8 Tips for Being Organic on a Budget
8 Tips for Your Family to Eat Organic Food on a Budget
Today, many parents want to provide an organic and non-toxic environment for their child. While going green isn’t always cheap, it certainly doesn’t have to break the bank. Read on to gain some tips and tricks so you can be organic on a budget!
1.) Make Your Own Cleaning Supplies– You can save lots of money on cleaning supplies and know that they are safe to use on all surfaces around your items, kids, and pets. Essential oils are natural and powerful. All you need to do to make a multi-purpose cleaner is fill a spray bottle with half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of water. Mix in 10-12 drops of essential oil, like lemon or grapefruit, give it a shake, and you have one safe and cheap cleaner! My mom (and founder of Bright Beginnings Preschool) has never used chemicals in our house. Growing up we always had a distilled white vinegar and water mixture as our counter cleaner. If you don’t want to make your own there are so many awesome brands today like Seventh Generation, Honest Company and Method that have great products. The only downside is these products come at a cost and the cheapest way to make non-toxic household cleaning supplies is to make it yourself!
2.) Buy in Bulk– Many parents think they can’t afford organic vitamins or supplements. But, if you shop around online on sites like Amazon or Thrive Market, you can buy these healthy, organic items in bulk. Sign up for a subscription to get them automatically billed and delivered to you, and you can receive an even bigger discount.
3.) Plant a Garden– The best way to know where your food comes from is to grow your own. Designate an area around your home as a garden. Whether you plant veggies directly into the ground, or utilize potted planters, one thing’s for sure-you can get quite a harvest for a small cost. Your kids will also love picking fresh fruits and veggies, while helping to maintain them.
4.) Buy Frozen Organic Produce- Did you know that 90% of the time organic frozen produce at the grocery store is cheaper than fresh organic produce? This is especially the case if the fruit or vegetable you are buying is out of season. So next time you have sticker shock in the fresh produce aisle of the grocery store, head to the frozen food section and breathe a sigh of relief!
5.) And speaking of frozen food… Use Your Freezer! By no means let your home grown fruits and veggies go to waste once they are starting to get out of season. Instead, pick every last one and prep them in way that preserves them. Directly freeze them, or make lots of meals out of them (veggie lasagna) and freeze the finished products. This way, you can keep all your home grown goodies for a few months and can ensure you always have something healthy and homemade to eat!
6.) Make Your Own Beauty Products– Making your own toothpaste, soap, and shower scrubs are a cinch. You can skip the fancy packaging (which is what you mostly pay for and is bad for the environment) and just focus on using good for you ingredients. Check out sites like Pinterest, which boast hundreds of recipes to help you concoct something organic and effective! I personally use organic coconut oil as an all over body moisturizer at night- I even use it as a face lotion and lip balm! Coconut oil can also be used as diaper cream!
7.) Be Mindful of Being Wasteful– This goes without saying but a lot of people are not aware that the United States wastes 30-40% of it’s food supply. That’s a lot of food. It’s important to remember this even if you are not on a budget! But if you are on a budget, remember to not over spend on food you will not eat. It is all about getting into the habit of buying less and eating more of what is already in your freezer or pantry!
8.) Shop at Your local Farmers Market– Did you know that local produce can be much cheaper at your local farmers market? This makes sense because there aren’t shipping costs involved in marking up the prices! Shopping local supports your community farmers. I find that when I go to the farmers market about 30 minutes before they close I get the best deals on my produce. The stalls are much more likely to give me a better price because they are about to close up for the day. I personally love the Charlottesville City Famers Market in Downtown Charlottesville. It’s open from 7am-12pm April through October and November and December 8am-1pm-rain or shine! Check out other Charlottesville farmers markets here.
Going green isn’t cheap, but it can be. It takes a conscious effort, proper planning and forming new habits to be successful. Learn how to be thrifty and resourceful with your goods and money. Not only is it better for your family’s health and well-being, it is also better for the environment.
Useful Coupon Websites:
Bulk Organic Pantry items:
Discount Organic Vitamins and Products:
And of course Amazon is fantastic. They ship for free over $25 and have a wide range of organic and also non-toxic products.
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