8 Ways to Buy Organic and Still Be Frugal

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If you'd rather not consume chemical pesticides, mysterious food additives, antibiotics and GMOs — in short you'd like your food to be food and nothing else — organic is the way to go. For those of us operating on a tight budget, organic foods can seem out of reach. With just a few tweaks to your shopping routine, however, high quality organic foods can appear on the menu more often. Check out the tips below and be sure to share your favorite strategies for going organic without going broke in the comments below. (See also: Best Money Tips: Eat Organic On The Cheap)

1. Establish Organic Priority

Not all conventional produce is equally toxic. After 43,000 tests of pesticide levels in conventional produce, the Environmental Working Group concluded that consumers could reduce exposure by almost 90 percent just by shunning the 12 most contaminated foods (the "Dirty Dozen") and eating the least contaminated foods instead.

2. Plan Meals Using Sales Flyers

Meal planning is a great way to keep your grocery budget under control, and if you're going organic, doing so with the help of sales flyers is doubly helpful. Subscribe to email flyers from stores like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Trader Joe's, and Earth Fare to plan meals that utilize the organic foods on sale that week. (See also: How to Meal Plan and Save Cash)

3. Opt for Store Brands

Demand for organic foods has grown rapidly, and traditional grocery chains have taken notice. Many have launched their own brands of organic staples like milk, granola, canned goods, and spaghetti sauce, all for less than popular brands. Just be sure to always look for the USDA organic seal — otherwise it's not certified.

4. Warm Up to Frozen Foods

The frozen foods aisle is one of the best places to find bargains on organic fruits and vegetables. Use the freezer case to stock up on your favorite organic ingredients for baking, smoothies, soups, and side dishes, and never worry about spoilage.

5. Buy in Bulk and Use Buying Clubs

Specialty grocery stores like Whole Foods are no longer the only place to find organic foods. What many don't know is buying clubs like Sam's Club and Costco also carry a variety of organic produce and dry goods. They're an especially good place to by certain organic goods in bulk, which is always a cost-effective way to shop. (See also: 15 Things You Should Buy at Costco)

7. Clip Organic Coupons

You'll be hard pressed to find organic coupons in your Sunday paper, but coupon sites are another story. Check MamboSprouts.com, SavingNaturally.com, OrganicDeals.com, OrganicFoodCoupons.com, HealthSavers.com, as well as the website or Facebook page of your favorite organic brands to find food/natural living coupons, and other money saving ideas.

8. Practice Nose to Tail Cooking

When's the last time you roasted an entire chicken? Or bought a side of beef? Buying pre-butchered meat cuts is convenient, but costly. Buying less-processed meat, poultry, and fish can save you big time. It also provides ingredients for multiple meals with only one cooking and allows you to make your own sauces and stocks with the bones. (See also: Save Enough on Meat to Buy a Chest Freezer)

How do you stock an organic pantry without depleting your savings account? Please share in comments!