Given the current economy, you are probably looking to cut expenses, including how much you spend each week at the supermarket.

The key to saving money on groceries is to employ a few simple tactics. And this can be done without the hassle of coupons.

* Try to buy routine items at their lowest price point, even if this means stopping at more than one store.

The first thing you want to do is to run a price comparison on some of the main items you purchase: toilet paper, toothpaste, laundry detergent, paper towels, cereal, milk, vegetables, frozen entrees, etc.

Select two or three of your local grocery stores. Write down the price of these items at each store, and keep that on hand.

When it's time to stock up, buy items at the lowest price you can get them. You can stop at more than one store to achieve this goal.

* Check weekly ads for sales.

Each week, major grocery chains, such as Publix and Kroger, run specials. You can find weekly circulars in your Sunday newspaper or online.

Get used to perusing these weekly circulars to see what items are on sale. Then compare the price for items on sale at one store to the regular pricing at other stores.

You should be able to do this based on the research you have already conducted.

Buy items that you need when they are on sale, if that is the lowest price point. Oftentimes, stores run price-saving promotions, such as "buy one, get one free."

* Stockpile items when they are on sale.

If you notice that the laundry detergent you normally buy is on sale at a really good price, now is the time to buy two to three boxes of it. The reasoning behind this is pretty simple.

If you know you will use the item and you also know it is at its lowest price point, then it is smart to stock up on it at that price point. Otherwise, you will be buying more of it at a higher price three weeks down the road.

The key here is not to make the mistake of buying items simply because they are on sale. Buy only items you will use. Use discretion here! Otherwise, you may spend more than normal, as you are stocking up on things you would not typically buy.

* Compare the prices of any given item based on the unit size.

Have you ever noticed it is more expensive to buy certain items when they are packaged a certain way? For example, the 100-calorie snack sized potato chips may cost far more than a large bag of them?

The reason being is that you are charged more for convenience. A cheaper option than buying the 100-calorie packs of the potato chips, for example, would be to buy the large bag and divide your own portions in containers or plastic bags.

* Consider purchasing the generic brands.

The generic brands are cheaper than name brands. While you may not want to go generic for all items, it is a viable option for certain things. You may need to do a bit of trial and error to see what works best for you.

* Do not shop when you are hungry.

This final tip is a valid rule of thumb for saving money at the supermarket. Do not shop on an empty stomach! If you shop when hungry, everything will sound and look good, and that's a surefire way to run up a high grocery bill!

Hopefully some of these tips will help you save money when grocery shopping. Some require a bit of effort and organization skills, but your planning will pay off for you in savings. So, the time you spend preparing will be well worth it.

Learn more about this author, Ann E. Smith.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

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