I’ve enjoyed our Vitamix for over a couple months now and I can say we use it virtually every day. It’s been one of the best purchases we’ve made, and I wanted to share my thoughts on why we made this splurge along with ideas for saving on one.

Why We Chose Vitamix

First things first. You should know that a Vitamix is not an inexpensive piece of equipment (on Amazon: for $378 as of today)! It is not your average blender, either. I struggled using a $30 blender to make green smoothies and it was no mean feat. We also had purchased a juicer over on Craigslist but it didn’t get used simply because it was inconvenient to clean and expensive to buy enough produce to make even a single glass of juice.

Here’s ultimately why we decided on a Vitamix:

• To incorporate more whole plant foods into our diet.
• To blend produce that a normal blender can’t handle.
• To make better use of the produce we buy and create less waste.
• To make soups, sauces, salsas, and other food (occasionally).
• Because it is very quick to use, and quick to clean.

If you just want to make a smoothie with some bananas and strawberries? You probably don’t need a Vitamix. But if you want to experiment particularly with greens (such as kale, spinach, collards, dandelion, etc.), a high-speed blender will more easily and thoroughly do the job. While there are certainly other brands you could choose out there, we ultimately decided on Vitamix given their longstanding reputation and long warranty. My parents have had a Vitamix in their house since before I was born, so their positive experience also weighed into our decision.

Ways to Save

Some of you may have sticker shock when you first consider a Vitamix. It is a serious investment! So today, I wanted to provide some ideas for how you might save on one:

• Swagbucks. You can earn “swag bucks” that you redeem for prizes including Amazon gift cards. This would take quite some time to save up enough, but in a year’s time, you may have enough to make a decent dent on a purchase. (You can head to Amazon to see the many Vitamix models for sale.)
• Costco. I’ve heard that Costco offers the Vitamix from time to time at a reasonable price.
• Buy used. If you don’t mind buying used, keep an eye on sites like Craigslist. I have had family members find used ones for around $100 this way, and that’s a killer deal on Vitamix. Garage sales may be another option, too.
• Demonstration Models. Now I’ve never tried this, but I was listening to my Dave Ramsey CDs recently and he suggests in his negotiating lesson to “hang out” at the demonstration areas particularly at the end of an event. Ask what they plan on doing with the demonstration unit(s) – who knows? You might find yourself a deal! We see the Vitamix folks at the Puyallup Fair every year.
• Start an ING account. When you sign up for a FREE ING Checking account, you’ll get $50 bonus money! We have an account there, and I love it. I set up an automatic withdrawal from our primary checking to our ING account. This money comes out first thing every month and I’m amazed how this simple practice has grown our savings. (For more information on this promotion, check out my post from a couple weeks ago – the bonus is still good.)

More Thoughts on the Vitamix…

I know that spending a few hundred dollars for a high-speed blender may sound frivolous. But consider how much money some will spend on diet programs, products, shakes, and supplements! Call me crazy, but I think what you really need for healthful living and weight loss is whole plant foods. Case in point, I’ve lost 20 pounds since the start of this year. I didn’t do any 30 or 60 or 90 day challenge, sign up for fancy personal training, or buy overpriced shakes or prepackaged, processed diet food or sign onto any pyramid marketing scheme. All I’ve done is work to make better food choices! And for the past couple months most days I’ve enjoyed a tall smoothie full of nutritious goodness.

I question how sustainable some of the fad diets are – you put all this money in, but do you get the lasting results you want? After watching my parents use their Vitamix for decades (this last one they bought is on its 10th year!), I’m convinced that this is something you could do long-term. Stepping off my soapbox…

To end this post, I thought I’d leave you with a few imagines of creations I’ve made over the past couple months….

Strawberry - Basil

Almond Butter - Banana - Raw Cocoa - Coconut Oil

Bok Choy - Lamb's Lettuce (made from ingredients pictured above)

Dandelion & Collard Greens - Pear

Beet - Beet Greens - Strawberry

Arugula-Basil Pesto

I’d love to hear how you use your Vitamix or other thoughts you might have for saving on one, too.

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