Buy store brand when possible.  Check out the marked down produce, meat and bakery items.  Check out sales ads and build menus around the sales and what you already have on hand.  Check out gas station/convenience stores to see if milk or eggs are less expensive there.  Don't believe that just because it's a grocery store that it has the cheapest prices.  I buy a majority of my pantry supplies at a dollar store!

michiganmom116 Mar. 3, 2009 at 12:48 PM

Don't buy convenience items - make your own.  Precut lettuce and other veggies are higher in prce and often don't last as long.  Making things such as cookies and breads is much cheaper than buying them and they are healthier for you too!

sunmoonstars Mar. 3, 2009 at 1:20 PM

Shop Aldi.

proud2Bmomma Mar. 3, 2009 at 1:42 PM

angelica02985 Mar. 3, 2009 at 2:54 PM

My biggest one is don't go when you are hungry!  I know I spend way more money if I have not eaten and buy silly things we don't need.  We will end up with a lot of snacks and cookies when I go to the store hungry. 

I also agree not to buy pre cut items.  The bags of lettuce are way more expensive than just getting a head of lettuce.  There are so many things out there to buy now that are already done and you are paying for the convenience.

I also agree the store brand.  They are normally a name brand any way. 

Peajewel Mar. 3, 2009 at 3:07 PM

Stock up when its on sale, cut lots of coupons, definatly check out store brand items if the regular brand is not on sale.  I LOVE Costco, their coupons are always great when they come out.

Mom2SKMB Mar. 3, 2009 at 3:50 PM

Know which stores mark down goodies. There is a Marsh store here that always has Meat marked down for quick sale. If you freeze it when you get home, it's good way to stock up. The Krogers next to that Marsh always has baked goods marked down and a couple tables of other random items marked down. Also there are day old bread stores where you can get baked goods for cheap.

LadyKiki Mar. 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM

Honestly, i go to the dollar store first..there"s a 99 cents store here and it has ALOT of food...I go there FIRST then to the grocery store...I usually know what is a good deal...This morning I got a box of 50 coffe mate choclate creamers and goldfish crackers...among MANY other things...I clip coupons as well

EaStBaYgUrL Mar. 3, 2009 at 5:50 PM

I save on spices and herbs by going to the organic grocery store. I know it sounds more expensive, but 90% of what you're paying for with spices and seasonings is the container!

Save your container, wash it out, and reuse it by buying your seasonings loose from the local co-op. I did that and refilled my entire spice rank for under $5. (Seriously, what would have cost me $5.99 for a jar of bay leaves at the local grocery store was $0.17 (17 CENTS!) at the co-op.)

geminilove Mar. 3, 2009 at 7:23 PM

Be very VERY careful when reaching stuff off the top shelf. I grabbed a can of store brand baking cocoa from the top shelf at meijers once and had a razor blade..just the blade open and exposed...fall down with the can. I don't know if it was someones sick joke or not but had I grabbed for the can even a little differently I could've ended up with a sliced open hand and God only knows what kinds of diseases.

knfisch Mar. 3, 2009 at 8:01 PM