A Strong Home

Inspiration and encouragement for mothers and household managers

Paleo Challenge Day 5 {Paleo On A Budget}

The week is quickly coming to an end and we still have three more to go in our challenge.  Today was great–leftovers nearly all day!  I LOVE leftovers.  It means no cooking!  I was asked today if being on the Paleo Diet gets expensive.  While it does take a bit more to get started (swapping out condiments and spices), it really shouldn’t cost more than your normal grocery trips once you get the hang of things.  Here are a few tips I can think of to help keep your costs down:

1. Meal Planning.  This is a big one because when you go to the grocery store without a plan, you get a bunch of stuff you end up not even using or you have to make multiple trips and fall prey to spontaneous purchases.  Meal planning also allows you to look through your pantry and freezer for things you already have before heading to the store.  But be sure that if it’s not on the list, you don’t buy it!

2. Visit Your Farmer’s Market.  There are usually some decent prices on grass-fed beef and free-range chicken at your local farmer’s market.  Get to know the vendors and you might even get the best cuts set aside for you.  And of course, the veggies are awesome here.  You’ll find the best locally grown, in-season produce at the market.  Wondering where your nearest farmer’s market is?  Find out here.

3. Buy In Bulk.  When you buy your meats, try to buy in bulk as much as possible and freeze it in smaller portions for easy access.  This is where a vacuum sealer comes in handy.  Visit the bulk or bin section of your natural and organic foods market for better prices on nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

4. Stick With In-Season Produce.  Know which produce is in season throughout the year and plan your meals accordingly.  Produce is usually marked down considerably when it’s in season.  Grab the grocery ad insert in your newspaper or mailbox when it comes and take a look.  Stores like Sprouts or Sunflower Market will have the best deals on produce on their front page.

5. Make Your Own Nut Flours.  If you are planning to bake Paleo treats, buy your nuts in bulk and grind them to flour in a food processor or coffee grinder.  This will save a good deal of money with packaged almond flour going for more than $10 a bag.  If you want directions, check out this article.

So there ya’ go – you don’t have to break the bank to stick with your healthy diet!

Just joining and want to take a look back at my 4 Week Paleo Challenge?  Look below for the links to all my Paleo posts:

Prep Week

Week 1 Daily Updates 

Weekly Updates

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Linking up with:

Thrifty Thursday
Financial Friday
Sweet Sharing Monday @ Say Not Sweet Anne

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Thrift Store Essentials: Perfect Jeans

I love great thrift store finds, but my absolute favorite are the perfect pair of jeans.  In the past, when I needed a new pair and decided to buy them at the mall, I was always disappointed.  The jeans shrink when I get them home and wash them for the first time, or the waist stretches out and I have to wear a belt.  But the most disappointing thing is that I pay way too much on them and only wear them a few times.  
These are my most recent pair that I found at a local second hand clothing shop for $9.00.  They are nearly brand new, but were made to look worn.  I don’t usually go with skinny jeans, but I needed something to wear with my favorite boots, and these were perfect!  These are stretchy, but not too stretchy that they’ll lose their shape.  Since they’ve been worn and washed, I know they won’t shrink on me.  With thrift store jeans, what I try on at the store is what I get when I take them home.   
Last year, a study was done showing that women spend an average of $125,000 on clothing in a lifetime.  If you want to start saving money on clothes, but buying something used gives you the heebie geebies, start with jeans!  Just this one item purchased at a thrift store can save you a ton in the long run.  
So how do you find quality jeans and get a great deal?

First, know what you’re willing to spend.  I’ve never spent more than $15 on a pair of jeans, even when they’re name brand.  I’ve found the perfect pair of Levi’s at a Goodwill for $5.00, Lucky Brand jeans at a consignment shop marked down to about $15.00, and my all-time favorite were a pair of Paper Denim & Cloth jeans for $12.00.  But, don’t be afraid to branch out from the name brands.  
Know when to shop.  Goodwill has their half-off sale one Saturday a month.  Call to find out which Saturday it is and go early.  Higher-end consignment shops will mark down their clothing at the close of a season to make room for the next season’s clothes.  Sometimes jeans get a mark down, too!
Know your size and deviate from it!  Every pair is not made equally.  Remember, these jeans have been worn and washed (and shrunk), so the size you normally wear might not fit you when you start trying things on.  Go through the racks, grabbing your size as well as larger and smaller sizes.  
Inspect, Inspect, Inspect.  Try every pair on and spend some time in each one.  Take a walk down the fitting room hallway and sit in them to make sure they’re comfortable.  Check yourself out in the mirror and see where the back pockets are positioned – this can make or break  your look.  Always choose styles that are flattering to your figure and never settle on jeans that you don’t love.  And of course, look for any stains, missing buttons, tears, or holes in the fabric.  It’s okay to be picky!  Be sure you love them because you usually can’t return things from a thrift store.    
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t find the perfect pair of jeans on the first try.  You will eventually have that Eureka! moment and it will be well worth the wait.  Good luck and happy shopping!

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