by Donna M. Houston

Created on: August 07, 2008   Last Updated: August 23, 2008

With prices at the pump driving up prices everywhere else who's not looking for ways to save a buck? We've cut back, tapered off and re-prioritized our life-styles and shopping lists but still some areas have a greater potential for savings than others. Luckily, since we have to eat, the grocery store is one of those places. It just takes some preparation and planning:

Start off by keeping a price book or log. Record the costs for items you use regularly; evaluate several stores. Eventually you will see where the better deals are for a particular item.
Scour the weekly ads and fliers for sales,and use in-store circulars.
Consider going to two or more places. Compare savings at farmer's markets/butchers/seafood and specialty stores. Keep in mind distance and gas/time expenditures.
Clip coupons, but only for items you would buy anyway. Print/obtain your own at websites like www.coolsavings.com, www.smartsource.com, www.valuepage.com.
Take advantage of frequent shopper promotions/store savings cards.

That takes care of the preparation. Now for the planning:

Plan menus in advance and MAKE A LIST.
Look for seasonal and locally produced foods.
Consider growing your own herbs and at least some of your veggies. (A tomato plant can grow in a pot on a patio!)
Try vegetarian or meat-flavored' dishes. Simple, healthy recipes can be found on the backs of many pasta boxes and vegetable/sauce cans and jars.
Use/freeze leftovers
Why pay for packaging? Make and bag your own snacks. (popcorn, peanut butter or cheese and crackers.) English muffin pizzas are simple to make, healthy and cheaper than the frozen pizza snacks.
Don't be intimidated by the idea of made-from-scratch'. There are cookie recipes that call for only 3-ingredients! Home-made does not have to be hard and it is almost always cheaper and better tasting.

So now you know what you need and where to find it. Your savings don't have to stop here, though. Hit the stores and use these tips for even more ways to save:

Never shop hungry.
Shop alone. (it's easier to stick to your list)
Shop the perimeter of the store first, looking for daily specials and mark-downs. (Day-old baked goods and soon-to-expire meats and dairy products are great bargains especially if you are going to use them right away.) Freeze what you're not.
Be open to changing your menu and altering your list in order to take advantage of in-store specials.
Try store brands. Those private labels are often comparable in taste and quality to the better known and more expensive name brands.
Look on the top and bottom shelves for the best bargains.
Check unit pricing. (that 4-pack of tuna may not be the better deal)

Armed with a little foresight and the right information saving a buck doesn't have to mean sacrificing taste. We can still eat well on a budget.

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