One of the common things people say about couponing is that coupons are only for unhealthy foods, and they are right for the most part. I'd say easily 80% of coupons are for processed/junk food. The reason is simple, that is what a lot of people buy, and also where stores and manufaturer's make their money. So how can you save on produce? Well here are a few ways to do it:
- Coupons- Believe it or not there are coupons out there for produce. They are rare, and usually come with a purchase stipulation. One I used recently was "$1 off an avocado wyb 2 Tostitos" or "$1 off produce wyb 2 Kraft Dressings" Usually this isn't such a problem because generally these are items you will use with produce. Occasionally you'll also find coupons from major produce companies like Driscoll's Berries, Dole, or Chiquita. Another coupon source is store coupon. A lot of stores offer coupons for produce on occasion.
- Overage- I'm not advocating by a ton of stuff for hundreds of dollars of overage, but buying a few things for a little bit of overage can really help.
- $X/$XX purchase- These really can go a long way at cutting into the produce bill (and anything you don't get coupons for...)
- Farmer's Markets- This can be a real money saver. Farmer's are willing to make deals and haggle a little bit, especially if you buy a lot.
- Eat in Season- We live in an age where you can get all types of produce all year round, but that isn't the most economical. If you want the best value buy produce when it is at it's peak.
Here's a great resource for finding out when produce is at it's peak in your area, and also for finding a Farmer's Market. Check it out
HERE.
