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12 Surprising Ways to Save Money while Living the Paleo Life

September 22, 2015 By Angie 5 Comments

Save Money while Living the Paleo Life

Let’s face it: starting out on the Paleo Lifestyle is expensive. Beef and cauliflour cost a lot more and don’t stretch as far as lentils and rice. Once you get up and running, though, I think it evens out. When the pantry is stocked with the Paleo essentials, you find that a lot of the ingredients last a long time – such as non-grain flours, seeds and spices, and unrefined sweetners. As the tastebuds become increasingly sensitized, you find you need less to be blown away: less chili, less honey, less salt. And as you eat so well at home, you definitely eat out less.

But Paleo is more than just a way of eating. Living the Primal Life in the context of the 21st Century embraces, amongst other things, ecology, a relaxed and flexible way of being in the world, and creativity. Through integrating these attitudes and practices into our daily life we’ve found that we make real savings.

Here are 12 things we do which are soft on our bank accounts and which reflect the Primal spirit. Some of these things will be already be familiar to you, but other innovations might surprise you.


12 Surprising Ways to Save Money while Living the Paleo Life

zucchini flowers

1.Eat It All

We’re not just talking about eating the whole beast – tongue, liver and heart, or boiling the chicken carcass to make stock. What about the vegetable bits that don’t make the hit list?

  • Those thick cauliflour leaves, broccoli stalks, and wobbly carrots that a non-Primal cook would throw away make a great Base for a Paleo Breakfast. Click here to see how we do it.
  • Pumpkin and zucchini flowers that aren’t going anywhere turn a frittata into a piece of edible art.
  • The long, tough ends of the leek which you’d normally cast aside are a perfect bed for a roasting chicken or a pork loin.

2. Self-Sufficiency, Please

The more we can buy, the less we can do. Just ask anyone who was born in the 1920’s. Living Primal means being active and creative, and expanding this concept beyond the workout and the kitchen can save you dollars.

hairdressers scissors

  • Hair. The General cuts his own hair. Always has. I have a pair of those hairdressers’ scissors with teeth. With  them, I keep my hair in shape and cut down my hairdresser trips from once every two months to once every four or five.
  • Body Hair. Ladies, you are a mammal with the DNA of a Paleo woman. You are always going to have body hair. If you want to say money over a lifetime, learn how to wax. A tub of wax will cost you a tenner and last a year. Paying a beautician will cost you €35 every 5 weeks.
  • Sew If you don’t know how to use a sewing machine, do yourself a great favour: buy one and learn how to sew. It’s easy, fun and will save you loads. Guys, don’t think sewing is just for the girls. Great tailors have always been admired. The General lost 12 kilos when we went Primal. Yes, he bought fab new clothes. But he also sat at the sewing machine and did his own adjustments. The chair cushions up at Monte are old and shabby. What am I going to do? Spend €10 euro each to buy 8 new ones, or spend €25 for a few meters of fabric. I’ll take the second option, and enjoy the creativity!

3. Fill the Oven

oven roasted pumpkin

I don’t know about where you live, but here the gas and electricity bills are always on the rise. If I have the oven on for a pork roast or to make my totally necessary All Day Biscotti, I’ll often fill it with other stuff. Like, really fill it. Half a pumpkin is brilliant. There’s no need to cut it up, just halve it, scoop out the seeds and place it on the rack. It will be fabulous tomorrow in a salad or soup or pie. A Paleo Bread takes about 15 minutes to whip up. Sweet Potato. Nuts or seeds to toast. Use that heat for all it’s worth.

4. Grow Your Own

Yes, it’s been covered before, but it really is worth it. Anyone can grow balcony herbs. Rosemary is a gorgeous, hardy perennial that enriches meats and tubers with its deep, lusty flavour. Basil is the flavour of summer, and I actually think it does better in a pot than in the ground. Thyme. Oregano and Santoreggio are elegant both as flavours and as decor. Mint will last from early spring to autumn if you keep cutting it back. Stevia! I grew stevia from seed this spring, and am brewing the dried leaves in boiling water which I then use as an unrefined sweetner.

balcony herbs

5. Buy in Bulk

Obviously because often you get a better price. And definitely buy in bulk when unperishables are on special. But that’’s not the only reason. Buy in bulk because it will prevent you making lots of unnecessary trips to the shops. Shops are designed to make you buy stuff, which is why you usually come out with half a dozen things that you weren’t intending to buy, like that new brand of Coconut Water or the Paleo Granola Bars. Which leads to:

6. Shop with a List

And stick to it.

7. Sniff Around 

Get to know people. Keep your ears open. Ask around. The General is brilliant at this. Pasture raised anything is hard to come by here, so he keeps his nose to the ground. He finds us farmers who are willing to part with their lambs, rabbits and calves, and the price is always cheaper than the butcher’s.

