For years The Frugal Diva drove by the Santa Monica Co-op  at 1525 Broadway and wondered what the deal was with being a member.  Was it necessary to spend $25 per year plus $5 the first year to shop for groceries? Would it generate enough savings?

First of all you can shop there without being a member and see if this place works for you. Here are the benefits for members.   The main difference is the savings on Member Sale items. For example they had organic hummus with jalepeno and garlic in a 12 ounce tub for $2.49 and a very nice aloe vera soap for $1.29 a bar.  I bought some organic Fuji apples at the regular price of $1.99 per pound.  They also have a major selection of bulk items that allow you to get just the amount you need and not pay for extra packaging.

This is a community based, consumer owned and operated business that offers a huge selection of  organic products and natural foods.  They have a vast selection of reasonably price mostly organic produce sourced from California farms. Their health and body care department is stocked with a large selection of vitamins, homoeopathic items, cruelty-free cosmetics and much, much more.  They have specialized diet items for raw foodies, vegans, dairy free, and gluten free.  There is even have a deli with roasted chicken and prepared salads, a coffee bar, and a juice bar. 

 The Santa Monica Co-op works best for those wanting organic produce and specialized products.  However you can still use coupons and watch monthly specials to bring prices down. On my first shopping trip I got a Lara Bar for five cents with a 90 cent off coupon and $3.00 of a Cascadian Farm Cereal.  Now that $25 membership has already saved me almost $4. And that was just the first day.  There are always strategies for saving.

And you might get a little bonus at the end of the year. When coops have a profit left over at the end of the fiscal year they may distribute the member’s share of the profit back to the members. These profits are distributed in direct proportion to a coop member’s purchases.  Membership does have its privileges with member appreciation months, speaker events, and Co-op members offering their services for a discount to other Co-op members!

What makes The Frugal Diva happy is finding a site with all the information needed for a topic.  Max Goldberg has taken the time and effort to make organic living just a little bit easier for all the rest of us.

With just two lists Max lets you know the fruits and vegetables that are the Dirty Dozen and should be avoided unless organic and the Clean Fifteen that have the lowest pesticide residue.  Now you can make an informed choice about what are organic must haves and which are acceptable even if not organic. Since organic can be more expensive this is a great way to move toward better eating without breaking your grocery budget.

Now speaking of budgets, here is a Frugal Diva find.  Living Maxwell has devoted a page to links for some of the organic food company coupons .   Savings on Stonyfield, Santa Cruz Organic, and many others are just a click away.

So don’t wait any longer to live better.  Or dare I say it, Maximize your potential. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.

Don’t you love the farmer’s markets? All that fresh produce with infinite possibilities for meals, great food stalls, and local products.  My only problem was figuring out where and when.  This site solved all my problems. With Farmer Net you can keep up with changes, find out what’s fresh that day, and plan your weekly produce shopping.

All the markets are listed on one page and you can sort by location, day, or time. In Culver City on a Tuesday afternoon, pick up some clementines. In Studio City on a Sunday morning, pick up some sweet potatoes.  In midtown on Wednesday afternoon try the Farmers’ Market at Barnsdall Art Park for Meyer lemons. Plus when you click on the market, it takes you to a page with the specific location, events, and specialities.

In addition to the freshest in-season produce, many also offer flowers, cheeses, baked goods, local artisans’ products, free-range chicken, and even seafood. Each market is unique and produce varies. Many of the vendors offer organically grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs.  The Santa Monica market at Arizona and 3rd on Saturday morning is mostly organic. Look for the certified organic sign to be sure.

Divas, enjoy fresh air shopping, meet local farmers, and stay healthy with more produce in your diet.  And send this article to your Frugal Dude so he can pick up some great veggies for throwing on the grill.