money money money

[mel_s12]

I just bought a house and need to save every last penny for the payments and everything.
I thought it would be neat to start a thread on how to make this lifestyle a little cheaper, but just as wholesome and nutritious and good for you!
Any tips out there?

[SmilingRawDancer]

1. Bulk stores like costco for bananas, nuts and various other frozen fruits etc.

2. don't buy organic

3. don't make gourmet. I can understand wanting something unique every once in awhile, but recipes involving obscure and hard to get (for some people) ingredients are often very expensive.

4. Find an asian market. All the ones around me have very cheap greens, seasonal fruits, and thai coconuts for 79 cents each.

5. BUY SEASONALLY. If apples are VERY available in the winter, buy lots of apples...they'll be cheaper. Same with winter squash, and various other things.

6. If you CAN - grow your own herbs/produce. Basil is $$ at stores these days, so get a pot and some internet instructions, and grow some stuff yourself :) Basil can grow indoors in a very sunny window.

7. Sprout lentils - bags of lentils are really cheap, and sprout to be over 3 times their original size.

[StarFire]

well... when I first went raw... I ate alot of 'prepared' nut dishes things like that... the longer I was raw -- the more simply I began to eat. Now I only have something more elaborate once in a month if that...

I do find that preparing my own flax seed crackers or onion breads -- things like that is way less expensive (and definitley tastes better) than stuff I could buy in a hfs.

Also... if you check out Amberstorms blog -- she's got some great ideas for raw on a budget -- she's prepared some amazing meals for under $10!! :eek: and they all look fabulous!

the other thing I do is ... I don't always eat organic due to the costs of some organic items. dh and I are also on a fairly limited budget right now - so - we cut corners where I can -- so long as I'm still raw -- I'm happy ... I'll buy grocery store veggies if I have to - rather than not eat raw! One day soon though... I'll be able to eat 100% organic.... but in the meantime.. I don't sweat the small stuff!!

rawkon ... great post!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s43/FireStar_830/Summer.gif

[mel_s12]

Thanks SmilingRawDancer! :D That was great!!

I guess those are the main trade-offs for making it cheaper, but its so difficult to get myself to not buy organic, or not make gourmet foods. Those are my main issues.

[mel_s12]

Starfire - thanks for your reply too!
It's tricky being on a budget and being raw. It's definitely less fun. If I had more money, I'd be at the raw restaurant every day, or making myself something super gourmet as much as possible! Haha.
But on the other hand, I think it will be good for me to eat as simply raw as possible.

[pingo420]

Here in Israel fruit and vegetables are so cheap
And common :p

that I can buy in $ 25 =(100 new Israeli shekel)
30 kilo of fruit and vegetables
that last me for all week :D

[solongng00dnite]

1. Bulk stores like costco for bananas, nuts and various other frozen fruits etc.

Hey Smilingrawdancer

You buy nuts from costco? Are they truly raw? I know they are raw as in not salted but how do you know they were not heated at all? Id love to know because buying nuts from there would be alot easier than getting then online.

[RawHeaven]

Try not seeing eating the very best organic produce or any other raw delicacy as something you cannot afford, but rather see yourself as abundant and happily purchasing these items with more than enough money to spare.

If you continue to say and believe you cannot afford something, you will continue to create situations in your life that validate this truth.

When you fully believe with all of your heart and soul, even if you have to fake it sometimes that there is always enough and you will always be taken care of...you will begin to see changes in your life.

I personally always see myself as abundant irregardless of what's in my bank account. I always purchase organic produce because I feel that it's the best food for my body. If I have to pay more to put gas in my car, I certainly can pay more to put the best fuel in my body.

Wishing you all the best.

[SmilingRawDancer]

Hey Smilingrawdancer

You buy nuts from costco? Are they truly raw? I know they are raw as in not salted but how do you know they were not heated at all? Id love to know because buying nuts from there would be alot easier than getting then online.


I'll have to check up on that :) The ONLY way I can fathom that they aren't raw is if they undergo severe heating through the shelling process - but MOST nuts go through that, no matter where you buy them. I just buy the cheaper option, instead of an online bulk source that is more expensive.
They're not salted, nor roasted, and the pecans and walnuts both say "raw" on the bag, but I'll do more research :)

[diali36]

I buy my nuts and a lot of produce and fruit from Costco. The prices can't be beat and there quility is very good. The local Costco always has better fresh produce and fruit than the local markets and a lot of it is organic.

[trinity082482]

My advice is to sit down and list what you would buy on a non raw diet. I buy half of everything organic. I would be 100% organic but not everything in my area is organic so I am out of luck. Make a few meals per week that contain the same ingredients so that you can stock up on some staples that you can use throughout the week and have several meals out of them. Bulk food stores are amazing for nuts, dried fruits and seeds.
I look at it this way.. a box of sad crackers for $3.00 now becomes replaced in my home with an arm full of banana bundles $0.69cents/lb (non-organic $0.49/lb) and that can last a week. That is just replacing a box of crackers.. now replace everything in your home with fresh alive foods.. and it isn't that much more if you sit down, make a list and go over your recipes..

[Lady Green Jeans]

Wow, what a great thread and lots of great info for everyone. I try to incorporate as much organic as possible in my diet as a way to best nurture my body. On items that aren't highly sprayed or fertilized, I don't worry.

Shopping at Costco can be great as they are carrying more and more fresh and frozen organic products. I also hit several health food stores for different items and adore my local farmers' market for the fresh produce that usually carries me through the week.

Going raw, to me, is an investment in my health and wellbeing now and in the future. Some items, nuts, condiments, superfoods if you choose to utilize, do add up at the beginning. Eating simply is also a good thing--salads, whole foods, some nuts or dried fruit--healthful and easy. Sprouting can add a wonderful dimension to the diet--everything from mung, alfalfa, clover to wheatgrass, lentils, buckwheat greens, to broccoli and green pea sprouts--tons of nutrition for a lot of bang for your buck.

Wishing you the very best of health, happiness and abundance on your raw journey.

[Marin Mom]

Has anyone noticed that even Safeway (California) has an organic produce department and those prices are very good, often cheaper that the more expensive smaller market's non organic prices?

So, Costco sells FRESH organic produce? What area are we talking about?

[diali36]

Marin mom
I'm in WA ST and shop in the Squiem Costco, they have lots of organic fresh produce and fruit also frozen.

[SmilingRawDancer]

The costco's near us have really expanded their produce!
I buy greens, nuts, tomatoes, pineapples, peaches, apples, bananas, avocado's, peppers, berries, mushrooms, cucumbers, squash, asparagus...snap peas! They have alot, year round :)
Oh, plums and dates too