Eating clean on a budget. I get so many questions about eating clean on a budget and for good reason!

Whether you are in college, have a family or just don't want to spend crazy amounts to eat right, it matters to nearly everyone. Since it isn't as simple as clipping coupons, I am constantly looking for little life hacks to save a buck.

I remember sitting on my mom's bed for hours with a pile of newspapers and pair of scissors. She had a serious system going, but I'm pretty sure we ended up buying way more than we needed because "we have a coupon!"

While most people won't spend hours prepping, it's definitely important to have a plan in place. I've always stuck to a few golden rules when buying produce:

1. Shop Smart & 2. Buy In Bulk

This has worked up to a point, but I still ended up throwing some out. I've always looked for the best way to fix this problem and when the team at FoodSaver®V4865 2-In-1 Vacuum Sealing System asked me to try it out, I was really stoked at what it could do to help me save some dollars.

Eating Clean on A Budget

♥ Shop Smart

Fruits and veggies can get pretty pricey, especially if you are trying to buy organic. The best way to avoid high prices, and still get your fill, is to shop seasonally. While you can almost always find anything, any time of year, it doesn't mean it'sin season.

Produce grows best in certain climates, during particular times of the year. Do you ever wonder why nectarines go from $.79/lb to $1.00/lb ? When it's in season, there are a ton of them and therefore can sell for less. When they aren't they take that price way up!

Learning when your favorites are in season will save you a ton of money. The downside is that you may have to give up your favorite produce for a few months a year, which no one wants to do.

You all know I'm not a huge fruit person. I hate melon, unless it's watermelon juice, and I'm really hit or miss on everything else expect for berries.I LOVE berries!They are loaded with antioxidants, low in sugar and basically the perfect fruit. Here in Cali most berries peak from July to October. I love them in smoothies and am not ready to give them up.

So….

♥ Buy in Bulk

Buy in bulk now and enjoy it for months! I hate getting roped into a $7 carton of blueberries in December when I know they should be like $2; it's ridiculous. I'm not made of money!

I just went and stocked up on TONS of berries to stash in the freezer and eat all winter long! I mostly use my berries for smoothies or oatmeal so freezing them is great. I also love packing yogurt with frozen berries if I'm out for the day. You don't need an ice pack to keep it cold and the berries soften by the time you're ready to eat.

♥ Storage is Everything

I used to always just throw a cup of fruit in regular plastic bags or containers, but the food ALWAYS got frosty bits all over it. It doesn't really do any nutritional harm, but the fruit ends up completely flavorless and dehydrated. Might as well have not even bothered.

I never thought I would have use for a FoodSaver¬Æ vacuum sealing system,but I was so wrong. I'm obsessed with this thing!Pretty sure I'm going to go food-prep sealing crazy!It's a bit addicting…

I'll admit I was a little intimidated when I first opened the box and saw the machine, but it only took 5 minutes to figure out how it works. You put the food in the bags that it comes with, insert the bag into the machine and press the "seal" button. It sucks out all the air, but leaves the foods moisture so my berries, or whatever you put in the bag, can stay fresh for years. Literally.

I really love that it comes with bags of different, but also has a hidden compartment that allows you to cut and seal your own bags of any size. That way you can store larger items together too.

At the end of the day, eating clean does not have to be crazy expensive. With the right tools you can shop smarter and save a ton.Spoiler alert:I definitely might be buying the FoodSaver® vacuum sealing systemas Christmas presents for everyone in my family this year!

"Disclosure: Thispostwas sponsored byFoodSaverthrough their partnership with POPSUGAR Select. While I was compensated to write apostabouttheFoodSaverVacuumSealer System, all opinions are my own."