The gluten-free diet can be expensive, but for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance it’s not a choice. Here are nine ways to save some (gluten-free) dough that you may not have thought about. Do you have a money-saving tip to share? Leave us a comment!

1. Keep it simple

Choose naturally gluten-free foods, such as fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, legumes, potatoes, eggs, dairy and meat. Stocking up on these items first will lead to a significantly slimmer bill than if you load your grocery cart with specialty GF products.

2. Break out the apron

Pre-made GF baked goods can be expensive. Cut costs by baking your own treats– besides, everything tastes better fresh out of the oven!

3. Bulk Buys

You might be weighing the cost of a membership to a club store like Sam’s Club or Costco. While a few years ago, it was difficult to find GF products here, times have changed. Not only do these stores offer bulk goods like meat, fruits & vegetables, many now carry GF foods like bread and frozen pizza. Be warned, a club store can be beneficial or detrimental to your budget. Stick to what you need, not what you want. It’s easy to lose track of your budget when finding bulk buys. Pro tip – don’t buy products you’ve never tried before. You don’t want a lot of something you really don’t like! Don’t forget to prepare foods for the freezer so you can stock up and preserve the items for the long haul. 

4. Cut (digital) coupons

Gluten-free coupons are a little harder to find than most goodies in the Sunday paper. Unless you’re looking at paper ads for local natural stores, most of the beneficial coupons are digital. We’ve compiled a page of current GF product coupons from some of our best friends. Other tips: download grocery store apps to clip digital coupons on your smart phone; check online retailers like Amazon to see if you can find the same product cheaper or with free shipping; join a brand’s mailing list so you can be the first to know about valuable sales throughout the year. 

5. Choose flour wisely

Some gluten-free flours, like coconut and almond, are pretty pricey. Rice, oat, and lentil flours are much more budget-friendly. Pre-mixed flour blends also can be expensive, so instead blend your own!

6. Try before you buy

Invest in tickets to a Gluten Free Nourished Festival when it comes to your town to sample products before buying them in store. Want to save even more? Use code EARLYBIRD to save 30% off all tickets until the day before each show! At Nourished Festivals, you can save money by picking up free samples, free product coupons, and discounted products for purchase.

7. One for the money

An often-overlooked cooking strategy is whipping up one-pot meals. Cooking some hearty chili or stew can feed your family throughout the week, which is more time and cost-effective than cooking a new meal with multiple components each night. Get some recipe inspo here.

8. The freezer is your friend

Get the most bang for your buck by cooking large quantities and freezing leftovers to enjoy later. This works for snacks, baked goods, and even entire meals! At the store, scan the frozen aisle for deals. Frozen fruits & veggies can be cheaper and last longer than fresh produce.

9. Find a recipe to fit your ingredients

Don’t rush to the grocery store if you’re running low on a few ingredients. Check out Supercook to see what you can whip up with what’s on hand! There’s even a gluten-free diet setting, which takes out the guesswork for you.