Buying Organic on a budget? Ideas?

[Twohootsunderthemistletoe]

Following on from another post.... I currently buy organic dairy/bread/eggs/meat and sometimes veg but we are trying to be a bit tighter with food budget so not always the latter.

I strongly believe in organic/free range food for various reasons (used to work in farming) and would like to continue to buy but am finding the cost prohibitive.

Any ideas where I can get it cheaper? Want to try out Aldi for weekly shop but know I won't get much (organic) there....

Hi - We're in the same boat - buy organic but not much money! So we end up having a couple of meat-free meals a week - usually lentil sauce and rice, which is much cheaper! We'll buy organic chicken thighs for a casserole instead of chicken breast pieces - much cheaper, and then some sausages and/or mince to make spag bol.

Thanks Dotty - DH is a meat kind of guy - think he would seriously turn his nose up to a veggie meal ! lol

Sally - erm don't buy organic wine tbh (in fact don't drink much really) lol

Anyone found anywhere to shop where organic is cheaper???

local farmers markets are supposed to be cheap. You could buy in bulk and put in your freezer.

lidl today had organic milk... 2 pints for 55p! bargain!

Eat seasonally, shop at farmers markets and use freezer. Buy cheap cuts of meat -- we had friends for lucnh today and I cooked organic brisket, 1 kg piece of beef cost £6 and made enough to feed 3 adults and 3 children and we will be having the leftover veg and stock as soup for supper tonight. V easy and quick to prepare just have to start after breakfast as it takes 3 hours to cook.

If meat-free meals aren't an option, eke them out with beans or lentils or other veg.

vegetable box schemesare supposed to be good but you have to buy a certain amount and I can't see it being much cheaper.

We went organic on a budget and rather than going completely we went in stages.

1. Just organic meat and milk (no hormones and antibiotics) chicken (thighs not breast meat), sausages, orrganic mince bumped out with loads of veg, tomatoes, lentils etc

1. Root vegetables (they absorb more nasties if they sit under the ground) carrots (price not that much higher) potaoes etc - lots of soups (use bones from thighs for stock) - just peel all other vegetables and fruit well.

1. Other Dairy - always milk, usually cheese, sometimes yyoghurt.

Then gradually other things as I could afford / justify them.

Don't do organic choc, coffee, wine, alcohol as full of toxins anyway (but do do fairtrade )

Play it by ear, do what you can afford and think is worth it and phase in gradually.

Try to go to the supermarket in the vening when they are marking down the food that has to be sold and the put the meat in the freezer.

Thanks for all the tips! Went to Aldi today and was surprised to see a few organic things in there! The only thing with that place is they never seem to stock the same thing twice!

yes and they only have trolleys no baskets,they even charge for the carriers, tbh they should be paying me to be seen carting aldi shopping bags round..

Depending on where you live, the organic vegetable boxes can work out good value. The bonus of using those is that the vegetables are seasonal and sourced more locally.

Some areas also offer meat delivery services of organic meats. If you buy in bulk, such a scheme could work out cheaper for you.

I tend to get what I can from Asda which is quite nicely priced. It is a problem as my area don't stock many of the items. If I am stuck I get in a veg box.

Our farmer's market is very good value for organic fruit and veg and meat.