How to Save Money on Groceries

To save money on groceries you don't have to know rocket science--or any other science for that matter. To save on groceries you simply need to change a few buying habits and adjust the way you plan and shop.

And this can work wonders on your food budget and save you hundreds of dollars a year.

Here are 8 tips that will help you save money next time you go grocery shopping.

1. Make a List and Check it Twice
Make a tentative menu for the week and make a list of all the ingredients you need to cook the meals you've planned. Even though you might have to change some items list, you'll still have a good idea of how much you'll have to spend. But stick to your list as much as possible or you could easily end up busting the budget.

2. Don't Go Grocery Shopping on an Empty Stomach
If you want to save money on groceries, never go to the grocery store hungry. Always eat before shopping for groceries. Now only will you pick up the wrong items,you'll also spend too much. Don't believe it? Try it.

3. Shop by Yourself (That means alone)
Kids naturally like candy and junk food. Spouses always find a few more "must haves" that are not on the list. If you go it alone you'll have a much better chance to stick to your list--and get out of the store much faster.

4. Ignore Those Big Displays
Those huge displays are not there just for decoration. Food stores build them to "tempt" you to buy something you don't really need. It's called impulse buying...and it works. But if it's not on your list, pass it up. The best bargains are usually located on the upper and lower shelves in the store. They place their high-profit items at or near eye level. And that works too.

5. Stick With Store Brands
You can save money on groceries by choosing the store brand, unless there is too big a difference in quality and taste. In many cases, store brands are made by name brand companies. The only difference is the label. So you could be getting name brand food at store brand prices. And the savings can be substantial.

6. Stay Out of the Store!
If you really want to save money on groceries, limit your grocery shopping to once a week. If you plan your menu and your grocery list properly there's no need for you to buy groceries during the week. The more trips you make to the store, the more money you're going to spend.

7. Shop at More Than One Store
This one can be a little tricky. Because of the high cost of gas, you really have to know your prices before you start driving from store to store. You can easily burn up your grocery savings driving all over town searching for bargains.

That said, you can still save money on groceries if you check out the ads and use coupons to help defray the cost. If the savings outweigh the cost of the gas to get to the other stores, by all means, take advantage of it. But again, the secret is knowing what prices each store charges-- and shopping the bargains.

8. Use Grocery Coupons
Grocery coupons can save you a lot of money if you use them only on items that are already on your list.

That's because you'll end up spending more if you buy items you don't really need--regardless of the grocery savings. In other words, just because you bought it with a coupon doesn't mean you got a deal.

Additional Tips
When you're buying meat, you'll save more if you consider the cost per serving rather than the cost per pound.
Don't buy convenience foods like frozen pizzas, frozen TV dinners, etc. They're too expensive.
Buy fresh rather than processed meats, vegetables and fruits.
Buy cheaper cuts of meat and cook them in a slow cooker.

Click here for more tips on how to save money on groceries.