So, a friend of mine recently posted on Facebook asking for ways to save when you’re shopping the perimeter of the grocery store!
It got me thinking and I thought this might be something more of you might be interested in also!
I’m going to break this article up into several sections so it will be an easier read!
Ways to Save on Produce:
- First of all, I would say grow your own produce at home by starting a garden. We have done this for several years and it’s extremely benificial. Not only are you saving money on high-priced fruits and veggies, but your also getting organic products!
A garden might seem indimidating but it’s not really that bad. When you’re starting out, choose plants that are easy to care for and make it small and simple!
If you have an abundance, freeze your produce so that it will carry you through the winter months also! - You can also find coupons for produce every once in a while. Here are 2 places that I know of:
- Driscoll’s: Sign up for their email (top right corner) and receive a coupon for fresh fruit in your inbox
- Earthbound Farm: Sign up and they will send great coupons for veggies and salad to your inbox - Try searching eBay. You can often find produce coupons that people have found in stores that they are selling.
- Shop your local Farmers Market. They offer a wide variety of home grown produce at a much lower price than the grocery store.
Ways to Save on Meat:
- Shop the “Almost Expired” Section of your meat department! Almost every grocery store has this section (at least this is my name for it)!! Basically, the meat manager will mark down meat that is a day or two out from expiring to try and sell it before it expires and they have to toss it. We have gotten meats over 75% off before!
Note: If you know you won’t use the meat by the time it expires, then just pop it in the freezer! By freezing it you will preserve the meat before it goes bad! - You can find meat rebates in the beer aisle. These are often rare, but I always check when I’m passing through. I know it might sound silly, but with these rebates you don’t have to purchase beer to use the rebate.
Just purchase the meat, send in your original receipt along with your rebate and wait for your check! It’s that simple - You can also check on eBay for these rebates and purchase them at a small fee (usually under $1).
- Purchase a cow!!! Check with your local farm and see if they sell cows. Get you and another family to go in together and purchase a cow, they will usually butcher it for you. Then, split the meat between the families, freeze it, and pull it out when you need it! Check for your local CSA here.
Ways to Save on Organic Items:
- There are several websites that offer organic coupons all the time, including:
- Earthbound Farm: Sign up and they will send great coupons for veggies and salad to your inbox
- Mambo Sprouts: All coupons are for organic products
- Earthfare: Some of the coupons are store coupons which are valid on in Earthfare stores and they also have other coupons that are manufacturer’s coupons which can be used at any store. Simply click on the images and click print. It will display the coupons for preview. Look at the top left corner and it will say “store” or “manufacturer’s” coupon! - Shop your local Farmers Market for a great selection of organic products.
- Buy from your local Co-Op. Just google your local Co-Op to find vendors in your area. If you’re in the Piedmont Triad, NC area, then you can find our local vendors here.
I also found a directory listing for Nationwide Co-Op’s here.
