I'm often asked how much natural and organic products we eat. As a couponer, I know that coupons don't come out very often for organic products and when they do they are mostly for what I call, organic junk food. Over the last several months we've started slowly switching over to organic/natural. Yes, it's more expensive. No, it's not alot more expensive. The key is being selective in what you are buying and then finding the lowest price on that item, whether that means buying it in bulk or finding different sources for different products.
When you first set out to go organic you might be overwhelmed by the prices and the food differences. At first I thought there was no way we could do it without our budget taking a serious blow. Turns out I can still buy all my groceries and health and beauty products for the month for around $100-$150. Does that sound impossible? It's not, but it does take extra work.
The other day I mentioned to a friend that when I do something, I don't do it halfway. But that doesn't mean we switched things over all at once and it doesn't mean that we even switched a particular food all over to organic all at once. But it does mean that I made a commitment to do this and I'm sticking with it.
On a side note: yes we still use coupons. Using coupons and getting stuff for free is my way of giving back the best way I can. I still love coupon shopping and I know there is many people out there that can use the products so I'm more than happy to shop to donate. As far as our food shopping goes though, I rarely use coupons for my own personal groceries.
Something that might help on your switchover is to make a list. (Oh, you know I love a good list!) Start with a list of the things that you have already switched to or are happy with in you diet and lifestyle and then make a second list of each of the things that you want to switch over and if you get really excited, you could make the list in order of what you want to switch over first. My sample list might look like this:
Already switched ~
Turbindo/Sucant Sugar instead of white sugar
Non-hormone dairy(yep, all of it)
Only natural meats(chicken and beef)
Organic flour
Lotion
Shampoo and Conditioner
In the process ~
All organic or local produce
Whole wheat pasta
Real Salt (instead of sea salt)
Organic garden products
Need to change ~
Toothpaste
Dishsoaps and laundry detergent
Deodorant
That's not a full list, but you get the idea. We are really doing pretty good on the food part and now I need to start working on the health and beauty products to switchover.
When you think of going natural/organic you should try and think in terms of cooking from scratch instead of buying organic food off the shelf. Occasionally you can find a good deal on organic "processed" foods with coupons and at discount stores but if you are really wanting to save as much money as you can while making the switchover, you will have to mostly cook from scratch. Instead of thinking that you will now have to pay $3 a box for organic crackers instead of .50 - $1 a box for crackers that you can get with the coupon, think about making crackers from scratch and paying only .25 - .50 a batch. Not only are you saving even more than you would with coupons, that's saving more than 75% off the cost of the organic product!
For me, the hardest part is the health and beauty switchover. I can't, or don't yet know how, to make those products from scratch, and that's why they are still on my to-do list. But it will all come in time, I just have to give it time.
Something else to think about is where you buy your products. Now alot of grocery stores are starting to have store brand organic products. Some of these even have coupons like the Nash Finch brand organic line, Nash Brothers. Also, check around for a local co-op. I absolutely love mine. (Azure Standard) But I don't buy everything from there, I also check out the local discount store and when I go on vacation I'm always on the lookout to snag a bargain on products that we will use. For example on our most recent vacation I got to check out a discount grocery store and they had my organic shampoo brand that I love for half the price I normally pay, and in a larger bottle. You better believe I stocked up!
What about you, have you "gone organic"? Do you have any more tips for other readers looking to make the switchover?
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Seventh Generation dish products are usually a good price and coupons are available around Earth Day and that is when I stock up on them. I have been very happy with these products and have no allergy issues with them.
I read an article in the newspaper yesterday about organic H&B products. Apparently there are not any guidelines for them and any product can label themselves organic. I thought that was disturbing as you do not know what you are getting for the high price you pay. Whole Foods has recently decided to verify them for themselves and will only sell organic H&B products that are certified to be 70% organic. That leaqds me to believe that there my not be 100% organic products out there or no way to be sure they are even if they are labeled that way. We use Unicure shampoo and conditioner. You can find them on the web. They have made their products better and better for humans over the years that we have been using them. They are $35 a gallon which is the best price I have found for such products.
