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The Value Guru Gets the Good Stuff for Less
| Meet the Blogger | More Posts by Susannah SimoneShare your Ideas and You Could Get Some Good Stuff Free!
In a recent Harris Interactive survey, 76% said they don't want to compromise on the quality of the food they buy and 65% say they would like to find ways to be able to buy natural and/or organic foods on a budget.
I was thrilled to read these stats because not only have I known in my heart that the former was true, I also knew that the latter happens all the time, so it's clearly possible…and maybe this Value Guru actually provides some help. Honestly, though, while I never seem to run out of ideas-and certainly not words-I don't have all the answers for how to get the most value out of great-quality natural and organic products. That's where you come in.
Share your best tip for how to get the good stuff for less and you could win a $50 Whole Foods Market gift card along with a Better Bag loaded with our pantry favorites. We'll choose a winner at random, but get on it...the entry deadline is October 12th!
And, if you haven't already, be sure to sign up for The Whole Deal e-newsletter. You'll hear from us a few times each month about in-store specials and money-saving tips...and future contests, too.
Tune in to our Whole Story blog each Wednesday in October for a special value-focused weekly contest!
337 Comments
Comments
i save on cooking a lot and not buying already cooked, ready food. I buy organic milk and make my own yogurt, the amount of yogurt would have cost a lot more if I kept buying organic yogurt in a container. Also I use the brochure that comes every month for the best deals that Whole Foods offers.
10/07/2009 12:06:24 PM CDT
I too buy things in bulk. Even though it may be expensive, I always look at the price per ounce and compare it to the smaller sizes. And in the long run I do save a lot of money. I store things like flour, pasta, grains/rice and dried beans in airtight containers in my pantry. Which makes them last longer.
10/07/2009 12:07:04 PM CDT
I LOVE the prepared foods. I know it might not seem like a good deal at first, but if you really purchased all the ingredients that it took to make the crab cakes, chicken salad, etc. etc. and then spent the time to actually make it; there's no questions that you're getting the good stuff for less. My husband and I work full time and with two kids it's tough to eat healthy on the run when you don't have time to prepare meals every night. This way we all get healthy meals and our time is preserved for spending quality time with our kids.
10/07/2009 12:07:15 PM CDT
Budgets are tough! Especially when you're feeding an entire family. The best things I've tried and stuck with on a regular basis have helped me achieve a perfect balance in my checkbook as well as my loved one's stomachs!
-Make a List- if you know exactly what you're going to the store to buy, you spend less time roaming. Stick to what's on your list and you'll be out the door with little to no "fluff" in your cart.
-Plan your meals- If you plan out your meals it's easier to see what you're overspending on.
-Clipping coupons- This one is tricky if you buy single items. Check the coupons to make sure you don't have to buy 4 of something to get $0.05 off!
-Leave your children at home- That product placing story where they say they put the most colorful foods at a child's eye level...IT'S TRUE! You'll end up spending more than what's on that list!
-Buy in bulk if needed- Buy things in bulk that you or your family go through on an everyday basis. It's likely to be cheaper upfront and in the long run.
Hope this little tidbit helps everyone trim the fat off of your grocery bill!
10/07/2009 12:07:51 PM CDT
To save less money, we eat more beans and eggs and always make use of leftovers. We also buy certain items that we use often in bulk to save even more. But the number one tip that I have is to shop with a list and stick to it!
10/07/2009 12:08:12 PM CDT
Early in the year, I sign up for a local CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). I like Delvin Farms. You will find alot of their veggies on the Whole Foods shelves too. Yes, you put up a pretty hefty chunk of money up front but it is TOTALLY worth it. Last year, my husband and I opted for a half share delivered every other week. We loved it so much this year we committed to a full share (full bushel) every week and split it with another couple. Not only is is local, organic and really tasty but it forces us to try new things that I wouldn't have gone to the store to purchase. My family now as a few new favorites because of the CSA. And I freeze items that we can't use immediately.
So when we shop at Whole Foods we spend considerably less on our produce all summer long.
