by Robin Tidwell

Created on: August 05, 2008   Last Updated: January 17, 2009

Saving on groceries is as simple as taking a bit of time to plan out your weekly menu ideas, being sure to include any extras like snacks or desserts. Base your list on the ads of the store where you most often shop, or the closest grocery, or even a combination of the two. Just keep in mind, however, that driving long distances or very far out of your way will quickly negate any savings.

If you stick to your list, you will be much less likely to come away with a large receipt and have plenty of options for the coming week. No more "there's nothing to eat" resounding from every family member, and your daily planning and cooking will be much less complicated.

Shop early in the day to beat the crowds and for the best selection; this is especially true if you are shopping the day the ads go into affect, particularly if the store is running a top-notch special on certain items. You should always be aware of the stock-up-and-save sales and add these to the list - if you use them regularly, that is. A bargain is no bargain at all if the food sits in the pantry for a year or so.

Everyone knows how coupons save money, and some stores do still offer to double or triple the value of the coupons you bring in. Many stores will match an advertised price from a competitor if you show them the ad. Of course, you do have to spend time clipping and organizing coupons, and you do have to remember to bring them to the store. Many websites, such as www.coupons.com, www.wow-coupons.com, and others offer comprehensive searches for particular products, as well as printing features.

The healthiest foods are typically located around the perimeter of the grocery store, such as fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats, and breads. The least healthy options are located at eye-level, which can make shopping for the best quality somewhat of a challenge. Unfortunately, the healthiest foods can be much more expensive, but will benefit you in the long run.

Store brands and other less-recognizable brands most usually will provide the same quality and a lower price than their national counterparts. Some, however, simply do not measure up, particularly those which are not processed by the larger companies; many of the store brands are produced by the "name brands" and are simply packaged differently. Mostly, it's a trial-and-error process.

Another great money-saver is to avoid prepackaged foods such as cookies, crackers, lunch kits, dinner kits, deli concoctions, and the like. Invest in a box of cheap plastic bags and portion your snack and lunch items yourself; allow time to cook meals from scratch instead of relying on pre-skewered shish kabobs or crock-pot meal kits. Some items, such as dessert mixes, are actually more cost-effective to use than collecting all the ingredients, but generally the more you do yourself, the lower the cost.

Whatever methods you employ, any or all, it's not difficult to save money on groceries each week if you make a careful list and pay attention to sales and product placement. With today's prices at all-time highs, and gas costing nearly as much as a gallon of milk, every dime helps.

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