by Megan As Well

Created on: June 26, 2008   Last Updated: March 18, 2009

Whether you have six mouths to feed or you are shopping for yourself, slimming down your grocery bill will allow you a lot more financial flexibility. By developing a few good habits, you can reduce the amount you spend on food by half or even less. Here are a few things to keep in mind while shopping:

1. Never shop hungry. I can't tell you how many times I have made this mistake. When your stomach is rumbling, it's too easy to impulsively overspend.

2. Shop alone. If you can, leave your spouse and kids at home. Kids can be distracting, or pressure you to buy things you'd rather not spend money on. If you have to bring the kids along, make sure they're well fed.

3. Write a list and stick to it. This is on the top of everyone's "save money" lists, and for a reason. It just makes sense. A list is a simple tool that will help you get only what you need, as long as you buy only the things on your list.

4. Just because it's on sale, doesn't mean you're saving money. Keep in mind that someone has to pay to advertise a sale, and they're not going to do so out of their pockets.

5. Bigger may not be better. Sometimes buying the "economy size" or "family size" package of something, you might not actually be saving money. Only buy things you know that you'll definitely use in bulk.

6. Buy two weeks worth of groceries at once. Stock up, and do so with a list. Fewer trips to the supermarket means less temptation to impulsively buy things you do not need.

7. Pay with cash. Paying with credit allows you the freedom of being somewhat oblivious to how much money is in your cart. With cash, you can decide to only bring a set amount with you, that way you will be forced to pay attention to prices.

8. Never shop when the supermarket is crowded. The fewer people there are around you, the easier it will be to take a moment to compare. Making quick comparisons can save you a lot of cumulative money.

9. Get your toiletries from a department store, not a grocery store. This includes shampoo, soap, medicine, toothpaste, air fresheners, shaving cream, and floss. These types of items tend to be overpriced in grocery stores.

10. Look down. Stores strategically put lower-priced items on the lowest shelves. This leaves the higher-priced items directly in front of your face.

11. Check your receipts. Even if you're in a hurry to get home, it does not hurt to quickly scan your receipt for something that looks incorrect. Sometimes sales do not scan right, and you're unconsciously overpaying.

12. Keep these habits. You will notice an immediate drop in that big important number at the bottom of your receipt.

If you think you will have trouble remembering these tips, bookmark this article. Favorite it. Print it out and write your grocery list on the back of it. Then you can use your usual list-writing pad to list all the things you plan to spend your savings on.

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