Help!!! $740 on groceries

[holidaymama]

Well ladies, I am one of the most frugal ladies you ever met, read this board religously, but in an effort for me to make my family healthier, I am committed to trying to buy organic/chemical/preservitive free food...and it's obviously costing us!

I figure our months from the 20th-20th because that's when we get paid. It's the 5th and I have spent $740! Granted, minus milk, I should be done for the month, but I am ashamed!

Our groceries have gone up significantly over the year...last year I could get away with budgeting $400/month...this year changed it to $500...obviously a little over kwim?

I have included cleaning supplies, shampoo conditioner, soap, and diapers.

I guess I will post what I have bought (sorry if this is long):

Produce
organinc granny smith 3lb bag: 3.99
organic red delicious apples 3lb bag: 3.99
green pepper: .69
red pepper x 2: 1.38
yellow pepper: .69
watermelon 2.99
oranges: 3.28
bananas: 1.54
dried cranberries: 4.20
lettuce: 5.99
organic grapes:15.00
organic bosc pears: 3.49
bag organic oranges 3lb: 5.99
2lb organic strawberries: 6.99
apples: 6.18
cranberries dried: 1.70
lettuce: 5.99
strawberries: 6.99
potatoes organic: 4.99
apples 3 lb: 5.99
organic grapes: 4.25
onion 1.17
bananas: .71
strawberries: 7.98
lettuce: 8.98
pears: 3.26
red grapes: 2.64
green grapes: 2.34

Dairy
organic eggs x 2 dozen: 6.78
Icecream: 5.74
Sour cream: 1.97
yogurt: 3.19
2 gallons milk: 11.98
Icecream: 5.94
organic butter x 6lbs: 14
cheese: 12.76
cheese: 8.39
yogurt: 3.69
cream: 3.19
coffee creamer: 3.14
feta cheese: 3.23
milk x 3 gallons: 15.57

Grocery
soda: 6.00
organic jelly x 2: 4.98
juice: 3.39
maple syrup: 7.79
organic fruit strips: 3.54
pasta sauce: 3.29
protein bars: 3.95
buns:1.97
chips: 2.50
soa: 6.48
candy:5.68
water: 1.19
organic jelly beans: 5.48
dressing: 3.49
granola: .71
granola: .98
bread: 3.99
vitamin water: 16.79
water: 4.39
cereal: 6.29
fruit snacks: 9.89
coffee: 21.85
chocolate syrup: 6.29
crackers: 6.29
granola bars: 10.99
cereal: 11.85
cookies: 2.98
granola bars:9.00
fruit strips:2.99
candy: 4.00
bread: 5.30
water 1.00
chips: 6.00
buns: 1.19
bread: 2.59
ribs: 8.44
chicken: 3.49
2 bags fozen chicken breasts: 12.00
turkey dogs:1.19

HBA/Diapers
7th gen detergent: 14.99
7th gen fabric softener: 3.79
Listerine: 4.79
Zyrtec: 9.74
ziplocs: 2.33
7th gen dishwasher soap: 3.99
diapers: 21.47
sigg bottle: 19.99
Dr. B: 8.99
hand soap: 11.00
deodorant: 2.99
hand soap: 5.99
lip balm x 2: 4.00
shampoo and conditioner: 10.00
baby wash and shampoo: 20.00
lotion: 12.99
reusable shopping bags x 5: 4.98
vitamins: 10.99

Alcohol
4 bottles wine X 3.99

Well if you have made it thus far, thank you!! After looking over everything, I see many areas to reduce, but I would love your opinions. I also see that some of the things on the receipt were for other categories of our money and were paid from a different envelope...still the bill is way to high!

[holidaymama]

I just wanted to add that this is for a family of four active, skinny people! We are all thin and yes...we go through every bit of this food!!! That is what's so frustrating!

[mom0810]

Oh my gosh, to me it looks like you are doing really great!

But then I have been spending $1000.00 or more a month on groceries, so I really am not the one to ask.

I am going to start coming here for advice because I clearly need to do better.

With food prices so high, though, I would not beat yourself up over what you are spending. You really are doing well.

