Cut Your Food Bills in Half

I had never heard of a buying club before, so I went online one Wednesday afternoon to find out more. By Wednesday night, I was my club's newest member! Thank you so much for turning me onto this method of buying now I can actually afford to buy many of the organic or natural items that I generally want to buy but can't always justify.

In fact, I've spoken so excitedly about it that two of my coworkers went out and joined groups in their area - what a great way to make an impact on others. I encourage all of you to check it out: www.unitedbuyingclubs.com

AWESOME article. I fully agree with the changes that this author talks about. I say use the internet to your advantage in getting recipes for things that you would normally buy (ie tortillas, chips, fries, bread, yogurt, etc). If you don't have a trading group for coupons, excess produce, etc. start one or go on line to find trading groups (mostly for coupons and items). Coupons are a grocery shoppers best friend right now and if you look for them on the websites of products you like you can find so many. There are also many sites that have a general grouping that changes about every two weeks. As I said before, if you have internet access, then use it to your advantage. YOu will be glad that you did. Remember things are not always as dificult to do when you do it one step at a time.

In defense of CSA prices, I can only say that in my CSA I buy premium seeds, the best organic fertilizers (and my own compost), and have to cover the cost of containers, etc. I work 10 hours a day during the season. At least. Plus there is the cost of gas in the truck for deliveries. There is a certain price that I need to ask in order to make any money at all from the endeavor.

I try to make my organic food available, however, to lower income people. I do offer work shares, and when I sell at the local market I take WIC coupons (which means I have to attend a workshop and do a lot of paperwork -- more work).

For the best prices, it's certain that you will do best by growing your own. But for those who cannot do that or don't have the time, they will find no better food than what their local CSA's can provide. :)

I think one of the best things you can do for yourself is learn to can food. Even meat will keep its good taste longer canned than in the freezer This year I have been drying vegetables. That seems to be working out very well. I got my very nice dehydrator at a garage sale for just $3! Usually the fruit I get (I don't have fruit trees however people know I want fruit so they call me and tell me to come over and pick apples, appricots or cherries)is canned or made into jams and jellies. If you only have a small quanity of fruit, jams and jellies are the best way to extend the delicious taste. Don't overlook wild fruits and berries as well. My favorite jelly is wild plum.
Lastly, I would like to say that I am disappointed in the CSA farm in my area. I know that they have to make a profit and I don't fault them for that, but I can't afford $10 a gallon milk or their expensive meats and vegetables. I have come to the conclusion that organically grown food is only available to those with generous incomes. I will have to stick to my own small garden, as I am retired and on a fixed income.

I read your article in the magazine, and it was great!

What I would dearly love is recipes for crispy pretzels and tortilla chips. (-: I've figured out the secret to potato chips (salt them, let them sit, then squeeze them out before frying them), but the really nice thing about making your own "junk food" is that you really realize what is going into that food. A single potato does not make a bag of potato chips . . . and a serving size *really* is about 10 or 20 for a snack.

Keep up the great work!

To expand on your ideas on canning your own foods and a buying club. If you and your neighbors/friends would like to start canning but do not now own a canner and the associated equipment consider purchasing it as a group.

When I moved to mid-Missouri I was extremly fortunate to have a neighbor who had a large assortment of canning equipment (bowls, collandars, peelers, jar lifters, large spoons and canners)who regularly held canning parties with her neighbors and family. I overheard her asking some ladies who might have another canner to use so I offered mine. Best thing I ever did.

Many hands make light work was something these ladies live by. If you have ever tried to can with small children in the house you will appriciate having someone to take turns watching the kids. Besides, somehow it is easier to clean, peel, cut and can when you have someone to talk to.

Also by doing the canning as a group you will be able to share your produce and fruit making better use of it. I have a fantastic apple sauce tree (makes terrible pies the apples are too soft) but there is no way I could use all the fruit. It usually makes 60 to 80 jars of apple sauce and 20 to 30 jars of apple butter. The fruit ripens to early in the year to use them to make a good cider but it makes an OK wine.

If you buy fruit or produce you may be able to buy in bulk and get a better price by splitting it.

Lastly, when starting to can get a recent copy of the Ball Blue Book . I have seen it on sale next to the canning supplies in Wal-mart stores, used and new book stores.

Per the National Center for Home Food Preservations:
Regular glass jars break easily at freezer temperatures. If using glass jars, choose wide-mouth dual purpose jars made for freezing and canning; these jars have been tempered to withstand extremes in temperatures. If standard canning jars (those with narrow mouths) are used, leave extra headspace in liquid packs (3/4-inch for pints; 11/2-inches for quarts) to allow for expansion of food during freezing and completely thaw food before removing it. Do not use regular canning jars for foods packed in water. http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/questions/FAQ_freezing.html#21

Great article!

Cooking beans and rice and other staples in bulk and freezing them in mason jars is a good way to have a quick healthy start to a dinner. Sauces can also be made this way.

End of aisle displays, paired items like chips and salsa, are always "gimmick buys," and are never on sale. They are typically something the supermarket is trying to move due to channel discounts (e.g. the distributor or manufacturer is giving them a large discount, meaning that the grocery store makes a larger margin on it, or a greater percentage that they keep on a given sale).

I also read a great article similar to this at Water Bottle People's website, http://www.waterbottlepeople.com/