8. Choose Nature, not the Streets

In your leisure time, head to the hills. It’s impossible to head into town and not spend money, even if it’s just for a coffee. Out in nature, there’s nothing to buy. And while you’re there:

9. Forage

foraging

We gathered 22 kilos of walnuts last year. The trees were celebrating after several stagnant seasons due to the Chinese Wasp. We probably won’t find as many this year, but we’ll be looking. Take a bag or a basket and be ready to hunt and gather. Dandelion greens are everywhere. Mushrooms. Hazelnuts. Raspberries, Blackberries and Juniper Berries. Learn how to identify your local edible species.

10. Reduce Your Need for the New

We live in an age of over-stimulation and want every moment to be an event, every day to be a spectacle, every act to be worth publishing. Well, stop it. The habit will cost you money because you’ll want new toys every other day.

  • Slow down and appreciate what you have. Really appreciate that object, that food, the view that is in front of your eyes. Practice appreciation with all of your five senses.
  • Create routines. Know, more or less, what your meal plan is – that will save you buying unnecessary things.
  • Be ordinary, eat ordinary. As much as Instagram would have you believe otherwise, not every meal has to be as amazing as a Christmas dinner. We usually eat the same things over and over again. Yes, these things are super healthy and delicious, but we save the refined meals and treats for refined occasions.

11. Become a Conoissure, Not a Collector

Save Money on Paleo

  • Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-do. Loved that book? Then read it again. Trust me, the second time round won’t be the same as the first. Love that CD? Then learn each song off by heart before you buy a new one. That new Paleo Recipe E-Book? How many recipes have you actually made from it? Yes, support your bloggers – they need your support – but a hundred recipe books are not going to turn you into a great cook. Buy one, and then study it. Practice it, and only when you’ve learnt all that you can from it, buy another one. All of this is going to save you money in the long term.
  • Clothes. That goes for clothes as well. There is loads of advice out there on how to create wardrobe capsules so you get 72 outfits from just 12 pieces. Don’t buy badly, you need that tenner for a rib-eye and a kilo of Cassava flour.
  • Buy Quality. At the same time, when it comes to your classic pieces, buy the best quality you can afford, and look after them, because they will last longer. Same goes for your Electrical equipment. I have to  thank The General for this one. He insists on never buying the cheapest, and I am so, so glad he does. Spending the extra for our Kenwood was so worth it – it’s sturdy and shock-proof and strong, and we know it is going to go the distance.

Lastly

12. Buy Real Food

Yes, it seems obvious, but I am astounded at how many pre-packaged Paleo foods are hitting the market. Sure, they look great, and we all love convenience, but isn’t there something inherently contradictory going on when we buy ‘Paleo Real Food’ which is wrapped?  If you want to save some bucks you need to remember that any time anybody’s hands or a machine have touched or cut or wrapped what you put into your mouth, then you are going to be paying for that service. Prepare your own. It’ll probably taste better, anyway. That goes for ingredients as well.  Almond flour costs loads more than the almonds themselves, just because someone has ground it up for you. What are you going to do? I bought a spice grinder and it is one of my most used kitchen appliances.


I hope you’ve found a couple of ideas here that you hadn’t thought of before. (Come on, how many of you cut your own hair? ) I’m also sure you all have loads of money-saving tricks and techniques that will be new to us, so please let us know! Really looking forward to your comments – any advice is most welcome here in the land of the highest-tax-rates-in-the-world!

Best wishes, and thanks so much for helping to get us out there by Sharing on your Social. Thanks for your support!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: paleo lifestyle, paleomantic

Previous Post: « What’s Wrong with Grains and Legumes?
Next Post: The Weekday Paleo Breakfast Base: How We Do It »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hunter Floyd

    October 1, 2015 at 10:48 pm

    Great Article! Keep it up and it’s bound to catch on. Your site looks splendid.

    Reply
    • Angie

      October 3, 2015 at 3:31 pm

      Oh, thanks so much Hunter! It’s still in it’s baby stage, so I really appreciate the encouragement. And thanks for breaking through the Captcha to leave a message – I’m trying my best to find out how to get rid of it, but so far, no luck. Really glad you liked the article – hope it inspires you to start cutting your hair or go foraging for walnuts. We’re heading to the hills tomorrow! Best wishes, Angie

      Reply
  2. Amanda

    October 4, 2015 at 5:03 am

    Great tips. I particularly like the one about filling the oven, somehow this never crossed my mind!