[fek&fuzz]

I think you would save quite a bit of money if you didn't buy off season, imported fruit. That is almost $70. And how are you paying $6 and $9 for lettuce??

You don't indicate where you live, which would help, but I think buying local and in season things, rather than concentrating on organic would go a long way towards trimming your budget.

You also seemed to spend quite a bit on convenience food: candy, snacks, vitamin water, bars, chips, etc. Maybe figure out if you can cut these or make alternatives at home. That seems to be a very large portion of the bill.

[holidaymama]

fek&fuzz ~ yes after looking at the convienence foods, I am sick...I am the candy woman and my husband is the chips and icecream man! This is something we need to reduce.

The lettuce is expensive because I buy the big tub that's organic...I go through what would be 2-3 bags of lettuce a week...that's a big salad every lunch and maybe one for supper.

We live near Dallas TX...I think its a low COL considering everyone else from the east and west coast.

[nigellas]

We get Door to Door Organic delivery and it seems to be cheaper than a lot of the grocery organics I find. For instance, I get a big box of organic fruit delivered to my house every other week (you can get weekly) for $23. If they are in your area, it might be worth looking onto.

[Natsuki]

If you can afford to spend that much on groceries each month then don't change what you're doing and don'y sweat it - better to have that money for healthy food than to need to pay off debt, yk? :

That said - it seems like you're buying organic without really considering cost which is hugely driving up your prices. I'm speaking specifically to your produce purchases here - I think if you came up with a budget for fruits/veggies each week and planned your recipes accordingly that would save you a lot. I mean, organic strawberries are much better than conventional (I refuse to buy conventional b/c of the high pesticide levels) - but when they're over $3/lb I wont buy them at all - I substitute other fruit instead.

Are you going off of the 'dirty dozen' and 'clean dozen' produce lists? That will help a lot with substitutions. There is no way I would pay that much for organic lettuce - I would do without and choose another veggie instead. Have you looked into buying frozen organic strawberries? Those can be cheaper than fresh and are very nutritious - we love frozen strawberries at our house.

Like others said, the snack foods are really driving up your costs too - again, there you need to prioritize. I don't buy organic fruit leathers usually b/c they're so expensive (i will occasionally buy them when they're .33/each).

[Jilian]

Just looking over it quickly the grapes jumped out at me - $15 for grapes is a LOT. I wouldn't buy them for that much, I'd chose something else. We stick with only organics for the dirty dozen but if the item is too much then we go without it.
Vitamin water, cocolate syrup, coffee and maple syrup also look like they are costing you a fortune. Maybe go with non-organic options? regular syrup costs $2 or so here in FL. Chocolate syrup is about $2 also. Coffee on sale is 2 freeze dried packs for $5 or less with coupons, and skip the vitamin water and use regular spring water ($.69 per gallon here).

Stock up when things are on sale and use coupons, many coupons can be printed right from your computer. We look at our grocery store match-up on aFullCup.com and it tells us what is on sale and where to get the coupon that goes with the sale item. The site is free and saves us a small fortune.

[SeekingJoy]

I think you are doing fairly well. But, if you really want to cut this down, here are the changes I would have made.

Originally Posted by holidaymama

Produce
organinc granny smith 3lb bag: 3.99
organic red delicious apples 3lb bag: 3.99
green pepper: .69
red pepper x 2: 1.38
yellow pepper: .69
watermelon 2.99
oranges: 3.28 - a 5lb bag?
bananas: 1.54 -
dried cranberries: 4.20
lettuce: 5.99 - If this is a clamshell container of prewashed, see if you can get loose lettuce or heads for less.
organic grapes:15.00 - How many lbs? It is a bit late in the season for cheap grapes. I won't pay more than $2 per lb for organic.
organic bosc pears: 3.49 - <$1.99 lb
bag organic oranges 3lb: 5.99 - Yikes! This is a high price per lb. Oranges are more in season later in the fall/winter.
2lb organic strawberries: 6.99
apples: 6.18 - how many lbs? My buy prices are <$2 lb organic or <$1.50 regular.
cranberries dried: 1.70
lettuce: 5.99
strawberries: 6.99 - 2lbs again? Fair price.
potatoes organic: 4.99
apples 3 lb: 5.99 - you bought these earlier at a lower price. When something goes on sale, especially apples, potatoes, pears, root veggies, etc that will keep a couple weeks, stock up.
organic grapes: 4.25 -
onion 1.17
bananas: .71
strawberries: 7.98 - 3lbs?
lettuce: 8.98 - see above.
pears: 3.26
red grapes: 2.64
green grapes: 2.34

