• About
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Budget and the Bees

Buzz-worthy life tips for busy bees

  • Advertise
  • Toolkit
  • Money
  • Organize
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel

Saving Money With a CSA

by Lucinda Honeycutton August 14, 2019 ~ Leave a Comment

When looking for ways to cut down on our grocery bill, we usually rely on age-old methods. We look for sales, use coupons, and buy in bulk. Sometimes those methods mean we eat a lot of processed foods. Getting fresh food that is affordable can be difficult. That is why I wanted to share with you the CSA and the savings you can get.

What is a CSA?

CSA stands for community-supported agriculture. A farmer sells their fresh fruits and vegetables before harvest. It’s a package deal that you pay upfront and then receive over the course of 12-16 weeks. Locally sourced food is far better for your health than buying in a grocery store. You get to know the farmers and their practices. Some local foods also help with curbing allergies as well. Depending on where you live, you can also find CSA’s that have fresh eggs and butchered meat. Not only can you save money, but it’s also a great activity to support local farmers.

How Does It Work?

During planting season, CSAs open for accepting customers. This will vary by your location so do some research. You will be expected to pay for your share. Shares come in half or full size. Half is good for one or two people, depending on how much produce you eat. Full size is good for families. Prices will vary from a couple hundred dollars to about $700. It sounds like a lot but you can expect to receive your box for 12-16 weeks. Let’s say you join, and your fee is $500. Deliveries that cover 16 weeks turn into $31.25 a week for fruits and vegetables. Delivery will vary from weekly to bi-weekly.

How to Plan for the Expense

The first thing you want to do is investigate local CSAs and what they typically offer. You want to be sure they will provide you with the food you will eat. Meet the farmer and ask about their processes. See if you can customize your box.

Next, you will want to adjust your budget now. Joining a CSA next year is possible if you start putting money aside. Let’s say you have a fee of $500 that you have to pay by March 1, 2020. You could set aside as little as $10 a week right away and have more than enough to pay that fee. During the deliveries, you set aside the weekly expense. When the deliveries end, you have the money to join the next one.

Important Things to Know

A CSA will not replace all your needs. You will be eating what grows locally. Anything that isn’t local, will have to be purchased at the store. Herbs and spices are not in most CSA boxes. You will still need to buy those at the store.

It is also good to know that there are other savings as well. Eating fresh local food is a healthier option. You can avoid unnecessary doctor’s appointments and hospital visits.

 

Read More:

How To Save Money On Groceries

How To Budget Your Money For Financial Freedom

Online Shopping; The Good, Bad, and In Between

Filed Under: Lifestyle
Tagged With: agriculture, CSA, local food

Previous post
Next post

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Join Our Newsletter
  Thank you for Signing Up
Please correct the marked field(s) below.

1,true,6,Contact Email,21,false,1,First Name,21,false,1,Last Name,2





Archives

Partners




Great Investing, Simplified: Get Stock Advisor for Just $99/year!

SHIPPING FURNITURE – SHIPPING FURNITURE IS OUR SPECIALTY. CUSTOM PACKING AND SHIPPING SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL MOVES.

Howtowrite.Customwritings.com

Disclosure

This blog is for entertainment purposes only and should not be taken as professional advice. As per guidelines issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), we disclose that we may receive compensation if some consumers choose to use the links located in the content on this site. Additionally, some articles on this site may be sponsored.

Guest Posting

If you would like to guest post on Budget and the Bees, please feel free to introduce yourself and provide three topic ideas for our consideration. You can send e-mails to districtmedia1 [at] gmail [dot] com. We can't wait to hear from you!

Privacy Policy

We will not share or sell your personal information to third parties. Like many websites, we might collect information in the form of cookies to store your preferences. Our advertisers may also utilize cookies when collecting information about how users interact with links to their products. You may also see our detailed Privacy Policy.

Copyright © 2021 Budget and the Bees. Development by >Moonsteam Design.