    Reply
    • Angie

      October 4, 2015 at 12:09 pm

      Thanks, Amanda – glad you’ve found some of the ideas useful. Filling the oven is great, especially in the colder months when you’re more likely to have things roasting. Our absolute favorite at the moment is to just quarter a pumpkin, scoop out the seeds, pop it in, and forget about it. I put the cooked pumpkin into salads, or in with our breakfast vegetables, and often I’ll just eat it at room temperature as a snack. 🙂

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Angie. Thanks for popping by. I'm here to help you say goodbye to allergies, reduce inflammation and lose weight... naturally and forever. Scout around the website, there's loads of information. And when you're ready to make real, sustainable changes, get in touch and I'll talk you through my Primal Health Coaching programs. You don't have to live with the pain - trust me. Been there, done that, I know. I'm looking to meeting you, and I look forward to helping you live a much healthier, happier life.

Need help reaching your health and wellness objectives? Call Me for Coaching!

Angelina Brazzale is a certified Primal Health Coach. She cna help you reach your goals of health and vitality through evolutionary diet and lifestyle practices.

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Instagram post 2197300743636188984_2122139797 CELEBRATION FOOD CAN BE DELICIOUS & NUTRIENT DENSE! This Chicken Liver Patè with Orange & Cloves is totally gorgeous. The orange zest balances the richness of the liver & the cloves add depth to the flavour. Topped with a cap of butter or lard, it’s sooo good - perfect for dipping, spreading or just eating off the spoon!

Link in bio under Recipes: Sauces, Condiments & Spreads.

Actually, here it is: https://www.paleomantic.com/chicken-liver-pate-with-orange-and-cloves-paleo-aip/

#christmasfood #paleochristmas #aiprecipes #paleorecipes #healthyfood #healthyrecipes #eatrealfood #healwithfood #nutrientdense #loveyourself #inflammationrelief #painrelief #arthritisrelief #youcandoit
Instagram post 2195289680187038968_2122139797 HEY, FRIEND, HOW’S IT GOING? ARE YOU CRUISING & FEELING FABULOUS or have you taken a nose dive into too-much-of-everything & consequently: your digestion is mucked up, your eyes are bloodshot, your joints hurt, your skin is blotchy, you’re producing stupid amounts of mucous, your cycle is painful &, oh man, now that you think about it, you’re a long way from looking & feeling your best.

I know, I know, Christmas is challenging. It is for us, too.

But can you visualize a different outcome? Can you see you yourself in a few weeks time saying, “Christmas was great - we didn’t go overboard & I can’t tell you how good it was to not feel sickly & stuffed.” Start cultivating the right mindset. 🔸Practice saying “No, thanks, truly, I’ve had enough.”
🔸Bake using gluten free, grain free ingredients & only use healthy fats.
🔸Move a little more, sleep a little more.
🔸Make your home (that’d be:your body) a haven of health.

Can you take a moment to think & leave your reflection in the comments:

How are you feeling now? How do you want to feel at the end of the season?

#christmasiscoming #healthychristmas #womenover40 #womenover50 #ibelieveinyou #healthcoach #primalhealthcoach #healthychoices #yourhealthmatters #goalsetting #visualize #whatiwantforchristmas
Instagram post 2193106748169072810_2122139797 DEAR SANTA, WHAT I’D LIKE FOR CHRISTMAS IS... Last night my friend, Giada @thealchemicgarden said that she’s asked her folks for an Instant Pot for Christmas. Oh, yay! 
That’s such a great thing to have on your wish list because it makes cooking nutrient dense food (like bone broth) so much easier & the ease means it’s also great for stress management!

If you could ask Santa (or your folks!) for one thing that will help you live in a healthier way, every day - what would it be? A stand-up desk? A year’s supply of collagen peptides or Omega 3 Oil? A subscription to yoga classes or a month with a Health Coach?

Let us know in the comments so we can all be inspired.

Oh - if you want the recipe for these super lovely Christmas Cut Out Cookies, here’s the link: https://www.paleomantic.com/christmas-cut-out-cookies-with-almonds-honey-and-spice/ 🥰

#christmaswishlist #christmascookies #christmasrecipes #christmascountdown2019 #paleocookies #paleochristmas #paleorecipes #glutenfreechristmas #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreecookies #yourhealthmatters #womenover40 #womenover50 #beinspired #healthychoices #beyourbest
Instagram post 2191735457856087847_2122139797 C’MON, SWEET, THE DAYS ARE PASSING & YOU’VE GOT A LOT ON! There’s the the Christmas shopping, the menu to plan, the baking, the hair & beauty appointments, the Christmas cards, the drinks, the parties... let alone the normal life administration, daily chores, the family to organize, house to clean... HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GET IT ALL DONE without becoming frazzled?

