Many people right now may have heard of or are familiar with the term “Gluten-Free”. Chances are.. if you shop in the grocery store, you have seen labels on select items or, found a section in the grocery store specifically for these Gluten-Free items… perhaps you have even picked some up. I know we have.

Every year, many people suffer from celiac disease and sensitivity to gluten.   Our family has a gluten sensitivity, and I know it was incredibly hard at first to find ways to save.  Because of the  number of people that suffer from celiac disease is growing.. gluten-free products are becoming more and more popular on shelves.

Many companies are working hard to accommodate the demand as well.

For those who have been recently diagnosed with celiac disease and/or sensitivity to gluten, the cost may seem unbelievable – at first…  

Wheat is something that is subsidized by the Federal Government – and because Gluten-Free items aren’t made with wheat, they can tend to be much more in cost.  Not to mention Gluten-Free products are made with ingredients that cost considerably more…  despite that, there are ways to save. You just need to be creative enough to find those avenues. 

Take simple steps – do your research, do some reading, talk with others who are in the same situation.  

Becoming familiar with what is out there and the ways to save is important to help you get the best value for your money. Here are some tips to help you do that:

Focus on Foods that are Naturally Gluten-Free

Grocery store shelves have a ton of packaged Gluten-Free products – to save the most money, try to pick up as little of those items as possible, and aim for food sat hat are naturally Gluten-Free – Vegetables, Nuts, Beans, and Fruit.  Don’t forget that lean meats, eggs, and dairy are ALSo Gluten-Free.  Use the Weekly Price List to help you price match those items at Walmart to avoid making multiple trips to multiple stores.

When you plan your meals, try to make the bulk of your dinners on those items above – you’ll find yourself saving more, without having to analyze packages and labels to determine what works and what doesn’t work.

Use the $.99 Store

The $.99 store is a great resource for Gluten-Free items – although items may change by week, they routinely have Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread for $.99, and Glutino Products such as crackers for $.99 as well.

Since the bread is frozen, you can stock up and buy several at once – the same bread at regular grocery stores can be as much as $5.99.

Write to Companies

Writing to companies is one of the best ways to score savings on Gluten-Free products. Many companies that specialize in Gluten-Free products are more than happy to send you coupons to redeem on their products – in hopes that you will continue to be a loyal customer.

You can read more in my last post about contacting companies – strive to set a goal of 1-2 per day – and understand that although not all will respond, many will – patience will pay off!

Use your Freezer

Your freezer can lead to huge savings – if you are able to make extra batches of meals & snacks, you can freeze for later use. And, as previously mentioned, shop at the $.99 store for those Gluten-Free breads, and they too can be frozen for long periods. A simple chest freezer is sufficient for most, and can be picked up at Home Depot or Lowe’s for $150 or less.

Use your Grocery Apps

Although it may be difficult to find discounts on Gluten-Free items, they are there… just not as easy to come across as regular items most people pick up. Use apps like BerryCart, Checkout51, iBotta, and Shopmium to find offers on Gluten-Free items that you can take advantage of.

If you have written to companies & scored favorable responses, keep hold of those coupons and stack with in-store sales to pick up deeper discounts.

Cook at Home 

The easiest way to save is to eat at home. Although it requires a little more effort, do your research to find Gluten-Free recipes that will work for your family – through online resources like Pinterest, and also at 5-Dollar Dinners, you can create a list of meals that will allow you to feed your family for less. 

5-Dollar Dinners also offers a Costco Meal Plan – should you not have the time or energy to coupon for Gluten-Free items, she has a great opportunity to help you put 20-21 Gluten-Free dinners on the table for $150 – along with a shopping list, and video to help you shop, and assemble those meals to save you time.

You can also see 5-Dollar Meal Plan HERE – for an additional resource.

Know your Best Prices

Try to become familiar with your choices so that you know where to go to get the BEST prices on the things you need.  For example… if you need to stock up on bread, you know that the $.99 store may be the BEST option for you at just $.99 per loaf – you can throw several in the freezer.

Some stores may have better selection and lower regular prices on the very day items you need, which will help you save in a pinch when you can’t afford the time to drive to multiple stores. 

Keep a price book so you can note the best prices on those popular items and compare as needed when your pantry runs low.

Whew! There are probably MANY other ways to save – if you have some to share please feel free to leave a comment to help others too!