Dairy
organic eggs x 2 dozen: 6.78 - check craigslist for local pastured eggs. $3 doz is the going rate here. Or watch sales. I can ususally get eggs for <$3 doz org. Eggs keep 6 wks or so.
Icecream: 5.74 - 1 gallon? organic? For a conventional/all-natural, my buy price is <$2, usually between $1.85 and $1.50.
Sour cream: 1.97
yogurt: 3.19
2 gallons milk: 11.98 - local, raw? If just organic, Organic Valley regularly has coupons for $1 off, making it $5 a gallon for us.
Icecream: 5.94 - see above.
organic butter x 6lbs: 14 - great price. unless you can get this regularly, stock up
cheese: 12.76 - how many #s? $2.50 per lb was my buy price for non-organic this summer. It will have to go up next time I buy again.
cheese: 8.39
yogurt: 3.69
cream: 3.19 - can you use whole milk?
coffee creamer: 3.14 - use milk
feta cheese: 3.23
milk x 3 gallons: 15.57

Grocery
soda: 6.00 - drink homemade tea; if you "have" to have soda stock up when it is on sale, which for our area is $.98 for a 2L
organic jelly x 2: 4.98
juice: 3.39 - for non-organic, you can wait until it goes on sale for about $2 per half gallon and then use a coupon. Even for organic, there are coupons. This is something that goes on sale regularly and shouldn't be purchased at full price.
maple syrup: 7.79
organic fruit strips: 3.54
pasta sauce: 3.29 - make your own and freeze or jar. Or, watch sales + coupons. I pay <$2.50 per jar, max. I have gotten Barilla for $. 20. I bought 20 jars.
protein bars: 3.95 - There are coupons that make most brands (Cliff, Luna, etc) free or close to it. No reason to ever pay full price.
buns:1.97
chips: 2.50
soa: 6.48 - soda? see above.
candy:5.68
water: 1.19 - bring your own
organic jelly beans: 5.48 -
dressing: 3.49 - homemade salad dressings are yummy and easy. If you really like store-bought ones, coupons can make them super cheap or free. Even for natural brands like Annies. :
granola: .71
granola: .98
bread: 3.99 - You could make your own for less. Or, Arnold and Pepperidge farm regularly have their breads on sale (or even sale+coupon). My "buy" price for whole wheat bread is $2 a loaf. I can even get organic at that price sometimes. Bread freezes well.
vitamin water: 16.79 - You can flavor water with lemon, lime, raspberry or cranberry juice for lots less. If you have to have these shelf-stable ones, coupons come out periodically that make them free/super cheap.
water: 4.39 - see above.
cereal: 6.29 - How many boxes? For Kashi, I have been paying $1.50 a box by combining sale + coupon. For mainstream stuff like Quaker or Cheerios, it regularly goes on sale + coupon for less than $1 a box.
fruit snacks: 9.89 - like fruit leather? make your own? eat fresh fruit instead?
coffee: 21.85 - How many pounds?
chocolate syrup: 6.29 - love chocolate. We all have vices. You can make your own by melting chocolate with powdered sugar as you need it. Or, the mainstream brands go deeply on sale regularly. Nesquick will be free with coupon for me this week if I wanted to buy some.
crackers: 6.29 - how many boxes? For saltines, I can get whole wheat ones for $2.50. For Kashi, they go on sale + coupon a couple times for about $1.50.
granola bars: 10.99 - How many boxes? My buy prices are $1.50 a box for Nature Valley or Kashi.
cereal: 11.85 - see above.
cookies: 2.98 - Homemade oatmeal ones are yummy, cheaper, and the dough can be made in super large batches and frozen.
granola bars:9.00
fruit strips:2.99
candy: 4.00
bread: 5.30 - 2 loves?
water 1.00
chips: 6.00
buns: 1.19
bread: 2.59
ribs: 8.44
chicken: 3.49 - 1 whole, conventional? Not a bad price, but not fantastic. I usually pay around $.70 per lb for a small fryer. A great price for me would be $.59 per lb.
2 bags fozen chicken breasts: 12.00 - Unless these were 5lb bags or organic, shop around. Last week, I bought cut up organic chicken at $1.85 per lb and regular breasts at $.88 per lb.
turkey dogs:1.19

