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Grocery stores want you to spend more money. Nothing you see in one of the big chain grocery stores is there by accident: The whole store is laid out in such a way so that you will be tempted to buy more than you planned. That's why the milk, eggs, meats, and other essentials are way in the back, forcing you to pass aisles of junk food. No space is wasted: Candy fills a prominent space near the register, enticing you (or at least your kids).

Saving money at the grocery store calls for a strategy. Here's a list of tips to get you started:

1. Don't go to the store hungry
When you're hungry, it's only natural that you end up buying more than you need. If you go to the grocery store when completely full, it will be easier to ignore the siren call of the Little Debbie Snacks.

2. Bring a list
Going to the grocery store without a list leaves you with a hazy idea of what you need, leaving you more vulnerable to impulse purchases. Grocery stores hate it when people shop with lists. Also, if you don't take a list, you might forget something important. Then you end up wasting time and gas when you have to go back days later.

3. Use coupons
Take advantage of coupons that give you great discounts on foods that you and your family love. You can find them in newspapers and flyers, of course, but you can also find them online and print them out.

4. Don't buy it just because it's on sale
Wait a minute, don't you save money when you buy something that's on sale? Potentially, yes. The problem is when you buy something that you don't use. If you end up hating it and let it rot in the fridge, you've lost money.

5. Buy in bulk when possible
Stock up on all the things that you use a lot of, especially when there's a great sale. This will reduce the number of times you'll have to go back to the store.

6. Make a budget
If you set a limit on how much money you can spend at the grocery store per month, you will be much more judicious about what you buy.

7. Use cash only
To better stick with your budget, only pay for your groceries with cash. Each month, withdraw a set amount of cash for groceries. Don't ever whip out a credit card, which makes it far too easy to overspend.

8. Cook your meals yourself
The prepared foods tend to be more expensive (not to mention less healthy) than meals you make yourself. You'll save a lot of money if you make all your meals from scratch. There are a few exceptions to this rule, but that usually applies to stuff you shouldn't eat much anyway, such as ice cream.

9. Buy in-season

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