20+ Ways to Afford Organic Foods on a Tight Budget and more...

I often get asked: Is it possible to afford organic foods on a tight budget? And I'm here to tell you: Yes! While “organic” and “budget” might feel like they're opposites, it is possible to eat well on a budget. Sure, depending on where you ... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  View Online Here's what's new: 20+ Ways to Afford Organic Foods on a Tight Budget Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Is Back on October 6th and 7th! 20+ Ways to Afford Organic Foods on a Tight Budget I often get asked: Is it possible to afford organic foods on a tight budget? And I’m here to tell you: Yes! While “organic” and “budget” might feel like they’re opposites, it is possible to eat well on a budget. Sure, depending on where you live, this will be easier or more difficult, but in most areas, you can feed your family natural, unprocessed, even organic foods without spending a fortune — especially if you’re willing to get creative and think outside the box! Keep reading for 20 ways to save money on organic food — allowing you to eat clean, even if you have a tight budget! 20+ Ways to Afford Organic Foods on a Budget Here are several ways to afford organic food on a tight budget: 1. Plan your menu based on what’s in season and on sale. If you want to feed your family on a budget, the first step is to have a plan for what you’ll eat. Regardless of your special diet or food preferences, meal planning will always save you money. You’ll significantly reduce your grocery bill if you intentionally plan your menu around what’s on sale at the natural foods store, what’s in season at the Farmer’s Market, what organic foods are on sale at Aldi or your local grocery store, and/or what your garden is producing. (Read more about how I “reverse meal plan” like this here.) As an added bonus, you’ll reap the benefits of a balanced diet as you’ll constantly be rotating your produce based on what’s in season! 2. Calculate the cost of your meals. When you’re planning your menu, think about how much each recipe will cost. Cutting costs on a meal in general will create more wiggle room in your budget to prioritize organic items. It doesn’t have to be a scientific, to-the-penny figure, but just having a good idea that there is a $10 difference between the price of making one meal as opposed to another meal can help with keeping your grocery budget down. 3. Practice the “buy ahead” principle. If your budget allows, stock up whenever you find an incredible sale on organic items. This could be organic tomatoes at the Farmer’s Market, markdown deals on organic produce/bread/meat at Kroger, reduced-price organic frozen veggies at the health food store, a super weekend sale at Sprouts, if Aldi is offering a great deal on organic products, or any other amazing grocery deals, like the ones we share regularly. Buying items you routinely use when they are at their lowest price is a surefire way to save more. 4. Buy in bulk. It is usually much more cost-effective to purchase meat and staple ingredients in bulk. Call around to local farmers and see what they would charge you for purchasing half a cow. In many cases, this meat is at least $1 cheaper per pound to purchase in bulk. And the meat is much higher quality. Buying organic grains, beans, and other basic ingredients with long storage lives in large quantities will almost always save you at least 20%, if not more. 5. Focus on the worst offenders. Environmental Working Group’s Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen lists are a great place to start when trying to prioritize organic purchases. These lists will help you steer clear of the stuff with the most pesticides, and confidently save money buying conventional when it comes to the cleanest fruits and veggies. 6. Plant a garden. Produce is typically only pennies per item from your own backyard, it’s tremendously fresh and you know exactly what you did or didn’t spray on it. Plus, if you can or freeze your extras, you’ll be able to enjoy “fresh-from-the-garden” produce for much of the year. Have a brown thumb? Find a friend who loves gardening and trade services (babysitting, bread-baking, car maintenance) in exchange for their garden excess. If organic produce is something you’d like to prioritize, you won’t find it at a better price than if you grow it on your own! It’s a fantastic option on a budget. 7. Consider joining a CSA or Co-Op. If gardening isn’t for you, you might look for a co-op or CSA in your area. They do usually have a fee to join the group, but it still might be a money-saving option on organic produce for your family. And if you can’t find an affordable co-op in your area, you could consider starting your own co-op. 8. Order from Misfits Market If you’re willing to eat fruits and vegetables that are odd shapes or sizes, you could save a lot of money by ordering from Misfits Market! This company sells produce that isn’t attractive enough to sell in a typical grocery store but is still perfectly edible, allowing you to save on fresh produce while reducing food waste. Read our full Misfits Market review and get a discount code here. 9. Serve meat as a condiment. Serving meat in soup, on a salad, or as a pizza topping is going to be a lot less expensive than serving it as the main dish, especially if you’re buying high-quality organic and grass-fed meat. 10. Make homemade snacks. Pre-packaged snacks are significantly more expensive than homemade snacks. As a bonus, homemade snacks are often more nutritious since you can control exactly what ingredients you use. 11. Skip organic “junk food”. It’s probably a better use of your cash to spend it on organic produce versus organic candy, fruit snacks, or other sweet treats that you don’t technically need to buy anyway! 