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Don and Rachel Matesz <[log in to unmask]>
Re:  Living on Limited Funds

Here are a few tips that may help to save money directly or help you
redirect what you have toward food:

1) Buy as much produce as you can at a local farmer's market; it won't
necessarily be organic unless you live in CA, WA, or OR, but it will be
fresh, from the source, and you can get to know the folks who are
growing/gathering your food.

2) Buy meat directly from a farmer who raises animals without drugs. If
poss. share a half or quarter side of beef with a friend then get a second
(second-hand) freezer to stow it.  Btw, if they sell Laura's Lean Beef in
your area (some supermarkets in our area sell it; it's in 30-something
states in the U.S.) it's drug free, the farms are very ecologically managed;
the meat is very delicious and... you can get introductory coupons from the
co., then get the ground meat for about $1.50/lb. with these and stock your
freezer. 1-800-ITS-LEAN.

3) Start or join a wholesale buying club to purchase many foods from the
same warehouses that supply health food markets.  You can get nuts, seeds,
dried fruits, junk-free sausages, org. poultry, spices, eco-cleaning
products, etc.... for 30-40% below retail...

4)  Find ways to simplify in other areas so you can free up more money for
food, e.g., thrift shopping for clothes (easier for women than
men...supply/demand thing), garage sale and thrift store shopping for
household items, paring down to one automobile if poss., utilizing the
library, selling things you don't use, bartering when possible, etc.

5) Read "Voluntary Simplicity", see video "Affluenza", and related books,
videos, newsletters...

Hope it helps!

Rachel M.
Next Generation Nutrition