by Kimberlee F Ferrell

Created on: August 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 22, 2008

Grocery shopping is like navigating an obstacle course. With each trip to the supermarket, your wallet thins as your shopping cart fills with sugary cereals, pre-portioned snacks, and duplicates of canned goods. When you arrive home, you realize you forgot the flour again. Here are some tips to save on your grocery bill, and to make your shopping experience much smoother.

Have a plan before you enter the grocery store. Make a budget, and stick to it. Keep track in your head or with a small calculator to let you know when you've reached your limit. Make a list of to avoid duplicate items and prevent impulse shopping. Prepare a master list of the items that you always purchase. Print the list before you go shopping, and examine your kitchen to add or subtract items as necessary. Also note which stores have the best prices, to determine when a sale is the best value for the money.

Curb impulse purchases by never shopping on an empty stomach. Everything looks appetizing when you are hungry. Kids can also add to your grocery bill. Leave them with a sitter, or bring snacks from home to keep them occupied while you shop. Also, avoid aisles that don't contain anything on your list. This includes the magazine racks and candy bar displays that tempt you while waiting in line. Before leaving, examine the shopping cart for items that were not on your list, and remove them.

To get the best value out of your shopping trip, do not be brand loyal. Try the store brands; many times they are just as good. Also, compare the price per unit. Bring a calculator to determine which deal will save you the most money. Value sized portions are not always be the best deal since you may not use it all before it goes to waste. Buy fresh produce weekly, and use as soon as possible.

Coupons are the classic money saver for groceries. The Sunday newspaper contains manufacturer's coupons; clip only the ones you would normally buy. These can sometimes be combined with store coupons, depending on your supermarket's policy. Check your store for specials, which may be unadvertised, and can usually be found on the higher or lower shelves in the store. Sometimes stores will double coupons, up to a certain limit. Be wary of online coupons: due to fraud some supermarkets will not accept them. The latest money saving trend is the store loyalty cards. These should be watched closely; sometimes they're not really a sale at all, other times the lower price will not ring up correctly. Watch the scanner for any surprise charges.

Grocery shopping doesn't have to be a financial nightmare, with a little planning. Cut back your grocery expenses today by being prepared, avoiding temptation, and studying your supermarket. You can rest easy knowing the next trip to the store won't break the bank. Happy shopping!

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