HBA/Diapers
7th gen detergent: 14.99 - 2 bottles? Check out Charlies soap or wait for this go to on sale.
7th gen fabric softener: 3.79 - use vinegar in the rinse if your clothes are rough. if you like your clothes to have a fragrance, use sachets of dried herbs and flowers.
Listerine: 4.79
Zyrtec: 9.74 - generic?
ziplocs: 2.33 - Do you purchase these often? Even with freezing lots of food, I only use 3-4 boxes a year.
7th gen dishwasher soap: 3.99 - Yikes! My buy price for this is $2.99. You can also make your own with 1tbs of borax and 1 tbs of baking soda. Then cut back to just a squirt of the 7th gen if you feel you need something else.
diapers: 21.47 - Cloth?
sigg bottle: 19.99
Dr. B: 8.99
hand soap: 11.00 - Try Dr. B in a foaming pump.
deodorant: 2.99 - What brand? This is regularly are super cheap/free with sale+coupon for mainstream brands. Or you can try alcohol instead.
hand soap: 5.99 - see above.
lip balm x 2: 4.00
shampoo and conditioner: 10.00 - Brand? See note above about deodorant. My buy price for mainstream brands is <$2 per bottle. If it is something like California Baby that doesn't have coupons or go on sale often, check out the larger half gallon sizes.
baby wash and shampoo: 20.00 - brand? see above. Burts Bees and California Baby have been on sale recently at Target.
lotion: 12.99 - brand? This still seems high. Is your bath soap too drying
reusable shopping bags x 5: 4.98 :
vitamins: 10.99

Alcohol
4 bottles wine X 3.99

You are so brave to put this out there and seek feedback! Congrats for opening up your family's budget this way.

The main suggestion I would make -- which requires no change in your eatting habits -- is to buy shelf-stable snacks and HBAs BEFORE you need them. Next time an item you use goes on sale, buy two (or 20 if you are like me ). I HATE to pay full price for something that goes on sale regularly. If you can combine a coupon with a sale = fill the pantry. If you don't like to clip coupons, buy them. www.couponclippers.com If you think coupons are only for junky, mainstream brands, get educated. www.hotcouponworld.com

Orient your fruit selection to more what is in season/cheapest. It isn't as interesting to have a choice between only pears and apples this time of year, but it sure does save money. Supplement with dried cranberries, frozen berries, and fewer grapes. In the winter, eat lots of cheap citrus. Next summer, eat lots of fresh berries and preserve what you can.

A large percentage of what you are spending is on snacks. These can be had for cheaper (see shopping strategies above), but it also raises a question for me about meals. Can you add more "fillers" like a side of rice and beans to keep you and the kids full longer? Also, try offering a snack of leftovers. Or put leftovers into single-size portions and freeze to be re-heated as a snack.

Where are the root veggies, winter squash and dark leafy greens? Those are super cheap right now in most of the country. My grocery budget has a much higher percentage devoted to veggies and less to fruit. Still super nutrious, just less expensive.

If it sounds like I must have tons of space to stockup like I do, I don't. We live in 1150 sq ft, and until recently my MIL was living with us. I am just too cheap/broke to pay full price for the organic, natural, preservative-free foods I want to feed my family. So, I get creative.

That was actually fun. I wasn't aware of some of my shopping strategies until just now. :

HTH

[mama2simon]

Awesome feedback SeekingJoy - I learned a bunch reading your recommendations! Appreciate the time it took you to write that out .

[holidaymama]

SeekingJoy ~ Wow! Thanks for spending the time to do that for me! Just sitting down and looking at my receipts tells me where I can get some things cheaper than others.

