One of our favorite places in the summer is the local farmer’s market. I love knowing that the produce is fresh from the farm and that we’re supporting local farms, but I also love getting a deal so here are my top tips for getting the best buy at the farmer’s market.
How to Save Money at the Farmers Market.
1.Go with a budget.
I leave my debit card in the locked car, and take only as much cash as I plan to spend. The gorgeous colors of the fresh strawberries, lettuce, carrots and tomatoes can easily tempt us into spending more than we planned.
2. This is the opposite of what I usually say- but ditch your list.
If you go to the market looking for a specific item you might be disappointed or you might miss out on another great buy. Go into the market with an open mind and a general idea of what you’d like. A simple list such as “Vegetables for two dinners and three fruits” might be the way you find the best deals and you might find a new variety or produce item to try.
3. Be realistic about what you will use.
We once purchased far more strawberries than we could ever eat before they went bad. We ended up having to freeze more than half of them, which we used in other ways but would have preferred fresh.
