Penny Pinching Paleo

I grew up in a household with a very money conscious mother- at age 13 I was given an allowance and was told I had to buy my own socks. I knew what a budget looked like by the time I graduated high school and I knew how to pay my own rent, utilities, and make a few dollars stretch for groceries by age 20. I don't claim to be an expert about very many things, but I do deem myself totally and completely qualified to give advice on pinching pennies. Thanks mom.

Now I work as a clinical social worker... a clinical social worker in the midwest (aka I make no money).  Primal eating can really drain your bank account if you aren't careful. Take it from the penny pinching paleo, cavewoman grub is totally a possibility on a budget. Here are a few cheap essentials for your pantry:

Canned Tuna
Canned Salmon
Frozen Green Beans
Frozen Spinach
Apples
Bags of Frozen Chicken Breasts and Fish
Frozen Fruit
Eggs
Onions
Garlic
Bags of Nuts
Sweet Potatoes
Mushrooms

Penny Pinching Tips:

• Buy in season
• Shop at farmers markets. Good for you, good for your local economy.
• Know where to shop- Trader Joes has cheap produce but maybe your local grocer runs monthly sales on grass fed beef.
• Buy in bulk- meat, fruit, Lara Bars...almond butter :-D
• Buy meat on sale and freeze
• Make a grocery list, but be flexible- if there is a sale on hormone free chicken, stock up!
• Don't assume that organic is better. Organic doesn't mean Paleo. 
• If your grocery bill went up after you started eating primal, stop spending money elsewhere! 

Finally, don't freak out about money. You can't take it with you.