Yes...I need to go back to baking our own bread. I was doing that and have gotten lazy.

All of the soaps and lotions and shampoos and conditioners are natural brands from Whole Foods.

Laundry detergent...I know I need to buy Charlies...I was going to this month and then my hubby called while I was out and said we needed Detergent...so I should order it now for next time!

I am glad to hear your prices for things and your limits. That helps me...I just need to be more aware of good prices!

I do need to start finding coupons...that will be my goal next month!

[cristeen]

My first thought was - do you have access to a Farmer's Market/CSA? Looking at your produce prices, I'm cringeing. But, that's without knowing quantities on all of it... i.e. if you're buying large amounts of grapes, then $15 maybe be perfectly reasonable. But, I'm paying $3/lb for organic right now.

I'm just looking at what's currently available to me, as of yesterday's farmer's market... watermelon and oranges are completely out of season, bell peppers and strawberries are coming to the end (prices going up), and even grapes are starting to peter out (no green grapes left). Heck, even potatoes are out of season right now. Right now the in season produce is apples, pears, lettuce, sweet potatoes, onions, green beans. We're getting the last of the grapes, strawberries, peaches, bell peppers and tomatoes right now. Potatoes are already gone. And I'm in CA, where our season lasts longer. In fact we just got the first rain of the season yesterday, and it was just enough to wet the ground.

Do you know your price points? Do you shop around?

But, the things that really jumped out at me were the splurges... candy, soda, ice cream, chips, etc. Those things can really add up, and nutritionally they're pretty empty. I would work on reducing the consumption of those items, and finding alternatives that are cheaper. For instance... for the $12 you spent on ice cream, I could make a gallon of it and still have money left over. In fact, there are quite a few things on your list that you can make at home for a fraction of the price. The two that really jump out at me are yogurt and dressing (both are quick and easy), but could also be crackers, cereal/granola, bread, cookies, etc.

You also spent over $20 on water. I would guess the $1 purchase was to buy a bottle to drink right now, so plan ahead and bring your own (I don't go anywhere with my water bottle). But the $17 on vitamin water, on top of the money spent on soda... ouch. I've been slowly weaning my DH off soda for years now, and have managed to reduce my buying to about once a month instead of weekly. Instead I can get a $3 box of tea and make him iced tea to drink. The same goes for juice.

Honestly though, if you can afford it, it's not horrible. But, if the amount you're spending hurts, or is taking money from another category that needs it, then I'd work on making more of my own and buying less packaged, buying in season only, and shopping around.

[amyamanda]

Are there any farmers near you - farm stands, orchards, etc?

I can get organic potatoes (B-grade, which means they are smaller/larger/funny-shaped-er than what they sell in the store) for $10-20/bushel. It's about 40 lbs I think. I can get organic storage onions for $1/lb if I buy 50 lbs at a time. I can get IPM (nearly organic) apples (seconds) at the orchard for $8/half bushel, which is about 22 lbs. I'm about to look for a local farmer who will sell me winter squash by the bushel. I buy the 5# bags of carrots. We buy rice by the 25# bag and beans by the 5# bag (discount for ordering in quantity).

Also, if you don't have a garden but do have a little dirt, consider growing winter greens like kale - my fave is white or red Russian. It grows prolifically even when it's cold out. It comes back in the spring (until it goes to seed later). It's sturdy and healthy and you can chop it up in soups, casseroles, rice dishes, etc. I rely on it quite a bit in late fall and early spring.

I also find it saves money to plan by the month instead of by the week, because it gets me thinking in larger quantities that are usually cheaper to buy all at once.

[DiannaK]

Originally Posted by fek&fuzz

I think you would save quite a bit of money if you didn't buy off season, imported fruit. That is almost $70. And how are you paying $6 and $9 for lettuce??

You don't indicate where you live, which would help, but I think buying local and in season things, rather than concentrating on organic would go a long way towards trimming your budget.

You also seemed to spend quite a bit on convenience food: candy, snacks, vitamin water, bars, chips, etc. Maybe figure out if you can cut these or make alternatives at home. That seems to be a very large portion of the bill.

