Learning how to save money on shopping for organic food and groceries, especially meats and vegetables can not only keep your wallet healthy, but you healthier as well! Many people think that buying organic food is too expensive and that it would be silly to pay the inflated prices for foods that are all natural and have no additives added to them or are grown and made without chemicals, antibiotics, or or alterations. However, when you think of the health benefits, it may save you a lot more than you actually think!

Because these foods can cost several dollars more per pound than other foods or need to be specially ordered or are only available in select stores, it can seem like it is more expensice at first glance. However, there are many health benefits of buying organic foods and better nutrition can save you in the long run instead of spending money on increased health premiums, doctors visits, vitamins, weight loss programs or even help you avoid spending your money on junk food like potato chips or cookies. Since I switched to buying only organic foods, I was quite surprised to see my grocery bill actually decrease instead of increase.

If you want to save money shopping for organic food, here are some helpful tips:

1. Plan Your Meals: Meal planning takes a lot to get used to. At first it seems like a complete chore to think about what you will eat for each day of the week. If you have a large household with many people living together it can be even more difficult, especially if everyone has different tastes and preferences. However, it’s critical to start planning your meals if you want to save money on groceries successfully. When you plan accordingly, it is much easier to make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients – and most importantly nothing goes to waste.

2. Choose the Right Stores:
There are many different places where you can buy the foods you want. Many grocery stores even have special sections for organic foods. However, many times you will pay extra for this compared to the usual standard pre-packaged things. Finding a store that offers good values and good products is critical. In general it is usually best to buy as much as possible at one store rather than going to several stores – but if you calculate the value of your time and the cost of gas and it will still save you significantly to go to different places then you may want to do it.

I have found that my local grocery store is good for some things, while the organic store farther away is better for other things. What I do is make a plan to shop at the one store near me for the things they have the best value for, then schedule a once a month trip to the other store for the other things that are a better value. I also really enjoy going to the farther away store, so it also provides some entertainment value as well!

3. Buy Bulk Wisely:  There are many different options available online, but the shipping costs are typically only worthwhile if you are able to buy in bulk to receive a discounted price. You will likely need to spend some time researching online to find out where to get the best deals, but it can save you significantly over time. There are also many stores that offer bulk sizes on many items.  Be sure that whatever items you decide to purchase in bulk that they are something you use often, regularly, and won’t sit on a shelf collecting dust. Buying something in bulk if you will not use that much within a reasonable period of time does not make any sense savings wise, because usually when you are buying a larger quantity it also means the price is higher too.  If you have a friend or family member you can buy bulk with and share the savings it can be even better.

4. Clip Your Coupons: Coupon clipping is another way to save on some of these products. You can often find coupons online that you can print out, though this is only smart if the savings is greater than the cost of printing them. (Inkjet printer owners – take caution! The price of ink is outrageous if you are printing a lot!!) You may also want to check out different newspapers or magazines that are free and cater to the local area or organic shoppers – often advertisers will include a special offer or coupon within their ad.

5. Sign Up For Mailing Lists: Do you have a product that you love? A company you think is wonderful? Signing up for their mailing list can help you get coupons, special offers, free product samples, and other incentives sent to your home. The only drawback to this is that you will likely get a little more mail than usual, especially if you sign up for multiple different offers. I’ve found that fanning certain companies on Facebook or following them on Twitter can also help you get some special deals from time to time.

6. Read the Nutrition Labels Carefully: There are a lot of manufacturers who claim to be nutritious or organic but then when you read their labels you’ll find a lot of refined grains or even chemicals and additives used as preservatives. Even on many Whole Foods items I have noticed this – so be careful. There’s no sense in paying a higher price for something that has relatively little better nutritional value for you.

7. Eat in Season: Some fruits and vegetables are cheaper during different times of the year. For example, right now it is winter, and so I was able to get oranges, kale, and a few other foods much cheaper than usual, while others were much more expensive. In the summer we’ll be able to enjoy all our favorites for a fraction of the cost than trying to buy them now in the winter months. You can also try freezing or canning foods your self to have them in the winter when less foods are in season.

8. Skip the Convenience: My kids love the organic gluten free chicken tenders I was buying. Unfortunately, they also cost like $8 for one box that only fed them for one meal. I found at my local grocery store I could get organic chicken for $9 for twice as much chicken and then bread and cook it myself for maybe just a couple of dollars more. Cooking from scratch isn’t as hard as you think!

Have any other tips on how to save on buying organic groceries and food? Share them in the comments section below!