Okay, slow done. Stop. Take a deep breath & let the exhale out real slow. Do it a few times. Then... 1. Put things away. All the time.
Don’t let mess accumulate, declutter constantly.
2. Clean in small bursts. Set the timer for 15 minutes then go for your life. (Housework counts as daily movement and exertion!).
3. Make a list, mentally map where you need to go & what you need to do &
4. Meditate for 10 minutes (or more),
release tension, open into a space of trust that everything will flow... it will!
5. Delegate. Ask for help. Make agreements. Don’t think people can read your mind.
6. Keep your carb intake low, sugar very low, ditch fried & processed foods, save the alcohol for the social situations. Eat real, fresh food, quality protein & healthy fats.
7. No caffeine after midday so you’ll sleep well. Go to bed early.
8. A little bit of pampering every day: rub moisturizer into your heels!
9. Avoid the shops. Seriously. What can you recycle, re-give, create & make?
10. ..... This one’s for you... What are your Low Stress Strategies for this time of year?

#stressmanagement #christmasstress #stressfree #stressfreezone #stressfreeliving #womenshealth #womenover40 #womenover50 #stressrelief #meditatedaily #yourhealthmatters #healthylifestyle #stressbuster #loveyourself #ibelieveinyou
Instagram post 2190856878205004568_2122139797 GIRL, I HEAR YOU. YOU’RE AT THE DESK ALL DAY, most days, and by mid morning that familiar ache in your shoulders has already begun. It runs down into your forearms and your lower back hurts. When you get up out of your chair you’re stiff & have to move a little slowly. “Oh, Lord!”, you’re thinking. “I’m only ...( enter your age) - and I’m already moving like an old woman.” I know, I know. I’m at the desk most days as well. And I know the exhaustion of chronic pain. But I’ve also learnt how to relieve it!

1. Follow a low-inflammatory diet - link in bio for loads of recipes.

2. Lots of fun, full body movements throughout the day. Get out of the chair, get the arms moving in sweeping motions, do hip rotations while you’re talking on the phone, keep the joints lubricated. Dance to music inside your brain!

3.Sleep! Switch off the devices & hit the sack early. Dream.

4. Connect with the ones you love & the things you love doing. Like, really make time for those people & things. And connect with nature.

5. Be Smart. You matter, your health matters, but it’s not going to happen on it’s own. Make wise choices & do them often enough that health becomes your default setting. ❤️ #womenover40 #womenover50 #yourhealthmatters #youareworthit #selfcare #healthychoices #justmove #movemore #movementismedicine #dancelikenooneswatching #primalhealthcoach #healthcoach #liveawesome #chronicpainrelief #arthritisrelief #inflammation
Instagram post 2190140004483953743_2122139797 IT WOULD BE A LIE to say I only bake these at Christmas time. To be honest, the only time I we don’t have them in the tin is mid summer when it’s too hot to turn the oven on. 
They’re fantastic. If you click through for the recipe (link in bio, poke around under Recipes:Snacks) you’ll see they call for Chestnut Flour, but just sub for ground almonds if you like. And go the distance - use a full 100g block of Lindt chocolate, 85%min cacao. 
Let me know how much you love them!

#chocolatechipcookies #glutenfreerecipes #glutenfreecookies #glutenfreechristmas #lowinflammationdiet #glutenfree #healthyrecipes #healthychoices #eatwelllivewell #refinedsugarfree #diabeticrecipes #cookiesofinstagram #healthyanddelicious
Instagram post 2189482199615688824_2122139797 ADVENT CALENDAR DAY 1. FRIENDS, What surprise are you going to pull out of that little box or pocket? How are you going to start building that wonderful anticipation for Christmas?

Does it have to be with something sugary & sweet? Does it have to be with food? Can you fill that space with something else? Can you reinvent symbols & meanings & stories?

Yes! Of course you can. You’re the driver of your chariot. Girl, you’ve got the reins in your hand!

Fill those empty spaces inside you with positive actions & affirmations, with healing rites & self love. Let them be small steps towards your highest potential.

What act of self care will you do for yourself today?

#primalhealthcoach #healthcoach #selfcare #selflove #adventcalendar #christmasadvent #healing #heal #healthy #ibelieveinyou #youcandoit #lookafteryourself #loveyourself #loveyourbody #sugarfreeliving #stressmanagement #painrelief #chronicpain #womenover40 #womenover50 #yourhealthmatters
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PALEOMANTIC

Hi there, I'm Angie.

My man, Fiorenzo, and I plunged into Paleo in September 2014. It wasn't easy - I'd been vegetarian for several years, so the animal protein component of Paleo was challenging. But we had nothing to lose. Our various health issues were chronic and debilitating. We'd tried everything, with no answers. Paleo was amazing. After just 12 days Fiorenzo renounced the pharmaceutical he'd been taking for 4 and a 1/2 years, and lost 35 pounds. My inflammation has decreased to the point where I no longer need painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

We live in Northern Italy. He plays trumpet. I teach yoga and meditation. We're passionately Paleo and a little romantic, thus: Paleomantic.

My goal is to help you on your road to health and happiness through sharing all I know about the Paleo Diet and Lifestyle. Welcome! Read More…

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