Savannah's Grocery Store Money Saving Hacks Pt. 1

Prices at the grocery store have been a little nuts lately. I think we can all agree on that.

Since I cook mostly at home and the bulk of what I spend on food is at the grocery store and this makes me very conscientious of prices, deals and discounts. Truth is, is that I've always been this way!

I was the family coupon clipper when I was a kid. My dad taught me early on to read the price tags at the grocery store so I could understand how to get the most bang for my buck. When you've got all that Toilet Paper on the shelf, how do you determine which one is the best deal? That's when I learned how to calculate price per unit. Needless to say, this skill has served me well.

Here's a few things to keep in mind when shopping or looking for ways to save money at the market.

-Organic food is better for you and will save you health care costs in the long run.

-Produce without Apeel(ok for organics for some reason) is even better for you.

-Stores like Natural Grocers support produce without Apeel and are very cost effective.

-Crap carbs are expensive! Very, very expensive. For your grocery bill and for your health.

-Grains contain Polysorbate-80, which is unspeakably awful for you. Life without grains means much better health.

-Seed Oils and Sugar are terrible for your health.

-Different stores often have different prices. Price shopping pays.

-Food priced per unit is usually cheaper then price per pound.

-There is a lot of good produce on the distressed shelves(good for dog food too!) at a fraction of the cost.

-A note on dog food. It pays and it’s easy to make your own. It’s so much cheaper, far better for their health and longevity.

Of all the stores, Natural Grocers puts out the best deals for the best quality food. Their N-Power program rewards you like crazy. It's not your average save .10 at the pump or maybe we will send you a $5 off $50 coupon some day. They are consistent with their discounts and have excellent savings every week. And the best priced Avocados and Eggs anywhere!

-Local Farmers Markets often have the best deals on produce, so frequent them as much as possible. If you grow or make something, this is a good place to find people to exchange products with.

-You can buy a deep freezer for $75 - $150. If you buy a quarter or half or more of a cow, you will get great quality and you can get grass fed and finished beef. Your Ribeye's end up being around $4-$6/lb. This works for other animals as well.

-Like Zuchinni? It's about the easiest thing to grow. Buy a few starts for a few bucks, throw them in the ground and be prepared for a great harvest. Then cut it bag it and throw it in your deep freeze and you should have enough zuchinni till the next harvest!

-Don't have a yard? There are many community garden plots around that will support this for minimal costs.

-Other easy to grow foods, cucumbers, beans, lettuce, tomatoes.

Like tea? Loose Leaf Mate is one of the least expensive quality green teas available. Usually around $14-$16/lb vs some upwards of $70-$100/lb!

Bagged Teas: Traditional Medicinals and Numi are awesome as far as bagged teas go, are widely available and often go on sale.

-Stevia and Monkfruit Drops are the best bang for your buck for healthy sweeteners. They last forever, are easy to travel with and they avoid sugar completely while still making your sweet tooth happy!

-Cheese travels well and can be found at Grocery Outlet for a fraction of the cost of anywhere else. There are some really good finds at Grocery Outlet and it's always worth checking there first. I find mushroom powder there all the time. Remember, Groce Out sells out. If you find something you love, stock up, remember that freezer.

-Costco also has great cheese and Saurekraut for a fraction of the cost of other stores. Costco also has Collagen that is squeaky clean and Coconut oil for prices that can’t be beat!

Milk Alternatives have gotten extremely expensive. I have found much better prices at Costco but I have found that making my own not only tastes better, is better for me, but is practically free!

You can use Almond flour(bulk at Natural Grocers) for almond milk which is considerably cheaper then whole almonds.

Sunflower seeds in bulk make a great milk alternative and they are so cheap!

It takes 5mins to make a milk alternative, your body and pocket book will thank you.

You can save money simply by eating less, but you have to do it right.

Part 1 of the magic formula: Eat High Fat, High Fiber, Low Carb, Adequate Protein.

In Conclusion:

Happier Belly = Happier Wallet

Better health = Better and more frequent sex & Better body composition.

Poor health is not a result of age, it's a result of our food system and it's up to us to learn and educate ourselves.