10/07/2009 12:08:14 PM CDT
I try to take advantage of produce that's in season because it's cheaper. WF often has local varieties and I frequent the farmer's market for others. I also make bulk recipes using these ingredients and freeze for later.
10/07/2009 12:08:15 PM CDT
We use the 365 brand as uch as possible and we have 1 a from scratch soup once a week and one batch is two full meals for my husband myself and our 2 toddlers with a salad and a loaf of homemade bread. So I only have to buy the ingredients for soup 2 weeks out of the month. We also do one meatless meal aside from the soup(witch is mostly meat free.
10/07/2009 12:09:22 PM CDT
Well, I wrote about this very subject recently. Mostly involves choosing the 365 brand at Whole Foods :-)
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/2009/08/think-organic-eco-friendly-are-always.html
10/07/2009 12:09:23 PM CDT
To save money, my mom always taught me to cook large amounts & freeze stuff for later...that way I don't get sick of eating the same stuff every night, but I still save money in the long run. Also, I buy from farmer's markets when I can...I get really good deals on fresh produce, dairy, and sometimes meat that way. I have a garden, too. It isn't really large, but it provides me with herbs for seasoning & some vegetables. I also have fig & pear trees, which are wonderful. I just pick what I want to eat, and I can also store fruit for later.
10/07/2009 12:09:34 PM CDT
Although buying in bulk saves a lot of money, sometimes it still takes a hit on your budget if you only have money to shop week to week. My family members and I will tag team sales, coupons, buy-one-get-ones, etc. We will shop together and split items! It works great, and also helps us waste less food!
10/07/2009 12:09:55 PM CDT
Here's a little "jingle" type saying I've always said in my head:
"Living 'healthy, wealthy, and wise' all comes down to PORTION SIZE!" :)
Trying to remember that not only when preparing food but when BUYING food is a great way to eat better and it really makes the shopper stop and actually read the labels of what they are buying.........or in this case, ME! :)
We all know to look for "calorie counts", "carb counts", "cholest. counts" etc........but SERVING SIZE is the key to being healthy, and getting a bigger bang for your buck! :)
Bill M. (dfwbill71)
Dallas, TX
P.S....WHOLE FOODS ROCKS! :)
10/07/2009 12:10:12 PM CDT
The best tip for buying good stuff for less is shopping the 365 brand ALWAYS when available. From shampoo to laundry detergent to milk to bread. We love the 365 brand and even the kids are trained to reach for this brand before even looking at another. Prices are phenomenal and the taste is amazing.
10/07/2009 12:10:25 PM CDT
I find that it's easy to save money using coupons from the wholefoods newsletter, buying in season produce and bulk for things like rice. The price is never going to come all the way down to conventional shopping, but the cost on the body is less when you're doing away with high fructose corn syrup and nasty chemicals.
The ABSOLUTE most helpful thing is making a menu for the week and shopping directly from the menu. If you go in without a plan, you always spend more! I used to let a lot of produce go to waste because I just bought too much...with the higher price of natural and organic, it forces me to just buy what I need...which is better for everyone
10/07/2009 12:10:36 PM CDT
I, too, buy in the bulk section (which is great for saving the environment from the extra energy use it takes to package individual servings), and make almost all of our meals from scratch. I prepare several meals' worth of food at a time, so I stretch our dollar and my time. Soups are hearty and healthy, and you can make a little go a long way! I also make my own breakfast muesli (no prepackaged oatmeal for us), etc.
10/07/2009 12:11:09 PM CDT
The 365 brand is a great deal, so I try and buy that when possible, as opposed to a "brand name." I also think about portion sizes and what will actually be eaten before the food spoils. I only consider buying organic and natural an expensive practice if the food goes to waste. I also enjoy sampling food before purchasing, so that I know for sure that we will use and enjoy an item.