12. Swap out expensive ingredients. You probably don’t really need Gruyere cheese… Swiss will do just fine! And you likely don’t need that fancy (a.k.a. expensive) chocolate when store-brand chocolate chips will work. If you’re using a recipe that requires a specialty ingredient you don’t already have in the house, do a quick Google search to see what you could substitute instead. 13. Eat your leftovers. Repurposing leftover meals into lunches is a great way to save money on groceries and time in the kitchen. Not having to buy a lot of extras for additional meals can help save money — especially if you’re prioritizing organic items. 14. Use coupons. Although they are harder to come by, there are organic-based coupons available online. Also, take time to email your favorite companies, because they just might send you coupons by mail! 15. Use coupons on non-food items. If you can’t find coupons for the organic food items you purchase, you can still use coupons to save on toilet paper, toothbrushes, and other non-food items — lowering your overall grocery costs. (Make sure to check out our weekly drugstore deals posts for deals under $2 at Walgreens and deals under $1 at CVS to save big on these household items.) 16. Avoid specialty stores. Although they have great selections of unique items, you typically pay a lot more across the board. 17. Opt for frozen produce. Fruit and veggie smoothies are a great way to get your greens all year round. However, buying these ingredients organic 12 months a year isn’t always realistic. Before abandoning organic produce all together, take a look in the frozen section and you may be surprised to find that organic, frozen alternatives can mean fantastic savings. And most frozen foods are frozen immediately after harvesting so they are packed with vitamins and nutrients that can sometimes be lost in fruits that sit on store shelves for a week. 18. Find a local Amish community. They often sell lots of produce, breads, and cheese at reasonable prices — and they are almost always organic and homemade (and delicious!). 19. Buy the store brand. Most stores have their own brand of organic foods these days — saving you quite a bit on your overall bill without much difference in taste or quality. 20. Don’t forget about Farmer’s Markets. Your local farmer’s market is a valuable resource! There are SO many local farmers who grow delicious, organic food for much lower prices than you’ll find at any store. 21. Shop at Costco, Aldi, or Trader Joe’s You can often find great deals on organic items at Costco, Aldi, or Trader Joe’s for great prices! You might also try Thrive Market for specific organic items you’re looking for. Would You Like to Become Financially Healthier, Too? If you’ve been thinking about pre-ordering The 7 Habits of Financially Healthy Women, this week’s pre-order bonus is will help you start getting financially healthier in just 5 days! 5 Days to a Financially Healthier You is a practical 5-day video course that also includes a module to read and printable worksheets to help you put what you’re learning into action. In just a few minutes a day, you’ll work through simple, actionable steps designed to help you build healthier money habits and make meaningful progress with your finances. When you pre-order my book from any retailer, you are eligible to claim an incredible collection of exclusive pre-order bonuses — including this 5-day course, all the bonuses released so far, and every new bonus still to come before the book launches! We have some really fun giveaways coming too! Pre-order your copy + claim your bonuses here! Tips for Saving on Specialty Diets If your family has allergies or sticks to specialty diets, you might find some of these articles helpful: Buying Specialty Diet Foods on a Budget Five Ways to Save with Dietary Restrictions How to Survive on an Allergy-Free Diet How I Feed My Family of 4 on an Organic, Gluten-Free Diet Ask Crystal: Is it possible to eat healthfully on a budget? My 25 Favorite Things to Buy at ALDI How to Use Target Circle (and Get the Most Value From It) The Top 30+ Items to Buy at Sam’s Club 25 Benefits of Costco Membership The Best Candy and Sweet Treats Without Refined Sugar Do you have any other ideas or tips for how to save on organic foods? FREE DOWNLOAD: 60 Meals To Help You Avoid Takeout! Meal time just got so much easier!       Amazon Prime Big Deal Days Is Back on October 6th and 7th! Amazon Prime Big Deal Days has officially been announced for October 6th and 7th! Want to know how to get the best deals? In this post, we share our best tips for saving money and scoring great deals on Amazon Prime Big Deal Days! Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 is back and will run from October 6-7, 2026! That means we get two whole days of deals! If this is anything like last year’s Prime Big Deal Days sale, we will see deals that are as good as or even better than Black Friday deals! Amazon says this about Prime Big Deal Days 2026: Starting October 6 at 12:01 a.m. PDT, Prime members can shop millions of deals on top brands, seasonal favorites, and everyday essentials—from fall entertaining and home décor to Halloween prep, beauty, and early holiday gifting. These savings build on Amazon’s everyday low prices, giving members even deeper discounts on products they’re already shopping for. “Once fall arrives, there’s so much to get ready for—the hosting, the decorating, the holiday gifting—and Prime Big Deal Days makes it easy to check it all off while saving,” said Carmen Nestares, vice president of North America Marketing and Prime Tech. Other retailers will likely join in, too! Because of how popular Prime Big Deal Days is, other major retailers usually have HUGE sales that week, too. We will keep you posted as soon as we hear of any other major retailers joining this sale. And this is just the major retailers! We’ll see ALL kinds of great sales that week from online retailers — small and big! How to Get The Best Deals on Prime Big Deal Days We predict that starting October 6th (or even earlier — from other online retailers), we’ll see a flurry of deals similar to what we usually see on Black Friday week. We love that so many other companies will be competing with the deals Amazon is offering because that means more deals and more savings! Because of this, we want to help you prepare accordingly so you can save the most money. We’ll be here all day both days! Our team will be hard at work all day long each day scouring the deals and posting the best ones we find! So be sure to tune in here at MoneySavingMom.com for all the BEST discounts on Prime Big Deal Days 2026! We’ll be posting all of the best deals all day every day! You can also follow us on Facebook or Instagram, join our Facebook group, Facebook Channel, and sign up for our HOT deals newsletter. Following us multiple ways gives you the best chance of catching all the deals as they pop up quickly! 