I wish they had more coupons for organic foods. It would really help save a ton of money. Great post. I heard Physicians Formula is a great line although I’ve never tried it.
It can be very hard to make the switch! I try to prioritize – some foods contain a lot more pesticides than others. For example, I always buy organic apples and potatoes because they can be really laden with chemicals, but I don’t worry as much about onions or pineapple, because you peel them. I also make a lot from scratch.
I actually gave up using shampoo totally a few months ago. Lots of people use a baking soda wash / vinegar rinse, but I just use hot water. After a few weeks of looking greasy, my (very long!) hair went back to its old self. I’ll never both with shampoo again.
Also made my very first batch of homemade deodorant just the other day and LOVE it. It’s very simply equal parts coconut oil, baking soda and arrowroot. You can add essential oils if you want, I didn’t bother. Takes some elbow grease to get it mixed up, but then you can pack it into an empty deodorant stick and use it the same as store bought. It doesn’t stop you from sweating, but I find it really keeps me from stinking. Love it. Good luck on your quest!
I have gone about 65% organic. I only buy meat from our local butcher and I get our eggs from there too. The beauty products I have the hardest with. I wish you the best of luck!
I just found your blog, so forgive me for adding to this discussion so late! We have been going organic gradually over the past few months as well. My grandmother who raised me had a beautiful garden in our back yard, and we ate very well from its bounty. My mother’s garden isn’t quite as nice, but she has lovely tomatoes, peppers, and herbs most of the year. I have a brown thumb and have never been successful at gardening, but I have kept most of our houseplants alive. I buy seasonal produce at one of several farmer’s markets that are within reasonable driving distance, and some carry locally-raised chicken, pork, beef, and turkey. Per pound, the meat is more expensive, but it tastes so much better. As do the cage-free local eggs, which have beautiful deep yellow yolks full of goodness. There is an organic, natural dairy in our state which has delicious milk. And bread made with the non-processed good stuff is heavier and more filling.
We do still buy non-organic products, but we’re gradually phasing those out. Our meals taste better, and I know I have more energy than I did before we started this. My kids now rarely buy school lunches because they’d rather have the goodies mom comes up with! Who knew that turkey and hummus on a whole wheat pita would be such a big hit?
I’ve been making my own skincare products for over a year now and am HOOKED! They are simple, cheap and SO good for me. Most of my recipes have come from the book “Natural Beauty at Home” by Janice Cox. I’ve been pleased with almost all the recipes and they cover pretty much everything from skincare to haircare, oral, men’s, fragrance, and pampering scrubs/soaks. My favorite skin cleanser is just a simple combo of honey, a few Tbs castile soap, and water. My face creme is mostly olive oil, grated beeswax, water and a pinch of borax… I highly highly recommend the book.
(By the way, SUPER excited about your recommendation to make my own crackers. I make most meals from scratch, but haven’t really thought that even “snacky” food could be homemade. Silly me!)
Sounds like a good book, I will have to look into it! I recently got Organic Body Care Recipes and I’ve been looking through that one for some ideas. I’ve love to find a good moisturizer that works!
Organic Coconut oil is the best for your skin. Nourishing, hydrating and very healing. Smells great! I buy Dr. Bronner’s brand, because I know that this company is fighting for all the “fake” organic companies to put on their labels what their products really are (not 100% organic). It’s sad that there are companies out there not being completely honest with their customers as mentioned in an above reply. Dr Bronners feels strongly about organic products really being organic. I love that about them, so when I saw that they now offer coconut oil, I bought their jar of it instead. I also use their lavender essntial oil castile liquid soap and the tea tree one for my dog. Any flea or tick will drop off into the water if there is one on my chihuahua. Doesn’t smell bad or leave a yucky scent at all. I also use the coconut oil on my dogs dry skin or feed him some on a spoon when he gets dry skin in his arm pit area. This does the trick. Also coconut oil is great to cook with. It’s a healthy fat that is said to lower cholesterol. I’ve been using these products for about 10 yrs. among lots of other organic foods and beauty products. I hope this helps.
Mambo Sprouts for coupons, Amazon subscribe and save for bulk organics, Whole Foods organic brands for good savings and Vitacost also for organic savings. My 2 cents
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