Savings Coupons for Natural or Organic Foods

The High Cost of Organics

Most people who have done comparison shopping for organic foods know that organic and natural foods tend to cost more than conventionally produced food items. When it comes to meat and dairy products, you can often end up paying twice as much for organic products.

Still, even people on budgets want to be able to get the benefits of organic foods without breaking the bank. That's where savings coupons for natural or organic foods come in.

Finding Savings Coupons for Natural or Organic Foods

Since more natural and organic food products are being made by major manufacturers, it's a lot easier to find savings coupons for natural or organic foods than it used to be. Sometimes you'll find such coupons in your Sunday newspaper. Of course, the Internet gives us a whole new world of savings to explore. Free grocery coupons abound, and there are many different websites with printable online coupons that may offer coupons for natural and organic foods as well.

There are also sites that cater particularly to natural and organic food buyers where you can find and print coupons or use special codes to buy food direct from vendor websites. Here are a few you'll want to check out:

• Organic Coupons has special website offers for a multitude of organic products, from food to T-shirts. Offers vary and change regularly, so it's a site you'll want to bookmark.
• Mambo Sprouts mails coupons in some parts of the United States and offers e-coupons to people who sign up for their mailing list. These coupons are also available at Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores.

Tips for Saving on Natural Foods

In addition to the major coupon distributors and websites, you can often find printable coupons by visiting the websites of some of your favorite manufacturers. Sometimes signing up for their electronic newsletters will give you access to coupons, while other times the coupons are available directly on the company's website.

Another popular tactic for getting freebies or discounts is to send feedback to your favorite companies. Even if you are sending feedback by e-mail, make sure to include your mailing address, because companies will often send free coupons to people who ask questions or praise a particular product.

Check your local natural foods store for any coupons they might offer as well as for sales fliers. Coupons are not the only way you can save money on natural foods. Stocking up on nonperishable products when they are on sale can save you a lot of money if you have room to store a large supply of canned tomatoes or fruit juice.

In addition to buying on sale, check to see if your store offers case discounts. Again, if you have room to store items or know you will go through something like a case of granola bars quickly, the discount for buying in bulk may be well worth it.

Some stores that are co-ops also have owner appreciation days throughout the year when you can get an additional discount if you are a paying member of the co-op. It's very much worth it if you can spend enough money on the discount days so that you're saving more than you spent on the membership.

As with other grocery stores, the same rules apply when trying to save money on natural foods: shop the outside of the store, choose minimally processed foods, buy in bulk when you can and take advantage of coupons and sales. While these tactics might not quite make your organic grocery bill lower than if you'd bought conventional food, at least you can take some of the sting out of the cost of organics.