Yes, You Can Save Money at Whole Foods

A little over a year ago, Denise wrote a great post about saving money at Whole Foods. I love that post. You would not believe how much money I have saved buying the frozen wild caught salmon over fresh. And don't even get me started on the bulk.

Anyway, I'd like to share some of my own tips on this Thrifty Thursday.

1. Shop in the perimeter of the store--the produce, the dairy, the meats, the bread. The processed foods in the center should be visited quickly and toward the end. They cost more and aren't as good for you!

2. Allow one special prepared treat for each visit. The prepared stuff is really yummy but also very pricey. To keep from binging on tons of it, allow yourself one 'treat' a visit. It could be as simple as a death by chocolate brownie or as filling a hatch chili quesadilla. Allowing yourself one treat lets you sample and not feel deprived...because we all know what happens when you are deprived for too long!

3. Discover frozen fruits. Frozen fruits are frozen right after being picked so they are actually more in season than the strawberries shipped 500 miles away! I like to use frozen fruit in smoothies, muffins and pancakes. And you can get a bag of organic frozen fruit for $2-$3!

4. Speaking of produce, stick with items in season. Fresher and cheaper. Right now, that would be apples, tomatoes (for a wee bit longer), grapes, squash and potatoes (today I got some organic yukon gold new potatoes for 70 cents a pound!).

5. Bring your own bags. You get 10 cents off your bill for each bag you bring!

6. Eat before you go and stick to your list.

7. Pay cash and leave all cards and checks at home. When you reach the amount of money you have, that's it!

Lots of these tips will work in any grocery store too--esp. #6 and #7. A list is key when you want to stay in budget!