How to get affordable groceries - find low cost food.
Find where and how to get affordable food if you can’t get it for free. While many people are familiar with food pantries or charity services, it’s equally important to understand the full range of current federal, state and private sector programs that help people get affordable food. It is also important to understand how to use smart shopping strategies to reduce your grocery bill.
Affordable and healthy food is available for kids, senior citizens and really anyone trying to save money. There are discounted or bulk grocery boxes, discounted produce programs and other options. There are also apps to use to find discounted food, free coupons or tips such as how to use Unit Pricing and many other options, even including free samples in the mail which will sometimes include different food items.
Discounted grocery boxes and produce services
Each month, many families use discounted grocery services. The companies that are available to try ship produce, pantry staples, and proteins at below retail prices. Offers and delivery areas change, so always confirm current availability and shipping fees before you subscribe.
- The food in the grocery boxes will be high quality, healthy and is really the same type of items that you can purchase at a grocery store. It is just discounted and offered at a significantly cheaper price with the savings possible from the companies using bulk buying to pass savings on. There are no damaged groceries or products, no expired or outdated items, no too ripe-spoiled produce, and no second hand items.
Nonprofit/Community Food Share Programs are very local / regionalized however most states offer this type of program. The model is based on selling a consistent, bulk box of food (not based on need, but on volume discount) through a local church or community site. While the programs vary, some of the items available in their affordable grocery boxes include grains, nuts, dried fruits, and canned goods, as well as a selection of fresh produce and dairy products. Bulk Food Box also offers various pre-packaged grocery boxes, each carefully curated to provide a balanced and nutritious selection of items at a discounted rate.
- Their mission of local Food Share programs is to provide an affordable and convenient way for consumers to access high-quality, healthy food products. By partnering with local farmers and producers, they are able to offer a wide variety of items at competitive prices, with an emphasis on organic and natural ingredients. While these are not national, look for a "FoodShare" or "Fresh Food Box" program in your state. They often sell large boxes of food at a set, low price to anyone, regardless of income. They are structured for volume sales and community pickup. To find a program, search for “Food Share” in your area using google, bing, or some other tool.
Misfits Market (formerly known as Imperfect Foods) is another online platform that focuses on providing affordable, healthy groceries by capitalizing on the surplus and "imperfect" produce that might otherwise go to waste. By sourcing these items directly from local farmers and producers, Misfit Markets is able to offer high-quality fruits, vegetables, and other grocery items at a fraction of the cost.
- Their affordable, customizable grocery boxes allow customers to choose from a variety of fresh items, including produce, dairy, grains, and protein, all at a discounted rate. Imperfect Foods ships directly to your door, making it an incredibly convenient option for budget-conscious consumers. More information is here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com.
Hungry Harvest is a more regional service. The non-profits rescues produce and other grocery staples (dairy, eggs, pantry) and delivers them in customizable boxes at very affordable prices. It is high quality, and is equivalent to what someone can buy at their local grocery store or farmers market. They allow you to specify items you don't want in the food box. The company delivers to select metro areas in DE, FL, MD, MI, NJ, NC, PA, VA, plus Washington D.C. - so they more focus on the east coast with details here https://hungryharvest.net/.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs are a unique way to purchase fresh in your area, local produce at a discounted rate. The agencies are often run as non-profits, and they are located in most local communities. By purchasing a "share" in a CSA, you are essentially buying a portion of a local farm's harvest for the season.
- Those families and individuals who participate in the program with a CSA receive brand name, low cost food at a cheap price without needing to worry about it being fresh. The type of food from a Community-Supported Agriculture farm program will also vary by month, so individuals will get a wide variety of choices but there will be fruits, vegetables, and other fresh produce.
In return for signing up, you receive a box of fresh, seasonal produce each week or every other week, depending on the program. While the upfront cost of a CSA share can be significant, the overall savings on high-quality, locally-grown produce make it an attractive option for those looking to save on healthy groceries. Find a Community Supported Agriculture program near you.
Local charities often sell discounted boxes or run low-cost markets in addition to free distributions. These are organized locally rather than under national box brands. Your best path is to check with your regional food bank or association for current programs and schedules. For example, state Food Bank associations coordinate purchasing and regional distribution that reach every county; find your state’s equivalent via your state’s main food bank list here.
In some cases (that vary widely) you can low cost food from non-profit organizations. There use to be options such as Angel Food Ministries, Gaballi Food Boxes, or Mid America Food and others - the organizations “come and go”
- If you are interested in receiving high quality, yet cheap groceries from a food ministry, you should contact a community action agency, church, or non-profit organization in your local community as they will often administer the program. Or the agency will more than likely have other suggestions for income qualified families. Find a listing of free community action organizations to turn to for help.
Locate cheap boxes of groceries
Buying store brand groceries (vs. name brand) will help families save as much as 30% on their annual food budget. These items, often called private label groceries, are much cheaper and the quality as well as taste are often the same, as study after study shows. Find how to save money with store brand food.
It is very simple to save money by using digital tools and/or print at home coupon service. There is no cost to sign up with these companies and no fees that will ever be due. There are several free smartphone apps as well as websites designed to help you find the best deals on groceries in your area. Apps like Flipp and Checkout 51 allow you to browse local grocery store ads, compare prices, and create shopping lists based on the best deals available.
- There are many free print at home or digitals coupon websites out there are well. They will help families save money on groceries, find cheap or value based products, and help low to moderate income families make ends meet. In fact there are dozens of sites out there for savings on all sorts of grocery items. Find free coupons for saving money.
- If you like to use apps, they are available or multiple devices. Find details on apps to look for discounted groceries or deals on food - you can save money or get cash back. The Google Play and iPhone apps will help you save by strategically planning your grocery shopping around the best sales and discounts. Look here for a grocery cash back shopping app.
Too Good To Go is another option. It is a free to use app that lets you buy "Surprise Bags" of surplus food at a discounted price from local grocery stores, bakeries, and restaurants at the end of the day to prevent waste. All the food / meals will be affordable but also are still fresh and nutritious. Prior to using make sure to check delivery cost, product quality standards and local delivery area with the information on the app here https://www.toogoodtogo.com/en-us.
One of the most effective way to save on groceries is to unit price. The simplest tactic is to compare unit price, which is the cost per ounce, pound, or count so you are paying for food, not packaging. Build a short weekly list around loss-leaders in the circulars; then stock up on shelf-stable items when they hit a seasonal low. As everyone knows, the number of grocery and food options out there are enormous with all sorts of sizing and unit counts on them. This approach is very effective. Learn how to save money on groceries using unit pricing.
These cheap groceries are not the only option that people have. Many federal and state government food assistance programs are also offered to qualified individuals. They are often paid for using USDA funds or government grants. Read more food assistance programs. These government programs usually have more conditions (income, assets, etc.) that need to be met, however many people do get low cost groceries and maybe even free food from them.
Put together a budget, shop smarter, looks for sales, and use other techniques to find the cheapest, yet high quality, grocery items out there. There are many things to do to save money using both technology (such as smart phone apps) and really common sense. Families can find ways to save money on all bills, including their monthly groceries.
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