Going organic on a budget..is it possible?

[onthebeach]

So I REALLY want to go organic in my home. I know that their our some common brands that now sell earth friendly/organic products which I could use coupons for. BUT I really wanted to do organic...not just earth friendly.

Is it possible to do on a budget ( my goal this year was to cut grocery bill down). How much do you spend per month on organic groceries and toiletries and cleaning products.

Help any ideas suggestions/ comments would be soooooo helpful.:encourage6:

[onthebeach]

bump

[onthebeach]

Please help me with this

[knittingintheround]

Well, I don't think it's possible to get food for the prices that the die-hard conventional couponers get. But, I think it's possible to do organics somewhat cheaper than it appears at first glance.

Ideas:

--Coupons
--buying in bulk
--growing as much as possible yourself
--Buying as many 'ingredients' as possible and making things from scratch rather than buying packaged items...
--co-ops, bulk-buying clubs...
--Doing without (ask yourself...'do I really need this?')...
--cutting in other areas to put $$ toward your food budget....


As for cleaning supplies....baking soda and vinegar will clean just about anything (tubs, toilets, counter tops, etc.) Some folks also make their own dish detergent and laundry detergent. I figure the cost of the baking soda/vinegar cleaners offset the price of the natural dish detergent and laundry detergent that I buy.

I think you just have to think creatively....I'm getting a part-time job at my local organic farm this summer...they need the help and I can earn some extra cash to pay for the meat, eggs, and veggies I buy there. Maybe you can work out a deal with a local farmer to trade goods or services.

I know it seems daunting at first. :hug2:

[kristen.c]

It's definitely possible, but I think it's probably a different experience for every member on this board because of how many people are in their family, what products they buy, what stores they can shop at, and the availability of organic products in their area.

My best advice is to look at those factors, set a realistic budget that you can easily afford with those factors and limitations in mind, and then try your hardest to stick to it.

Some suggestions that might help you to cut back:
Make a weekly or even monthly meal plan and try to eat things when they are in season.

Organic meat can be expensive, so try to look for other sources of protein like beans and legumes and incorporate those into your everyday meals and save the meat for special occasions.

If you don't cook from scratch, now is a great time to learn. You won't have to follow a recipe and buy extra ingredients when you can look in your pantry and make a meal using only what you have available at the time. Those little trips to the store can really add up.

Start a garden, even if it's only some pots of herbs. If you have a CSA available in your area, you might want to try signing up for that to help you save money on the produce you would normally purchase. If that doesn't work then try shopping at local farm stands or farmers markets. Lots of those places may not be Organic certified because of the time and cost associated with it, but they still grow without the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

As far as products for your home, see what you can do without. Do you really need 5 different cleaners or will 1 organic multi-purpose cleaner get the job done. Are you willing to make your own organic cleaners? That right there can save you a lot of money!

For body care products you might want to take a look at what you really use and concentrate on those items. I know when I was getting free shampoo at CVS a few years ago I would use a bottle or two a month-- there was no need to be using that much. I cringed when I saw how much organic shampoo cost. I took a good look at how much I really needed to get the job done and now a bottle of shampoo and conditioner will last me almost 3 months which makes the $6-$7 a bottle seem much more affordable.

My best advice is to start out small, set goals for yourself, and to be realistic. Pick one thing to change every week and then incorporate that change. Remember that every change you make, no matter how small, is still a step in the right direction.

[rbunnymom]

Thank you for this very valuable advice. I plan to use most (perhaps all) of your tips.