How to Shop and Eat Organic Food on a Budget

By Caroline Banton. January 13, 2025 · 9 minute read

This content may include information about products, features, and/or services that SoFi does not provide and is intended to be educational in nature.

How to Shop and Eat Organic Food on a Budget

Organic food tends to be more expensive than non-organic food. One reason is that organic food, which is grown without synthetic herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, or bioengineered genes (GMOs), costs more to produce. Other factors include the cost of certifying that foods are organic as well as the lower yield of organic crops. There’s simply less of it available: According to the Organic Trade Association, certified organic products now make up 6% of total food sales in the country, and demand can drive up prices for limited supplies.

Despite the higher cost of an organic diet, eating organic on a budget is possible with a little extra effort spent on planning and shopping. Here’s a look at how to identify truly organic food, where to buy it, and how to make an organic food lifestyle doable on a budget.

Key Points

•   Organic food tends to be pricier than non-organic since it can require more expensive production and have lower yields.

•   Buying locally at farmers markets and community-supported agriculture (CSAs) can reduce costs by eliminating transportation expenses.

•   Shopping seasonally and planning meals in advance can reduce the cost of organic groceries.

•   Buying in bulk, using coupons, and shopping at discount stores, can help lower the cost of organic foods.

•   Growing your own organic produce is a cost-effective way to enjoy organic fruits and vegetables, especially for items that are expensive in stores.

Understanding Organic Labels and Certifications

Knowing what food is genuinely organic can be confusing because of the various labels and certifications used for food products. The United States Department of Agriculture allows food that meets certain organic standards to display the USDA organic seal. Farms that produce food under this seal are inspected regularly to make sure they adhere to organic standards. Here are the basic standards for various types of food:

•   Produce and grains: Produce and grains are produced using natural fertilizers, eco-friendly pest control, and protected soil and water.

•   Meat, dairy, and eggs: The animals used to produce these food items must be allowed to roam freely outdoors. Farmers must adhere to animal welfare standards, and no growth hormones or antibiotics can be used.

•  Packaged goods: Packaged goods cannot contain genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), they must be traceable from farm to store, and they cannot include artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.

Organic food producers who sell less than $5,000 a year in organic food do not have to be certified. They can label their food as “organic;” however, they cannot use the official USDA organic seal.

Some foods may use the term “natural,” but this is not the same as organic. According to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the term “natural” means that nothing artificial or synthetic (including all colors) has been included in or added to the food.

Recommended: 50/30/20 Budget Calculator

Earn up to 4.00% APY with a high-yield savings account from SoFi.

No account or monthly fees. No minimum balance.

9x the national average savings account rate.

Up to $2M of additional FDIC insurance.

Sort savings into Vaults, auto save with Roundups.


Smart Shopping Strategies for Organic Foods

Organic food is more expensive than traditional food for many reasons, as noted above. According to the U.S. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), one reason is that there is a limited supply of organic food, which pushes up the price. Another reason is that farmers have additional production costs (particularly labor) and don’t benefit from economies of scale in many cases.

But if you’re trying to track your spending and economize, here are some ways to enjoy organic food without blowing your budget.

Eat Less Meat

In one recent year studied, the price of organic beef averaged $9.26 per pound, which was a premium of $3.66 per pound or 67% versus conventional meat, according to Iowa State University quoting the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Meat is expensive to start with, but with those premiums added on, organic meat can be a luxury. There are other good options, however, for protein in your diet.

Why not eat more beans and rice? Beans and rice when eaten together provide complete protein, and even their organic versions can be a lot cheaper than animal-derived proteins. That in turn can help pad your savings account since your food bill can decrease. What’s more, beans can be considered one of the healthiest foods you can eat, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Shop at Discount Stores

You don’t have to go to a high-end organic grocery store to get organic food. Aldi, Lidi, Trader Joes, and other less expensive stores carry organic products. The same holds true for many wholesale club stores, like Costco. You may find shopping online for organic foods can save you money as well.

One more tip: Consider buying generic store brands of organic foods, whether that’s peanut butter or coffee beans, because these tend to be cheaper than the bigger, well-known brands.

Request Coupons

Companies know that garnering customer support and their goodwill will boost their reputation, and many distribute coupons to encourage that support. Start couponing by searching online to see what’s available; some organic companies will offer them in return for an online review.

Buy In Bulk and Shop According to the Seasons

Buying food that is in season is usually a smart move. What you’ll purchase will likely be at its peak nutritionally, and the prices are reasonable because the supply is more plentiful. If you buy in bulk, you may be able to store food and use it later. Blueberries, for example, can be bought in bulk when in season and divided into single servings and frozen. You could buy squash when it is in season and make soups and stews that can be frozen and later thawed for a quick oven-ready meal. Or stock up on apples in the fall and then store them properly (known as overwintering them) so they last through the winter and into the spring.

Buy Frozen Organic Food

Frozen organic food, like its non-organic counterpart, is usually cheaper than its fresh counterpart. (Fresh food can be pricier since it needs to be transported and delivered quickly before it spoils.) An additional advantage is that frozen organic food lasts longer than fresh organic food, which means less waste. Nutritionally, frozen fruits and vegetables are usually just as nutritious as fresh fruits and vegetables, according to research published in The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Buy Local at Farmers Markets and CSAs

When eating organic while watching how much you spend on groceries, shop from a local producer or farmers market. The food may be cheaper because the transportation costs are virtually eliminated for the producer.

