Recent comments

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I'm in the real working world, but I'm eating on a college kid's budget to save money, so unless it's on sale, I don't buy organic.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Not often enough.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Organic, local vegetables from the farmer's market are the best buy. I can buy only what I need for my small family with no waste making it cheaper than conventional from the grocery store. I also buy organic milk.

    But I avoid meat because organic, locally raised is too expensive and conventional doesn't meet my values.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    With the exception of milk, which I purchase regularly, I don't buy organic food as much as I'd like to because I'm on a fairly tight budget. I wait for sales to stock up on organic meat and compare prices on other items. Sometimes organic produce actually turns out to be less expensive, but it's pretty rare.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I prefer to grow my own organic foods, but I do buy organic occasionally.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Yes, I do. (Not everything but as much as I can afford and is available.) I am concerned out the pesticides and other chemicals used on food. I think we are just started to see (and understand) the impact of them.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Some products, I always try to buy organic as often as possible but beyond that, only when it's on sale.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    No, I do buy organic foods. I often try and stay away from them because they are so pricey and do not fit in my grocery budget.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Organic food is typically way out of my budget but with strategic planning, I can almost always score certified organic eats when I stack coupons with a sale (especially when I follow specific blogs like "Growing Up Natural", etc. since they give me the heads up on the hottest deals of the week). So, my answer is "YES" :)

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I buy organic food occasionally

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I do, occasionally, buy organic. Some foods in particular (apples and spinach, for instance), are a subject of some alarm for me, just because of the amount of pesticides and other chemical treatments the non-organic varieties undergo. I always spend a good time washing my produce, regardless.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I make the effort to buy organic when I can. I try to substitute small things into my shopping when and where I can, such as cereal or granola bars that go on sale/have coupons. I take advantage of the local farmers market during the summer/fall. As a grad student on a tight budget I don't have as much flexibility in this area, but I try to avoid processed foods in general.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    i shop at Wheatsville food coop. they do business with many local small farms. These farms are organic and protect the soil which is our future for food production.

  • Find Your Hidden Spending Habits and Save   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I have rooted out most of my spending habits--cosmetics; books that I could just as well get at the library; books and toys for grandchildren. I used to buy a coffee whenever I had a wait of more than 15 minutes or a long drive. Now brew and bring my own. The last habit to go was food impulse-buying. You know, that tray of cinnamon rolls on sale or "oh look, they have such nice looking artichokes." Now I shop with a menu plan, a list, and a budget, and I almost never stray.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    We not only buy organic, but we also buy local. Nearly all of our fruits and vegetables come from a CSA that offers regional produce year round. Our CSA also offers cheese, meats, and other products that we occasionally purchase, as our budget allows. The cost for the produce is quite a bit lower than it would be if we bought organic produce in a grocery store. We are committed to buying organic and local products because they are better for the environment, and because we don't ingest pesticides. Because we have a number of serious health conditions in our family, it seems important to do everything we can to reduce any health risks that might be caused by pesticides. For many reasons, we believe that buying local and organic is a very good investment for us.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I do buy organic food, for three reasons. To support local farmers, to care for the environment, and to reduce the chemicals to which my family is exposed. However, I am also on a tight food budget, so not all the food I buy is organic. I belong to a Community Supported Agriculture program that delivers a box of organic fruits and vegetables to my doorstep every other week. Within my budget, I buy organic alternatives in the supermarket and at the farmer's market based on the Environmental Working Group's annual "dirty dozen list" of foods that have the greatest exposure to pesticides. Because I prepare almost all our food and seldom use processed or packaged foods, I save money and am able to afford some organic produce with my savings. However, my first priority is sticking closely to my weekly allotted food budget. Some organic is better than none, is my philosophy.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I do buy organic - when the organic product is marked down on manager's special. My local Kroger store has a large organic and natural food section, but most of the food does not sell before the expiration dates. I keep an eye on that section of the store, and I often find soups, sauces, grains, milk, butter, eggs, and frozen entrees marked down for quick selling before they expire. The price is usually cheaper than non-organic items!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Yes, I have been buying and eating organic foods for 30 years or so. I realize organic foods are more expensive but I don't eat meat so that saves me money and I haven't eaten "fast" or "junk" food, i.e. McDonald's or Burger King for the same amount of years or even longer. Most importantly, I am saving money on healthcare. I am 65 years old and in perfect health. I also exercise so I believe doing both, eating right and exercising, is the reason I am in such excellent health.

  • Score! How to Host a Great Game Night   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I am hosting the second annual game night at my church in a few weeks. Great way to get people out of the house when its cold. Make a few pots of soup and have them bring their favorite game and dessert and instant party!

  • Getting it Done at Dollar Tree   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Mylar Balloons! Best price you can find!

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I do. Mostly because I do not want to feed my 10 year old son pesticides, antibiotics and hormones.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Not on a regular basis, but if the price is almost the same, I usually go for the organic. When the price is almost double what the regular is, I won't. A grocery budget can only stretch SO far.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    I try to eat organic when the budget allows. Any underground or thin skinned veggies are first priority.

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    Yes. Fruits, vegges, milk, and when possible eggs and meat. :)

  • Ask the Readers: Do You Buy Organic Food?   13 years 31 weeks ago

    There are certain foods I will only buy organic, like apples and peaches (from the "Dirty Dozen" list). Until we can afford for the majority of our food to be organic, I'm focusing on those with the biggest impact.