That's the first thing that jumped out at me, too. Ditch the soda and vitamin water (this coming from a woman who LOVES Vitamin Water!)

For your toiletries .... have you checked out Hot Coupon World?? If you follow the CVS threads there (or Walgreens, etc) you'll be able to get shampoo/soap/etc for next to nothing, as long as you aren't a brand slave.

Good luck ... we have a huge tax bill coming up, so I need to get back on this bandwagon, too

[guestmama9904]

Originally Posted by holidaymama

...
I have included cleaning supplies, shampoo conditioner, soap, and diapers.

I guess I will post what I have bought (sorry if this is long):

Produce
organinc granny smith 3lb bag: 3.99
organic red delicious apples 3lb bag: 3.99
green pepper: .69
red pepper x 2: 1.38
yellow pepper: .69
watermelon 2.99
oranges: 3.28
bananas: 1.54
dried cranberries: 4.20
lettuce: 5.99
organic grapes:15.00
organic bosc pears: 3.49
bag organic oranges 3lb: 5.99
2lb organic strawberries: 6.99
apples: 6.18
cranberries dried: 1.70
lettuce: 5.99
strawberries: 6.99
potatoes organic: 4.99
apples 3 lb: 5.99
organic grapes: 4.25
onion 1.17
bananas: .71
strawberries: 7.98
lettuce: 8.98
pears: 3.26
red grapes: 2.64
green grapes: 2.34

Dairy
organic eggs x 2 dozen: 6.78
Icecream: 5.74
Sour cream: 1.97
yogurt: 3.19
2 gallons milk: 11.98
Icecream: 5.94
organic butter x 6lbs: 14
cheese: 12.76
cheese: 8.39
yogurt: 3.69
cream: 3.19
coffee creamer: 3.14
feta cheese: 3.23
milk x 3 gallons: 15.57

Grocery
soda: 6.00
organic jelly x 2: 4.98
juice: 3.39
maple syrup: 7.79
organic fruit strips: 3.54
pasta sauce: 3.29
protein bars: 3.95
buns:1.97
chips: 2.50
soa: 6.48
candy:5.68
water: 1.19
organic jelly beans: 5.48
dressing: 3.49
granola: .71
granola: .98
bread: 3.99
vitamin water: 16.79
water: 4.39
cereal: 6.29
fruit snacks: 9.89
coffee: 21.85
chocolate syrup: 6.29
crackers: 6.29
granola bars: 10.99
cereal: 11.85
cookies: 2.98
granola bars:9.00
fruit strips:2.99
candy: 4.00
bread: 5.30
water 1.00
chips: 6.00
buns: 1.19
bread: 2.59
ribs: 8.44
chicken: 3.49
2 bags fozen chicken breasts: 12.00
turkey dogs:1.19

HBA/Diapers
7th gen detergent: 14.99
7th gen fabric softener: 3.79
Listerine: 4.79
Zyrtec: 9.74
ziplocs: 2.33
7th gen dishwasher soap: 3.99
diapers: 21.47
sigg bottle: 19.99
Dr. B: 8.99
hand soap: 11.00
deodorant: 2.99
hand soap: 5.99
lip balm x 2: 4.00
shampoo and conditioner: 10.00
baby wash and shampoo: 20.00
lotion: 12.99
reusable shopping bags x 5: 4.98
vitamins: 10.99

Alcohol
4 bottles wine X 3.99

Well if you have made it thus far, thank you!! After looking over everything, I see many areas to reduce, but I would love your opinions. I also see that some of the things on the receipt were for other categories of our money and were paid from a different envelope...still the bill is way to high!

i have been skipping grapes because they are not local, are very expensive and there are other nutritious fruits we enjoy.

baby shampoo is really just regular shampoo without scents. does your store have bulk shampoo/conditioner? it's usually a lot cheaper. my local co-op sells bulk organic/natural shampoo.

you are spending a lot on strawberries, 21$ so far? maybe find a locally grown, in season fruit that your family enjoys, ie. pears, apples, ect. and save strawberries for special occaisons.