Programs such as community supported agriculture (CSAs) support local food growers. How it works: Consumers buy a share or membership in a local farm, usually at the beginning of the growing season. They then receive a weekly share of the farm’s produce during the harvest season. The food is seasonal, locally grown, and often delivered to the shareholder’s doorstep.

Recommended: 39 Passive Income Ideas

Meal Planning and Prep for Budget-Friendly Organic Eating

Meal planning can help you to eat organic food while on a budget (so can using an online grocery budget calculator). Planning ahead can help you choose lower-cost items that you can stretch across different meals, and you’ll be more likely to buy just what you need.

It might take 30 minutes to sit down each weekend and map out your meals for the week. Write down what you’ll have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, pay attention to how you can use affordable organic foods in those dishes, and from that, write out your shopping list.

Try to use seasonal ingredients since they are usually economical. For example, when tomatoes are in season in the summer, you can plan meals like pasta with fresh tomatoes or make large quantities of tomato sauce and store it for later use. This can be a great way to save on groceries.

By planning meals and buying seasonal produce, you might find that you are eating healthier and saving more money in your bank account.

Growing Your Own Organic Produce

Growing your own produce is a great example of how to eat organic and healthy on a budget. You don’t need a 50-acre farm; even a small plot can provide more than you need. Some points to keep in mind:

•   Growing produce (organic or not) requires work: You have to buy tools, prepare the soil, buy and plant seeds, weed, and water. You’ll also need to educate yourself about the principles of organic gardening. You may also have disappointments when your fruit and vegetables don’t grow as you would like or get gobbled up by birds and other critters. However, if you enjoy gardening, this can be a great way to pursue a relatively inexpensive hobby, get some exercise, and grow your own organic food.

•   It can be smart to grow the foods that are most expensive in the stores. Herbs like basil, parsley, oregano, sage, etc. are a good choice. They are also fantastic ingredients for tasty meals. Fruits and vegetables that can be cheaper to grow yourself are cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, yellow squash, and zucchini.

   Foods that are notoriously difficult to grow are artichokes, carrots, onions, and sweet potatoes. These foods often require a particular climate, amount of light, or type of soil.

There’s nothing tastier than fresh produce from your own garden, and, with a bit of effort, it can be part of your plan to eat organic on a budget.

Recommended: Guide to Depositing a Check

The Takeaway

Many people opt for organic food for health and environmental reasons, but it can be pricey. The key to eating organic food on a budget lies in planning and preparation. Smart strategies include buying seasonal produce and building meals around those foods. Researching which stores offer cheaper organic foods, buying in bulk, and seeking out coupons can also bring down the cost.
If you’re trying to save money and grow your wealth, having the right banking partner can be an important factor.

Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.


Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall.* Enjoy up to 4.00% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.

FAQ

Are organic foods always more expensive than conventional options?

Organic food is usually more expensive than conventional food because organic farming practices typically involve higher costs and must meet strict regulations. Locally grown organic food might be cheaper because the producer will not have to pay for transportation.

How can I save money on organic meat and dairy?

If meat and dairy are among your staples, you can usually save money by buying organic options locally and in bulk. With meat, you can then portion it out and freeze it for future use. Also watch for sales, and ask for coupons from organic food producers.

What are some affordable organic staples to keep in my pantry?

Shopping organic on a budget is easier and cheaper if you buy food in bulk that can be stored. Examples of organic staples to keep on hand when eating organic on a budget can include dried and canned beans, brown and white rice, whole grain pasta, oats, lentils, quinoa, dried herbs, peanut butter, olive oil, dried fruit, and canned tomatoes. These foods are the basis for healthy meals and are less perishable items, like produce.

Photo credit: iStock/supersizer


SoFi® Checking and Savings is offered through SoFi Bank, N.A. ©2024 SoFi Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender.
The SoFi Bank Debit Mastercard® is issued by SoFi Bank, N.A., pursuant to license by Mastercard International Incorporated and can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.


SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.00% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a recurring deposit of regular income to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government benefit payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, or are non-recurring in nature (e.g., IRS tax refunds), do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate. SoFi members with direct deposit are eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

As an alternative to direct deposit, SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant. SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits are not eligible for other SoFi Plus benefits.

SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.00% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.

SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.

Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.

Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 12/3/24. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.

*Awards or rankings from NerdWallet are not indicative of future success or results. This award and its ratings are independently determined and awarded by their respective publications.

SoFi Relay offers users the ability to connect both SoFi accounts and external accounts using Plaid, Inc.’s service. When you use the service to connect an account, you authorize SoFi to obtain account information from any external accounts as set forth in SoFi’s Terms of Use. Based on your consent SoFi will also automatically provide some financial data received from the credit bureau for your visibility, without the need of you connecting additional accounts. SoFi assumes no responsibility for the timeliness, accuracy, deletion, non-delivery or failure to store any user data, loss of user data, communications, or personalization settings. You shall confirm the accuracy of Plaid data through sources independent of SoFi. The credit score is a VantageScore® based on TransUnion® (the “Processing Agent”) data.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

Third Party Trademarks: Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. (CFP Board) owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®, CFP® (with plaque design), and CFP® (with flame design) in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board's initial and ongoing certification requirements.

SOBNK-Q424-005

TLS 1.2 Encrypted
Equal Housing Lender