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Good day everyone!

Recently I wrote Part 1 of 8 Ways To Eat Super Healthy Food On a Budget. Well today I’m here to give you Part 2! Here we will continue talking about regular shopping tactics you can use, as well as incorporating a few online and app tips. So let’s jump right in, shall we?

5-) Use cash back apps

Today there are a ton of apps that can help you save money on groceries (often using rebates ), such as Ibotta, Checkout51, SavingStar, and BerryCart. I’ve used most of these in the  past, but Ibotta is my favorite and the only one I’ve actually continued using over time. They have an amazing selection of items to get rebates for, including “any brand” fruits and veggies. They also have great “bonuses” that can really up the cash back, especially around holidays (just make sure you understand the fine print if you plan on completing bonuses). To see how awesome this app is, take a look at my earnings from July 2015-March 2017…I earned over $500 in cash back:

March 2016-Nov 2016

July 2016-March 2017 (current)

Boom! Now that’s how you make your dollar stretch! As you can see, this even includes months when I didn’t have much time to shop (and got $0 cash back as a result)!

If you are interested in getting loads of cash back as well, use code ‘ikiovgr‘ when you sign up and get $10 when you redeem your first rebate! The app is COMPLETELY FREE, so what do you have to lose?

6-) Be nomadic

Every Wed we get a “redfin” packet in the mail that includes all the circulars for the next week. This is the stores’ way of asking you to see what awesome deals they have, so take advantage. If you have multiple stores nearby you don’t have to commit to only one, especially if you can maximize your money! Don’t worry though, this doesn’t have to be a forever exhausting time sink. Invest your time doing this for a month or so, and you’ll get a feel for who has the best deals. I even found that one store near us simply doesn’t offer a good selection of healthier options that suit our family, so I stopped comparing their prices after only a few visits.

7-) Shop online

Can we all agree right now that online shopping is da’ bomb? Not only is online shopping super easy, but they often offer a wider selection at cheaper prices because items can be kept in a big warehouse. (*holds back squeal of enjoyment*)

Hands down, my favorite online store is Thrive Market (not to be confused with the MLM Thrive). Their goal is to sell healthy products at bulk pricing. They have a great selection of foods that I’ve never seen in our local grocery stores at amazing prices! In fact, the prices on Thrive are often cheaper than on Amazon!

You do have to pay an annual membership fee ($60) after the free trial period. However, I think it is well worth the cost if you use Thrive Market regularly. Shipping is free on orders over $49, and for orders over $59 they’ll often throw in a free goodie! So to maximize value, I put 1-2 big orders in a month instead of a bunch of smaller orders.  Also, for every membership purchased, Thrive donates a membership to a family in need so they can have access to healthier options. The karma points alone made me feel good about joining them!

If you choose to join Thrive after your 30-day trial period, use this link and receive 15% off your first order! However, if you decide that Thrive isn’t for you, please actively make sure you cancel by the end of the free trial so you don’t get charged. 

8 -) Join a CSA

If you like to be creative in the kitchen, joining a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) could be a great option for you. In a CSA, you support local farmers by buying shares (i.e. a box of veggies) in advance. Then every week you receive your box filled with in-season produce. CSAs have gained popularity over the past few years, so now you may even see variations like meat CSAs!

The main disadvantage to a CSA is that you probably won’t know in advance what produce you’ll be getting. This means you can’t really plan in advance, which can make meal planning harder. Because I believe waste is the worst way to save money on food, I personally haven’t made the plunge to join a CSA. However, I have heard great things about them, and one day I hope to gain the confidence 😉

9-) BONUS! Learn to can

OK, Canning is not technically a way to save money on groceries. However, canning protects your food when you’re worried that it will go bad (less food waste = less money waste). Canning also helps if you like the convenience of grab-and-go beans, soup, etc., but want to minimize your exposure to BPA (BPA is found in the lining of canned foods). Not to mention, mason jars are super cute and reusable!

That completes my list of 8 Ways To Eat Super Healthy Food On A Budget. If you missed part 1 of our discussion, you can read it here!

What tricks have y’all used to save some dough on healthy foods?