
Buy in bulk-two ways.
Wholesale clubs like Sam’s Club and Costco are adding more and more organic items to their product line. I am excited that a new Costco opened up about a year and half ago just about five minutes from my house so it makes it easy for me to shop there. Buying in bulk from these stores can help you save a lot on organic foods. I have found organic coconut oil, steel cut oats, granola, ground flax seed and tons of frozen fruits and vegetables. These are just a few of the items I like to buy there. Although Costco tends to have more organic foods than the Sam’s Club in my area, I know that each club offers what the market will demand so no matter where you shop, keep asking and they will hopefully start selling the items you want!
I also like to buy items from the bulk bins of stores like Whole Foods or Sprouts. My local Kroger and HEB also have organic bulk bin offerings but Whole Foods and Sprouts tend to have a larger selection. I especially like to buy organic beans and rice. I have done the math and usually the organic bulk price (especially on rice) is about the same or only a few cents more to buy from the bulk bins than the packaged foods aisle.
Use coupons!
Many stores now have loyalty card programs or even in-store coupons that help you save money on organic foods. Whole Foods usually has coupon books at the entrance to each store and you can also download coupons from their websites. I am part of the Kroger Rewards program and they mail coupons to me for organic foods. Each month, I receive a new booklet and the majority of the coupons are customized for me. The coupons help me save on organic meat, produce and dairy. Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic occasionally offers coupons online that you can download to your loyalty card and use in store! Simple Truth is sold in Kroger in my area but in other stores nationwide so check their website to find out where they are sold in your area.
Don’t walk past organic aisle and assume you can’t afford it.
Lately, I have found that my grocery store offers organic produce at prices lower than the conventionally grown produce that is next to it. Just this week I bought organic gala apples for $1.48/lb when other apples were priced at well over $2.00/lb! I have gotten this deal many times. Two of our local grocery stores (Kroger and HEB) are also stocking more local and organic produce and sometimes those prices are a great deal! I remember last year I got both broccoli and cauliflower for a great deal when it was in season and offered from a local farm. I also like to buy organic hotdogs from Applegate. My local HEB will often have $1.00 off coupons which makes them about the same prices and traditional hotdogs (and sidenote about Applegate: all their ingredients are natural and pronounceable!) ALDI also will often have “special buys” on organic items which means they have them for a limited time because they are a special purchase. I’ve gotten some great deals there! So keep your eyes open and check those organic sections of your regular grocery stores and you might find some great deals!
Compromise—buy half and half.
Sometimes the little voice in my mind that wants to save money on groceries disagrees with the little voice that wants to buy organic foods. In those cases, sometimes I will compromise and buy half organic and have conventional groceries. Take butter for example. Usually the organic butter at my local store is 75-cents more expensive than the regular butter. When I figure the average price of each, I’m paying a little more for the regular but a little less for the organic. That compromise helps me feel like I’m able to answer both of the voices in my mind!
Whether you choose to buy organic is up to you. But if you’d like to and always thought you couldn’t afford it, hopefully a few of these tips on how to save money at the grocery store and wholesale clubs will help you do so and still save on your grocery budget!
Do you have any other ways that you like to save on organic foods? Share your ideas in the comments below!
Sally @ Real Mom Nutrition
Great post and good tips. I especially like the one about not assuming you can’t afford it. Prices really do vary quite a lot. And I also use the half-and-half method or alternate between buying an organic version and a conventional version, week to week. Pinning this!
Meal Plan Mom (Brenda)
Thanks Sally! Yes, it really does pay to note the prices of organic vs. conventional. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been buying organic red seedless grapes for the same price or LESS than the conventionally grown grapes. I have found this deal at two different stores (HEB & Kroger) so that has been a big bonus. Glad you found the tips helpful!
Christina Ventura-DiPersia
Thank you for these awesome tips. Another great thing to consider is to regularly surf the organic product aisles of your local grocery aisles because different stores have different sales and deals. For example, I was lucky enough to find that my local ShopRite had a closeout on organic Annie’s Macaroni and Trees for 74 cents (!) a box. So I bought all of them 🙂 In our local Stop and Shop, I can almost always find Horizon fruit snacks and crackers for much cheaper than any other local store. So I completely agree… never assume that you can’t afford it. 🙂
Meal Plan Mom (Brenda)
You’re welcome! Glad you found them helpful. And for sure, great tip to check the organic product aisles at the grocery store—often times they have a clearance section too where you can find some good deals. Many times those clearances are because of a nearing expiration date (so check those) but I’ve also learned from talking to store employees that sometimes something is on clearance because the manufacturer is changing the packaging and it’s still perfectly good otherwise!
Mariana Abeid-McDougall
Great tips for saving money on organic food; thank you! While coupons aren’t nearly as good here in Canada as they are in the U.S., sometimes you get the odd good one. And it’s always worth watching for sales for organic produce as well (thanks for the reminder to not assume you can’ afford it).
Meal Plan Mom (Brenda)
Thanks for the feedback Mariana and I’m glad you found some of the tips helpful! Happy saving!