Frugality and Special Diets

Here's why I try to save as much money as possible at the supermarket and drug stores:

Yesterday, I spent $91.10 at the kosher butcher. And as you can see, I didn't get all that much. In the picture are two whole chickens, one 4-pound package of boneless chicken breasts, one 3.5-pound package of ground beef, two packages of chicken nuggets, two skirt steaks, one pot roast, one container of chicken bouillon, and three bags of Chanukah chocolate coins.

Kosher meat is very, very, very expensive. Very. Expensive.

The reason I try to be frugal with all my other shopping is so I can afford a trip like this. If I weren't, and I had a limited amount of money to spend, I might have to forego kosher meat, or not eat meat at all.  As is, I plan to stretch this meat to last me through January.

And this goes for any special diet. Whether you eat only organic, gluten-free, vegan, or have food allergies, you can cut back on the expense of your other purchases in order to have the money to buy the food you need to get.

Even for someone who only buys food from farmers markets and bulk grains, you can use coupons and look for sales for toilet paper and soap (you do use those things, right?) to help pay for your food purchases.

There is room to save money even within an expensive diet. You can still use some of the same strategies to save, such as:

• Coupons - try writing the manufacturers of the foods you eat, praise their products, and ask for coupons.  You never know!  Check health food stores for store and manufacturers coupons.
• Look for advertised sales and stockpile when there's a good price
• Look for unadvertised sales.  On this trip, I found skirt steak that was buy one, get one free.
• Bulk buy when you can - like my purchases of chicken breasts and ground beef.
• Stretch the food as much as you can.  I will roast the whole chicken for one dinner, serve leftover chicken in stir-fries and salads, then use the bones to make chicken soup.

Hope this helps you pay for your special diet and still stay frugal!

Check out these sites for other frugal ideas:

• Frugal Friday @ Life as MOM
• Making Dollars out of Change @ Madame Deals
• Penny Pinching Party @ The Thrifty Home 
• Works For Me Wednesday @ We Are That Family
• Thrifty Thursday @ Coupon Teacher 
• Fantastic Frugal Fridays at Frugality Is Free and Being Frugal and Making It Work
• Money Saving Monday @ Family Friendly Frugality 
• Money Saving Monday @ Homebody