We took a big pay cut when my husband transitioned into being an associate pastor two years ago, and we’re learning how to make it work, since I stay at home. A challenge for sure, so I’m always looking for help!

Thanks again, and God bless.

Wouldn’t it be great if there were a co-op that provided meat at direct-from-farm prices and could accept food stamps for those who need it? Actually, it would be good for people who can’t afford to buy or store a whole or half cow at a time too. I wonder how one could organize something like that.

I am not on a tight budget, but am looking for ways to cut wasteful food costs. I have already cut it back, by not buying so many processed foods. Pop, cereal, baked goods, etc. will always be more expensive than what we can make at home. And I am upset at how much money I was wasting on non-nourishing food.

Six months ago I was existing on frozen bean burritos, processed pasta meals, lots of cereal, toast, and sandwiches, and lean chicken or fish 2 times a week. I was not being nourished, and we were spending a lot on food! I was never full either, so I overate, was always tired, etc.

Makes me so sad to think that many people are hungry in this country, and it is largely due to making the wrong choices, unknowingly. I was always hungry on a high-starch processed diet, but never nourished. And we spent A LOT to eat that way! I hope that you can send your findings to some magazine or newspaper or groups who feed the hungry. I assume that people who live off things like boxed Mac and Cheese could never be full, but they live on that stuff because they only know how to “cook” processed foods. Your ideas would be such a help, if people only knew what the heck to do with food! There is such a disconnect for everyone, with regards to what REAL food even is. So money is an issue, but even I didn’t know how to eat well with a GOOD food budget. Sigh.

You also make a good point about how time consuming it is to eat well, and doing that on a tight budget must be maddening. I am a SAH Mom so I have more time, but even I get exhausted trying to work it all out. Add in food intolerances and I sometimes skip meals due to not having a good, quick option! But it is worth persisting and making small changes each week.

My son, for example, is getting MUCH healthier only after 3 months of re-thinking our diet, and his teeth are healing! He was in danger of getting 4 pulled, due to decay, but we hesitated, changed his diet, and one of the worst teeth has filled in with white enamel!!! It is like a miracle.

I love your site, really want you to know how much good you are doing. I have just ordered “Nourishing Traditions” too, and can’t wait to get at those recipes.

Best wishes,
Clarissa K.

I can purchase grass-fed meat for less than the cost of natural beef at the grocery store. Similarly, grass-fed lamb is considerably less expensive when purchased farmer direct than the grain-fed lamb available at the grocery store.

Ahh…the proverbial buy direct from the farmer. I’m assuming your talking in bulk here? Yes, buying a whole, half, or split-half (quarter) can be much cheaper on the per pound price. Of course that assumes you can afford the up front cost which around here is somewhere north of $400 or more. I know many families (without the so called luxuries that are often pulled out) that can’t afford that. Without that in my area we’re talking more than $5/lb for grass-fed ground beef…forget about the so called “cheap” cuts of beef. They end up being far more than we can afford.

Karla

That pretty much eliminates private transportation and also makes public transit an expensive proposition. The cost of traveling to multiple supermarkets for specials often eliminates any savings.

Spending less for grassfed meats at the farmgate is just a dream without a car that, even if paid for, requires ongoing insurance, fuel costs, and maintenance.

Even finding the food bargains, as you described, takes much time and effort. I bet you used a computer to help you find deals, nutritional info, and recipes. Being able to afford a computer plus the connection fees here in Ontario is often an unreachable luxury for the welfare poor.

Food stamp users in the US, and welfare recipients here, face a continuing challenge and don’t get the option to end their struggle.