5 Tips For Preparing For Amazon Prime Days To help you prepare well to maximize your savings for Amazon Prime Days, here are 5 strategies we suggest: 1. Sign up for a free 30-day trial to Amazon Prime. Not an Amazon Prime member? No worries, now is the perfect time to sign up for a FREE 30-day trial. This way, you’ll get all of the benefits of Prime and be able to take advantage of the deals, but you won’t have to pay for a Prime subscription. At the end of the 30 days, just be sure to go into your account and cancel your subscription and you won’t be charged! Psst! If you’re between the ages of 18-24, you can sign up for a FREE 6-month Amazon Prime trial! 2. Subscribe to our Hot Deals email newsletter. Have you signed up for our Hot Deals Email Newsletter yet? If not, be sure to do so before Prime Days! When you sign up, we’ll send you no more than 1-2 emails each day featuring the hottest and best deals hand-picked by us as soon as they become available. This way, you won’t have to wait for the daily enewsletter to go out in the afternoon; you can jump on the hottest deals right away! We’ll be sending out two email newsletters each day during Prime Days featuring only the BEST deals that are our top picks. Sign up for this newsletter here. 3. Follow us on Instagram. You can find us on two different Instagram accounts on Prime Days: :: Crystal’s personal Instagram: Be sure to head over there and hit the follow button. She loves personally sharing the deals she’s most excited about on IG Stories. (Plus, you’ll see a lot of behind-the-scenes content including day-to-day life, grocery shopping hauls, and a lot of other fun stuff that doesn’t get shared anywhere else!) :: Money Saving Mom Deals Instagram: You’ll also want to go follow our Instagram account that is solely dedicated to posting the top deals each day! If you follow us there, you’ll see deals pop up not only on IG Stories but also in your feed throughout the day. On Prime Days, we’ll be hopping onto IG stories on both accounts multiple times throughout the day telling you about the best deals that we’re most excited about! So be sure to follow both accounts HERE and HERE so you don’t miss anything! 4. Follow our Facebook Page We’ll be posting all the deals all day long on our Facebook Page, and it’s one of the easiest ways to make sure you don’t miss any HOT deals! Just bookmark this page and refresh it throughout both days to keep up to date with the latest and greatest deals. Plus, you might see some live videos and FB Stories throughout the day from different team members talking about some of our favorite deals! 5. Make a List & Budget If you haven’t done so already, be sure to make a list of the items you are most interested in buying, as well as the budget you have to spend. This way, you don’t just jump on a good deal because it’s “such a good deal”, when it’s not something you need or can afford. How to Earn Free Gift Cards For Prime Days Want to stretch your dollars even further? Now is the time to cash out your free Amazon gift cards or spend some time over the next couple weeks earning some extra Amazon gift cards. Here are just a few ways to earn some extra cash to spend on Prime Day: Sign up for Swagbucks — It’s also easy to earn enough swagbucks to trade in for a $5 gift card! You have plenty of time before Prime Day, even without referrals. I just spent an hour or two this week doing a few activities and already have enough for a $10 gift card! Go here to get started with Swagbucks. Sign up for Fetch Rewards — It’s so simple to earn points for scanning your receipts with Fetch Rewards. (Gretchen here! I signed for Fetch years ago and I’ve now earned hundreds of dollars in gift cards. It’s super easy. Also, your first couple scans will be worth enough to quickly get you over the 5000 points mark to trade in for an Amazon $5 gift card!) Psst! Find more ways to earn Amazon gift cards here. Are you ready for Prime Big Deal Days? Let us know what deals you’re looking for in the comments! Never miss a HOT deal again! Sign up below and I’ll only email you when I find a really fantastic deal!       Latest finds on Pinterest Historical fiction, redemption stories, unforgettable characters, and books that tug at your heartstrings -- this list has a little bit of everything for fiction lovers. I read dozens of books every year, but these fiction titles rose to the top. If you're searching for your next favorite novel, start here. Need an easy, affordable dinner idea? 🥚✨ This crustless spinach quiche is totally customizable (perfect for using leftovers!) and pairs beautifully with simple whole wheat bread. A wholesome, family-friendly meal for under $10 — and the bread machine does most of the work! This chicken pot pie with a homemade cream cheese crust takes comfort food to the next level! 🥧✨ Creamy filling, flaky crust, and made for under $10-- it’s an easy, cozy family dinner that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen. Perfect for weeknights! 💛 Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy Email subscriptions powered by FeedBlitz® • 650 E. Palisade Avenue Ste 2, PO Box 173 • Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632