Saving Money on Fresh Produce

Saving money on groceries when you try to eat whole foods can be a little tricky, as there aren’t often coupons for fresh produce. However, with this simple tip we save up to 50% on organic produce, no coupons required!

How to Save on Fresh Produce

There are a lot of things involved in cutting our food budget while keeping our meals high quality, but one of the easiest things I do to save money is buying pre-weighed foods.

Some grocery stores only offer certain produce in pre-weighed packaging. When I see those, I rejoice because I know exactly how to save big money with this simple tip!

A few years ago we realized that we were spending over $1200 a month on food in order to eat real food. For our budget that just wasn’t a real sustainable option for eating well!

After a few months of spending that much on fresh, organic foods, we would be out of money and end up eating convenience foods or “junk” foods because they were cheap. Then we’d start feeling horrible and getting sick and we’d go back to spending all our money on real food…

Little did we know it’s actually possible to eat an all-organic diet for 44% less than most families spend on junk food!

Why Saving Money on Groceries Matters

It’s the path of least resistance to just adjust your spending or eating habits to account for inflation. But with food costs rising at such a rapid rate, many people are finding that they cannot maintain the quality of food they are used to on their current budgets.

We strive to make sure that every dollar is spent well for several reasons, including eating high-quality food for less! Here are a few of our “why” reasons.

• Financial stability – Saving money on food allows us to have extra funds for emergencies, debts, and future goals!
• Healthier eating – We don’t have to choose between saving money and eating well. We can still enjoy fresh ingredients, cook at home, and take charge of our health.
• Reduces food waste – By not just buying whatever looks good in the moment, we are able to make meal plans, shop with a purpose and not end up with wasted food at the end of the week.

What are pre-weighed foods?

These foods are found in the produce section of your grocery store and are sold by the bag.

In my grocery store, I commonly find apples, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions in pre-weighed 3-5 pound bags.

Weighing Produce for Savings

While cutting down your food budget without sacrificing quality involves several strategies, one of the easiest and most effective methods I employ is buying pre-weighed foods. Follow these steps to save big on your produce purchases:

• Look for pre-weighed produce – Some grocery stores offer certain produce items, such as apples, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and onions, in pre-weighed packaging. These products are typically sold by the bag.
• Weigh multiple bags – When you come across pre-weighed bags, don’t settle for the first one you see. Instead, gather several bags and head to the scale in the produce department.
• Choose the heaviest bags – Weigh each bag and compare their weights. You’ll often find that the “3-pound” bag of apples can range from 2.75 pounds to 6 pounds. By selecting a bag that exceeds the intended weight, you’ll get more food for your money.

For instance, let’s consider these bags of organic potatoes. In the store, you’ll find pre-weighed bags, and two bags labeled as “3 pounds” might actually vary significantly in weight.

Take a look at the above comparison:

• Bag 1 (left): Weighs 5.85 pounds
• Bag 2 (right): Weighs 3.13 pounds

Both bags cost the same amount, but Bag 1 provides significantly more food for the money. By taking the time to weigh the bags and choose the heaviest options, you’ll maximize your savings on produce purchases!

If I were to just throw a bag in my cart that ended up only weighing 2.75 pounds then I’m losing money on that purchase. However, by weighing a few bags and finding one that is over the intended weight I get way more food for the money!

So the next time you’re in the supermarket, look for pre-weighed bags of food and weigh them before you decide on which one to buy.

It may seem a little silly and you may feel a bit embarrassed, but do it anyway!

Even More Money Saving Ideas

If you’re looking to save even more money on your real-food budget, here are a few of our favorite ideas!

• Homemade Ranch Seasoning Mix
• Canning Dry Beans
• Creating a 30-Day Emergency Food Supply

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