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There are two kinds of expenses. One is a fixed expense where you have the same amount for each period such as your mortgage payment. The other is a variable expense where the amount can vary each period such as groceries or utilities. These variable expenses are where you can create the breathing room your budget needs.

There are several variable monthly expenses where you can really save significant amounts of money but the easiest one is your grocery expenses. This one category is where most people can find immediate budget relief and with the least amount of sacrifice.

Start by knowing your grocery store. For instance, my store has a "reduced" bin where I can find cans that have a dent or discontinued items. I check here first when I shop. Then I check where they put the reduced bakery items, dairy items, and frozen items. Each store usually puts them in the same spot each week but you may need to ask.

Read your sales paper each week and plan your meals by what's on sale. If an item you use a lot is on sale, try buying enough for a few weeks. Most things go on sale on a regular basis so I always try to buy enough to get me to the next sale.

Use coupons on items that are on sale for double the savings. Find out your store's coupon policies. Some stores limit the number of coupons you can use at one time. Some stores even double the value of manufacturer's coupons. This is the best deal of all.

Don't be too picky about brands. At the very least, try to have several brands that you can choose from since usually at least one will be on sale. Most of the time, there is little difference from brand to brand. Often the store brand will be cheaper and these are usually made by big companies who private label it just for the store.

These are just a few ways to save money on your grocery bill and free up room in your budget. Be creative and you will think of many more ways to save.

Learn more about this author, Tina Golden.
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