The Value Guru Gets the Good Stuff for Less
by Susannah Simone, October 7th, 2009

In a recent Harris Interactive survey, 76% said they don’t want to compromise on the quality of the food they buy and 65% say they would like to find ways to be able to buy natural and/or organic foods on a budget.

I was thrilled to read these stats because not only have I known in my heart that the former was true, I also knew that the latter happens all the time, so it’s clearly possible…and maybe this Value Guru actually provides some help. Honestly, though, while I never seem to run out of ideas-and certainly not words-I don’t have all the answers for how to get the most value out of great-quality natural and organic products. That’s where you come in.

Share your best tip for how to get the good stuff for less and you could win a $50 Whole Foods Market gift card along with a Better Bag loaded with our pantry favorites. We’ll choose a winner at random, but get on it…the entry deadline is October 12th!

And, if you haven’t already, be sure to sign up for The Whole Deal e-newsletter. You’ll hear from us a few times each month about in-store specials and money-saving tips…and future contests, too.

Tune in to our Whole Story blog each Wednesday in October for a special value-focused weekly contest!

http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/200...tuff-for-less/

Recommendations include the following:
  • Buy in bulk - do your own chopping and freeze ready to use quantities for later. Make your own pasta sauce or pesto and freeze for later use, etc.
  • Buy store brands
  • Buy local produce, due to transportation, it tends to not only be cheaper, but fresher as well
  • Buy foods in their raw state (such as dried beans, raw meats, fresh produce) and prepare to your liking rather than buying ready to eat meals
  • Shop the store circular to see what is on sale
  • Stock up on non-perishable (or slow to perish) sale items such as canned soups, canned and frozen fruit, dry pastas, etc. Not only do these items cost less, you'll have a well stocked pantry to boot!
  • Make meal plans ahead of time, and stick with them to avoid impulse buys
  • Use coupons for items which you normally purchase
  • Make use of stronger flavors which require smaller quantities. For example, use less of an extra sharp cheddar cheese, rather than more of a mild one (this can also be good for the waste line!)