Over the years, I've figured out a few shopping hacks — little tricks that whittle away at my total. Becoming a member is the first order of business — for a mere $10, shoppers are eligible for member prices and specials, for a 10% discount on case orders, and the fabulous array of discounts available on Member Appreciation Day. Get the card, save some cash!

Plan ahead. I know that impulse shopping will overwhelm my budget in no time. So I make a list and try to stick to it. I read the sales fliers, check out the specials on-line, and order some items, like the incredibly delicious Mojo bars, by the case — that's a 10% discount on my lunch every day of the month! I try to remember to bring my own containers and bags, and my own mug for the coffee I treat myself to while I'm shopping. Which brings me to my last, perhaps most useful tip: never shop hungry. It's easy to pile up the snack items, which are more processed and consequently more expensive.

For more advice, I called Kenna Eaton, the Co-op's General Manager. She tipped me off to a new program designed to save Co-op shoppers money on a whole range of staples: Co-op Essentials. It's actually a refreshing of what used to be called the Co-op Basic Basket. Kenna describes it as "rock bottom prices on basic foods. " The items include a lot of bulk items like oatmeal, some wellness items, and even pet food. They'll change seasonally, to reflect availability and keep things interesting. Relying on these mainly unprocessed, basic foods to fill my basket will help keep my food costs down. Co-op Essentials will be marked with a special logo — watch for it!

Kenna also recommends buying in bulk, which allows shoppers to buy as little — or as much — as they like. This can be a real savings in herbs and spices, which are often quite expensive, and can lose potency if kept too long. Small amounts purchased as needed allow you to save in actual dollars spent as well as in waste prevention.

In the produce aisle, look for the seasonal abundance, and make the most of it. Likewise, locally-grown fruits and vegetables benefit from lower transportation costs, which means more savings for us. More and more locally grown items are available. The Tuesday night Growers' Market is another great way to source local, fresh, delicious food.

Board member Chris Caudill loved the old Basic Basket program so much, he made bringing it back an election process. He emailed me about his commitment to Co-op Essentials, "Eating a diet of whole, natural foods with small ecological footprint is really important to me and my family. In fact, eating the right diet is one of the best ways to change the world. Importantly, a diet that is nourishing for the body, our culture and the environment that sustains us should be available to all, regardless of income. I found it a struggle at times to live my values as a student (and wasn't able to at times). Consequently, it's important to me to increase access to organic whole foods. What I love about the new program is that it does exactly that!"

We don't have a lot of control over food prices; they're likely to continue to rise over the next months. But every little bit helps. If you've got tips for saving money at the Co-op, please pass them along. As Red Green says, "Remember, we're all in this together."
 
Melynda Huskey blogs about food, craft, and family life at The Things That Make Us Happy Make Us Wise (http://melyndahuskey.wordpress.com). Email her at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it