10/07/2009 12:11:15 PM CDT
I'm very luck to live a couple blocks away to a Whole Foods that has a community center attached. I tend to go there on Saturday while running errands and will peruse the store for sales. Then I will go home and make a menu plan for the week based on what I saw on sale. It took a couple times of being at the store and saying "Oh, I wish I had brought the list of ingredients to make beef stew since stew meat is on sale!" but I finally figured out to scope out the deals ahead of time. If you're not lucky enough to have a Whole Foods that close, I would recommend visiting your favorite natural and organic brands' websites. Several of them offer coupons for their products which is like free money! :) And if you can't find coupons for your favorite brand name, definitely check out the 365 products available at Whole Foods. Always a great value and I have yet to be disappointed in any of them!
10/07/2009 12:12:25 PM CDT
We took our budget and cut it in half.
I lost 40 pounds.
And I eat three meals a day instead of 1.
We buy mostly bulk.
We Eat Food.
Not so much.
Mostly Plants. As Michael Pollan writes in Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food.
We buy "whole foods," as much as we can: fruit, vegetables, grains, seeds, nuts, oil, agave, eggs. we try not to buy much processed food; maybe a jar of tomato sauce now an then, as long as its organic.
i only spend $60 a week on food for 3 meals a day, seven days a week, for my husband and myself. We might eat out once, at a local food/vegetarian friendly place here in athens, ga.
it's so simple and easy and delicious and healthy to really cook from scratch, and to eat seasonally when the produce price reflects its natural abundance.
live and love the food you eat, yall!
10/07/2009 12:12:47 PM CDT
I pride myself on my ability to feed my family of four solely on "the Good Stuff" while paying "Less" than what I had been while shopping at the large stores where I spent "more" for the "not-so-good Stuff".
The day before I head out to do my shopping, I sit down at my computer and download the weekly sales flyer from Whole Food's website. I also have in hand the current store flyer with TONS of coupons. In addition, I have signed up on various organic and natural brands' websites (like Mambo Sprouts and 7th generation) to receive e-mails about product specials and coupons that I print at home.
With the sales flyer and coupons in hand, I make out my menu for the next few weeks based on the coupons I have and what's on sale for the week. I also utilize Whole Foods' web-site's recipe section where I can look up new recipes to make from ingredients that are on sale.
I make my shopping list for what I need for my menu and stick to it! While shopping, I also choose the 365 brand which is a great value and just as good, if not better, than the leading brands. I also shop the bulk aisle which is another cost-saving and environmentally savvy way to get more for less ( both cost AND packaging).
10/07/2009 12:13:10 PM CDT
College student? Vegetarian? Eat quinoa once a day to save money and get a complete source of protein.
10/07/2009 12:13:16 PM CDT
I am allergic to gluten, soy and casein, and many alternative foods are very expensive. I try to order special/favorite items I can buy in bulk or case amounts at natural food stores or coops that will give me a discount for the bulk order. Flours, brown rice tortillas, things that will freeze well.
10/07/2009 12:13:41 PM CDT
I try to pick a couple recipes each week, preferably using the same "extras" - fresh parsley, cilantro, avocado, scallions etc. That way none of it goes to waste. If those fresh ingredients are only used for one recipe, I try to incorporate them into a pesto or dip that I can use for snacks. I try to cook those recipes over the weekend so I have good healthful meals ready. It keeps me from eating convenience foods which are more expensive. I also spend time every couple months cooking up a bunch of different beans to freeze and have on hand. It's cheaper than canned.
10/07/2009 12:14:13 PM CDT
Coupons, coupons, coupons, sales. First thing I do when I walk into whole foods is go to the front desk & get the coupons.
10/07/2009 12:14:26 PM CDT
here are three tips to get good stuff for less. It's easy as one two three.
1) look for weekly special.
2) buy 365 brand ( they are as good as other or better).
3) don't over load your frig, shop enough for five days. Eliminate spoilage.
have fun bargain hunting and stay healthy.
10/07/2009 12:15:15 PM CDT
I get the best quality items for the lowest possible price by comparing Whole Foods prices with Publix and also by getting larger quantities when items are on sale at a reduced price.
10/07/2009 12:15:25 PM CDT