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Good Alternative Markets to Buy Specialty Foods

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Good Alternative Markets to Buy Specialty Foods

In our family, we’re gluten free and dairy free due to food intolerances. Although we’ve been this way for about 10 years now, when we first eliminated gluten and dairy from our diets, I was shocked by how much gluten and dairy alternatives cost. Thankfully, in the years since, we’ve found good alternative markets to buy our specialty foods.

Save Before You Shop

Of course, if your grocery budget is tight and you’re on a special diet, the first way to save is to make meals that naturally don’t require substitutions. For instance, stir fries are meals that don’t require any gluten or dairy substitutes (except the soy sauce). An All-American meal of meat, potatoes, and a veggie is another one. Try to make the bulk of your meals the kind that don’t require any substitutions.

Having said that, sometimes you just want meals as close to what you used to have as possible.

Good Alternative Markets to Buy Specialty Foods

Azure Standard

Good Alternative Markets for Buying Specialty Foods
Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

Azure Standard is a family run health food store that delivers food throughout the United States. You can buy food in bulk at significantly discounted prices.  (For instance, we buy gluten free oatmeal in 50 pound bags for $62, which is a price I can never match per pound in the grocery store.) In addition, each month, Azure has different items on sale.

Their trucks deliver once a month at places called drops where several people help unload the truck and then pick up their individual orders.

Vitacost

Vitacost is an online retailer that sells both vitamins and supplements as well as food. They have a large specialty food section, whether you’re looking for dairy free, gluten free, vegan, soy free, Keto, Paleo, or many others.

If you place a $50 order or larger, shipping is free. In addition, if you sign up for their mailing list, they will frequently send discount codes, often for 15 to 20 percent off.

Again, when I use their discount codes, I find the prices lower than I can get at local grocery stores. Plus, you can’t beat the convenience of having food delivered right to your door.

Thrive Market

Thrive Market does have a fee of $5 per month, but the people who use the service say the fee is worthwhile, especially since shipping is free if you buy $49 or more in an order.

This online retailer has more choices than VitaCost, and your order is delivered right to your door. However, like Vitacost, there is no fresh produce available.  (You can get fresh and frozen produce from Azure.  Azure’s organic frozen berries are much cheaper than you can find in stores!)

If you’re not sure about paying the monthly fee, you can try Thrive Market for free for 30 days and cancel if you find it isn’t what you’re looking for.

Final Thoughts

If you have dietary restrictions, you may be frustrated because you can’t find the foods you need at a traditional grocery store. However, these three alternative markets for buying specialty foods will likely have what you need. I use a combination of all three throughout the year.

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Who Says Second-Hand Fashion Can’t Be Glamorous?

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Historically speaking, quality clothing has never come cheap. Believe it or not, but when adjusted for inflation, today’s clothing prices are significantly less than what they were in the past.

With that said, few households have the income to justify paying what stores are charging for designer clothes, shoes, and accessories. Unless there’s a good reason to buy new, you’re always better off buying preowned.

But who says second-hand fashion has to look dull and disappointing? The truth is that, with a few tweaks to your approach, it’s possible to look absolutely stunning in nothing but preowned attire.

The following are a few ways you and your family can save money on nice clothes, shoes, and accessories while still looking sharp:

Antique jewelry

Nothing adds a splash of refinement to an outfit like a nice piece of jewelry. Unfortunately, most strip-mall jewelry stores make it difficult for customers to know whether or not they’re getting a deal or getting ripped off. If you want fine jewelry at a relatively fine price, consider going the antique route. An antique necklace or pair of earrings will be expertly crafted from precious gems and metals without unfair markup. While all fine jewelry is inherently expensive, the unique style and elegant flair of antique pieces will justify the cost, especially since older jewelry was made to last centuries with minimal maintenance.

Vintage style

Retro fashion has been paradoxically en vogue for decades. These days it seems like the styles of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s are considered an acceptable part of modern fashion, so use that to your advantage. Thrift stores, online auction sites, and old-fashioned yard sales are goldmines for vintage clothing items. However, as far as looking your best is concerned, it’s a good idea to avoid looking like you just stepped out of a time machine. In other words, incorporate one or two pieces of vintage fashion into your outfit, rather than a head-to-toe throwback ensemble.