as far as laundry detergent i like the seventh generation stuff too but really do you need fabric softener? i don't consider it a neccesity or to be that good for the earth. for laundry detergent you may be able to find a natural and biodegradable version in bulk at a local co-op or you can buy a generic but still natural brand. we have a few different options here in MN, one is called Natural value brand and they are much cheaper for the same ingredients as seventh generation. also as a note, seventh generation does have coupons on their website.

granola bars are not essential either and you are spending 9$ on them in 2 weeks? either find a recipe and make them yourself or go to trader joes and buy cheap ones (2$ for 6 granola bars at my TJs) or find a different, less processed snack.

lotion is nice but you can find unscented generic lotion at a health food store or coop that is less then 13$. i think trader joes and whole foods both sell a generic brand for about 4$.

organic jelly beans for 5$? they are not healthy, they are horrible for your teeth even if they are organic, they are still just balls of sugar and coloring (even if its natural sugar and plant-based coloring). try having fresh fruit and whipped cream as a dessert or apple crisp homemade with oats and butter and honey as a topping.

protein bars arent really that easil;y assimilated by many peoples bodies, they arent a whole food and they are expensive. looking for good sources of protien? try a nice hunk of whole milk cheese, a hard boiled egg dipped in salt, a tuna fish sandwhich, a slice of natural lunch meat, some beans and rice ect. even a glass of whole milk would be full of digestable protein and would cost less per glass then a protein bar costs each.

for hand soap i jut get a reusable hand soap container (glass ones are pretty and durable) and fill it with natural dish soap like seventh generation which is so much cheaper per ounce than hand soap. look at the ingredients of your handsoap vs. dishsoap, they are very similar!

also dont buy water! it's free from your tap or you can invest in a water purifier.

[elsie]

Do you have a CVS near you? You can eliminate much of your health and beauty spending at CVS using extra care bucks, coupons and timing. There are a few websites dedicated to showing you how to CVS properly, but I started doing it and have spent next to nothing on health/beauty. My sister and I joke that if you have to pay out of pocket for toothpaste you are just not doing it right.

[Oh the Irony]

for some of the household items like dr.bonners, hand soap, shampoo, lip balm and seventh generation i suggest frontier.

you can start your own buying club for $10 and if you order $250 you get free shipping. i get a few friends to go in with me every few months.

[Staceyy]

I do not buy organic as I cannot afford it. I do however make almost everything from scratch which eliminates the preservatives and additives and I am learning to garden. We eat extremely well due to the fact that I am culinary school trained to cook and bake. I make my own breads, chocolate syrup, yogurt and granola from scratch, as well as a lot of other things. I also make my own cleaning products. My gardening plan is very simple. I have an Aerogarden on my kitchen table growing lettuce, I have an earthbox in my garage growing tomatoes and I have cucumbers growing outside in the ground. I plan to slowly expand.

[Girlo]

You've gotten lots of good advice here so far, and I can't add much to what's already been said.

The one thing that stood out for me is the cleaning supplies. How about making your own? I didn't see any all-purpose cleaner, so you might be already using vinegar/water, which is great! Homemade laundry soap is also much cheaper than already-made.

How about Costco? I buy baking soda and white vinegar there, which cuts costs. You can also find organic options, like sugar, Annie's mac & cheese, juice, bread, milk, and lots of other stuff. With the volumes that you use, it might make sense to get a membership.

[Natsuki]

Originally Posted by holidaymama

All of the soaps and lotions and shampoos and conditioners are natural brands from Whole Foods.

Are you shopping at Whole Foods regularly? B/c that is a major budget-buster right there . Have you looked on www.drugstore.com for the natural brands that you use? They often have great sales and free shipping (never ever pay shipping from there - there are always offers and coupon codes for getting it free).

Can you cut back on how much product you use to save $? For example, I don't want to use unnatural products on DS. I could buy only California Baby bodywash/shampoo for him and pay a lot of money - but what I've started doing is using the CaBaby only for washing his hair (and my Diva ) and for the rest of him I bought a Kiss My Face 100% Olive Oil bar soap (nothing bad in there at all!) and use that with a washcloth to wash his body - it lasts a loooong time, longer than liquid does, is cheaper, and still accomplishes my goal of not slathering his skin in toxins .