Going Organic Without Going Broke

Since I began this blog several people have asked if it is possible to save on natural and/or organic products.  The answer is, "Yes, it is possible to save on healthier food options."  You can also save on speciality products, like "gluten free" or "casien free" items.  When we first began our son on a very strict GFCF diet, I was just looking for anything he could and would eat.  Over time I began to find ways to reduce the cost on these items.  Choosing to change your family's diet can be overwhelming at first, so I don't want to further burden anyone with a long list of how to reduce the expense at one time.  Instead of posting one long article, I'll post a series of short ones.  Today's suggestion is:

Start A Price Book!

No single retailer offers the lowest price on all items.  The only way you can be sure you are getting the most for your hard-earned cash is by knowing your prices.  I've paid as much as $3.99 for a 1/2 gallon of organic milk (YIKES!)  You'd better believe I stock-up when it's on sale for $2.50 or $2.  Had I been oblivious to what the normal cost was, I wouldn't have purchased multiples at the $2.  For the next few weeks, I would have paid up to double ($3.99) for the same milk.  To make a Price Book, follow these simple steps.

1. Grab a little notebook, or a three-ring binder and some notebook paper.  This could be FREE, if you have any of these items on hand.  If you have to purchase something, you shouldn't spend more than $1.
2. Label the top of each page with an item you purchase for your family.  For example, one page may look like this may have the heading "Organic Skim Milk".   I recommend newbies start by tracking prices of ten items.  More than this and you risk becoming overwhelmed before you even get started.
3. On each page, make four columns.  The headings will read "Store", "Price", "Unit" and "Cost Per (Gallon OR Pound OR Ounce...)".
4. Under "Store",  list the retail stores at which you plan to shop.
5. Beneath "Price", you will record the cost for an item at a particular location.  
6. Below "Unit", record the amount of product you are able to purchase for the price you just recorded.  (i.e. milk would most likely be "gallon" or "half-gallon").  If you have receipts from the past few weeks on-hand, go through these to fill out portions of your chart.  
7. Take your Price Book with you for a couple of weeks.  View each item and record the price and unit in the appropriate row on each page.
8. After you've put away your purchases, grab a pen and calculator.  Compute the cost per unit for each item and record this number in your Price Book.
9. In the future, before you head toa particular store, glance at your Price Book.  Plan to stock-up on items of which this store offers the lowest price.  Whenever you find an item on sale, compare the cost per unit to those you have already recorded.  If the sale price is higher than a competitor's price, don't buy this item.  If the sale price is super low, buy a bunch!

A single page of your Price Book might look like this: 

Organic Skim Milk

Store                    Price                    Unit                                   Price per Gallon

Food Lion             $3.59                  1/2 gallon                          $7.18/gallon

Kroger                  $2.99                  1/2 gallon                          $6.98/gallon

                             $5.39                   gallon                               $5.39/gallon

Martin's                 $3.99                   1/2 gallon                         $7.98/gallon

Walmart                $3.69                   1/2 gallon                         $7.38/gallon

Target                   $3.89                    1/2 gallon                        $7.78/gallon

Sam's Club           $3.59                    1/2 gallon                         $7.18/gallon

NOTE:  Prices are for example only.  These are not up-to-date.

If I am at Kroger, I'll buy a gallon or two.  If I need milk for the kid's cereal, I'll buy 1/2 gallon at whichever store I happen to be in.  If milk is on sale for $2 per 1/2 gallon, I'll buy 6 or more.