Natural foods, cleaning, and beauty products can be so expensive!
As much as our family tries to primarily cook meals from scratch in our house, there are times when we need to quickly grab a premade snack (especially when we’re running late and need to head out the door!). We also use environmentally friendly cleaning and beauty products, which are pricey too. Over the years we’ve found ways to save money on these items.
Here’s how we save money and still use the natural products that we love.
Buy in Bulk Online
Amazon offers tremendous savings on prepackaged bulk foods when you “subscribe and save,” which sets you up for regular deliveries at an additional 15% savings on top of their already discounted prices (plus you can change your delivery schedule or easily cancel anytime!). Items such as coconut oil
(we buy the really huge containers
), gluten-free rolled oats
, granola
, and brown rice pasta are so much cheaper with “subscribe and save” than at places like Whole Foods.
We also buy some of our favorite grab and go snacks for our four year old from Amazon such as: nut butter squeeze packs, strawberry puff cereal
, pouches of fruit and vegetable fruit purees, seaweed snacks
, and raw chocolate cookies
Price Check Online and Shop Around
Amazon doesn’t always offer the best price online. We also shop at Vitacost and save a staggering amount of money on supplements and household items such as shea butter, shampoo, toothpaste, organic tampons and pads, sunscreen, lip gloss, and non-toxic cleaning products. Most products are 20-45% cheaper than your local store. By ordering our Vitamin D supplement at Vitacost (instead of Whole Foods) we save 45% off retail or about $11 a month. That’s a savings of $132 a year on just one item!
(Vitacost also offers an autoship program (that we haven’t yet tried) to save an additional percentage off their already discounted prices.)
Warehouse Shopping
Besides buying locally made goat cheese, giant tubs of fresh organic spinach, and recycled toilet paper, I also have found great deals on bulk natural food products such as flax seeds and quinoa at warehouse stores such as Costco. We regularly buy 5 lb bags of baking soda (for laundry and cleaning!) at a steal. Warehouse shopping isn’t always cheaper than your local market (especially if you buy more than you can actually use and end up throwing things out!), so check the price per unit or ounce before buying anything.
Check for Discount Codes Online
Any time I place an order online or head into a chain store I first check out RetailMeNot for discount codes. I’ve gotten free shipping at Land’s End (love their canvas bags!), discounts at the Limited and the Gap (my go-to places for every day clothes), and 50% off your entire purchase coupons at JoAnn Fabrics.
Read Blogs with Discount Announcements
There are SO many websites that post sales, discount codes, and tips for leading a more thrifty life. I particularly like the blogs Baby Cheapskate and The Thrifty Mama for tips about when to buy shoes, strollers, toys, or clothes, or how-to make household products such as deodorant, shampoo, laundry detergent, or all-natural granola bars.
Don’t want to shop online but still want to save on organic products? Stock up when items are on sale at your regular grocery store!
I particularly love this tip (and try to do this before resorting to online shopping!) because I want to support the locally owned businesses in our community.
When the jam we love is on sale, I buy twenty jars. I know we’re going to use it, so I stock up. The same goes for Seventh Generation cleaning products, Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, miso soup packets, Tom’s of Maine toothpaste, dental floss, and jars of tahini.
Several times a year Whole Foods offers a 20% discount on all bulk food items and we buy bags of dried beans, nuts, and seeds.
Our local beekeeping store occasionally has seasonal sales and I make a point of stopping in and buying a ridiculous amount of locally made (and super delicious!) honey.
Buying in quantity initially costs more and only makes sense if you are going to use it before the products reach their expiration date, but in the long run I feel that it saves money. The biggest challenge I find is making space in my freezer or pantry for the enormous quantities we buy on sale.
Do-It-Yourself
Stay tuned for several forthcoming posts on this topic. Not only do I plan to can and dehydrate scores of fresh, local and organic produce this summer, but I have a bunch of awesome books on making your own homemade pantry that I’m excited to share with you. Stay tuned!
Those are my suggestions to save money on natural products. I can’t wait to hear what tips YOU have to share!
. Yes, a book about gardening and cooking — two of our family’s most favorite things! This cookbook aims to get children involved in growing and preparing their own food. What better way to get kids excited about the food they eat than to grow and prepare it themselves!