Tailored outfits

Gowns, suits, and other formal wear are meant to be custom tailored for an optimum fit. That means you shouldn’t buy nice clothing at thrift stores – or does it? Tailors can make adjustments to preowned clothing the same way they do for new items. With this in mind, consider buying gently used formal wear that’s a little too big for you. Take it to a reputable tailor and nab yourself a gorgeous outfit for hundreds less than what you’d pay otherwise.

Posh resale

Many companies these days make a business out of reselling gently worn designer label clothing items. These businesses operate with reduced overhead by shifting everything online other than the cleaning, storing, and shipping of the clothing itself. They pass the savings onto the customer while still earning enough to make it worth their while.

Hidden treasures

Sometimes you just have to get lucky. It could be a heavily discounted jacket you find at the flea market, or a beautiful brooch you come across at an estate sale. Whatever the source, the only way to uncover hidden treasures is to get out there and start hunting. With that said, it’s crucial to do your research prior to purchase. Just because the sales staff claim it’s a steal doesn’t make it true. Consult online pricing guides to gauge the true value.

Quality clothing should be made to last. Unfortunately, today’s trend of disposable fashion means people pay more for the brand than the clothing itself. In order to look great without spending a fortune, folks ought to opt for preowned clothing, shoes, and accessories. Doing so ensures you aren’t going broke just to stay fashionable.

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Handy Financial Resources Every Parent Should Know About

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You need money for virtually everything, and people see this clearly when they have children. At this point, lack of money can put your children’s lives in jeopardy, and no parent wants that. The good thing is there are a few financial resources out there that parents should know about to make their lives easier.

Financial Calculators

One thing you should do is use a financial calculator. There are many online, and most of them are free though there are a few apps you can download that’ll do the same thing for you. When it comes to choosing one, look for good reviews. You also want to pay attention to the way the information is presented. You don’t want something that’s hard to use. What a good financial calculator does for you helps you figure out how much you need to set aside for your kids’ college fund and other similar savings. It’s hard to figure this out on your own, but this tool should help.

Community Lenders

The next thing parents need to be aware of is community money lenders. The reality is raising children can get expensive. This is something all parents know. Ideally, you will always have a steady stream of income and never need anything, but that is not always the case. You can’t predict what’s going to happen in the future. If for some reason you hit money issues, you don’t want to jeopardize your family’s wellbeing. You do have a choice. You can start applying for a personal loan in Chicago and other major metropolitan areas to solve whatever financial hurdler you’re going through.

Debt Consolidation

Debt in various forms, be it credit cards, mortgages, and student loans, are everyday things for most people because they have no other choice in modern times. It is best to use debt during an emergency, as mentioned above. When you’re in debt, you’re accountable to someone. You want to decrease your debt obligation as much you can because you have to think about your kids. The good thing is you can use debt consolidation to try to reduce your debt and gain your freedom back. These professionals will help pull you out of financial stress.

Credit Reports

You can gain access to your free credit report each year, and you should take advantage of that. You need to do this not only because your credit score is essential but also to spot identity theft. Yes, identity theft can put you and your family’s finances in jeopardy, and you don’t want that. If you see something suspicious on the report, you’ll be able to do something about it. All you have to do is report the problem, and the issue should be resolved. Having an excellent report helps your family because you get lower interest rates and other benefits.

Financial Advisor

Financial advisors are a vital resource, yet sometimes, people don’t take advantage of their services. These folks will get to know you and your family’s finances intimately. After doing so, they’ll be able to analyze your finances and cash flow. They’ll factor in some of your goals, like having enough to buy your kids’ first cars and other things. They’ll create a plan so that you can do all of this, and they’ll also suggest a few steps you can take that’ll help put your family in a better financial position than you are in. These folks will teach you how to budget better and may even teach you about creating new income streams if you need them.

There you have it. You’ve got plenty of tools and resources to help you as a parent. All you have to do is take advantage of each one because you’ll be happy you did. Talk to an advisor for more tips.