Comments on: Saving Money on Organic Groceries

By: rebecca

rebecca — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:43:11 +0000

Carolyn, I will answer your question over on the post about my shopping lists.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:23:56 +0000

I just read your list…could you tell us what the amounts are of things? That might be helpful. For instance, the flour you purchased…how much flour was it for that price?
Thanks!

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 08:19:17 +0000

I still don’t get it.
I do all of those things and my bill is way more. Of course, adjustments have to be made because I have 3 kids and 4 pets.
I’ve baked bread before on a semi regular basis but I can’t imagine taking a hiatus from it would make my grocery budget sky rocket.
And I buy generic where I can.

By: rebecca

rebecca — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 05:18:43 +0000

Well, Dan, I admit that not every single item I buy is organic! I itemized everything I bought for the six week period I tracked my prices so you can see how I arrived at that average. It's in another post around here somewhere. . . . Okay, I found it!

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:08:16 +0000

That’s amazing. However I don’t believe you. I have been shopping for organic for many years and the food and prices you mention don’t make sense if they are organic. I don’t think 175 a month for all organic is doable, even if you do make all your own bread.

By: Jodie R.

Jodie R. — Thu, 07 May 2009 17:23:00 +0000

I’m so glad I found your site I too have just been laid off (I’m a teacher), and we’ll have to make do on my husband’s salary because I’ve decided to be a SAHM. (At least for a year) (Or until my husband makes me go back to work). (Or maybe until I go batty from lack of adult interaction…)

By: Gina

Gina — Wed, 06 May 2009 21:48:17 +0000

As your sister I can certainly vouch for your frugality and dedication to organic foods. I even thought of one other thing that you do to save: you mostly drink tea instead of coffee. While tea is more expensive per pound than coffee, it is usually less expensive per serving, and you usually buy it on sale. You can also use good whole-leaf tea for more than one pot. Savings!

By: Larisa

Larisa — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:52:58 +0000

$175 a month? I am impressed! I buy most of my groceries online and typically spend $70-80 per order which is usually once a week or so (and delivery is free), and is supplemented by trips to the organic co-op or Trader Joe’s for things the online service doesn’t carry (maybe another $10-20). My family is like yours, mom, dad, and (almost) 3-year-old. Plus a cat, but a bag of food and a bag of litter will last two months @ $20.

Because I work full-time, though, I rarely cook from scratch, though I will do something like cook up a box of mac & cheese, saute some fresh vegetables, and throw in some smoked salmon and mix it all together. (I did cook more often when I could put my son in a bouncy chair or exersaucer so he could watch, but now that he wants to “help” chop with the big knife or flip the tofu frying in hot oil, I am less inclined to cook around him.)

So the convenience foods add up, plus none of us eats the same things (my husband eats meat; I don’t; our toddler currently has a limited list of what he will put in his mouth) so that probably contributes to the overall cost too.

By: cam

cam — Wed, 06 May 2009 19:11:02 +0000

I’m shooting for $200/month, right now we’re at about $250ish. I also cut meat to once a week, but that’s just because I really, really don’t like it and my husband isn’t willing to give it up altogether.
I don’t buy everything organic, I try to do mostly the stuff that’s usually treated with a lot of pesticides and root vegetables. I don’t buy regular milk, though.
We also don’t buy convenience foods, but we do buy whole grain pasta, bread, etc. We make our own delicious whole-wheat pizza. Yum!

By: Kara

Kara — Wed, 06 May 2009 18:01:35 +0000

I love that someone else is a grocery saver too! Our budget is for $200 a month for a family of four (plus I am pregnant). We are able to stay in this by making out weekly meal plans and (as you said) making our own bread, snacks, etc. I have found that it is cheaper to make our own yogurt/granola/peanut butter/bread than it is to actually buy it. I will state that we are not vegetarians and love meat! To keep costs down here, we buy bulk from a family member who raises pigs and cows. We shop for convenience items at our local bargain grocery store as well and try and grow our own veggies in the summer. Love your website and I will be linking it to my blog!