I know that shopping healthy can be a bit more expensive but I have found some ways to make it more affordable. I used to only buy fresh healthy food that would last about 5-6 days of the 2 week pay check and then it was bad food for the next week. I have learned a few things to keep the healthy food preparation through the entire 2 weeks and I am not paying more on my grocery bill.
• Those green bags that they sell in the grocery that are advertised to keep your fresh food better longer? Well… they totally work! So I tried them and was skeptical because they are $9.99 but totally pay for themselves as they keep my produce and fruit fresh for like 2-2 ½ weeks. I won’t go without them now.
• I figure out how many meals I have to cook and am buying strictly what I need for the recipes. This means that I am not guessing or buying, “maybe” items. When I do this I have literally chopped anywhere from $30-50 off my bill. Go into the store with a purpose and don’t go hungry.
• I bought a topsy turvy and grew my own beautiful tomatoes last summer. It turned out to be such a great plant that I am now going to go buy 2 more and plant cucumbers and red peppers. Saved me a ton on buying those expensive tomatoes.
• I planted my own herbs and kept them next to my topsy turvy plant. It cost me $10 for seed, $20 for soil, and about $25 for the planters. You can buy the planters for about $1-1.50 per planter. I had mountains of herbs clear into Nov. 1st last year. I wanted to buy a heat lamp to keep them through the winter inside but just never got to that before they died. I am going to do it next year. NOTE: There were 3 stubborn herbs that I had to replant 2 times but they did come up. The package of seeds last for about 3-4 plantings as I only have to buy a couple herbs this year because I have enough left over from last year.
This has helped a lot because I cannot afford to just go whatever I want and not worry about the grocery bill. I have also noticed that the organic produce has become very comparable to the non-organic so I have been buying a lot more organic.
I want to plant a garden this year but not sure if I will be able to. We might move. If we don’t I am going to plant some lettuce, peas and raspberries, we will see.