Going Organic on a Budget

Organic mattresses can certainly be viewed as a luxury item, and an organic lifestyle can definitely be beneficial to your mind, body and soul. However, your wallet may not fare so well. Organic food will always be the slightly more expensive option, there's just no getting around that. The organic market has fluctuated greatly over the last few years, especially in the UK. A Soil Association announced that the organic industry decreased 1.7% over the last year. For an industry which has enjoyed steady growth for the last year, a decrease clearly represents a change in the general public's perception of the organic industry. With the economy in the state it is, many people have really tightened the purse strings, with organic food being relegated to the 'luxury' category. There are, however, ways in which you can go organic on a budget. We've compiled a list of the best ways to budget, economise and make the most of your organic purchases.

1.GROW YOUR OWN PRODUCE!

Why not? If you are fortunate enough to have some garden space, growing your own fruit and vegetables is definitely the most economical way of going organic. Part of what makes organic fruit and vegetables so expensive is the stringent quality control it must grow through. A small vegetable patch of your own will cut out the middle man, and enable you to influence exactly what your own food comes into contact with. There are plenty of completely chemical free fertilisers available, if needed. Once you've harvested your first batch of healthy treats, you can use the peels and leftovers to create compost for the next batch. The 'organic on a budget' circle of life begins.

2.BOX IT

'Budgeting' doesn't just mean spending less; it means deciding how much you are going to spend on something, and sticking to it. There are some great fruit, veg and produce companies which will deliver a box of organic goodness right to your door. You can have the boxes delivered daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, whatever works for you. The prices might sometime seem slightly expensive, but if you eat a lot of fresh produce, it might be a great idea.

We're always told that buying in bulk is the economical way to shop, but it can sometimes be difficult to know exactly how much to buy. If you can get into the habit of using all of the fresh organic produce to cook all of your meals from scratch, you will save an awful lot of pennies. Established companies such as Abel & Cole or Riverford Organic allow you to tailor your box to your own taste, so you don't end up paying for something that isn't to your taste! You can get seasonal organic fruit and veg, which can often be few and far between in the supermarkets.

Your local farm might operate a similar organic box scheme so, by all means, support local organic farmers!

3.PLAY THE SUPERMARKET GAME

This might be the boring and arduous way of going organic, but you can save some serious money. The supermarkets are often viewed as the 'enemy' when it comes to organic food, but they are actually a big part of what made the industry so popular! Waitrose and Sainsbury's have done a lot of work to publicise organic food, and to emphasise the benefits.

There are a few ways to 'play the supermarket game', so hopefully at least one of them will be of help. Shopping around is the best to get the best price on any purchase, but with groceries it's even more important. If you can benefit from a discount or 2 for 1, the savings can really stack up. You can check out the different supermarkets online beforehand, which links nicely onto the next tip...

Lots of supermarkets have promotions which allow you to get a percentage off your first online shop; this is a great way to save a little extra cash. You'll be able to do this with most major supermarkets, so keep your eyes peeled for vouchers and online offers. You can save up to 25% of your organic shopping bill this way!

PICK YOUR BATTLES

Sometimes you just have to cut back. Whether you are saving or simply not earning enough, it's the only option. You shouldn't have to compromise on healthy food entirely though. The reason we buy organic food is because we don't want to eat food which has come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals. What isn't considered, is which fruit and vegetables are most likely to have come into contact with these chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Studies have found that some produce is far more likely to have come into contact with chemicals. Celery, peaches, nectarines and apples are the most chemical-heavy groceries in the world; if you have to pick and choose your organic groceries, these are the ones.

4 Living are one of Britain's only retailers of genuine organic mattresses. Their mattresses are made by Welsh brand, Abaca and German brand, Prolana. You can try a number of their natural latex and pocket sprung mattresses for yourself in the 4 Living showroom.