For those with celiac disease, the costs associated with a gluten free lifestyle can be astounding. Many find it a hardship even buying simple alternatives to mainstream products. However, while the financial burden cannot be lifted completely, it can be lightened in a variety of ways. Be creative in ways to minimize costs, and always look for options that may work for you.
Firstly, buy as much food as you can from traditional supermarkets. There are certainly health benefits from eating organic and all-natural foods, but often the same products can be found in your local grocery store for a lower cost. Even specialty companies like Glutino are becoming more prevalent in mainstream supermarkets. Look for sales, coupons, and sign up for mailing lists. Shop around to make sure you get the best deal. Another good idea is to call or email your favorite gluten free brands; most companies are more than willing to send coupons to help encourage you to buy their products.
Outside of supermarkets, look for deals online. Search engines make comparing prices easy, and coupons are readily available. Check out Befreeforme.com to find coupons for gluten free products, and sign up for the mailing list at GlutenFree.com to receive great promotions and insightful emails. Before you make your purchase, however, be sure to consider shipping costs. Buying in bulk can help reduce these costs, so if you use a product regularly purchase a case of it instead of a few units. If you don’t have enough storage space yourself, ask family or friends to help keep some of it for you. Better yet, why not organize orders with your friends or celiac support group for discounts and group shipping rates?
When you’re ready to make your meals, try to cook or bake from scratch as much as possible. It’s a great money saver, and it’s fun to learn how! A great selection of premade mixes can always be found at your local Whole Foods supermarket, or at Glutenfree.com. You should also start looking for recipes online. Many manufacturers include great gluten free recipes on their websites, but don’t forget to ask your celiac friends or support group about their favorite meals. Look for the creative recipes, and you will be surprised at how many of the ingredients you already have on hand! For example, before you throw out your old gluten free bread, check out these great uses for stale bread on about.com. Gather up enough of your best recipes and make your own cookbook.
Looking for another money saving tip? Many countries allow their residents to take tax deductions for their medical expenses, including those related to celiac disease. If you are a US taxpayer in particular, you might be able to deduct your added cost of living. For example, the difference in cost between “regular food” and “gluten free food” may be deducted, as well as the cost of foods that you would not have purchased otherwise (for example, xantham gum). The IRS states on their website that “You can deduct… the amount of your medical expenses that is more than 7.5% of your AGI [Adjusted Gross Income] (Form 1040, line 38).” If you think you might qualify, please learn more from this article on celiac.com.
It might be hard to prove your tax deductions, or spend 7.5% of your income on gluten free products, so an easier alternative is to consider “flexible spending.” Most employers have a flexible spending option as part of their health care plan. You choose a certain amount or percentage of your earnings, say $500, and it is set aside pretax. Save all of your medical receipts throughout the year, including co-payments for visits to the doctor, cold remedies, gluten-free food, etc, and then submit them to your employer. After submitting the receipts, you will receive a check for the total, not to exceed the amount you set aside at the beginning of the year. Generally speaking, anything that the IRS considers tax deductable is covered in a flexible spending account. Celiac.com has a great article on this topic which can help explain it further.
